New Years in Atlanta

Over New Years we headed to Atlanta to visit with my parents and friends and other family there! S and I went down on Wed and M came on Friday since he had to work. So, we spent New Years Eve stag, but that's fine we got a date night while we were there!

It was SO STINKIN' COLD that we couldn't take S outside too much so we had to get creative with indoor activities! We took her to the mall with an indoor carousel and play area which was a huge hit. She loves, loves, loves the carousel! She was wearing tights at the play area and couldn't get her feet to grip anything since we had to take her shoes off, so off come the tights! Good thing it was warm in there:) She had a great time and because it was New Years Day school was out and there were tons of big kids there which made it all the better in her opinion!!

My mom made play dough for her and she had so much fun using cookie cutters and plastic knives to make "food" out of it. She also found some old plates and cups and made everyone coffee about ten times a day! Very cute!!! We went and dug out some of my old My Little Ponies and Barbies and she thought they were okay but was more interested in the play dough and coffee-making. It's a good thing my parents were there to entertain her because she demanded it constantly - isn't that was grandparents are for?:)

There was one afternoon that is was just barely warm enough for us to take a short walk to the creek and throw sticks and rocks into it. I was freeeeeezing, but S and my dad didn't seem to mind the cold as much as I did. I'm such a wus!

We went and visiting my cousin and one of her daughters and met up with a couple of my friends from high school. I wasn't very good at taking pictures, but I did manage to get some!

It was a great trip and we were so glad to be able to spend several days there rather than just a short weekend!!!

Ahhh... Baking!

S helped me make some of the goodies for Christmas lunch! She totally reaped the benefits of being Mommy's little helper:)

Christmas Day

Christmas was so much fun this year! S really got into opening her presents and would "Ohhh" and "Ahhh" at everything!! She had so much fun as did we watching her:) The walking and barking dog was a HUGE hit! She loves to tell it what to do and take it for walks. It is so precious! It will start barking and she'll yell "NO!" at it or it'll whine and she'll pick it up and sawy "Awww... pity!" The little guy even gets to take naps with blankets thanks to Mommy S. After opening gifts with just the three of us at the house, we headed to M's parents house to spend the day with his mom's side of the family. All but one made it this year and it was one loud, but fun, event! We thoroughly enjoyed this Christmas with our sweet little girl and family! Merry Christmas:)

Christmas Eve

We went to Christmas Eve service at our church this year and took S into the service with us. Childcare was provided so that if she got completely out of hand, we could take her to the nursery so it wasn't TOO stresful! She did okay, but definitely was not a quiet, still little girl:) She talked and moved around a lot but that is pretty much expected with a two-year-old. We kept her in there the whole time with us but were really kinda glad when service was over! We'll do it again next year, but probably not before then!:)

Christmas Eve Eve

Since M and I have been married, we've done Christmas Eve at his aunt's house. Well, last year, with the little ones, we decided to do Christmas Eve Eve instead and did the same again this year. S's cousin (only about 2 months older than her) had a great time and were crazy, crazy crazy!! What fun memories for these two:)

So Long First Trimester!

I'm sure this post will bore most of you to tears, but it is something I want to remember. This pregnancy up to this point has gone by so much faster than the first. I suppose this is probably because I am busy keeping up with a two-year-old!


First Trimester Summary

Early symptoms

Felt awful - Even before I tested positive, I had a feeling I was pregnant b/c I just felt off starting at would have been about 3 weeks. We found out when I was 3w4d. With the first it was the hunger that made me know I was pregnant.

Morning Sickness - This started about about 6.5 weeks and was typically more in the evening but not completely out the question to be in the morning too! Nauseous but never actually got "sick". This started tapering off about 11 weeks and is still just every few days now. I definitely have felt a lot worse this time around, or maybe I just don't remember the first very well anymore.

TIRED - This is something I did not experience with the first one hardly at all! I can barely keep my head up my noon on most days!

Backache - I am having to sit down to hold S a lot right now. So sad!

