Brody and Daddy swimming at our neighbor's 4th party!

Bryce got to feed the Dolphins!

SHAMU!

Bryce could not wait to show Shamu the toy that looked just like him!

gross

So is this not the most sick-ola thing you have ever seen in your lifetime? Well imagine it crawling along the baseboards of your house and lurking across your children's bedroom floor! I HATE IT! Scorpions are the meany-est, ugliest, gross little creatures EVER! Apparently there is just about ZERO you can do about them when you house is situated IN a hill and its 900 degrees outside. Great.

By the way precious baby #3 is the size of an apple now and I have fired my doctor and will be visiting a new one next week. Updates on that later.

too much fun

The past few days have been VERY exciting and FUN! My Dad has been here and that is always a treat. He was supposed to be here Friday night, but he flew in on some crazy airlines and got stranded all over America before he finally got here late Saturday. We had to celebrate the 4th without him...but we managed to have a great time. We had a yummy lunch and then went to a party at our neighbors house for swimming and bbq! I have some pics of Justin swimming with the boys on a different camera that I will upload later. Justin was off Saturday, but had to work Sunday so my Dad took us all to the Cascade Caverns. For whatever reason...Brody LOVED this. He seriously laughed the entire way through...and there was really nothing funny about it. Bryce liked it...but mostly because he was just for sure that Batman was in there somewhere. That evening we took our first trip to SEAWORLD! It was soooo amazing. Bryce had the time of his life and has declared Shamu his new best friend. My dad got all of us year passes so Justin and I will be able to take the kids whenever we want. Monday we woke up and went straight BACK to Seaworld...yup we did it again. And this time we did it ALL. We saw 4 shows, fed dolphins, played in the waterpark, ate dippin dots and covered the map! My dad got lots of pics on his camera so we will get those from him soon. Today we headed to Chuck E Cheese and now we are all getting a much deserved REST. I just dont think I can handle one more piece of fun....at all.


Justin and Bryce on 4th of July!

Bryce and T Rex

My Dad and the boys in the cave



Shamu Ride!

No Fun

There has been so much sad news in the media lately. First, I have sooo many memories of watching Ed McMahon on Star Search. That was like my favorite show...and I would always do little shows and make my parents give me "stars." And who didnt love watching him ring the doorbell of a 900 year old woman and hand her a humungo check! Farrah Fawcett was more of my mom's kind of gal...but it is just so sad to know that anyone had to endure the horrible struggle of cancer. She had the same type of cancer my mom did and watching her story made the pain that my mom was going through so very real. She had the money to fight the cancer off in the best ways, she had chemo and radiation and then special treatments in Germany and she STILL suffered tremendously. In the end the nasty cancer won. I pray for all families who have that horrible diease touch them in some way. Justin and I have been singing and dancing our little butts off to VHI, FUSE and MTV the last few days with the MJ videos playing constantly! An American Icon has passed away, and altough I may not agree with all of his worldy choices and I may have never sent my kids over to a playdate at his house, you gotta admit he is a LEGEND and his music changed so many lives! And lastly, BILLY MAYS! Bummer, because his obnoxious and way too loud voice could just sell me sand in a dessert. I loved that new show pitchmen and EVERYtime the OxiClean commercial came on (for whatever reason) Bryce would get so excited! I pray for no more sad news and I pray for each of these peoples families...especially their children. It is unbearable to lose a parent...it makes me sick to know there are so many others enduring the same amount of pain as I am.
In other news...we had a great weekend! It was two days of absolute relaxation! We did our best to stay out of the HEAT (as many of you know...I am a fainter)! Today we had some fun at Pottery Paint with some great friends...I can't wait to pick up Bryce's T-Rex when it is all ready! Brody has his 9 month check up tomorrow (we are finally getting around to it!) so lots of prayers while we visit the dr. tomorrow!

