8.25.2012

Newish furniture

So the other day we were coming in from a LONG day of getting our drivers license ( post coming about that soon!) and we saw this piece of furniture by our gate. I thought "oh thats a cute piece" so we walked over to look at it. The guards asked us if we liked it, we said yes. They said the people are throwing it away, ask them if you can buy itt. WHAT?? They are throwing it away?? Well, they were really selling it to some people who take it away for you. So,  we talked to the lady who was overseeing the transaction, and she said they would sell it for 100 kuai.

Thats $15 people. So we paid them......

and Matt helped the guy carry it to our apartment.
Love it!
Now we are trying to figure out exactly where to put it.......

8.24.2012

Rylie's New Fort

We've been doing a bit of rearranging since we have been back. Ry's room had SO much furniture and we are going to soon add a baby to the room! And though Knox will be small, he comes with a lot of stuff!


So we took the bottom bunk out of the room and left the top bunk in there on the floor.....it is just high enough for Rylie to have a little play fort underneath.

Rylie "helping" Daddy
Matt hung a strand of lights underneath and I am planning on putting some fabric over the front.

Rylie and Reid excited to play!
The lights are a little black lightish.......but thats what you get over here :)

First playtime in the fort!

8.20.2012

18 week Update


another catch up post.....




How far along? 18 weeks
Weight Gain? none so far. I've actually lost about 7 pounds. Probably all the time I've spent with my head in the toilet............

How big is baby? the size of a sweet potato

Sleep? I've been sleeping pretty well, falling not quite so asleep early, but have been waking up early in morning to throw-up.

Maternity Clothes? in that akward regular don't fit but maternity ones look ridiculous phase. Wearing all the loose fitting things I have :) Not to mention I don't have ANY maternity clothes because I got rid of all of mine because we were done. ha.
Food cravings? grapefruit, watermelon, and frozen yogurt. and I've been eating a lot of cheese and cereal because soon I won't be able to get it

Food aversions? getting MUCH better. still throwing up, but most of the time can eat in betweem without feeling sick--SCORE!

Symptoms? hair still falling out, still throwing up,

Doctor’s Appointment:? Had one last week and all looks good, after our little scare, it is always SO comforting to hear that sweet heartbeat! Had a surprise ultrasound and found out ITS A BOY!
Movement? some little flutters here and there.....

Belly Button? In

What am I looking forward to? moving back around the world to our house in a week! Can't wait to be settled and see our friends there!

What do I miss? my normal day to day life with the other kiddos. yep, still miss this. although it is getting a bit better maybe??

Best Moment this week? finding out God is blessing our family with another sweet boy!!

12 week update



Catch up post.....I'm actually 20 weeks now!


How far along? 12 weeks

Weight Gain? none so far. I've actually lost about 5 pounds. Probably all the time I've spent with my head in the toilet............

How big is baby? about 2 inches long and weighs about 1/2 ounce. Quite small to be causing my whole body to go into crazy mode :)


Sleep? I've been sleeping pretty well, falling asleep early, and can usually go back to sleep when I wake up to pee all. night. long


Maternity Clothes? Not yet. Shirts are a bit of a problem because everything I own is made for my flat chest, which is nothing close to flat these days.


Food cravings? cottage cheese, watermelon, and frozen yogurt


Food aversions? any meat, anything with a strong smell, pretty much anything but cottage cheese, watermelon and frozen yogurt.....


Symptoms? I have felt symptoms since week 6......the nausea is still going strong and zofran is my best friend. I also feel like I’m going to pass out every time I stand up too fast. Also, my hair is falling out like nothing I have ever seen. And without further detail, I will share that I now take fiber on a nightly basis, along with my prenatal vitamin and iron supplement. Apparently I need a medication organizer…


Doctor’s Appointment:? We had our 12 week appointment and ultrasound in Denver yesterday and all looked great! The ultrasound tech said "maybe it’s a boy!”


Movement? not yet


Belly Button? In


What am I looking forward to? not throwing up

What do I miss? my normal day to day life with the other kiddos.


Best Moment this week? watching our kids see our sweet little peanut on the ultrasound!





8.18.2012

First Day of School

The boys started school on Tuesday. I can. not. believe that we have a fourth grader and a first grader! Didn't we just graduate from college? oh wait, that was....awhile ago.

the boys all ready to go. Ry showing how she feels about them leaving.


