Uppercase Living Project #2

Well, my second uppercase living project turned out pretty good. It was alot of hard work but I was pretty happy with the way they turned out. I ended up giving them to my mom, Brooke & Amy for an extra Christmas present. They all said they loved them!

Christmas Day

Merry Christmas!

This morning Harleigh woke up and came running in our room telling us that Santa came. So we had to quick get up and go into the living room. She got a wiggle racer from Santa and a stocking full of fun stuff including her favorite movie Wall-E. She was so excited! After that, we opened our gifts as a family and then Jarrod ran off to work. I proceeded into cleaning up the mess and getting Harleigh ready to go spend the day over at her Mimi's with Jeremy and his family. While Harleigh was gone, Jarrod, myself, Brooke, Amy, Mom & Dad went to the movies to see Marley & Me. It was so good and I cried my eyes out. I even cried all the way home. Jarrod couldn't stop laughing at me. I think my hormones are a little out of whack. Ha ha! We then picked Harleigh up around 5pm and headed to my parents house for Christmas. Again, we were blessed with an awesome meal. We had ham (again), potatoes, green beans, strawberry fruit salad, rolls, shrimp, sausage, chips & queso. There was so much food but it was sooooo good! We opened gifts after dinner and had a wonderful time!

Christmas Eve

Tonight we went to our 5 o'clock Christmas Eve Service up at church and like every year it was a powerful service and the place was packed! After that we went and spent the evening over at Jarrod's dads house. Pete had awaiting for us an awesome meal that he had cooked up. We had ham, mashed potatoes, salad, fruit salad, rolls, beans, pumpkin & pecan pies. It was yummy and I was really impressed with him! After we ate, we opened gifts and had a wonderful relaxing night!

Harleigh & Daddy

Harleigh and her gifts

Pete "Pops" and his gift

Twas the Night before Christmas Poem

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,

While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.

And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,

Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,

I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash,

Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow

Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,

But a miniature sleigh, and eight tinny reindeer.

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,

I knew in a moment it must be St Nick.

More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,

And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!

"Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!

On, Comet! On, Cupid! on, on Donner and Blitzen!

To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!

Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,

When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.

So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,

With the sleigh full of Toys, and St Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof

The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.

As I drew in my head, and was turning around,

Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,

And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.

A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,

And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.

His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!

His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!

His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,

And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,

And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.

He had a broad face and a little round belly,

That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,

And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!

A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,

Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,

And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.

And laying his finger aside of his nose,

And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,

And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.

But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight,

"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!"

1st Doctor's Appointment

I just got home from my first doctor appointment and everything looks fine. Yeah! My due date is August 1st and I am 8 weeks. We did an ultrasound to see the tiny little heartbeat and it was 125bpm. This early in pregnancy, anything over 100bpm is considered good. My mom and Harleigh got to join in on the fun since Jarrod couldn't go. I don't think Harleigh really knew what was going on. She just kept staring at me, probably wondering why I was dressed in a funny gown and laying on a table. If was to cute though when she got her little sono pics. She carries them around like a proud big sis! After we left the doctors we went and shared the good news with my moms work people who were all excited of course and happy for us all! Our next appointment is scheduled for January 9th, just because I am such a worry wart. Hopefully, everything will still be good then!

Just couldn't wait...

Well, last night I just couldn't wait anymore to tell Harleigh the exciting news. She has overheard other people talking about it and has been asking if I am pregnant but I kept telling her they aren't talking about me. Poor girl has probably been so confused. So last night, we sat in front of the computer and had our little talk and boy her little smile couldn't of been bigger. She is so excited! Then she kept patting my belly and saying "Hi, baby." After that we started to argue over if it is going to be a boy or a girl. She wants a baby sister and I told her daddy needs a little running mate. It was quite fun as that argument turned into arguing about names. She doesn't like any of my ideas. She has her own little opinion for everything and she is so picky! Ha ha! I know she is going to be a great big sister and a tremendous help to me and Jarrod!

