Happy Birthday Rhett!

My baby boy is five today, though he would argue that "baby" Boy title! I can't believe it. Tonight we will celebrate with a Cars birthday party at Burger King. I love Burger King birthday parties because all you have to do is show up with a cake and a checkbook and the kids LOVE it! We needed an easy birthday this year. Really.

Today Kolby starts back to Baylor. I had hoped to drop Baylor after Camp Success but I don't think she is read y for that yet. Kolby also starts back to ballet and tap today after a two year lull. Busy girl that Kolby!

Ella Kate is two months old today. That baby just melts my heart! We had a very rough night last night. She is congested and gets all choked up and gags on flem. It scares me so I'm taking her to the doctor today. Say a prayer that it's nothing. I hate for little babies to be sick!

Busy busy day today! AND IT RAINED LAST NIGHT!!!!!! It is actually cool today!!!! YEAH!!!!! I love it when it finally starts to cool off after a very long hot summer! Hopefully we are done with the triple digit weather.

Must run!

Halloween

Yes it is September 1, but it is not too early to think about Halloween. Everyone knows this is my favorite time of the year because the weather, the colors, and THE COSTUMES!!! I just ordered our costumes from www.buycostumes.com and am so excited! The kids are going to be super heros this year...well sorta. Anyway, if any of you want to order from buycostumes leave me a comment or e-mail me and I will give you a code for free shipping. I can give it to up to ten people.

Ok must run... Happy Labor Day Weekend bloggies!

I'm a bad blogger!

I could write a whole blog on why I haven't been blogging...But that would bore us both ( me and the other person who might check this blog) to tears. I can't believe I have only posted three times this month! Sorry friends!

Today Ella Kate is 8 weeks old! So hard to believe! For those wondering, NO, I still don't have this Mom of three thing mastered. We're all fine but there are no free hours, or even minutes in my day... And when I do make time for something, it's a baby or a child. Blogging just hasn't made the cut. BUT I miss you guys all so much and hope to at least read your blogs when I can't write my own.

Seems like the blog family is thinning out. First Clarissa left us, now Mereidith and Kelly have gone MIA! Do you find it harder to blog these days? I had a baby, so that's my excuse. Why do you think so many are quitting "the blog" or posting much less frequently... Hum .. Could we all be so busy?

Hope to post more soon. Just wanted to say we are still alive and kicking!

Long time, No blog

Revised with pitures 8-19
Wow it has been 14 whole days since I actually posted something on this blog. That has to be a record for me. This time it had nothing to do with computer problems and the like. It's just been a bit hectic around here. I actually sat down many times to blog but never could finish...here's hoping the baby sleeps long enough for me to finish this post!

Today is a big day for us...
K under the big birthday cake we made for her school!

Kolby started back to school this morning. THIRD GRADE! Wow! She was thrilled to be back and bebopped down the halls. I only went with her to snap the traditional "first day of school picture with the teacher" then was out of there. No tears. That's a first for me. Kolby never cries over going to school. She is so happy to be back with her "people" that tears are the last thing on her mind! I don't know a more social child than my little Kolby!:) I however, have always shed a tear dropping her off on the big first day, until today. This year, for the first time ever, I can actually say I am glad that school has started! I have secretly been counting down the days. Never thought I would be "that kind" of Mom. But honestly, it's been a little hard juggling the needs of an 8 year old, almost 5 year old, and a newborn for the last few weeks. With Kolby at school, the needs and ages differences are a bit easier to handle.

A bit of a brag on Ms Kolby. Two Saturdays ago my Miss Independent decided she wanted a different hair do. Knowing I was way too busy to get her to Ms. Debbie that day, she thought she would just do it herself. She thinks she can do anything, so cutting hair seemed like no big. Well she chopped off some bangs, decided she didn't like them, so she just cut the hair off close to the root "so it wouldn't show!" !!! She went about her day like nothing happened. Ten minutes later, I saw her hair and almost had a coronary. I was beside myself! My little girl had buzzed her hair off resulting in a one inch by two inch triangular patch of spikes RIGHT IN THE FRONT OF HER HEAD!!!!

