Another on the way!

Yep, you guessed it! we're having another baby! (in case you didn't catch it in my previous post 15 weeks). We are super excited! I am 12.5 weeks along now and can no longer kinda keep a secret. Most folks know, but i haven't "officially" announced it to the world! (i know, everyone is waiting on their seats) so, officially, it's announced...i'm pregnant!!

so far, things have been fairly par for the course with the pregnancy. I thought i was further along, but went to have an ultrasound right before we left Arkansas and the doc moved my due date back 2 weeks! from July 15th to Aug 2nd! kinda of a bummer, but really, it's all ok. it's just that when you're pregnant, nauseated 24/7 and have the usual 1st trimester jitters, you get excited when you think you're almost out of the 1st trimester. so, when he told me i was 8 weeks 5 days instead of 11 weeks, i was slightly bummed. but now, i'm back (well, past) that point and will officially be out of the first trimester next week. the nausea is mostly gone, but i'm stil pretty tired a lot. either way I'm so thankful that all is still well and baby smith #2 is looking good!! next step, can't wait to find out the sex! (Feb 16th!!)

Here is one of the ultrasound pics from my new doctor here in Louisiana. I love her by the way, so thanks to all the gals who recommended her (thank goodness my brother has LOTS of friends who have babies or are with child and can give great recommendations!) Baby Smith was moving around like crazy this day! Looks like we've got another busy bee on our hands!!! Ruby Belle will be so excited (after she gets over the jealousy part!) to have a full time playmate!!

And this is how we broke the news to my parents! We weren't living here yet, so i made this silly shirt and texted it to them...now, they're getting old, so even on their fancy iPhones they had a hard time seeing the shirt, but finally caught on and were so excited!! Now they'll have 2 to spoil!!

(again, sorry for the iPhone picture quality!)

The Perks of Work

if any of you have read any of my previous posts, you may know how much i LOVED my job in Bentonville, AR. and how i was SO excited to be moving home to Shreveport, but SO, SO, SO sad to leave my job that i loved so much! it was like leaving family.

but, i was hoping to find something of the same sort (though i knew it would take years to match what i left) in my new job! I know, some of you are thinking...foodservice is foodservice...it's all kinda crappy and lunch lady-like. well, in NW Arkansas it wasn't quite like that. yes, still lunch ladies, but a different world from deep south foodservice. just drive through McDonald's in Shreveport and then in Bentonville...you're in for a treat!I knew it would take a while to get adjusted, and that going from working in a nice, newer hospital foodservice in NW Arkansas to an older nursing home (somewhat in the sketchy part of town) foodservice department in Shreveport, LA would be a drastic change.

but i had NO idea...

my new kitchen (i SO wish i had pics of my "old" kitchen in AR so you all could see the differences...my "new" kitchen in LA meets EVERY stereotype you can imagine...continue on with the pics to see!)

This is the chair I had to find and make myself for the 1st 2 days.

And the desk that was being shared by 2 people (Also, I didn't get a pic...because I quickly killed them...but I was also greeted by a spider and a roach in the first 2 minutes I was there!)

On the 3rd day, I was granted these 2 fine pieces of furniture.

My new chair!...

and my desk...yes, there is a scary looking Jesus (i love some Jesus, but this one is posted on several walls in the kitchen and throughout the nursing home...apparently a resident drew him. yes, pretty good drawing, but i can't help but think it's a bit creepy! guess I will constantly be reminded that he's always looking over me!)

and a typical lunch.

The ladies so proudly serve this to you! and actually after the first few days (which also included liver and onions for an entree one day!...who still eats that?!?) the food has been decent on most days. you have to give it to the African-American cooks who have worked there 20 years...they know how to cook soul food...it's just not always what i'm hoping to have...especially after seeing the roaches! (4 in the first week! the pest control has come since then, and i haven't seen one since...but there's always tomorrow!!)

OH, how i miss Northwest Medical Center - Bentonville foodservice! I LOVE being here in Shreveport, but me trying to improve this kitchen is, as my boss called it, like polishing a terd!

now if that doesn't inspire you, i don't know what will!!

our 2nd Christmas!!

and Ruby Belle's 1st Christmas in Shreveport!!

Since we weren't able to celebrate Christmas with my family on Christmas, we celebrated on New Year's day. the day after we moved in. it was small, sweet, and fun! I think we all had fun, but as you can see...Uncle Ty and Aunt Stephanie stole the show (and this little one's heart!) with this great present!! (and how precious is that cute little crown from Aunt Stephanie!!!)

Road warrior!!!

Yes, that's my daughter...texting while driving and carrying a baby in the front seat!!

Overall it was a great 2nd Christmas!!! and better that we were all setteled into our new place!...now to adjust to our new life!!!

Moving day

Moving day has come and gone, but now we're all setteled in, so i thought i'd catch up on blogging. SO much has happened in the last few weeks and it's been a bit crazy.

really though, i can't think of much to say. we moved. it was fun, crazy, busy, hectic, not fun, etc. like moving always is. it was pretty successful...except the grill flew out of Justin's truck on the way down, but otherwise, successful. My parents came up to help us pack and move. they were a ton of help! we (my mom and I) packed the first day while my dad played w/Ruby Belle all day, then justin, my dad, and mom all moved the stuff into the appropriate truck. We borrowed a motorcycle trailer, had my dad's truck, justin's truck and my car, loaded them all up to the top and headed south! that's pretty much how it went.

(sorry for the picture quality...iPhones only do so much!)
My little packing warrior...yes, that bow has only been worn once and here it is!

playing in the empty (and no longer child-proof) cabinets!

then we immediately unloaded all we had...which was a much quicker process especially since we had Ty and Stephanie to help unload.

and we only had so much to unload since we're staying in Ty and Stephanie's mother-in-law suite. we'll now call it the Smith's Suites.

it's actually pretty cozy! it's 2 rooms...one for us and one for Ruby Belle. our room contains the living room, bedroom, and kitchen complete with a mini fridge. then there's also a nice size bathroom. really, it's cozy...but not in a terrible way. i have only been here a week officially, but i really do enjoy it. it's SUPER easy to clean such a small space (and also easy to destroy just by walking in the door) and it's kinda nice to walk down stairs to see my brother and sister-in-law. they have already entertained twice since we've been here and i think we have the best room in the house! we can come down for the fun, and then go back up when we're done! no driving, no clean-up (yes, Stephanie, i promise one day i'll stay up long enough to help you clean up!!), no packing the kid up to go somewhere and even better, we can just put her to bed upstairs and head to the fun downstairs!! oh, and to top it off, they cook often...and we have reaped the benefits a few times!! i must say it's a pretty nice treat for folks who rarely cook!! ;) we're gonna have to take them out to dinner soon!

our 1st Christmas this year

Our 1st Christmas this year was a little crazy. the weekend before Christmas we went to Branson to visit Justin's parents and for his dad's side of the family Christmas. It was nice to see that side of the family and our brother and sister-in-law, Brandon and Jamie and their 2 kids, Mason and Mallory. Ruby Belle had such a good time playing with them, and I think they had a great time playing with her!

the cousins at a nativity display in Branson

Then Justin and Ruby Belle went back for Christmas weekend (while I was working) and had more fun with the cousins and playing!

And apparently she LOVED sitting here and watching the fishy screen saver! it is pretty fun to watch, I must admit!