Peanut in 3-D

Advances in technology have really come a long way in the last few years.  3-D sonograms weren't even available when I had Ash & Zach.  They were not great quality when I had Bray - but this time WOW.  We got a great look at the little peanut.   He looks a lot like Brayden did!  We are so excited to meet him!  9 more weeks!

The Asshole of the Forest

Do you see this?  It looks oh so sweet and pretty.  Innocent really.  But don't let this asshole fool you.

Because those cute little berries do this......

Which leads to days / weeks of misery for most of us that live around it.  That isn't smoke.  It's pollen.  It is evil, evil pollen.  It makes everyone deathly sick even if they don't typically have allergies.

For days I have been doing this...

Don't judge me.  I stole my son's humidifier because I was desperate.

Some say that if you take a spoon full of local honey a day it will help....but it takes 6 weeks.

I am currently browsing condos and homes for rent next January somewhere far away.  I think the family just might pack up and stay somewhere else next year for about a month.

Take THAT Asshole of the Forest.

The Sniffles

No - he isn't working on his Blue Steele look.... he has a runny nose and it bugs him.  So every time I looked at him while we were watching a movie he was making these faces.  So stinking cute!

Happy - Happy - Happy!

Happy Birthday to the love of my life and my very best friend - Chad!

Chad was in California all last week but flew in late Friday night just so we could all spend his birthday together.  Unfortunately Ashley had to stay in CSTAT but posted a sweet note on his facebook.  Zach was still here in town but will be going back to Lubbock this week.

  

 I made Chad one of his favorite meals - Korean short rib tacos...They are really delicious - especially with some spicy sunomono and cilantro on them.

Let those puppies slow cook on low for about 7 hours... they fall off the bone!

Spicy sunomono or cucumber marinated in rice vinegar with red pepper flakes - yummy!

The piece de resistance was his birthday cake though....I found a recipe for Chocolate Nutella Strawberry cake with home made whipped cream from The Pioneer Woman.  It was AMAZING.

The little trick is to soak the strawberries in sugar & vanilla for a while before assembling the cake.

This year I went with a Whiskey theme for his gift.  He isn't drinking a whole lot these days but he still likes a little night cap.  One of his favorites is Macallen 18.  It's a bit pricey - especially right now for some reason.  He finished his last bottle quite a while ago and has been slumming it with Jack Daniels.  I also found a really neat book that has the history of whiskey and all of the regional distilleries.  I added in some soap stone chillers and a little selection of tiny bottles of different US whiskies for fun.

We had a nice day just hanging around and enjoying each others company.  I miss him so much when he is gone.  

Back to School!

Today was a great day!!!  Mr. Man went back to school after the holidays.  He was so excited!  He really missed his friends and his teachers.   They have nap time at the end of their day so he is usually still on his nap mat sound asleep when I pick him up.  Today when I got there he and his friend were all cuddled up on their nap mats right next to each other.  They were so cute.  It was a little chilly today so that may be why they got so close - but it was sweet.  I'm so thankful that he is able to spend a couple of days a week at such a wonderful place!

The Final Countdown....

I am still trying to wrap my brain around the idea that we will be welcoming our second little boy in just a few weeks.  We had almost given up the idea of having another baby.  The entire process was getting to be a bit much.  Our doctors didn't give us much hope.  We had a lot going against us.  Having Brayden was a miracle in itself considering Chad's genetic disorder.  Getting a healthy embryo is very difficult.  That mixed with my age makes it almost impossible.  We were shocked when we got pregnant with Brayden and were frankly happy with having just him.  However, as time passed we realized that Bray would miss out on a lot not having a sibling to grow up with.  He has Ash and Zach but they are so much older than him - they seem more like an aunt and uncle.  There were other options that would have been cheaper and easier physically but since the last time we tried several years ago Chad changed companies and insurance coverage.  We were so lucky that he now worked for a company that would pay a considerable amount toward up to 7 rounds of IVF.  They paid for most of the doctor appointments, the sonograms, labs, medicine and even the anesthesia - after the deductible and coinsurance/copays.  They would not pay for the procedure or a few of the other things involved.  Brayden took the first of the 7 that would be covered.   We had originally set aside enough money to cover a full 7 tries since we just assumed it would take several to get pregnant at all.   After much prayer and discussion I agreed to try up to 6 times to have another one.  Chad really had his heart set and I wanted to give Brayden a full sibling.  Unfortunately (and fortunately) it took all 6 times to get a healthy embryo that stuck.  I had honestly moved on emotionally during the last cycle.  I was so tired of the drugs and the process that I just wanted it to be over.  I have literally spent the last 3 years continuously either going through fertility treatments, pregnant or postpartum.  If you know anything about fertility drugs - it makes you feel awful!  However, at the end of the day it is ALL worth it.  The thousands of dollars, the heart break month after month and the horrible side effects of the drugs  are all worth it when you are finally holding your little one.  Anyway - since I had moved on emotionally it took me a few months to even come to terms with being pregnant again.  That mixed with having a toddler running around.... and a 19 year old going to college for the first time made this pregnancy fly by.  I cannot believe he is almost here!!!

