Well, I'm Back!

Goodness gracious, computers are confusing. After a little research, it looks like just about everyone I know has had Blogger tell them this week they are over their limit of picture storage. I ended up upgrading to Google Plus and adding my pictures to there. Once I did that, I when I uploaded my pics to Blogger, I uploaded from "Picasa Web Albums" instead of my usual computer. That seems to work for now, although I still can't figure out how to change my profile picture. I'll have to work on that later.

 

Moving on! Happy Friday! We have had a lot going on these days and my pregnancy brain is a little on overload. All the pics below are from Thanksgiving--we all know blog posts are no fun without pictures!

 

We pretty much have been out of town since October, which can wear on a pregnant mama with a toddler and a husband out of town a lot lately. Eli doesn't sleep well in his own bed, and he's even worse in other's people's houses. I'm tired.

 

I think we started going out of town for baby showers-- I helped throw one of my childhood best friends a shower for her Cora Lee, and then I went to one for my SIL Kelci's Bennett Collin. Matthew was out of town the entire week of Halloween, so we went back in for that whole week.

 

Kelci had Bennett that week, and we stayed through the weekend to visit. He's a tiny precious thing and hardly makes a peep. He's already sleeping 6 hours a night, which Eli hasn't done for pretty much his whole 2 1/2 years.

 

We came in two weeks after that again for Thanksgiving. We spent Thanksgiving Day at my brother's house in Huntsville, and the next day at Matthew's parents. Both meals were different and so good! Eli loved having such an assortment to choose from each meal! We spent five days in town again visiting, hunting, and sleeping poorly. :)

 
Matthew has been busier at work these past couple months than in our whole fours years here in Knoxville. He leaves early and comes home later than usual and is out of town a lot more than he's ever had to do before. I am so thankful he's doing well, but it certainly takes some getting used to!

 

Eli is LOVING school these days, praise God! He may fuss for a second when I drop him off, but he never wants to leave when I pick him up. I know you mamas know what a blessing and relief it is to my heart to see him having fun, making friends, and blossoming in his new environment.

 

This little boy in my belly is doing great-- moving all the time and letting me know he's doing just fine in there. He's measuring almost two weeks ahead and I definitely feel it. I already feel like I have run out of room for growth, but I know that's not the case and I will just be getting bigger and bigger! We have three months left, and I'm glad for it, because we although we are ready to meet his sweet face, we are not prepared in any other aspect!

 



 

I am hoping to not have a repeat c-section this time, but my dr. has said she'd like to see ideal conditions for labor, with pretty much nothing repeating from last time. This baby will need to measure equal to or smaller than Eli was, which he is already surpassing. I will need to go into labor on my own, no induction, and not have the same low fluid, placental tears, or calcium deposits like with Eli's birth. SO, I am trying to keep an open mind and heart about this labor. I know God is in control and will lead us to the labor He already knows we'll have.

 

And last but definitely NOT least, these past few months have brought us changes. Matthew's job has been making TONS of changes throughout his company. Different territories, different bosses, regional managers, firing and hiring, etc. Matthew has been offered a chance at a few different positions opening up in Nashville. We have always hoped and prayed that we would end back up in our hometown of Franklin before our babies are in school, and this seems like the opportunity to do so.

 

That being said, we are sitting ducks at this point. We started talking about this opportunity in early September, and were told at first maybe October, now maybe December, and now maybe January. Just this week, Matthew was offered and accepted a position in a different field than his own, but a work dinner this week has brought up another option. We are still being told to be prepared for Matthew to start work in Nashville in early January, but he still has to go through the formal hiring process, and that may or may not take some time.

 

This means we have been preparing our house to be put on the market during the holidays. My Dad came and stayed for an entire week just working on and fixing up things we have been putting off on our 50 year old house. We will probably move in with Matthew's parents for awhile since they have an empty upstairs, and live with them until our house sells. We are already starting to look and just see what's available in the Franklin/Brentwood market, but we don't want to rush into anything, and of course, have to sell this house first.

 

I will have to take Eli out of school just now that he is loving it, find a new OBGYN that I'm comfortable with for the last two months of my pregnancy, and pack up and move everything if and when our house sells. To say my planning/likes to be in control nature is overwhelmed is an understatement. I would LOVE to be in our own house when I deliver and bring home a newborn. Living in two bedrooms upstairs is not my ideal situation with an rambunctious toddler, a newborn, and a husband who works long hours, although we are so thankful our parents will let us live with them. :)

 

I already am boxing up our clutter and selling things we don't want to move with just so we are READY to jump when Matthew's new boss says when.

 

And last, I am not prone to embrace change. My whole life growing up held lots of changes for me, and I really like feeling settled and knowing what to expect. This situation literally gives me tons of anxiety because we don't really know what in the world is going to happen.

I love our little house here in Knoxville. I love our neighborhood and our neighbors. I know what to expect from our church, Eli's school, our daily activities. I know my doctor and I love the hospital where I delivered Eli. It has been just our little marriage and family here in Knoxville since Matthew and I got married, and I do have a sense that I will miss some of this when we move.

