Ten Skills Every New Parent Should Acquire

I saw this on a fellow bloggers site and just had to copy it. Soo funny and sooooo true. Thanks Stacey.


1. One-armed dish washing, vacuuming and cleaning in general. Bid farewell to your other arm as it will soon be permanently attached to a child.

2. The ability to do things with a moving target. Namely, but not limited to, diaper changing, clothing and hair fixing.

3. The ability to be unfazed and unembarrassed by the things your children do in public. This will allow you to smile and hold your head high while being followed through a store by a wailing child.

4. Develop the patience of a saint. I have no recommendations as to how to do this. I'm still working on it. But if I had it, I'm sure my children would be better off.

5. Learn to drive rather large vehicles. Almost every parent will, at some point in time, drive a vehicle larger than they ever intended to drive.

6. Develop selective hearing. For this, you must close yourself in a padded room with a screaming child and see how long you can last. Increase the time each attempt. This is called immersion therapy. It comes highly recommended in order to deaden eardrums before your own screaming child arrives on the scene.

7. Potty train. Start with an animal. I have managed to potty train four and a half children and while I have survived, my recommendation is to avoid it at all costs. Hire someone to do it for you, if necessary.

8. Selective sight. This particular gift comes in handy if you are a less than stellar housekeeper. It allows you to see your house as clean while not recognizing the piles of clutter that surround you, thus allowing you to do such activities as reading and blogging.

9. Learn to develop a strict bedtime and nap time. This is for your survival. Don't ever let them go or you will be doomed. (Doomed to what, I'm unsure, but doomed nonetheless.)

10. Finally, develop a sense of humor. That way, when your newborn poops on you, your toddler draws on walls, or your six year old jumps off a six-foot wall, you have something to keep you from going insane. So laugh, by golly!

Well . . . .

Baylee's wish came true. We are having another little GIRL!!!!!! We are so excited and can't wait to meet our new little princess.

Gender Ultrasound & Drag Racing

Well, I go tomorrow to have the big ultrasound. Sooooo excited. Keep your fingers crossed for Baylee that it is a girl. They will also be doing bloodwork for genetic testing and routine bloodwork as well. We have been very, very busy. Between baseball and dance I'm not sure which day of the week it is.

Me and the kids packed up last Saturday and drove to Diboll to watch my Dad race his car. Here is a video. His car is a maroon 1971 Buick Regal.

Baylee's Secret

The other day Bay, Brad and myself were in BRU (Babies R Us). I was shopping for something very specific (to be mentioned later). As we passed a very cute pink outfit Bay stated "this sure would have been cute on our baby girl that died." My heart absolutely fell to the floor. She sooo wants a sister. That's when I decided to tell her a secret. This is how the conversation went:

J: I have something to tell you but you can't tell anyone it is a BIG SECRET.
B: What is it?
J: Mommy is going to have a baby. I have a baby in my tummy right now.
B: Oh my GOSH!!!!! Can we tell Daddy??????

You just got to love her.

So, the news is out. Ryan and I are expecting our 4th child. My due date is 2/2/2010 but I will have a scheduled c-section in January 2010. I have been terribly sick. This is new for me. I haven't experienced morning sickness (or all day sickness) before. I have seen the Dr. twice for medicine. The above item we were getting at BRU was "preggy pops." They are candies that supposedly help with the naseau. Hopefully when I hit the 12th week mark it will subside.

I miscarried at 10 weeks back in Feb. I am currently 10 weeks and 3 days today. Please say a prayer for our new little peanut!!!!

Sorry it has been so long . . .

I know, I know. It has been awhile since I posted. We have been extremely busy with baseball this year. Preslee's team the Buckeyes had a great year. Preslee is in PW Majors. A division above where he should be according to his age. Ryan wanted to coach with Chip, the same guy he coached with in the Fall. His son moved up a division so Ryan decided to move Pres up as well. Pres had fun.

Bay is on the Sun Devils and has coach Brandon as her coach (the same coach she had in the fall). The SD are actually playing for the Championship next week against the Gators. Baylee has done extremely well this season and has made some great plays. She has moved up to play pitcher and absolutely loves it.

I'm so proud of both of my baseball players.

School is almost out and summer is here. My Mom will be keeping all three kids this summer. Lord bless her.

I will post pictures soon.

Sad News

Just wanted to let everyone know that I lost the baby on Monday. I started bleeding and they did an ultrasound and found that he/she stopped growing at 8 weeks (I was 10 weeks). My D & C is scheduled for today.

I truly believe everything happens for a reason. Ryan and I have been thru so much together. This is just another step. I believe we will try to get pg again in the future after all wounds (physically and mentally) have healed. The kids (especially Ba) do not understand. It is hard to explain something to a 5 yr old when I don't even understand why it happened.

Please say a prayer for us. I will update in a day or two.

Joy

My Legs Are Bored

The other day my Mom asked Ba to pick up all her toys that were laying in the floor. Ba said, as she was sitting on the edge of the bed, "Memaw, my legs are just too bored, I can't do it."

Today, my legs are bored as well as my entire body. Can I go home and crawl back into bed?????

Just for Fun

We have decided if the baby is a girl then we will name her Mallee Amanda after both mine and Ryan's Grandma's.

If it is a boy we like Conlee. But, we have yet to agree on a middle name. Does anyone have any suggestions for us?

