Good News ALL around! :)

SO many blessings lately!

Starting off with our soon to be newest addition...Baby Bryce. He is HEALTHY and growing and beautiful! MANY more appointments coming up....so I will keep you all updated :)

Our handsome little man (32 weeks) SMILING!

Next in line, Miss Madison! Maddie turned *3* this past Friday!!

Oh my goodness, where did the time go?! She is SO smart, and gorgeous, and theatrical, and AMAZINGLY AWESOME! I cannot understand how Matt and I are so lucky to have such a fantastic little girl to spend our lives with! She is ALSO so excited to become a big sister....she talks to Bryce through Mommy's tummy and asks Matt and I everyday if we can 'take him out' yet!!

We had Madison's party Saturday (thanks to everyone who came out and made her special day the best!) and she had a BLAST! We threw a mermaid/under the water themed pool party. She had so much fun with all the kids and stayed in the big pool with all the 'big kids' all day! She hasn't put down her 'new toys' and has even slept with some of them the past few nights! Again, a HUGE thank you to everyone who helped make her day awesome!

Blowing the candles out!



Eating her Mermaid Cake :)

Last, but definitely not least, my awesome husband. Matt found out this past week that he has been promoted up at work. This has been something he wanted to accomplish as quickly as possible at BEMS and he did it! And in such a short amount of time....We are SO proud of him and I absolutely love seeing him be rewarded the things he deserves! He has been working so hard and it has definitely paid off in his favor.

Okay....maybe a little 'down' news...but it can be taken in the light and thought of for the better. At our 36 week appointment today, we found out Baby B is in breech position. This could be very dangerous for baby and mommy. Fortunately, we know this AHEAD of time and can do something about it, before it's too late. We have another appointment on Tuesday to see if is still breech. If he is, we will schedule a C-section for the following week. Although, we do NOT want surgery, a c-section, it is a MUCH BETTER alternative than an emergency c-section....so again, we will take it on the lighter side and pull through with positive attitudes! Keep us in your thoughts and prayers as we find out more!

Relections and Life Lessons. Again.

So, no cutesy pictures or family trips to talk about today. We're going straight to the nitty-gritty.

For quite a while now, I have let people with negative 'oras' -or negative lifestyles- bring me down. I have felt crappy about the way friendships were going, the way 'friends' constantly try to 'one-up' you, and just want to use you to get ahead. This is not friendship to me! What happened to being friends with someone because you want to hang out with them and tell them all your secrets and gossip about what happened on soaps and Oprah that day? Friends like that are very hard to come by now...which saddens me. I could count on one hand the span of people I have trusted in my entire life....

So, with that said, I made it my mission to let them know how wrong they are...without being as blunt as I wanted (although I could have just blamed it on pregnancy)....but they didn't seem to get the hint. I tried to be nice about it and let it go for a while, then 'hinted' at mistakes or wrong doings, and was at the point of literal break....and then it hit me....well, Matt helped it 'hit' me. :)

IT'S NOT MY PROBLEM! :D

Isn't that great? I have ALWAYS wanted to fix everyone's problems, make people better people, help them push themselves to strive for more...but I have realized that some people don't want help; so who am I to push greatness upon them? Who am I to say, "You could do better and you're making a huge mistake." "I think you are a crappy friend" "Please, SHUT YOUR MOUTH, you're embarrassing yourself".....I am not the person to 'fix' everyone, unfortunately, because I would LOVE to. My job is to raise my children to NOT be like that....and that, I can control!

I have also come to realize that 'friends', unlike family, can be replaced or just shut out! You do NOT HAVE to be someone's 'friend' that treats you like poo....which is a great feeling.

So, in conclusion, although I just ranted about how it's not my place to push anyone to be a better person, I hope that someone out there reading this needs to hear these words,

You cannot help someone who doesn't want help. Do NOT stress over someone else's mistakes they're making...it will only make you look like the 'bad guy' due to their lack of multi-track thinking. If they ask your opinion, go ahead...let them down easy....but DON'T make yourself miserable over it! Love yourself and YOUR life and set good examples....maybe when their head pops out of you know where, they will want to follow your examples and understand that there is a life beyond betrayal and no will power. LOVE YOUR LIFE FIRST!!!

And finally, .....

Just ONE cute picture :)

Happy Friday-EVE!

We will be hitting up the Kountze Trade Days and an awesome butterfly release this weekend, enjoying our time together, and then EASTER this Sunday with some family! This Mama is ready for some hard boiled eggs! :)

Have a great weekend!

WAAARRIIOOORRR!!!!

First off, Happy belated birthday to Amanda Slaydon (stepmom) and Chelsye Slaydon (aunt) whom both celebrated their birthdays this past Friday and Saturday.

So, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!

This past weekend Matt traveled to the big D (and nope, not Divorce just yet...Sorry ladies) to run a Warrior Dash. The Warrior Dash is one mean obstacle filled, mud covered, over-populated course....not to leave out --FUN! Matt had an awesome time and successfully completed the course all to be greeted by free beer, barbecue, and turkey legs...now what Texan wouldn't enjoy that?!

Here is a link to their site....book a mud-run!! (<---talking to you Grandma)

http://www.warriordash.com/

And of course, some pictures :)

We also have a little future Warrior Dasher ahead of us! Isn't she the cutest with her war face!?

Madison and I had a pretty boring weekend, although most of it was spent outside...because it was absolutely gorgeous.

Also, please keep the families whom have lost property, pets, etc. in the fires across Texas and the families in the way of danger...volunteer fire fighters and TX Forestry Service are battling a HUGE 5000+ acre fire very near us....keep those servicemen and women in your thoughts as well!

Everyone have an awesome start to the week! :)

Pregnancy speedbump # 5,478.....

