2014 Family Pictures

Who doesn't love family pictures?! Well my husband for one. He absolutely hates them and it seems I drag him to them at least twice a year! We hadn't had any new pictures of the whole family since E joined the family so Cody's mom had arranged a shoot with the lady who took my maternity photos. It was originally supposed to be just her and the grand kids but I asked if Cody and I could sneak in a few shots!
Photos by Karen Wade:
She's amazing. Her husband is a firefighter with my husband and she is wonderful at capturing the moment.

So in love with them!
I still can't believe God chose me to be these two wonderful tiny humans mommy! I am forever thankful for that and love them dearly. Sometimes I have to pinch myself.

Meet our baby girl....

Emerson Avery.

                           Born September 24th at 12:40pm Weighing 7lb 10oz and 19in long

Proud big brother!!! It was such an amazing moment when Hudson walked into the hospital room and saw his baby sister. His eyes lit up and he smiled from ear to ear. He held her for the first time and whispered, "I love you!" melt me
Newborn pics by Mallory Buck!

This c-section was a breeze. Sorry to all who had crummy situations :( I worked out until month 8 of my pregnancy and I think that was a huge help. I knew what to expect with this one and I was just literally OVER being pregnant! I was up and walking (like an old woman with a walker but walking non the less) on day 2. With my last one I didn't want to get out of bed because of the pain. I pushed through on this one and every hour or so would stand up and move around. Day 3 I showered and walked around even more. When the nurse came in to discharge me I was pacing back and forth ready to take my baby home. 3 days in a hospital can make ya crazy! She said, "you sure don't look like you just had major surgery" 6 days after having E Cody and I were walking around the block. I stopped taking pain meds two days after leaving the hospital! :))

Little miss is now 2 moths old and the most precious baby girl in the world. She is completely opposite from her brother when he was a baby. She hates sleep and will fight it every.damn.time. She has to be able to see someone if left in a room. She'll last about 10 min before having a meltdown. With Hudson, we could put him in his swing and he would fall asleep for a good hour or more. She naps for a good 30 min if we are lucky!! At night she is eating 4oz and waking every 3 hours. The first stretch, sometimes she'll go 4 hours. I think around 2 months we had Hud on some sort of schedule. She is NOT on one. She loves to be held. If she falls asleep in your arms and you TRY to put her down, she pops those eyes wide open and looks at you like...."NO"
My mom was going to keep her but something came up and was unable to. Broke my heart but knew God had a plan. That left me looking for care. Fortunatley the YMCA daycare had two spots available until our #1 choice became available. (Wee Care) Hudson was at WC for 3 years. Started when he was 2, Gram kept him those first two years...oh how I miss that woman. Every day I think about her. Sure wish she was here to love on baby girl and play with Hudson. I know she has a great view from upstairs..
Daycare gives these little daily reports when she ate, diaper changes, etc. Somehow those daycare ladies get her to nap at least 2 times a day for 45 min. WHAT?! How?! They are magic. I'm going to have to ask them their secrets.
Please don't stop by our house from at least 7pm-8 because our daughter screams so loud we can't think. It's almost like clockwork. She cries for no reason. Actually I think she may be over-tired. Hudson went through a similar phase and the pedi said try putting him to bed a little earlier. So I'm going to try that with her tonight before she get's all dramatic on me.
To all the single parents out there with multiple children.....PRAISE TO YOU!! When Cody is on shift and I am in charge of 2 tiny humans....I sometimes lose my shit. I'm trying to help one with kindergarten homework while the other one demands to be fed and held and is screaming bloody murder. Some nights it goes smoothly.....who am I kidding. I have a stocked fridge with wine and a liquor cabinet with whiskey! I pray a lot. Like a lot. I ask Jesus for patience on a regular basis ;)
I've only had one complete meltdown ( I was miserably sick, Cody was at work and I had a 5 year old back talking and not listening and a 2 month old....you guessed it, crying!!)
We are finally in somewhat of a routine with school work and daycare so life is a little less complicated. If I can just get baby girl waking ONCE a night that would be my perfect world. I thank the Lord everyday for blessing me with two beautiful, healthy children! Even if they make me bat shit crazy!!

Happy 2 months little angel. Embrace every moment because it goes too fast! I love you to the moon

ONE WEEK!

