Monday, March 24, 2014

iPhone picture catch up

We have been super busy around here! Last Saturday we officially listed our house for sale by owner.  We had to have a few things taken care of (like a broken window) and when they were finished on Wednesday we put the sign out in the yard.  On Thursday we got an offer and on Friday we accepted. Today (Monday) we signed the sales contract!  We close on April 30th and they would like us out by then...so we are searching like crazy for a new home and will be spending a lot of time packing.  We are so excited about this next chapter in our lives, although the next month will be hectic,

On Saturday night Adam went out with some friends and we had a girls night.  I popped popcorn and they snuggled up in bed and watched frozen...for the millionth time.



Since we have to pack and look at houses quickly, we spent the weekend driving around and getting a feel for different neighborhoods.  The girls didn't find it quite as interesting.



Caroline loves brushing AP's teeth lately.  She will say, "I am your mommy now and I have to take care of you." 



Mesmerized watching frozen...again.



Playing at Homewood Park



And being exhausted after playing at Homewood Park.


More to come!

Sunday, March 16, 2014

Our First House

It has been long past time for us to get a new house...seriously.  Our precious first home that was so well suited to us when we bought it (as a childless couple) is just not cutting it for this family of four, soon to be five.  We knew that we would be looking after the beginning of the year, but when we found out we were expecting again, it really kicked things into high gear.

We spent January and February getting things ready in our house to show and we are going to try to sell in by owner for a bit.  We have already had people look at it and I think that I do a pretty good job showing houses, if I do say so myself :)  So soon we will start looking for our next house (not our forever house because let's be honest...this mama has some expensive taste and we just aren't in the mood a million dollar house...yet) but I wanted to make sure I had pictures of our first house.  This house has been wonderful these past five years and so much has happened here.  This is the first house we bought.  It was the house that we found out we were expected all three of our children in and the house we brought Caroline and Ann Parker home to (hopefully we will not be bringing baby 3 home to this house!!).  So many memories!

I am excited to get into a new house for sure - obviously for more space.  Also, it will be fun to decorate.  This house was a work with what we had house.  Now that I know what I like and can actually afford nice things it will be nice to make a new space for us.  But still, I am getting very sentimental about leaving this place.  This will probably be boring to most, but I know that I will love to look back at this one day and I am sure the girls will too.



Walking into our house.


View of the breakfast nook and part of the kitchen.  So many meals have been made and eaten in here.  I remember the first thing I ever cooked in this kitchen was Franklin Gourmet's Baby Blue salad for supper club at the Wise's in 2009!  Not sure why I remember that, but I do.



The living room.  This is where we spend a lot of our time.  This is where I have witnessed first crawls and first steps.  I remember sitting on the couch calling Adam's parents to tell them we were expecting Caroline.  I have fallen asleep on the couch watching tv more times than I can count and snuggled with my girls watching disney junior more times than necessary.  We put our Christmas tree in here each year and this is where Santa leaves gifts.  You can usually find Daisy sleeping in the chair in here and also it is common to find the girls dancing in here.  This is the spot of our impromptu dance parties.  Some sad things happened here as well.  I remember sitting in the chair in the corner (that you cannot see) when my mom called to tell me that my grandfather had died.  This room has seen a lot of laughter and some tears along the way.



The dining room.  Random story...this red color is called caliente.  I had chosen another color to go on top of the grey but that color was only made in the most expensive paint.  Since we have high ceilings it would take almost $300 worth of paint to finish the room and we didn't want to spend that much money on the dining room.  We chose this red color and for the past five years I have complained that we have an Alabama themed dining room.  Oh well...roll tide.  We have eaten in here for Christmas Eve and Easter every year since 2010.  I fed Caroline hear first rice cereal in this room.



Master bedroom.


Master bath.  This is the room that sold the house for me.  After seeing about 30 houses all over Homewood, Vestavia, and Mountain Brook we saw this large bathroom with the jetted tub and separate shower and I felt that it was exactly what I needed.  This is where I took pregnancy tests to discover I was pregnant with all of my kids.




Laundry room.  I love seeing their cute artwork and school pictures on the wall each day.



Second bath.




Bedroom 2:  This room has been a guest room and then Ann Parker's room.



Bedroom 3: This has been Caroline's nursery and then her big girl room.



More of my bedroom...not sure why I took so many.




Backyard.  This is where we held both of the girls first birthday parties.  We have played in the sprinkler, blown up the bounce house, splashed in baby pools, kicked the soccer ball, driven in the cozy coupe, gone for wagon rides, played on the slide, played in the sand box and water box, and so much more.  The girls LOVE being outside and it was nice to be able to get out and play.






Well, it's been a good five years and this house has been good to us.  It's sad to say goodbye, but happy too.  I am excited to see where we will end up and eager for all the new memories will make in a new house.  I am hoping that this one sells soon so say a little prayer that this process is quick and easy on us and the girls.

3K Derby Day!

On Friday the 3K classes at TCDC had a Derby Day.  Each child made a car out of a box and then raced with their class in the gym.  The kids were so adorable and proud of their creations - and there were some awesome cars!  Caroline wanted to decorate hers with flowers and butterflies.  Caroline, Adam, and I painted and "built" her car one evening and had such a fun time.

After the races, the parents stuck around for a playground picnic with the kids.  It was a wonderful Friday with my sweet girls!












Monday, March 10, 2014

Party of 5!


Adam and I are so excited to be adding a new member to our family this fall.  Our third baby is due September 11 (my birthday) but will more than likely come early like his/her sisters did.  Coincidently, Adam's birthday is a few weeks before mine so baby 3 will come sometime between his birthday and mine- what a fun birthday gift!

I am currently 14 weeks, finally in the second trimester.  So far this pregnancy is very different than the last two...but they were different so I don't think that this means it's a boy.  In fact, I feel like it's another girl!  We will be finding out the gender, but not until the anatomy scan.  No sneak peeks for us! 

I haven't really felt sick at all, just a couple of times and it wasn't bad.  I think there have maybe been three afternoons where I have been really tired, but that's all.  I haven't had any cravings or aversions.  This has been an almost symptom free pregnancy and I am very thankful.  We have had a few ultrasounds and so far baby looks good.  The heartbeat is always in the normal range and the size is always good.  He/she is growing right on track!

We are going to be busy, busy, busy these next six months! We are hoping to sell our house, buy another, get somewhat settled in (riiiiiight....I am actually not counting on that), and have a healthy baby! Wish us luck!

Stay tuned for more updates on our new addition!

This US is from about week 7.  The belly picture is from week SIX! I started looking pregnant really fast (I guess that is what happens with a third baby) and it was hard to hide the growing bump.  When I finally told some friends, several people had said they thought so because I already was showing!