Is everything Bigger in Texas?

There is a saying that everything is Bigger in Texas. Well lets see if I come back bigger from Texas! Here are some poorly shot before photos when I am only 15 1/2 weeks along and still down 3 pounds from pre-pregnancy weight. Also I am 39 inches round! My guess I am going to come back and weigh 10 pounds more and will be 42 inches round!! Stay tuned for future results.

Fun with Cousins at the Temple

This weekend we were blessed enough to be able to participate in the temple sealing of my sister-in-law and her family. Which means Brooklyn and Avonlea got to do one of their most favorite things.... PLAY WITH COUSINS!
I have a nice enough friend that opened up her home to all of these cousins. This weekend alone there were 7 cousins to play with (out of 26 or something).
For all of those who know Avy she is very picky with who she will like. Need less to say, finding baby sitters is very hard for us. However, her cousin Kyra has the magic touch with both my girls. She is turning 12 this July, but is so sweet and good with my kids, I swear she was a 50 year old grandma. Avy would ask for her and yell out her name whenever she got the chance! I asked her what is her secrect and why do my girls love her so much? She said, "it must be in the blood." Lo and behold they do all have the exact blood type!

I could go on and on about all the cousin fun we had, but here are just the highlights: yummy food, playing at parks, singing at church, playing dress up, watching movies and car rides.
Brooklyn wanted to go inside so bad... but at least she gets to check this off of the things to do before we got to see daddy.

Side note: We will be gone for 2 weeks and will come back with a gillion pictures for all to see.

Growing Girls

The girls had an appointment today to check their health and growth! Avy is 3 inches taller then she was in November 07 making her in the 28% and is only 2 lbs heavier, putting her in the 41%. Which means she is getting taller but not as heavy (she is thinning out, bye bye baby fat.) And overall she is in the 67th percentile for age, weight, and height! She is 32 inches and 25.10 pounds!!

Brooklyn on the hand is just like me...short. She has gained 4 pounds and is 2 inches taller then before. For weight she is in the 46th percentile and height she is in the 9th percentile (which is better then before only being in the 2nd percentile). She is 38 inches tall and is 34 pounds!!!

Father's day,T-Ball, Birthday's,weight lost, leaving soon...

I realized it has been a while since the last time I posted anything. Because of that, lots has happened.
Father's Day was last week and we went to church with my Dad and spent the evening there. The girls love Papa's House. However, I went out to the car to get something and by the time I had gotten back Brooklyn spilled the beans on what they made him (Book marks for the new book we got him, "The Last Lecture").

Brooklyn had another game this past Wednesday and is getting better and worse. She is having troubles hitting the ball, but is getting better at throwing. And of course running is still her favorite. She had lots of fun because she had her grandma and grandpa Mann there and her best little friend, Cadence. She also got ice cream and to play at the park.

Then it was my dad's Birthday. This time I didn't tell Brooklyn until later what we made for my dad. We made him an apron to match my mom's (more manly) that said, "Grandpa's helping hands" With all the grand children's hand prints below.

I am still not gaining weight, but haven't lost any more. My doctor told me I need to gain some because this trimester the baby is gaining weight and that needs to show in my numbers. It is funny because I told Cameron wasn't going to gain any weight while he was gone...ha ha ha, the joke was on me! Little did I know.

We will be gone for 2 weeks starting on June 30th and get back on the 15th of July. I will come back being 4 1/2 months pregnant, then have a doctors appointment and then my ultrasound!!! I want time to go by slowly in Texas, so we can spend as much time with Cameron, but I can't help but think I am almost half way done being pregnant!!! This summer is just flying past us.

Reading of Twilight

So, I finally did it. Join the thousands of other women out there that have read the Books by Stephenie Meyer. And of course I was completely addicted to the books. As many of you have heard they are making a movie out of Twilight and I thought of the perfect song for the movie!! It sounds much better, but hopefully you know the tune and can get the gist of it. The words are...

Yeah...
The sun is shining everyday.
The clouds never get in the way for you and me.
I've known you just a week or two
But baby I'm so into you, I can hardly breathe

[Verse 1:]
And I'm in so totally wrapped up, emotionally
attracted, so physically acting.
So recklessly I need you, so desperately sure
as the sky is blue. Baby, I love you. I love you.

I never knew that I could feel like this.
Can hardly wait till our next kiss, you're so cool.
If I'm dreaming, please, don't wake me up,
'cause baby, I can't get enough of what you do.

[Verse 2:]
And I'm in so electrically charged up, kinetically
acting, erratically need you, fanatically you get
to me. Magically sure as the sky is blue.
Baby I love you, I love you.

I can't believe that this is real, the way I feel.
Baby I gone head over heels (head over heels).

[Repeat Verse 1, Verse 2.]