Wow. One week we will be holding our sweet precious baby girl! I am so over being pregnant. Though I can't really complain. I have had pretty much the easiest pregnancy (not as easy as with Hudson) but pretty close. Especially with having Graves' with this pregnancy. I prayed and prayed every lab appointment for my levels to be normal so I wouldn't have to be put on any sort of medication! The Good Lord sure pulled through because EVERY single appointment, levels were right where they needed to be and I haven't had a single symptom while being pregnant and Emerson has been in great health every appointment. I count my blessings daily ;)
I can't wait to kiss her face and squeeze her cheeks. I can't wait to see the love in Cody's eyes for his baby girl. I can't wait to see Big Brother hold her for the first time and help out when we get to go home. I can't wait to see her grandparents swoon over her. I can't wait to be her mother! In this last week I should be focusing on organizing and getting the house all together because who wants to come home to a messy home?! Not to mention, our big living room is not complete and Cody is still laying tile as.we.speak!! I'm not even worried about all that. I have two big fundraiser walks coming up and I am so focused on those, I may be losing my mind! This is my first year as manager and my first year planning these walks by MYSELF! Our first one is this Saturday and the next is October 4th (which I'll be missing because I'll have a schweet brand spankin new baby!) So all this planning goes into it and I won't even be there to see how it turns out :(

Here's baby girls room:

                        It's so magical (and so PINK). I catch myself just sitting in her room sometimes.

5th Birthday

Our handsome guy turned 5 this past Sunday. 5. I still can't believe it. And he's in kindergarten.

We celebrated early by taking our family trip to Great Wolf Lodge a couple of weeks ago. Being 8 months pregnant, the last thing I wanted to do was plan a party so we opted for a family getaway and I'm so thankful we did. He has been talking about the trip since we got home. We all enjoyed ourselves.
Saturday, Cody was off shift so we got the family together and one of Hud's buddies, Caden and invited everyone to Chuck E Cheese for some games and pizza. Hudson and Caden have been friends since birth. Caden's dad is an MFD'er. Caden is just a couple of months older than Hudson and they are tiny little bff's. We were there a little over 2 hours and the boys had such a great time. Hudson won about 450 tickets :)

He woke up the morning of his birthday and came to our room and said "Mom, I'm 5 and I am taller!!" He is constantly making me giggle.
On Sunday, his actual birthday (Cody was on shift) it was just me and my guy. We went to McDonald's and had breakfast, played at the park (in 95 degree weather at 10:00am) he got to play at Mia's for a while on his new basketball hoop! And one of his friends from down the street came over to play.

Thank goodness Monday was a holiday, we all needed the rest! Monday was also opening day of dove season and Cody wanted to take Hudson shooting. They went to Academy to get a hunting license and they were off. It was so hot yesterday I thought Hudson would only last an hour or so but they got our there around 4 and didn't get home until after 9! He even got to shoot the shotgun! With Cody's help of course. I love when they get to do stuff, just the two of them.

Cody said every time they would shoot a bird Hudson and Jayten would run  over to where it fell and bring it back. He was so excited to see them fly over. He even helped Cody clean one when they got home that night.

Kindergarten!

Welp, another milestone for my big guy. He started kindergarten yesterday. He did so well. (It helps when you know 3 of the kids in your class) He played t-ball with one little boy and two other kids have been in his class at Wee Care since he started pre-k. Thank you Jesus, I think that's what made the transition so easy. We met his teacher on Monday August 25th and she is just adorable. She has a great personality and she really seems to love teaching. And she wore a TMNT shirt on the first day of school, how awesome! We did get accepted into Washington Math and Science Institute about 3 weeks before school actually started. Magnet schools are a lottery and basically if your name isn't picked you end up on a waiting list. We received a denial letter earlier this summer saying we didn't get in to the two magnet schools I applied to. BIG BUMMER but I wasn't going to let that stop me. We were pretty low on the Pease magnet waiting list so I kinda had already written that one off but stayed on the list. Washington we were low but not too bad so I waited on that list as well and went ahead and enrolled him in his home school, Henderson. I was relieved to find out one of my best friends who is also a teacher said one of her close friends (who I have met several years ago) was a kinder teacher and she said I could "request" her, so I did. Things were looking good, I bought school uniforms and was just about to start school supply shopping when I got the call that Washington had an opening for Hudson!! I immediately accepted, hung up the phone and said a little thank you prayer! :0)
After hyping him up about being a Henderson Tiger, I had to break the news that he was now a Washington Eagle. Then proceeded to tell him his buddy from school, Kyson, was also going to Washington. That excited him and he forgot all about Henderson.
Come to find out, on meet the teacher night, we saw that Kyson was in Hud's class!!

                                              My big guy's first day as a Washington Eagle!

                                                                     His BFF Kyson!

I had originally enrolled him in an after school program (great thing about magnet schools, they offer a free after school program from 3:45-4:45 for working parents) M-W would be Robotics T-Th would be Building Brainiacs, and Friday is Camp Manners. After picking him up yesterday, poor guy was exhausted. I'm not sure he could last another hour at school so we are holding off on the after school stuff for now. I am lucky enough to have a very flexible job that allows me to leave at 3:45 every day to pick him up!!