Weight Gain - Yes I gained weight pretty quickly during the first pregnancy as well. At 13 weeks with the first I'd gained 5 pounds. Right now, I've gained 6 pounds. Not too much difference, but the belly has popped out much quicker! I was 18 weeks when I went into maternity clothes the first time around but I don't think I am going to be make it past 15 weeks with this one (I'm already doing the unbutton the pants under the belt thing


Cravings

GRITS! This is the main one! I have to have a bowl every afternoon:) The other foods I'm listing are not necessary but I am preferring them over other foods
Pizza
Egg McMuffins
String Cheese
Lima Beans
Chips and saltier food in general
French fries

Aversions
Meats of any kind - cooked or raw - unless it is fried
Vegetables, except lima beans
Coffee

Some of these things are the same as with the first and some are not.

All in all, these pregnancies have many similarities and also many differences. I am not leaning one way or the other regarding if it is a boy or girl. For me, I think it would be fun to have another girl because there is such a cool bond between sisters especially as they get older. But, having one of each would be pretty neat!

This baby will most likely round out our family so I am trying to enjoy things as much as possible.

Here is the latest ultrasound at of Baby #2 at 13 weeks(although the baby is measuring closer to 14 weeks)!

Hollywild

We LOVE this place!!!

Last year was the first time M and I had been since we got married and it was a blast. S enjoyed it at 14 months. Now, at 2-years-old, she really enjoyed it!!! It was really the perfect night to go since I think the snow/sleet/ice from this morning kept some people away. We didn't have to wait too long to get in - not nearly as long as last year! This is one of my favorite holiday "traditions" that we seem to have started:)

New Neighborhood Daycare??

Heck no!!! I can't even imagine! But, these girls did have fun eating their "brunch" on my kitchen floor:)

Bows, Posing and Stretching

Gigi and S had a ball putting every single one of S's bows in her hair!! It was a riot:) After posing with Gigi in front of the Christmas tree, S showed Gigi how her and Daddy do their stretches! I think it is so cute when they do this!

Santa Clause is Coming to Town!

Starting last year, our SS class has done a Christmas party geared towards the kids. It is so FUN!!! And the kids have a blast! We have pizza and sweets and get to watch all the kids go crazy! Santa even comes for a visit and gives all the kids a gift. We didn't even attempt to put S on his lap this year after our experience at the mall a couple weeks ago. But, she loved the present he gave her, she ate way too many cookies and she had a blast playing with her friends!! This is one of my favorite parts of our Christmas:)

Dinner and a Concert

Tonight after dinner S was singing for me!! I LOVE hearing her sweet voice sing!

To interpret, this is Jesus Loves Me, ABCs(she's reading the ABC book) and Itsy Bitsy Spider:)

What a Pair!!

This past Sunday, OKW came in to the class that I teach after most of the kids had gone home to say hi to Stella - Stella was begging for her to come visit:) M and CTW were also in the room and I had my back turned toward the girls. M suddenly says, "C, look!" and when I turned around, this is what I saw!!!!!! So glad I had my camera in my purse - you never know when a photo op is going to come up:)

Christmas Pictures

We had S's Christmas pictures done when we did her two-year-old pictures. It just didn't seem quite right to post them before Thanksgiving even got here. So, here they are, even though they were taken over a month ago. I am very happy with the way the turned out! PI did a great job with her:)

Oh Christmas Tree

This weekend we went and chopped down our Christmas Tree! It was raining, so S and I stayed in the car and let Daddy take care of it. It is a tall tree, but still a red cedar which I am NOT a fan of at all! They are so prickly and I had to wear gloves to get the ornaments on the tree (breaking TWO in the process b/c I couldn't keep a good grip on them!). S was able to help us decorate this year and it was fun to have her be a part of the festive fun. She took the ornaments from the box and brought them over to us to hang on the tree. She really enjoyed it! Now that we've finished decorating, the tree doesn't look too bad - although, I do prefer the good ol' frasier fir variety!

Still Not a Fan...

of Santa!


I knew it would be a scream-fest for S, but I didn't think I would have to be in the picture with her! I couldn't get her off of me, she had a death grip with both arms and both legs around me! Maybe next year???

Rain!

We had SO MUCH RAIN today!!! These are pictures of the creek that is behind our house that is typically very low and hardly even there! You wouldn't even know it was there because it is in a big ditch (although you wouldn't know a ditch existed from these pics!).