its thursday

I am 13 weeks pregnant now! Baby #3 (that is what we are calling it right now since we don't know the sex) is the size of a peach. Another website said it was also the size of a large shrimp...but I dont like shrimp. Anyways, I am feeling zillions times better! I am not feeling sick anymore, Praise God, although I am still a little tired in the afternoons and I already have to pee one hundred times a day. Please keep baby #3 in your thoughts and prayers. Pray that baby #3 stays in as long as he needs to develop well and grow strong. Pray for him to be healthy and just as perfect as my other two :)
Brody has made some MAJOR big time steps the past few days! He can now get into the sitting position ALL BY HIMSELF! From a lying down position he maneuvers his way up and then gets so excited for himself (because we have been practicing this!) that he flaps his arms up and down like a little birdie about to fly away! He is in 4 point (hands and knees) for very extended periods of time now and is getting so much stronger on his feet! He can also....drum roll please...HOLD HIS OWN BOTTLE!! Way to go Brody Todey!!!!! Bryce was our very independent child and he would not allow us to hold his bottle after about 4 months...so we have been anxious for Brody to master this! Bryce is BY FAR his biggest fan. He drug all of our VBS friends over today to watch "his baby" feed himself and sit up. It is so heartwarming to watch Bryce's excitement for "his baby's" accomplishments.
Working at Vacation Bible School has been so fun for our whole family. We do kinda drag out of here in the mornings...BUT all 3 of us have had a blast each day. The boys have been making Justin all kinds of goodies to hang in his office.
Tomorrow is a very, very special day!! My Mom's 60th BIRTHDAY! Birthdays have always been a VERY big deal in our family. My mom always gave me HUGE birthday parties with tons of friends and presents. She always made sure everyone felt special on their special day. She would hang banners and bring big fancy lunches to school or work for my friends. She has gone above and beyond every year of my life, for the time Justin was in her life and for all 3 of Bryce's parties she has bought extravagant presents and party favors....SO our family has decided that we will be celebrating my moms birthday tomorrow because birthdays were her favorite. I hope and pray that I am able to make birthday's in my family as special as my mom always managed to do.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM! WE LOVE YOU!

Fathers Day

After an awesome message at Church we took the boys to Berges Fest at the Fairgrounds! Justin took Bryce on all the rides and me and Brody watched from a nice shady spot :) They had so much fun...it was Bryce's first time to go on rides alone! We all ate tons of junk food and made sure Justin felt super spoiled on his Fathers Day. Bryce had helped me make breakfast tacos for him that morning..he wanted to bring him breakfast in bed...BUT I just did not see Bryce bringing tacos into my bed as such a great idea...so we skipped that part. We are so blessed to have Justin as the Father of our family. He is such an amazing man, an incredible provider who spoils us endlessly, a devoted husband and basically SuperDad! The boys adore him...but for some reason Brody has this special bond with his Daddy and I have to say I am a little jealous :) Brody practically melts into a puddle when Justin walks in the room...I mean dont get me wrong he loves his mommy too...but its nothing like his adoration for Daddy! We had lunch today with Justin after Vacation Bible School and the whole time Brody just sat there cooing at Justin, smiling at him and saying ooohhhh dadadadada the whole time! Speaking of VBS...I am so blessed to be a part of the Kindergarten team at our Church! We had so much fun playing with the kiddos and making crafts. Bryce and Brody went to their own classes and they had a blast too. Brody is very spoiled at our church...nobody EVER puts him down. He gets loved on the whole time and we are just so proud to be a part of such a wonderful ministry.

I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO STRENGTHENS ME.

Parade

I took the boys to the BergesFest Parade on Saturday and they both had so much fun! Brody watched from his stroller while Bryce ran around like a crazy man collecting candy, hi-fivin' clowns, chasing helicopters and making friends! We found a nice shady spot to sit so we didn't die of heat and it was just overall a fun time!

Brody's Calendar Pic

As many of you know...Brody was chosen to be a model for the 2010 Downs Syndrome Association Calendar. We are not sure where his placement in the calendar will be (although we think he deserves the cover)BUT here is the photo that the photographer submitted!





These pictures are a few others that we purchased from the photographer. They were not submitted for the calendar, but they are precious memories of Brody at 8 months!

more fun pics

After church today, we headed to the Flying L to have a swim day!
I meant to get more pics of the kids with Justin at the waterpark...but we were just having too much fun I didn't want to stop and grab the camera!

Waterbabies!