On to SISTER news:

I had my last sonogram on Tuesday and she is just BEAUTIFUL! I may be being biased, but whoa!

                                                                      Those cheeks!

She was being such a wiggle worm. We looked at all her organs, her heart, fluid and all that good stuff. The sonography said everything looked PERFECT and she was measuring right on schedule 34 weeks and 5 days and weighed 5lbs 10oz!! They are expecting her to be about 7lbs 12 oz when born but I have big babies ;) Hudson was 8.2. I cannot wait to meet this little princess. We are scheduled for a c-section on September 24th! 
I have another baby shower that my MIL and some of her close friends are throwing on September 6th, very blessed to have so many wonderful people in our lives. Her room is finally complete, only missing a rocker/glider but I have yet to find the perfect one. As soon as I do, be expecting picture overload.

*The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love*
Galatians 5:6

5 1/2 weeks left!

Holy moly. Although at times it seems like I have been pregnant for years ;) ...it has FLOWN by! It's crazy to think that in 40 short days we will be welcoming our baby girl!! We are scheduled for a c-section on September 24th (not sure what time yet) I am getting a little overwhelmed. I was recently promoted to Special Events Manager at the American Diabetes Association and for 2 months I was all on my own doing the work of two people. We finally hired someone on Monday of t his week and she has been such a God send! No I am able to focus on fundraising and putting two walks together. One of which I will miss completely because I'll be on maternity leave. Not only am I stressing with the walks but my BABY, my sweet little brown eyed handsome little guy will turn 5 at the end of this month and will start KINDERGARTEN!!
We finally got a call from one of the magnet schools we applied to. We were on the waiting list for two and pretty far down on one of them and I had written them off thinking we weren't getting in this year, better luck next year. Then I got the call that said they had a spot!! We'll be starting at Washington Math and Science magnet school and I am so excited.  School starts in less than two weeks. I'm looking forward to seeing how we handle a new born and one in kinder! Our mornings will be very interresting.
For Hudson's 5th birthday we decided to take a family trip, just the 3 of us before we become a family of 4 to Great Wolf Lodge. We have never been and I think we could ALL use a little getaway. 

My dad is in town for the weekend!! He had business in San Antonio and decided to extend his Texas trip and come see us :) Watch out Midland!
Let the fun begin

Two weekends ago my mom through me a "Sprinkle" a small version of a baby shower. I knew my MIL and some of her friends and co-workers (who through my shower last time with Hudson) were going to host a shower so we decided to have a smaller one with close friends. OH EM GEE, little girl stuff is so fun! So much pink and froo frooy stuff. I am so lucky to have such wonderful friends. Emerson is already spoiled rotten :)

Hope you are all having a wonderful summer, or what's left of it!
xox

30 weeks!!!!!

Well, 30 weeks tomorrow but who is counting? The dreaded 3rd trimester. I felt so great the 2nd then along came the 3rd and brought back the tiredness, the endless heartburn (which is so crazy! I've never experienced heart burn, not once being pregnant with Hudson, NOT NEVER!) and the sleepless nights. I'm exhausted when my head hits the pillow (right around 9:45 or 10pm) but when the lights are off and I finally get situated, I can't sleep. Ughhhh. I finally doze off a couple hours later only to wake up around 3 or 4 not being able to fall asleep and my HIPS, lets just talk about hips. They hurt so bad! I toss and turn from my left side to the right and move probably a total of 22,394 times a night (doesn't even phase my husband. grr)
Whyyyyy??! Enough about me, let's talk baby!

My last appointment I did the dreaded glucose test and drank the orange drink, which by the way, was terrible! I went back an hour later for them to draw labs and BOOM, passed! She was measuring right at 29 weeks and her heart rate was a strong 143. I'm all registered at the hospital (which I don't remember doing with Hudson. Maybe it's just been too long but I don't remember doing all that.) My first "sprinkle" is in just a few short weeks. Sprinkles are all the rage, especially for 2nd and 3rd babies. This will be just a small group of friends and some family. I took my little guy with me to register at Target the other day and he was super excited to use the scanner "gun" Well we get there and they hand us a rectangle scanner thing and he says, "Mom, that isn't a gun!" Sorry dude. I forgot how much stuff is needed for newborns, especially GIRLS! We had so much fun though and of course he had so many questions, "what's that for?" "Why do you need that?"

                                                                        Big Helper!

                                         Baby girls' bed skirt. Can't wait to see it all together!

.

