nights at the ball-field

Baseball season started back up for Tripp, and we are having the best time. Joey is coaching him again, which both he and Tripp love, and Makinley and I enjoy cheering on from the sidelines. Well, actually, Makinley goes and plays on the playground, but I enjoy cheering him on. He continues to blow us away with his skills in sports. Most games, he has hit a home run and he has caught several balls in the air without having to ground them first. I know I have years and years ahead of me spending nights at the ball-field, and I wouldn't have it any other way!

track and field

This year, Tripp was able to participate in the primary school's track day. He was SO excited! They practiced for several weeks during the school day before the big day arrived. Luckily, mom and dad were in town the day of the meet, so daddy came with us to watch Tripp compete. Mom stayed home with Makinley because she was still asleep. (Although, it needs to be noted that when she woke up, and we were gone, she was NOT happy. At all.) Tripp competed in four different events. 100 meter run, 50 meter run, farthest jump, and farthest throw. He got 3 first place ribbons and 1 second place ribbon! He got second place in the farthest jump event, but in everything else, he won! We were SO proud of our naturally athletic boy!

 In the picture below, he is watching his shadow while he runs instead of looking straight ahead. He actually ended up touching the finish line at the exact same time as the little boy in the UA shirt, so they both got a first place ribbon. But, on the next race, he looked straight ahead the whole time and he ran so much faster!

 Now he's looking straight ahead!!! And running much faster!

 Super proud Poppa! Made it even better that when Tripp finished first in his last event, he went running and threw himself in my daddy's arms! Made daddy's whole day!

It brings me so much joy to watch Tripp in sports. I love that he is taking after his daddy (and his Poppa and Uncle Trey) and does it so well and so naturally. I keep waiting to see what his sport of choice is going to be. For now, I really think it will be baseball, but we'll see. He could surprise me!

month five

How far along: 20 weeks (5 months)- Well, technically I'm 20 weeks 5 days in this picture- but who's counting?!?

Size of baby: a banana! 

Total weight gain/loss: Based on my Dr's records, I'm up one pound. But, I know where I started my pregnancy at weight wise, and I didn't get weighed at the Dr until I was a little farther along. I'm still anywhere between 10-12 pounds under my starting weight depending on the time of day! :-)

Maternity Clothes: Yes! But, now that the weather is warm, I'm wearing lots of dresses. So much more comfortable.

Gender: Girl!!!!

Baby Name: Addison Grey ("Addie Grey") Joey's grandma's name was Addie and my grandma's middle name was Grey. So, we are putting the two names together to honor both grandmas.

Movement: This is SO much stronger and more consistent. She has even gotten strong enough that I can feel her on the outside. Now, I'm just waiting on that moment when she kicks hard enough when Joey or the kids are actually near so that they can feel it too.

Sleep: I'm beginning to think that sleep is not in God's plan for my life.

What I miss: I'm okay right now. I guess if I'm missing anything, it's still sleeping well throughout the night.

Cravings: Still struggling in the appetite department. Some moments, I am STARVING. Some moments, I feel awful. I never really know how I'm going to feel at any given moment/meal.

Symptoms: The only one is still being tired, but I do have much more energy than I had during the first trimester. Obviously, I look pregnant at this point, so I have lots of people asking me questions!

Best moment this month: Several best moments this month! One- finding out that it's a girl! Two- Makinley hearing her heartbeat for the first time with our doppler at home. Three- her movements getting so strong! Four- having our "big" ultrasound and everything looks good! She is healthy and developing on track. Praise the Lord!

the things she says

My daughter kills me. I don't know what is going to come out of her mouth at any given moment. I really need to start writing them down because by the time I sit down to blog about them, I've forgotten half of what she said that week. For instance, this week, she has said the following:

While holding herself, "Momma, my nuts hurt."
Me: "Um, I'm sorry, WHAT did you just say?"
Her: "I said, my nuts hurt. Nuts are your privates."
Me: "Well, baby, they aren't YOUR privates."
Her: "Boys have nuts."
Me: "You aren't a boy, and we don't say that or call them that." - Holy Cow-

