It's been cococold here in Alabama.

They say they haven't had freezing temperatures like this in the past 15 years. We've been bundling up and the fireplace was been going every night. Brrr. There was rumors of snow but we haven't seen any since we left Texas. For the most part we've stayed home and turned into little hermits to avoid the cold. I don't know how long I can last with out the fresh air. But this fresh air is so cold it hurts my eyes. I don't want to sound like I'm complaining. I love the cold. I love the flannel sheets and the heated blankets. I'm very lucky that I don't have to go out shovel snow off my car before leaving for work at some early hour. My life is good. Warmer weather is promised by the weekend. I know it'll make some farmers around here very happy.

ps. I tried to crop the picture so you wouldn't see the whiteness of my leg and could zoom in on the boys cuteness. Trust me, I tried.

Awe I love my boys

Every Mom knows how hard it is to get all your children smiling and looking at the camera at the same time. This never happens. So this was my little miracle and a perfect way to finish the day.








And it's gone. Well not forever gone. Just until my battery charges up again. But this is what I usually get. Little B saying "No!!" or another is a picture of his ear after he turns his head. Lucas was probably still thinking about the girls he got to hang out with today while Mom and Dad were at the Dr's appointment. Oh yeah and Lucas can now say "cheeesh"

Little B is so proud to show off his train. The track is sprawled out on the coffee table. Mom had to hide the remote that make the trains go back and forth and controls the extremely loud and obnoxious sounds. It was a gift from Big B and I. I don't know what we were thinking.

Anakin

Anakin has adjusted smoothly into our family. He has grown so much in size. Pardon the dogs eyes. I haven't photoshoped yet. Both Padmae and Anakin are very effectionate. They will cuddle up with each other . It's so sweet to watch. Every once in a while Anakin will bark just to bark and I hope our neighbors still like us cuz it's a long howl like bark. He is a hound dog after all.

13 weeks. Due date July 20th.

I couldn't get the 1st ultrasound picture to download so I'm a bit disappointed. We are both stoked about baby #3. I was nervous to break the news to Big B cuz he was Mr. We'redone. Then I went to the Drs to take a pregnancy test and the RN came back to tell me "Sorry the home test was a false positive" I went home to take the 2nd home preggers test and sure enough it came out not pregnant. I guess that's why they come with 2 in the package. I knew someone was missing in our family. I also learned that my instincts about Brian were right. I knew that deep down inside he would be happy with 3. A few weeks later I took both tests and I was 5 weeks pregnant. I saw him/her at the 1st ultrasound at 9 weeks. 2 days later we drove to Texas to spend Christmas with Brian's family.

Sharing the happy news was fun. I found a Christmas ornament that you could record messages and shared the news the night Lara and Jim flew in as we were all sitting around. Grandma Mitchell got a box with a photo with a note slipped inside. She was allowed to open the box but not say anything until seconds later when Lara and everyone heard the message from the ornament. It was a secret until my side of the family found out. The women in Brian's family helped me with this one. I had the preggo spagetti sauce jar but didn't know what to do with it. Lara is so clever. We took the small preggo jar, emptied it out and filled it with blue and pink jelly bellies. We finished it up by tying some baby theme material to the top. I wish I had a picture. It was cute. It was shipped the day we left Texas. The next day my Mom called asking a few questions. I asked her if she got a package. She was expecting a Christmas package from me ( I still need to send it, sorry Mom) She said "No" We talked on the phone for a while longer. Then she said "Oh a package came. I'll open it up after I hang up with you" I was like "Nooo, open it now" My Sister was home for the holidays and was leaving to go back to Texas on Monday. The package arrived on Saturday. I was grateful that the package got there before she left. It was fun to hear them open it and be so surprised. Lots of shouts of joy and happiness.

We are thrilled that we're expecting. A very sweet friend of ours watched the boys while Brian and I went to my Dr appointment today. Brian met Dr Dozier and heard the heart beat. We are doing something new and going with Flowers Hospital. It's across the street and from past experience closer is better. Lucas came like an hour and a half from the time I told Brian we need to go to the Hospital. I wonder if I'll get lucky again this time. Lil B was born after 6 1/2 hours of labor and that's because I stink at pushing.

