A Day with the Boys

Here are a few more pictures of our day with the boys....

time at the "park" aka backyard swingset


taking out all the toys and books...

and learning that boys DO play harder than girls (that's an icepack)...

Happy Birthday Carson!

Our new friends, the Parkers, just had their third son - Carson Randall - today. We kept the two older boys for the day and even got to make birthday cupcakes for Carson. Here is the video of us singing happy birthday - ok, I'm singing and that's pretty bad but it's cute of the kids...

Play-Doh Time

Did your mom ever make home-made play-dough? Yep, that's right... my mom used to make it and I'm pretty sure the smell is still in my nose 25 + years later. Brendon made me promise I would stick with baking sweet smelling things and not to EVER make that stinky stuff.
(I love you mom! and I loved the play-dough too!)

We had run out of fun things to do with the two small things of play-doh Lia picked up along the way - here is the play-doh Lia (complete with pigtails)


So I went to the store and bought a fun little kit of play-doh....Now we started having some serious fun...

Miss Shae-Shae

I feel so blessed to open our door each week as Lia yells... "It's Miss SHAE-SHAE!!!!"
She get so excited to play ball and hang out with one of her favorite people... and ours!

We got to hang out at the pool a few weeks ago and here is a picture...



hard to believe Shae has been keeping Lia for 2 year now! Are you ready for #2, Shae?

Chugga-Chugga

Let's build a train, Mommy!

Choo... Choo....

Lookout, Mountain! Here we come!!!

We took a *quick* trip to Nashvegas this past weekend. We were pointing out "Lookout Mountain" to Lia and she turned the phrase right away! She had us cracking up over her emphasis on the making sure the mountain knew we were coming its way!

So here are few pictures of our weekend...

hanging out with the Mooneys and Biggs...


swingin' with Papa and G-Mommy....


riding on the "little horse" @ G-Mommy's


and giving G-Mommy a little love...


4 generations....

We also got to hang out with them and missed too many people to count. It was a busy 48 hours, but it was great to be in TN for even a bit.
I will miss my favorite time of year - the fall - but probably won't be travelling as much this fall....hmmm... wonder why?

Feel free to come visit us any time, though! We'll be here :).

What's in a Name?

Now that we know that we are having a little girl, the next question people have been asking is... "So, what's the name?"

Brendon and I have been talking baby names pretty much non-stop since we found out and haven't settled on anything. So, faithful readers (of which there are 3 or 4) - got any suggestions?
I can't promise we will like them or use them, but I'm curious. What do you think we should name this little one?

Oh, and it might be a LONG time before you know the name... we are in the habit of keeping this info top-secret until the birth-day. It just seems like something should be a surprise, right?!?!

San Diego

The second part of our vacation was spent in San Diego. We stayed downtown and explored a little. We went to the USS Midway and took the tour. It's an aircraft carrier that was set up as a museum after 47 years in service (WWII through Desert Storm). The tour included a lot of the major parts of the ship and it was interesting to bump into several former officers giving their families tours on the ship as well. Here are few shots...

do fighter pilots smile??


on the flight deck...


and back at the hotel with my feet up. There were some tight spaces for a prego lady and a tall hubby. It was really interesting and fun, but I was glad to lay down for a bit.


We visited Old Town San Diego - the central part of the city. It's a park now, but surrounded by tourist shops and a LOT of mexican restaurants. Here is the Casa de Estudillo...



and the main street (and saloon)...


We also went to Balboa Park. Here are a few pictures of the Prado (central buildings of the park)...




We did pass up the zoo this time around, but maybe we will catch it and SeaWorld next time.

Our last day or so was spent with Brendon's cousin Rob and his family. We haven't seen them since the triplets were born and it was very fun hanging out! We got to go to their church and to a concert at the park in Coronado. Thanks for having us, guys!


That's it for the vacation, and back to the real world now. I can't believe I'm almost 23 weeks... I know the baby will be here before we know it. Good thing we got in the babymoon when we did!

A special shout-out again to Nana and Papa B for *sacrificing* their week (hahaha) to keep Lia. We really appreciated the help and we know you loved the company!

