Happy LOVE Day!

Honestly I have never really been a huge fan of Valentines day but it is a fun day when you have a little one and a Valentine:)!! We spent the day helping Annie pack up their apt and then we ended the day with a yummy meal of crock pot lasagna and salad and then just hung around the house! No big plans but it was fun!

Vera Kate and I started the morning early making crafts!!

Vera Kate's Valentine crafts!! It is a little hard to be all nice and neat when you are dealing with a 19 month old and fingerpaint! HA! But it was fun and she enjoyed it!

Meme made us these Valentines at her painting class! She was soo proud and I think they are just so special!!
Vera Kate checking out her V-day happies! I have been wanting to start doing more crafty activities with her since she is getting older! So this was the perfect opportunity for a little fingerpaint and paper pad things! And of course stickers and Barney and Veggie Tales DVDs are a must!

Giving daddy his Valentine! She was so proud! Vera Kate made it for him to take to work and put in his office:))

He has a NAME!!

Well the little man finally has a name!! We have decided to name him Reid Thomas Ray! He will go by Reid! There is no family name significance to Reid but Thomas is Brian's middle name! It was actually and surprisingly a pretty easy decision! The Sunday night before we were going to the specialist Brian and I were sitting on the couch and I said do you like the name Reid... he was like yeah I do actually (we don't agree on names most of the time)!! I was like oh well that is it! HA! Just kidding! But that night as I prayed over and over about the upcoming ultrasound the name Reid Thomas Ray kept coming to my mind and I prayed specifically for Reid by name! I just knew that was it!! Brian was totally on board also!! We are soooo excited and cant wait to meet him!! Stuart informed me that Reid's initials are RTR which is also short for Roll Tide Roll. HA! Stuart and Kacie did not approve!! HAHA! Just kidding!! But I informed Stu that on most monograms it will be RRT! And since he is a boy I will probably not be monogramming as much stuff as I did for Vera Kate!!! He was better with the decision after knowing that! HAHA! Stu was just kidding but I thought it was funny that he thought of that! I hope Reid never says Roll tide Roll!!! :)

Anyways, I had my 25 week doc appointment today! All was well! I go back in like three weeks for that fabulous glucose test:( I can hardly wait for that yummy orange drink! HA!

Reid will definitely be here before we know it! I gotta get on the stick with his nursery!! I am planning to go first of March to look for fabric! We have gotten a few cute little outfits!! I bought him a cute little smocked outfit the other night! When I showed Brian he said... at what point do the outfits become more manly!! HAHA! I said no time soon bud!! No... the outfits are very boyish but very cute:)) I mean the smocking is a barn with farm animals! Mom got Vera Kate and Reid matching outfits yesterday! They are soooo cute! Cant wait!! Anways, enough about that! We are excited and gotta get in gear! Three or so more months!!!!! YAY!! Sorry no pics for this post!! I am not a fan of pregnancy pics with this body:) HAHA!!!!

We've been CELEBRATING!

We had a fun busy weekend with lots of activities!! I didn't do to good taking pics but we did have a fun weekend! On Saturday night we had friends over and that was great! Then Sunday we attended our Connect group Super Bowl party! It was super fun! Vera Kate had a blast playing with all the kiddos!! Then Monday it was Papa John's birthday!!! Every one came over to our house Monday night for a birthday dinner!!

Vera Kate wanted to get Papa John some boonss(balloons)!!!

Enjoying Papa John's yummy birthday dinner! Notice Papa John is still wearing his birthday hat Vera Kate picked out!! He wore it all night! Vera Kate LOVED it! It is amazing what a little sweet giggly smile will make a grown man do/wear!!
Papa John wanted banana pudding for his birthday cake!

Once again every one ended up in the Vera Kate's playroom for the "after party"!!!!

We are also excited and pumped that our little buddy Hudson Paul Daly came into the world this am!!!! He is sooooooo cute and Vera Kate and Baby Ray cant wait to play with him!!! Congrats Josh and Nicole! And welcome to the fam Hudson!!!

Thirty, Flirty, and Thriving!!!

OK.... well maybe not FLIRTY but I am definitely the big 30 and I feel like I am thriving!! HAHA!! Anyways, I had a fabulous 30th birthday! It was so fun and filled with lots of fun surprises!! Thanks to my fun family and friends for making it soo special! And thanks to Brian because well he is the best husband in all of the world!!

