Baby Update

I'm 17 1/2 weeks pregnant right now and I'm feeling great!  My nausea is totally gone (was gone at about 12 weeks with this pregnancy...much earlier than with the other two), I feel like my energy level is back to normal, and other than REALLY wanting boiled peanuts and a little baby bump that is definitely showing these days, I sometimes feel like I'm not even pregnant.:)

About the boiled peanuts craving: I'm not sure if you would it a craving.  I've wanted them for about 3 weeks now and still haven't gotten them.  I'm still able to sleep and function, but I think about them often.:)  I've been asking around as to where we can get some, but so far I haven't heard of any close to Greenville.  I've considered having Bert drive somewhere, but always decided it wasn't worth his time away (we like having him home), gas money, etc.  Bert suggested that I could get some in a can at the grocery store.  My response to that suggestion was "gross."  I didn't know they even came in a can....  Anyway, we're heading to Panama City tomorrow and my dad has assured me that we will have several opportunities to stop and get me a bag of boiled peanuts on the way down to the beach.  Woohoo!!  I'm excited.  I just hope we don't pass the boiled peanuts when all the kids are napping because I would hate to mess up their nap just so that I can get some boiled peanuts, but we're STOPPING!

My absolute favorite part about pregnancy is being able to feel the baby kick.  It's just the sweetest, most incredible feeling to feel the baby kick and know that there is a human being inside of your body...moving around...kicking....growing. Last night as I was laying in bed and I felt the baby kick for the first time.  I cried.  I was just so in awe...it's not like I haven't felt a baby kick before, but it's so amazing to me every time.  I felt like the baby was saying hey and he/she was doing okay in there.  Thankful to God for blessing us with our children, for allowing me to carry them for 9 months, for planning every detail, for forming them in my womb and for allowing me to be a part of the whole process.  God didn't have to allow the mom to feel the baby kick all throughout the pregnancy, but He did, and I'm thankful for that little blessing.

I have my 20 week check up in a little over 2 weeks.  Can't wait to get to see our sweet baby again as they do the "big" ultrasound...check the baby out from head to toe and tell us the gender.  It will be fun!  We're praying for our sweet little one....so thankful for his/her life!:)

Rosemary

Bert's sister, Alison, and her husband, Stephen, recently adopted a precious little 6 year old from Uganda named Rosemary.  She's absolutely beautiful inside and out, and we're so thankful for her to now be a part of our family.  Alison has been in Uganda with Rosemary for a little over a month (Stephen was there for a little over a week, but then had to fly back to get back to work).  Yesterday, Alison and Rosemary were able to come home to NC, and a big group of us met them at the airport to welcome them home!!  

Here is a picture of the group....just excitedly watching the escalators for signs of Rosemary and Alison!:)  

I had a doctor's appointment that morning and we weren't able to leave Greenville until about 10am. Thankfully, we didn't hit any traffic, the girls were great car-riders, and we only had to stop once!!  We pulled into the parking lot about a minute or two after their plane landed! Yikes! We grabbed the girls out of their carseats and took off running for the terminal!! We were so close...we didn't want to miss seeing Rosemary for the first time!!  We actually made it in plenty of time as their plane taxied for quite awhile before letting any passengers off.  We were just thankful to be there and SO excited!:)  

Aidan, our nephew, made this sign to welcome them home!  So sweet!  

Aunt Carrie (who had flown in the day before from Los Angeles) showing Emily a few pictures on her iPad as they passed the time.  

Just after they came up the escalator Rosemary immediately spotted her Daddy.  You could see Rosemary trying to break free from Alison holding her hand so that she could run.  Alison let her go after just a minute and she took off running for her Daddy's arms.  It was one of the sweetest things E.V.E.R!  

Bert snapped the picture below just before Rosemary flew into Stephen's arms.  If you click on the picture to make it bigger you'll see a huge grin spread across her face!!

The Sandridge's were reunited at last!:)  

Rosemary giving Emily a hug for the first time.  They were instant friends!  

Sweet cousins!  

A welcome home sign and some of Alison and Stephen's friends made for Rosemary!  

After we relaxed at their house for a little bit we all headed to Mellow Mushroom for dinner!  

Hannah wanted to sit in the chair like a big girl!  Cutie!! 

After dinner Rosemary and Emily went to the "playground" (that's what Em was calling this cornhole set) to play before it was time for us to hit the road and head back down to Greenville.  As you can see in the picture below....Emily was following Rosemary around and copying everything she did.  They had fun!  

Rosemary, we are so so thankful to have you as a part of our family....we love being your Aunt Steph and Uncle Bert.  You are a precious gift from God!  You are loved, loved, loved, and we're praying for you as you adjust to this whole new world.  

When I get to be a Mommy....

Emily's new phrase these days is "When I get to be a Mommy _______."  Usually what follows cracks me up, so I decided I needed to record a few phrases she's said over the last few weeks in the blog!

"When I get to be a Mommy I get to ride a school bus all by myself."

"When I get to be a Mommy I get to blow my nose all by myself."

