Two's Company, Three Was Never a Crowd, BUT Five Might BE!!

In November of 1981, my grandmother's first two of eight grandchildren were born. Twins girls, Amanda and Michelle, born to my Mom's middle sister, a lady who I know as Aunt Terry. About nine months later in August of 1982, I was born, just in time for the three of us to grow up tracking each other in the same grade in school and setting us up for a lifetime of friendship!

Aren't we adorable in our little dresses on our great-grandmother's couch in Chattanooga, TN? Of course I may be biased, but I think that little cutie in the middle looks a lot like my little man... wonder why?! And that sweet girl on the left looks strikingly similar to Caden's THIRD cousin Cy... don't you think?! :)

So there we were... put together from birth whether we liked it or not, BUT lucky for us and for the rest of the family we liked each other A LOT! We always had the MOST fun when we were together... and boy did we do all sorts of things... We were quite entrepreneurial at an early age... in fact etsy had NOTHING on us and our card and party shop we affectionately named Cous-ann's. I think we grossed at least $5-$10 each holiday which in the late 80s and early 90s was a KILLING! In fact, we used that money to walk down the road and stock up on candy, primarily of the fruit variety, when we went to check out videos from the video store. Apparently, times have changed because our parents used to let us walk down there ALL BY OURSELVES and the video store was just mere steps from a major highway... trusting or stupid? I'll let y'all be the judges of that one! :) Of course, we were always up for an adventure... the three of us... one time while they were visiting my family and I in Marfa we got lost in the Davis Mountains with some teenage boys who had promised to have us home by lunch. After being pulled up onto different pieces of the cliffs and falling into a cactus we were full-blown Indiana Jones girls of the wild! It would appear that by the time we were 10 we were destined to become something greater... obviously or how else would we have ever survived some of our parent's greatest choices!?!? By the grace of God! :) (Just kidding KK and Terry... SORT OF! HA!)

I mean look at us... the picture of success...

In homemade dresses and AWESOME hair... we were TROUBLE! :) From left to right... Michelle, Amanda and ME! Look how much shorter I was... come high school I would surpass them by INCHES... about 3 to be exact! :) I was a late bloomer!

Before we went off on our own... into the great big world of college... my Grandmother took her first three grandgirls to Myrtle Beach for a little graduation trip! Our days consisted of mornings BAKING in the sun, afternoons catching episodes of Real World from the pull out sofa and nights out on the town of Myrtle... As you can see NOT one of us was concerned about age spots... or wrinkles... and apparently WHITE eye-shadow was ALL the rage! And those overalls I'm sporting... were capri overalls... can you get enough of those? They were my favorite!! And paired with an Old Navy halter top, and chunky Reef flip flops they were the perfect thing for the beach! :)

Bless our crispy hearts... how were we ever going to find a man?!! Well... Michelle had DONE found her man by the end of middle school... she and her hubby Kaleb were middle school sweethearts who survived the test of time and made it...

Amanda and I still had some searching to do. I was hoping to go off to college and meet somebody new and she wasn't sure if she was wanting to stick with the old of high school or find something new too... turns out... I didn't find anything new and she did! And Rick and Justin would be the men that would later join our family!

The three of us getting hitched added to our family size ten-fold... then it was time to have babies... Caden came first... then my cousin Amanda had Cy just 5 months later. And then there were two... two boys... two great-grandbabies for my Grandmother with the hopes of many more to come!

And boy if 2011 isn't going to be our year because excitingly... we are about to grow from 2 to 5 in a matter of months! We are ALL THREE PREGNANT!! Can you believe it?

I am due in late June...

Amanda is due with her second (ANOTHER BOY!!) in mid-October.

Michelle is due with her first (A GIRL!!!) in mid-October too.

Their due dates are just days... four days to be exact... apart!! So by Thanksgiving this year we are going to be having a FULL BLOWN baby party!! Kaki will have two new playmates... a girl to play dolls with and a boy to pester!! :) Caden and Cy will RULE the roost but it won't be long before the three youngest will use their higher number to give them a run for their money! Watch out big brothers!!!