I cried, screamed, and really had a fit... Kolby was upset because I was. She felt terrible and I made it worse. In the midst of my tirade asking her why on earth she would do that and "What in the world did she think people would say and think when they saw that an 8 year old, who knew better, had butchered her hair" Kolby looked at me and through tears said, "No matter what my hair looks like I am still a good person on the inside and that is what counts." OUCH! I regained my perspective pretty fast after that. When I cooled off, she asked what her punishment was. Rob and I decided there was nothing we could do to punish her that she hadn't just done to herself. She would just have to live with the consequences of her actions and that was bad enough.

We made an "emergency" trip to the beauty shop that afternoon and figured out a way to sort of plaster the spikes down and comb hair over them to cover it up. We came home, and life went on. It isn't that bad, if the hair plastering goop holds. Still, if I were Kolby I would stay home, only to leave the house with a hat on my head. Kolby however doesn't even give it a second thought. I think her attitude is much healthier than mine. Happy to be herself!

This morning I spent a good ten minutes trying to get her hair just right. I didn't want kids to make fun of her. I thought she might be a bit self conscience over it, but she never mentioned it. As we walked towards the third grade hall this morning I was mentally saying a prayer that Kolby would have a great day and no one would notice her hair and make fun of her. About that time I realized Kolby had stopped a few steps behind me. She was crouched down talking to a little girl who was sitting against the wall. I turned to call Kolby to "come on" when I realized the girl looked like a terrified little animal.

This was a girl from Kolby's class last year who transferred in just as school was ending. She was very shy and Kolby told me the year before she didn't talk much. Before I knew it, Kolby had asked her what class she was in and then scanned the hall for someone else she knew in that class. Kolby then called another little girl over and introduced her shy friend to this little girl. She then helped her shy friend up and walked her to her room with the other little girl and told her she would find her at recess. Kolby with friends at Blast off!
The whole thing took less than three minutes. Here I was worrying about Kolby's hair while Kolby was too busy caring about her friend to think about her hair. I think Kolby will be just fine this year! I'm still not to happy about her hair, but I am so proud that she hasn't let it change who she is or how she acts.

Today is also big because Ella Kate is six weeks old today!



SIX WEEKS OLD!!! The newborn diapers officially became too small yesterday. She is now in size 1's. The 0-3 month clothes that swallowed her two weeks ago are starting to look like they fit. She is sleeping 6 hours at a time some nights. She coos and girgles all the time. Just yesterday EK gave me the first really big smile and almost laughed at me! She is starting to not look like a newborn! She has a bit of baby acne on her right cheek and is loosing a bit if her newborn hair. She is also starting to hold her head up really well! It is going too fast! I don't even have birth announcements out yet! How can she be SIX WEEKS OLD??? I think I will stop thinking about it as I might cry. In a nutshell our little EKG is doing very well, it's just going way too fast!!!

The third reason that today is a good day for us is that Rob found out this morning that he is getting a hotel paper route which means no throwing...which means I can actually do this one all by myself need be. I could write a whole blog about the ups and downs of the paper route.. but it would be Rob's blog because I haven't set foot in the old Waco Trib distribution center since I became pregnant with Ella Kate!

The paper route was supposed to be the job I was getting to help make ends meet while still staying home full time. There were three main problems with me having a paper route though...
1) I am not a morning person. (Is 3AM actually considered morning?)
2) I throw like a girl... and a wimpy girl at that. My papers landed in all the wrong places...I still feel bad about that windsheild! Joking! :)
3) I get extremely carsick if I have to read and drive. Reading and driving in the dark while starting and stopping and trying to read house numbers and actually throw papers out the window so that they land in a targeted spot takes me way beyond the normal carsick. Rob finally took me home one morning after we had to stop three different times for me to puke in the street.
(Didn't want to leave Rhett out!)
So my little job became Rob's paper route and he has done it 365 days a year for 2.75 years come rain, snow, fog or blistering heat. I am excited that this hotel route has Sundays off! Maybe our entire family will make it to Sunday School! :)

Well the babe is stirring in her crib and this post has to be long enough for a weeks worth of blogging! I guess I'll stop. Hope this is a great day for all of you in blog land!
My babies!
I'll try to add pictures later!