They boys LOVE the water! At our blessing before dinner, I thanked God for two such beautiful and healthy and precious boys and Bryce said "MOM do NOT forget to thank God for the swimming pool" Once again Bryce has his priorities in line when in prayer...

i love summer

We are all really enjoying the summer time! It is so nice to eat snow cones and Popsicles and play in the pool. I am really trying to enjoy it now because I know as I get bigger its going to get HOTTER and that is no fun at all :) I am very excited to not be 7 months pregnant at this time of year like I have been twice before. I am 11 weeks now...which I really hardly consider pregnant! I am starting to feel better in the mornings...I am able to eat a little better...and every single smell 17 miles away is not making me want to cut my nose off my face. I made it to the gym this morning and I think I will be able to get back into my regular work out routine in the next couple of weeks. My hair is already starting to get dry-ish, but thankfully my skin is under control...now we just have to keep my butt under control LOL. I am starting to get a little emotional these days, little bitty things hurt my feelings and I have been hurting for my mom. I have never done this without her and its super scary to not have her by my side. I lived with her when I was pregnant with Bryce and she lived with us when I was pregnant with Brody...it is just weird this time around. I am so blessed for everything she taught me. I am so glad that I was able to give her two grandchildren before she moved to Heaven...I am so glad that she was able to fluff my wedding dress before I walked down the aisle...hold my head up while I pushed out Bryce...throw me a graduation party...hang my pictures in my dorm at college...hand me tissues after my first heartbreak (then say i told you so HA)...and love me and my family so unconditionally everyday of our lives that our hearts are forever spoiled rotten! I have been able to go into her closet at my house lately and I LOVE to just open the doors and smell her. I can't believe that she smelled like old lady...I so did not think of her as an old lady. Lightening may strike my bedroom tonight for saying that...BUT for the record, its a LOVELY old lady smell that I just cant get enough of!
Please continue to pray that we have a healthy baby! We are SO ready for God's next gift for us. I know He will continue to use our family in great ways.
Brody is becoming the life of the party...socializing and cooing and flirting his way around town. He reaches out for people he wants and then bats his long beautiful eye lashes at them. He is for sure a ladies man. I have a road of trouble coming my way with him and Bryce...they are just two little precious fireballs! Bryce has been getting lots of mail from his Pop Pop (my dad) which is the excitement of the moment! Pop Pop sends really cool toys and pajamas and party supplies that mommy does not buy...so he is pretty popular in our house these days. Bryce thinks his Pop Pop is a Cowboy for his job and that he lives in the airport. We are always picking him up and dropping him off there...so naturally Bryce thinks that is his home. He talks to my dad on the phone almost everyday...and they strictly talk about man things. Deer food, fishing, kayaking, Lightning McQueen...you know...guy stuff. I love it.

a few pictures...

I have been a little lazy on the pics lately, but here are just a couple. The water pics are from about a month ago at Flying L Waterpark and the bath tub pic is also from about a month ago. I will take some NEW pics this week I promise :)

updates

1. Brody is doing great! He has his 9 month check up this week so there will be more updates on him later this week. Currently he is weighing in at about 18.5 lbs! His OT continues to come every other week and she is always so proud. He is standing in 4 point (crawling position) for extended periods of time now and is learning how to go from his side to the sitting position! He loves to sit like a little frog and looks so precious when he does.
2. Bryce the crazy is just still my little stinker. He keeps this house a-movin! He is quite the character and really keeps us on our toes with his observations and commentary. He has just a couple weeks left of the June school program, where they swim and play in sand, and then he is all mine! We have been staying busy with playdates and trips to fun places and have a packed calendar for the rest of the summer. Justin and I took him to the movies to see Up and he loved it!
3. Pregnancy is not my favorite. I have been ultra - yucko - sick ola! I have yet to be good at the pregnancy thing and I think I am better at the baby part. We have had some ugly news with this pregnancy that I don't love. I am considered "high risk" and have been ordered to take about two hundred and ninety tests, see a specialist or ten etc. etc. However, we have prayed about it and decided that Brody is not a "problem" for us...He is the baby God chose for our family and if God wants to give us another one just like him...then we are really lucky. I would not trade Brody for the world and we like him...A LOT! I dont think its fair that I am considered high risk beacause I made one baby that does not look like everyones elses. So...no testing and crazy stuff for us. We are ready for this baby and will love it just the same as our other two crazy kids no matter if it has three heads, eleven toes or some other little precious design that God adds while making him.
4. We have been ON THE GO! I had my MOPS Steering Retreat and had a great time planning the next super fun year for Boerne Mops! I am so blessed to be a part of such an amazing team of women. God really places us in the most amazing places. I had a great time subbing last week at the preschool...other peoples kids are of course not my favorite...but I really enjoyed it and liked the kids :)We all had a great time at Waring General Store Steak Nite, I think its going to be a monthly tradition! www.steaknite.com Now we are getting ready to head to Flying L Guest Ranch for a swim day tomorrow and then a neighborhood garage sale this weekend.

