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August 5, 2014

29 Weeks


It is sort of shocking, but with only 10-11 weeks left until we meet baby Beckett, there is not much to report.  I feel like I have more energy but some days I find myself pretty tired if I do too much.  The good news is, I passed my gestational diabetes test so no diet for me!  Shane and I have been spending some time working on Gray's room and rearranging the upstairs living area to make it more of a family room the last couple of weekends.  I'm also working to do a small remodel of the bathroom upstairs to make it more kid oriented since that will be Gray's bathroom, and eventually Grayson and Beckett's bathroom in a couple of years.  Shane can definitely tell I'm starting to nest with all of the things I have been doing/changing around the house.  :)  Once everything is completed, I will post pictures.  We are getting close so it should not be much longer.

Last week Grayson finished his parent and tot swim lessons at my aquatics facility.  He definitely has a love of water and always feels comfortable getting in so that is one skill he has mastered over the last year.  While we were on vacation in Belize, we went to the pool regularly and he would always say, "kick, kick, kick" and practice kicking his feet.  He even started putting his face in the water to blow bubbles so I knew he was ready for class.  Of course once we started class, he didn't want to kick or put his face in the water to blow bubbles.  On the rare occasion we could get him to comply, but usually it took our instructor, Madison, asking him to do something before he would do it.  (Side note: we are raising a future teacher's pet.)  A couple of other things he can now do after taking class is hold on to the gutter and work his way down the wall, climb out of the pool using the ladder and jump in from the side with assistance.  I don't expect him to actually be swimming until he is about 3-4 years old, but I do want to make him comfortable with the water and learn a few basics so when he does start taking lessons without me, he's prepared.  The last night of class Shane came out and took some photos.  What you can't tell in these photos is how absolutely cold the water is.  I waited until session 4 to sign him up because the water temperature is usually pleasant, but we happened to experience a random cold front the last week of class which had the outside temperature in the low to mid 70's and the water temperature in the low 80's.  Luckily the last class is only about 25 minutes.

Gray's teacher, Miss Madison
He loved saying her name.
Doing passes with Miss Madison 
Kick, kick, kick 

 Hanging on to the gutter all by himself

 Climbing out using the ladder

 Jumping in from the side

 "London bridge is falling down...."

 Practicing blowing bubbles

Singing the "bye bye" song.  
He loved being on the mats.

One other project Shane finally completed was getting Gray's swing that Santa bought him hung up on our patio (yes, 7 months later).  After a few different ideas and attempts, he finally settled on these hooks that are used for porch swings.  They just screwed into the beams on our patio and we can unhook his swing and store it in the garage when it's not being used.  It's gotten warmer outside so he's only been in it a couple of times, but we hope we can spend more time on the patio this fall while we're spending lots of time at home with little Beckett.  


We only have 9-10 weekends left until Beckett arrives.  We are hoping to spend as much one on one time with Grayson as we can but seem to have something going on just about every weekend.  I realize how precious our time is with him as an only child and want to embrace it as much as possible.  I'm headed to the doctor on August 12 for another sonogram to see how big Beckett has grown.  I can tell he's starting to run out of room in there as my stomach looks possessed on many occasions when he twists and turns.  My doctor is predicting he could come as early as week ahead of my due date since Grayson was a couple of days early.  We are not planning to induce or schedule anything with Beckett.  With Grayson we planned to induce on his due date, but I don't see the need to rush getting Beckett out.  I feel like it's better to just let him come when he's ready.  My doctor doesn't like going too far past the due date, but we will cross that bridge if we get to it.  It does make me sad that Grayson's 2nd birthday is only 9 days after my due date.  I am going to plan as much as I can prior to going into the hospital, but the actual date and time will be unknown until after Beckett comes.  His 1st birthday was pretty low key and I don't see this one being too much different.  I want to be sure we celebrate with Grayson but I also have to consider that we will have a newborn at home.  I have to take Beckett's needs and our lifestyle change into consideration.  If we have #3, I will need to try to make sure they are more of a spring baby and space these birthdays out.  ;)

July 22, 2014

27 Weeks


On Sunday, I hit 27 weeks.  It doesn't sound like I'm too far along, but when I realize I only have 13 weeks left...the reality of how soon Beckett will be here starts to hit me.  Luckily we do not have much to do to prepare for his arrival.  I just need to wash Gray's 0-3 month clothes I packed away, make a few updates to the nursery (name and crib mattress height) and buy diapers in his size.  Our biggest project is getting Gray ready for his big boy room!