 

HOWEVER, we have missed our hometown for the past couple years. Franklin is a special place to grow up. We want that for our family. We want to be able to visit with close chidlhood friends, and see our family at church on Sundays. We want weeknight dinners with a grandparent, and the ability to spend time with our family without having to pack our lives up to stay for the weekend. We are very excited to move back!

 

We are just waiting on some official paperwork and then an official date to be back, and we will really start the moving process. Say a little prayer for our family through all this transition?

 

This was long-winded I know, but we've been decidely not saying much since September when all of this news was presented to us. We feel like we are close enough now to say it's ALMOST happening. :)

(Also, why won't it let me make all my pictures bigger now? It let me change the first few and not the rest....)

Blogging Fee?

Welp, here I was ready to sit down and update you all with what's been going on lately, and this ole' blogger tells me I'm out of picture storage, and now need to pay a monthly fee to be able to upload pics here?

Are you all paying monthly fees? Hmmm, I'm a little stumped. Hopefully be back soon once I figure this out!

Sweet Nephew Bennett.

There's a new sweet baby in town! Our little nephew Bennett Collin Bills was born two weeks ago. I was in Franklin for the week while Matthew was out of town for work, and was so glad little Bennett was punctual about his due date! Kelci's water broke ON her due date, and she had him later that night. If you know Kelci at all, this shouldn't surprise you. She is the most organized, punctual person ever. Bennett is already taking after his mama. Little Bennett weighed about 7 and 1/2 pounds I think, and 19 inches. He is so sweet and tiny!!

 

 

I'm not sure what the deal is with Eli and his new "smile." Tell him to smile, and he gives you this squinty-eyed shy face. It makes for really good pictures, obviously.

This one is a little better, although he still wouldn't smile. Our Christmas card picture options this year look bleak.

I certainly did not look like this after giving birth. And my belly is already as big as Kelci's was on her due date! Rude. 

 

Matth came back in town that Saturday and we headed up there again to cuddle that sweet boy. Matthew is just an ole' pro now- bring on the babies!

 

 

Sweet brothers picture.

 

So far, he looks like a little combo we think. Maybe Anthony's nose, Kelci's eyes and face shape, and both of their big lips!

 

Holding Bennett makes us even more excited for our new little boy to get here!! Babies are addicting!

Grrrrrr.

 

Holidays are so much fun through the eyes of your own babies! This year Eli has really just eaten up all the fall fun and activities we've done, and we have loved seeing how excited he gets! We went and picked up our pumpkins at this local roadside stand in Knoxville this year. It's the same one we went to last year and Eli loved picking out his own pumpkin!

 

He is insisting these days on trying to do everything himself, and we are trying to let him!

 

We didn't even end up carving our pumpkins yet because Matthew had to go out of town this whole week and we all packed up and headed to Franklin. Eli has started pretending around our house--most days, he crawls around as a lion, tiger, or bear and growls at everything or pretends to eat it. When I saw this costume at T.J. Maxx I thought it would be perfect for our little growler. He loved wearing it on Halloween and really took his impersonation to the next level. He growled, crawled around on all fours, etc. Such a little ham.

 

This picture was as close as I could get to a smile...he only wanted to make faces and growl!

 

Off to Cottonwood for trick or treating! I grew up in this neighborhood and I love how involved the whole neighborhood gets with celebrating--bonfires in driveways, every light on, front porches decorated, and families out and about everywhere! So much fun!

 

We didn't really talk to Eli much about "Halloween", mainly b/c I just don't care much for the "holiday," but I am all for dressing him up and letting him pretend play and get some candy out and about with his little friends and making some fun memories for this "sweet treats day"! I think it does make a great opportunity to get out in your neighborhood and fellowship with your neighbors! Bring on November and celebrating being thankful!!

Gentry's Farm

Last weekend, we hit up a family friend's farm in Franklin to let Eli run around and play! One of the things I miss most about Franklin is visiting all the local restaurants and places that are dear to our hearts and memories from growing up there. We met my mom bright and early for breakfast at Dotson's Restaurant, and then headed over to the farm for some Fall fun.

 

They sell pumpkins in the Fall, and lead field trips and summer camps throughout the rest of the year. I used to help with the field trips when I was in grad school, and love seeing this family! This farm is set up perfectly for younger kids- barns with mazes and slides, troughs full of corn activities, barns with play farmer's markets and tractors and trucks, animals, and hay rides to see the cows! Here's Eli crawling through the mole tunnel!

 

Eli is not too happy here b/c his daddy let him stick his teeny tiny precious finger in the cage and ole' Tom Turkey pecked him! His little finger was swollen and bleeding and Eli was a little traumatized for the rest of the day! He would run and cry from every chicken he saw getting close to him after that! Most of the pictures he has his hands behind his back b/c every animal would make him nervous!

 

I've known he's desperately needed another hair cut, but this picture confirmed it for me! I'm proud to say this poor little boy has since had a new hair cut, and looks a little less wild man these days!