Cat Scratch Fever

Well, well, well, I finally gave in today and went to the doctor for my hands after an awful night last night. I was brought to tears with the itch and pain of my hands and had to sleep with socks over them. It hurt so bad as I pretty much reopened all my little wounds. If most of you don't know I have had this on my hands for a little over a month. It started from my cat scratching and poking me with her nails. Her playfulness gets a little out of control. So over the past month I thought I could take care of it myself with some over the counter creams but nothing seems to get rid of it so today I finally said enough is enough. When we finally got into the doctor I stumped the first PA that came to look at me. At first, she was just going to send me home with some steroid cream and have me call her back this Friday but as soon as I told her I was pregnant that option was out the window. No steroids when prego. So, after awhile of her reading through some medical books...she decided to go get some help. So PA #2 and Dr. Seger himself came in and the questions started flying. Do you itch on your legs? Your Stomach? Are your lymph nodes swollen? No, No and No! So the conclusion came to...if I wasn't pregnant, they would of treated me for Cat Scratch Fever. The treatment for this however, is to strong for the pregnancy. So, they ended up diagnosing me with Folliculitis and put my on Amoxicillin, Benadryl and Hydrocortisone Cream. In conclusion, I am allergic to Sissy's nails but not her and hopefully this will soon disappear!

The Name Above All Names!

Harleigh sang in her first Christmas Program this morning and did an awesome job, as well as Grandma who was part of the adult choir singing along with them. They had to perform in all three services and did great every time. In the second service Harleigh had her own personal fan club as Aunt Brookie, Grandpa, Uncle Rusty & Aunt Candie, Mimi and Nana were all there to cheer her on! It is awesome to see her have such a supportive family! I felt so proud of her today and my eyes filled with tears several times!

Santa is coming to town.....

This morning Harleigh and I headed down to Plaza Medical Center of Fort Worth to visit Santa & Mrs. Claus. This is where we see Santa every year instead of standing in line at the mall. Harleigh is still so terrified of them that I have to always sit in the middle. She has never enjoyed going to see Santa or the Easter Bunny. She is even scared of the cartoon characters at Six Flags. Oh well, things are getting a little better since she didn't kick and scream this time. Maybe someday she will be able to do it all by herself! Until then, I will just enjoy sitting next to Santa! Maybe I will get a kiss next year. Ha ha! After we saw Santa we stayed and ate breakfast and talked to Mimi for a little bit and then we headed off to her Christmas Program rehearsal for tomorrow morning. I have spent all week working on props for the program and helping Harleigh with her music. She is the youngest kid in the choir and knows her songs well - she has been learning them since September. I know she will do great tomorrow !

Well, as far as baby #2 this week, everything has gone great. I am just tired mostly but that is it. Haven't felt sick at all, thank goodness!

Guess What?

Yeah!!!! We just found out yesterday morning before church that we are expecting a new little addition! I know it is so early yet but having been trying since January...this is quite a blessing! Lets just hope and pray that my body accepts this new little bundle of joy and that everything stays healthy and strong. I have already made my first appointment for December 19th and if everything looks good and all the blood work comes back normal than we will probably share our news with soon-to-be big sis Harleigh on Christmas Day! She will be so excited! She has been wanting a baby sister or brother now for about a year.

It has been very frustrating over the past months, especially when I was finding out about everyone else.......LeAnn, then Leah, then Raquel, then Mandy, then Sharie, etc. I was starting to think something was wrong with us. I had been using the ovulation sticks for awhile but they just didn't seem very accurate to me and they were very expensive! So an OB/Gyn doctor up at Harris told me to just do the old-fashioned temperature charting. She said it was the most accurate and least expensive. Well, with just one month of doing this...waalaa! We couldn't be happier! As of right now our estimated due date will be early August. This will actually be perfect for me because it will mean I will be off when Harleigh starts Kindergarten. God works in mysterious ways!