So needless to say we are THRILLED beyond belief and blessed just the same to be bringing in three new babies to the family in 2011. Kaki and the other two will not be in the same grade, but they will be closer in age than both Caden and Cy and me and Amanda and Michelle, SO I have no doubt that the grade separation will in no way impact their relationship from blossoming into something to be treasured!

How cute are they??!!! I wish we had a picture of all of us pregnant together but the last time we were all together I was LARGE and they were just finding out so I am afraid our bump picture would have been kind of one-sided! :)

Twins... each with a baby... due just four days apart! Couldn't be more excited for them both!! I love you two!!

So as you can see...

Caden and Cy are company...

And Amanda, Michelle and I were the THREE that were NEVER a crowd...

BUT... with five grandbabies on the loose... you just never can tell what will happen!

Whether it is crazy or calm... we are ready!! Bring it on babies!! :)

A Kaki Update... 38 Weeks!

No belly pictures today I'm afraid, but I wore the SAME dress to the doctor today as I did to my shower last Thursday... so just scroll down if you need a visual of Kaki and I at 38 weeks! :) Of course I hope you are enjoying the BEAUTIFUL picture of my Kaki-toes! KK treated me to a pedicure while C was napping today and we decided that we MUST get some special toes for Kaki-pants... we chose perfectly pink with white polka dots! What do you think?!

Well... we have some very exciting news... Kaki (unless she and God decide otherwise) will be making her grand entrance next Monday, June 27th via c-section! I can hardly believe it is only a week away and then I can HARDLY stand that it is AN ENTIRE WEEK away... what am I going to do with my anxious-self! Oddly enough I am most worried about going into labor by myself now... strange I know... but I am. My doctor said I still am MAYBE a 1... and by this point with Caden I was already a 3 and it still took me 2 additional weeks to go into labor... AND that was with a 9.7 pound head pushing straight down... and now... I just have two sweet little feet dangling! So here's to hoping she and I can tough it out until next Monday!

Until then Chade and I are going to soak up our last days at home together before Kaki-pants joins our lives for what we hope will be a LONG while! :) We're ready and we're excited to make our daily duo, a trio! Bring it on Kaki-pants!!

I'm hoping to occupy myself with some additional blogging this week... so stay tuned! :)

I know I've said it before, but THANK YOU all so much for your prayers and sweet words of encouragement... we cherish them! And if you wouldn't mind keep 'em coming! :)

More to come...

Another Perfectly Pink KAKI Party!!

Justin, Caden and I have been beyond blessed by our new church home and most specifically the community of friends that have surrounded us since we've joined. God was surely not slow to keep His promise and lead us to an amazing group of people that would quickly become some of our most respected and treasured friends! We are so grateful for this blessing!

On Thursday night, four of my sweetest friends threw Kaki and I a Perfectly Pink Party. A night out with the girl's would have been enough, but in true form they went ABOVE and BEYOND and made the night super special with sweet decorations, YUMMY treats and of course LOTS of FUN loot for Kaki-pants! I just can't stand myself and I MUST write a little something about my hostesses... they really did WAY too much and during such a busy time a year with camp, vacations and all sorts of other fun summer activities they made Kaki's party a HIT!

In alpha order...

Jaime: y'all have heard me talk about Jaime before! Jaime and I and Justin for that matter have some pretty weird connections. We lived in the EXACT same room in the EXACT same apartment in college... Pete's Palace... oh my! Were both Pi Phis! AND Justin attended Jaime's dad's basketball camps growing up AND Justin's Dad worked alongside Jaime's dad when he was a coach back in the day! It has been ONE hilarious coincidence after another! She is an all-star Mommy with party-planning in her bones... she throws the CUTEST parties for her girls... I wish she had a blog so she could showcase all of her great ideas... because y'all would LOVE it!! Not to mention Caden is obsessed with her girls, especially Blair who he has only been around a handful of times... I think it was a lunch date to Mighty Fine after church one day that sealed the deal... since then he is always asking about BLAIR!! :) And she's an older woman to boot! Jaime is one of the most thoughtful people I've ever come across... she is a true gem!

