Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas everyone!

Isn't it amazing how quickly this year has flown by? The Blocks celebrated Christmas a day early this year because Trav had to work at the fire station today but it worked out well because Little Man and I are just relaxing and hanging out today. Such a treat.

Christmas is so much fun with a kiddo... it changes the whole meaning of Christmas. Since Little Man is a Christmas baby (Dec 23) he had a couple of really big gifts from the fam (fewer, combined presents also helps cut down on the present overload). Here are some of the highlights.....

Not thrilled about his "Christmas Pajamas"

Taking his time opening presents (mom eventually had to intervene)

My budding dentist
(in a new pair of pajamas because he refused to wear the others any longer)

The tool bench and power tools from Nana, Pop, Aunt Ash and Uncle J

Santa, Mommy and Daddy's present

I am fairly certain he had a good time yesterday because he has been completely engrossed in his toys since 7:30 yesterday morning. We're off to my aunt's house tonight for round 2 of Christmas and I am very excited to see Little Man playing with his second cousins. Lots of fun!

Oh and funny story....we have some neighbors who put on this huge light show in their front yard every year that includes a song and dance routine featuring Mr. and Mrs. Claus (this year it was the "Evolution of Dance"). Although Little Man and I have talked a l-o-t about Santa over the last few weeks we have neglected to tell him about Mrs. Claus. Sunday night we walked over to see the show and when Santa and Mrs. Claus came out dancing Little Man exclaimed, "Santa! Oh and Meme!". Meme was a good sport about it when we told her the story the next day at lunch. All through lunch he kept saying, "Hi Meme! Hi Meme!" (I think he thinks she is in pretty good with Santa!)

We're Back!

Little Man and I took a trip to Houston this week to keep my sis company while on bed rest. Little Man was quite the entertainer and kept himself occupied with Christmas boxes, forts, and running and up down the stairs (supervised, of course). Ashlie is doing great. She has reached week 26 (2 weeks past viability) and is now on bed rest at home under the supervision of a home health care nurse. Hunter is doing great and so far all of his tests have come out with positive results so the goal is just to keep him in until week 32 at the earliest. Please keep her in your prayers.

Little Man is finally starting to understand that the large MASS on the front of my body is for a purpose. He told me last night that he wanted to snuggle with the baby ("Ina snunnle baby, momma")and put his head in my lap, kissed my tummy and wrapped his arms around the "baby". My favorite thing about this so far has to be when we brought home the DVD from the sonogram. I was showing it to my mom and pointing out the various parts of the baby and didn't realized Little Man was watching. Later that evening he said he wanted to see the baby and pointed to the DVD player. I turned it on and he stood on the chair pointing to the picture saying "Nose, eye, arm, leg". Granted he was no where near close, it was just neat to see that he was trying to participate even though I doubt he REALLY knows what it all means. It is fun.

Ordinary

As many of you know, my last pregnancy was anything but ordinary (if you aren't familiar you can read about it on my other blog A Bee In Her Bonnet starting at the bottom with Wonderfully Made). To say I've been nervous about having another would be an understatement to say the least. This morning I had my first doctor appointment with the High Risk OB/Perinatologist and he happily informed us that this was the most ordinary pregnancy he had ever seen. Praise God! Just to be safe I'll be given some weekly progesterone injections starting a month from now but I am thrilled that everything seems to be "ordinary". Please keep our little bean in your prayers, along with my sister who is currently on full bedrest for preterm labor.

It's True!

Yes, it is true....I am pregnant with #2!

I'm 2 weeks away from the end of my first trimester and due in June but the Dr. said that if all goes normally (unlike with Little Man) my c-section will be scheduled in late May. Today is my 4th day sans nausea so I am a pretty happy camper right now. Dad is thrilled and really hoping for a girl.

Thanks to everyone for all of the sweet notes!

Guess What?

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

So happy!

I love, love, LOVE being home on vacation!!! I feel like I miss so much in the hustle and bustle of the everyday life that I am loving being home with my boys. My little sis came in town last night, my brother is due to arrive any minute and tomorrow our house will be filled with aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents and loved ones. Friday my other sis comes into town and Saturday our family is getting together to celebrate Little Man's birthday (a month early so my fam can be there). I am one very happy mommy!

Here are some of the things I have been enjoying for the past 48 hours on vacation...

Eating Daddy's Green Eggs
Eating "Seeseecles" with Daddy
Watching the Wizard of Oz for the first time (and soooo engrossed)
Mommy and her Little Man

Free at last!

For those of you who don't know, last July Trav left the fire department where he began his career and was hired by his "dream" fire department. Even though he is already a licensed firefighter/paramedic, this particular city requires all of their employees to attend the same academy so they paid to send him to fire academy for a second time. All I can say is that going back to 9-5 hours (or in his case 5 - 7) really took a toll on our little family for the four months that he was in academy. I am happy to say it is FINALLY over and next week we move back to the beloved 24 on/48 off schedule that runs our family. YIPEEEEEE!

