A Book and the Second Trimester

When I find a book I really like, I obsess and read as much as I can (with a baby around) to finish it!  I finished this book in about 3 days.  I had heard a little chatter about it online so I did something I never do, I went to Borders and bought the hardback.

The Help, by Kathryn Stockett, takes place in 1960s Jackson. Mississippi.  The Civil Rights Movement is underway and really starting to become a nation-wide issue.  The best way to sum it up is: In a place where blacks are given the task of raising white children from birth up but now allowed to touch the family silver or use their bathrooms, three very differnt women will take it upon themselves to explore the complex working relationship between the white employers and the black maids that work for them.

The Help encorporates a few of my favorite things:  Silver patterns, chick-lit, southern writing, the Junior League, a little mystery, and talk of sorority sisters past.  My favorite part of the book was when the main character's (Skeeter) brother brings home a girl from LSU and his mother asks the girl what her family's silver pattern is.  She replies that theirs is Chantilly (just like Mom) but she quickly remarks how Skeeter is so lucky that her family is a Francis I family. She then asks Skeeter if she is going to register for her own silver pattern or get her Mama's when she gets married.  Love it.

It's just an interesting book and there wasn't a lot of cussing or anything bad like that.  It really explores race relations in the Deep South in the '60s.  I enjoyed it and it made me think of all the stories my mom told me about their maid and her friend's maids growing up in Tuscaloosa in the 60s.  I am happy to recommend it and I hope you like it too.

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Moving on, we had our 4 month OB check-up today and everything checked out great!  Unlike last time, everytime I go now I don't really have any questions.  The heart rate was 164 and it was 160 last time, just like John Michael!  It's so crazy to think that we are now officially in the second trimester. 

Our next appointment will be in July and we have to decide whether or not to find out the sex at our ultrasound.  Jordan talked me into finding out last time so we're thinking about not finding out this time.  Something to think about...

One last thing, I forgot to post the picture of how we told our family about baby #2.  It's funny because not a soul noticed his little t-shirt.  Here we are after we told them!

Verse O' the Day:

For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.

Galatians 1:10

What did YOU do this weekend?!

This weekend was so full and busy that I decided to make another slideshow instead of uploading tons of pictures!  The weather was great and we knew we had to get out and about.

Friday John Michael and I headed out to the park for lunch and played and played.  Afterwards, we went shopping and did way too much walking.  My hope was that he would just fall asleep in the stroller for afternoon nap but it took forever and I almost gave up.  He eventually went to sleep and I went to Borders to buy a book-more on that later!

Saturday we got up and went to the Farmer's Market downtown.  Jackson loved it because he got so many pets from people and John Michael loved it because there were bubbles in the downtown fountain!

Saturday afternoon we headed to Oklahoma to a State Park to check out a neat water fall.  I first saw it on Jessica's blog and since it's close by I knew we had to go sometime.  Click here to check it out!  We didn't have enough time to hike down to the bottom but maybe we'll go again and get to the bottom.  It was really pretty and I think parts of Where the Red Fern Grows was taped there.

Saturday night we headed back from Oklahoma and cooked, showered and got ready for our Sunday School's "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner".  We had a great time at Laurie's and John Michael did well even though he was tired from the day!  I cooked Blueberry Crisp and took a spicy dip with chips.  We have a great Sunday School class and anytime we can fellowship is fun!

Sunday we went to church and then blew up John Michael's new pool.  He loves water so much and even though it was like ice he insisted upon getting in.  We let him.  It was cold!  He had a great time in it and flung the water hose all around.  Check out our slideshow for all the pics from the weekend!

John Michael's Nursery

 

Welcome to John Michael's nursery...although at the ripe old age of one (AND with baby #2 on the way!)  he will be needing to upgrade pretty soon.  It's still pretty "little-babyish" but I'm already conjuring up ideas for a big boy bedroom.  I'm hoping to get some great ideas from this blog tour of nurseries!

We hope you enjoy his room!  Come on in!  We decided to do sage green, white, and cream.  His bedding is cream and sage green toille.

Here's the changing table with JM's initials that I painted and just a simple cross.

Lots of books and the CD player and sound machine!

This is our reading/nursing/rocking center!  I love my Best chair!  I have an ultrasound picture, baby Bible, and silver spoons and a cup on these tiny shelves.

This is the section of the room that I wished fit inside the closet, but it doesn't.  I would love not to see these toys everyday but I do like this storage unit!

John Michael's crib that I love so!  I like the dark color!  Above the crib is says: We took one look at you and our hearts stood still.  What a true statement!  Can you tell we're fans of crib mobiles?!

Just JM's dresser with my very old lamp, an Alabama plate, and a painting that I attempted to do of his name!  And unlike Kelly, I am NOT showing you his closet!  No way.