Lesley: Another sweet sister friend and fellow Pi Phi at Baylor as well! Lesley was the FIRST person to reach out to us when we visited the church last Fall. She was so sweet and helpful in answering all of our questions and reaffirming our belief that we had found a good place! Lesley has two of the cutest little button-nosed kids EVER who have made me cry in church before because they are just so stinking sweet! They remind me of what Caden might look like when he is older which just pushes me over the edge sometimes! They have such a sweet relationship with their Momma! Lesley is fresh and real and is never afraid to tell you about life how it REALLY is... which always makes for some good laughs! :)

Nicole: Nicole and her hubby Jason are the other "young 'uns" in our group... they are actually a year younger than Justin and I but were married on the EXACT same day, year and time almost seven years ago! They have two of the cutest little girls you've ever seen, one named Katie who I am a bit partial to... not that it has ANYTHING to do with the name! :) We have so enjoyed spending time with them and Caden once again has found an older girl crush in their oldest daughter Jenna... although she isn't near as old and wise as Miss Blair! :)

Staci: Staci is due with her second bundle of joy in September... a sweet little boy named Jack! Staci is also one who reached out to us immediately, giving me all of her contact info and a lunch invite after our first Sunday. She is super talented and crafty and makes all sorts of fun things for every occasion and keeps the group connected with the GREATEST gift ideas and other fun keepsakes! Staci hosted the shower at her beautiful home... in some of the pictures you'll be able to see her paint colors... aren't they great?! Staci has a little girl named Grace who is the same age as Caden and who is the life of the party! I was so glad she joined us for a bit on Thursday night... made me excited for my own little pretty in pink lady!

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU Jaime, Lesley, Nicole and Staci for putting together such a special night for me and my girl! Y'all really did go ALL out... we appreciate it SO much! Justin and I have had the most fun going back through all of Kaki's gifts... I think he might enjoy the girl stuff as much if not more than I do! I love watching him get all ooey, gooey overs bows, ruffles and frills!!

And thank you to all of my other sweet friends who came to celebrate with us on Thursday night! I love nothing more than learning from and laughing with all of you other Mommies! It is GREAT to have so many people who are one, two and some even three steps ahead of me in motherhood... I am soaking in all that wisdom!! Love y'all!!

And now... for the pictures... THANK YOU Jaime for being the official photog of the night!

Click here to view these pictures larger

A Kaki Update...Officially FULL Term!!

We made it!! Kaki-pants is OFFICIALLY full term! Now that DOES NOT mean that she couldn't use some additional work on the inside, but we're celebrating this important milestone nonetheless!!

We had our weekly appointment with the doctor today and not too much new to report... We still have a VERY breech baby! She's basically in my throat... I was joking around with my nurse today and told her I thought I'd have a better chance of coughing her up at this point! If it could only be that easy, huh?! I am still BARELY a 1/2 cm dilated as well!! We did get a quick peek at our girl today since the ultrasound tech was in the office. She did some measurements to make sure my fluids levels were good and that she was in fact still breech. She is pretty much straight up and down... her head is under my right rib and her feet are near my cervix! We did see some hair on the back of her head... so she's gonna come out ready for bows!! :) They also did a growth scan today to see how small/big she was looking and true to form she was measuring 8.2 pounds at just 37 weeks! That could be +/-a pound, but considering Caden was measuring 8.6 just TWO days before we delivered at 40 weeks and ended up being 9.7 pounds we have no reason to think that she isn't on the heavier side of this measurement... BUT only time will tell!

I asked my doctor TONS of questions today... I had a list I had been collecting throughout the week as Justin and I talked about all of our options. I think it is safe to say that we have decided 110% that we are not going to attempt to turn Kaki before delivery. Our doctor gave us the option to perform an external version at 38 weeks (next Monday) and having her THAT day regardless of how it went! The appeal of meeting her sooner was enticing, but I really didn't want to put the stress on Kaki or myself and then STILL possibly end up with a c-section anyway.

So unless our girl decides to flip before 39 weeks we are going to be scheduling a c-section at our appointment next week! Of course, I suppose there is always a chance I could go into labor on my own and if that happens and she is still breech we will have a c-section then as well! We even have talked about the possibility of still opting for the c-section if she does turn because of her size in hopes of not repeating the damage of my previous delivery with the Chade-man!