Hooray for Hollywood!

**Pictures courtesy of our friends from NC- Thanks!!!**

Thursday was a fun day of waiting and watching. We drove up to Burbank to the NBC studios and got in line for the Tonight Show with Jay Leno.


We had written in for tickets, but didn't know who would be on when we got them for this date. It ended up being David Spade and Coldplay. There were some crazy, sleep on the sidewalk all night fans there overnight, so the guys at the ticket window suggested that we go ahead and get in line as soon as we arrived (11:00). The doors don't open til 3pm so that was longer of a wait than we were thinking.

I volunteered to stay and wait in line while Brendon took the studio tour. We had originally planned to take it together before getting in line, but we didn't want to lose our spot. So.... I waited... and waited...


then, the crazy fans started screaming and Coldplay came out to sign autographs. They were sound checking at the outdoor stage and decided to come see the fans that had been waiting all night, well, and since 11:00...


all I had was a receipt from the day before (buying a postcard for Lia), but here they are - autographs from Chris Martin, lead guitarist, Johnny Buckland, and drummer, Will Champion. I missed the bassist (Guy Berryman)...


I called Brendon to tell him the fun news and he was a *little* disappointed that he missed Coldplay for the tour.

The rest of the afternoon was pretty fun once Brendon got back. I was glad to get access to the NBC bathrooms and air-conditioning @ 3pm though. I would NOT have waited out there in Atlanta heat!

Oh, and my other favorite part of waiting..."Miss Everyday". I don't remember her name, but she has come to *every* Tonight Show since 2006 - seriously! - and she knew the answers to any question anyone had. It was funny to see new people come up in the line and think she worked for NBC. She was great! I just don't know if she will be there once Conan takes over!??!?

Here is a picture (she is in the black and white)...


After all of that we did make it on TV... check out this link to see us and to see the Coldplay concert. We are standing right next to the Mercedes if you want to find us in that shot too. Just look for my tall husband and my bright pink shirt! Here is the screen shot from the studio....we are at the top right of the screen...

view for Coldplay's concert....


afterwards we drove up in the hills to get a *lame* picture of the Hollywood sign :)


It was a fun day, but I don't think I could handle the LA traffic everyday... craziness!

Ever heard of these...

All we ever hear about from you Californians is In and Out-this and In and Out-that... so we pulled in and gave it a try for ourselves...

it was yummy!


and we tried out a fun place called Yogurtland. Make your own yogurt and it's only $.30 per oz. pretty cool concept! Here is a look at our concoctions...

Convertibles and California

We had a little bit of trouble with the first rental car we got, and had to trade it in for another... no locks, no radio, no odometer or control panel. So what did we end up with? Well, the picture doesn't do it justice, but it was a the *brightest* blue convertible I've ever seen! We decided all we needed to complete the look was a very small dog dressed to match :).

Here is a look at our CA ride...


And a few more shots of Laguna Beach...

Second Babymoon

babymoon (n) : a vacation taken by a couple that is expecting a baby in order to allow the couple to enjoy a final trip together before the many sleepless nights that usually accompany a newborn baby.

Brendon and I headed to CA for a little vacation/second babymoon before we head into the fun times of a newborn again :)! Nana and Papa B kept Lia for the week and she had a great time as well! I have a few posts, but I will start off with our pictures visiting our friends Greg and Colleen in Laguna Beach. We haven't seen them in 4 years so it was GREAT to catch up and hang out. Greg had to do a little travelling and I never got a picture of all 4 of us together, but we did spend about 10 hours together (most of that sleeping - except for Colleen! - crazy girl packed all night)

@ Laguna Beach...


with Colleen...


after breakfast @ The Cottage House, with Greg...


and some of the surfers @ Laguna Beach

Big Girl Room & Bed

Lia has moved up into a big girl room now and is doing great. As a mom, I always feel a little behind her on these things (potty training, etc)... just trying to keep up with this girl is going to be a challenge for me!

