What NOT to say to a pregnant lady...

These are all direct quotes from this pregnancy...and to think I have 14 more weeks to go...

As I lovingly rub my belly and comment that the baby is getting bigger, my son says to me, "Or maybe that's because you haven't been going to the gym enough!"

The grocery store cashier questions when my baby is due and then after I answer she looks down at my round mid-section then back up at me and asks in a serious tone, "Are you sure there aren't twins in there?"

Boy says as matter-of-fact, "Mom, I think your stomach grows one inch a day."  Then, after glancing again, "Or maybe one AND A HALF inches a day!"

"Mom, are you a grandma?" inquired boy #2.

Youngest son, standing behind me, states, "Mom, I know why your bottom is so big.  It's because you have a baby in your tummy!"

After getting ready for bed one night I sarcastically told my husband that he was going to love my new, sexy pajamas (one of his t-shirts and a pair of flannel pajama pants). He looked over at me and commented, "Oh, my Hokie Bird shirt?"  Then with a smile on his face, "You look like the Hokie Bird!"

...but feeling those sweet little kicks from within makes it all worth it. Praising God for the miracle of pregnancy!

We are thankful for...

(We did this craft just before Thanksgiving, just forgot to post!)

Grant:  Christmas, food, the new baby, family toys

Bryce:  my family, my friends, Christmas, Jesus coming down to save me, my birthday, the baby

Carter:  Busch Gardens, electricity, donuts, clothes, ribs

Davis:  the castle (a toy), my train set, the dragons (toys), for everything

Celebrating Bryce

In November we celebrated Bryce's 8th birthday with a party at LaserQuest.  Laser tag and eight-year-old boys go together better than peanut butter and jelly.  It's a match made in heaven.  Bryce, his friends and his brothers all had a blast.  It was pure boy joy.  Bryce was also grateful to have a lot of his family at his party.  Our children have been blessed with a loving family and many great friends.

Bryce is a super fun boy.  He loves to play hard, whether it's climbing as high as he can up a tree, riding a bike as fast as he can down a hill, jumping the most times in a row on the pogo stick, or creating his own weapons for backyard wars between the boys (slingshots out of sticks and pine cone grenades).  Bryce is a kind brother, looking out for his younger siblings and often offering to help out around the house.  He is especially gifted in math and amazes us with his ease at memorization and abstract thinking.  We are grateful to see the Lord working in Bryce as his love for God and others continues to become more evident in his actions and attitudes.  What a joy it is to have Bryce in our family!  We love you, Bryce, and look forward to seeing all that God has in store for you in the year ahead!

Announcing...

We are thrilled to announce that we are expecting a baby!  This new "Little" blessing is due June 6.

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine..." Ephesians 3:20

Family Photos

Many thanks to our friend, Christine Davis, for taking photos for us again this year!

 

 

October 2012

We made a day trip to the western part of the state with a visit to the Frontier Culture Museum followed by apple picking at Carter Mountain Orchard.

 Bryce and Carter at the African home site.

 An Irish homestead.

Apple cider donuts--yum! 

We took a tour of the Richmond Canal with friends.

Pumpkin Patch with the family in Moseley, Virginia (our neck of the woods!).

All dressed up! 

Brian and I were also able to take a trip to Hilton Head with our friends, the Moores.  It was a fun get away!

Claire-isms

One thing's for sure, our little girl keeps us on our toes!  She is one spunky gal, full of energy and always making us laugh.  Below I've logged just a few recent funny moments.

Brian was buckling her into her car seat and when he had finished he bent down to give her a kiss.  Claire quickly moved her head to the side and then declared with a big grin, "You missed!"

Claire has a bad habit of jumping on the couch, which we are trying to break.  After three consecutive time outs for this infraction, she walks back into the family room, proceeds to climb up on the couch begins to move up and down ever so slightly.  I asked her what she was doing to which she replied, "I'm not jumping, I'm bouncing."

Upon entering the gym and heading to the child care room, one woman who sees us often commented, "She never walks, does she?"

At the park one afternoon we kept hearing gun shots (I learned later that they were trying to get rid of the geese that had taken over the pond).  Every time a gun went off Claire would stop walking, cover her ears and say, "I'm not scared."  She would pause for a moment and then keep walking.  She doesn't scare easily--or at least doesn't admit it!

Claire doesn't want to be rocked to sleep.  Oh no.  Her method of calming down (instituted by Daddy) is a countdown of 1..2..3 before being tossed (or should I say thrown?) into bed.  The more she bounces off the mattress the better.  She usually asks for this several times before being tucked in, always requesting to go higher.  So.much.fun.

Yes, she is full of flare, Miss Claire is.  While she can be quite sassy and fearless, she is definitely a sensitive soul at heart.  She is full of compassion and when one of her brothers gets hurt she is always quick to give them a hug and go fetch a "bam-baid."  She loves babies and takes very good care of her dolls and stuffed animals, feeding them, changing their diapers and rocking them.  She enjoys coloring, swinging, and getting her nails painted.

We sure do love the fun this little girl adds to our family!