It begins

The baby is four weeks old today. It doesn't seem possible that she has been here that long, but then again I can't imagine not having her! Life with three kids so far is about like I thought. More laundry, less time, but oh so much more love! My favorite thing to do these days is just to sit and look at the baby! She looks a little different every time I see her. It feels like my EK viewing hours are numbered though...

With school starting two weeks from today (OUCH!) IT begins! IT being that hectic paced life that has us living event to event, barely having time to come up for air. Tis the season! Yes, it has already started. I am working on a pretty big project at church and there are some things I need to do for school/PTA this week.

As I type I am preparing to paint a ten foot birthday cake to hang in the cafeteria! It's our little elementary school's twentith annivesary. I talked everyone into a big 20th year celebration last year for this year. Now I feel very compelled to help throw this big party, since it was sort of my idea. I bring these things on myself, I know! But I love this kind of thing! It is taking all my self control not to do more than paint the birthday cake! Well, self control and the fact that it is harder to "get things done" these days. This is my third baby, you would think I would not be surprised by that!

In addition to IT starting, Kolby has outgrown all of her clothes and shoes. SERIOUSLY, EVERYTHING! Even her shorts are now too short for school. Kolby didn't grow all that much from age 5 to age 8...but since February the girl has been growing like a weed! We have skipped entire shoe sizes and skimmed through some dresses sizes so fast that she might as well have skipped them. Kolby has been really upset that so many of her favorite clothes don't fit anymore. She has just gotten by this summer, but we won't be able to make dress code with 95% of what is in her closet. It's times like this that I really wish we went to a school that had mandatory uniforms! Bottom line, I need to do some serious shopping for my growing girl...and who knows how Ella Kate will fair with shopping. Everyday is a new adventure.

That's all the time I have for now. Just wanted to check in! : )

Questions of the week

Why do babies sleep so well AFTER the sun comes up?

How can someone so small produce so much laundry?

Why do breasts not come with oz markers?

Will that brown line ever disappear?

And this, my least favorite from Rhett... "Mommy when are you going to stop looking pregnant?"

EKG Week 2 ~ Photo Blog

I discovered many things about my world during week two! I love this cat who sings to me as I get my diaper changed! This is one of Mommy's favorite pictures!

While I have been hanging at home, my siblings have kept on the go. This is my big sister dressed for Cowboy day at Camp last week.
Rhett and Justin on their way out to the water park!

My big brother really digs me now! He loves to hold me.

At my two week check I was still a bit jaundiced so I have been catching some rays to break down those billy rubins! I weigh 8 lbs and 3 oz and have grown 3/4 on an inch!

Very interesting! Every time I open my eyes, she takes my picture!

This was my first big family dinner with lots of cousins and big people to hold me! I slept most of the time but loved the attention!
My Daddy and his kids...chilling and watching a movie before bedtime.

My brother, sister and me in our PJs.

Look! I wore something not pink! I wore blue one day too, but spit up before Mommy could get a picture.
Next week when this yucky cord falls off I can take a real bath in my cute duck tub...Until then I will tolerate these spounge baths.
This swing is cool for about 20 minutes...Then I like to be held or sleep in my basket again.

More to come!

Wanted: a (working) mouse in my house

I am blogging from my parents because my computer mouse won't move! It has been frozen in one spot on my computer screen for three days. I can't point and click. I can't open anything. My computer will start up and be just fine but I can't do a thing with it without that silly little mouse! Funny how dependent I have become on that little moving arrow on my computer screen! All my addresses, all my pictures, all my favorite sights are out of reach as long as I can't click.... And birth announcements are a bit hard to do with out a computer to print them on!

