its a BOY !!!!

we waited and waited and waited...

and then in a huge hurry.......

Beckham Augustine arrived

at 6:45am Friday, July 3rd

8lbs 2 oz

21 inches

Everything went super well, and I am feeling awesome. Beckham is a super baby and slept 4.5 hours straight two nights in a row! He is pooping like a champ. The nurses were all pretty impressed.
He's been on two outings since coming home from the hospital Sunday evening. To Target (but of course!) on Monday, and we went out do dinner and to the park tonight.
Big Brother and Big Sister are having a blast! I know I have been slacking.. and I can't believe I didn't update like 5 minutes after he was born... (well.. actually Andrew post on mine and his facebook about an hour after he arrived. lol)
so ..... if you want quicker updates.... friend me on face book =)

we've been home two days, and are adjusting well... already rearranging my living room! ha! no seriously... while the THREE kids are napping.. Andrew and I got a new decorating bug up our sleeves!!

I have a bunch (248) pictures to finish editing and then I'll post more of this adorable lil guy and share his birth story.

I can already tell this 3rd child is NOT going to be skimped out on the photo opps.

He has his first dr. visit tomorrow morning and then I have a photo shoot in planned in the afternoon.

check back soon( and I'll try to be good and fast with my updates)

an eventful anniversary

so we celebrated SIX years of wedded bliss... (ok, for any of you married people.. ya know that is just a sayin' right?? lol) on Sunday. actually things just keep getting better and better... love comes with age and patience.. and learning.. and listening... and a whole bunch of other stuff =P.

so A had to go into church early to work the sound board.. so I got the kids ready and we showed up to service.. which was A-mazing .. yet again. seriously.. I wish I would have found this church years ago.. would have saved a whole heck of a lot of grief and stress.. not to mention I would have been getting biblical truth....ok, I digress...

after church, I dropped the kids off at my moms house, and then Andrew and I went to a late lunch at a really great restaurant. We had several places in mind in our quaint little downtown area, but none of them were open on Sunday. So we ended up at Mountain Jacks. There was hardly anyone there.. the lights are totally dim, we had private seating.. and enjoyed the leisurely hour and a half meal, where we were not interrupted by anything! =) ok, I take that back.. my five trips to the bathroom, kinda interrupted the mood...lol

the only thing that would have made it better, was if I could have enjoyed a glass of wine with my hubby. We had amazing Cajun shrimp for an appetizer and then stuffed ourselves on an amazing salad, and then barely made it through some incredible steak.

Oh, and can't forget the mile high mud pie for dessert =)

We had a great time, and then went back to the ol' apartment where we first lived when moving to Indiana. We parked the car and took the same route(with out the fighting, this time!!) walking around the complex until we came to this spot.

Our complex had several ponds, and unbeknownst to me that day back in May of 2002, my husband had a plan.. to walk me to this bench and then casually get me riled up about the fact that he just didn't have the money to buy a ring yet... and then sort of just work it into the conversation.. so much that I didn't even catch on the first time...

a proposal!!!

so now, being mega pg with baby number 3, we sat, and relished in what God has done in our lives over the last 6 years.



we've certainly come a long way baby....

and here he is re enacting the proposal! (though I am pretty sure he didn't get down on his knee the last time !!)

anyway, after going down memory lane, we headed to McDonald's to get one of their iced coffee drinks, and then we headed to a park near my mom's house. We just sat on the swing and talked more.. so nice not to have the distractions of the kids!!

We went back to pick up the kids who had been swimming all afternoon, and they were not ready to leave. So my mom ordered pizza for us all and we just hung out a little longer.

She had given my two flats of flowers ,so after we got the kids in bed, my loving husband came out with me at 9pm to help plant! We were supposed to be getting rain, and I wanted the plants in the ground before hand.. not to mention baby could come any time.

turns out I over did it on celebrating my anniversary..

ended up in the hospital around 1am Sunday/Monday morning.. with high blood pressure.