The boys.

waiting outside our gate for carpool

In front of school. with the peace sign.
while an east asian custom, it drives. me. crazy. in my pictures.

Everett with his fouth grade teacher Mrs. Scranton

at his desk. thats his "mom--seriously, can you please stop taking pictures??" face

Reid and his first grade teacher Ms. Cole

Reid at his desk. And he's not too cool yet :)

They both had a great day! I think it's going to be a wonderful year!!
So thankful for their school!

8.17.2012

Great Wall

On our way in country we stopped for an overnight in the country's capital. Matt's friend from years ago lives there, and we were going to have dinner with him and his new wife. Sadly, our plane was 3 hours late, so we missed dinner. But they decided to come to the Great Wall with us the next morning instead!
This was the kids first time seeing it and they were so excited!

We rode a cable car up.  May have been the kids favorite part. Might have scared me to death....

Kiddos checking to see if any enemies are approaching

Looking out over the wall

My favorite picture!
Seeing as I am really supposed to be on moderate bed rest, I didn't walk with them on the wall. Just took pictures from afar.

through a window of a tower

the fam

you can really see the newest member in this one. yikes.

Our friends who joined us on the wall. What a blessing!!

Our sweet three littles

One last family pic

Saying good bye.....

I feel like I type the title to this post far more than I would like to.....
but we must do it!

dinner with Nikki and Mandi

Sweet Lauren and Shelly drove to SSI to come say good bye!

Dinner with Diane

The Newtons came by to say good bye!

My sweet roommate from college Stephanie

8.16.2012

Miraculous Pictures

While we were in Atlanta this summer, our paths crossed for ONE day with these sweet frineds. They now live in Tennessee (but still bleed red and black!) and we are on the other side of the world. The wives' parents still live in Atlanta, so every once in awhile we are there at the same time.
We went to college with the Chad and Jess and then spent a year in EA with them. 
This is our gang 9 years later.......

and notice that EVERY. ONE. of the 10 people in the picture are looking at the camera and smiling!! What? Miracles do happen I tell you.

The kids--Reid Middlebrooks, Rylie, Ellie, Asa, Reid Laughlin, and Everett
See, we even share kids names :)

We both have another little one--theirs was napping, ours hasn't been born yet.....

Love that we got to see them, even just for a brief swim! And so sad that we didn't take picures while the Dooleys were still there! Loved seeing y'all too!



Pit Stop


On the way to Colorado and on the way home, we broke up the trip with a stop in Tulsa, OK at my grandmothers house. It made the trip MUCH better and was great to get to see her!
I am so thankful that my kids have two great-grandmothers that they really have been able to know!


Mimi and the boys


All the kids with Mimi--my favorite!!



And finally a picture where Reid is smiling normal. Anyone ever watch Friends? Chandler's engagement pictures? That is SO Reid right now. Can. Not. Smile. Normal.


It's a BOY!

We were able to have an ultrasound at 16 weeks due to some issues (which are fine now!), so we were able to find out the sex of the baby a bit earlier than expected!
We kept the news to ourselves, ordered some cupcakes filled with pink or blue, and headed down to the beach!



The boys biting in--they were SO excited to know!


So were the grandparents!

And its a BOY!!





and the penny test WORKED for all the peeps who have been asking!!

8.14.2012

Nerf or Nothin'

While the Cronins were visiting we had a big nerf war.

Here is the handing out of the goods.

The motley crew.
Not pictured are Ernie and Matt who may have had more fun than anyone else.......

Fun Friends

A year before we moved away from Summerville, some dear friends of ours, the Cronins, moved to Virginia. Garrett and Reid were pretty much inseperable. BFF, VBFF,.......etc.
They were so WONDERFUL to drive down to Atlanta to us this summer as part of their road trip this summer.


Reid and Garrett


Another sweet friend from Summerville, who has moved to Alabama, drove over for the day to hang out with us too. Kristen, Melissa and I have done MOPS, church, Bible Studies, prayer groups, and taught preschool together. Love these girls!!

All our kiddos.

Rylie and Kailey. Fast friends as they dressed Bu up in a princess dress together :)


The adults--minus Brian who couldn't come.

sweet friends