Hopefully it's just the mouse. As sooon as I get out and about I hope I can pick up a cheap mouse and be back in business... But our computer is a dinosaur as far as computers go, so each time there is a problem I am afraid that it is the end! I need to get something to back up my old harddrive! I would lit6erally go into mourning if I lost everything on that computer! Any ideas?

Must run for now! Hope to be back to blogging soon...Amoung 100 other things I want to do on my computer, I have two week old pictures that I am aching to upload and post! Wish me luck!

Still on the honeymoon

Today is my due date. For months July 17th was the focal point of my life. But then Ella Kate and my body had other ideas! Now July 17th will be forgotten and July 5th is the big day. It was noon before I realized today's date. Funny how a date can seem so important then suddenly be "just a day" again.

Rob went back to work today. Laundry had to be done. Kolby needed someone to pick her up from Camp Success. Rhett needed breakfast. The baby vacation is officially over. The real world is starting to creep back into my days. No more napping at will and staying cool and cozy at home 24/7. We are all still very much in the "honeymoon " stage with sweet baby Katie though! I could sit and watch her sleep for hours...And I still will do that as much as possible, vacation or not.

Ella Kate has already grown and changed quite a bit in the last 12 days. The tabs on the newborn diapers don't overlap like they did at first. She stretches out a lot more now instead of sleeping in a little ball. She made the jump from eating at will/whenever to eating every four or so hours. She seems to recognize our voices and she is awake a little bit more than she was at first...But not much more. Though it breaks my heart, I think she is starting to loose some of that sweet newborn hair. No matter how hard it can be to have a newborn, these are the most precious of days! I wouldn't wish them away for any amount of sleep, energy or any other "mommy of a newborn" scarcities!

Honestly, I still can't believe she is here! I still just want to sit and hold her. I want to hold on to each moment and not forget how she looks, sounds, and even smells today. I don't want my baby to grow too fast. I don't want to forget the feeling of that sweet little newborn balled up and sleeping soundly on my chest. I pray that I will be able to remember this forever... Yeah we are still in the honeymoon stage.

And you know that saying about "the third time being the charm"... For me that has been true. It's more than just her ideal birth and hospital stay. In fact it has more to do with me than with the baby. It could be because I know that this is my last baby. They say with age comes wisdom...I'm not sure about that, but this time around the little things don't freak me out so much. I don't feel like I have to have my birth announcements out right away. I don't freak out after not sleeping for three nights. I know it will be hard to get out with all three kids at first and that all this is just a phase... A short precious phase that in ways will be over way too soon. I am letting, or perhaps even making myself stop and enjoy Ella Kate being a newborn. Maybe other people get that with the first or second baby...For me it took the third!

Completely off the subject, I have wanted to say something to those in the blog family who regularly read this (Yes, all five or six of you...who else would have read this far in this rambling post?)....

I can not thank you enough for your prayers and words of encouragement over the last weeks! The morning we left for the hospital to have Ella Kate, I was so nervous. As we drove across town I remembered all the comments from sweet blog friends who said they were praying for me. I really felt your prayers. It was such a comfort! AND I believe God answered prayers with the ease of Ella Kate's birth.

I feel very blessed by your prayers and the hand of our Heavenly Father. I felt his hand through out my pregnancy. I am so grateful and thankful for all of you who petitioned him on my behalf and provided "prayer cover" for my family. Though I have not met some of you face to face, you are my sweet Christian brothers and sisters and I feel very close to you! Thank you so much for blessing me and my family with your prayers and support! You are the best!

Back to the honeymoon... If I don't blog to regularly for the next few weeks, rest assured I'm just too busy enjoying this sweet baby and the family God has blessed me with! Love to all!

