Classy

I love Texas.....especially around election time!

Not what we expected

Rrrrr... the fall festival at the Y didn't go as planned. Maybe my expectations were set too high for their 1st annual party. They had great ideas, it just wasn't organized well. My assumption was that it was supposed to be a parent/child festivity, and I was the ONLY parent that stayed. All others, just dropped their little ones off and booked it. Now, how are 3 caregivers supposed to do pumpkin carving with 25 kids? So, after I ended up helping keep everyone else's monsters, princesses, and Dora's in line, I decided to take my witch home with me so I could actually do something fun with her.

Hopefully I'll be able to snap better photos than this come Halloween night.

Hall-O-Scream

She was lovin' the pink pumpkins

We took Salem to Sea World this weekend to partake in the Hall-O-Scream festivities there. Let me tell you, it was THE MOST fun we've all ever had at Sea World and I couldn't even do half the things. The weather was beautiful, we didn't have to wait in lines for anything, and we walked away winners in various arcade events. Not only did Andrew win his darling angel one oversized pig, but she walked away with 2!!!!! Then, he had a 2 mile walk just to put them in the car so we didn't have to drag them around the rest of the evening. Oh well, give and take! Salem also won herself a puppy playing a ball-toss game and as you could imagine, was rightfully so proud of herself for doing so.

Daddy going down on the wa-wa boat!
Check out the back sweat! Psyche, just water from the rides and a sweet action shot of one of the successful winnings!


2 peas in a pod!

Salem's action shot

Is that a grin or what!?

During the month of October, they turn the evenings into a huge Halloween bash at Sea World with events going on throughout the park. Andrew went through the haunted house and he said it was awesome! Salem and I waited for him because I didn't feel like waiting in line for an hour and a half; so Andrew paid $15 to get a pass to cut the line....well worth it! I also think I would have been scared out of my mind and it would have forced me into labor. Wait, what was I thinking, maybe that wouldn't have been a bad thing after all!

This guy thought it would be funny to scare me and a 2 year old....it probably was funny on his part and would have found myself doing the exact same thing to someone if I was in his shoes.


Sandwiched between all her hard earned treasures

Tonight I'm taking her to a Halloween party at the YMCA. I might as well let her get as many uses as she can out of her costume and have a little fun with it! More pictures on that to come tomorrow.............

Fact

The Wiggles are the highest paid celebrities in Australia followed by:

#2- AC DC

#3- Nicole Kidman

Who ever would have thought? Now I understand why we had to pay $85 bucks a piece for tickets; what a scam!   I need to get Andrew jump started on the children's entertainment industry. 

Jiles/Wyse Festivities!

Amanda & Beth (sister and mom) at the spa the day before
In the limo on the way to get hitched!
Me, Amanda & the beautiful bride to be!


I made it back from Phoenix without a baby! I had a FABULOUS time with my best friend and her wedding was breathtaking! If Andrew and I could go back and do ours all over again, I would want it to be all and everything theirs was! The colors were chocolate brown, orange with a hint of ivory. The wedding consisted of butterflies being released during the ceremony, a candy table, ice butterfly sculpture, fall branches/leaves flown in from back east, fondue bar, open bar (that I couldn't take advantage of), wonderful food, gorgeous cake, basically you name, they had it! Abbey and her mom think of everything and leave NOTHING out. They are incredibly thoughtful and go above and beyond to make sure everyone feels welcomed and special. I stayed at her parents house and they had framed photos of Salem and I in the room I stayed in because they wanted to make me feel like I was home...isn't that sweet!? They had so much going on and completely went out of their way for me.; to include being showered with gifts for both Tavin and Salem.


Me and my mommy!


I consider them to be my 2nd family and was an emotional wreck at Abbey's wedding. I kept it together during the ceremony (barely), and flat out lost it during my shaky speech. I've known Abbey for 21 years and I consider her the sister I never had. So many people get married who's relationships are all wrong from the beginning, and I can happily say that theirs is so right!

