Look Who's in Town!

Pa Pa!!!





My mom came to visit us for a few days to help us with some last minute things before Walker gets to town, and we are loving having her here! She is always super helpful, which is especially nice right now since I am so big and not very useful around the house. Plus, Jake LOVES having his Pa Pa here...he definitely prefers for her to read to him, bathe him, put him to bed, etc! I swear he loves my mama more than me, which I completely understand why he would. :)

Mystery Solved

Last Friday, a petting zoo came and visited Jake's Mother's Day Out program. As soon as I picked Jake up, he couldn't wait to tell me about it. He said, "ride horsey, Mama!" And I asked him what else he did, and he said "petted goat!" His face just lit up telling me about it. One of his teachers, Mrs. Caroline, said Jake got to ride the pony twice, and she said he loved it!

Well, later on that night, I was getting Jake to tell Tyson all about "riding the horsey" and here is the conversation that went down:

Beth: Jake, tell Daddy what you did today at school.

Jake: Ride horsey, Daddy!

Beth: What color was the horsey, Jake?

Jake: White.

Beth: What was the horsey's name?

Jake: Black.

Meanwhile, Tyson is dieing in laughter and I couldn't understand why...until he explains:

Tyson: How many white horses are named "black?"

We have laughed about the white horse named "black" all weekend long! I was really curious, though, if my child was just that brilliant or just brilliantly funny. Anyways, his teacher posted this slideshow to their blog...check out picture 11/13. Mystery solved.

36 Weeks

Yay! I am so excited to have reached 36 weeks; Walker's lung development should be golden after this week and then he is in the clear to come...woo hoo!

I'm feeling a lot better this week for some reason...maybe it's because an end is in sight! 3 more weeks or less! I'm only working 1 shift a week now (versus the 2 shifts that I was working through much of February and March for some extra $ for baby stuff/maternity leave), and it's amazing how much better I feel just because of that! Props to nurses who continue to work full time throughout their pregnancies! It ain't for me, that's for sure!

Walker and I had a check-up Friday, and everything is looking good. He is measuring 40 weeks (which is obviously 4 weeks ahead) right now, so Dr. McKee said we have at least a 9 pounder on our hands again. We are going to do another ultrasound in 2 weeks to check Walker's weight and his position...right now he is breech. Since I'm already having a c-section, Walker's weight and position really aren't as concerning, but it will affect how the c-section is done so Dr. McKee wanted to know what to expect. Love him.

So we are just hanging out and playing the waiting game now...every little twitch or twinge has me so nervous, and I know I'm driving Tyson crazy already with "do you think I'm in labor?" Ha! I just got so lucky with my labor with Jake (my water broke in the shower and I had no painful contractions at all...easiest labor ever), I just don't know what to expect even though I've kinda done this before. Make sense?

Our scheduled c-section is 3 weeks from this Tuesday (April 20th), and I can't wait! I love the idea of having everything organized and ready, having our families here already, having Jake taken care of, etc that comes with scheduling a c-section. Plus, if we make it to April 20th, Tyson will be done with spring football and will actually be able to stay with me for a couple of days without any interruptions! That makes me really happy...now let's just see if I make it that far! :)

Please keep us in your prayers over the next couple of weeks for a safe and healthy delivery of baby Walker! Thanks!!!

UAB Baby Shower

The football coaches' wives gave me and Carrie (our O-Line coach's wife) a baby shower last night for our upcoming arrivals. Carrie is having a little girl, Brooks, and is due any day, and I have already designated Brooks as Walker's girlfriend. I'm sure she is gonna be a doll just like her big sister.

Everyone has been so kind to shower us with gifts for Walker. I didn't really expect too much since he is our 2nd child of the same sex in almost 2 years, but people have really been good to us regardless. The girls from work also threw me a shower, which I missed because I was sick, but we got lots of diapers and wipes and some other things from that one. We feel so blessed to have such great friends who are so excited about baby Walker.

The Forgotten Ones...

My parents and JakeLooks like Jake is throwing up some gang signs here!