Anyway, we have made the decision to put her in a new room and leave her nursery for the new baby so it's been a big time of transition. We (and by "we" I mean my sweet hubby!) painted the room yellow and had been waiting until we could work out what bed to use before we moved everything around. We finally got that done a week or so ago and moved her in.


She has done great and loves her purple sheets wiht flowers. She has amazed us by staying in the bed until we come in and get her in the morning and has done the same at naptimes. If *anyone* tells her she can get out I will hunt you down because it's been awesome so far.

We did have a funny thing happen last week when Brendon went in to wake her up in the morning. He peeked his head in and thought she was asleep with her head off the side of the bed (upside down). He ran to get the camera and take a picture, but when he poked his head back in Lia popped her eyes open and said "Hi Daddy". He snapped a shot anyway and caught her with the flash ... "Oh, Daddy...bright light!"

Here's what he saw...

Deeper Still - Part One

I mentioned that I went downtown for an event last weekend, but didn't go into much detail. I was blessed to go with a dear friend, Carlee, and a few of her friends from church to the Deeper Still Event @ Phillips Arena. It was amazing and I was so blessed to be there with these old and new friends and 19,000 other women praising God and learning from 3 incredible speakers.




Priscilla Shirer, Kay Arthur, and Beth Moore all spoke and did a fantastic job. I felt like Truth (yep, with a capital T) rained hard on me and it's still soaking in. I do want to share some of my thoughts here, but I have to say it will *not* do the weekend justice. If you get the chance to hear these ladies speak - DO IT!

Priscilla started the weekend off and taught us about times we find ourselves in the wilderness - the place where we feel far from everything and yet learn the most. She spoke from Exodus 19, about Israel's time at the foot of Mt. Sinai. They were in the wilderness, but that's exactly where God wanted them to be and where "intimacy is ignited".

Priscilla was so passionate about the Bible and about the parallels between our lives and those of the Israelites. She talked about those times that we find ourselves in the wilderness and don't know what to do. In those times, she encouraged us to do what God called the Israelites to do: Remember all that God had done in the past, recognize their identity as children of God, and surrender before knowing the question - a new level of surrender.

Priscilla had me rolling with her hilarious stories the whole time she spoke. She is a pregnant as well and had some *funny* stories I could relate to! Anyway, the one that stands out most clearly is one she closed with and used to illustrate that we are invited to know God personally and intimately just like the Israelites....

She asked Beth Moore to come up on stage for a minute, and asked everyone who had done a Beth Moore bible study to raise their hands. Well, in a crowd like that - there were A LOT of hands! Then she asked who was a little shy and would be scared to come up on stage. She singled one lady out (her name was Kathy) who had raised her hand at both questions, and offered her a special opportunity to go up on stage and get a hug and talk to Ms. Beth. Priscilla explained that she would understand if Kathy's fear of 19,000 people and the lights of the stage might keep her from making that trip and offered to go up, get the hug from Ms. Beth, and bring it back to Kathy... but it wouldn't be the same as the hug and special words Ms. Beth might have for her alone. Kathy was so brave and made her way up to the stage in front of all of us. It was a really sweet moment and drove home the message that is written for us in Exodus... God brought the Israelites to the foot of Mt. Sinai to meet them there and bless them intimately, but they got scared and sent Moses up the mountain alone. Christians have the same choice as we walk with God... to know Him intimately or to let someone else get close for us (a pastor, friend, parent, husband, wife, bible study leader, etc). I was really challenged to seek God personally and intimately instead of trusting others to bring down His words to me. I loved that Priscilla used Beth as the example because her studies have really reignited a passion for the Bible in my own life. As wonderful as that is... it's still important that I seek God and God alone.

Thank you Priscilla for the passionate call to camp out in the wilderness and see what God has in store!

Drumroll please.....

Well, the voting is in and it ended up at 50% girl and 50% boy, but the ultrasound was so much fun today and we found out for sure.....

It's a GIRL!!!

I'll try and post a picture of the face that we got, but Brendon took a little video of part of the ultrasound, so you can see our little girl too....



Isn't she cute?!?!?