Keep us in your prayers!

Table for 5 please....

Justin and I are pleased to announce that we are expecting our 3rd (and final) child! Bryce and Brody are super excited to be big brothers!! We decided that we were ready and although this little gift came a TAD sooner than we thought....we are VERY proud and excited! I am about 8 or 9 weeks and should be due mid December, but I have my first ultrasound on Thursday and will have more info after that. I know everyone wants me to have a girl...but I just dont think its in the cards guys :) I am destined to be surrounded by smelly boys my whole life! I need prayers for a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby! I have had a hard time in my pregnancies and I just pray that I can cook this baby up good and get him out safely for everyone to love on!
PS: I know I didnt call everyone personally and tell ya'll...but I feel like dog poop and talking on the phone makes me want to vomit :)

Preliminary name list:
Braxton Lee (after my hot mama obviously)
Braden
and for girls (which i am not going to get too excited about lol)
Macy JoLee
Brilee Jo
And of course we are open to ideas :)

BRODY IS COOL

Birthday cont....

So...Horseshoe Bay Resort was INCREDIBLE! Justin completely surprised me and it was a MUCH needed getaway after the year we have had. I was pregnant on my last birthday and I cannot really think of the last time him and I went anywhere completely on our own...was it our honeymoon? Anyways, we got to the resort and rode jet skis, laid in the pool (that overlooked the lake!) ate yummy delicious food and yummy frozen drinks delivered by cute boys in khaki shorts! It was a dream to sleep in and have a romantic lakeside breakfast. We really had a great time and I am so appreciative for all his thoughfulness!
I was thrilled to get back to see my precious boys who painted rocks for me :) We got to open a big box from my dad and he had sent presents for everyone! I am feeling very blessed this week! Although, through all the wonderful events it has been severely painful to do this all without my mom. I know she is with my in my heart...but I just cannot help but feel angry that I cannot share all this with her in person.

birthday things so far

I am turning 25 tomorrow and the birthday fun has been going full force since last Thursday! Dena, Lisa, Katie and Sara took me to a super fun girls night out dinner and showered me with amazing presents :) I came home to a fun filled box from Nana and then had an awesome birthday lunch with Sunni, Lisa, Dena, Kelly and Sara with kiddos...more presents and more fun! My mailbox has been filled with sweet cards (an extra special card from my Aunt Debbie) and although this birthday is my first without my mom and I am not sure exactly how to truly celebrate without her, my friends and family have gone above and beyond to make this a special week for me! Now the icing on the cake...My oh so amazing hubby is taking me on a SURPRISE TRIP today! The kids are staying with a friend and I was told to pack a bathing suit, a nice dress and shorts! We are leaving in just a few minutes and I am peeing in my pants with excitement...look for a new post thursday night with details on this super secret expedition!

