Super Bo!

When I saw this Superman outfit in Bo's size at the consignment sale for just $2, I knew it would be perfect for Bo! I tried to get him to wear it the day I took Arabelle's Rapunzel pictures, but he wasn't having it that day. So, the next day I tried and he obliged. His favorite part was the red tights that I dug out of a clothes bin from when Arabelle was 2. ;)

Super Bo!!!

Apparently Super Bo is a Braves fan. I can NOT get that hat off the kid!

In action....

12 Weeks

Here's the latest addition at 12 weeks! It's amazing how developed the baby can be so quickly!

Close up--I love that you can see the nose and mouth so clearly!

Pregnancy Highlights:

• How far along: 12 weeks, 2 days, based on the ultrasound today. The Dr. moved the due date up to May 12th, but I told him I'd see him on the 15th or after. ;) With Bo, he moved my due date up at the 12 weeks appt., but I still went several days past what I thought and 8 days past the measured due date. 
• Size of baby: The size of a plum. The baby measured just under 2.5 inches. 
• Total weight gain/loss: -2 lbs. I've gained 3 back in the last couple of weeks, so I'm going in the right direction!
• Maternity clothes: Not yet. Still fitting into my regular pants just fine, but I'm sure it won't be long!
• Gender: We'll find out at delivery!!! 
• Movement: I could have sworn I felt a little jump in there the other day when I was laying in the bed. I think it's too early, but we'll see.....the kicks will be regular in another month or so!
• Sleep: The exhaustion has improved so much! Staying up until 9:30-10 and getting up around 7. I don't need a nap anymore in the afternoons. ;)
• What I miss: running, enjoying food and water.
• Cravings: Nothing really. There are a few things that I can enjoy and everything else is still repulsive. I've eaten at Huddle House a few times the last couple of weeks....scrambled eggs, grits, and toast! The ranch dip that I loved so much 2 weeks ago is totally repulsive now. 
• Symptoms: nausea all day long still, not vomiting nearly as much (so thankful for that!!!), still feeling really badly in the evenings.
• Best Moment of the Week: Seeing the baby on ultrasound! Arabelle went with me and loved it!

Hoping to be feeling better when I go back to the Dr. in a month!

One more picture of the baby.....he/she had flipped upwards and was facing the u/s wand. The 2 dark circles are the eyes. Looks like a baby monkey to me! ha!

After the appt., Arabelle and I grabbed some breakfast. Chocolate milk and a waffle for Arabelle. She was SO excited about the chocolate milk!!

Mamaw's Birthday

Friday afternoon, the kids and I made the drive to Pineview to celebrate Mamaw's birthday! It was a fun weekend!

Lindsey, Brian, and Caleb arrived Friday afternoon and Steven, Jill, Anderson, Isaiah, and Lowndes came Saturday morning.

Papaw had finished building the play set and the kids loved it!

Caleb's first view of the play set.

Everyone enjoyed the swings!

Time for cake! Lindsey made Mamaw's favorite....Italian Cream Cake!

Anderson

 Isaiah

The newest addition, Lowndes!

Next up, Lindsey!

It was time for the picture of Mamaw and Papaw with all the grandchildren. Bo wasn't too pleased about stopping his play for a picture. He feels the same way Jared does about having his picture made.

Failed attempt:

Pretty good one!

Mama wanted a picture of all 3 of us.

Then she said to do something silly. ha! You'd think she'd know better!

The newest family of 5!

It was a great weekend to celebrate Mamaw's birthday and all she does for us! 

Arabelle as Rapunzel

Arabelle has been asking to dress as Rapunzel for her school dress up on Monday. A friend had a costume from last year who graciously let us borrow it (instead of buying a new one!). I got in on Wednesday while Arabelle was at school and she was SO happy!

She had been telling me that she needs to grow her hair out for the costume. Poor girl has only ever had 2 hair 'cuts' in her whole life. And those were more like tiny trims to even things up. Luckily, this costume has a great wig!