I think these pictures finally wrap up our Spring Break pictures; I meant to post these earlier but completely forgot. We got these shots as we were packing up and leaving my parents house headed back to Birmingham. I wasn't very diligent at taking pictures while in Thomaston, but I thought these were cute anyway.

I really enjoyed our time in Georgia visiting family, but it is nice to be back in our routine. As the clock is winding down until my due date, I'm trying really hard to spend as much time with Jake as possible. I can already tell that I'm gonna be a huge mess after having the baby...I already miss my Jake so much and Walker isn't even here yet! How in the world am I going to manage? I guess plenty of people find a way to make it work, but I just feel so guilty and I feel so bad for Jake. Is this normal?

Jake and I did enjoy a date to the zoo today just the two of us; we rarely go by ourselves these days, so I let him do whatever he wanted to do. We rode the train, ate lots of popcorn, spent lots of time with the lions, rode a tractor, and just walked around hand in hand. It was the perfect day (minus me getting attacked by a llama)! I'm gonna miss these days with just my little man.

35 Weeks

I haven't done a belly shot in a while, so here you go! I know what you are thinking...WHOA! Actually, I get a lot of responses like this: "You are HUGE!" "How many babies do you have in there?" "Are you having twins?" "You are about to pop!" Gone are the days of people telling me that it looks like I have a basketball in my shirt...now it's just plain shock at how big my belly is.

Time seems to be flying by...I can't believe we have less than a month left until Walker is here. I can't wait! I can't wait to see who he looks like and acts like; I can't wait to see Jake as a big brother; I can't wait to be done with this pregnancy! :) But mostly, I just can't wait to hold him and love on him and know that he is here safe and sound!

I am going to the doctor at the end of the week, so be on the look out for a 36 week post then. I've been having lots of issues with swelling (as you can tell by my face in the picture), but other than that, I'm doing ok. No contractions so far, so it looks like Walker is content in my belly for a little while longer!

Have a great week! There are a few more new posts below, so check them out!

Bathtime with Brantley

Tyson and I watched Brantley the other night for our friends Ginger and Ryan, and Jake and Brantley had the best time. The boys played so well together! Jake was so excited to show Brantley all of his toys and share them with him...he kept saying "Come on, Brantley!" They are just too cute together!

Spring Break: Tifton

"G Mama" and Jake

BETH AND I WOKE UP IN ATHENS WEDNESDAY MORNING AND HEADED TO THOMASTON SO THAT I COULD PICK UP JAKE FOR OUR TRIP TO TIFTON... WE ALL ATE LUNCH WITH THE KINGS AND THEN JAKE AND I HEADED FOR T- TOWN... THE TRIP USUALLY TAKES AROUND TWO HOURS AND SOME CHANGE, AND JAKE SLEPT THE WHOLE WAY FROM THE KINGS' DRIVEWAY IN THOMASTON TO THE KFC IN TIFTON, I WAS THRILLED ( HE USUALLY RIDES VERY WELL, BUT THIS WAS GONNA BE HIS 3RD LONG TRIP IN FOUR DAYS AND I FIGURED I WAS PRESSIN MY LUCK)...

ANYWAYS, WE GOT TO TIFTON AROUND 4 ISH AND MY MOM (GMAMA) WAS HOME FROM WORK, SHE AND JAKE PLAYED FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS, WHILE I RELAXED... LATER THAT NIGHT, JAKE AND I RODE OVER TO SEE AUNT AMY (MAMY), UNCLE COURTNEY (KING COLE), AND JACE (BABY JACE)... WE ARE VERY FORTUNATE THAT THE HOWELLS LIVE IN TIFTON SO THAT WE CAN SEE THEM AND MY MOM IN THE SAME TRIP... JAKE LOVES PLAYIN WITH HIS COUSIN JACE, JAKE WAS PULLIN JACE AROUND IN A VERY COOL, REFURBISHED RED WAGON FROM JACE'S GRANDDADDY JC... THEY WERE FUNNY AS THEY COULD BE, THE HIGHLIGHT WAS AMY WAS HOLDIN WAS JACE AND JAKE WAS PUSHIN THE WAGON BY HIMSELF WHEN HE LOOKS OVER TO JACE AND SAYS, " COME ON JACE, GET IN THE WAGON." WE ALL LIKE TO FELL ON THE FLOOR LAUGHIN...

