I can't believe it's not blue!

This past weekend we went ahead and went to The Prenatal Picture (www.theprenatalpicture.com)to see our little baby and to confirm my certainties that our house was going to be blessed by the energy and curiosities of another boy. Because of the episode I went through with determining Ailey's gender (little stinker wouldn't un-cross her legs!), I am practically a professional at gender determination via ultrasound. The MOMENT that I saw the screen I knew that my intuitions were *pleasantly*, completely inaccurate. I was staring at "THE" 3 lines! "I know what it is!" I said trying to stay calm before she said, "Yeah, I won't keep you guessing for long...it's a girl."

A GIRL!? Really!? The next thing I said was, "Oh my gosh! A sister! I love my sister!"

I am so excited for Ailey that I am not carrying just her baby sister, but her best friend for life. She won't know it, most likely until she's in her 20's, but she's going to have a best friend born in February!

As for me, I never imagined that I would even have one daughter...but two!? I really need to get on the dress-making and bow-making! I can't wait to dress them in little identical outfits...especially for holidays. I think it will be so sweet to see them playing dress up and house together.

What a blessing it will be to teach them about the wonderful joys of being a lady! Oh here come the waterworks....I guess the shock still hasn't fizzled out yet.

Thank you GOD for the blessing of babies....and the amazing gift of sisterhood.

Positively BLOG

Okay, so lately my family blog has turned into a place where I rant and complain...mostly about "you know who" and all her bad decisions. It's been a rough couple of weeks. This month, between myself and the children, we have have been to the doctor's a lot....dentist, oral surgeon, pediatrician, optometrist, obgyn, physician, ENT. We are out of money and this Momma is OUT OF ENERGY!

But, today, I am looking forward and bringing you a positive blog! *SMILE!*

Let me start with I love my husband. He works so hard at his job so that I can work hard around our home. He always stays so positive and strong for me...when I "just can't take it anymore". He always rubs my back whenever I ask him to. He rocks.

Keeping things chronological, Carly is awesome. There are so many things about her age and the upcoming years of her life that make me a nervous wreck, but when I talk to her I am reminded of how smart she is and how much she is not like me in junior high. Still, I see what is happening around her...to her friends and at her mom's house...and I hold on tight to my faith and to the special relationship she and I have built over the past 4 years. She's a combination of excited and nervous for school to start. We were unsuccessful in helping her to meet at least one person from her new school this summer. She's at a weird age right now where she can no longer walk up to someone and introduce herself and try to make friends. School starts next week...I can't wait to see what is in store for her! Exactly one month after school starts, our sweet girl will turn 13!

We've got Conner all signed up for Football for this fall! It's a big commitment this year. Practice is 3 nights a week for 2.5 hours and games are on Saturdays! This will be so good for him, though. He really needs to be in a situation where he is around kids his age that frequently and in a team setting. I think this will be the key to him making a good group of close friends. I still can't get him to eat healthily, but he's really started making an effort and keeps asking me, "Meme, am I getting better at eating good foods?" Aw, bless him:)

Joey keeps me on my toes, for sure. Actually, to be more realistic, he just plain stresses me out and cannot behave himself to save his life. (I know I said this was a positive blog, but Joey's 2...almost 3....I just have to be real here!) He wakes up way too early and fights us on going to bed until it's way too late. In between waking and falling asleep he does the opposite of what I ask, talks back, screams, and is out of control. He reminds me 100% of Conner at 3 only there aren't any teachers around for him to smack in the face and disrespect. He doesn't do well with breaking out of routine. He has no interest in using the potty and I am starting to believe that he enjoys his diaper. We are starting pre-school this fall which I am pretty nervous about. During Ailey's morning nap he and I will start schooling. I'm only hoping I can hold his attention long enough and well enough for him to learn. If this doesn't go well it isn't going to leave a great feeling in my heart about homeschooling. *prayers*

I can't believe that Ailey will be 1 in under 3 months! (I also can't believe I will have 3, 3 and under come February!) Ailey is smart and sweet and beautiful. She is crawling, pulling up, and cruising all over the place. She says, "Mama", "Dada" and "babababa". She always curls her toes and drinks her bottle with her feet. She adores her older siblings and it is so sweet to see her reunions with them after they have been away.....she giggles and kicks her feet in delight.

As for me, I'm positively tired:) The last couple of weeks have been an emotional and financial whirlwind. I'm hoping that our beach getaway next week will be a way to refill our tanks. I'm looking forward to the routine of the school year. I LOVE the fall! How exciting that it is just around the corner! I love the changing of the leaves, the smell of pumpkin, the constant simmer of my crock pot, and the roundness of my tummy that I have known every fall but one for the past 4 years. I love when it starts to get dark earlier and when our family favorites come back on tv. The start of the school year this year, for me, is going to be the start of a fresh beginning for our family. Amazing how three miserable weeks can make it seem like difficulties have been present for longer than they have. God's gotten us through these hard times and I know they are just about over:)

Praying for strength, happiness, and POSITIVITY!!!

"When your feet are dragging on the ground Stand up and face whatever you're afraid of.
When pandemonium is all around...That's when you find out what it is you're made of.
If you will just believe it's true Then there is nothing you can't do There's not a mountain that you can't climb There's not a river you can't make it over There's no tomorrow that you can't find if you try I know you're gonna make it Nothing can stop you now!"

"I think I can, I think I can, I think I can, I think I can. I think I can, I think I can, I think I can, I know I can!"
-The Little Engine That Could

we aren't even well off!

We are so blessed in what we have, but I assure you, it isn't a lot.

Bio-mom was under the impression we make a lot of money. I wish she was right. We DON'T.

It was suggested that we stop "popping out babies". LOL. I love it when people say that. Like that's all I do.....*pop*.....*pop*.....*pop*....

Let me tell you about how we manage to do what we do and live how we live. Yourself, someone you know, or crazy bio-mom may learn something from what I have to say.

My babies are born at home in the bath tub. This means that we don't pay all those hospital bills. No extra charges for epidurals, pain pills, c-sections, anti-nausea meds, etc etc etc.

After my babies are born they are exclusively breastfed. I have diapers for my infants that I use and wash and use again. In fact, for the first 6 months, my babies cost NOTHING!

When I have to put clothes on my babies, I go to the consignment store or accept generous hand-me-down donations from friends who have mothered before me. Now that I've "popped" so many out, the babies can all share clothing amongst one another.

My children are well fed and take vitamins and, in their short time on this earth, have been sick 4 times (Joey) and 1 time (Ailey). This means we rarely see doctor's bills with their name's on them.

We aren't even "well off". It is true that we just bought a $240k home...and wouldn't you know that that $240k home we don't even fit in! It is cramped, but being so close to one another makes our hearts closer, too. I am a lucky woman, yes, but I make sacrifices, too. I have been wearing the same 6 outfits for 3 years now. I don't get to take my children to Disney World or Sea World because I choose to spend my money on CARING for my children. This means if they need oral surgery, I get it for them and pay my part for it. We spend time, not money. We make memories, we don't buy them.

We don't have money to spend on our own health and dental needs, but our children, they are a priority. Even if it means Ramen noodles here and there and no trip to Florida this year, at least Carly doesn't have retained, impacted, pre-molars causing infection inside her mouth:)

If it weren't for the richness of our relationships and the love that we share, we would 100%, for sure, be considered "poor". (Just as poor as you, BM;)

Later. Off to go make a gourmet meal with 2 eggs, a potato, and a slice of turkey!