Park Fun

I've been trying to get the kids to the park more, especially now that it's cooler in the mornings! Tuesday, we went for some fun! Bo is big enough now that he enjoys playing on all the equipment. I think the big slide is his favorite! Arabelle's favorite is the jungle gym.

We always have to walk down to the baseball field to run the bases. Arabelle got them some sticks to use as bats. :)

One of these days I'll remember to take my camera and have better pictures.

Fall Outfits, 2012

Last year, Aunt Kay made these cute Fall outfits for Arabelle and Bo. The great news is, they still fit! Arabelle's is a little short, but was okay with tights underneath and Bo's was long last year and just perfect this year!

Poor attempt at a group shot. Usually it's Bo who isn't looking!

Bo just *had* to wear his Braves cap. Bo looks SO tall compared to last year's picture!

Roberts Reunion

Saturday, we all gathered together at Coffee State Park for the Roberts Reunion! It was a great time and location for the reunion. The weather was perfect, food was delicious, and the company was the best!

I am kicking myself for not getting a big group photo of Connie with his kids, grand kids, and great-grand kids. I had been planning on it and forgot until after some had left. Next year, we'll have to do it BEFORE we eat!

Thanks to Mary for the goody bags & games for the kids and Ellen for organizing it all!

Just Relaxing

On the days that Bo takes a good nap, he gets to stay up a bit later than Arabelle (she doesn't know he stays up later!). If he goes to bed when she does at 7:30, he will be up before the sun. 

One evening last week, I brought him to our room to watch Curious George while I showered. I came out to find him laid back and relaxing, propped up on his elbow. 

He was mighty comfy! 

Samaritan's Purse: Operation Christmas Child

It's time for Operation Christmas Child through Samaritan's Purse! Do you participate? If not, check it out and get involved!

The mission of Operation Christmas Child is to demonstrate God’s love in a tangible way to needy children around the world, and together with the local church worldwide, to share the Good News of Jesus Christ.

This is the 2nd year that Arabelle has been old enough to choose and get excited about sending a gift to another child. She shops for a child her age and Bo helped choose things for a 10-14 year old boy. 

This year, we shopped at Family Dollar, since they have a lot of different items we'd need. Walmart would probably be cheaper, but I didn't want to be running all over a huge store for the different items needed.

There are suggested gift ideas, such as toys, hard candy/gum, school supplies, personal hygiene items, and more. The boxes aren't all that large, so we have to get creative!

Arabelle was so cute while she was shopping. "What color socks does she like? Dora or Princess underwear?" and she kept wanting to choose items that were bigger than the box itself. 

She is definitely a giver by nature. She loves to pick things around the house and give us 'presents', so choosing gifts for a little girl was really fun to her.

Bo just wanted to open everything....the toothbrushes, toy cars, candy, etc. :)

Bo tossed everything into the box and tried to cram it shut, while Arabelle worked and worked to get it all to fit. :)

I got Bo's all fit in and Arabelle had hers all in with room to shut it. I was impressed with her packing skills!

Last year I chose to pay the shipping online ($7/box) and print a label so our boxes could be tracked. Our boxes went to Benin, Africa (near Nigeria). I'm excited to see where they go this year!

After our summer mission trip to Haiti, I now understand poverty. Our poorest poor is no comparison (not that we shouldn't help those here in the U.S.!) There's no Walmart or Dollar Tree stores in third world countries and a simple piece of candy is a very special treat. I've seen the look of pure joy on an adult's face when they realized we were leaving the extra supplies with them (crayons, paper, markers, etc.).  These are things we think nothing of having. 

More important than the items in the box, they hear the Good News of Jesus in their language verbally and through a booklet and they know that someone a world away cares for them and has prayed for them. 

Here's an Operation Christmas Child video of distribution day in the Philippines. One box can change a child's life! 

For more information and to find a drop-off location near you, visit Samaritan's Purse. Don't forget to pray for the children who will receive your box! :)