My ONLY fall decor

Since we are selling, I'm in the process of de-cluttering my house.  Not that I'm much of a clutterer, but I am still looking around for anything that I can possibly box up.  I realized that even though it's not cold yet, I still am feeling somewhat fall festive, so to keep my house de-cluttered but still celebrate the season, I found a new fall wreath 1/2-off at Hobby Lobby last week.  It's literally the only fall decoration I will be sporting this season.  But I think it's pretty, and I'm proud of it.  Of course, I immediately starting catching all of these blog posts on DIY wreaths for $2 made from Dollar Store items, but I have resigned myself to the fact that 1) I don't enjoy scouring the Dollar Store with two young children in a cart pulling each others' hair and 2) my artistic skills would never match what I can find at the Hobster Lobster.  I love that store.  Especially when what I'm looking for is 50% off.

I also made a welcome sign using my Uppercase Living lettering.  All I did was paint the board a cream color and attach the rope with hot glue.  Easy as pie.  Do you think it would be too obvious if I added "to YOUR new home" at the bottom to entice potential buyers? 

Here's a really cool idea for DIY floor candlesticks for cheap, if you're a DIY'er:

http://impatientlyprayingforpatience.blogspot.com/2010/05/12-floor-candlesticks.html

House for sale

We're listing our house today.  Quite exciting but stressful at the same time.  The thought of keeping my house somewhat show-ready makes me crazy, so I'm trying not to think about it quite yet.  Yesterday I started thinking about it and spent two hours cleaning the garage after naptime.  The kids had a great time doing sidewalk chalk on the driveway, chasing each other around the car, and messing around with all of the things I drug out on the driveway.  At one point Emerson had strapped herself into a carseat sitting on the ground, and Jax ran up to her and took an apple right out of her hand.  That little fartknocker knew she was captive and couldn't chase him.

So why are we selling?  Well, I think at this point in time we'll be staying in Tulsa for a while.  We've been unsure for about a year now, but it looks as if a move won't be happening anytime soon.  Also, we would like one more bedroom, and a playroom would be fantastic.  Also living closer to town would be helpful.  The two days a week that Emerson goes to preschool, I spend an hour in the car.  Such a waste of time!  Plus, there are some really great steals right now... it's definitely a buyer's market.  I hope our home sells quickly.  When we get it on MLS, I will post a link, just in case you know someone who is interested in our area. 

Halfway there

Tomorrow marks the 20-week mark!  Thank you, Lord. 

Here's our baby girl posing for the ultrasound.  I think it's a fist pump or possibly she's trying to beat on the wall of my uterus as if to say, 'Get me outta here already!'  I know it, little lady.  I'm ready, too.  Just be patient and don't come early on me like your big sis. 

Looking forward to a nice relaxing weekend ahead.  Watched the Office premiere tonight and thought it was pretty good.  I wasn't terribly pleased with last season, but Jason and I agreed we should watch this season because it's Steve Carell's last.  And Lisa informed me that the next Bachelor is Brad Womack (AGAIN)... remember the Texan who didn't choose either girl and was so beaten up for it?  I, of course, will be watching, because I'm a faithful Bachelor fan.  Other than the Office, it's the only show I watch religiously.  Because when it comes down to it, by the end of the day I just want to clean the house, check my email & blog list, and be with my husband.  I hate how TV makes the evening fly by. 

Totally unrelated subject, but Jax walked over to Emerson today and patted her head, then her back.  Cutest thing I've ever seen.  He's a lover, that one. 

It's....

Gonna.....


















Be.......














A.......


















GIRL!!!  I knew it! 


Daddy watched the ultrasound closely and called it before the tech did.  I'm so stinkin' excited, I can't stand it.  Emerson was intrigued for a while, then she spent the rest of the appointment mesmerized by the rolling chair.  When I first laid back on the exam table, she came over to me, patted my arm, and said, "Mommy, are you okay?"  Maybe she really does love me. 

I'm really, really, really looking forward to teeny tiny onesies and bows and ruffles and baby tights. 

Come on, February! 

Giddy with excitement

I almost can't contain my elation that we're finding out what we're having tomorrow.  All day long I've had to keep myself from squealing out loud and clapping my hands.  I don't know why, but I honestly feel more excited about finding out this baby's gender than the first two.  I tried to explain that to Jason this morning, but he thinks I have just forgotten the first two experiences.  I don't know... I'm just overwhelmed with joy right now. 

Tomorrow is the first day of MOPS this year.  I'm so looking forward to seeing all the girls again and meeting new friends.  It's a huge relief not to be leading it, and I know I'll enjoy it more just getting to sit and be a part of everything.  I really hope little man does okay in the toddler room.  Lately he's been freaking out at the church childcare... to the point of them having to text us during service to come get him.  A few Sundays ago, he was almost to the point of hyperventilating, he was crying so hard.  It's so strange to be going through this, although I know it's a normal thing for most kids.  Emerson was just so darn easy and literally never cried at any childcare.  I have to admit a small part of me enjoys being needed so much by the sweet boy... sometimes I think Emerson could literally survive on her own without her mother.  She's that independent. 

I've got a thick, juicy chuck roast in the crock pot for dinner tonight surrounded by carrots, potatoes and onions that have been slow-cooking for the past 8 hours.  I'm so hungry, and the smell is killing me!  By the way, the boys are fully recovered now (well, Daddy says he's at about 80%), so we're glad to be back to normal around here. 