And then her new thing is when she gets a spanking (and yes, she gets them) she starts crying and screaming telling me I'm putting bruises all over her body. Please, keep in mind, that when she does get spankings, it's ONE swat. Rarely does it even leave a mark. But, I'm anxiously awaiting the arrival of DFCS at my door because she has told her teachers that we put bruises on her body. This child of mine. NEVER a dull moment. NEVER.

bring the rain

Man, it has been a tough, tough, tough 4 days. I'm just now beginning to feel like I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. I'm not going to blog all the details. Honestly, it just hurts too much to dwell on it. Instead of thinking constantly about my circumstances, I have focused on Scripture and praise music. I've tried to fill my mind with God's truths for my life instead of Satan's whispers. Believe me, I've done my share of crying. Actually, it's about all I did from Friday to Sunday. But, something amazing happened on Monday morning. I felt peace. I know it's because not only did I soak myself in God's word and fall asleep to praise music, I had some wonderfully Godly people lifting me up to my Father's throne. And I felt it. I really, really felt it. I was able to feel peace instead of stress. Calmness instead of fear. Joy instead of sorrow. God's Word and prayer are a powerful, powerful combination. Without those two things, I would still be drowning. But, today, instead of drowning, I'm thanking Jesus for refining. Man, y'all, it hurts. It is NOT fun. However, at the end of the day, if my pain and sorrow...turned into thanksgiving...brings glory to God....then like the song says, "Jesus, bring the rain."

waiting on consistency

I began feeling Addie Grey move weeks ago. However, it was VERY light and VERY inconsistent. To the point of not really being sure that's what I was feeling. On the day I turned 17 weeks, I started feeling her to the point of knowing beyond a doubt that it WAS her. I've pretty much felt her every day since, but there are times when it's so much stronger than others. Yesterday, I barely felt her at all. Maybe once or twice in the morning. Then today, I've felt her pretty consistently for most of the day. I look forward to the afternoons when I can get home and lay flat and see if I can feel her. All mommas know that, when pregnant, there is nothing more reassuring than feeling them move around. Well, other than looking at them on an ultrasound screen. It doesn't matter that it's the third time around....the feeling is still as miraculous as it was the first time. I'm cherishing every single second. I know by the end of the pregnancy, I'll be tired of being poked and prodded from the inside. But, for now, I'm anxious for some strong kicks on a daily basis. On Saturday night, while I was lying in bed, she was kicking hard enough to feel from the outside. I wish Joey had been lying right there. It only happened for a couple of minutes and hasn't happened again since. But, Makinley got to hear her heartbeat for the first time on Saturday too. Her little face was precious! Her eyes got so big. Addie Grey decided to move someplace new and I couldn't find her again to be able to let Joey and Tripp hear. It's hard to believe I'm almost 19 weeks. She'll be here so soon! Our "big" ultrasound is Monday, and I can't help but be a tad bit anxious. I just keep praying for God to take any worry or fear away. I know He has a perfect plan for her and for her life. I'm just anxious to hear that she is healthy and developing right on track. Although we have had several ultrasound so far, we've yet to have the one where they do all their measurements and check for all the things they look for.

It really is amazing how fast they grow! Looking forward to even more pictures of her on Monday. This will probably be the last time I "see" her until she's in my arms!

gone buggy

Tripp's school play, BUGZ, was last night, and I couldn't be more proud of our boy! I have been very nervous ever since the Kindergarten square dancing debacle that he wouldn't do what he was supposed to do once he got on stage. Man, was I nervous for NOTHING. He got on that stage and he was in his element. I don't know if I've ever smiled so big! He was an Army Ant and the song that he was part of was like a rap, so their dance moves were very "hip-hoppish"....I didn't know he could move like that! Must take after his Uncle Trey! :-) We didn't get any pictures (because I left the camera in the hands of my husband, who didn't realize that I turned the flash on the camera off, so he didn' think he could use it), but we did get video. Unfortunately, during his ant song, he was on the back row, and I couldn't get a very clear shot of him. However, for the final song, he was front and center, and boy could you tell! I was able to get that one on video. He's already talking about trying out for next year's play. Our little athlete may be an actor as well!

Thankful another sweet momma captured this shot for me!