Back to normal!

We found out today that, tomorrow, Brandon gets to go back to dayshift!!! I am thrilled to get to be a "normal" family again! The evening shift just wasn't working out for us. It was really starting to wear me down, especially now being pregnant. It's going to be so nice having Daddy at home in the evenings to help tame the monsters! Next fall, Brandon is hoping to get back on the streets where all of the action happens! We're praying he'll be able to get Sundays off so he will still be able to go to church in the morning. It's a bit of a stretch, but hopefully everything will work out in our favor!

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

Hope everyone had a wonderful Valentine's Day! Here are a few of our Valentine's week photos.

My 3 loves

Brady and his 2 loves, his precious babies!!!

Brady and Jack, decked out in red and looking oh so brotherly!

Me and my boys

Brady's preschool class Valentine's Day party. Notice how everyone is wearing red and pink---except Brady, who's mommy dressed him in blue! What a dorky mom! Oh well, at least he stands out in the crowd!

Honeybee class

CHEESE Mommy!

Photo tag

Devin tagged me to post the fourth photo in the fourth folder on my computer. Apparently I haven't had this laptop that long, because this photo is only from last July. It's a picture of my chunky monkey, Jack, playing in his exersaucer. Boy, I wish I could still put him in that! It sure would be handy now and then! I'm sure Brady would be relieved that it wasn't the picture before this one, since that was of him on the potty! Anyway, here Jack is at about 9 months old!

I don't have very many bloggers that follow mine, and these two haven't been on in a while, but I hope they accept the tag...I tag Carrie and Nadia.

The doctor says...

Well, I went to the doctor today and he says he's 99% sure I'm having a GIRL!!! I still am having a hard time believing it! You see, Brandon's side of the family is very boy-heavy and, as I've read, he determines the sex. After having already had two boys, I figured I was just destined to be a mama of boys. Right now, I find myself feeling really guarded. I want to jump up and down and start buying everything pink in sight but I'm still in disbelief. Could it really be true? I sure hope so! I keep telling myself it is still a little early. After all, I'm only 17 weeks. Although, I was looking at some of the boys' ultrasound pictures from the same time and they do look quite different than this baby's. One of them actually had boy parts pointed out at 14 weeks. Anyway, I'm crazy excited about the prospect a having a sweet little girl! Phew, I'm just glad to know something already! The suspense was killing me! I hardly slept a wink last night because I was so nervous! I should sleep like a rock tonight!

I know it's been a while...

It's been so long since my last blog. I figure, I better explain a little why. For any who still may not know, Brandon and I are expecting another baby!!! The official due date is July 12, 2009. In all honesty, I was a teeny bit freaked out by the prospect at first. My thought was to space our next child out a little more, since Brady and Jack are 22 months apart. I figured a 3 year gap would be perfect. Well, God had other plans for us! If all goes as expected, the age difference between this baby and Jack will be 21 months! We are so excited and can't wait to welcome another teeny Tener into the household! I know it's going to be challenging (to say the least) taking care of three children under the age of 4, but I know we can do it.

So, along with all of the excitment has come an enormous amount of exhaustion! As some of you may know, my body doesn't quite handle pregnancy as well as I would like. I am such a gripey pregnant woman! I never quite feel good. The first trimester has been full of nausea, horrible sensitvity to smell, lack of appetite and, of course, an unceasing tiredness. All of these symptoms have been worse in the evening, unfortunately, which is when Brandon is at work. So, it's been quite difficult, to say the least, dealing with these things and taking care of a "vibrant" aka defiant 3-year-old and a 1-year-old who is into everything! I just haven't had the strength to write lately. When it comes down to sleeping or blogging, I choose sleeping every time! Plus, it hasn't helped that all of this came during the absolute most hectic time of year, the holidays! (I will have to talk about all of that in a future post...this year seriously lacked in holiday cheer...) I truly can't complain too much, though. I haven't been nearly as sick with this pregnancy as I was with my other two (We're talking mega pukefests). I'm hoping, crossing every finger and toe, and praying like crazy that this might mean I'm finally going to get my girl this time! Don't get me wrong, I do LOVE my sweet boys more than life!

Stay tuned...I find out the sex of the baby on Monday, if the little stinker cooperates!

Hopefully, now that I'm feeling a little better I will be able to keep up a little better! After all there's something new to blog about every day!

Pay if Forward, Win a Prize

Several weeks ago, I partictipated in a Pay it Forward contest on my friend Devin's blog. I won a beautiful new Christmas CD (thanks Devin)!

Now it is my turn to "pay it forward." What am I talking about, you ask? I am paying it forward with a premeditated act of kindness. Would you like to receive a fun gift and then give a gift in return? THE RULES: The focus of this is to do an act of kindness without expecting anything in return other than that the recipient will, in their turn, pass the kindness along and "pay it forward." I will send a small, fun gift to the first 3 bloggers who post a comment on this entry. In turn, those three will post this information and pick 3 people they want to send something to and then the game will continue!! The little something you send can be something you made, bought, were given or found, anything you want!! Just a gift that will make the person's day!! If you are interested in participating, be one of the first 3 bloggers to leave a comment!! You have to promise that you will then post about this on your blog, link back to me, and then send something to the first three people who sign up to play along through your blog. Doesn't this sound like fun!!?? All of you lurkers out there who never comment, now is your chance to prove to me that you read my blog. :) Let the games begin! Good luck!

Thanksgiving Fun

Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! Ours was good---crazy as usual. We always go to both of our family's Thanksgiving dinners which, unfortunately, is always a tiring and stressful feat. We thought it was going to go smoothly this year because the times started out different. That soon changed and we ended up having two places to be at once. We did our best and made it to both. The kids were very tired by the end of the day! I think out all that food, all Brady had to eat was a pb&j and "punkie pie". Jack, on the other hand, had no problem eating his dinner! Then, on Saturday we went to Inola for my Dad's family's Thanksgiving. Jack finally took his first few steps. It was fun having the whole family there to witness it!

Unfortunately, I have no pictures of Thanksgiving this year. I left my camera at home like a dingbat!

Here's a recipe I wanted to share. It's what I always take to Thanksgiving and Christmas. It is easy and very yummy!

Corn Casserole

1 stick of butter, melted
1- 8.5 oz pkg Jiffy corn muffin mix
2 eggs, beaten
1-15 oz can of sweet cream-style corn
1-15 oz can of whole kernel sweet corn, partially drained
8 oz sour cream

Combine butter, corn muffin mix, eggs, corn and sour cream
Spoon into a lightly greased 9X9 or other smaller casserole dish
Bake @ 350 degrees for 45 min or until top is golden

This can be double and baked in a 13X9

Enjoy!