Still some things up in the air, but aren't they always? Who can really predict how ANYTHING will go down? We are continuing to cling tight to our faith and trust God completely with the details!! That is not to say that we aren't a bit anxious... because we are, but we are doing our best to throw that anxiety straight to God and letting Him deal with it as only He can!

And now for a quick pic of me and my girl...

And my boy... and his belly... he INSISTED!!

I know I've said it BUT thank you, thank you, thank you for all of your love support, prayer and encouragement over the past few weeks! Keep it all coming! We have the BEST friends and family!! Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!!

Happy Monday!!

My First SOLO Trip to Waco, Narrated by Caden

Well, I am sure when y'all read the title of this post you were relieved to know that you'd be getting a taste of the Cade-man instead of my Mommy... I told her she needed to take a little break from blogging... things were getting a little stale if you know what I mean! It's been FOREVER since she's let me get behind the blogging wheel and tell my side of the story! For our more faithful followers you may remember some of my first pieces of blog art WAY back when... they typically were a comment-generating phenomenon and quite honestly I think that made Mommy kind of jealous and since then she's been coming up with one excuse after another to shut me out of the game...BUT everyone needs a little truth sometimes, even if it hurts. So sorry, Mommy but you win some, and you lose some...

So...Where should or shall I (like that fancy word) begin? Thursday evening Mommy and I went and picked up Daddy from work and headed to Belton to meet Nana and Bop for the drop-off. It was my first SOLO trip to Waco to spend time with the g-rents and BOY was I excited. I knew that Nana's spanking spoon had LONG been packed up and I also knew that she and Bop, both have the HARDEST time with saying the word, "No!" so you can imagine my excitement. I was about to rule the roost for a few days...

Of course, you know the funny thing about me is... I really only act "bad" for Mommy's benefit. Poor thing thinks it's her God-given job to discipline me and so I act up every now and then so she can feel important and worthwhile... it's only fair. And she tries real hard... she really does!

But anyway... back to my trip... after I said goodbye to the rents like 10 million times over and said my "i love yous" about the same number of times plus one... we were off! Finally... some air... I could breathe... Adios Mommy and Daddy... HELLOOOOOO WACO!!!

Actually, first we ate some dinner in Belton... just me, Nana and Bop. Thankfully Mommy and Daddy declined Bop's offer to come with us to dinner. Geez, Bop get a clue... don't invite the rents to dinner just when I finally escape... throw a guy a bone!

Bop was the official photog all weekend... you know my Mommy... wanting updates the entire time I'm gone... BUT truthfully... my blog wouldn't be quite as authentic without them... it'd still be interesting, because well, I'm hilarious... but the photos do add a little something, don't ya think?

So here I am eating queso and chips... not the best lighting, but who am I to be a critic?!

And then Nana and I and the BIG boot... N-E-A-T!! So maybe not all THAT cool but Nana and Bop loved it and who am I to deny them a few simple pleasures in life with their one and ONLY grandson...

After dinner we loaded up into "Chuck the Truck..." again... one of those things that gives Nana and Bop way more cheap thrills than it does me... so what... your truck has a name... so do Daddy and Mommy's cars... whoop-di-doo... onwards g-rents, I yeady to go to Waco!

Once we got to Waco (FINALLY) I took it upon myself to grab my bags... didn't want Nana or Bop to sprain anything you know... and took it inside... LET THE PARTY BEGIN!!

Nana and Bop did a stand-up job in preparing for my stay. They bought me all sorts of new toys for the backyard and stocked up on ALL of my favorites including Popsicles. I mean what's a summer night without a nice, cold, orange Popsicle. Sorry about the pic of me in the buff, but there is NO place for orange Popsicle on my dude clothes... no place!

A good night's sleep was had by everyone Thursday night... and by everyone I mean, me, Mickey Mouse, Elmo and Lovie. Nana and Bop had a little trouble sleeping through the sounds of my seagull friends that echo through the monitor from my sound machine each night... OOPS! :) I mean I felt bad for their lack of sleep, but what's a guy to do... y'all were the ones who invited me here... seagulls and all! You'll have to take that one up with Mommy...

Thankfully that weren't too tired and were able to whip me up some breakfast! And let me tell you... it was a five star deal... it was no Hampton Inn free buffet... it was a Ritz Carlton brunch... eggs, toast, strawberries, yogurt, chocolate milk... the best of the best!