Gender Predictions

Here are a few different prediction websites and my results from their predictions:

http://www.thelaboroflove.com/chart/pred.html = boy

http://www.justmommies.com/quizzes/g...ction_quiz.php = 58 % chance of having a girl

http://www.babyman.net/predict.asp = boy

http://www.sexratio.com/test.php = 55% likely to conceive a girl and 45% likely to conceive a boy.

http://pregnancy.about.com/library/quiz/boygirl/blboygirlquiz.htm?lastQuestion=9&answers=0&submit=Next+Question+%3E%3E&ccount=2 = girl

http://pregnancyandbaby.com/pregnancy/baby/Madame-Zaritska-predicts-your-birth-experience-736.htm = The day you deliver, outside will be windy. Your baby will arrive in the morning. After a labor lasting approximately 7 hours, your child, a boy, will be born. Your baby will weigh about 7 pounds, 14 ounces, and will be 19 inches long. This child will have dark brown eyes and some very fine hair.

http://www.thebump.com/calculators/C...nderChart.aspx = girl (This one has been correct with P, B, and B).

http://www.babygenderpredictiontest.com/ = 74% boy


What do you think? Please take part in the poll located on the right.

Thanks,
Joy

First Ultrasound

I have my first ultrasound today at 10. Wish me luck. I did have a confirmation ultrasound 3 weeks ago but all that we saw was a little dot on the screen. Hopefully things go well.

Updates:

P: P has always been obsessive about certain toys or objects. He will carry something specific around with him everywhere and will go into hysterics if misplaced or lost. When he was little he had a little Woody doll from Toy Story. Now, he is obsessed with the matchbox cars and little skateboards. The kid carries them everywhere. Even to school. He is allowed to carry one in his pocket. Kids are so funny.

Ba: She is enjoying her time staying with Mamaw. She is a coloring fool. She does very beautiful artwork, but of course only when Br is asleep. While attending ABC she made friends with a boy named Zeke. He came to her b-day party in Oct. When we came home Tues there was an invitation to his b-day party this weekend. On Wed there was a knock at the door. It was Zeke and his Mom. They just wanted to make sure that Ba got the invitation and wanted to see her. Aren't crushes the cutest? His Mom said that all Zeke talks about is Bay. We are sooooo going to have our hands full when she gets to the dating age.

Br: My wild man. He is always looking for something to get into. If he isn't climbing, running, throwing, yelling or fighting, then he is sleeping. His vocabulary has exploded. His favorite phrase is "what doing?"

Other things going on: Mom, Ryan and myself have been battling a horrible head cold sinus thing. It is miserable. Head pounding, nose stuffed up and then draining. I'm soo ready for summer to be here.

Hope everyone is doing great. Leave me a comment or message sometime. I would love to hear from ya.

My Sweet Baylee

I sure do miss you!!

Ryan took Br and Bay up to his parents Sat. afternoon. Bay stayed there to spend some girlie time with Grandma. I sure do miss her sweet smile, constant giggling, and yes even brushing her tangly hair. She will be coming back home Thur night or Fri morning. Friday we will have a fun day getting our hair done (long time coming)!!

Sat before they left I took the kids and ran to the mall. As we were passing Claire's I asked her (as I do everytime we go to the mall) "Do you want to get your ears pierced?" GASP NOOOOOOO she said (as she replies everytime). Then she asks quietly "will it hurt?" I pinched her ear and said that is all there is to it. We had at this point past Claire's by two or more stores. She then say's "Well, (as she usually starts every sentence), I think I really want to get my ears pierced." I was in SHOCK. Thirty minutes, lots of crocodile tears and high pitch screams (yes people were staring at us as they passed the store)later, Bay had her ears pierced. My baby girl is growing up sooo fast.

Oh did I mention she can ride her bike without her training wheels too.

My sweet Baylee Boop.



I did get to spend some special time with my baby boy Pres while the other fam was gone. We took a nap, watched TV and went to Toys R Us. I really enjoyed that time with him.

How Did the Kids React?

We were not quite ready to let the exciting news out to everyone just yet but Ms. Baylee kind of did that for us.

Let me rewind: After I found out that I was pg, Bay, Brad and I happened to be at Babies R Us to pick up some diapers, wipes, etc stuff for Brad. While there I stopped and looked at the double strollers. Note***I will so desperately need this means of transportation as I am not going to take Brad anywhere without a stroller*** As we were looking at them Bay commented "this would be perfect for a little sister." I said "well God might want to give you a little brother instead of a baby sister one day." The conversation took a different direction at that point and the idea of a baby was forgotten.

Fastforward to Tuesday. Mom calls me at work and says "I want to ask you something and you be completely honest with me." She then proceeds to tell me her and Bay's conversation while sitting at the kitchen table:

B: "Mommy is going to give me a baby sister."
M: "What?"
B: "Mommy is going to give me a baby sister."
M: "Is your Mommy going to have a baby?"
B: "Well, she is going to give me a baby sister because I already have a baby brother."

So at that point I HAVE to tell Mom. Thanks so much Baylee for letting the great news out for me.


We told Pres yesterday that I have another baby in my tummy. His response "AGAIN?" I said yep and he said good. I just love him to pieces. He will always be my little boy.

I am so happy to share this journey with y'all. Thanks for reading.

Joy

What Do You Think of the Image Below?

Yep you guessed it!!! We are expecting our fourth baby in September. We are soooo excited!!!