What a whirlwind the past month has been! I'm now in the 3rd trimester and have a short 82 days left!!!!!! Crazy. As much as this pregnancy has seemed to drag on and on it feels like it has FLOWN by. I am so excited to meet our precious baby girl.
My manager at the ADA was offered a job she couldn't turn down and resigned. Her last day way May 28th. So I've been picking up the slack and doing double duties. My executive director in Lubbock opened up the manager position and was accepting resumes. At our board meeting a few weeks ago a few members made the comment "Why don't you take the position Ashley?!" I had thought about it a little before and felt a little overwhelmed and didn't think about it again. Then I ran into one of our volunteers who knew my manager had left and asked "when I was taking over her spot?" That got me thinking that I AM qualified for that position. I mean, I've been with the ADA for 5 1/2 years, 6 this October. There is a lot to be learned but I am up for the challenge. Not to mention I'll be having this baby 5 days before our Odessa Walk and missing the Midland Walk and on maternity leave for 8-12 weeks. This will be interesting. I'll be needing an assistant soon too so if you know anyone looking...send them my way!

Emerson's room is almost complete! I am having a lady sew her bed skirt, blanket and curtains and I'm just waiting for the curtain fabric to get in to drop it off to her. Her room is so magical and I am so in love. I catch myself just walking in and staring. I can't believe we'll be a family of 4 soon.
We just booked our stay at Great Wolf Lodge in August for Hudson's 5th birthday!! 5, I can't believe my little boy will be 5 and starting kindergarten this year. We decided to do a little destination party with just us 3 so I didn't have to stress about putting a party together being 8 months pregnant. He was all for that idea! So we are heading out for Grapevine in August! We've never been to Great Wolf and we can't wait!! He's so ready to meet his sister. He says that now but wait until those poopy diapers and high pitch cries, he'll be ready to send her back ;)

My mom recently resigned from her job at Region 18. She wanted something different and a little more challenging. She took two weeks off and started sending out her resume. Of course she enjoyed her time off, she had time to organize and clean and have dinner ready when her husband came home from work ;) I had approached her just jokingly and said why don't you just NOT work and keep E! That night she talked with her husband and they both agreed that would be a great idea! She said she'd love to keep her and even grab Hudson after school (they get out around 3 and I have to work until 4) How perfect is that?! So so blessed for these opportunities that keep popping up. Thank you Lord. I can only imagine that you have a little help up there from a certain Angel ;)) Sure do miss my Gram.
We had our Family Reunion (Gram's side) over the 4th. It was so great to see some familiar faces I hadn't seen in a few years! I know she would have LOVED to have been there to visit and see everyone but I know she had a front row seat and smiled the whole time.

                                                The whole fam damily!! Cantrell Reunion '14

Double digits, 93 days!

Here's our little princess: 4D

                                                                          6/27/14
 She was very comfortable the whole time we were in the sonogram room and didn't move much. (Her head was nestled up against the placenta the whole time, so this is as much of her face as we got.) We brought Hudson, my mom and Cody's mom came with us. (Grandmas go crazy over sonograms!) We spent a good 45 min in the room. Hud thought it was pretty cool to see his sister on the big screen but then was over it about 10 min later. Baby Glance has these adorable stuffed animals with a little heart recorder that records the baby's heartbeat. They had a hippo, so of course we chose that one and my mom got the giraffe (for Gram) since she was obsessed with giraffes. They are too cute!
Emerson looks so much like her brother. She definitely has my nose (the Cruickshank nose) and lips. I'm sure she will look just like her daddy and her brother. My poor genes don't have a chance.We pick up her furniture this week and I have a lady making curtains and her bedding. Can't wait until it's finished and the room is complete!

I walked into Hudson's room yesterday and found him stuffing a blanket up his shirt saying he was "pregnant!" hahahahha, the stuff that comes out of his mouth.

26 weeks

We have a 4D ultrasound tomorrow at Baby Glance, the same place we found out the gender. They suggest you schedule the 4D anywhere from 25-30 weeks so that the baby looks a little plumper and no so alien like. So we'll have a room full of family for that one tomorrow and it will be the first time Hud gets to "see" his sister :) I tried explaining the sonogram to him and he keeps asking if they have to cut me open. Poor kid, I told him about having a C-Section (didn't really use those words) but said the doctor would take a little knife and make a cut and pull sister out when she's done "cooking". He'll understand one day.....
He has been the sweetest! He'll come up out of the blue and kiss my belly and ask how sister is today. He got to feel her really KICK the other day and it was the most precious thing.

