WOW Wednesday (WithOut Words)

He Even Does Dishes...

Carter is always helping me unload the dishwasher, so I thought I'd let him take a whirl at loading it too.

Not too bad...He'll get the hang of it, girls!

10 things I'm thinking on the 10th

1. My first born will be starting 1st grade in 14 days. Just two short weeks and she'll be gone ALL DAY LONG. I think I'm really, REALLY gonna miss her. We've been getting all the documents for registration and should have her registered at the school down the road tomorrow. We have gathered all her school supplies and purchased new school clothes. The only thing left is just a good pair of tennis shoes. Does anyone know how to stop a child from growing up?
2. I'm looking forward to doing pre-school with Hailey. I'll probably bring Carter in some. They're never too young to learn, right? It's gonna be so much fun. Hailey's been working on the Starfall website (See my sidebar under sites worth a look-see - I'd put the link up, but I'm just too lazy right now) It's so cute when she asks if she can do her school on my "puter" Santa may have to save up for a couple of netbooks for Christmas this year...
3. We've started discussing boy names. We still can't make up our minds. Seems like the girls' names were so much easier. We're thinking we might have to send out another poll like last time. Funny, but the name (Carter) that we both really liked took the poll by a storm. This time, we've come up with a few new ones and still have some of the ones from last time. Any suggestions we can take into consideration before the poll comes out?
4. I've really missed my blog. I get on and I visit all the updated blogs in my blogroll, but I just never update. I've missed blogging on so many different things. Maybe I can just use WOW Wednesday to post some pictures from recent activities. (Like when the girls ate "Mud Bugs" or Carter's first time to hold his own ice cream cone or his trip to the barber shop with Daddy) It's not like I haven't had anything to blog about. I've just lacked the motivation. It's got to be either the pregnancy......or facebook. (Darn you, facebook!)
5. So, could it be pregnancy brain that is telling me that a minivan might not be too bad? I mean, the doors practically open themselves. And all that storage... Don't get me wrong, I'll always be an SUV girl, but when we put that third row up, I lose most of my storage room. Once the baby (we call him "Walt" - story to come) arrives I'll need that big ol' double stroller for Carter and him in the back and it will NOT fit in the SUV (maybe if I had the Expedition EL or a Suburban) with the third row. Where am I gonna put groceries?
6. Should I just buy a bus?
7. We're gonna have to get a new carseat/stroller/travel system for Walt. The one we used with the other three is not only outdated by safety regulations, but it's falling apart. I practically cried when Hot Rod took the old carseat/carrier out to the trash man. I loved that thing. It was silly, I know, but I loved the pattern. I mean, we could hardly get the seat off the base in the car. Drove Hot Rod crazy sometimes trying to get Carter out of the car. I can't tell you how many times we just unbuckled him from the seat. Oh, and the stroller...What an awesome stroller. It had cup holders and storage up near the handles just perfect for two drinks and keys and cell phone...and the basket at the bottom holds SO MUCH STUFF. One of the best features, you could push and guide it or even fold it with ONE HAND! How will we ever find the perfect replacement...?
8. Okay, now I'm thinking about "Walt" so I guess I should explain. Or have I done that already? (I can't remember.) Anyway, so maybe there is more to the magic of Disney...WALT Disney. Long Story Short (LOL) we had a Disney World trip planned for October - the SAME week that "Walt" is due. Even bought the stinkin' airline tickets. FYI - pregnancy is not covered under the airline ticket insurance. (Glad we didn't waste our money on that.)
9. Speaking of insurance...PPO's are horrible. Co-pays and Co-insurance and deductibles. Covered and non-covered, in-network and out of network...blah, blah, blah...It's sad when I can easily say that the hassle of Cobra Insurance for Carter's birth was waaay less trouble and inconvenience. Getting the PPO to pay what they are supposed to is next to impossible.
10. Okay, just saw the end of The Tonight Show. What is going on? They actually had Lyle Lovett singing something along the lines of "I'll choke my chicken all night long" I miss Leno...

Oh look, a blog!

Someone should really post an update.

Perhaps "someone" will...tomorrow!

The Princess Bride

Let me start by apologizing for the quality of the photos. These were taken with my camera, in crummy church lighting by me, not a professional photographer on a sprained foot. (oops, I didn't tell you that story either - what happened to the month of May???) Well, let the photopost begin... (photopost, I like that word)

Here she is, my baby sister.

Isn't she beautiful?

And my baby girls.

Aren't they adorable?

And let's not forget my little prince.

A most handsome little man.

My Daddy, another handsome guy.

Poppy and Nana

One of my precious neices and a nephew who insist on growing up too fast.

The first dance:

The bride's dance with the younger neices and nephew

The wedding party (the most handsome "Hot Rod" is the one on the far right)

And finally, the happy couple

And so begins the first day of "Happily Ever After..."

Love you, Sis! You really made a beautiful bride.

The First Haircut

I'm sure you're expecting to see pictures of my little man, but did you expect that you'd see this...?

Her before pictures:

The first snip:

Showing how much was cut:

All done:

Yes, our little Hailey Bug got her first haircut at 3 1/2 years-old. (Just like her older sister!!) For those of you who know me personally, you remember my girls were born with a full head of hair. And they both had highlights!! (SO...NOT...FAIR!!)

Carter on the other hand, well...he was only 13 months when his hair was cut for the first time.

Carter's before picture (what a mess!!) He looks tired because we had to wake him up to cut his hair:


The first snip:



Making progress:

The after-shot:



The following Friday with his hair all styled up for the rehearsal dinner:

(My sister's wedding post to follow in the next few days)

May 5, my sister, Laurie, came over with her daughter Emma, my Dad and Tanya. While Dad and Tanya kept up with the kiddos, Laurie cut hair. First mine, then Hailey's, and last Carter's. She was one busy haircutting lady. I am so fortunate to have a sister talented enough to trust to cut not only my hair, but my precious babies. She said my kids are very easy when cutting their hair. They sit amazingly still and don't fuss. What a blessing!

Don't my kids look great?!

10 things I'm thinking on the 10th

1. We are officially 1/2 way through our pregnancy! 'Watching' all the babies being born at church (I think there is at least one a month until Nov.) is really starting to make me anxious. Not in a bad way. I'm excited, but I don't want things to speed up. I'm good with the way things are progressing.


2. Four kids! WOW!! Are we crazy or what? I always thought I'd have three children. Once we had number three, our family still did not feel complete. To be honest, Hot Rod always wanted our family to be an even number. Something about theme parks and everyone having a buddy to ride with...


3. I think we finally figured out how this keeps happening. :)


4. The baby has started getting quite active. It's such an incredible feeling when the baby moves. For about a week, I was worried because I wasn't feeling anything. Now, I'm more tuned into the feelings - and relieved to feel that little bit of reassurance that baby is okay.
5. I'm very happy to be through the "morning sickness phase". (I almost typed "faze" LOL!)
6. Now, I seem to have reached that "nesting phase" I know, it's early, but I've got a lot of work to do. I worry that, eventually, I might end up on bed rest which could cut my preparation time greatly. (like by a couple of months!)
7. Carter has started touching my belly and saying "Baby" (in his own way. It comes out something along the lines of "bay-bay") He also leans over and gives the baby a sugar (kiss) So sweet!!
8. We got to see an ultrasound of the baby on Tuesday. The girls were so excited.
9. We found out the baby is now around 11 ounces.
10. And...it's a BOY!!