Baby Update

On Thursday we had the big ultrasound. It was so much fun. Hannah and Ethan were able to join me and see the little guy. He wasn't laying in a position where we were able to see his face much, but at one point you could see he was sucking his thumb and playing with his fingers. Very adorable! For the most part he had his head snuggled into the placenta and was quite content there. We did see all his arms, legs, toes and fingers and that is fun too.

If you haven't picked up on the gender, it's a boy! Everyone is excited to have him come. Nathan was our resident expert and called the gender. I was dreaming little girls but felt it may be a boy. Hannah was hoping for a girl, but doesn't seem at all dissapointed that she is having a brother. Ethan doesn't care either way, as long as I have another baby of the opposite gender later. His master plan calls for one of each, not at the same time though.

For those of you who know my sister Heather. She is also pregnant! She married last March and they decided over the summer to start a family. She is about 9 weeks now and feeling it. She has not been feeling well. I keep telling her it will mostly pass and get better and to just hang in there. Our babies will be about 3 months apart, very exciting! I am glad that my children will have a cousin from my family. Now when we go to see my Mom there will be someone to play with in the future!

The Beach

Hannah loves running into the water. As you can see it is very shallow and calm in the Gulf.

Ethan likes to play in the sand. He won't venture in very far. Even if I am with him, he runs to the shore as fast as he can most of the time.

Both kids love going to the beach. The weather this time of the year is beautiful. When we have time the beach is where we want to be.

I wish that I could have done this as a kid. This day we spent two hours in the late afternoon relaxing at the beach. It is a 45 minute drive from our house so we don't go as often as I would like. But hopefully we can go once a week or so while the weather is good.

Halloween

Hannah was a chef and Ethan was Superman. They had a great time.

Nathan was the master carver of this Jack-O-Lantern. He and the kids designed it.

Rumblings and mumblings

The moving is done and we are just about settled. There are pictures to put up on the walls and a few miscellaneous boxes of junk. Other than that it is done. I have a few really good friends that went above and beyond and helped me get it all done.

It is so nice to be in the new place. It is much bigger. From room to room it is also quieter. We can watch tv at night and the kids cannot hear it in their room. Once doors are closed it is hard to hear anything else in the house.

All else is well. The kids are meeting some new friends. The neighbors upstairs have three children, 2 are older than mine and one is younger. They go up to play sometimes and once the kids came here. They are Sudanese and their english isn't very strong. But they seem to all have a good time anyway. Hannah hasn't learned their names yet, but I'm sure she will.

I have discovered one of the reasons that Mothers are encouraged to stay home. It is during the day that my children and I really "talk". I am often amazed at the subjects that come up. We have talked about crazy things like why do we have blood and how are bodies will be changed after the resurrection to really important subjects such as how repentance works. We often discuss gospel topics of a wide range. If I were not home a lot of these opportunities would be missed. If my children went out of the house for school the same would be true. Many of the school lessons we have lend themselves to discussions as well.

I must say I am gratefull to have this blessing. I haven't always felt it a blessing as an outside job would be a lot easier most of the time. But it is worth it to do this work. I feel the love my kids have for me and see how strong our bond is. When they aren't driving be batty we are having a great go of it :)