I FINALLY got him registered for kindergarten! Right now he'll be going to Henderson. We are still waiting to hear about our transfer letter to Fannin but that won't come until the first of August and school starts shortly after that. That makes no sense to me MISD. This kindergarten process has been a whirlwind. We are still on two waiting lists for magnet schools but I don't have high hopes for those :-/
Luckily I know one of the kinder teachers at Henderson and have requested Hud have her as his teacher. He was so excited when we walked in to the school and saw a big tiger mural on the wall and asked why it was there and I explained that the tiger was their mascot and he'd be a Henderson Tiger like his daddy was.

This was a picture on Pinterest that first caught my eye when we found out we were having a GIRL! I love the pink and gray together and the silver stripes stuck with me. (Of course this picture was one of the ones that had no URL to follow to see the paint colors or anything else) I found the perfect matte gray and had Cody paint it. Finding that silver color was a nightmare! The lady that helped me at Lowes knew nothing about paint colors and I was in a hurry and took the first grayish color she mixed and thought it wasn't near what I wanted but maybe it would work. I had Cody measure and everything, bless his heart he has been a work horse lately. The color was NOT working. He painted two stripes and I almost burst into tears. Then my journey for silver already mixed together paint started. NOTHING in Midland and when I asked the paint experts, they all made me sound crazy for wanting metallic silver. I went online and saw the EXACT silver I wanted. Ralph Lauren, could I find it locally, NO. So I ordered it online and finally received it yesterday. BTW: Home Depot will be carrying RL and the metallic line in a few short months.....thanks a lot Home Depot, you couldn't have carried it any sooner? So painting the striped will commence this weekend. Keep your fingers crossed. Just a few short 97 days until little Emerson gets here. EEEEEEEKKKKK

                                                          I look good holding a little girl :)
This was at a friends shower. Erin holding Temple and I'm holding Nora. I love both these little ones so much!!

Boy Mom, until now

I found this hilarious and SPOT ON blog post by a woman on facebook and had to share.

http://www.fightingfrumpy.com/2014/05/ten-boy-mom-musts.html?m=1

These are all musts for sure. Except the food part for Hudson. He has always been a great eater until toddler years. He became super picky and would literally eat a gallon of ketchup with every meal. Sometimes he hardly touches his food and others he'll clear his plate. We keep a stocked pantry and fridge with mac n cheese, chicken nuggets, turkey dogs, and fish sticks and of course grilled cheese sandwiches (his go to food)
But the rest of these are genius.
We've made 2 ER trips because he thought he was a super hero.
I can't even tell you the amount of times I have bought new jeans and the next day they have rips and holes in them.
And the wiener........seriously.
And he likes to dance naked. :)

He is my big hearted brown eyed adventurous child. Lord help me if this little girl is as rowdy as he is. I'll be totally ok with her being a tom boy.

We had our 20 week check up yesterday and finally got to see her. Her organs, heart and brain all look fantastic. Heart beat was 138. She was being a stinker AGAIN at this appointment and was completely turned where we couldn't see her face. Her legs were spread eagle this time but no face shot. Cody was on shift yesterday and showed up about 5 min late and as soon as he walked in and started talking, little miss rolled right over! It was precious. Daddy's girl already.

Diva child

Let me just tell you, little girls are DIVAS from the very beginning! This little girl wants her presence known and that's usually about 7:30 at night. I had the easiest pregnancy with Hudson. Very little nausea, no heart burn or indigestion. By the 2nd trimester I had energy back and was ready to rock and roll. Little Emerson is a different story. I was still very lucky not to have morning sickness and very little nausea with her. I was so tired the 1st trimester but I forced myself to workout and would really feel so much better after I did. I didn't do a whole lot of exercise with Hudson. I walked A LOT but never did anything else.The past 2 weeks right around 7:30 I get so uncomfortable. I can't have any pressure on my back which means I can't sit in a recliner, on the couch or anywhere. I have to lay down sideways on or chase lounge, which in turn makes me suuuuuuper sleepy and the sun is still out. I'll move from the chase to the recliner and just wiggle to the point where Cody just looks at me.My bedtime is 9:00-9:30 on weekdays, party animal right? I usually wake up around 7:15.......You're thinking 10 hours, really?? No, I toss and turn like a rambunctious toddler during the night. My hips and joints get so uncomfortable and stiff. I never had that with Hudson. I did pee every hour on the hour with him though and haven't had that with Emerson. SCORE! She feels super low and with him he was alllll up in my rib cage. I can't really complain though, it's been a great pregnancy so far and we are very very blessed our little girl is healthy and the I am too. I really thought I would have terrible thyroid issues being off my medication but it's been such a Godsend. We have our next appointment May 19th and that's when we get to check all major organs and all that fun stuff. I hope and pray every night that she is as healthy as can be.I never had cravings with Hudson but if I saw or heard of something that sounded good, I'd have to have it. Same with E but I have been craving Starbucks decaf iced white mocha. Like seriously, I have to have at least two a week and I think about them everyday. I had Starbucks maybe once or twice a month or every other month, now I should invest in some stock or ask for gift cards! Also, nacho cheese doritos. Really? Thanks a lot for all the healthy choices Emerson ;)

