26 Weeks

Almost in my third trimester!

(I had a yucky cold when this pic was taken)

This pregnancy is flying by. I just want life to slow down a little. Shawn and I can't believe Mae is almost 2. It was 2 years ago that I was 26 weeks pregnant with Mae. I went into "preterm labor" 2 days after Halloween 2 years ago. Hopefully that doesn't happen again. I'm trying to drink lots of water this time around!

Henry is super active. Shawn said the other day "It's like you have constant entertainment, huh?" It really is! I love to just sit and stare at my belly move and shake. I've started to feel little limbs and it's so weird/amazing. I love feeling the heel of a foot and pushing it and watching him push back. 

Next Monday is my glucose test. Hopefully it's as easy as it was with Mae and I don't have gestational diabetes. 

Mae has been walking around with her baby doll and has been such a good little mother. I can't wait to see her interact with Henry.

We are so thankful for our healthy son. God is so good.

October Update

I've always longed to have this idyllic fall where we did all sorts of fun activities and enjoyed it to the fullest. I can say confidently that this year we did. We have had so many good family times and have done so many fun activities. It has helped that the weather has been absolutely perfect. Here is a recap of some of those memories.

This was taken at the Waxhaw Harvest Fest. It was a lovely day and there was the perfect amount of chill in the air.

 I took this picture to try and duplicate the one we took the year earlier at the same festival in Waxhaw. Right below is the original. A lot has changed. My sweet girl is SO big and grown up. My mom and I both have much shorter hair now. Im wearing the same shirt in both pics except this year I was about 23 weeks pregnant. : )

 Bubbles!

 Mae's first pony ride with poppy!

 She bit her nails the entire time and never relaxed a bit.

 There was a bbq competition going on but it didn't start till 1pm and we needed to get home around noon. Shockingly all the bbq stands were giving it away for free. Shawn, my dad, and mae were in heaven. (She loves ribs. She'll eat them down to the bone. I don't even do that!)

 Rib baby!

 This is from a couple weeks ago. We had a chilly day and decided to "camp out" in the back yard. I set up the tent and made it super cozy. I used to eggshell mattress toppers, a down comforter and several other blankets. That's really the only way to camp in my book.

 Mae looks so goofy!

 We watched a movie and ate popcorn. This is of Mae pretending to go "nightnight"

 Mae was helping me bake banana peanut butter cookies.

 The mess was created from Mae "helping" me add all the ingredients. She had to finish off the peanut butter too. : )

 This girl knows how to relax.

Dollywood!

We went to Dollywood the last week of September. I haven't posted pics cause they were all on the iphone. Not one of us brought a real camera!! I completely forgot! We had such a good time. The Kirks decided to come about 2 hours before we left. I'm so happy they did. Mae and Jude are such good buddies.

At Ingles in Asheville (where we stopped for dinner), because we had to buy Mae some food since she's SO picky. Poor Jude didn't get the steering wheel seat but I guess Mae is older and probably a better driver. ; )

 Trying to crack the safe at the hotel. They were so close.

 Love this picture so much.

You can't see Mae but she's in between Shawn and "Poppy". I was terrified of her going on the ferris wheel since this was her first ride ever. I didn't want her to hate it and freak out at the top. Luckily she did OK. She didn't love it but didn't try to jump out. 

 Much to our surprise, Jude HATED the rides. He was very concerned the whole time.

 Don't you think we should wear bonnets everyday?

 Absolutely love this picture. 

 They got soaked on this ride. Poor Jude did not like being sprayed in the face with water.

Overall we had a wonderful time. It was no Silver Dollar City but I suppose it was unrealistic to expect it to be identical. I'm so grateful for the family time and great memories.

Fall Fun

We have had some beautiful fall days this week! Monday the high was in the 50's and we have been loving it. 

 Our first bonfire at our new home!

 Mae didn't care much about this. She was having a very cranky night.

 While Shawn was making the fire, I was making homemade graham crackers. They're pretty good. Shawn loves them but I think they taste very strong of molasses which is weird because there isn't much brown sugar in them.

 Tonight we went to the pumpkin patch! It turned into a whole family outing which was so fun. Mae was having another cranky night but once all her friends got there she was happy.

 Pumpkins!!

 Ben, Jude (my parents are watching him tonight) and Mae riding in the wagon. (this last approximately 30 seconds till Mae was screaming "Up Up!")

 Beautiful day!

 Jake, "Poppy", and MaeMae

 Ben and Jude loved the wagon. They were so good.

 Ben's not sure about that giant pumpkin.

 Best Friends Forever!

 Shawn and Harrison had an intense tetherball game. (shawn won!)

 Em's starting to have a nice little baby bump.

 Ben enjoying an apple cider slushie!

 No shoes for Mae

It was such a perfect day!