Will blog tomorrow or the next day when we know baby's gender! 

Sick Boys

On Tuesday Daddy got a flat tire on the way to work, so we picked him up and took him.  On the way there he said his back was starting to hurt (which is a red flag because that always signals an imminent fever outbreak for him).  By the time he came home that night, he was burning up.  The next day he looked at his throat in the mirror and self-diagnosed a yucky case of strep throat.  Sure enough, he went to urgent care today and they concurred.  But wait, there's more!  Jax's right eye had been a little red since Wednesday, and it's official... he and Daddy both have pink eye!  Yippee!  Daddy has officially made our bedroom his 'sick cave,' and he's set up office in the bed.  I must say it smells like a locker room in there, what with all the sweating when his fever breaks every 4 hours or so.  I've attempted to start the night off in there, but he's been snoring because his throat is swollen, so last night I finished the wee morning hours on the couch.  Now don't feel too sorry for me.  I actually enjoy sleeping on the couch.  I got one of my quilts from my college dorm bed, and it's colder in the living room than our bedroom, so I hibernated and slept quite well.  Emerson woke me up this morning with a kiss on the arm and said, "Mommy, what are you doing in here?"  Can't remember if I explained Daddy's snoring or not.

I'm so ready for my boys to get well!  It's no fun for Daddy to have to stay away from the kiddos and not shower them with his usual hugs and kisses.  Emerson gets to go to Build-a-Bear tomorrow for a birthday party with Uncle Trav, and I'm dropping Jax off at the in-laws,' so I'm plotting a languid and leisurely afternoon with some light shopping and possibly a stop at the public library.  Now, when I say 'light' shopping, I do mean light.  The first item on my list is a stop at Target for free dental floss with combined coupons.  Exciting times!

Baby #3 update: our ultrasound appointment is next Wednesday, so I will be sure to post the gender of the wee one!  We're taking Emerson and Uncle Trav with us... should be a blast!  I can't wait to see what her reaction will be.  Or if she'll even have a clue what's going on. 

Em's 3rd Birthday

Wow, was it a fun, crazy day today.  I'm still shaking my head to think it's been three years since I gave birth to that little girl.  Two seemed to be such a long year, but in hindsight it flew by.  In the past month or so, she has seemed to grow up by leaps and bounds and has cracked us up with things she has said and done.  A few examples:

* She's obsessed with telling stories at bedtime, and she now has 3-character narratives going.  So funny, and she always starts her stories with, "Once upon a time, there was a beauuuuutiful princess named Emerson..." Also, if we tell her a story, she requests specific characters to be included, and usually it's a princess, queen, king, prince, crocodile, and paints. 

* I was explaining to her what it means to be bossy a few weeks ago.  She thought for a minute and said, "Mommy, you're a bossy little queen."

* Her new favorite expression: "Don't spray it... say it!"  Thank you, Uncle Trav. 

Anyway, back to today.  We went to church this morning, ate a quick lunch and then put the kids straight to bed.  Jason and I caught a 45-minute nap, too.  Glorious!  I ran to Reasor's to pick up the cake and balloons, then the family arrived.  All Emerson could talk about was eating cake, but somehow she managed to get a little Olive Garden down.  She was blessed beyond measure with toys galore, and tonight she has already gotten out of bed twice.  The second time, I caught her in her room with her new princess dress-up dress on.  The sugar and the excitement were too much! 

Some pics of today:

Little Dancer

Finally found time yesterday to go through my pictures & videos.  Emerson has had a fever for two days, so she spent yesterday on the couch, giving me some extra time for technology.  She was enrolled in a ballet/tap/tumbling class at Little Gym, but she was the only student in the class, so they had to cancel it.  She's now at Jenks Dance Academy, but I'm actually thankful for her three weeks of one-on-one instruction at Little Gym.  She had to learn to listen (which she's not been fond of for about 6 months now), and her teacher there was so patient and did a great job of teaching the fundamentals.  Here are a few pictures and a video of her time at Little Gym.  One of her teacher's biggest challenges was gettting Emerson to look at her instead of prancing in the mirror.  After Emerson put her outfit on before we went to her first class, she marched into the kitchen and announced, "Mommy, I'm the most beautiful dancer I ever seen!"  Good to know our child doesn't have any self-confidence issues.  We'll work on the grammar in a few years. 

Getaway with NO KIDS!

I'm sitting at the dining table of a golf villa at Payne Stewart Golf Course in Branson, trying to figure out what to do with myself.  We've been here since Thursday with Jason's parents, and we're leaving later this morning.  It's been glorious!  Jason has golfed both days, and I've slept, eaten, gotten a fantastic facial, lounged by the pool, shopped, and eaten some more.  And all with no children.  It was a little hard leaving them, being that it's the first time we've been away from them both overnight, but I got over it about the time I was on the lounge chair at the pool, reading People magazine.  I seriously can't remember the last time I even opened the cover of a People, much less buy one for my reading enjoyment. 

The weather has been gorgeous... maybe hitting mid-80s for a high.  Every morning starts briskly, probably in the high 50s, and it's so invigorating to sit on the back 2nd-story patio and actually be chilly.  Oklahoma is NOT chilly yet.  And it's quite annoying.  Yesterday morning Jason's dad and I heard the Branson High School band practicing in the distance, and I realized I'm getting excited that football season is here!  The Sooners play their first game tonight, and you can bet my pregnant self will be parked on the couch.  In between giving lots of hugs and kisses to my two babies whom I miss terribly.