I SHOULD BE SHOT FOR NOT TAKING ANY PICTURES, I BROUGHT THE CAMERA JUST FOR THIS REASON AND I ONLY TOOK PICTURES OF JAKE AND HIS G-MAMA.. WHILE WE WERE IN TIFTON I MISSED PICTURE OPPORTUNITIES WITH COACH SEWARD, EMMETT AND PENDY BOWERS, ANDY AND PAM ELLIS, THE HOWELLS, AND ALL OF MATT WILSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL... WE HAD A GREAT TRIP IN TIFTON, MY MOM IS ALWAYS SO AMAZED WITH HOW BIG OF A BOY JAKE IS BECOMING!!! WE LOVE YOU G-MAMA AND WE WILL SEE YOU WHEN WALKER GETS HERE...

Spring Break: Thomaston

Mom, Dad, and Jake

For the most part, we based our Spring Break trips out of my parents' house in Thomaston. You see, I'm "recliner bound," meaning I am no longer able to sleep in a bed due to my large pregnant state and I have to sleep in a recliner. My parents have a very large comfortable recliner, so I made our trips work out around that recliner. :) Plus, it's always nice visiting with my parents!

We got to my parents' house last Sunday and just kind of came and went as we pleased. My parents bought Jake this new "motorcracker" (as he calls it) pictured above, and he had a blast riding it around their house. Mom also organized a playdate with the Boatright girls next door while Tyson and I were away in Athens, and Mom said Jake had so much fun playing with the girls. Apparently, though, Jake was a little shy around them; one of the girls asked my mom, "does he talk?" Ha!

Jake and Tyson went to Tifton for the last few days of our trip, and I stayed back with my parents...to be near the recliner. :) My parents were so good to me and pampered and spoiled me the whole time I was in Thomaston; I think they were afraid I was going to go into labor, so they were trying to make me rest as much as possible. It was so nice!

Thanks for everything, Mom and Dad! We really enjoyed this week! Love y'all!

Spring Break Trip 2: Athens

Me, Jill, and Ansley

Jill is lovin' on baby Walker!

Tyson and I left Jake with my parents for a day this week so that we could have some time together just the two of us. We had a hard time deciding where we wanted to go, but we knew we couldn't get too far away from my parents or from Birmingham just in case baby Walker decided to make an early appearance. Anyways, we decided to drive over to Athens on Tuesday, spend the night, and then head back to my parents on Wednesday. It was a short trip, but it was very much needed and enjoyed!

When we decided a few weeks ago on Athens, the first words out of my mouth to Tyson were "you are not allowed to go to the Butts Mehre (football office) while we are there." :) I immediately saw the disappointment in his face because 1) he loves talking football and 2) he loves visiting with his coaching friends any time he gets a chance...even if it is on our "one day mini vacation from our child." He agreed to my terms, though, because he's good like that.

So Tuesday morning comes and we are getting ready to head out the door for Athens, and Tyson says, "Just in case you want to go to Georgia's (spring football) practice, I got us on the list...just in case." :) I knew where that was headed. Luckily for my husband, I caved and said ok. So sure enough, we spent the first 3 hours on our "one day mini-vacation from our child" watching football practice. Seriously, I love football, so I was more than happy to oblige. It ended up being a beautiful day, and I had so much fun at the practice with my hubby...I love it when he talks football. :) I wish I had some pictures from Georgia's practice, but they don't allow cameras in...nor would I embarrass my husband by trying to take some pictures. :)

After practice, we headed to Gnat's Landing to meet my friend Jill and her daughter Ansley. We had so much fun! It makes me miss Jill so much! Good times!

Our trip to Athens was way too short...I can't wait to go back! Thanks, Mom and Dad, for keeping Jake for us!

Spring Break Trip 1: Cochran

I just love Ryleigh Kate's expression here!!