As you might imagine after a breakfast like that I was feeling pretty champion-esque... and was ready to tackle the LONG, albeit FUN list of things that Nana and Bop had planned for the day. First up... FISHING... with Nana... don't worry Bop was there too... you think Nana is going to touch them worms?! No way Jose... or Caden as the case may have been.

We didn't catch anything, but I let those fishies know that'd I'd be back... when you least expect it, expect it, I told them! Since fishing wasn't as fruitful as we had hoped we decided that there would be nothing better to soothe our woes than a nice, cool dip in the pool! Check out my fancy noodle... you likes?! That's my Bop... he's a pretty cool dude...

The pool was fun, but again we had some things to DO, so we hurried and got dressed... I obviously picked my outfit for the day... nothing says COOL like a dude in a Shamu shirt. Plus... I figured if those fishies got a glimpse of my shirt as we drove by the pond... they'd know... I've got pull with Shamu and I was NOT to be messed with! Not to mention Shamu is a personal friend... and if I didn't get 'em... well, it was pretty clear that they'd have to take any problems they had up with my friend the KILLER whale.. no big deal!

For lunch Nana and Bop planned a SUPER fun dining experience at ChuckECheese... it was my first time to dine in this particular establishment and I must say it was delightful! The games, the tickets, the prizes... the pizza... all top-notch!

Although I must say I don't think they will be happy to see me come back because I mean look at ALL THOSE TICKETS! It was like taking candy from a baby... seriously Chuck... you need to up the ante next time... give me something to strive for!

Eventually, I just had to say tickets, schmickets and just head over to the part of the place where I could relax with my buddies Chuckie and Barney...

Barney... that purple dinosaur... I couldn't love him more if I tried! I tell you what... I've been resisting this big goofy guy for some time, but lately I've got to say... he's grown on me! And that song... I love you, you love me... catchy isn't it?! I just love it!

After I ROBBED them clean OUT of tickets and had those deep, heart-to-hearts with my boys on the open road it was time to settle in for some PIZZA! I ate three pieces... setting a personal best for my pizza eating abilities! Like my bib?! I didn't want to wear it, but I figured my pal Chuck might be offended if I didn't wear the swag he had so generously offered us... so I took one for the team! Luckily, my lady friends were still in the Rock... talk about saltin' my game...

Next thing you know people are going to think they still need to wipe my mouth for me... embarrassing! I can assure you I am CLEARLY capable of wiping my own face... clearly!

All of that winning, riding and eating can WEAR. A. GUY. OUT. Who can say nap time?! I know Nana and Bop were SHOUTING it after their run-in with the seagulls! Even though I was actually feeling okay I decided I'd let the g-rents take a nap... it's only fair for the morning of fun they had treated me too! Night-night Nana, Bop!

Once everyone was feeling a bit more like the best version of themselves we got up and eased into the rest of our afternoon/evening. Poor Nana and Bop still had more on the list of things for us to accomplish, but I told them that I'd rather just enjoy their company in the comforts of their beautiful home, so we did just that...

A little video-watching, snack eating... and newspaper reading...

And of course I had to have Bop snap a quick pic for Mommy and Daddy of the new friend I'd be bringing home the next day... my pal Chuck... complete with walkman and headphones! Don't miss the super cool peace sign on his shirt. I think I might have to get a matching one... if he looks that good, can you imagine how I'd look?! It's my color too...

I decided to entertain Nana and Bop throughout my stay with some of my best lyrical stylings. And because I'm the sweetest boy AROUND I let them join in... but let me just say... I have NO IDEA where I get my musical talent from... it really is a mystery!

Between snack time and dinner time we spent some SERIOUS time in the backyard! I got to swim around in my new pool...

Kick around the soccer ball...

And of course, chillax with my Bop... chowing down on a fresh cup of ice!! Summer nights don't get much better than that...

Nana fixed me a yummy plate of sketti and a BUNCH of strawberries for dinner... and all was going GREAT, GRAND, WONDERFUL until... they asked me if I'd like to try some watermelon?!! Oh no... what do I say?! Poor, sweet, kind, lovely Nana and Bop... don't they know? Haven't they heard? Watermelon is the black sheep of the fruit clan... I couldn't, I shouldn't! "Sure," I said, "I'll try it!" THIS is how MUCH I love my g-rents... so I tried it! Spit it out and said... "Nana, Bop... THAT SHOO-EEEE!!" And I think I made my point!

