Recent Pics

First day of school.....


Olivia...excited to be at school.

baby brother's crib...so glad to have it up! one big item marked off my list. woo hoo

sisters...enemies one minute, co-conspirators the next.

girls, just chilling.......

backyard play...or posing...

Wow...it's so hot...someone turn on the air or give me some cooler weather! Although, the girls aren't affected by it at all.....

Rachel, our aspiring photographer, taking my profile shot...

Since this picture, I've been so puffy till I had to take my rings off...and barely got them off without losing my knuckle! Now I can breathe.

25 weeks and counting...

May...roughly 15 weeks...the belly begins...........

Now Rachel and I compare notes...

Well, I've been so busy with moving, work, summer, now gearing up for school, and here we are almost 26 weeks into pregnancy number 3 and we've hardly stopped long enough to really enjoy it. Baby Boy will be here before we know it! So far we have the crib, bedding, lots of hand-me-down clothes from friends, and about 3 packs of diapers. Ha. And we all know that will not be enough!

My belly is growing at a rapid pace...after such a slow start, I had been so proud of myself for only gaining a few pounds. But wow, what a difference a month makes....I surely made up for it all and now have packed on a few. Might as well blow it out with the last one, right?? Since school started this week I have made time in my schedule for a little workout in addition to my attempts at water aerobics each week. This baby is kicking up a storm and is very active, especially when I eat or when I lie down at night to rest. We are going for a sonogram in a few weeks and I can't wait to see him.

First Grade!

It's the routine of school that I believe keeps my household in order. And this week marked the beginning of that marvelous routine. Not to mention, school starting gives me the slightest hint of fall, even in the midst of 999% humidity! Olivia is loving her class, her new book bag, her teacher and all her new friends. Of course, the new book bag didn't actually make it to school until the second day. Rachel has a problem with getting up early...she absolutely doesn't like the new morning routine. Notice Olivia in the pictures is up and doing her hair like such a big girl. The only picture I could get of Rachel that first day was of her hands in front of her face! She has such personality.

Now that we have started school, we are also registered for Ballet and Jazz for Olivia and Gymnastics for Rach. This should be very interesting. I keep telling myself that even though it will be two extra nights a week of activities, it will still be less time consuming than soccer! We'll see how they like their respective classes. I'm sure there will be many funny stories to tell over the next few months! I will keep you posted........

Soap Box

Well, it's another day in the life...or a week in the life...ha. I think these are the times when we really should appreciate just each day and whatever it holds. Some days, like today, and maybe even the previous 30 days, that no matter what surrounds us, no matter how crazy it seems, no matter how bizarre we think other people act, no matter who tries to bring us into their tangled webs of gossip, we should just briefly step back and search high and low...for one small, but significant positive moment in this day. I don't always understand what people are thinking, why they act the way they do or say the things they say......and I've realized that I don't have to understand and I don't have to live their life. It is my God-given responsibility to take care of my home, my family and my own life. It is the fruit of MY labor that I have to be accountable for. So there. That is my sermon from the soapbox. I'm very thankful for my life and for the experiences I've had. Even the ones I don't understand will prove to be for my good, because God loves me and I'm His child and He knows what is best for me. So in the midst of all the negative, the worries, the uncertainties of life, I will stand and not be afraid! God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound MIND!

Random Pics

two peas in a pod...

Cool chick.

Cousin time.

The girls, posing at our old house.

Rachel swimming at the Club... Laura Keegan, our baby cousin, visiting...

Rachel with her sweet smile................................Olivia taking a dip in the pool.......bright blue eyes shining. oh, since then she's pulled another tooth!

What a whirlwind!!! just shy of two months ago, we made an executive decision to see if our house would sell, with a back up plan in place to just stay put until after Christmas if it doesn't. What happened next just makes my head spin........less than a week goes by and we had a contract on our house. We were all caught up in cleaning it up and getting it ready to sell, packing, etc. and i realized: we do'nt have anywhere to live now! so, just a few short days later, we settle on a house, make an offer, and two weeks later we close on both homes and move in. All this within about 3 weeks.

During those weeks, however, our life didn't just stop. We had to do a few repairs to the home, paint, etc. and we also had a visit with our doctor to check in on the little baby. IT'S A BOY!!!! What a surprise and what great, exciting news. The girls are thrilled and so are we (and our entire family). So, now the work begins...buying all new stuff, gear, furniture, clothes, and .. oh..my..goodnes...DIAPERS! ha. I am just not used to that. I was so overwhelmed looking at bottles and feeding systems online that I didn't know what to do or where to start. So much has changed in five years. I know it will all come flooding back to me, but it will also be a little different this time around. I'm not sure how to handle a boy. Thankfully, i'm older and a tad bit wiser, with more experience under my belt and a hopefully a more relaxed attitude towards this whole mothering mission. I'm starting to finally have time to get excited and focus on baby boy stegall (no, no name is picked out yet) and i'm looking forward to his arrival and the changes he'll bring to our family. It will be so neat to see how our girls react and grow as big sisters.

we've endured a few hard times lately too, some big, some small.....we had to remove some semi-poisonous plants from the new house, install new locks and will have to do some unexpected tile work.....I had a badly damaged tooth pulled (without gas or good drugs), lee endured double-hernia surgery this week and I am sad to say that my former boss and friend, Mr. Dan Edwards, passed away last week. Mr. E was such a special person in my life...even though he was 'just' my boss, he had a huge influence on me during the years i worked for him. He showed me that one could be a strong, tough business leader, yet still be a Christian and put family before work. I'm thankful for the opportunity to work for him and with him for six years. I met him just after Lee and I got married and worked for him until just before Rachel's birth. He was so encouraging when I would worry about becoming a mom. He was a huge practical joker and would always tell us stories of his family, four grown children and all his grandkids. He also taught me that age was just a number....even until his diagnosis with brain cancer at age 63, he was training for a triathalon! I will never forget when he came into the office telling me that he'd installed kayak racks on the top of his car so he and his wife could kayak across the grand canyon one year...and they did! it was great. I'm blessed to have known him and I'm also thankful for my years under his leadership. I still have some wonderful friends whose relationships were developed during those years and in that department. We never know how people will influence us and how God can use even business relationships to mold us and help us become better Christians.

With so much going on, it's been hard to sleep, for me, lee and the girls, which is why i'm typing this at 1:38AM. I did have a lot of caffeine and cotton candy today. ha. OF course, the first day of school is just around the corner and the demands of those first few days will definitely get us whipped into shape quickly. I'm looking forward to fall and the routine it brings. Getting ready for baby will keep us busy enough! So, i better stop here and let my mind rest. The house is quiet and i'm going to sleep! God bless!