It's A.....

If you asked Taylor she would have told you she wanted a sister!!

If you asked Thomas...a brother!!

But if you asked Tom or I??

A HAPPY HEALTHY BABY!!

Another blog I stumbled upon did this (in a way bigger way, I think with a cake) but I loved the idea. I had the doctor seal the results in an envelope and I took the envelope to the bakery at my old store.

I asked the cake decorator to fill two cupcakes with icing that was either blue or pink depending on what the envelope said.

Thank you Toni for two very cute and NON-Revealing cupcakes.

The kids were so excited to find out (or eat a cupcake before dinner) who knows!

I told them to both take a huge bite so we would be able to see what color icing was inside.

The look on Thomas' face was priceless, but the picture unfortunately was of the icing so you will just have to imagine.

Can you see what color it is??

PINK!! A very light shade of pink, but pink nevertheless!!

We are expecting a baby girl and although it took a little convincing of Thomas...everyone is very excited.

Name TBD...for now she will still be called Little Ick!!

Life With These Two

As if my life with these two munchkins isn't great enough...I am half way to having one more. Thomas and Taylor can drive me crazy better than anyone, but make up for it 100 times over with the way they make me laugh. THAT is what I look forward to the most about having another baby. Kids give you a whole different perspective on life and for that I am VERY grateful.

Are You Ready For Some Football?

Today was Thomas' first flag football game. I can not begin to tell you how excited he was.

And...

This little play kept him fueled the entire game.



It's going to be a great season.

We Travel For Parties!!

Well...

We travel for some parties. Last week we (as in Tom, the kids, my parents, my sis and I) flew to Portland to celebrate my Aunt and Uncle's 50th wedding anniversary. Staying married for 25 years seems pretty impressive now days, but 50?? 50 is amazing! I actually think I know one other couple that will make it to 50, but they deserve a post all of their own...wink wink mom and dad!

Anyway...here is the happy couple getting the night started!!

It really was a great party and so good to see everyone.

A few more pics from our night...

My sis and I had a little "Mustache" fun before the party. I really could have gone for a drink right about then, but I guess I can wait another 5 more months!!

Thomas and Taylor danced the night away and the rest of us laughed the night away (with a little dancing too).

And as if the evening wasn't awesome enough...

My Uncle Jim...who is a young 70 something...played a few sets with the band. I really wish I had a youtube video of him to share. He is amazing and brought the party to their feet more than once.

It really was a great night!!

The Summer Is Coming To An End

Well in most parts of the country it is, but its still well over 100 here in AZ.

I am just hoping that no matter what the temperature is when we leave here on Thursday...when we get home it will have dropped into the double digits for good.

We took the kids swimming this weekend and I had to make sure and take some pics. I have been horrible this summer about taking pics of the kids swimming, but it is really just because I have always been in the pool with them.

Anyhoo...

I took a couple of Thomas and somehow missed my Cookie Monster completely. I am pretty sure I will have a few more chances unless the weather changes drastically.

He absolutely loves practicing his cannonball!! And I am happy to say that he finally has it down.

And after another month of swim lessons and an entire summer in the pool he will finally swim from one end of the pool to the other freestyle.

I will try the next time for some good ones of Taylor!!

16 Down...

I am 16 weeks and feeling good. My clothes are starting to feel a little snug, but haven't had to start shopping yet.

Just counting down the days until we find out if Little Ick is a boy or a girl!!

Here I am in all my pregger glory!!

Random....Just plain random!!

First of all....Is August over yet??

Hottest August on record here in good ol' AZ!! And I am over it!! After about noon I have no desire to leave the house at all. And if it wasn't for the fact that I have to pick up Thomas...I wouldn't!!

I am counting down the days until we are in cooler weather. The whole family is headed to Portland next Thursday for a pretty special party...

My Aunty Bubs and Uncle Jim are celebrating what few make it too...50 YEARS of marriage! I truly am over the moon excited!

Four more days and I hit another pregnancy milestone...16 weeks. Well, I guess it really isn't a milestone but it does put me four weeks from finding out whether Little Ick is a boy or girl!! I really wish I could be patient enough to just find out on the big day...but I'm not.

The kids are a month into school, Thomas still loving it...Taylor not so much. She tells me every morning that she really doesn't want to go. Of course the good mom that I am I just tell her that it is go to school or go to the doctor!! So far...school is winning.