Watermelon aside, Friday was the BEST day!! I had the greatest time checking off our to-do list and anticipating the next fun trick Nana and Bop had up their sleeves... seriously... FUN.DAY!

Going to bed Friday night didn't quite carry the same excitement as it did on Thursday night... in fact it carried a bit of heaviness. I tried hard to fight the urge to fall asleep because I knew that if I did, I'd eventually have to wake up and then it'd be Saturday... the day I had to go back to the Rock. But darn Elmo and that counting sheep trick he taught me... I thought there'd be no way that such an absurd trick would work, in fact I assumed it'd do the opposite... so I started... one, two, three... and darn it if by the time I hit four it wasn't already LIGHT outside! It was Saturday!! Plan. FAIL!

But there is always a silver lining... and typically donuts can add the perfect amount of shimmer to any morning... So we loaded up in Chuck and headed to Shipley's!! I had some serious bed head... thanks for lending me your dude cap, Bop!

Ah... chocolate milk and donut holes... la dolce vida! You didn't know I was bilingual did you??!! IM.PRESS.IVE, no?!

Before we could head south to meet Mommy and Daddy for the DROP OFF, I had made a promise that I HAD to keep. Remember those fishies?! I told 'em I'd be back... and BACK I came...

Get your RALLY CAP on... it's time to catch us a fish, BOP!! Stand back Nana... this could get ugly!!

And within minutes... hook, line and sinker... A ONE POUND BASS!! No big deal... it was nothin'! Who's the Man?!!! Who's the BOP?!!! Who's the BASS??!!!

THESE GUYS...

I figured I'd done enough to intimidate the residents of the pond for one morning, so we walked over to feed the baby ducks... I'm all about balance!! You give, you take... just like my man Jesus!!
I hate to say it... but y'all how this is going to end... I HAD TO GO BACK HOME! I know... it's heartbreaking! I mean I put on a good show for Mommy and Daddy and did my whole squeal, smile, giggle, "MOMMY!! DADDY" routine... but truthfully I could have stayed a few more days... I think Nana, Bop and I were just starting to find our groove, BUT what are you gonna do? I'm not telling MY pregnant Mommy that I wanted to stay longer... NO WAY! We still gotta get her to be sans-tears during drop-off... she's a work in progress! And don't act like I don't try to help... I was a TOOT all week last week... and super high maintenance...thinking that would help her "let go" of me a bit easier... but darn'd if she doesn't fall for it! I guess she really loves me!

Truth to be told... I've got a lot of people who love me out there! I pray for each of them every day because I know what a blessing they are to me! And you know... not every kid gets that kind of love... it's a real shame, but it's the hurtful truth! So I figure I better not waste it by being ungrateful!

Thanks Nana and Bop for a SUPER fun trip to Waco! I am ALREADY yeady to come back and stay... can y'all take one for the team and talk to my Mommy about it?! Might be in your best interest to wait until Kaki is born... but talk to her, please!! I love y'all!!

And now... I best get back to my rents... you know they missed me a whole bunch and all! Thanks for the laughs blog world... I hope to be back sooner rather than later! As my friend Chuckie and I would say... PEACE OUT!!

Peace, Love and Happiness

PEACE

Thank you for all of your sweet comments, text messages, voice mails, hugs and words of wisdom over the past few days! You have no idea how much it means to us that we have so many friends and family praying for us and our girl Kaki-pants! I am not sure who coined the phrase "storming the gates of heaven" BUT every time I hear it I always think of this...

Storming the field after a a big win! With victory in mind we storm the gates of heaven and ask God to move and work and show Himself in a mighty way. So again, thank you for all of your encouragement and your prayers!! I think y'all have done SUCH a good job that I might even be disappointed if she flips! :) After all, Justin's Grandma reminded me that c-section babies are MUCH prettier!! Ha!

