Snow Day

Ellie had her first snow day yesterday!  Greenville Co Schools had early dismissal so I was able to get to Southside in time to pick her up and get home before the snow even started.  

 We went out on the deck for approximately 5 minutes before we both decided we were done.  We're definitely beach girls!  The fact that neither of us have the appropriate attire didn't help matters--gotta get this girl some rain boots and water proof clothing for next time!

She thought the snow was funny and giggled as it was falling down--in the picture above a flake had landed on her nose and she told Gracie she was very messy, as she had flakes covering her back.

 We've enjoyed a day inside today, staying warm and wishing I had stocked up our kitchen a little better for fun snow day treats--and also wishing daddy could be at home with us today rather than making the trek to Spartanburg for work!

Happy Snow Day from our Snow Bunny!

24 Weeks

Unbelievably I had my 24 week appointment today!  This pregnancy is flying by, as they say 2nd pregnancies do.  I had an ultrasound to check the heart again and to get a better picture and it looked perfect.  The baby was head down (which doesn't really matter--I'm having a c section regardless of position) and jumping all over the place.
I will have another ultrasound at 28 weeks to check the growth.  I asked Dr Twedt today what the baby needs to be measuring to avoid the 2x/weekly appointments that Ellie had and she said the 10th percentile.  Of course, this baby measured exactly on the 10th at the 20 week u/s (and didn't check growth today) so we will just keep trudging along until February 10th and we will cross that bridge when we get there.
Dr Twedt agrees that regardless of a diagnosis of "growth restriction" or not, she doesn't believe that Josh and I would ever have large babies--especially based on Ellie's size at 2.5 years (and still being in the 3rd percentile).  We obviously want to avoid the bi-weekly appointments this go round (because WHO has time for that?) but will do what we have to do, with confidence that this outcome will be the same absolute perfect outcome that we had with Ellie.  It is a whole lot easier this go round, being able to look at all that we went through with Ellie and see that she is absolutely healthy and perfect (besides the 2 year old attitude).  I'm thankful for my doctors that are positive that all is ok, yet also cautious that they don't miss anything throughout the pregnancy.  I am anticipating the worst and fervently praying for the best at this time...based on Ellie's pregnancy, of course I'm always waiting on the ball to drop.  I am so thankful for how "normal" the past 24 weeks have been and do have hope that we can have another uneventful 15ish weeks ahead.  Also thankful for your prayers and love!  xoxo

2013 Review

2013 was full of many blessings!

January--

 Ellie turned 20 months--registered her for preschool and introduced her to the potty!

 Josh and I spent NYE watching the Tigers beat LSU at the Chickfila Bowl.

We took Ellie to the circus for the first time!

February--

Ellie turned 21 months--she got her first ear infection

We had a super Valentines Day

March--

 We did lots of Easter activities--live bunnies, sat on the bunny's lap, Easter bunny brunch, and the children's theater hop hop story reading

E got her first haircut

April--

 We celebrated a fun Easter

 went on our annual strawberry pick

 Ellie turned 23 months

we spent a lot of time outside, enjoying the warmer weather

May--

 We went to Atlanta and Ellie met Emily Brooks and visited the GA Aquarium for the first time

 celebrated a wonderful Mother's Day

and Ellie turned TWO

June--

 Summer finally arrived!

 We headed to IOP with the Tapps

 and went on many field trips

 celebrated Father's Day

July--

another Fourth of July spent on the lake

and a week on Hilton Head!

August--

 Josh and I spent a long weekend in Chicago to celebrate our anniversary--our first time there and one of my most favorite trips to date!

 Ellie started preschool at Southside Christian

September--

 We made our annual trip to Sky Top!

went to see Elmo live!

and found out we had Baby #2 on the way!  SURPRISE!

October--

 We visited many pumpkin patches

 dressed up like an elephant for Halloween

and visited the SC State Fair!

November--

 celebrated Thankgiving!

 December--

and had a wonderful Christmas

We are looking forward to 2014 and praying that the Lord continues to bless us so abundantly!

Christmas Round 4

We went to Batesburg the day after Christmas to celebrate with Aunt Reenie and Uncle Carty--they are really more like another set of grandparents than an Aunt and Uncle and I love that Ellie is able to have a special relationship with them.  Just wish we could see them more often!

 Ellie got the most precious Rosalina doll house complete with all the furniture you could imagine, plus a new bishop of course!  Aunt Reenie loves smocked clothes as much as I do!

Ellie's third Christmas is down in the books and what a great one it was!

Christmas Day

All of my family came to our home Christmas Day and it was so nice to have everyone under one roof. We enjoyed a delicious (and easy and relaxed) steak lunch and then Ellie yet again opened her slew of presents from Grammy, Banks, Don Don and Kim!

 Dad built her a beautiful dollhouse her first Christmas that she is finally into playing with so she got some little people for it.

 Bubba gave her a puzzle that spells out her name--he is helping her unwrap it here--you can tell by her face that she loves him so!

 Another one of her favorites were these farm animal string beads.

 Poor Gracie.  She got nothing for Christmas and just wanted a nap!

 Bouncing on her new Rody (with her stylish new gripper socks)

 Don Don and Kim gave her a kaleidoscope that she LOVES

 and a kazoo--she figured it out almost instantly and loves to hum "Elmo's World".  Who knew she would love retro toys so much?

It was a very Merry Christmas indeed!