My fun birthday festivities started the weekend before my actual birthday!! Meaghan and Wesley came for a visit and we had a great weekend! Then the actual weekend of my birthday we had a birthday dinner with the Dalys, Carsons, Dalys and my parents at Como steakhouse!! YUM!! It is my favorite!!! And then the day of my birth we had fun just the fam hanging out and then Brian and I had a date night!!! So it was a fabulous time!!! I am so thankful for such amazing friends and family!!! I am so excited about being 30!! And cant wait for the upcoming year of fun!!

Meaghan, Wesley, and I heading out to dinner! We had sooo much fun!! The weekend was just great! We shopped around Hernando and had a blast! We also found some fun little things at the Goodwill store here! I love these girls!!

We met our fun friend Sarah Crain for dinner at Flight! It is a fabulous restaurant in downtown Memphis! Thanks to Mea for suggesting it! It was the perfect birthday celebration and I cant wait to go back! It really is a fun restaurant! You should check it out!! Thanks for a fun weekend ladies!! Come back soon! Love yall!!

I totally forgot my camera when we went to the Como steakhouse! But we had a great time and it was delicious! Brian got me a TCBY cake so you know I loved that!! On Saturday like I said we had a lazy day around the house! Vera Kate was staying with PJ and Annie for the afternoon and night so she was in her play clothes but I had to get a few pics with my girl on my birthday!!
I love this shirt the Carsons gave her! It is from the Kidzeum in Grenada!! And I put her hair in a pony tail! I liked it but it made her look to grown!!

We had to give baby brother some representation!!! It is actually funny because every time I tell Vera Kate to CHEESE for a picture she wants to hold baby brother's sign!! HAHA!!

Trying to get a pic with all my kids represented! As you can tell NOT EASY!! HAHA!! I can only imagine the fun times when baby brother is not just a sign!! HAHA!!

So fun!! Oh and I cant forget to mention a fun thing Brian did for me! He asked some of my friends to write some fun things about me! Lets just say a recurring theme was I love Jesus, the Bulldogs, and I hit a biker in college! Yes I am proud!! HAHAHA!! No, it was soo fun to read through them! Thanks yall!!!

18 Months OLD!!!

Wow!! I havent done this kind of post in awhile but I figure it will be good to keep up with the milestone ages!! HAHA! We went to see Dr. Mathis last week and everything looked great with Vera Kate!! Two shots this time and guess what.... NO MORE SHOTS until she starts school!! WHOO HOO!!!!!! So glad to have those not so fun things over with!!! Actually Vera Kate cries more when Dr. Mathis examines her than with the shots!! But anyways, we love our little pediatrician!! While we were there we got baby brother registered in their system too!!! YAY!!

So here is what is new with our favorite 18 month old!!

Weight: 24.6 lbs (a little over 50th percentile)

Height: 31 inches (still in the 30th percentile:))

Diaper size: 4

Clothing size: 12-18 months

Shoe size: 4 or 5

Drinks milk and water in her sippy cup! She LOVES anything with a straw!

Eats whatever but favorite foods are Italian food, Mac-n-cheese, FRUIT, and she has started to love the idea of "dipping"! She loves to dip her food in ketchup, ranch, salsa, etc... pretty much any kind of dipping sauces!! She also LOVES applesauce. She will go to the pantry and say... applesauce!

Words: has a great vocabulary! Will pretty much repeat whatever we tell her too. She is a little parrot! We have to watch what we say! HA! Something really cute Vera Kate is doing... whenever you give her something she says THANKS! And also if you sneeze she says... BLESS YOU!

Vera Kate LOVES to play in her kitchen and play room! She will come and tap you and point to her play room! This means come play with me! We have LOTS of cooking parties! She also loves to have her music going while we are playing! The music has to always be on!! Sometimes we have a dance party here and there!!

Vera Kate loves to hold books and act like she is reading. She enjoys puzzles and has recently started to LOVE using her crayons and coloring books! Vera Kate has also developed a LOVE for stickers! Yes, friends these are a favorite! Stickers!!!!!

Vera Kate loves to sit on the couch. She will pat the couch and say couch and she also likes to pat the space beside her... that means you better sit down also! HA!

We like to say that Vera Kate has two speeds... going, going, going and asleep!!!

Vera Kate is still really easy going but has a little attitude also! She has a few faces and looks that could kill! She can give you quite a look when you are doing something she does not like! But on the other hand she has such a cute face when someone comes in a room or something happens. She does a little funny thing with her mouth. I need to get a picture! But this little girl does have a variety of expressions!!

I am not liking the discipline thing! But with her attitude sometimes we have to get a little stern! Oh dear!

Vera Kate still doesnt like the site of many men and she is very clinging and shy until she gets used to you!