Before we left for Belize, Shane built Gray the bed that will go in his room.  It's a full size so we could utilize mattresses we already had, and it also allows us room to sleep if we have to spend a night with him while he's adjusting to his new room or sick.  The bed is very low to the ground so he won't have too far to fall if he does roll off.  This past Friday we made a trip to Ikea to buy his dresser, a bedside table, shelves to hold his books for a reading corner, curtains and another storage unit to go upstairs in the game room to house his toys.  Then Sunday we went to Pottery Barn Kids to buy his chair for the reading corner.  It was good timing because they were having a one day sale on those chairs!  This weekend I plan to go buy the rest of the items we need to finish putting his room together so my mom can help me next week while she's in town.  I have a cute idea for some shadow boxes on his walls and a fun way to display his name, but I will hold off on disclosing those until I see how well they turn out.  :)

My next appointment is on Tuesday morning and I have the wonderful glucose test to see if I have gestational diabetes.  I passed with flying colors last year so here's hoping I do well again!

July 21, 2014

Belize

It's been a week since Shane, Gray and I returned from an amazing trip to Belize with our good friends Bobby and Sam.  We flew in to Belize City on Wednesday, July 9 and took a puddle jumper over to Ambergris Caye Island.  Once we arrived, a taxi picked us up and took us to our resort.  We had a "booking.com" moment on the way to the resort as we drove through the town of San Pedro, over a toll bridge and then onto the dirt road that ran in front of our resort.  Luckily it was just a gorgeous as the pictures on the internet had depicted.  We checked in and ate dinner at the resort so we could get settled into the condo.

Our condo was 2 bedrooms, 2 bath with a nice living area, kitchen and a beautiful patio.  We had daily maid and laundry service which was great because we did not have to bring as many clothes with us and were able to pack light.  Sam and I went to town the morning after we arrived and bought some groceries to get us through the week.  We had our own golf cart during the trip that we could use to go into town to shop or eat dinner. The rest of the 6 day trip was spent hanging out by the pool, walking on the beach, reading, exploring the town, eating delicious food at different restaurants, snorkeling with sharks, sting rays, eels and turtles and relaxing as much as possible.  One morning Sam and I were able to relax at this spa on the south side of the island that was on a dock over the water.  

Gray had a great time!  It was his first time to fly so we were nervous how he would handle the flight, but he did so well.  No matter what we did, he sat quietly and just took in all the new experiences.  We were so proud of him the entire trip and could not believe how quickly he would adjust to the changes.  
I am so glad we were able to go on this amazing vacation and take Gray with us to share in our experience.  He was able to get his first stamp in his passport, which is only the first of many to come.  We have every intention of showing Grayson and Beckett the world and traveling as much as we can as a family.  


View from our balcony
Dinner at Aji
Just a short walk down the beach from our resort
Aunt Sam giving Gray a lift back to the condo
Yep, I got a parking ticket in town on our golf cart.
I paid a small fine of $12 to stay out of a Belizean prison.
Gulf of Mexico 2013 - check
Caribbean Sea 2014 - check
Full Moon during dinner one evening
Quick family pic while waiting on our water taxi
We discovered Gray did not like his feet to get dirty.
I had to get some photos of my gorgeous boy on the beach!

He is saying "boat".




Love this girl! 
Gray helped mommy drive into town a few times.
Snorkel excursion

The group of nurse sharks we swam with near the
Hol Chan Marine Reserve off the Barrier Reef
Our guide would take sting rays and sharks over
to the side of the boat for Gray so see.
Our guide, Lil Alfonse, pointing out some coral.
He was seriously the best guide we have ever had on a snorkel
excursion.
Our other guide, Rex, holding two nurse sharks.
Sam holding a nurse shark
Our puddle jumper taking us back to Belize City
Gray watching as we flew over the islands.