Me and my bro the morning after at breakfast

I'm Off!

I'm headed out the door on my way to Phoenix for 4 days! Will post a ton of photos when I return and keep your fingers crossed that I don't go into labor while I'm there!!!!

Have a wonderful weekend!

BPA Free

THIS is great!  Go ahead and load your happy little selves up in the car with all the TONS, and TONS of old bottles you have in the house BECAUSE.....

Babies R Us is taking ANY bottles you have that contain Bisphenol and replacing them! The best part is, you don't even have to have a receipt!  NONE of mine that I used with Salem were purchased there, and it doesn't matter...they take them without hesitation!  I didn't believe something so wonderful could be true, until I slammed 20 on the counter and came home with 20 brand spanking new ones (without spending a single cent) that are BPA Free!  

Now, I will say that I've had friends that have had different outcomes with this, depending on what store you go to.  From what I've heard, you're supposed to pay the difference (bisphenol free ones are more expensive).  I, on the other hand, didn't have to.  Like I said, I came home with 6 brand new packages. I traded mine brand for brand (Dr. Brown's for BPA Free Dr. Brown's).  That's another "issue" some of my friends have come across.  Some stores are making them trade the brand for brand way, and others will let you get whatever ones you want with you having to pay the difference (if the ones you choose are more expensive. ) Regardless, I still think it's a great service being provided and I had to share.  

Phoenix, here I come!!!!

Yay, no baby today!!!!  I can't even tell you how relieved we are!  For starters, I never got around to packing my hospital bag; can you imagine me having to explain to Andrew what to bring with him and what would accurately show up? That, in itself, would have been a nightmare! I could have seen the lingerie being shoved in the bag by "accident", over the heinous ,maternal, breast feeding, grandma looking garments!  Aaahhh! Onto the good stuff.....

Tavin is working (or cooking) wonders in there, and has decided to cooperate with us by growing into the 12th% for his gestational age!!!!!!!  What a good boy!  With this info. (along with other conclusions), I am now able to travel to Phoenix next weekend to take part in my BEST FRIEND'S wedding!!!!!!!  I had a 4d ultrasound done today and he looks JUST like his daddy and sister..imagine that!  I guess the meaning of his name is quite fitting--TWIN!  

I will never get over how different pregnancies can be.  I am now the same size I was at when I gave birth to Salem.  I still have weeks to go people!  Its not like I'm sitting around and shoving my face; I feel like I'm busier than ever because I have Salem to chase this go-around. I would understand a little bit more if he was bigger, but he's smaller than she was too!  

Now, just pray that my water doesn't break on its own between now and next week!  We just can't have that, I have things to do!  

There is no I in WE!

This weekend was successful and WE were able to cross many to-do's off our list! The one thing I didn't get around to that should have been a bigger priority, was getting my hospital bag packed. That I will have to get done before this coming Thursday. Our accomplishments included:

*I went to my girls night out crop night from 6-12 on friday! It's always fun and I was able to complete 3 scrapbook pages and 20 more of Tavin's birth announcements!

*The gym on Saturday followed by yard work, family jet photos at Andrew's squadron, and YES, I FINALLY got Tavin's room painted and the curtains hung up! I have to give a big thanks to Andrew (who HATES anything having to do with painting), who offered to tape the wall off for me and even touch up paint! It made my life much more easier!

See his diaper/hopsital bag on the shelf? Yeah, I have so much stuff for him in there that I can't even close the darn thing!

*Sunday was actually relaxing and we played outside with Salem most of the day. Then, in the evening, I made dinner for my girlfriend who just brought her baby girl home from the hospital. You should have seen us in the kitchen, Andrew was making our dinner (steaks, potatoes, beans, etc., while I'll was cooking baked ziti, salad, and bread for our neighbors/and a plate of it for us tonight; along with cheese rice and broccoli from Salem. It was a mad house, but everything worked out in the end and tasted yummy!