MaMa and Trey
Headed to the creek...
Hand in hand...

Testing the water...
The last picture before...
...he fell in the creek face first.

Me and my Granddaddy!
Spenser, Ryleigh Kate, and Carson
Finally...a picture of the grown-ups! (Spenser, Renee, Christy, Tyson, and Jake)
Throwing sticks in the creek...from afar!

The big boys- Connor and Chase
Cutie "Pen pen"
Christy coachin them up in a game of football

My child looks clueless!

Touchdown Pen Pen!

Tyson, Jake, and I are making another marathon trip around Georgia to visit our families one last time before baby Walker joins us. Our first stop on the trip was to Cochran to visit my mom's family; as usual, we had so much fun! We got to spend a good part of the day with my grandparents and my cousin Ryleigh Kate while we waited on the rest of the family to arrive. Ryleigh Kate and Jake play so well together and are just the best of friends. They are soooo cute together!

And yes, Jake fell into the creek. My mom calls it the "Right of Passage"- every kid falls into the creek at least once in their life; well, it was Jake's turn this time. You see, Jake, RK, Ma Ma, and I were out taking a walk while Tyson had gone to Dairy Queen with my cousin; I tried really hard to teach Jake to be very careful near the creek. He was doing really well and was so cautious, but he got tricked by a big patch of thick monkey grass...he ended up running straight into the creek face first!!! You should have seen my big pregnant self take off in a dead sprint to rescue him! My flip-flops went flyin' and all! By the time I got to to him, he had already popped up and was standing there (with algae in his hair) with his arms out at me like "HELP ME, MAMA!!!" and screaming at the top of his lungs. It was so scary, but after I pulled him from the freezing water, I couldn't help but laugh at how funny that all must have looked.

I think Jake has learned his lesson about the creek, and so have I...an 80 year old grandma, a 4 year old, and an 8 month pregnant lady aren't the best people to have around when a toddler falls in the creek. :)

After Jake dried off and got some new clothes on, the rest of the cousins got to my grandparents' house. We tried to stay away from the creek to avoid another casualty, so we just let the boys (and girl) play in the yard. So much fun! I miss them all already!

I Went to Work Last Night...

...and when I woke up today, this is what I saw:

Jake has a black eye...or will have one tomorrow for sure!

Not to say that Jake hasn't gotten hurt under my watch, but you can imagine the look on my face when Jake came walking in my room with his new injury before Tyson had a chance to tell me about it...I almost passed out. He's never had a black eye before; well, not that I can recall. Oh well, it was bound to happen sooner or later!

What's ironic about this is that Tyson and I had just had the discussion about why I don't work day shift. There are several reasons why I'd rather work the night shift, but the main reason is thatt hings are a lot more likely to happen during the day, and I would rather be home (even if sleeping) just in case. After all, what's being awake a couple more hours after you've already been awake for 24.

Jake showing me his boo boo.

Poor baby...it breaks my heart. It doesn't help that when I woke up and started getting ready for work tonight, Jake says, "no work, Mama." And poor Tyson, too; he has my illness from last weekend and feels awful. Despite Jake's injury, Tyson has done an amazing job taking care of Jake while being so sick.

"Watchin' Girls"

Jake kept beggin' to go "higher...higher!"

Blurry picture but so cute!Jake kept staring off, so I asked him what he was doing. His reply? "Watchin' girls!"


Jake and I went to the park today after naptime, and then later enjoyed some play time with our neighbors. What a beautiful afternoon! Why can't the weather stay like this every day?

Oh, if Jake looks a little warm in the pictures, it's because my 2 year old is very stubborn (like his father) and insists on dressing himself in only long sleeve shirts and long pants every day. Yes, he dresses himself...it's one of those battles I choose not to fight. Tyson actually had to apologize to the nursery workers at church this last Sunday for the way Jake has been dressing lately; he is definitely the worst dressed kid at church. Again, it's one of those battles we chose not to fight. Know what I mean?

Sorry for the lack of blogging lately...I am just at that miserable phase of pregnancy. I'll try harder, but no promises.

Stopping to smell the flowers.