Vera Kate really is a good baby and is happy most of the day! The time between about 4 and when daddy gets home is a little rough some days but we just make it!

Vera Kate really doesnt care much about TV but she does like Barney, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, and Super Why! Pretty much anything with music also!

Vera Kate LOVES to be outside! She loves a good ole afternoon wagon ride!! We are loving these cold days with a few warm ones in between! HA! However the warm days make me want to get out and plant some flowers! I am sure Feb is going to be rough and cold! I am sooo ready for spring!! Anyways, we have lots of fun things to be thankful for and to look forward too!!!

Life is definitely busy around this house... but in a good way!!!!

Baby Love!

Time to show Baby BOY some LOVE on the blog!!! I have not been neglecting him just been trying to get caught up with life! HA! Anyways, so... like you read IT IS A BOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Brian and I were both shocked and so excited when the ultrasound tech said... well guys do we want to find out what this baby is. We immediately said yes... both thinking girl! And there on the screen was his little man part and he was shining it ever so brightly and happily!! HAHA!! No shame in his game!! HAHA! Brian was proud!! I immediately started crying due to shock factor and excitement!!! I say shocked because the whole pregnancy I have been thinking girl (but I have always wanted at least one girl and one boy)! Just because I have been really sick and pretty much felt the same that I felt with Vera Kate. Also his little heart rate has been high. Brian thought girl also! Well throw out every old wives tail because this baby is a BOY!!!! We are soooooooo excited and over-JOYED!!!!!! Time to figure out the JOYS of parenting a little boy!!

Well, the story is only beginning! HA! This weekend has been quite the doozy! Let me explain so... on Friday at the ultrasound the tech is just moving right along and finding all the little things she needs to check off the list as healthy. And then she gets to BB (baby boy's) heart. She notices that yes there are four chambers but she cant seem to find his very important aortic arch. He was giving her a run for her money due to his positioning. After searching for what seemed like an eternity, she looked at me very seriously and said I cant find what I am looking for with his heart therefore I cant determine that everything is ok. I think you need to be referred to a specialist. By the way... words you NEVER want to hear. So she went and got my doctor and explained to her what was going on. At this point I am in shock/blur mode. Brian is handling the situation much better than me! Dr. Williams comes in and explains that since we were not able to determine and find the aorta(which is very important) it is necessary to be referred to a specialist. She said we will try to get you an appointment ASAP but we just cant determine that this baby's heart is normal until you see a specialist. And as we are walking out the door, she looks at me and says DONT LOOK ON THE INTERNET... Dr.'s orders! YEAH RIGHT! HA!

Anyways, as you can imagine I was scared, devastated, and every other emotion you would feel if you had just heard these words. So we left the doctor and of course I LOST it. Cried pretty much the whole entire day. Questioning, praying, and trying to wrap my mind around it! Brian on the other hand was fine and thought for sure she could not see it because of positioning but kinda got a little nervous because I was nervous. The nurse/worry wart in me came out and I just knew that ultrasound tech was certain she did not see what she was looking for and therefore we had a major problem on our hands.

Friday afternoon the nurse called to tell me that we had an appointment Monday at 1pm. This meant waiting a WHOLE weekend! Thanks to many prayers I began to feel a PEACE that is unexplainable. On Friday I was just in shock and kinda out of it. My sweet mom tried to distract me and we went to lunch and of course she and my dad encouraged me like none other. On Saturday, Amanda came up and hung out to help pass the time! Such a blessing! One I can never thank her enough for! But I tell you folks GOD is good! I got alone with HIM alot this weekend and HE provided me with PEACE like none other! I received an email from Mrs. Sharon with LOTS of verses that I just began to pray over and over. I saw a post on Facebook about trust using the example of Abraham and Sarah. Written just for me. I had never thought about it that way before. I had also just watched a live stream of Passion 2012 where John Piper talked about the supremacy of GOD! Also in a Bible study I was in this fall we discussed Believing GOD at HIS word. So once I collected myself this began to be my prayer... GOD I am BELIEVING YOU!! In the Bible study we talked about how we always say God I am Believing you but... When in reality we need to say GOD I AM BELIEVING YOU TO MOVE THIS MOUNTAIN and DO THIS THING!!!! I am Believing You and I am Believing that we are going to see that aortic arch LOUD AND PROUD! I am BELIEVING that BB's heart is just perfect! So that was my prayer! IT was very hard because YES, SATAN was having a hey-day with my thoughts. But I was trying to take every thought captive and fill my mind with verses! I am telling you HE equipped me with what I needed for this weekend! HE takes such good care of HIS children. A quote that is very popular but I love it... He brought you to it, He will bring you through it!
Of course I am not perfect and it was sooooooo hard to wait. Something I HATE to do! I am very impatient and want to know NOW! This morning before my appointment I had such a PEACE! Very unlike me! I am a huge worry wart! Brian and I both knew that we would be ok with whatever and that HE would see us through but we were BELIEVING HIM for our little man's heart!