Moving right along....

I am so excited that we are only one week from the official start of this...

I just love football season...period...no explanation needed!! You either get it or you don't!!

And as a bonus...the start of football season also means the premiers of all my favorite shows.

Just to name a few!!

Oh...

September is looking to be a darn good month if I do say so myself!!

But...

Because I love ya...

I am going to share one more thing!!

Most of the time commercials on TV are good for one thing...bathroom breaks. And really 95% of the time they are seen in FF on my DVR.

BUT...

Sometimes you do actually watch a commercial and sometimes it even makes you laugh.

I will leave you with this...



You either laugh or you don't!! I laugh EVERY time!!

14 Down...

With the exception of a few things it has become apparent to me that I remember very little from my first two pregnancies. I did a so-so job at documenting my first pregnancy, but with Taylor I don't think I wrote down a single thing.

I love that I can use this blog as my journal and share with my friends and family at the same time.

I am officially 14 weeks today and feeling pretty good.

Here's what's good:

I feel awesome in the morning/early afternoon usually.

I am craving a green salad with ranch almost every night with dinner.

Taylor is so happy about this baby it makes me happy.

Cleaning and organizing are on my mind 24/7, but not in a bad way at all.

My NOOKcolor... I really do not know how I could ever live without it now.

Here's what I could do without:

Lack of sleep. I wish I could nap during the day because I get about 2 hours of solid sleep at night and the rest is spent tossing and turning.

I do not remember being this emotional the last two pregnancies. I cry at least once a day. I won't even tell you some of the things that are making me cry.

The in between stage I am starting to get with my clothes. Rubberbands have become a must have in my purse.

As an extension of the previous...my boobs getting bigger.  Have already had to buy all new bras and still have a ways to go.  OVER IT!!!  Was that TMI?? Oh what do I care this is my blog I can say what I want!

Whining...my fuse seems to have gotten significantly shorter lately and the kids whining/fighting is off the charts.

All in all though pregnancy = good!!  Only 26ish weeks to go. Yippie!!

Fact of the day!!

Now this does not apply exclusively to Taylor, but sometimes the things my kids say...

Well, just plain make me laugh.

So I decided that I will now be sharing the isms my kids share with me!!

Today...

As I am driving to my moms Taylor says:

Taylor- "Mom..."

Me- "Yea, Cook what's up?"

Taylor- "Panda Bears eat Bamboo!"

Me- "Really?"

Taylor- "Yep!"

That was it! No more information just that!! Random does not begin to describe some of our car conversations.

Anyone Up For The Challenge??

So if I haven't mentioned it yet I am obsessed with Pinterest!!

If you are wondering what it is...well it is a time sucking, yet wonderful thing on the net. Ideas, ideas and more ideas. Things to wear...ways to decorate...places to dream about visiting...DIY craft projects...party planning for just about everything...

OH I could go on forever.

If you have not checked it out...I highly recommend that you do. But I did warn you above that it can be addicting.

Anyway...thanks to the Pinterest world I have created a "Things I Need To Do" list. I decided today that it is time to pick something on the list and do it.

I chose this idea I found over at Little Lucy Lu. I have moved from the "feeling yucky" stage of my pregnancy to the "it's time to get organized" stage.

The idea is simple... 40 bags in 40 days!

I took her list and adjusted it to fit my life/house and this is what I came up with!!

1. Laundry Room Cupboards                                        21. My Bathroom Drawers

2. Kitchen Utensil Drawers                                           22. Under Bathroom Sinks

3. Other Kitchen Drawers                                             23. Taylor's Dresser/Closet

4. Pantry                                                                        24. Thomas' Dresser/Closet

5. Under Kitchen Sink                                                  25. Toys

6. Refrigerator                                                               26. Upstairs Cupboards

7. Freezer                                                                      27. Scrapbook/craft Stuff

8. Spices                                                                        28. Kids' Bathroom Cupboards

9. Office Drawers                                                          29. Laundry Room Shelves

10. Mail Drop                                                               30. Upper Kitchen Cupboards

11. Closet (my clothes)                                                 31. Lower Kitchen Cupboards

12. Closet (my shoes)                                                   32. Garage Refrigerator

13. Closet (Tom's clothes)                                             33. Garage Freezer

14. Dresser drawers                                                       34. My Car

15. Nightstands                                                              35. Entryway Closet

16. Entertainment Center                                              36. Kids' TV Drawers

17. Hall Closet                                                               37. Guest Bedroom Closet

18. Jewelry                                                                    38. Kids' School Stuff

19. Make-up                                                                  39. Holiday Stuff

20. Linen Closet                                                            40. Photo Box/Drawer

I am now extending the challenge to my fellow bloggers/followers.

