Flashback Friday

Two years ago a two-year-old Sidney sat on the lion at Greenville Zoo. Hard to believe two years later, there are two of my girls sitting on the same lion. Who knows what two more years will look like!

Sidney Morgan 4.11

Four has been such a unique age.

 I'm definitely looking forward to, but still a little anxious about, five (less than one week away!)

A Wee Update on the Wee One

I haven't really talked much about this latest babe, only because there really isn't much to talk about at this point. I'll be 18 weeks tomorrow, so we should be finding out the little one's gender in the next couple weeks. Justin and I are both putting our money down for a girl, but everyone else seems to think boy. I've gotten so used to having girls, I can't imagine not having another one, but of course, we'll be tickled pink/blue either way!

So far this pregnancy is pretty easy. I have random bouts of sickness, but fortunately they are far and few in between. Weeks ago, I had an episode of hanging out the side of my car puking in the rain while Rhealen screamed from the back-seat. Not a fun moment, but again, I'm grateful they're few and far between. I haven't had the aching back I had the entire time I carried RJ and SidMo, but I'm sure it's just a matter of time. I can already feel the relaxin working in my body loosening everything up downstairs; sometimes I feel like my hips are completely separating altogether, but I know I'll be grateful for the stretch come D-day.

One new pregnancy symptom I'm loving that I never really had with the girls is a luscious head of hair! My hair has always grown at snail-speed, but it seems to grow overnight like a Chia pet and is full and shiny and glorious. It's too bad I don't do much with my hair, but honestly, I don't have to much. Wash it and go, and I feel like whipping what little hair I have back and forth all day.

Overall, it's been a pretty breezy pregnancy so far. My decreased appetite is slowly but surely coming back (as is the norm when you approach 20 weeks), and of course, other decreased appetites are making their way back, which is welcomed by both people in this marriage of mine. I'm feeling little flutters and kicks more and more every day, and I dream nightly of this baby one way or another(in my dreams, I admit it's a boy but my heart tells me it's a girl! PS Remind me to tell you of the INSANE dream I had regarding RJ a few nights ago!)

I can't wait to share our mid-way ultrasound with you - just a couple more weeks! 

TT #12

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Let's all take a quick minute and have ourselves a little "Daryl Dixon arm appreciation" moment. Much needed, I agree. Yay for it almost being October! 

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You would think that somewhere along the lines, Apple would've made this program a reality! 

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Bring back Bill! 

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Dog-Shaming is my new favorite Tumblr - it kind of makes me sad we don't have a dog!

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I think "Hello Dolly!" is quickly becoming my all-time favorite; I can't stop listening to the original Broadway score on Pandora!

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Boo on you, Christian Mingle!

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This can't be real. Can it? (PS: Ewww)

New to Me Music

I have such a soft spot for this song! For one thing, the first time I ever heard it was at my first-ever trip to the best-known gay bar in the area for my first-ever drag show! You never forget those kind of firsts...it was magical fun of the best-nature kind, and I've really been wanting to go back to see a show again.

This song really isn't my "style" and it's not even a sentiment I'm familiar with (I was never any good at playing head games with boys!) but it's just a special little tune for me. And it's a fun video! 

TT #11

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Mitt sure knows how to pick 'em. 

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I'm so glad I have a "Rose" in my life (I'm looking at you, Dobby!) 

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Who doesn't know and love "Heavyweights"?! I always wanted to try one of those inflatable trampoline things they had on the lake!

 

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It's impossible not to love him!

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Of course I do this when I play pool. Makes me look all professional and shit.

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It's funny 'cause it's (mostly) true. 

Currently

Loving: How much Sidney loves school already! Today's only her fourth day (and first full week back) but she's been such a trooper every day. No tears, nothing - just pure total happiness to get to her room! I love having a kid that loves school as much as I did. 

Reading: Nothing consistently, except my trusty ole copy of What to Expect When You're Expecting. Justin thinks I'm crazy, he keeps asking me, "don't you know all of this stuff already?" but it's comforting reading the month by month chapters, and it never really gets old to me. 

Watching: Call of the Wildman because my soon-to-be five-year-old is OBSESSED with Turtleman! 

Thinking about: Baby names! I've already got our girl name picked out, so if this baby just happens to be a boy, it'll be up to Justin to come up with a boy's name. 

Anticipating: Our little trip to South Carolina this weekend! The girls and I are heading down to see Justin's grand-parents (he can't go because of work, boo!) and we'll be meeting up with Fanny & Matt! I'm so excited, and I definitely forsee a trip to the zoo in our future! 

Listening to: My favorite Pandora station: James Taylor, Jim Croce, Jimmy Buffet, Elton John, Sonny & Cher mix-up that plays some amazing stuff. 