Well, with tomorrow's fun appointment on the horizon and voting almost closed on the poll, I must have had the boy/girl question on my mind last night.

I haven't felt strongly one way or another with this baby (I did *really* think Lia was a girl). But last night, I had a dream that we were at the doctor's office and they said... it's a boy! So, that's the only indication I have had, but I wonder if Brendon has been waking up in the middle of the night brainwashing me.

Whatever we find out tomorrow, I'm so blessed to be carrying this little one. What a miracle it all is and I have already learned so much from this baby and pregnancy. I'm so excited about tomorrow and I'm just praying for a cooperative child! I'll plan to post when I get home from the doctor's office so for all those waiting at the edge of their seat... check back here for more news.

One day left to vote...

Thursday is fast approaching, so get your blue/pink votes in... it's split almost even right now so we will see!!!

Lift High

I went for a walk this morning (thanks for getting me out there Brendon) and had a great time. Between working and mommy-ing, I don't get very many 30 minute time blocks right now just for me and it was glorious!

Anyway, I stole B's IPod on the way out the door and was listening to Eddie Kirkland's "Lift High" as I walked part of the way. As I turned the corner of a cul-de-sac in our neighborhood, the music built up, he sang... Lift up your heads...Lift up you heads ---- LIFT HIGH you chains undone, ALL RISE, exhalt the SON --- Jesus Christ the Holy One!

and at that moment, I turned *straight* into the sun... it was SO bright, even behind my shades, that I couldn't help think of the glory of God. I had to close my eyes and walk that way for several moments, it reminded me of something Beth Moore said at the event I went to this weekend....

She was talking about Jesus being fully God and fully man. She spoke about Matthew 17 where Jesus went to the top of the Mount of Transfiguration and for a moment, dropped his "human-ness" and showed Peter, James and John a small bit of his Godliness (his glory) - "His face shone like the sun". She explained it with such passion that I cannot do it justice.

But what an amazing reminder the sun is to us... when one day the Son of God will blind us with His glory, His brightness and we won't have to turn away.

So, now I'm back to the Tuesday norm.. work and mommy-ing. I'll share more of this weekend as soon as it soaks in and I can get some thoughts to come out right. Happy Tuesday!

Bug Hat

Each week at preschool this summer they have a special theme on Tuesdays. Last week was Jumping Day and the kids got to have fun in inflatables. They also talked about things that jump... like bugs. Lia's class made cute bug hats and Lia loved hers so much she wanted to wear it all day. On the way home she fell asleep and I caught this picture...


So precious!

My day as Karen...

My friend, Lisa, has a yearly tradition of attending Football 101 at the University of Georgia. She and her sister, Karen, go each year as a little sister- bonding time. Unfortunately, one of Karen's twins got sick the night before the event this year so Lisa thought of the biggest UGA fan she could think of and called me! :)

I really do love football and am growing to be a GA fan, so I was excited to go. It was a really fun time... we saw the locker room, the weight room, had lunch with Mark Richt and his mom, got info on all their best defensive plays, a tour of the stadium, and generally soaked it all in.

I will tell you that these women are very serious about their team and football. It was awesome to see their passion and I know why Lisa loves this event so much.... she was right in her element. Here are a few pictures...

Lisa and I at the stadium at the end of the day -


With Mark Richt...


Trying on the players helmets....


Lisa looks more menacing...


And after all the fun, the ladies got out and practiced the plays, ran drills and scrimmaged. Being in my delicate state, I decided to sit it out and watch #65 (Lisa) do all the work...



We also had fun throughout the day with a little project. Lisa got a mini helmet for her son and had all the players and coaches to sign it. I thought it would be fun to take pictures of it throughout the day at all the places we got to go and put together a book kind of like Flat Stanley. We had a blast taking the little helmet everywhere (locker room showers included) and got more than one funny stare!

Here are a few of those...

on the practice field...

down in the players area - this was the coolest looking hall full of awesome photos of games, etc...and of course the big "G" is everywhere!


Thanks to Lisa for inviting me.... I couldn't replace the sister-bonding time with Karen, but it was such a fun time and fun memories! I had a blast.