{Playing Catch Up}

Since I am finally feeling better, I am so happy but I feel like I am constantly in catch-up mode. To say I am feeling overwhelmed with life is an understatement. While I was feeling so awful, I feel like life got very busy and chaotic and a lot was left undone -- parenting-wise, wife-wise and house-wise. So now I am busy trying to get on top of everything and I feel like there aren't enough hours in the day. I probably have four days worth of laundry and for the life of me cannot get on top of it. The house is in disarray but I just can't get it together. I try to cook now on the days Chat is home, but even that feels impossible. I feel guilty about the time the boys had in front of the TV and for shooing them away to play by themselves when they wanted me to play with them while I was feeling so bad. I feel like I need to make up for that time and do all these great things and be a 'present' parent. But I am still not 100% and am feeling like I can't accomplish it all. So I crash and the guiltiness continues.

They think I am awesome (which I know is only going to last for a limited time!) and it is so sad when I feel like I disappoint them. But somehow they manage to keep loving me unconditionally.

So right now I have three loaves of pumpkin bread in the oven in my attempt to get these holidays in gear. I did one load of laundry. The boys have been home from school for about an hour and a half a I have not turned on the TV. I might even empty the dishwasher after this. Baby steps.

I am so thankful for this amazing thing happening in my life. I just need a little organization to keep my sanity. And I just need a bit more energy. And some patience. Seriously if I could just get on top of the laundry...

{HPD Mounted Patrol}

So I have no idea when we actually did this. I think it was late August, but maybe it was September. Anyhoo it was a great experience! I have been wanting to go to the HPD Mounted Patrol stable for a long time. I am a horse-lover so I think I wanted to go just as much as wanting Luke and Ben to go. So one morning we loaded up and headed about 20 minutes out of town to bring apples, carrots and peppermints to some wonderful horses.

It was super easy to get to and once we were there, we had to do a quick sign-in and then we got to walk back to the stable. We didn't have a guide or anyone around us -- just us and the horses. And I loved every bit of it! We figured out pretty quickly that carrots were the easiest thing to feed them. The apples got horribly messy! All of the horses are used to visitors bringing treats, so the minute we got there, all their heads poked out and some even started kicking their door in order to get our attention.

Luke LOVED it! He had no fear and fed all of the horses. Ben on the other hand ended up quite terrified and stuck close to me or chased the black cat that hung around. I think he only fed one horse and then he was done.

I figured out pretty quickly that Luke always had his mouth open when feeding the horses. He took his job very seriously!

 Ben just looked at the horses with this weird face. It was so funny! He enjoyed the outing but I am not sure what he really thought of them. It was cute!

Both boys loved the huge horse statue though! No complaints from either one of them when it was picture time.

We definitely will be back! I hope one of my boys gets my love of horses and riding, but that might just be wishful thinking. This is so fun to do -- I highly recommend it for anyone in Houston!

{First Day of School}

The boys had their first day of school back in September! This year has gone so well so far. Both boys love their classes and their classmates. Of course I didn't get a picture of just Ben, but I got them together :). Ahhh the second child always gets the short straw. Sorry buddy!

Luke - 9/5/14

Toucans Class

4.5 Years Old 

Ben -- 9/5/14

Pandas Class

2.5 Years Old

I snapped this picture waiting outside before school. They were happy boys! And I was a happy mommy that routine was back in place!

{News}

Wow...so I didn't mean to take such a long break from blogging but all of a sudden it has been almost two months! I am going to try to document and catch up in the next few weeks since some fun things have happened -- the boys started school, Luke went on a trip with Chat and rode on his first airplane, we took the kids to Austin, and lots more. But for now, I am just starting with this post.

So where have I been? I have been laying down. I have been sleeping. I have been rocking in the fetal position. Because I have felt terrible. And I couldn't have been happier about it. We are excited to be welcoming a new addition to our family next spring!  Hello little one...

Ultrasound at 12 weeks 3 days

I am pregnant! And I am just over the moon! So to answer a few questions...yes, we were trying! In fact, we had been trying for quite some time without any luck. I had been getting lots of help from my doctors and medications/treatments and truly by the grace of God I was given this little one. I have had fertility issues with each child, but this one was proving a little bit more difficult. I thought we were at a point where we were about to embark on a really hard road (well, harder than the one we were already on), but this little miracle popped up. I am so unbelievably thankful.

I am due May 1st. That is two days after Chat's last final for his MBA degree. Talk about timing. God really knew what he was doing :).  I have felt absolutely terrible with this pregnancy -- by far the hardest pregnancy I have had. I don't know if it is my increasing age, the fact that I have two kiddos to run after or what, but it has been tough. But I am slowly seeing the light and I think we are heading back to normal.

We told the boys and actually got it on video. It was super cute! Nothing crazy, just cute conversation about being big brothers and what to name the baby. Luke thinks we should name it Richard if a boy (our mailman's name) and Molly if a girl (his cousin's name). Ben either said Rosie or Roaches. Let's hope Rosie :). They are so excited...especially Ben who finally gets to be a big brother. I think the hardest thing is the waiting. They don't quite get that part. Just today Luke asked if we were getting the baby this Sunday. Sorry buddy...we have to wait just a bit longer! Oh and Luke did ask me how the baby will come out. I fumbled my way through an answer, but I hope he forgets it and never asks again!! I was not prepared at all. Ha!

We aren't going to find out the gender this time. We did with both Luke and Ben and had a great experience with that, but I want a new experience since most likely this is our last child. Odds are it is another wonderful boy and just having a different way to find out would be fun! We would be thrilled with another little boy or a sweet little girl. Whatever I am supposed to have is what I want. So nope, not hoping for either one, just a healthy one to hold in about 7 months! The only hard part I am finding is coming up with names for both genders. I have hard enough time just coming up with one, so this will be tough. I am sure it will be a game-time decision in the hospital.

So that's where I am right now. Still a little under the weather, but so happy and hopeful. I have never felt so blessed and fortunate to experience this again. Now that I am almost 13 weeks and feeling better I hope to be blogging some more. I can't wait to see what the next year holds for us :).