all the stuff that goes on here

So great things have been happening that have kept me away from the computer.
1. Brody's photoshoot was a super success! He was so stinkin adorable, I actually cried when we went back to look at the proofs. Our sweet little miracle baby has been through SO much. He has been poked and cut and opened up...medicated and medicated some more...and this kid is the happiest, most loving and content baby I have ever seen. He is proud to be Brody and we are so in love with him! Now his photos will be sent to the Downs Syndrome Association of SA and they will determine where his photo will go in the calendar. Obviously we think he should be on the cover (lol) but thats not for us to decide!
2. The end of the preschool year has come! Bryce has done super amazing this year at school, we were blessed with an awesome teacher who has a heart for our family. She has taught Bryce such awesome things. I am so proud that my 3 year old writes his name, knows his spanish colors, can count to 20, knows our address AND what city all his friends live in (ie he knows we live in helotes, andrew lives in boerne, logan lives in pipe creek) ha are these considered "cities"!
3. Mother's Day come and went and I did not have a total fit about it. I missed my mom so much on that day that it hurt to the core of my bones. I just so badly wanted to take her to eat crab legs and have a margarita like I have every year! I remember last year's mothers day we met her at Joe's Crab Shack, I was pregnant with Brody and Bryce was so proud to show her how he could go down the slide like a big boy. We brought her a HUGE plant and presents and it was just a great time. We went to babies r us after and she bought me presents for Brody. I will forever keep those memories in my heart.
My precious family did everything they could to make the day special for me. They got me a beautiful james avery necklace and some other sweet gifts, plus made me breakfast in bed then later took me on a picnic in the park. I love my 3 guys so much! Justin has given me the best gift in the world, and that is the chance to be a mother. We have created two fabulous children and for that I am forever thankful. We spent the rest of the day with amazing friends that lift me up and always happen to know the best things to say. Please lots of special prayers for my brother, his heart is so heavy with hurt and sadness. He is still so angry and hurt by the same person I am and my mom was. We have such a burden of anger towards her and my brother truly feels she is the one the ended my moms life and I pray for his strength in forgiveness. I have struggled with it so badly and I have had tons and tons of support. I just pray that he will be strong.
4. Things have also been exciting with MOPS! I have been asked to join the leadership team for next year and I am extremely honored and excited. The steering team is created of about 8 women who run the show for Boerne MOPS. I will be the new Creative Activities Director and I just cannot wait to get started. MOPS has blessed my life in so many ways and I was very blessed to have shared my testimony at our last meeting. It has been a long time since I stood up and spoke in front of 100 people and I have to say that I was excited and nervous and I had to really do what I could not to pee my pants (yes I was a little nervous!) WHAT? Me? SHY!? Seriously. I am looking forward to our retreat in a couple of weeks!

Ok that is all for now. I have tons of pictures I need to post, but its time to get all these men dressed for church!

who cries at walgreens?

well i do. i cried my little face off in the mothers day card aisle at walgreens today. it was a lot of sappy lines and pretty butterfly prints with i love you mom and thank you for my life and it was just more than i could handle. i always put so much thought into my mom's cards and although i was there buying cards for all the other moms in my life, i just could not help but think about what i would have got for her. it hurts my heart that i have to live each day without her. i want to hear her smiling voice (and yes she totally did have a SMILING voice)! bryce and i continue to talk about her on a daily basis and it feels so incredible. her urn is slightly intimidating for me...and brings on quite a few too many emotions...BUT its the most gorgeous thing i have ever had and its just a speechless feeling to have it. thinking of my mom's life humbles me beyond belief. i have so many more lives to touch. God exalts me and for that i am thankful for His guiding hand. He uses me in the most incredible ways and although i often feel inferior and lost to my mom's death...i KNOW His plan for me is GREAT and i am honored to be used in such humbling ways.
on to other news...my calendar man was such a super star today! we did his DSA calendar shoot this morning and i CANNOT wait to see the results next week. he is such a little muffin and peach and pumpkin pie with cherries all over and i want to just eat him UP! Bryce skipped school today so he could be there for his bubby's special day. Bryce is probably Brody's number one fan and its cuter than cute. I love those little boys guts to the MAX :) God is great!

quick

Just a quick note to post the latest news. I had my first weekend away from Brody this past weekend...and I missed him like crazy BUT I had a super great amazing time! I swear both the boys got bigger after only 2 days! It was so pleasant to sleep in and have coffee in peace, but it was also great to get back to the normal everyday chaos that I live :)
Brody is becoming a chatterbox...he loves to lay in his bed in the morning and blah bleeee bleh ahhh to himself. I think he is singing to me in the monitor (although Justin calls it something other than singing). His big photo shoot is this Thursday...so keep big smiles in your prayers.
Bryce has had soccer cancelled for the past few weeks due to weather and swine flu, so we are looking forward to getting back on track with that this Saturday.
We have really enjoyed having my mom's beautiful urn in the house. It is so peaceful for me to know that she is in our home and will stay here with us forever. This is where she wanted to be and I am grateful to give her such an exciting place to view our world. Mother's Day is coming up and although I am proud to be a mommy and look forward to having my boys celebrate me, I cannot help dread the day a little. I always gave my mom such exciting gifts and took her to eat at Joe's Crab Shack for Crab Legs...and I am so bummed we can't do that this year. Part of me wants to just skip the day altogether and just pretend its just another Sunday. I know these moments are going to continue to arise and I will struggle with them, so please continue to pray for my peace and strength.
Our social schedule has been a madhouse lately...my calendar is bursting and I love it! Does not leave me too much time to blog though! I plan to post lots of pics from the past few weeks in the next few days.
Happy Cinco de Mayo!