Today is Hudson's pre-k graduation from Wee Care! I can't believe he will be in kindergarten next year. I am so proud of the little gentlemen he has become. He's had some of the most wonderful, loving and caring teachers while he's been there. He started when he was 2. Gram kept him from birth to 2 and it was so hard telling her that we wanted him to start daycare and socialize. She knew it was best for him but it was hard on both of them!! And me. The first 3 weeks were EMOTIONAL!! He had never stayed with anyone else before and here I was dropping him off with complete strangers and his big brown eyes would just look at me like "you are leaving me?" then well up with tears. He would cry and I would cry. Finally one day he just let go of my hand and walked up to one of his friends and started playing. It's been a breeze since then. I know Gram is so very proud of our little guy. I can't even begin to describe the love she gave him and the knowledge she taught him!! So thankful for her every single day. And I know she is over the moon about our little Emerson :)))

               First day at Wee Care, 2 years old. Pre-K graduation at Wee Care, 4 years old

Baby Emerson

Today I am 17 weeks and ? Seriously. I have lost count and I have changed my Baby Bump app on my phone about 14 times. My actual due date is October 2nd. MY BIRTHDAY! But since we are scheduling a c-section, my doctor wanted to do it a week early on September 25. Our last sonogram the baby was measuring a few days bigger so for some reason I just thought I was further along. Pregnant brain is legit. Anywho, I saw my dr. last Tuesday and I just KNEW I'd have a sono done. WRONG!!! The nurse told me they won't do one until 20 weeks. Wahhh, dreams, crushed. She did bring in one of those dopplers that find the babies heartbeat. She moved it around a few places and NADA. I was terrified and I guess she could see that. She told me not to worry and that it happens all the time. She tried again with no luck. So she called the Doctor in and he said don't panic, it could be the way the baby is positioned. I'M PANICKING!! He moves it around and nothing. My heart rate rises and he detected it on the thing but no babies. He tried again and pushed harder. At this point the tears are about to roll. And of course this appointment was one of the few that Cody didn't make. So he wheels in the portable sono machine and BAM! Little Emi's heartbeat. A whopping 146 BPM. Thank you Lord. I immediately start saying a silent prayer!  I also mention that we had an early gender sono at 15 weeks and I wanted confirmation SHE actually was STILL a GIRL! He assured me that if I saw the 3 lines (which I later found out is a females labia)she was still going to be a girl but we couldn't confirm until my next visit. WHICH IS 4 WEEKS AWAY......So now we just wait another 4 weeks before we can really tell. Did I mention, I am not a patient person?!?

I really have felt great this whole pregnancy. The 1st trimester was a little rough but no morning sickness at all. The 2nd trimester has been a little different with this one as opposed to being pregnant with Hudson. My hips and knees have been throbbing at night. I must flip from side to side at least 20 times a night. I have a small pillow that does help that I put in between my legs but my goodness, the pain is crazy. I feel like I have 80 year old joints.  Other than that, doing great!

We just purchased Hud's cap and gown for pre-k graduation! I may have shed a little tear. I can't believe he'll be in kindergarten this year. I am so very proud of the little guy he has become and I am so thankful for Wee Care and the knowledge and love they have shown him. And can't forget about Gram teaching him for 2 years!!

GIRL!!!!!!

Pink Pink Pink! Oh my goodness. I had a very strong feeling that it was a girl from the beginning. I had the same feeling with Hudson being a boy! Cody's friends gave him such a hard time when we first found out. They would tell him, "It's a girl and she is going to have you so wrapped around her finger." "Be prepared, it's a girl and you aren't going to know what to do." So of course he just knew we were having a girl. With all the boys on his side of the family he also thought "nah, can't be a girl, we have so many boys!"
Like I said in the last post, she was being so stubborn and had her legs crossed almost the WHOLE time. Which I guess is good, she is already acting like a little lady :)
I still have that thought in the back of my head that she may grow a little "something" between her legs. I mean, we did find out super early it seems and I've heard all kinds of crazy stories how a baby started out one gender and came out another!! Eeeek.
We go again on April 22 to Dr. Doke, so I guess we'll see then. Hudson was a little upset that he's having a baby sister. He really wanted a brother to wrestle with. I'm sure when sister gets a little older she will hold her own and put up a fight!