It started out like this.......

And a couple of weeks later we got this....

And then a few weeks later we had this.....

and now we enter the final countdown to meet our little boy. 

A New Year.... and new beginnings.

Here's to new beginnings!

Last year was one of happy memories and a few challenges.  We managed to move another child out of the house while planting the seeds to welcoming a new one.  The one regret I have is that I didn't continue to blog.  I don't typically blog to share my life with others - I do it so I have a record of the day to day things we go through in our family as well as the major milestones.  If others want to share in my life - I welcome it.

Why did I stop?  Well - there were a couple of reasons.  One was time - my life is busy and I found that  just updating a quick status on FB was faster than a full on blog post.  The second was because there are people in the world that feel the need to follow my life that are not doing so with good intentions.

I want it to stop - but I am realistic enough to know that it probably never will.  

So with that being said - I'm not going to stop blogging.  I've decided that I can't let one person's actions stop me from doing what I want to do.

So here's to new beginnings & a happy 2014!!

Welcoming 2014

I really enjoy our NYE tradition of staying in.  I love the idea of ending the year with the people I love most without worrying about dealing with drunk drivers and the mess that NYE brings.  Most of the time we open a bottle of champagne and thats about it for the drinking.  This year we brought out a bottle - but didn't open it. (probably because I'm pregnant and not drinking right now) I actually have figured out that I prefer to end the year clear headed.

This year we started a new tradition of fondue.  We did a cheese fondue that was AWESOME and a white chocolate with Amaretto for dessert.  The kids also requested something more substantial to go with it so I made some buffalo chicken wings.  I have to admit - they turned out pretty delicious.  Zach and Travis (Ashley's boyfriend) devoured them.

Frying that chick until it's crispy brown

The drench it with some home made buffalo sauce - add lots of extra tabasco to make it HOT!

The Fondue and Wings Spread before the vultures attacked.

So yummy!

The cheese was Gruyere & Swiss with white wine and a few secret ingredients.

Look at that happy college student - with a full plate!

A few selfies and a New Years kiss!

Mommy & Sissy

Little man was not happy with the loud fireworks

Ashley and her sweet boyfriend Travis.

After we ate we watched the Chick Fil A Bowl.  The Aggies played Duke.  Man - that game about gave us a heart attack.  The Aggies were pathetic in the first half - but after a good ass kicking in the locker room - came out guns blazing and BTHO Duke.  The screen shot of the guy below says it all - that was how most of the Duke fans looked after the last interception and touchdown.  Hahahaha!  We laughed so hard at him during the live game - so Ash went and found a screen shot of him online.  Hilarious!

Go with Bob says Whyyyyy???!!!

We ended the night with an amazing firework show.  Chad bought several hundred dollars worth but our neighbors go all out.  They start as soon as the sun sets and shoot them off all night and at midnight do an amazing finale.   Brayden was not a fan so we did a few small ones while he was awake and saved the big ones for after he went to bed.  Unfortunately as midnight approached it got a little too loud and woke him up.  Chad and I opened his blinds and sat with him in his room and watched the grand finale at midnight from there.  It was actually very sweet and special.  The three of us were cuddled together as we said goodbye to 2013 and shared a special New Years kiss to welcome 2014.  This was the 15th New Years Eve that I have spent with Chad.  I am so lucky that I get to spend every day with my best friend - but I feel even more lucky on nights like this night.  I know not many people have the kind of relationship and marriage I have.  I thank God every single day and consider myself to be very blessed.

Happy New Year to each of you!  Here's to many more blessings in 2014!!!