Well, I finally went to take my glucose tolerance test today (have been dreading that oh-soo-thick, over-sugary, molasses of a drink)---and I failed. So, I have another appointment tomorrow morning to check up on Baby B and the kidney stones and will have to make ANOTHER GTT appointment soon! This one will be a nice 3 hours long vs. the one hour one I took today. Hopefully, this will come back all nice and positive and I can move on from this mess! If not, I will be sent to a nutritionist and given a 'plan' to keep my glucose levels down!

On a good note, this has been a pretty awesome week!

Madison and I have had super fun this week (her first week out of 'school' and back at home). She is transitioning fantastically and it feels right to have her home with me and soon-to-be Baby. Of course she is acting out, knowing that there will soon be another attention grabber in the house, but none-the-less, still a pretty darn awesome toddler. I love the time we get to spend together and know that it needs to be treasured now rather than waiting until later! :)

We took a trip out on our friends' boat this past weekend and Madison had a ball....although I think Matt had more fun ;).

Leaving you with a quote....hopefully you all have already learned this!

"When things get bad, we take comfort in knowing that they could always get worse. And when they do, we take comfort in knowing that it could only get better."

Happy Hump Day! :)

Rough days, even rougher nights.

So, I am out of the hospital again...back at home on round #2. They believe it may be kidney stones this go around. While, that may sound terrible (and it IS very painful), we are extremely happy it IS NOT premature labor and our little guy is still in there cookin'! I will be very well rested when this baby comes, I promise you that! Matthew was graciously granted some days off so he could take care of me and prepare for the upcoming slough of people coming in this weekend! I am SUPER excited to see all our family and friends! :D ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Madison's Moments of the Day: Madison had a 'fun day at school today!' She drew a picture of Mimi and Tyler and made them 'pretty'. She also told her teacher that her Daddy made her hat (which, if any of you could picture Matt crocheting a watermelon hat right now, you'd know that was far from true!). We had a quick chili dog dinner and Madison keeps calling them corny cheese dogs....not sure where that came from, but it's cute. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Bryce's updates: Baby Bryce is still doing great. We have an appt tomorrow morning for check-up and glucose tolerance testing as well as a follow up from the hospital stay. His nursery is coming along fantastically....got his crib up today and all decked out (pictures coming soon). We are waiting for the dresser and changing table to come in and then the real decorating can begin! (Which I CANNOT wait for!) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Matt's news: Worked today...but has taken the next 5 days off to take care of me! :) What a great man I ran into :) He does have a long honey-to-do list ahead of him, though! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Hoping everyone had a happy hump day and is ready to take on Friday-eve!

Catching up....March 2011

WOW! Time has flown by and my-oh-my what we have been through in the 3 short months 2011 has blessed us with.

We Moved! :)

Our new home! (Sorry for the worst internet picture possible....but it's what I have on my phone!)

We closed on our dream home in Lumberton, Tx on February 25th (EXACTLY 3 years to the date since we closed on our first home together). We have since then, moved in (very quickly) and are in the process of making it our forever home, all while 'baking' our beautiful baby boy that may very well be here much sooner than we thought!

Madison in her 'swimming pool'...aka my bathtub!

Baby Bryce has been acting up in the womb! We have had some minor complications and therefore have had some date changes, set backs, and small scares added to the books for this pregnancy. None the less, we are still shooting for June 2011 and hope to keep him there as long possible!

Bryce's shower is this upcoming weekend, April 2nd. Most of you have received invitations and sent out RSVPs...if you have not, please let me know! We are VERY excited for our families and friends that are coming into town! This week is going to be a busy one, but very exciting! Hope to see you all!

Madison is also very excited lately. She has a new house, new room, new playroom, her own bathroom, and a new brother coming....she is just overwhelmed! She 'talks' to Bryce through my tummy and it is honestly the cutest thing in the entire world. She scolds Bryce for 'kicking Mommy' and tells him he needs to go to time out! :) She is, of course, amazing at everything she does and I know being a big sister will fall right into her list of talents.

We cannot stress how blessed we truly are. It takes a lot to sit back and not dwell on things you don't have and realize the amazing things you do, but when you do step back and take a look, what more could we ask for!? Our family is amazing and growing and beyond the family I dreamed for or 'doodled' in spiral notepads. I couldn't be luckier, more blessed, happier, whatever you want to call it....it is truly amazing!

Hopefully as I 'take it easy' I will be able to get back to my daily posting and stop procrastinating for months on end.... :P Until then, take my advice and step back...look at what you have...and take it in!! Life is GOOD! :)

Wrapping up 2010....Thank the Lord!

Well, 2010 is almost over....it has been one trying year!

Unfortunately, we have had some bad times, painful memories, death, despair, and many stabs to the back, heart, chest, and wherever else it was convienant to be stabbed at the time by people we never thought would....BUT, we made it through! And, in my opinion, much stronger, closer, and more involved with the track we all want our lives and our childrens' lives to be on....which is ALWAYS a good thing! We've been through and learned a lot for being such 'youngsters' and it has definitely become apparent to us that 'blood is NOT always thicker than water'...(You shouldn't believe all the old, silly wives tales you hear!) HAHA! But again, we take life in strides and we are ready for our next big one....! And thank you to the ones who are there, will always be there, and know what the meaning of family really means!

December Birthdays we've celebrated this month:

Jim/Popper -17th
MATT'S 26th! (Old man!)
G-pa Wayne- 22nd
Libby-23rd
Tricia-27th
G-gma/Grandma-30th

MERRY CHRISTMAS! :)

(Will post pics as soon as I narrow down the hundreds to the few best ones!)

Here's to a brand NEW and much better year to come! *TOAST* Bring it on, 2011!