June 17, 2014

22 Weeks


It's been a few weeks since I posted an update, but there has not been much to report.  My nausea and vomiting have gone away and it has been replaced with complete exhaustion and an achy back.  I can take those last two symptoms any day over the previous symptoms.

We had a check up at the beginning of June and everything looks great!  Beckett is measuring about a week ahead, but that is pretty average.  He was very active on the sonogram (it might have something to do with the caffeine I consumed prior to my appointment) so there was one photo of the right side of his heart that she wasn't able to capture.  Otherwise he looked happy and healthy!

Hi Mom & Dad!
In other news, Grayson is doing really well at Soccer Tots.  The first couple of weeks he didn't want to participate too much but he seems to be into it now.  We have discovered he is a "watcher".  He will sit back, watch what others do and then join in once he's comfortable.  This past Saturday he made it through the whole class without a problem and enjoyed every activity.  I think he may be starting to enjoy organized classes and activities.

What kid (or adult) doesn't love the parachute?!

He's a natural player.  Such focus and concentration
during his toe touches.
Shane has officially started summer so he has more downtime now.  Gray will be staying home with him two days a week and going to school the other three.  I think it will be fun for the two of them to hang out and go do some fun stuff together.  I have to admit, I'm alittle jealous.  I know my one on one time with him is only going to dwindle once Beckett gets here so I am going to do my best to spend as much time with him on the weekends as I can over the next 4 months. This past week they went to story time at the library, Gymboree (which will be a weekly thing) and came by the pool to swim one afternoon.  It is kind of nice to go home at lunch and see him since I usually don't get those extra visits with him during the day.  

Father's Day
Sunday we had a nice, relaxing father's day at home then joined my brother and his family for dinner.  Grayson bought Shane some pancake shapers since Shane loves to make Gray pancakes on the weekends.  One is shaped like Mickey and the others are random shapes like a puzzle piece, heart and square.  He also got him a tent so they can go camping together.  I think the campouts may start in our living room and work their way into our backyard once the weather is cooler.  Grayson is so lucky to have Shane as a father.  Shane is a natural at being a parent and does an amazing job with Grayson.  Over the last few months he has practically been the primary caregiver since my morning sickness has kept me debilitated.  The two of them can have so much fun together doing the simplest of things.  I love watching them play and seeing Grayson's face light up when Shane walks into the room.  The two of them have a pretty tight bond.


I also need to give a shout out to my father.  He is one of the most amazing men I know and I can't thank God enough for him each day.  My dad is a hard working, dedicated Christian, that has devoted his life to providing the best for his family day in and day out.  He has been a positive role model for my brother and I and I'm proud that my son(s) will get to have him as a Grandpa.  



Anniversary
Yesterday was our 8 year wedding anniversary!  I can't believe how quickly 8 years has gone by.  Shane may think otherwise!  :)  I'm so lucky to be married to my best friend and experience so many new things with him.  Our family continues to grow and our bond only gets stronger.  We have been through so much in this short amount of time and I can't wait to see what God has in store for us over the next 50 years.


This upcoming weekend is giving me mixed emotions.  Shane is going to take Grayson to Lubbock to see his family.  It will be the first time in 20 months that I will go without seeing Grayson in a day.  Although I may not have always been there when he went to bed or woke up in the morning, I have always seen him at some point during the day.  We have never spent a night apart.  It may make me a crazy mom for never taking time away for myself, but I never had a reason to be away from him.  Nor did I want a reason to be away from him.  As much as I'm going to miss him, I am looking forward to getting a few things done around the house, possibly sleeping alittle more and enjoying a girl's night with a few of my friends. Luckily we have the most amazing technology so I do plan on getting some FaceTime in while they are gone.

I will close this extremely long post with a few pictures of Gray over the last couple of weeks.

Aunt Cra Cra moved into a new apartment so we went to dinner
then stopped by to check it out.
Shane, his sister Sandee and niece Rowan
want to take the same photo each time they come
to visit to watch Grayson grow.

It's as close to a spa as I'm going to get these days.
Does this violate any child labor laws?  :)

I only allowed him to wear this because it was Father's Day
and Tech was playing in the College World Series.

Gray loves to read.  We catch him from time to time just
going through his books.

The latest craze in our house is called "Bowling with Grayson".
He loves it!