Life with my sister

7 months Well, here I am. I am a little late on this month's update. I am starting to look a bit swollen and tired. I can't get my wedding ring on unless it is late in the day and I have had lots of water. Odd. I swell in the mornings the worst. My feet swell the worst at night...but they are not too bad yet.The curls are back alot these days. I never know what my hair is going to want to do. My nails are growing strong and look really good again. They had a weak spurt. Henry is an active little fellow and often surprises me/shocks me with his sharp moves. Bending over is a challenge by the afternoon on most days. Randall is out of town more for his new job, so when I dropped my magazines off the bed one night last week....well they stayed there until the next morning and I just settled for the TV instead! I am starting to get that "poor Abby" look and giggle when I walk in a room, meeting, etc. I also get that "are you sure you are due in December and not Octob

This little girl is all grown up She is the fabulous 6-0 today Wow, doesn't she wear it well! Happy birthday, Mama....we love you! (all pics taken at her 60 th surprise party)

So, its been a while since you've heard from me. Do I begin every post like this? It seems like it! I take a week off of posting anything and then fill you full when I come back. I don't know why I do this. I wish I could say I wouldn't do it again, but I know better, and so do you! Last Thursday, Sept 17, passed without me blogging about "this date in history". I can't remember if I've told the story before. I'm pretty sure I have, but I couldn't find it in the labels so let me recap. Sept 17, 1997 I was driving to work, 34 weeks pregnant, and was hit by a truck of teenage boys that decided to make a quick left turn in front of me. They had stopped and then turned, so they weren't going very fast. I on the other hand was going a good 50-55mph. Needless to say, I totaled Stephen's beloved truck and got my first ride in an ambulance. And let me digress for just a moment. I do not like riding backwards. It made me nauseous . OK ! The events b

Making room for Henry in this house has been a chore. Randall and I seem to have dominated every inch of it and we have only lived here a year. After a little reorganization, Henry now has his own little space. He has a kitchen drawer for his feeding things He has a kitchen cabinet for his bottles and such He has a bathroom cabinet for his bath things He has another bathroom cabinet for his towels and wash cloths He has a chest of drawers for his wears He has a closet for his little clothes. He is an official member of this household and he is not even here yet! Abby

Today we were showered again. Two weekends in a row. I feel so blessed that I may pop with joy and excitement. Henry is loved already, I know that is for sure! It was so great to see family and friends this morning for a yummy brunch. My Shower Hostesses Aunt Babs Cousin Hollye My Dad's wife, Connie Henry's Mama in front of the beautiful floral arrangement Hollye made Gifts galore My Peepaw's sterling spoon and knife from when he was a baby. Babs willed them to Henry since Peepaw's middle name was Henry. Notice Peep's teeth marks in the spoon. Melt my heart. I get my sappiness from the S side of the family, as you will soon find out with the sterling set in the pic above and then this. My Meemaw died in 2002. There was a gift from her at my shower and it was this little outfit. It was just like something she would buy. There was a card from her also. I cried. Swing happiness. I love the idea of Henry in his swing. I am excited to now be a diaper Bag diva. Cl

This past weekend we headed west for a big weekend of birthdays, (mine was Sunday and then we also had a 60th surprise for my mom) lots of family in town, a baby shower and a church reunion. This post is dedicated to the baby shower. Fort Smith Shower Hostesses Melissa - My BFF Sarah - My cousin who is 11 months older than me Staci - My cousin-in-law (married to Zach) The fabulous cake Sarah made for the shower. She matched Henry's bedding. The bottom layer was chocolate with Oreo filling and the top layer was strawberry with cream cheese filling. Mucho yummy and beautiful! I loved having my Mawmaw in town for my shower. She is my only living grandmother. Isn't she beautiful and sassy?! I was so blessed to have distant cousins, in laws, aunts and great aunts attend. I missed my sister and my Aunt Donna, for sure. This is my best girl. She opened her home for the shower. I love the smiles in the picture. We both have that glow. She is expecting #3. My "Sa". She know

I know some of you wonder how Abby and I can even be related. She loves to post pictures of all of her activities , and I hardly post any. I got a new camera for my birthday and (don't tell Stephen) I lost the cord that connects the camera to the computer. So, I put the memory stick in the computer and the computer won't recognize it. OH THE AGONY!!! So, I tried to post some pictures but it just isn't going to work anytime soon. We were in Branson from the 7 th until today, the 14 th . A sweet, wonderful couple have provided us with wonderful accommodations the past two years in Branson . We are so thankful to them and their generosity. Since we have been to Branson countless times, we tried to do some new things, so we wouldn't get "bored" on vacation. We took a ride on the Branson Belle , a showboat that has dinner cruises with fun entertainment. The food was good and the show was great. The kids loved being on the boat. Anna looked for the Branson Ba-

I am sure you faithful readers and lurkers are wondering why the pause between posts? Well, this pregnant girl has too much to say, not enough time to say it and can't get her thoughts organized enough to express herself sensibly most of the time. My sister is busy homeschooling, working a little part-time job, doing laundry, cooking, teaching at church and vacationing for a full 7 days this week (lucky girl, she is). So, that is why you are not seeing as much of us as you have in the past. Life has happened and that is good somedays... and crappy on other days! ha. So, you have got to be wondering what is going on with this 26 week pregnant mama to be: Well, it is pretty well all about Henry..... 1. I sailed through my 3.5 hour GTT yesterday with a good reading. No diabetes for me! I had a false reading at the doctor's office and had to sit through the 3.5 misery at the lab. I got a great result back from the doctor today and will eat my birthday cake and shower cake this week

I was reading another blog favorite of mine this morning, Boomama and she had the funniest post from yesterday. I mean, I was LOL and snorting! I have never been so glad that I wasn't drinking chocolate milk in my life. I'll clarify that statement a bit. In 9 th grade, while sitting with "my" cool kids (we might not have been "the" coolest kids in school, but we were cool in our own minds) in the lunch room, at the first table on the left. Someone, probably Kathy or Jeffrey, said something so funny that I laughed so hard chocolate milk came out my nose and landed in my green beans. I think that act of nose-talent solidified my " uncoolness " for the rest of my life. So, her Boomama's post was about closing salutations in letters. I was just thinking about this yesterday. There are times when I send emails. Or can you believe it, a letter? And I struggle with how to sign it. If it is a letter to my former youth minister do I say love, Julie

I took the twins to the doctor for their well-checkup yesterday. And can I just say that I left that office feeling pretty good? They answered all of her questions with a yes! Well, all except the question about wearing a helmet while riding a bike. But really, does anyone do that? Questions like, Do you ALWAYS wear your seat belt ? Can you write your name in cursive? Do you have chores? Do you eat good? (what an odd question) and the biggie! Can you tell time on a non-digital clock? I felt like a successful parent. I know, I know. The answers to those questions don't make a successful parent. But yesterday? After the kind of morning I had had with a couple of the kids. I needed them to get all those answers correct. I needed some affirmation. And then I realized that my confidence in parenting doesn't come from an outside source. My confidence comes from the Lord. Only. I don't need to seek worldly approval of my parenting skills. I need to seek God's approval of my pa