One Week Old Today! ~ A Picture Blog

It's hard to believe that our baby girl is one week old today! It has gone by fast, yet at the same time, it's hard to think of our lives with out her! Here are some pictures of Ella Kate's first week. All is going well. I will update this post and type more later.

Hanging with my family the first night home.

Doing time in the billy bed. I was glad to see that thing go!

My first trip was back to the hospital for a billy rubin check. My second trip was to see Dr K for a newborn check on Monday.

Sun bathing to get those billys down.

Watchng the All Stars with the guys.

My sister loves me so much!
I'm going to have "flash" burn if they keep taking pictures of me!
I have more hair than my brother or sister did at this age...and of course Mommy had to take a picture to document this!

We love our sweet one week old baby girl!

Introducing Ella Kate!

We are home. We are tired and sore and very happy! I will try to post a few pictures. Thanks to Elizabeth for ghost writing for me!


It looks like Rob and I only know how to make babies that look one way! Seriously, if you look at Kolby and Rhett's baby pictures and look at her you would think I had triplets! All my babies were born on Wednesday mornings after a rain storm. Kolby was 8 days early, Rhett 10, and Ella Kate 12 days early. All my LDR nurses were named either Debbie or Carol... Ella Kate's were Debbie and Carol! The list of similarities goes on and on....

This was my best, easiest, and fastest labor. We could not have asked for a more ideal situation. I felt five contractions and pushed for all of 7 minutes! I might have had more babies if all my labors were this easy. My nurses were the best. I was the only person on the LDR floor at the time she was born. I had sweet nurses in postpartum. The room was big and comfey. The food was good. Everything went so well, except for some some complications during dismissal today. (nothing serious just annoying) Overall it was a wonderful time and a great experience to end our baby having days with! Third time is a charm! : )

Ella Kate is a little angel. She a bit smaller than the other two and has a tad more hair. She also is by far the best little eater and at two days old, seems the most even tempered. She coos and gurgles all the time and has the most expressive little infant face. I had forgotten how dramatic babies are! We just love her! Can't imagine life with out her! Kolby is in hog heaven! She loves her sister and is quite the little Mommy!
Rhett took a little longer to warm up to her, but has become more and more fascinated with his little sister every hour we are home. He is amazed to the point it scares him a bit, but he thinks she is really cool over all.

Rob and I feel extremely blessed and so very grateful for this precious baby! She is such a little miracle. Will write more soon... Just wanted to touch base. We are in love with this brand new baby girl!

P.S. For those who asked.." What are you going to call her?" I am not sure we will ever decide on one name for this girl! I have called her Ella Kate from the get go. The kids are calling her Katie. Rob goes back and forth between Katie and Ella Kate. Rhett calls her Katie Lou at times. I call her Ella Bella Kate some times. Kolby thinks we should call her Ella when she is older. We all call her Baby Girl. So, does that answer your question? :)

Ella Kate Pictures

Some shots from the hospital.

Daddy

I'm here!

Checking out the baby sister.

Mama K is tickled pink with this baby girl!

Yawn!

Happy girl!

Ella Kate is here!

Hi! It's Elizabeth, ghost writing for SG. She called me earlier and gave me EllaKate's stats. Of course, blogger hasn't let me post this all day. Sorry for the delay!

Time of birth: 10:32 a.m.
Weight: 7 lbs., 13 oz.
Length: 19 3/4 inches

She says that it was the easiest of the three births and everyone is doing well. I went to see her tonight and think she looks just like her other two! What a beauty! I am also pretty sure they are calling her Katie. I called her EllaKate and Kolby informed me that her name was Katie!

Just wanted blogland to get the blessed news!

The nesting I needed

I have had more down time in the last week than I have had in the last year. Lots of time to think. Lots of time to catch up on everyone else's blogs. As annoying as it has been to not be able to do things, I think bed rest has been good for not only my blood pressure, but my over all spirit and state of mind.