*We got going on the office, but it still needs a lot of work. We need to eventually move everything out of the office to turn it into our now guest room (Tavin's room used to be the guest room). Andrew's parents are coming to visit us next week; so that gives us at least 7 days to complete our task..yikes!

* One of my main accomplishments this weekend was getting half of this year's upcoming Christmas presents wrapped! People, I WILL NOT have the time with a newborn, guests visiting, a toddler running around, etc. to do such a thing a month or so from now. I finished this years shopping last year, and the wrapping has begun! I will say it does feel a little strange getting everything together with not a single Christmas decoration in sight, and sweating while I'm doing so. Oh well, come Nov/Dec., I'll be happy that it's all over with and can hopefully relax. Okay maybe I won't be relaxing, but at least I'll be able to chase and play more with my kids and husband!

3 more that I knocked out this AM before Salem got out of bed!

Feeling Festive!

October is HERE and I've only been waiting for it since ummmm....9 months now! The halloween/fall decor has been out for a few weeks now (okay, maybe a little early, but I couldn't wait...I was tooooo excited), I can feel a slight change in temperature (maybe it's just my imagination due to being over excited), and we're busting out the stylish fall clothing for Salem along with fun activities/games! There was just so much summer I could take and so much squeezing my overly- large- pregnant- tooshie into a tiny bikini that I could take! I'll miss the tan, but enough Schlitterbahn already until next year!

Salem mentioned yesterday that she wanted to "paint pumpkins outside mommy"; so that's what we did! We set up shop, soaked in some (again, slightly cooler) rays, and painted mini pumpkins. One was for daddy and the other was specifically for her boyfriend, Knox. I think they turned out really cute and she had a blast doing just so!

The way her glasses have fallen to the tip of her nose make me laugh!

On another note, I had yet ANOTHER stress test today. Things are fine, but we had a bit of a scare. I was having contractions while I was hooked up to all the machines, so they kept me there longer than usual before they would discharge me. Due to the contractions and variables, I also had to have an ultrasound to check Tavin's fluids, heart, etc. Eventually, everything settled down and I was able to go to the only place I wanted to be, HOME! I can't even begin to explain how tiring this all is having to do this 2-3 x's per week. I can physically/emotionally feel it beginning to take a toll on me. I can feel the wrinkles appearing on face every time I walk through the doors of Wilford Hall. I was told to have all bags packed and be ready for anything. I've been procrastinating the issue, but after today, I'll take the advice and run! I've had Tavin's packed for 2 months (are you shocked?), but haven't even thought of what I should bring!

This weekend is going to be full accomplishments! Tomorrow night, I'm going to the local scrapbook store for CROP night to work on Tavin's birth announcements from 6-midnight with a group of ladies, I have to paint Tavin's room, get the guest bed out of there, get the car seat ready (even though we probably wouldn't use it right away if something happened anytime soon), get the office straightened up, and oh yeah, pack my bag(s)!

Check back to see how much we (or I) really get to!

I've never crapped so fast in my LIFE

Yesterday morning I set my happy self down on the pot to take care of normal morning business, only to look up and find this staring at me with tail in full upward attack mode!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The picture doesn't do it justice, the thing was HUGE! The larger the scorpion, the less poisonous it is; but my god, the thing is scary! Luckily, our neighbor, Kris, came to my rescue and killed it for me. I've never been stung by anything in my life (not even a bee), and I didn't want this to be my first time with carrying a child. I will say that I squatted over the toilet the rest of the day after he flushed it down the potty. I was scared to death that maybe it had 9 lives and would come back to life, crawl up through the pipes, and really give it to be on the toosh for doing him in! Now, I find myself being overly cautious and checking every shoe, clothing article, sheets (not just once, but like 10 times before we crawl in), shower nozzles, cracks, crevices, etc. Yuck, they just gross me out!