Although I really want to do this project regardless, it would help to have at least one person that will join me. I tend to do a little better when I have a partner. I will post my updates and who knows maybe even show you all the stuff I have shoved hidden in all the drawers/closets in my house.

AKA "Little Ick"

So about a week after we told the kids about the baby I was in my room getting ready and Taylor walks into my room...

She had decided that she was going to call the baby "Little Ick"...All thanks to the show Little Bear on Nick Jr.

And...

It has stuck!!

At least 5-10 times a day does some or all of the following...

Talks to Little Ick...Yep, she talks to my belly!

Asks if Little Ick is sleeping!

Wants to know if Little Ick can share her bedroom (Yea, right!!)

Wants to know if she can feed and hold Little Ick.

Brings me her blankets and/or stuffed animals that she wants Little Ick to have.

I am telling you people...my little Taylor is super excited for "Little Ick" to arrive. I just hope she doesn't want to send him or her back once she figures out what having a baby in the house actually means.

Oh and probably from this point further I will just refer to the baby as "Little Ick" since it has pretty much stuck for the rest of us too.

The Littlest Things

Sometimes there are tiny moments during parenting when you feel like you have been heard.

I just had one of those moments!!

I asked the kids to clean up there toys around the house. Actually I told them to or we would not be doing anything fun tonight.

They protested!! Shocking I know!!

Then they did. Taylor complained a lot!! She finally cleaned up the things that were hers and of course was done.

She did however...let me know that Thomas still had "LOTS OF STUFF DOWNSTAIRS!"

I told her that it wouldn't hurt if she helped him since she was done or not... She looked at me like I was nuts and walked away.


AND THEN....


ALL OF A SUDDEN....


I heard her walk upstairs and say the following...

"Thomas...can I help you clean up? I am done with my stuff and I want to help you!"

I couldn't help but smile!!

Future's So Bright...

Today was the big day...Taylor started Kinderbugs this morning. After I assured her that I would drop her off and pick her up she decided she was OK with going to school.

She finally got to take the tags off her new backpack and that pretty much sealed the deal.

I couldn't resist going out last night and buying her a new outfit to go with the shoes Aunt KiKI bought her.

How cute are these kids??

It turns out she is more like her brother than I thought. When I picked her up from school...she was so excited to tell me what she did and even more excited to tell me she wanted to go back.

I am a very proud mommy today!!

Some of you may have heard....

But if you have not...

We are expecting baby #3! I have been patiently waiting to get through my first trimester to share the good news. After last summer we decided that it would be best to wait until that 12 week milestone.

Well we made it and all is looking good (actually sounding good)...no new ultrasound for another 8 weeks.

We are all excited for this new addition. Tom and Thomas don't really say much about it, but Taylor on the other hand...she is super excited. At least 5 times (probably more like 10 times) a day she talks about when the baby comes. It really is cute...but I still believe she is in for a rude awakening come Feb.

Anyhoo...

Against my better judgement I have decided to share the growth of my belly. Thank you to my hubby for the wonderful photography skills (completely joking)...he took like 20 pics and this was the only one in focus. I may be enlisting the help of my mirror next time.

12 Weeks!!!

I have a little, tiny bump, but it isn't quite to that pregnancy bump yet...more like the fat tummy bump. If you are or have been pregnant you know what I am talking about.

I feel great now...I did not feel so great weeks 6-10 though. Never got sick sick, but just felt blah.

My energy level is up which is great when you have a 3 and 5 yr old at home.

No real cravings per say, just hungry all the time.

A Professional In The Making

So this is how we roll on Tuesdays...

We took a little time off from dance this summer, but we are back at it. Tuesdays we dance. She seemed to have fun last season, but she is even more excited this time. I ordered her a new dance outfit off of etsy and it should be in my mailbox in the next few days. I am super excited. It should match those new leg warmers my mom will be whipping up any day now. ;) Wink Wink mom!!