LOVE AND HAPPINESS

There is nothing that makes me happier than my little man... of course there is really no one who makes me more frustrated either! :) But that's a given, right?! His Daddy may run a close second, but undoubtedly I love my boys more than anything! And they are CONSTANTLY bringing laughter to my belly and a smiles to my face!

I LOVE the fact that I don't even have to have a girl to have a child that enjoys dressing up in my costume jewelry! So pretty, Caden...

It makes me HAPPY when Caden decides that he MUST have his picture taken to send the adoring members of his fan club. A man... his boots... and his horse...

I am LOVING our new back yard kiddie pool! Especially when we were thrown an unexpected curve ball this week when our neighborhood pool was closed for the day... EEK! :) Justin called as we were "swimming" and laughed at the mental image of the two of us hanging in the pool! I will admit it is not a particularly favorable time to have a wrought iron fence! :) The poor passer-bys!

It made Caden super HAPPY that Elmo and Big Bird wanted to swim with us this week!

And I don't know why but I LOVE this picture so very much! It makes me laugh out loud every time I look at it! Just loungin' in the pool... Elmo and Big Bird... HA! And just so y'all aren't worried about me and my ways with money... that is an empty gift card at the bottom of the pool... nothing important! :)

Caden is HAPPIEST with a paci in his mouth and his friends by his side... and of course he uses the moments that I am 'taking care of business' to go and retrieve his forbidden paci from his room and come show it off... knowing full well there isn't a darn thing I can do about it! Look at that little sheepish grin... TROUBLE!

My two LOVES... bouncing up and down and around with each other! I am pretty sure Justin's ribs will be permanently bruised after all of their wrestle mania... but BOY is it worth the laughter that rings throughout our house each night!!

I am HAPPY it's almost the weekend!!

It's a Jungle Out There...

A Happy 36 Weeks is in order for Kaki and me today!

Thank you... thank you... we are THRILLED to safely have made it to this point and are praying for a continual "baking" for the next few weeks or so...

Today, KK and Albi drove up to the Rock to watch the Chade-man so Justin and I could head to the doctor for our first "progress check" for Kaki-pants! When KK and Albi arrived, KK carried in a bag of donut holes, actually 3 bags, one for Caden, one for Kaki and one for me... HA! And Albi carried in "THE WHITE COOLER" which meant... sweet KK had cooked for us... AGAIN! A few weeks ago when they came in for the day to play with Caden and I they showed up with FOUR HUGE frozen casseroles and today they arrived with a pulled pork and another casserole! God bless them! I have loved mixing those meals into my weekly rotation and having a night or two off each week from cooking... wonderful! And if that wasn't enough, KK does stuff like steam my floors, scrub the Caden-scuzz off of the kitchen table, fold laundry and the like. And Albi of course fills my car up with gas, goes to Walgreens to restock our meds and then buys Caden the important things... like a plastic pool, a stick horse and the like! All in all, when KK and Albi come to town it is a TREAT! And now that I'm headed to the doctor everything Monday... it is a DARN shame that they'll most likely be making the trip EVERY week! :) I know Caden and I certainly approve! (AND ARE GRATEFUL!)

So while Caden was having the.time.of.his.life! Justin and I headed to the doctor! It was a pleasant surprise having Justin in attendance today. He texted me about 30 minutes before my appointment and said he had rearranged his schedule and wanted to be there for today's appointment! Whoo hoo! I always love having the company!

And today of all days it was great to have him there as I was anxious about my first check, excited to see what progress (if any) I had made! So after the initial vitals were taken it was time to strip down and cover up with my paper sheet and get down to business! Here's the play by play...

Doctor: Everything been good? No cramping? Bleeding? Etc.?

Me: Nope!

Doctor to Nurse: Everything measure okay?

Nurse: Yep, everything was normal except she was measuring at 37 weeks today instead of 36!

Me: Uh, oh... and a giggle!

Doctor: Haha, no that's okay!

Doctor gives me the run down of what is about to happen... I am going to swab this and insert that... you know the drill!

While examination is in progress...

Doctor: This baby still has a LONG way to settle down before we're gonna have any action.

Pause

Doctor: Yah, I'm thinking if ANYTHING you may be about a 1/2" inch dilated. And MAYBE 50 % effaced.

He starts poking around on my belly...