"When I get to be a Mommy I get to drive a car like you."

"When I get to be a Mommy I get to put diaper rash on Hannah."  (she meant diaper cream)

"When I get to be a Mommy I get to go to big church all by myself."

"When I get to be a Mommy I get to have gray hair too."  Haha!

Did you catch on that she likes to do things by herself!?  We love our little independent 3 year old!:)

July 4th and a Visit from Grandmama and Pawpaw

Grandmama and Pawpaw came up for a visit on July 4th and spent a couple of days with us.  We had such a great time!  It was a rainy couple of days, but that didn't slow us down much.  We were still able to grill out, play with bubbles outside (many times), and take a trip to the zoo!  

Aunt Carrie bought these cute outfits for the girls for them to wear for the holiday.  Thanks, Carrie!!:)  

Hannah has a new found love for playing with bubbles.  She smiled and laughed and jumped around the whole time someone was blowing bubbles.  

If you tried to take a break from blowing the bubbles Hannah would start saying "BUBBLES, BUBBLES!"....in a bit of a panicked voice.  No rest for the weary.:) 

Grandmama and Hannah playing with the bubbles...

Sweet girls...

Hannah was so attached to Pawpaw this trip.  She pretty much wanted him to hold her if he was in the room.  She would get the biggest smile on her face when he bent down to pick her up.  So sweet!  

Walking around the yard with Pawpaw...

Bert fixed an amazing dinner for us on July 4th.  He grilled chicken, corn, squash and zucchini and even made homemade peach ice cream.  It was all SO good! It had been raining off and on all day, but he finally was able to get the grill started in a sunny patch. But of course it started raining again not longer after everything was on the grill! He had to brave the POURING down rain and some thunder and lighting to cook everything, but he got it done.  I was stressed out about him being out there with the lighting, but he kept insisting he was fine.  In the picture below you can see Bert at the grill wearing a Bugs Bunny poncho.  I actually bought that poncho about 15 years ago on a trip to six flags.  We dug it out when we realized the rain wasn't letting up....I think it's been worn maybe one time since I bought it. While Bert wasn't that excited about wearing a Bugs Bunny poncho...he was thankful for what protection it provided from the pouring down rain.  Haha!  

On Friday we took a trip to the zoo and had a great time!!  The weather was great because it was cool, overcast and the rain held off for us! 

Bert, his parents, the girls, and the giraffes!:)  

Every other time we've been to the zoo both lions have been sleeping on this rock that you see in the picture below.  The info sign said that these lions sleep about 21 hours a day....crazy!  One of them woke up while we were watching them so I had to get a picture.  I know the glass is really thick and the bars are really strong but this guy honestly still made me a little nervous.  I enjoyed getting to see him awake and so regal-looking, but I was totally fine with walking on to the next exhibit!:)  

Family pic...

We had a really fun 4th of July weekend!  We were so glad Grandmama and Pawpaw were able to come up for a visit! We ended our weekend with a great meal at Mutt's BBQ. When Grandmama and Pawpaw left from there, Emily cried and cried as their car was pulling away... We all had a great time with them and can't wait till next time!

Baby Watts!

We're so excited to announce that we have a precious little addition coming to our family in early January.  Baby Watts is due January 6th...I was 12 weeks along on Monday!  Officially finished with the 1st trimester!!  Woohoo!!  We've had a couple of recent ultrasounds and on each of them we've seen the baby kicking, waving his/her arms and just moving all around.  Absolutely amazing!  

This was the announcement that we put on facebook to let everyone know we were expecting!  

I asked Emily if she thought the baby was going to be a girl or a boy and she quickly said "GIRL!!"  When I asked her what we should name the baby she thought for a minute and then said..."I know!!!  We can name her Hannah!!"  Mommy -  "But we already have a Hannah."  Emily - "Yeah, but we can have two Hannah's, and when I grow up I can be a Hannah too, and then we'll all be Hannah's."  Haha!  Glad she likes her sister's name, but I feel like that might get confusing.:)  

We're so thankful to the Lord for blessing us with another sweet baby.  We can't wait to hold him/her in our arms.  We're praying for our baby and remembering that the Lord is giver and sustainer of life.  Praise Him for our growing family!

Father's Day 2013

These girls LOVE their Daddy!:)

Daddy/Daughter Date Night

Bert and Emily went on their first Daddy/Daughter Date Night on Monday night.  They went to Chick-fil-A and had a great time!!  

Here they are before their date.  I didn't tell Emily to look up at her Daddy (in fact I told her to look at me), but I loved this picture that I accidentally caught.  You can click on it to make it bigger....she's just smiling up at him.  So sweet!:)  

Em does love making silly faces for the camera right now!  

Chick-fil-A does such a great job with their Daddy/Daughter Date nights that they put on....it included their meals, tour of the kitchen, craft for the daughters to do (Em decorated the wand that she was holding in front of her in the picture below), and dessert.  

They had fun on their date night, and I could hardly wait to hear all about it when they got back.  Emily and Hannah are two blessed little girls to have such an amazing dad!!