And what little boy's room would be complete without Big Al, I mean Lil' Al!  He resides right beside JM's bed!  Roll Tide!

This room belongs to this precious boy!  We hope you enjoyed!

Play-Day-Thursday!

We hosted playgroup at our house today, and let me tell you, we had the best time!  We celebrated John Michael's birthday again, of course, and everything was great! I used some leftover decorations and got some balloons.  The kids played so well (we DO have enough toys for a daycare you know) and all the food turned out fantastic and yummy, if I do say so myself!

We have the best Sunday School class and everyone's kids are just so cute.  I'm going to miss playgroup this summer, but I know it'll be back in the fall! 

Here's the let's-celebrate-my-birthday-for-a-month birthday boy!

Braxton playing on the couch

Baby Caleb is so darn cute

Kelly and Harper in their matching outfits...I'm kinda jealous I don't have a girl!

Ginger's newest addition, Baby Kade.  He is so tiny and precious. Today was his first day at playgroup!

Just the kiddos playing!

Now for the food.  I could NOT decide what to make so I decided to make a ginormous salad with chicken chopped up in it and then all kinds of little toppings and dressings for the salad.  I thought it was good and it was fun to choose different toppings.

I totally stole this idea of putting some cute fabric on the stovetop from Kelly.  It makes so much sense and it's a great way to serve food! 

Now, for the the kiddos we had chicken nuggets, different fruits, fruit juice, and cupcakes!

AND for dessert......

Dirt Cake!  I decided to do it in a trifle bowl instead of a cute flower pot.  It is SO good and it's fun and easy to make.  Yum.  I forgot to get a picture so this one was from Kelly's blog.  We're so glad that there are leftovers!  A few people asked about it, so here's the recipe!

Dirt Cake

1/2 cup butter, softened

1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup confectioners' sugar

2 (3.5 ounce) packages instant vanilla pudding mix

3 1/2 cups milk

1 (12 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed

32 ounces chocolate sandwich cookies with creme filling

1. Chop cookies very fine in food processor. The white cream will disappear.


2. Mix butter, cream cheese, and sugar in bowl.


3. In a large bowl mix milk, pudding and whipped topping together.


4. Combine pudding mixture and cream mixture together.


5. Layer in flower pot, starting with cookies then cream mixture. Repeat layers.


6. Chill until ready to serve.


7. Add artificial flower and trowel. Enjoy!

Another May Birthday and a Little History

Today is Uncle Judd's birthday...not only that, but it was John Michael's original due date!  What a coincidence.  John Michael just had other ideas and wanted to come early.

The Fam!

Judd is our misfit brother because he's tall, thin, blond-headed and has blue eyes.  Umm..that doesn't really fit in with the rest of our family.  We're basically the opposite of that!  He indeed is our brother and I think Ray and I will claim him.  I guess Judd is partly  where John Michael got his blue eyes!

My brother, Judd, is one of the bravest people I know.  Over the past almost 10 years he's battled an illness that almost no one in North America can explain, tell us about or why.  I could never have gone through even half of the things he has battled back from time after time.  My hat forever goes off to him for his profound bravery and ability to embrace life after being knocked down time and time again.

Now, don't think he's all about an illness.  Oh no!  Judd has a degree in Political Science and a Masters in Public Administration and even a little law school under his belt before he got very sick!  He knows so much about politics, both local and national and can finish off any book within a day.  I always call him and ask, what does this mean or why did that politican do that?!  He was also pretty excited to be an uncle and the fact that John Michael is a boy is a plus in my brother's eyes!  I see some Alabama football games in their future!

We are so blessed and thankful to God for healing him and making him well these last few years and we truly believe and pray for a miraculous healing directly from God's hands.  That is the only hope you can cling to when everything else is telling you "no, we don't know, or it may come back at any moment."  You just can't live life that way and I choose not to!  God has his own plans and timing.  It took me all of these years to finally realized that God loves him way more than I do, my parents do or the whole of my family combined x a million, so I feel a real comfort in just letting go of the worry and letting him live life in his Heavenly Father's loving arms and whatever will be will be!

We know how precious each birthday and holiday is not only with Judd around, but any member of our family.  If you've been there you know how special holidays can become and you celebrate while you can.  We never want to take any holiday or family gathering for granted and you shouldn't either.

Here we are at mine and Jordan's wedding!  He cleans up pretty nice!

Super proud uncle to John Michael and of course, baby #2!

John Michael's baby dedication back home

Uncle Judd and John Michael played ball a lot while he was here for JM's birthday!

Happy Birthday Judd!  We hope it's a good one and I'm sorry we're not closer by to celebrate with you!

Verse O' the Day:

I rise before dawn and cry for help; I hope in your words.

Psalm 119:147