                                                Convinced him to blow the pink confetti

I am already looking at baby girl bedding and re-doing the nursery in pink girly colors. We started on Hud's big boy room some time ago and it feels like it's taking foreverrrrrrr. Our windows finally came in today so we'll be picking them up and hopefully installing them SOON. Cody is doing this remodel all on his own and saving us money so I'm trying not to rush him but I know Hud is ready to be in his new room and I am ready for the MESS in our front living room to be gone!!!

                                      Miss Emerson. Still undecided on a middle name right now.

I haven't really posted anything on my thyroid. I've actually felt pretty great this whole pregnancy. I've been off my medicine since February 3rd and haven't needed any of it. My levels have been normal. My last appointment with my endocrinologist was in March and my levels were a little high but he would rather have them a little high rather than low. If they get too high where I have symptoms, I'll be put on medication. It's crazy how a pregnancy can help with so many things. I'm just not looking forward to after baby and the outcome of my Graves' but I am not even worried about that right now. Focusing on keeping this little girl plump and healthy as can be. We are over the moon and feel so incredibly blessed. Can't wait to be a family of 4!

Thanks for following us on this crazy journey.

It's a................

                                               .....................................................................

Our reveal party is tonight! Check back for all the details. Cody and I went yesterday to Baby Glance, a new sonogram place in town and they can determine the gender as early as 15 weeks! If baby cooperates. I drank a Dr. Pepper right before the appointment. I'm not a big soda drinker but I do love an occasional DP and I've only had 1 since being pregnant and this one was especially delicious. We walk into the room and I hop up on the table, she squirts the gel, which by the way was probably the first time I've had warm gel. It seems like every single sono with Hudson and the 2 before with this baby, the gel was freezing! PERK! I was terrified that we would get there and baby wouldn't cooperate. I kinda felt like we may be rushing things and 15 weeks was a little soon to find out but we JUST HAD to know. I felt like I'd be punished and in return the baby would not spread those legs.

Sure enough, the first 15 minutes the tech had the wand all over my belly because our little stinker had his/her legs crossed! She had me flip on my side, my other side and back on my belly. A little poking and jabbing and me laughing FINALLY did the trick. He/she tricked us at first though and would stretch one leg but leave the other right in the who-ha place. Bless Cody's heart. He was up by the screen, he was sitting, he was by the computer, he was so anxious! But FINALLY both little legs moved and BOOM. Tears, joy, excitement and laughter all filled the room! We are so excited to share our news with you!!!!! Just a few friends and family will be over tonight for the reveal. Cody thought it all up by himself and he's so proud. I even thought about not doing a reveal and he said he really wanted to use his idea. Who am I to argue??

Stay tuned.
xox

13 weeks 5 days

I have to say that with the 2nd baby, I have been such a slacker. I hardly ever take pictures of my growing belly and always lose track of how far along I am. I have a baby app on my phone that I am constantly looking at to see what's going on that week and have to look at how far along I am :(
Plus, baby is already measuring ahead and I don't know weather to go off that or my due date. So much confusion. But he/she is adorable!

                                                                 Baby Q #2 at 13 weeks

Anyway, Hudson started t-ball and he's doing so great! It's fun to watch him with his team and he's actually really good. Cody loves it because he played t-ball at 4 and his dad coached him. Cody helps coach when he's not on shift. We went out to the fields on Sunday and played with him. Have you ever seen a pregnant lady pitching and running (slowly jogging) bases?? Funny. We also did a lot of yard work Saturday and Sunday. We kept our yard in pretty good shape last summer but with the neighbors not keeping up with theirs and the crazy winds we have during the winter we get weeds like crazy! So we spent 3 hours or so pulling weeds and ripping up our dead bushes in the front. JOY. I've been keeping up with classes at the gym and I'm finally in the 2nd trimester and have some energy back! Thank you Jesus.

                                                         Little smirk! Gamecocks..1st game


We just got back from California last week and Hudson learned to ski for the first time and he was so adorable!

The weather was great while we were there and there was a ton of stuff going on. He did so well! Cody and my dad took him down one of the runs and must have done that one 5 or 6 times the first day and 7 or 8 the next.

We find out April 22nd what we are having and Cody and I will be the only ones to know.......until we have our reveal party! He actually came up with the idea, super cute.

Oh, story time

Just a little something I wanted to document this pregnancy. 
Since I had surgery scheduled in February, one of my to-do's before I left was to contact Human Resources at our national office and let them know I'd be out and to notify them when I would be back. I emailed our rep and got a silly response back.....

