Start Spreadin' the News!

Probably most people who read my blog are on Facebook too, but I view this as sort of a journal (one day I plan to print my posts out....) so pardon the repeat of a recent FB post.

We're expecting baby #5 in April. The 17th is my due date, so Cassie might get a brother or sister as a birthday present. (Her birthday is the 19th.) We found out the second week of August, but decided to wait to share the news until I had an ultrasound picture to show off. :) At the time it sounded like a fun idea, since with all my other pregnancies we've told within a day or so of finding out ourselves. Then I found out the first ultrasound would be at about 12 weeks. Waiting 7 weeks was tough, especially since my 4-times-over pregnant belly isn't exactly flat to start with, and I started showing a earlier than before. If anybody suspected my weight-gain wasn't from too much snacking, we didn't hear about it.

We told the kids the news last night and they were so excited. Felicity kept saying, "Do you really have a baby in your tummy?" like she was afraid of looking like a fool for believing me. Camie was so happy she was about to cry, Micah grinned a lot and asked if it was going to be born tomorrow, and Cassie had no clue what we were talking about, but grinned anyway. In the past 7 weeks each kid has at one time made reference to wanting another baby, and Camie even prayed at one of our meals, "Help mamma not have anymore babies unless you want her too." I was a little worried, until after she said the amen she added, "And I hope He wants you to." Whew. :)

This past weekend we made one of those speedy trips to MO to see Matt's family. It was his parents' 40th wedding anniversary, and his sisters were throwing a surprise party. They had a slideshow of pictures and music (instant tears for me, even when I'm not pregnant) of their wedding 40 years ago, their 3 kids through the years, the spouses, and then the grandkids. As part of the pictures of our kids we included the ultrasound picture to make the announcement. It was a fun way to tell everyone.

Micah got to experience riding a four-wheeler and a Rhino (kind of like a John Deere Gator). He loved "feeling the air" as he put it as whoever was driving at the time flew down the hills at Grandpa's farm and bumped over rocks and holes. I think he's hooked now. When Felicity heard us talking about riding the Rhino, she came over to me and quietly asked, "Do they mean the kind with a horn?" She rode only once with Daddy driving , and that was enough for her. She sure enough would've balked if it'd been the kind with a horn. :)

Below are some pictures from August and September when we had two week-long visits from friends and family. That was a busy (there were 7 kids one week, and 8 kids another, all 7 and under) yet relaxed (we just hung out and had fun) two weeks.

 Brandon, Becky's and Dave's youngest sneaking a turn at the computer.


This was our big group outing while Becky's family was here: Going to the creek. She and I spent a lot of time doing this when we were teens when she would come visit, so it was fun to introduce her kids to it.

Camie, 7

Cassie, 2

Zachary, 6
He and Micah loved this rope swing.

Felicity, 5
The water was the perfect depth for the kids to play in.  And for those not familiar with South MS creeks, that water is  clear, not yellow. The golden sand is what you see in the picture.

Matt found this sandbox lid and used it for a boat for each of the kids. He is so fun. 

Zach gets a turn in the boat.

Julia, 5 and Felicity worked long and hard to get themselves in the boat together. There was a lot of girly giggling on that ride.

My best fwiend.

Aunt Melissa brought a siamese cat for the kids. Camie loves cats and was excited to see one, but thought it was just here for a visit. Her expression when she found out it was staying here was so sweet.

Simon, the cat after his bath in raspberry scented shampoo. His name was Raspberry as a result for a few weeks until I talked them into Simon.

Thsese were taken at Fort Gaines on Dauphin Island. It was a hot trip, but so fun "discovering" tunnels and stairways in the fort.

After we were done at the fort we went to a park and had a picnic. Matt and kids climbed all over this tree. We finished the day at the beach, and the weather was perfect. We got there about an hour before sunset, the water was calm and shallow for quite a ways, and there were no jellyfish. I told Matt this was the best beach trip with kids to date. I guess it does get easier when they get older. And not having to worry about sunburns was nice too, since the sun was about gone.

This is a new bridge at our city park, full of Morris and Van Nort cousins. The kids and I had been learning about China that week, so this was a fun "field trip" to make. We also fed ducks and got threatened by geese. Not so fun.