The latest awards

Okay, since my last post Baylee has done it again. She has won two more awards. The entire school was asked to draw their idea of a Victorian Christmas and the best design would be used for the school Christmas card. Baylee drew the cutest Victorian house all decorated up for the holidays and her design was chosen for the school Christmas card. This card will be sent out to other schools in the district as well as families of Arlon Seay Mavericks. So that's that! Now for the next one. This morning the 5th grade class graduated from the D.A.R.E. program. They have been in the program since the beginning of the school year. It lasts for one whole semester. Towards the end of the program the kids were asked to write an essay about what they learned and how it will affect their futures. They chose one boy and one girl out of every 5th grade class and my daughter was one of the winners. They awarded them with metals, water bottles and a pin to wear on their shirts. I truly have the greatest kids a parent could ask for. I'm not only saying this because my kids are smart and always win awards but they are genuinely AWESOME in every way! I sometimes find myself questioning my parenting skills as I'm sure most moms do but I must be doing something right!

Oops, I forgot

How could I forget to mention two very honorable roles my oldest daughter has taken on? She has been chosen as a 5th grade science tutor for her peers. She tutors every Wednesday morning. She has also been chosen as a mentor for two 1st grade girls with behavioral problems which she visits with every Mon. and Tue. mornings. This is something that Baylee takes a lot of pride in doing. She misses her advisory period on these three days to help other students in need. Just wanted to add that because again, I am so PROUD!

Proud Mommy

Well it's been quite a while since I've posted anything so I have quite a few things to write about. First off, I'm sure everyone has heard the news. Audie and I are having another baby girl. We found out unofficially and without certainty on Nov. 18th and with 100% certainty on Nov. 22. The little diva wasn't cooperating during the first ultrasound. The second ultrasound we had was 3D and we brought the girls along. Reagan said she looked like an alien and Audie said she looks just like him. We got a pretty good look at her little face and she kept putting her hand up like, don't look at me!". I can't wait to meet my new little angel! We've agreed on a name and I LOVE it. Her name will be Miss Chloe Sophia. Now, on with my other news! I can't even begin to tell you how proud I am of my girls. They amaze me more and more each day. I'll start with my little pre-teen Baylee.

The girl's school had their 1st 9 week awards ceremony a couple of weeks ago and Baylee cleaned house, let me tell you! She won everything there was to win except perfect attendance. To start off she was recognized and called to the stage for winning the T-shirt design award. This shirt is given out at all the award ceremonies to every student who either receives All A's, A-B, honor roll, perfect attendance or premier behavior. Baylee's design won the contest and her artwork is on all the award shirts along with her autograph in the bottom right of each shirt. Then she went on to be awarded with all A Honor Roll and Premier Behavior. Last but not least, the principal and teachers chose one student from each class to win the Principal's Silver Star Award and guess what?? She won that one too! I couldn't have been more proud!

Reagan also received all A Honor Roll and Premier Behavior as well as Perfect Attendance. She's working on that Silver Star Award she wants so bad! In addition to her academic awards I also wanted to say how proud I am of her for being chosen by our church to be on the committee of the Elementary Age Youth Group! Our church asked her to serve on this committee because they thought she would be such a great asset and I couldn't agree more. She was so excited to receive this invitation and has accepted the position.

My little Payton is growing so fast. She is writing her name perfectly, counting to 50 and knows most of her letters already. It's hard to believe she will be starting Kindergarten next year. As most of you know I am officially now a stay at home mom and Payton keeps me pretty busy. I honestly don't know how I worked and kept up with everything. There is so much to do around the house, not to mention since I quit my job I had to get rid of my housekeeper and I've taken Payton out of daycare. I am now teaching her myself through an online curriculum so that she is ready for next year.

Okay I guess I am finished doting on my girls! I just can't help myself, they make me so proud!

So I'm bad about updating my blog!

Okay, I know I said I would keep everyone updated through this blogger site but what can I say, I live a busy life! Last time I blogged I was yet to have my first prenatal visit. Well, I had the first on Sept. 9th and the baby and I were just great. The ultrasound revealed a teeny tiny beating heart and Audie and I were both feeling very blessed. THEN, as Dr. Simpson is looking around she says, "oh wait a minute, what's that?". Audie and I look at each other like deer in headlights. Dr. Simpson then says, "I just want to be sure that it's not another one". The seconds felt like minutes and the minutes like hours as she continues to look at the suspicious "spot" on the u/s. "Oh, it's just some debris", she says. Wow, I cannot begin to make you understand how many things were running through my head in just the few moments that it took to determine that I was carrying a little extra "debris".