About a week ago my mother-in-law (mil for short) sent me an obituary from her home town newspaper. It was for Cindy Chowning. Cindy and Richard Chowning were missionaries to Kenya where they worked with the Kipsigi people for many years. When I met them, they were furloughed to ACU where Richard was a guest professor in the missions department. He taught my "World Christians Class" and they hosted African Mission Fellowship in their home. Even though Gaston Tarbet was actually my official ACU mentor for my two summer internships in Nairobi, Kenya, I got to know the Chownings quite well. Richard attempted to teach me some Swahili. The little I knew pre-Nairobi came from him! Cindy taught me to make the American version of chai, ugali & sacuma weki, and my favorite, chapati's and cabbage. They were such a sweet, open, and loving family.

Years later I did a special missions class on Wednesday nights for the kindergarteners at our church in San Angelo. Richard helped me when I took my kids on a field trip to Abilene to see the big globe in the Bible building and to talk to a real live missionary. He was such a nice man.

Anyway my heart breaks for the Chowning family. They have three children Heather, Naomi, and Aaron, who are all married. I think they have several grandchildren. The Chownings were planning on coming home to the states next year after spending the last eight or so years in Benin, West Africa. They were ready to be closer to the kids and the grandchildren even though they had a deep passion for the Aja people. Cindy was killed in an accident June 14th when she was hit by a motorcycle as she went to get something out of her truck during a routine Bible study visit. A senseless tragic accident!

Other ACU friends Randy and Kelly Vaughn worked with the Chownings in Benin. I have visited Randy's blog a lot these last days getting a small glimpse into their lives. Kelly had a heart for Africa even back during our time at ACU. She was very active in AMF. I guess Randy found his heart in missions after he gave it to Kelly! : ) Both are just the greatest! I admire them so much!

As tragic as Cindy Chownings death is and as unfair and horrible as it is, her life was such that you can not help but rejoice for her. She and Richard have really walked the walk. They have made a huge difference in the world for Christ. Just thinking of their many sacrifices over the years, their choices to give without getting back, the lifestyle they imposed on themselves for the love of God's word and the different people of Africa... they are truly inspiring! I can't find words to express it accurately.

The Chownings lived with a world view that I tend to close out. The last few months I have been very self absorbed with this pregnancy and trying to get ready for the baby. I have forgotten there is a great big world out there. Lately, I have been a bit scared thinking of all that has to happen to get this baby out of me in the next 24 hours or so. I fear pain. But reading about the Vaughns day to day life and reflecting on the life of Cindy Chowning has made re-evaluate a bit. It has made me think about what I really need to be as a mother, wife and Christian. It had made me re-dedicate to raising my children to love God and Jesus sacrificially. Sadly I loose sight of that from time to time.

So I am grateful to God for people like Cindy Chowning and the Vaughns who so selflessly labor for the kingdom that even those of us who only get far away glimpses of their lives see Christ and are humbled. I am grateful for the reminder that the most important thing I can prepare for this baby has nothing to do with bumper pads, fresh paint or clean floors. My heart and my life nesting in the vision of God's love and his Kingdom plans for my life and my child's life are what I need to focus on and prepare for. Being a Christian is not just a state of being, it is an intentional decision by decision life style. I needed to be reminded of that.

I 'm grateful that God choose to slow me down and remind me of what is really important this week. I'm grateful to him for feathering the nest of my heart with the example of Cindy Chowning's life and the lives of those I know who truly live for Christ. That is what I most needed to prepare to mother this precious little girl. I can't wait to meet her face to face!

My heart and prayers continue to go to the Chowning family both here in the states and in Benin, West Africa. Thank you God for Cindy Chowning and the inspiration she was and is to so many.

We have a plan!!!