Working on: Saving money. *insert groan here*

Wishing: We were in our home and done with this whole process! We had another roof leak pop up yesterday, and I just can't wait to be in our new place as soon as possible! 

Currently series inspired by Danielle. 

Sidney's First Day of Kindergarten

Yup, that happened yesterday. And neither one of us cried (I may have gotten misty but I never cried!) - I know my big girl is going to have an amazing year of school! 

Even though I know these days are numbered (and passing so quickly!) I'm really enjoying being a "mother of two" right now.

These girls of ours are so much fun, so different and yet so compatible. It's amazing to see the sisterly bond form and grow over time, to see how far they've come and imagine how far they'll go yet. Having two is definitely an adventure (I can't even begin to imagine what three will be like!), and there are times when I feel a little guilty for throwing off the balance of our family just as we seem to settle into it.

These two really do love each other; they already have their own secrets and inside jokes. Every time I hear a giggle fit break out between them, I can't help but smile ear to ear. They've got their own language, their own everything separate from me, which is comforting to my heart. Even without me, they'll always have one another.

That's not to say it isn't ear-piercing loud and hard as hell sometimes. As much as they've figured out the whole "sisterly bonding" thing, they've also managed to learn each other's hot buttons and can fight like no one's business. We have our fair share of tears and jealousy and fights. But at the end of the day, I know they are happy to see one another, happy to be the big sister/little sister team they are.

I've thought a lot about my hopes for the gender of this next (and last!) baby, and while I know it'd be nice to have a son for many different reasons, I can't imagine not having girls all around me. There's just something so magical about sisters, I don't think either one of my girls would mind if we introduced another little "Sissy" into our group!

TT #10

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All I can think about is me and Cassie sitting in our dorm freshman year eating pizza rolls and watching Lifetime TV. 

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How many times has Justin said this to me in the eight years we've been together? Probably only like four times, but I laughed all four times he said it!

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I love Jack Black, so hard.

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I'm a little guilty of that train of thought, too.

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I don't really (think that I) have haters, but I appreciate the sentiment.

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RU-FI-OOOOO! Tell me you didn't love "Hook" as a kid!?!

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SPICE GIRLS 4EVA! 

Anyone else as ridiculously excited for Fall as I am?!

There's just something about that time of year that heals my heart a little. The sights, the smells, that familiar feeling. Maybe it's because I'm an Autumn baby myself! The first day of Fall this year falls on 09/22, just six days before my birthday.

September is always a fun month for us: Justin and I will share another anniversary, Sidney will turn the big "5", and all the magic of the world will be right at our fingertips. Kettle corn, pumpkins, crisp weather, Halloween, football games - pure magic.

All photos via Tumblr

Flashback Friday

This was the scene almost a year ago. A very sleepy Sidney woke up and snuggled a two-month old Rhealen on the couch before her very first day of Pre-K.

Come Wednesday, we'll do it all over again. A very sleepy Sidney will pile up on the couch and watch cartoons before heading off to her first day of Kindergarten! (I doubt there'll be any "sissy" snuggling. Our very active fourteen-month old doesn't want any of it these days!)

Hard to believe it's already been a year! 

poor little RJ

Poor baby RJ has been cutting her back molars (on both sides!) and it's not been much of a fun fest at our house lately. Couple that with a newly discovered acid-reflux problem, and our sweet miss has been hurting something fierce this past week.

This weekend was incredibly rough, Friday night in particular. For the first time ever, I was one of those parents driving my screaming kid around at 2:30 in the morning, and let me tell you, I do not envy those of you who do that on a regular basis. Poor girl and I actually slept out in the car for a few hours because I was too terrified to wake her back up by carrying her inside.

Hopefully those teeth will pop through soon enough and her anti-acid medicine will kick in so we can get back to our regular, cheerful little lady. I hate seeing my baby all pitiful and unhappy!

(PS it only took about seven minutes total to go from the top picture to the bottom - also? It's really awkward to take a picture of a cute kid sleeping on your chest without being ZOMG! BOOBIES!) 

TT #9

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We all see you, dude. 

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Yep, that's about right. 

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This movie is grossly underrated, in my humble little opinion. I've been searching high and low for my own copy! 

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Daryl + Carol forever! Is it October yet?! 

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So that's how you spell the alphabet! 

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What did poor old Hippocrates ever do to you, you hypocrites? 

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Cute royals are cute. 

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And that's all I have to say about that. 

New to Me Music

Anyone else as obsessed with this song as I am? I can't stop playing it.

(And for some reason I can't figure out, Nate Ruess totally reminds me of Andy Warhol. Anyone else see it?)