Nana, Pop,Little Man and I got attend the Academy's Family Night a couple of weeks ago and we had a blast watching Trav and his buddies show off all that they "learned" (some more than others). Little Man no longer points out FIRE trucks, he calls them Daddy's truck - LOVE IT! We tried to catch a picture of the three of us but who wants to look at a camera when you are standing in front of a fire truck???

Your prayers are coveted

My sister went to her 2D ultrasound yesterday and was diagnosed with two vessel cord syndrome or single umbilical artery (SUA). SUA basically means that instead of sharing 3 vessels between mommy and baby that they are only sharing two causing the baby to have access to less blood/oxygen and have 1/2 the ability to clear waste as it should. SUA only occurs in about 1% of pregnancies and is associated with all kinds of birth defects, still birth and death of the baby after birth. The three main problems associated with SUA are heart defects, kidney problems or Trisomy 18.

The doctor told my sister that all of the anatomy looked great and that she is not concerned about chromosomal problems but her ability to detect these things was limited and the biggest concern of all is the size of the baby and the baby's heart because she could not get a clear picture. So far the baby is twice the size it should be, which is great, but the problem seems to be in the later stages of pregnancy when the baby is bigger and the umbilical cord can get compressed. The specialist told her that around half of babies with SUA are born perfectly healthy so there is great hope. My sister has been referred to a high risk specialist and will continue testing over the next few weeks as the baby continues to grow. Unfortunately even with tests there are some heart defects, kidney problems, hearing problems, genitourinary problems and gastrointestinal problems that cannot be detected until after birth, so she may not have a peace of mind until then. SUA babies tend to be born preterm and very low birth weight, so if the baby at any point stops growing they will have to take it out. Please pray that my sister, her husband and her unborn son are counted among the many happy stories that can come from this and that God will grant her peace between now and then.

Happy Belated Halloween

This past Sunday was our church's annual Fall Carnival and it was a H-U-G-E success! Here are some of the highlights....

Hanging out with his buddy CL

Taking his turn on the pinata

Diving for the candy (with daddy to protect him)

A dive for candy

Helping Pop make an ice run

Bobbing for ducks

In the candy line

Not the good green

It has been a r-o-u-g-h weekend. Little Man and I suffered through a couple of cases of food poisoning this weekend and I definitely got the raw end of the deal because he is totally back to normal and I haven't stopped feeling green for 3 days although nothing has actually come of it in 2 (sorry, TMI, I know but I also haven't been eating either, ha). I am soooo glad Trav didn't have dinner with us that night because he was the glue that held this family together over the weekend and we even had my BFF's little 6 month old guy staying with us. Praise God for husbands/daddies with strong stomachs! I had great aspirations to take lots of pictures of the two little guys playing together this weekend but neither Little Man or myself felt like doing much other than sleep. Trav snapped a couple of pictures before he took them both to church on Sunday and it turned out really cute!

A Little Time Outdoors

Last weekend our family took a very SHORT camping trip with some families from our church (short because I had to be back to work on Sunday). Little Man had a blast running wild, free and filthy. Here are some of the highlights.

Playing with his buddy JJ

Chillin' with Daisy
Playing washers with daddy

Little Man discovered the view of the stars from the tent

Readin' with JJ

Swingin' with Mr. Tommy

Eatin' a really big apple

Smores ROCK!

The Unexpected

This weekend Little Man and I flew down to Houston to visit my sister and help her register for her upcoming baby shower. While the adults enjoyed the registration process, the highlight for Little Man was definitely the plane rides. Thursday morning he woke up and the first word out of his mouth was, "Airplane?" followed by, "Ashlie?" I did the math and figured out that this returning flight was either his 22 or 24th flight of his life (I am not positive) and it is clear he is an expert when it comes to flying, here are the highlights...

Watching the bags go up the ramp...

"Mom, leave me alone I 'm busy!"

Checkin' out the cute girl in the seat behind us....

Getting a better look...

A little in-flight reading of the safety instructions....
(he even pointed to the pictures making crash sounds and saying "weee" at the man sliding down the emergency slide")

Playing in the couch fort with Uncle J

Our trip was cut short when my dad was taken to the hospital late friday night because of an allergic reaction to some medication. Trav called and told us that my mom was sick, my little sis was in town with her friends and my dad was in the emergency room and Ashlie and I decided we needed to be home. Dad is doing better now but we had a pretty good scare and it was nice to spend some time together as a family, minus Adam (missed you Bud).

Dance Party

I've noticed lately that Little Man has been bee bopping to music everywhere so we've incorporated a daily dance party before nap time (added bonus - he takes a 3 hour nap). This afternoon I caught a brief moment of our dance party....

The Early Bird Gets The Worm Birthday Party

Little Man's best buddy celebrated his 2nd birthday today! I have to say it is the first worm-themed party I've ever been to but it was such a hit with his 3 buddies. It started with story time about earthworms complete with REAL WORMS...Followed by homemade dirt cups, complete with worms (gummy)...

Next came painting t shirts, playing in the sprinkler, and eating their wormy creations...
Cheese!