Baby I love you. Baby I love you.
Do you love me too? Baby I love you.
Artist: Martina McBride
Song: I Love You

Perfect or what? What do you think? Check it out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5qF3kZiSOA

Strawberry Fields Forever

They love to match! My little strawberry short cakes

Doesn't everyone wish they were always near their best friend...sisters.

Too cute!

1st Dr.'s Appointment

On Friday the 13th I had my first Dr.'s appointment. My Mother-in-law was kind enough to watch my girls for me! I knew that my first appointment would be quite long and that I would get an examine. She said I "felt" like 13 weeks and my due date is the same (December 17th). My heart and the baby's heart is well. It was hard to find that little one's because he/she is so low in my belly. But a nice speed of 140 beats! Of course I asked her if she believed in the heartbeat wives tale and her response was very intelligent. She said it is hard to know because our heartbeat varies so much while we are sleeping from when we are awake and it is the same for the baby. We have no idea if the baby was a sleep or awake. However, she said I have enough room for a 10 pound baby!!! That is comforting huh? Also, that I will be delivering at the New Penrose Hospital off of Powers and Woodmen! I love the idea of things being new. Over all it was a good appointment and I am reassured that there is only one!
When I came back to pick up the girls Brooklyn looks at me and asks, "Where is the baby?" Of course she doesn't understand that I go to see the doctor not just to get the baby out! I'll have her go to my next appointment so she can see what happens.

Need Help!

Calling all you Creative Women out there... I need help! I can't figure out either a good place to go to make a new template/back ground for our blog, or I am just having troubles getting it to where I need it to go! I see you lovely ladies templates out there and I know it is possible! Please leave a comment if you have any good suggestions.
Thanks in advance for sharing your Creative thoughts!

1st T-ball Game

Papa Mann Came to watch her play!

The benches are so high, their feet just dangle.

Hey Batter, batter...swing!

Monday was Brooklyn's first T-ball game! The way they play is either 3 innings or for 1 hour in time (whatever comes first). So everyone gets to bat, there are no outs, and the best part is running from base to base.
Brooklyn did really well. The first two times in the outfield she was a little distracted (like others) by the dirt on the diamond. Their practices were only on the grass. So lot of her time spent was scooping up lose dirt and playing with her hat (she doesn't know what to think of her hat yet). But her last time in the out field she attempted to get some action and would race to the ball.
Her most favorite part of the game is the run! She loves running from base to base. Her coach told her, "Wow, Brooklyn, how do you run so fast?" Her reply, "I eat lots of chickens."
Run Brooklyn, Run!


She is #7 (lucky #7).

Birthday wishes

Brooklyn's 4th Birthday

Brooklyn had her 4th Birthday yesterday and a wonderful day it was! She woke up running out of her room through the streamers, looked around the room and knew it was her special day. While she was sleeping Avy and I decorated our apartment. Balloons everywhere, her poster size princess picture of her self on the wall, and streamers bordering the tops of the walls. It was a day all about her favorites. She we had oatmeal with a bagel for breakfast. She took a long bath with lots of bubbles and watched all of her favorite shows. Then for lunch we had cheesy sandwiches (grilled cheese sandwich with extra cheese so that when you take a make the cheesys come stringing out) and chicken noodle soup (another favorite). After that she changed out of her play clothes and into her party dress. Then stared out the window at 1:00 to wait for her little girl friends to come over at 2:00! (she is so much like me in this way, I get so excited for people to show up). I am able to distract her with a little bit of help from Tom and Jerry.
Her friends came and they colored, made tiaras (place stickers on them), played pin the tiara on the Princess on her poster of her, watched a princess movie, ate cupcakes and opened presents. She loved having her friends over. She is so funny when she opened some presents she would be so excited that she would hug them and say, "Oh, I love it."
From there Uncle Craig (my youngest brother stopped by) and she always loves seeing her uncles so that was a treat for her. For dinner another favorite (in which she ate more then me with) Ravioli! Then we hurried off to Grandma Bass home. They were very kind in opening up their home for Brooklyn's Family party (our family is too big and my place is too small). But she loved playing with her cousins and running around. We had some yummy, but simple snacks (her favorite veggies and favorite fruits). Then we had her Birthday Cake! Something I made that turned out nice! It was cute and she would have loved it even if it was completely ugly. Then she opened more presents and was in four year old heaven. She got so many princess stuff (which is great because all she had before were books and one little Cinderella dress up doll ). She went around the room afterwards and gave everyone hugs and thanks for the gifts. However, I was the last one she stopped to hug and mine was a hug and squeezed that lasted a lot longer then the rest. She said, "Thank you mom, I love my Birthday." That is exactly what I needed to hear. All I wanted for her for her birthday was for her to know how special and loved she is. All the cleaning and prepping and running around was well worth it.I would do it all over again just to hear those words.
As a little girl and being the only girl I was always the princess in our house. I am so glad Brooklyn has carried on her belief of being a princess too and who wouldn't want to be a Princess after having such a wonderful day.