My Birthday

Today is my 27th birthday :) I THOUGHT it was my 28th birthday, but my husband was quick to correct me! I can barely remember my own name these days so he wasn't too concerned. My rapidly depleting brain cells are a running joke in my house. Laura Grace will shake her head and mumble about it being a "pregnant thing".

Anyway, I am another year older. Birthdays are yet to be depressing. I actually never see them being depressing, but friends told me I haven't hit thirty yet so I can't talk!

Friday morning I was having a terrible morning. Laura Grace was in an emotional crisis (these happen often when you are a five year old little girl), Layton had decided he was a baby again and clinging to me (this is also happening often... I think it is pre-baby jitters). I was trying to clean my house so that it looked like the cover of the new Traditional Home magazine I had just gotten in the mail.

By the way, I really think those home magazines are Satan inspired. I love them but they do things to my psyche that can't be healthy. I read them and then look at my own house and hear this little voice telling me how inferior my housekeeping skills are. Those people not only live in houses I can only dream of but they don't have cereal bowl rings on the bar, multiplying dirty towels in the hamper and when THEY buy dusting supplies that the commercial swears will work, they are rewarded with gleaming, smudge free furniture.

Where was I?

Friday morning. It was a doozy. It was one of those that had me wondering what on earth was wrong with me to think I could EVER handle a third child. My own two children were acting like heathens! What was stressing me out even more was that I had to be at my friend's house for lunch. I had not seen Jenny in over a month so she had invited me and our other friend, Rebecca, over for an impromptu get together.

I ended up calling Rebecca in tears (literally) because she is my prayer warrior friend. I told her I couldn't come because I was dealing with demon posession at the moment. She very calmly told me to drink a glass of water, take some Tylenol, ignore my children's sinful state, and get my self together. She prayed with me, told me if I didn't come she would be upset with me, and then we got off the phone. It occured to me that it was rather odd she was so forceful about me NOT canceling.

I loaded my children in the car, told them if they cried or whined anymore I was going to drop them off at the bus station (don't worry, I didn't REALLY), and off we went. I got to Jenny's house, my children miraculously perked up at the sight of Rebecca and Jenny's children and all was well. So well that I seriously didn't notice the cupcakes, birthday gifts, and all other obvious signs that this was a birthday party for me.

I am losing it.

My sweet friends surprised me with chicken salad, cup cakes (Jenny has a cake business), and an awesome book and prayer journal. The kids played outside during lunch and miraculously, I never heard a whine or whimper!

Yesterday, my inlaws had the family over for my birthday lunch. My mother in law made Shrimp and Grits (my favorite) and Clay's grandmother made me her German Chocolate cake (also my favorite). Clay gave me new perfume that him and Laura Grace spent nearly three hours picking out :). When they came back from sniffing perfumes at the perfume counters I think they both were a little high!

Overall, it was a great birthday. I am very blessed to have all that I do!

Things I don't want to forget

Laura Grace has turned into a voracious reader. This does not surprise me, from the time she could scoot on her belly she has brought me books to read aloud. She says her favorite time is when we read together at night. We prop up in my bed, cuddle up and read-often about Junie B. Jones' latest antics.

However, during the day, she is content to read aloud to her brother. She lays on his bed with Layton cuddled up against her side and will read book after book. I don't know what Layton enjoys more, the cuddling with big sister or the stories themselves.

This morning, Laura Grace got in his bed and began reading Amelia Bedelia books to Layton. Layton cuddled for awhile but soon lost interest in Amelia's quirkiness. He settled on the floor to line up his cars and trains while Laura Grace read. Every so often he would laugh as if he was listening and say, "Good job, sister! You are going a good job reading to me!"

I love my children.

My Little Boy

This is what I have lined up all over my house....

I love being a mommy.

Excuse me?!?!

Friday night my family went out to eat BBQ. As I was walking through the crowded restaurant, I hear...

"Oh, LAWDY!!!!! She's about to pop, ain't she!!! Hey! Hey!" (Gotta love North Mississippi dialect).

I thought to myself....SURELY they are not talking about me?!?

"Hey! Hey, you!"

Yep, it was me.

"Hey! You're about to pop aren't ya!"

EVERYONE in the restaurant got quiet. And stared at me. I managed to politely smile and nod. No one understood why my face stayed bright red all through dinner!

Clay told me not to feel bad. His words of encouragement: "Relax! You just look like a woman with a beach ball attached to her. The rest of you isn't huge!"

Husbands.

Ah, well...almost 31 weeks!! It is hard to believe! The baby is far more active than Laura Grace or Layton. I have stopped sleeping much at night because I can't get comfortable. I figure the 3-4 hours I am getting is just practice for when the baby comes.

My dr. said that Will is measuring "long and fat". I asked what this meant as far as birth weight and my dr. winked at me and said to be glad I am not pushing him out!

I am starting to swell a little in my feet, but nothing major. I have gained 15 pounds so far and have now gotten to the point I can't bend over! Two months seems so close and yet SO far away!

Beach Trip!

Warning-this post contains a picture of a very pregnant me in a bathing suit.

Last weekend, we went to Gulf Shores for a quick vacation. We shared a condo with my sister, Amy, and my brother in law, Justin. I had so much fun loving on my nephew, Coen, and niece, Adeline. We also got to visit with my dad on Sunday in Biloxi.

I will just start off by keeping this very real. VERY REAL.
29 weeks pregnant in a bathing suit. Always entertaining.

Clay says that his whiteness is far more horrifying.

The only picture of Clay and I together that turned out halfway decent. Laura Grace took the picture HA!

Laura Grace and her Daddy. She was exhausted and needed some snuggling.

Laura Grace at the kiddie pool. She was only there once or twice. Layton and Coen on the other hand pretty much claimed it as theirs!

Making sandcastles... The boys were very into it. Laura Grace was searching for sea shells to decorate it.

Brotherly/Sisterly Love. They say they are best friends...I am praying this lasts a very long time!!

This one was my favorite of them...

Coen, Laura Grace, and Layton. They had a blast together. Layton and Coen had frequent discussions about how much they love each other. We would hear, "Layton, I love you!" and then, "I love you too! You my buddy, Coen!" It made me melt!

Laura Grace was wonderful with the boys. She was very patient and had a great time playing with them. They were noisy and rambunctious, but it was a fun chaos.

And then, there is Adeline....I could eat her up. She is one of the best babies I have ever traveled with. She had a great time crawling around after the boys telling them what to do in baby language! Coen and Layton had many inside jokes that only they understood. All of these jokes centered around Adeline... We kept hearing, "Adeline is on the carpet!" and then hysterical laughter.

Getting ready to go to the beach... We spent half the day Friday at the beach or pool. Saturday, we stayed all day. The boys wanted to go back and forth from the beach to the pool. Amy and I were more than happy to follow them around because the pool was so much cooler! Laura Grace wanted to stay at the beach, so her Daddy stayed with her. They got some major bonding time in-Clay said that was the best part of the trip.

Overall, the trip was wonderful and I can't wait to go back next year!

I am now 30 weeks pregnant and feeling VERY pregnant. I am ready for September to be here!!