Total Package

I'm a little late with this post...we only have a little bit going on around here...see previous post. We had our "sneak peak" dr's appointment a little over a week ago and got to find out the sex of baby #2! Much sooner than my previous doctor let me find out (4 weeks earlier to be exact!) and as all you mommies who like to find out the sex, one of the most exciting pre-natal appointments you have. Except, of course, when you find out you're pregnant, you hear the first heartbeat, you see the baby is healthy, etc...who am I kidding?! it's all exciting!

it's a BOY...we'll now have the total package! (iPhone pic, but still you get the picture!)

What I always wanted! A girl and a boy! But really, although, I kinda hoped Ruby Belle would get to have the sister I never had, we're SO blessed to be having a healthy (so far) baby boy!!! We are a little nervous about a boy because we've gotten so used to our little girl and girlie things and pink things! Now Justin will get to do "boy things" while Ruby Belle and I have girl time, though! And we'll have a little more testosterone in the house...good for Justin, of course...the jury's still out on whether it's good for Ruby Belle, Maggie and I!

So, now that we know ... Let the naming begin!!! Of course, I started the naming LONG ago, but now we can narrow it down to boys and now Justin will participate! - he refuses until we know the sex...no fun! (not that he's been sitting around doing nothing lately. he IS off in New Orleans taking the last day of the Louisiana Bar Exam as I type and has been studying for the last 3-4 months! Prayers welcome!)

will keep you posted on names!!

RE: "Talk about a To Do List"

After reading this blog post by my sweet sister-in-law i feel like i must respond.

so here it goes:

1. I am so thankful that my brother and sister-in-law agreed to let my family and i occupy their mother-in-law suite for a couple of months. I LOVE living so close, but am always terribly afraid that we're driving them crazy...you know, the feeling you get when you have house guests...you love them, but sometimes they make you feel uncomfortable in your own home. that's how I think we make them feel sometimes. (ok, maybe i'm just this way sometimes...and with certain house guests!...but it makes sense to me). Anyway, this living arrangement has made our life a lot less complicated during this "transition process" and we're so thankful for them opening their home to us!

2. that picture of Stephanie and I is terrible of me!!! She's a blushing bride and i look like a pretty p.o'd bridesmaid! I swear, I'm NOT. I loved every minute of being her bridesmaid and it's that darn half smile that comes out sometimes (especially when squinting for pictures in the sun) that makes me look like i hate life. I DON'T and the picture just didn't capture me at my best :-).

3. I am 17 week pregnant as Steph stated...(post on the sex of the baby to come VERY soon!) and my clothing choices are getting smaller and smaller. I have a select few pairs of pants I can fit in. The maternity pants will be coming out SO soon...like today! also, i'll be posting belly pics soon...so sorry if my bare belly offends some of you! just close your eyes. you know, like your parents use to make you do!

4. Overwhelmed is an understatement! I am SO there with this to-do list!!!

On a serious note, though, I'm so blessed and happy to be back in Shreveport and close to my family!! they make all of this transition a lot easier!!!

moving day #2...

We sold our house!!! yippee!!! such a relief! well, really the relief comes Feb 25th when we actually close and the deal is done!

but for now, we have to move! ... the rest of our stuff. we only moved the necessities when we moved to Shreveport so we had to move the rest. and it was a lot. well, it seems like a lot while you're packing and moving, but when you see your life packed into a 22 ft moving van, it does seem a little sad maybe. First though, we had to get through the snow! NWA got 20-24" of snow in various sections of the area just 2 days before we headed up there. I believe the last time they got anywhere close to that much (I think it was 15-18") was back in 1968. crazy stuff!! we only got to see the remnants when we arrived on Friday and here are some pics from Saturday...melting was well underway, but still there was SO much snow!! we got stuck a couple of times, but made it out alive :)

actually the packing went very smoothly....thanks to my wonderful packer of a husband and our amazing friends who helped us get the entire house packed in less than 12 hours (excluding sleeping time!). special thanks to my friends who came over to help me with the final packing and Justin with the moving since i'm pregnant and couldn't be a whole lot of help! i can't believe we did it! exhausting!