Almost done...

Well, I am still pregnant although I haven’t been talking or blogging about it much, hoping that that would speed up time;) However, I did want little Ray Ray to know how much her family is looking forward to her arrival, just because I haven’t been taking all sorts of pictures and talking constantly about her due date (maybe because it’s the third) every night before Justin and I go to bed I tell him just how excited I am to be having a baby again. We then talk about all the fun we have in store (along with the sleep deprivation.) We have been wanting baby Reagan for sometime now and as the time approaches my excitement grows along with my belly and my impatience.
Brin loves to feel the little kicks of her sister and wants so desperately to hold her and love her. Owen is very aware that he will soon have “two sisters” and that Reagan is already a part of our family. I do still have so much I want to get done before the big arrival but we are almost there Reagan. Enjoy your last few weeks in a safe and solitary womb because you will soon be mauled by two loving siblings, adoring parents, amazing aunts and uncles, and wonderful of Grandparents! Can’t wait to meet you!!!

This maybe the only belly picture I have taken the entire pregnancy it was taken with three months left so about a month and a half ago!

May Happenings...

We were able to go to a baseball game. Taking the kids was fun and we even sat through ONE inning, no joke ONE inning. The rest of the time was spent playing and eating with the kids. I didn't mind, but I am sure Justin would have loved to watch a bit more of the game.

Our garden is growing like CRAZY! It is so nice to pick something fresh out of the garden and eat it for dinner. This is a one day bounty, Justin and the kids may get a little sick of squash variations for dinner each night;)

And my baby finished her last day of Preschool and lost her 1st tooth. The toothfairy was terrified that he would wake her up and had to wake me up to let me know that his heart was beating so fast as he stole that tiny tooth. Oh the joys of parenting!

I SEE...

I have recounted this story many times but for memory sake I will again retell the story of Brin and her new glasses…

I have been aware of the fact that our kids may have problems with their eyesight because of Justin’s terrible vision. So, being sensitive to this I have been watching Brin from the time she was little. But, there were no signs that she had any problem seeing; she is well advanced socially and mentally for her age. Her Preschool teacher said she had no problem understanding or participating. However, about a month ago as we were watching TV I asked Brin to change the channel to 8 and that is when she said “Mom there aren’t any numbers on the TV!” Well, yes there were and I could see them as clear as day. I told Justin about my concerns, he let me know of a free eye exam for kids and off I went.
We took Brin to do a prescreening (to see if we really need to get an appt.) She sat down and stuck her little head into a machine and the operator than asked her to read line 6. Nothing was uttered by Brinley, the operator than asked me “Does she know her numbers and Alphabet?” “Yes,” I answered. I then stuck my head in there and I could see just so clearly all the way down to line 10. So I asked Brin to read the biggest line. Perfectly she read line one and then line 2 after that she said it got blurry. SHE COULD ONLY SEE LINE ONE AND TWO!!! The operator promptly signed a paper for an exam.

We set up an appt for her exam and I was so glad that we were going to get to the bottom of this and get her seeing well. We meet with the Optometrists, and toward the end of the LONG exam he explained to me that she had a stigmatism in each eye, she was far sighed, and that she has NEVER seen clearly even up close. Her whole life she had never seen really anything clearly. I was so saddened by this news, but thankful that we were going to be able to help her. The Dr. then informed me that he wouldn’t get the to 20/20 that day because it would cause her headaches, he made an appt for October to see her and change her prescription again. Every time we would meet with anyone and they saw her prescription they would stop and say, “Wow, she does need glasses!”

As we walked out to get into the car Brin looking down at the feet said “Mom, I can see my shoes from way up here.” Since this incident we have heard many interesting observations from Brin because of her new found sight. Like “Mom I can see Mountains!” “The TV works from even way back here.” And just today “I like all the colors I can see when I wear my glasses!”

My Father...

I don’t know if it’s just getting older and wiser, the fact that I am overflowing with pregnancy hormones, or that recently a change in my Fathers life has gotten me reflecting, but I feel very overwhelmed with the appreciation I have toward him today. It is his birthday today and how I wish I could find either a present that would suffice or the words to express but I will always fall short in regards to my dad. He is one of (if not the greatest) examples of Christ like love and accepting. When I think of the ways he guided me gently toward the path of happiness, how he loves my husband as his very own son, and how he has tenderly opened his heart to my children I am in awe. I didn’t know how important it would be to have my parents adore my husband, I didn’t know it would bring our relationship closer, I couldn’t have foreseen that a grandfather could invite all the confidence of a young child. I do now know that these are great blessings. I have witness the unselfish service to the Lord and I try in my baby way to show that love as well. Thanks for the example you are to me and my family you are the greatest dad a girl could hope for!!!

Take me out to the ball game...

We have been busy watching daddies games. I have been watching baseball games for the past 10 seasons and while I still don't understand all of the game this is the first year that I look forward to going to them. I think its a mix between the weather, being pregnant & getting out of the house with the two kids, and watching Justin as the Head coach that makes this year different than the others.
Justin just loves coaching and he has done SO well with his team this year! They are looking at making the State Playoffs when last year the team only won 3 games! The kids just love seeing daddy after the games so they can run around on and help drag the field. What a blessing to be a part of daddies work! We are proud of you!!!

Justins dad is so nice to keep the books at every game!

Recently Justin took his team to play on the D-backs Main spring training field at Talking Stick! It was a pretty awesome experience and they WON in extra innings to boot!

I was able to make Brin a dress out of a adult shirt, that made my little Princess very happy!

Grow, grow little garden

For the past 3 years we have planted a garden in the Spring and so far each season has been pretty successful. This year we planted squash, cherry tomato's, mint, jalapenos, and zucchini. We are super excited to see what this season will bring us. Brin and Owen are so excited to see the growth of the garden and love to help harvest (just have to keep them out until they are ready:)

Owen helped for a minute but I guess he had better things to do than plant!

Take me out to ball game...

We didn't have a super relaxing Spring Break this year due to the fact that Justin is now the head coach he had more responsibilities than before. This means more time away. I remind myself often that its only for a few months and then he will be with us with a vengeance (summer break:) So we look forward to seeing his handsome face more often, until then we take every advantage of time with him. We were able to have one full day with him (and what did he choose to do?) First a massage, then lunch, and off to a Spring Training game (can't get enough baseball:) followed by dinner at a great Teppanyaki Grill near our house. It was a great day, we can't wait till the summer. For me it also means getting our sweet baby here so I am more excited than usual.

Board Kid??? Not really he cried when he had to leave he thought he and his daddy were going to be able to play with the pro's! He did bring a smurfs glove that he said he would have shared with his dad so that they could have played:)

Brin just loved the pink lemonade, it was $5 though so she only got to have one:)

Owen kept called the the chiefs "Firemen" because they made fire on the grill.