So we get to the appointment and the ultrasound tech says I am going to look this baby over really good and then we will look at the heart in detail! So once again BB was showing his man parts LOUD AND PROUD! He would not show us his pretty heart but man oh man he was showing off his manhood! HAHA! Anyways, I had to turn from side to side for her to get all her shots and once she was done with everything else she started on the heart. And I want you to know the very first thing she saw was the AORTIC ARCH!!!!! Coincidence... I think not! She said well the thing they could not see the other day is right there clear as day!!!!!!!!!!!! I mean it was amazing! I wish I could have gotten a pic of that so I could put it in my answered prayer journal. But never fear that image will be in my mind FOREVER!!! Such a beautiful arch!!! And because we were at the specialist she had to check out every nook and cranny of his heart!! ALL WAS GOOD!! Heart rate a strong 163!!!

So my friends GOD IS SOOO GOOD! I know HE was trying to teach me a lesson in Believing Him, trusting, and not doubting. Not to trust in some stupid ultrasound when I know the CREATOR! The one who has HIS hand in there fearfully and wonderfully creating a beautiful baby boy!

"For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, my soul knows it very well." Psalm 139: 13-14.

Would we have been ok if everything had not been ok... well yes of course but that wasnt the point with this lesson! This lesson was about BELIEVING GOD to do what HE says HE can do and Believing HIM for who HE says HE is!!!!! A true testament to HIS FAITHFULNESS!! Our little miracle!!!

Sweet Annie and Papa John took care of Vera Kate lots during this time!! THANK YOU!! Having them live near is another HUGE answered prayer! Vera Kate is sooooooo excited about her baby brother and Bax is excited about having a rough and rumble/tumble little brother! Brian grins from ear to ear about his boy and this little boy has already stolen his momma's heart like none other!!!

WE CANT WAIT!!!
Vera Kate kept wanting me to take her pic with baby brother's sign! She kept saying CHEESE and reaching for the sign!! HAHA!! She is going to be a great BIG SIS!! Brian and I are very blessed to have a great relationship with our brother and sister! We pray that Vera Kate and BB have the same close relationship!! I just LOVED having a brother and Brian LOVEd having a sister!! I am excited for these two little Rays!!!

"Now all glory to God who is able through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think." Ephesians 3:20-21

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DADDY!!

Yesterday, Jan 2 was Brian's 31st birthday!! On Sunday we had my parents over to celebrate the New year and Brian's birth!! We cooked out shish-kabobs and had yummy carrot cake! Yesterday we had a great day just hanging out. Brian had the day off so we were able to have a play day around the house!! And then last night we went to dinner at Kyoto! We were actually going to try an Italian restaurant here in town but it was closed! BOO! Brian really wanted Italian but he also really wanted to stay in Hernando for his birthday dinner so we opted for Kyoto (the local Japanese establishment)!! I was excited because this would be Vera Kate's first experience with hibachi!!! Well of course Miss Priss became a little frightened when our cook got to our table. He was a man of course and had a funny looking hat and was playing with fire... wouldn't you be scared too??? HAHA!! She calmed down but sat in my lap the entire dinner! Oh well, maybe hibachi will be a date night thing until she is a little older:)) But we did have fun and the food was good!! And Addison Lawrence, a MSU football player, sat at the table across from us with his mom. Too bad he wasn't at our table... we would have bugged him the whole dinner though so it was probably good he was at another table! I did tell Vera Kate there was a bulldog at the next table! She was excited and said BULLY!! HA!

I love this pic! Daddy and his sweet girl!!

Brian loves carrot cake! So this is my attempt... it was good!
Vera Kate was a little skiddish of the candle and singing thing! We need to have more birthday celebrations so that she will be used to it! HA! That means more CAKE! YUM! HAHA!!

Helping daddy open his birthday cards!

The "after-party" ! Vera Kate hosts a great "after-party"!

Happy Birthday Brian!! You are truly the best husband to me and father to Vera Kate, Bax, and baby #2 in the whole world!! I could write a whole book and even more about how wonderful you are! You love your girls and would do anything for us! Thank you for loving us like you do and providing for our sweet family!! WE LOVE YOU!!