Doctor: I'm not feeling her head down there and I'm thinking this thing up here might be a little too hard for a bootie...

Me: Well, I've been feeling hiccups low, so I am pretty sure she is head down! (I am SO smart!!)

Doctor: Hmmmmm, let's do a quick look and see what's going on!

So he turns on the ultrasound machine and gets everything geared up! I get to sit back up in a "yes I can breathe again position" and we wait.

Doctor: Well, there's her diaphragm... and her head. This baby is breech!

Me: Bummer!

Justin: Bummer!

Doctor: Yep, bummer!

At the time I am thinking, there is NO WAY... the hiccups... the hiccups! Since, we've been home though I've been thinking about a lot of things... symptoms I've had and I've concluded... "Yep, I've got a breech baby!" Not that we needed any further proof of course! But so many things are making sense now! Haha! Funny how that happens!

So for the next 20 minutes we went through all of our options and we've got some... Next week at my 37 weeks appointment we are going to have another ultrasound and most likely a growth scan to help add to the info we are using to make the best decision for both Kaki and I and then we'll decide what we think is best to do.

I am almost 99% sure I have made a decision, but no need to announce anything for sure until we see if Miss Smarty-Pants wants to flip herself around before next Monday! Probably not likely, but you just never can tell what a determined girl can do! Of course if she is determined to stay "right-side up" then she'll have that prerogative as well! And you know us girls... we can be pretty stubborn... especially us Evans-girls!

Today was a funny day for me. When the doctor said she was breech I immediately laughed to myself and with God as I thought, "That's what I get for asking you to increase my faith!" I should know better! :) But He told me we'd be better for it... me and Him... so I'm willing! And He said that He was too! So here we go...

Right now I'm preparing to face one of my bigger delivery fears and consider the option of electing to have a c-section or perhaps being forced to have a c-section depending on which option we choose! Silly to some of you know, I know, but nonetheless something God and I will have to sort through a bit. I am not without my stumbling blocks, that is for sure!! FEAR is number one of my list!!

It's actually kind of hilarious in a God kind of way because last week I was in a READING FRENZY! I started and finished THREE books last week. Mary Chapman's Choosing to See, Randy Alcorn's, If God Is Good, Then Why Do We Hurt and Ron Hall and Denver Moore's, Same Kind of Different As Me. I sped through them with tenacity and ferociousness. I could not put any of them down almost as if I was desperate to find the HIDDEN treasure inside each one. It was unlike anything I've ever experienced. Perhaps, it was some sort of nesting, but I truly think God was giving me a mind and a heart to learn from these people who walked some of the most difficult roads I could EVER imagine walking and yet found peace (however difficult) in God's ultimate sovereignty! I thought a lot, I prayed even more and I CRIED MY EYES OUT... UGLY CRIES...

Throughout the course of my week I remember thinking to myself... "Huh... wonder what all of this is preparing me for?" And while I think the wisdom and insight I gained from reading these incredible stories will undoubtedly help me in the coming weeks... what I REALLY think... is that last week and all the weeks that came before, PLUS the next few weeks, PLUS the X, Y, Z trials/challenges/fears that I will encounter throughout my life are ALL part the journey AND in the end... will lead me down the very well-traveled road that will INCREASE MY FAITH!!

So for now, I am going to go to the One who knows the end of my story and trust in His wisdom and lean on His strength and find JOY in watching Him work! Let's go God!

We'll keep y'all posted on our decision as we get closer, but for now we'd ask that you'd join us in giving thanks for a healthy girl and healthy momma... we are grateful for these blessings!

And now for the NOT SO HEAVY STUFF...

Or actually... the INCREASINGLY HEAVY STUFF... ha! :)

The 36 week Kaki pic...

And that's all I've got for tonight... LOTS of words... only one picture... not too exciting... BUT important to me to catalogue today! I never want to miss God when He moves (or when I am awake enough to see it)!! This is the good stuff!!

Here's to another HOTT day in Texas! I hope everyone is staying cool in this heat... I am SO SORRY for you poor souls who are delivering in August/September/October... BLESS YOUR SWEET LIL HEARTS!! I'm sweating for you just thinking about having to be pregnant through an entire summer! :) Hang in there!!

Happy Monday!!