Wednesday is the day.
Unless she decides to come earlier.
I'm at a three.
He says she is head down and guestimates she is about 8 lbs.
Woah!
We have tickets to the Ranger game in Arlington tomorrow night.
I think we will skip it.
My doctor is going to the said Ranger game.
I hope the baby doesn't come on 4th of July!
I would like my doctor to be at her birth.
Both Kolby and Rhett were born on Wednesday mornings.
Both weighed 8.6 and were 20.5 inches long.
They looked just alike, well, except that one area!
People say they are twins four years apart.
So I wonder if we are going to have a triplet...
Or maybe a totally different looking baby!
Much to think about for the next 40 or so hours!
I have to admit I am excited.
My blood pressure is currently reflecting that.
Must settle down!
Stay tuned!

E-M-O-T-I-O-N-A-L

Well it's Sunday morning and I am "forsaking the assembly" for bed rest. Bed rest is not all that bad but, some how laying on my left side for hours at a time has made me a bit sentimental and at times down right weepy! What is up with that?????

Friday night was Kolby's program at church. It was really cute and she did a great job on her little solo. I was so proud of her! It seems Kolby is growing up so fast! I can hardly believe she is the age I was when Sari was born. Isn't she cute! AK & K .. The kids really loved this Music camp. Our church did this instead of VBS this year.

Truly it feels like it wasn't that long ago that we were waiting for Kolby to be born! I tend to get bogged down in the day to day so much of the time that it seems like these "mommy days" are the longest days of my life. But then, I look up and suddenly my kids are a year older! Long days and short years! It makes me want to bottle time! I don't want to take for granted the wonder this new baby will bring to our family. Yes there will be one more mouth the feed, more laundry, less sleep, more noise and less down time, but little infant days are fleeting and I don't want them to get away with out being fully appreciated.

Yesterday my mother-in-law took my kids home with her, 3 1/2 hours away. They have been looking forward to this all summer and honestly, so have I. With the whole bed rest thing, the timing couldn't be better. I was fine as I packed them up and gave my mother-in-law some last minute suggestions. However, when they were both buckled up in the back seat of the car, ready to go.... The ugly cry came out! I leaned in the car on Rhett's side to give him a hug while Rob was reminding them from Kolby's side about minding and having good manners. Rhett got a little choked up and big old tears welled up in his eyes. He put his arms around my neck and wouldn't let go. After a few seconds he choked out "I'm gonna miss you Mommy." I totally lost it! Tears streaming down my face, I choked out that I would miss him too but that he was going to have a great time and I didn't want him to be sad.
Going to Grandma's
I really wanted to rip him out of the seat belt and tell him that he didn't have to go! What was I thinking sending my two babies three and a half hours away on the fourth of July weekend with all that bad I-35 traffic!??? Everything in me wanted to take both of them back inside. But I didn't. I want my kids to know that they are loved and safe even without me. I want them to have great memories of staying with their grandparents. I want them to take little vacations from the nest through out their growing up years so that when it is time to fly, they won't be so afraid. I was having a inner war with myself as I hugged them goodbye.

Kolby has no problem leaving because she has done this before. In fact she looked at me like I was a nut when I got all teary eyed, but sympathetically she said would miss me too and she would take care of her brother. Rhett had already recovered by this time and was singing "See you in four nights and five days!" (That seems so long!!!!) I managed to dry up long enough to get out of the car and wave goodbye as they drove off, but I sobbed as soon as I turned to walk in the house! Rob was trying to be sympathetic but he let a few chuckles slip. He tried to tell me it's just all those pregnancy hormones... Maybe he is right.

Since then things have been so quiet around here. It is nice, but really, it is too quiet! I am going to do my best to enjoy the quiet however because it may not come again for years!!! I don't think Rob and I have been alone this long since way before Rhett was born. Last night I managed to get completely caught up on thank you notes, and Rob re-painted all the base boards in the kitchen. So now we are just waiting for the baby ...

I go to the doctor's office tomorrow morning and I hope and pray that we have a plan for birth by the time I leave! I'm grateful to have had this last week but, I'm ready now! Hopefully the baby will be ready too and make her debut very soon! We'll keep you posted...