"Hi Ashley,

It sounds as if “Congrats” is in order here! In response to your voicemail message, I wanted to provide with information related to the “Maternity Leave” process here at the Association."

This was before we even knew I was pregnant and it made me laugh.
My response:

Oh gosh, wrong Ashley! I am actually having thyroid surgery on February 26^th.

He responded with, "Oh, so sorry. Wrong Ashley. An Ashley had left a voicemail for me and I was thinking you were her." 

He's going to be super surprised when I email him back!!!!
;)

 

Mammoth Lakes

We are headed to California middle of March to see Mimi and Poppi and hit the slopes. And by hit the slopes (for me) fireplace, shopping and staying warm! For the guys hitting the slopes, Hud will be learning to ski for the first time! I am NOT looking forward to the cold weather, we've had enough of that here in West Texas. I am looking forward to relaxing and seeing huddy ski for the first time. He's pretty excited about it too. Highs are supposed to be in the 40's and lows in the 20's.... GAG. I'd much rather make the drive to SoCal where it's a nice 70-75 degrees! Cody hasn't been skiing in almost 2 years so he is alllllllll about a ski trip.

I could totally visit Mammoth in the Summer..........

Not so much in the Winter.............

But it sure is pretty!

Hud's first trip to Mammoth! February 2010. It's about a 4 hour drive from where my dad lives in Palmdale to Mammoth and we only had to stop twice to feed and change diapers. Hudson was 6 months old and we shipped a huge box of winter stuff down about a week before and had a car full of baby stuff. I forgot how hard traveling with a small child was. I better get used to it ;)

9 weeks 5 days

Today! I am further along than we thought. We had a great doctors visit last Friday. We got several pictures of our baby, heard the heartbeat (a whopping 173 beats per min!) I don't think Hud's was ever that fast. We also had a great check up with my Dr. We were there almost 2 hours with labs and all. My expected due date is October 2nd!!!!!!!!! That would be MY birthday for all of you who are terrible friends and should have that etched in your brain. Kidding :)
With me having a C-Section with Hudson, I elected to have another with this baby and my dr. said he would schedule it about a week before. So we could be expecting baby on September 26th! Did I mention our Odessa Step Out walk is September 20th and our Midland walk is October 4th?!? Whoops.

I contacted a photographer on Facebook a couple of weeks ago asking if she would do a quick photo session so we could announce our pregnancy. She had an availability AND she doesn't cost a bajillion dollars!

Cody saw the "Ice Ice Baby" picture on Pinterest and said we HAD to do it and I was kinda hesitant at first but it's actually one of my favorites! The bags had huge Stripes logos on them but the photographer took them away like they were never there! These are just two of the sneak peeks, we should have a cd soon. Hudson has about a 5 minute window with pictures. He smiles 3 times and is DONE. We took these in Odessa and there was a pond, mud and ducks and he was so not interested in these pictures.
We are re-doing the "toy room" and making it Hud's room and Cody is doing all the work ( and saving us some serious cash) So our living room is a complete disaster. It's going to look so great once everything is finished. I still haven't wrapped my head around having another baby. I've read articles and such on moms who are having their second child asking if they'll truly love the 2nd as much as the 1st. I am already in LOVE with this baby but I know mine and Hudson's relationship will change. It will no longer be just him and I when daddy is at the station, there will be no more "quick" trips anywhere! I know he'll be a great big brother and I hope he copes well with some of the attention off of him.

Tomorrow is Gram's heavenly 1 year in Heaven and it hurts so much to even type that out. It doesn't even seem like a year has gone by. So many memories have come flashing back in the last few weeks. When I saw our baby for the first time I cried of course and immediately thought of her smiling! She would be so thrilled about welcoming another little bundle into our family. I miss our dinner dates, our conversations about life, I miss hearing what was going on in her life, I miss everything about her house. If I needed a bow for a present, a card, if I was hungry and needed a snack, I knew exactly where to go. If I needed guidance or an opinion, I'd go to her. I miss her hugs, I miss doing I LOVE YOU in sign language when I drove off from her house. When I was younger and we'd talk on the phone, no one would want to hang up so we would say "1, 2, 3!" and both hang up. I read an article about dancing in the rain yesterday and it made me think of all the times it would rain and she would have all the necessary tools to make sail boats to float in the curb with all the extra water. She never cared that I would dance in the puddles and come in her house all dirty and wet. There would always be a towel to dry off on. I could go on on and I am so glad I have such wonderful memories of her.

One of my most favorite pictures of Hudson and Gram. He was about 5/6 months old and they both have such admiration in their eyes. They had a great bond. He talks about her often and always blows kisses to Heaven!

xoxo