Birthdays, birthdays, and more birthdays!!!

I'm not sure what's in the water during April and May, but if you aren't interested in January babies, you may want to avoid it at all costs during that time! We have had birthday parties EVERY single weekend in January, including my own dear sweet child's birthday! While it definitely keeps us busy, it is such a wonderful thing to spend every weekend with our great friends and family!

The first weekend we celebrated my niece, Madison's, very first birthday! My sister did a wonderful job decking everything out in pink and frill, and I was honored to make her very first birthday cake for her. It was a great time, even if it ended up being a "share the virus" party! So many of the party go-ers ended up deathly-ill in the week after the party, and we feared the cause was food poisoning. It turns out that there was an extremely contagious virus traveling throughout the area, and we just happened to be lucky enough to catch, carry and spread it around! Everyone survived with only minor scars - mine being a small bit if contractions and dilation caused by dehydration. It wasn't the best way to start off the New Year, but it could've been worse...

The next weekend, after we all recovered, we had a double-birthday weekend! Our dear friends' son, Cole, turned six, and Kaylee got to go to his birthday party at the movie theater and watch "Chipwrecked" with him and all of his friends! Afterwards, we ventured to Gruene, Texas to celebrate my sister's 34th birthday. We had a great meal at the Gristmill to top off the evening!

Kaylee's birthday was January 19th, which fell on a Thursday this year. She turned the big FIVE!!! That's a whole hand! I can't believe how fast time has flown by. It seems like yesterday that she was my little baby girl. We celebrated her birthday twice! On her birthday, we, along with a couple of her friends and cousins, went to eat at Rainforest Cafe on the San Antonio Riverwalk and to the San Antonio Zoo, afterwards. She loved her special day - everything about it! She keeps talking about going back to eat at the Rainforest Cafe, but I told her it was for special occasions only! That weekend, we had all of our friends and family over for a big "Safari Party" that has been in the works for pretty much the entire past year. I tend to go overboard when party planning, but I just can't help myself! Perhaps, I missed my calling in life... I'm pretty sure the kids all enjoyed themselves. We had crafts to make, Pin the tail on the Zebra, a zoo animal parade, Pop a balloon to win a prize and topped it all off with a pinata full of candy! I did my best to get everyone sugared up and then sugared up some more with late night s'mores by the firepit! Kaylee got a trampoline, or as she refers to it, a "Jumpoline" for her big day, and she has been enjoying it ever since!

The Monday after her big birthday weekend, I took Kaylee to her five-year well checkup. She was beyond thrilled that she didn't have to get any shots this year! She weighed in at 44.4 pounds and topped the charts at three foot seven and a half inches tall! She grew FIVE inches this past year, which the doctor says is a LOT. She is in the 75th percentile and healthy as can be! I have a feeling she's going to always be on the top row of the class pictures!

After finding out just how healthy our girl is, the last thing we expected the morning after her checkup was for her to wake up running a terribly high fever! In her five years, I don't think her temperature has ever been over 103 degrees. For four days straight, her little body endured almost a constant temp above that! It was just a virus that had to run it's course, but it was scary to have my baby so sick. Sadly, the only place she had been was the doctor's office for the "well" checkup, so whatever she contracted - it happened there!

I, also, had Bryson's 30 week checkup last week, and he is growing wonderfully! He is right on track, my blood pressure is doing great, and we couldn't ask for a better pregnancy! I even got the great news that we get to have an ultrasound next week to see our little man again! I have been very nervous about his "size" and wanted to get some updated measurements on this boy's head. So many people keep telling me, "It'll be what it'll be!" I'd like to be prepared and "know" what to expect! I'll be sure to post his updated "pictures" as soon as I can!

We wrapped up the month of January with one last birthday party on Saturday night for our friend, Cameron. He FINALLY turned 30! He's one of the "babies" in our circle of friends. It was a nice small gathering with great food and fun! Kaylee had a blast playing with her friends, and Gene learned how to play the game "Wahoo" that I find to be very similar to one of my old favorites, "Trouble."

Because of all of the late night partying, we hadn't made it to Sunday school or church at all this New Year, so I decided to make the effort this past Sunday to get Kaylee to Sunday school - at least! She enjoyed seeing her friend, Rylie, whom she doesn't get to hang out with nearly enough!

We also "broke ground" on Bryson's nursery, so I finally feel like we are on our way to progress! Gene built a shelf I found on Pinterest, and I bought the paint, today! I can't wait to show you all the "finished" project!

So, that has been our January! It's been busy and fun, and some wonderful memories have been made!!! I'll be back, sooner, next time!

Love and blessings,
Jessie

One Trimester to Go!!!!

Well, as of tomorrow, I will be 27 weeks! That means that I am entering the final lap of this race!!! Yep...the glorious Third Trimester! I know it doesn't look like I've "grown" much from the last two photos, but there is actually an EIGHT inch difference around my midsection. I am enjoying not being too large - I have enough problems with my balance as it is! We will see how much I "grow" in the next three months. I'm sure it would be better if I would try to stand the same distance from the mirror, too, right?

So far, everything is going great! My blood pressure is still awesome, my weight - well that could be less for me, but I am "on target" according to where I should be. Bryson is constantly flipping around in there. He's so active, sometimes I worry that he doesn't like his current accomodations!

I still can't believe that I will get to meet my son in a few short months. There is still so much to do! We haven't done a thing for the nursery, and we probably won't get started on it until after January. I feel like we already have all that we need to bring him into this world. We have a carrier, bassinet and crib that was Kaylee's. We have diapers and clothes from my sister. Aside from needing some recieving blankets and burpcloths that aren't pink, I think we could manage! We have all of the love in the world ready and waiting for him when he's ready to arrive!!!

I go for my 28 week checkup next week, and then I will begin seeing the doctor every two weeks after that! I am looking forward to getting another ultrasound in February to see how big this boy is getting - more importantly, how big his HEAD is getting! Kaylee had a perfect, tiny head, and I'd like to continue with that pattern! I guess he will be what he will be, and there's not much I can do about that!

Until the next time...

Love and blessings,

Jessie 

Ode to a Stay-at-Home-Mommy...

Gene is snoring, Kaylee’s coughing, Bryson’s kicking…it’s only five,

I lie here in my bed, not sleeping, but thankful for this blessed life.

Alarm sings out for Gene to wake, he turns it off for a few more winks,

“Just a few minutes more,” he’s thinking, but it’s more like 30, that’s what I think.

Now, he’s up and getting ready, trying to quietly start his day,

Here I am, I’m still not sleeping…what a better time to pray.

I pray that Gene will have safe travels from county to county as he’s out on the road,

I pray that Kaylee gets a little more sleep, though she’s sick, and that’s a difficult load.

It’s not that we have any plans for our day, just playing and hanging around,

But Kaylee with more sleep is better than less sleep, a cold will get anyone down.

The heater is humming its song through the vents, and my bed is all cozy and warm,

The neighboring animals outside my window are singing their morning alarm.

It’s almost seven, and I could be sleeping, but it’s just a matter of time,

That I would be staring down the alarm clock, knowing it’s not going to chime.

I may as well get a start to my day, have some coffee and morning TV,

I’ll check my email and look at my Facebook before Kaylee starts calling for me.

“Mommy, I need clothes!” are the words I will hear, as she’s making her big girl bed,

She’ll have that sweet “good morning” smile and a rat’s nest upon her sweet head.

I’ll get her breakfast, her pick it will be, sit her down at the table to eat,

Oh, the day of this stay-at-home-mommy’s just starting, and this life it is ever-so-sweet!

Love and blessings,

Jessie