Happy Birthday to Joe!

Today is Joe's 28th birthday. He's a perfect dad and husband and works so hard for us. He is always willing to help people out. He loves the Lord and his family. And WE LOVE HIM!

Happy Birthday, Joe!

We Love You!

Our Forever Family

This is our most recent family picture. Kate drew it the other morning while she was waiting for her breakfast.

Just so you know who's who...

(from left to right) Daddy, Sam, Mommy with a baby in her tummy, and Kate.

She always draws us all holding hands which I think is really cute. The girls have long hair but I almost think she may have over-estimated on Daddy's hair. She said we were all going somewhere so we all have shoes on. Great drawing, don't you think? What a talent.

Racing in the Front Yard

Sammy loves to do races. He doesn't quite get the idea about a finish line yet -- but he's got the "on your mark, get set, GO!" part down.

Photo Session

We went to Kiddie Kandids on Saturday to get the kids' pictures taken. They did just about how I anticipated. Kate was all excited about it until we got there and then got nervous and Sam hated everything about it. It was a miracle to get the pictures of him that we did without him having a super red face with tears in his eyes. We actually just had to zoom in on one of his full shots so we could have a close-up of him too. All in all, though, I'm pleased with the outcome.

The Best Time of Your Life

The other day I was upstairs for a couple of minutes. When I came back downstairs Kate was saying, "Mommy! Mommy! Sammy made a BIG mess!" Unfortunately, she was right.

It turns out, Sam helped himself to the baking cupboard, got out the powdered sugar (which just happened to have a hole in the bag) and spread it through the kitchen, dining room and then the family room and went to town making a mess. When I found him, he was holding a Care Bear, nose down to the floor, pretending it was eating it. Nice.

So as I was cleaning up all the mess, I kept hearing those old ladies at church who always tell you to "cherish every moment while your children are young because they are the best times of your life." Well, my theory on that is that it's just like being pregnant and giving birth...there are lots of fun aspects but there are also a lot of, shall we say, not so pleasant things (and full of pain things). But once it's over and you're done going through it, all you remember are the fun and great things about it and everything else just seems to go away. Then you just do it all over again.

23 Weeks Prego

No that's not actually a ball stuffed under my shirt...

I really am pregnant.

Well, our baby is about 8 inches (crown to rump, as they say) and weighs just over a pound. At this point I've pretty much adjusted to the fact I've got a moving little gymnast inside me. She keeps reminding me she's in there with little pokes or she'll push back if the kids lean on my stomach at all. She was moving enough the other day that I could look down and see my tummy moving. Kate said, "I think she's doing flips and stuff in there." You know sometimes I think she's right.

Kate tells us that she has a baby in her tummy too--only hers is a boy baby named Lightening McQueen. He's going to be our baby's prince and dance with her. After all, every princess needs a prince to dance with....Mommy's prince is Daddy and her prince is Sammy. It only makes sense.

Baby #3...It's officially a GIRL!

Here are some of our 2o(ish) week ultrasounds pics. Everything looked perfect and healthy and they said she is right on track to be due July 22. It really feels like the time is flying by fast with this pregnancy. Before you know it, Joe and I will be out numbered. No more "you grab this one and I'll get that one." There's going to be a whole other one to keep track of. Whew! But ready or not, here she comes!