 

Here is he with Mr. Jimmy, who finger-printed his little finger onto a sweet card to remember Eli's visit to the farm.

 

There's never enough time to do all the things we want in Franklin, but we are always so grateful to visit and make some new memories with our own baby!

 

P.S. We are planning another visit for Halloween (Matthew will be out of town) AND our NEPHEW Bennett is due in two weeks, so I am hoping Bennett decides to come when we are there visiting!! We are so excited to meet our sweet nephew and for all these boys in the family!!

It's A....

It's..................................

 

 

 

 

 

 

...........................................

 

 

 

 

 

A.......................................

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

..........................................

 

 

 

 

 

 

'nother dirt-playin', truck-lovin, rowdy BOY!!

 

 

 

 

My mama intuition was totally wrong, let me just say, I am glad we don't get to pick the gender of our babies! God knows just who is made for our family and He hand-picked this sweet little boy for us!

 

 

 

We are so excited for two boys running around our house and Matthew can't wait to take two little boys fishing, hunting, and to sporting events. I am already planning a shared room and can't wait to pull out all of Eli's teeny tiny newborn clothes. Holidays will be so fun with Eli, this baby boy, and Bennett, Anthony and Kelci's little boy, running around together!

 

 

 

Thank you God for another sweet gift!



Ch ch ch changes.

Hey Eli! Look over here!

 

 

What's that on your shirt?

 

Stick out that chest- let's make sure we can read it!

 

That's right- you're going to be a BIG brother!

 

Can you tell we're excited around here?! We have finally let ourselves start getting really excited- we're talking names, bedroom arrangements, how to best prepare Eli, etc.

 

Eli keeps saying it's a sister, but who knows? I certainly feel like this pregnancy has been different than Eli's- I am carrying differently ( and showing sooner), have been a lot sicker, different cravings, different heartbeat...although I know they say every single pregnancy is different, so we'll see. Honestly, we just don't care what the sex is! We would love a little girl at some point, but little boys are so. much. fun. and they love their mamas! Matth loves the idea of taking his little boys fishing and hunting, and we're just so thankful that God has given us this child!

 

I am finally feeling better, and today is the first day I haven't taken ANY nausea medicine, at almost 18 weeks. My body just doesn't handle pregnancy with grace. It just plumb falls apart! I get just about every symptom you can get, intense nausea and throwing up, exhaustion, sciatic nerve pain, stuffed up nose, crazy stubborn bowels, even carpal tunnel in my wrist! I truly go back and look at teeny tiny Eli pictures to remind myself how all those annoying symptoms don't matter one bit as soon as you hold that precious baby!

 

Even though I'm definitely showing sooner, I haven't gained any weight yet, mainly b/c I lost some due to all my throwing up and not eating, but if you looked at my belly, you would think I was 6 months pregnant! Poor totally absent stomach muscles just can't hold anything in!

 

The best part so far has been feeling little baby movements earlier this time- around 14 weeks I starting feeling little flips, like a little fish swimming around. They are getting to be little kicks here and there, and I feel this baby every day now- so much fun!

 

We have an appt. in about a week and a half to find out the gender- we're still not sure if we want to find out or not. Well, I wish we could not find out and have a big surprise, but I don't think the two of us can do it. We're weak and want to know now!

 

Eli isn't super excited yet, but he definitely can tell you there's a baby in my belly and it's a sister! We have a lot of big changes coming for him this season- potty training, big boy bed, sleeping through the night in his own bed (goodness gracious), a real official hair cut, and learning to have fun at school! Go ahead and send a prayer for this little homebody to embrace all this change and thrive with these new changes!!

Just a little September Somethin'

We've been keeping a little secret for awhile: we are having another baby!!

 Can I just tell you how stinkin' exciting it is to say those words??!!

 

We are BEYOND blessed to share that a sweet boy or girl will be joining our family in March, right before Eli turns 3!

 

 

This ultrasound was at 8 weeks, and I will be 16 weeks this week.

 

Just like with Eli, I found out around 4 weeks, starting feeling sick at 5, and it's still going strong at 15 weeks. I have felt so much sicker than I was even with Eli, and with Eli, I was really sick. This baby has pretty much put me on the couch or throwing up for the past 3 months, but I am constantly reassured that things are going well with this sweet babe.

 

We have had many blood tests and early ultrasounds, and everything just looks great so far! My dr. put me on progesterone and baby aspirin since my levels were low with the last pregnancy. I am also STILL taking zofran, B6, and unisom to combat nausea. I tried stopping the medicine yesterday and was back to feeling miserable and throwing everything up, so back to the pills it is! I will say, if you get extremely sick during your pregnancies, B6 and unisom at night have been the BEST help to me in the past few weeks. Zofran doesn't do much, but this combo has made me feel human again!

 

We are just so very thankful for our healthy news so far, and are so excited about this sweet baby! Every doctor's appt. we have helps us to feel better and better about this pregnancy and allows us to starting planning, dreaming, and hoping about who this little one will be!