I've been asked if I wishing it's a girl. Honestly my boys are so sweet that I'd be totally happy with another boy. I've had it so easy and I'm afraid if I do have a girl then she'd be a drama queen terror. I know what I was like growing up and I don't know how my Mom did it. If we do have a girl she will be loved and cherished and both Grandmas and Aunt Lara will be in Heaven. I asked Brian what he thought. He says that he doesn't care. Our next appointment falls on the week 18. At 19 weeks we have the ulrasound that shows the gender of the baby. I'm dying to know what this one will be so maybe I'll see if I can reschedule for the following week.

Happy New Year and some great news

I hope everyone had a happy and safe New Years. We had a great Holiday season spent with family and friends. One of the highlights was quietly spreading the news of Baby #3 due in July. :) Surprise!

The battery on the camera is finally charged so here is more of our busy trip to Texas. Brian's old friend Joe and his wife Vickie came up from Ft Hood to see us. The boys tried out egg nog and pop rocks (not at the same time). We went to Fort Worth to the Stock Yards to see the cows walk the streets. There they had a train and Little B loves trains. I guess this one was a bit to large and loud. Dad took us to a store that's nothing but pickles in downtown Corsicana. Lil B played in the snow at an awesome park with Melissa. Danny tried to get funny with Grandma during the cookie baking process. The best part of the whole trip was having all the Mitchells and Costellos together under one roof.

Christmas in Texas

Ahhh back to blogging. The empty luggage is put away. The laundry done. I can finally sit down and summarize the busy crazy, fun, past couple of weeks. Wednesday we made it home from spending Texas with Brian's family. Somehow the trip home always seems longer. The GPS led B a different way home taking us through little towns and country roads where the speed limit was 55. (Pictured is... Big B's favorite Persimmon cookies and mnm cookies with hot cocoa after coming in from the snow. visiting with an old friend Melissa, baking cookies with Grandma, LDS Dallas Temple, Opening gifts Christmas morning.)

Our Christmas was wonderful. We visited old friends, baked cookies, shopped, stood in snow, stuffed ourselves with good food, and truely enjoyed the Holiday season. Obiwan and Padmae stayed with some good friends of ours while Anakin traveled with us. Both he and the boys did great in the car. Brian's family spoiled the boys and Anakin like crazy. The boys loved the attention and the generous gifts. Grandma and Grandpa lives on 3 acres so there was plenty of room for the boys to run around. They bent over backwards for us. We had the master bedroom so we had the master bath and an entrance to the sun room for us and the boys. Grandma cooked up her famous tacos and buscuits and gravy. We were in heaven. She watched the boys while Brian and I drove up to Dallas to attend a session at the LDS Temple. That was an awesome experience. We had all kinds of weather. Beautiful sunny days, rainy wet and some snowy cold. I'm glad that I packed what I did.

Everyone was very thoughtful in giftgiving this year. My favorite gift would have to be the quilt top from my Mother in Law. Her goal is to have it finished by my Birthday. It's such a treasured gift of time, energy, and love that I'll have forever. The boys recieved cars and trains galore. Lil B was given a John Deer ride on toy and Lucas got a rocking horse. Brian has already used his new quesadilla maker and mixer he got. I'm suprised we were able to fit it all in the van to come home. Anakin got lots of love and attention. His favorite place to be was right under Grandma Mitchells feet.

On Sunday we attended the Corsicana branch for church. I've always been in congregations called Wards. When the size of the congregation is not big enough to be a ward they call it a branch. They were very kind and welcoming. There was an missionary couple from Ogden Utah and the elder served as a helicopter mechanic at Fort Rucker in the Army. I wanted to talk to him again to find out what he did after the army but the service was starting.

We did lots and lots of shopping. My wonderful mother in Law was extremely generous and wouldn't let me pay for a single thing. Now for the pictures...