So now on to appointment #2 on October 14th. Once again everything went great. We were able to hear the heartbeat for the first time which is always really exciting. Other than that it was pretty non-eventful. The typical vital signs, pee in a cup, weight....etc. If you've had a child you know how that can be. You wait for 1 1/2 hrs so they can say, "see ya in 4 weeks". I'm a pretty boring pregnant person and very thankful for that. So, I'm now 14 weeks and 2 days and have gained a whopping 2 pounds....thanks to baked potatoes and cereal, which I've now moved on from. My appetite has increased tremendously in the past week which makes me a little nervous. I could do without a repeat of what I looked like when I had Payton. I was pregnant with Payton through the holidays and all that delicious food (I'm a sucker for pumpkin cheesecake which is being served everywhere right now)just packed on the pounds. So with the holiday season right around the corner.... wheeeewwww! Lookout Weight Watchers, here I come in about 5 1/2 months!

Pregnancy update

It's been a while since my first post but for good reason. I've had horrible morning sickness that lasts all day long. I haven't felt like sitting down at the computer long enough to post anything. The morning sickness started at 6 weeks and is still going strong, although it's developed a more predictable pattern. I seem to be okay in the morning (which is quite strange, hence the words "morning sickness"). It's usually around 4 or 5 in the evening when I start to feel really bad. This is good for work but bad for my family life. My poor husband has taken on the role of "Mr. Mom" and I must say that he is quite good at it. He doesn't really keep the house "perfect" as he says I do but the clothes are clean, dinner is on the table every night and the girls are in bed before 9:00. What more could I ask for. The girls are doing their fair share too, which is actually quite good for them. I'm just doing the best I can getting them to school in the morning and picking them up from school in the afternoon. The swimming pool has helped out tremendously. I can honestly say that it may be the best investment we have ever made. The girls come home, have a snack, do homework, swim, eat dinner, swim, shower and by then they are totally exhausted. It keeps them entertained when I can't entertain them myself. I'm hoping that the sickness will be over soon so that I can get back to being the mother I love to be.

Now on to the baby bump that semmed to develop overnight. I don't remember "showing" this early with the other 3. I guess it may be that the muscles just know what to do, it's like memory cells. That's my theory, anyhow. Who knows??? Audie says, "It's that BIG strapping boy in there". We'll see! My babies do get bigger each time. Baylee was 6 lbs 15 oz, Reagan 7lbs 8 1/2 oz and Payton 7 lbs 14 oz. and they were all 2 weeks early. Maybe it is just going to be one BIG baby! The good thing is that even though I have this "way too early belly" I've only gained 1/2 pound. My first doctor appointment is on Tuesday the 9th so I'll update again after that. I'll have my first ultrasound on that day and to those of you that keep saying it's twin boys, you better pray you're wrong, HAHA!!!

Party of 6......wow!

Well, we just thought our family was complete! On August 7, 2008 an EPT pegnancy test gave me the + sign. I was so shocked that I thought to myself, okay maybe I need the first morning urine....that is what the box recommended. So on August 8th, as soon as I awoke, I did it again, and what do ya know. It was another + sign. I knew then that our family of 5 was expanding to a family of 6. A true blessing no less, but it's kind of difficult not to think, OMG 5 more years of daycare. Just as Payton will be starting kindergarten, little no name will be starting daycare! As the initial shock and disbelief wore off, the next thing on my mind was when to tell everyone. There is always that fear of, what if something happens and I've already told everyone? So we decided to wait until I'm about 8 weeks and the risk of miscarriage decreases dramatically. Well, that didn't happen. My mom and sister came up last week to do some shopping so we all went to dinner, Mom, Morgan, Brandon, Chezna, my nieces and my family of 5. Somehow Chezna and I got on the subject of kids and having more or not. She looked at me and said, "what about y'all?" I busted out laughing and totally gave myself away. Now after dinner I was feeling guilty that someone besides my own mom knew about it first so I decided to tell her that night also. Of course she thought I was joking at first but I so wasn't joking! I really am going to have 4 kids! Okay, so now we still needed to tell the girls. So the next morning we went out to breakfast and I told the girls as my mom videotaped the whole thing. All Baylee could say is what?, like a million times, with her mouth wide open and then she immediately started texting all her friends to tell them the news. Reagan was so excited she kept asking if she was dreaming. And Payton just said,"I want a baby girl, not a baby boy" and kept trying to force feed me the oatmeal I had already finished, telling me, "the baby wants oatmeal! Eat this oatmeal!". Now everytime we sit down to eat Payton asks if the baby is eating and if the baby likes it. Everywhere we go, Reagan shouts out, "my mom's pregnant" whether we know the people or not! The excitement went on for a while with the three of them and when they finally settled down they just wanted to know if I was serious. Then came all the questions and I won't even go there right now. So now a week and a half later it has all sunk in, everyone knows, and I am very excited about this new addition.