I had gone to bed around midnight, but just couldn't get calmed down. I was anxious(I have no idea why..lol) and was extremely jittery. My feet and hands were numb, and I was having trouble breathing. So I came out to tell Andrew and then I really felt like I was going to pass out.

I am not one to over react on things, but I really felt like something could be wrong and I just wanted to get checked out.

good thing I guess, b/c the dr . on call gave me meds to bring the b/p down, and he wanted to me to stay all night for observation.

needless to say the kids did enjoy their new surroundings in the hospital room(they were bouncing off the walls), until around 4am, and then Andrew took them down to the van in the parking lot, so we could all attempt to sleep.

everything ended fine, and now we are still just waiting... and waiting.... and I am getting more an more annoyed.

the only good thing was that I was in Hobby Lobby today getting stuff to make Brig's bday invitations, and a lady commented on when I was due. when I told her Sat... she was like

"no way, you are so small.. my daughter is due in a month and she is huge. I don't think she'll make it that long. Seriously , you are due in 3 days? You are not even swollen or anything!"

so yeah.... a complete stranger made my day!!

Gotta get moving.. we're hosting life group tonight, but be sure to check back for updates!

(and if you're the praying type.. you can send a shout up for me to have this baby before the 4th! I just really don't want this kid to share it with the fireworks!)

Six years ago today........

and since we were busy celebrating all day.. and now it is midnight.. the day is technically over and I did not blog about the day my life changed forever... in an incredibly wonderful way.

I love you A, with all my heart and I am so thankful that God brought you into my life.

for all you bloggers.... I'll post our celebration and some pics... b/c what good is a post w/o pictures right?

its morning and I am still pregnant!!

kinda been my sayin' for this week... after having many contractions last weekend, and some other 'signs'.. we just thought that this kid was ready to greet the world.

apparently he/she wants to cuddle in the water a bit more!!

We have had 90 degree plus weather this week and horrible humidity.. (but it is IN, so what is new?) We have been taking it easy in the mornings and finally getting out the door for our 11:30 am swimming lessons.

Brigham started off pretty timid, and was told that if he was the 'shallowish ' kid and still had dry hair after the next day's lessons , then we would just stop coming. Tuesday we went to the pool with some friends in the afternoon, and he did ok, in the bigger pool. Still pretty afraid of the deep(3ft.. lol) water! But we did run into some neighbor kids of my mom's that Brigham really looks up to. Well they had all the swim gear and were like fish all over the place.

That night, Andrew took Brigham to Wally World and he picked out goggles and a kick board.
The next day at swim lessons he was like a totally different kid! Who knew that $2.00 goggles would give him the confidence he needed! He has been in the deep water since, and diving to the bottom for rings, and doing all the things his teacher asks. I am so proud of him!

I am taking my camera today to see if I can get some good pics to scrap... though it has been so miserable, that Miss T and I usually stay under the cover and only go watch about 10 min of his lessons!

We spent 3 hours at the park yesterday with some friends, and we are all suffering from red faces and backs.
I did pull out the sunscreen, but apparently it was not high enough spf.. we're all fried... er reddish brown. Poor Brigham keeps asking for a band aid b/c his back hurts!! LOL


well.... better be moving on... have a great day.. stay cool.... and keep watching for updates =)

ready and waiting....

for baby to arrive!!!

sadly, and with a little depression, I must post that I no longer own Gretta the Jetta.

(my first brand new car, picked out and bought be me when I moved to OH)

ahhhhh the memories she has brought me/us over the years.....

(sniff, sniff) We knew for awhile that this sporty and trendy car would soon be a thing of the past, but it has now become a reality. We really didn't know exactly how we would afford a new van either, but GOD has been in control.

Right before we left for CO, I was getting my hair done, and just casually mentioned to the gal who does my hair that I would soon need to trade in my car.... she said her daughter had just turned 16 and they were 'thinking' of getting her something this fall......

well, I never thought of it again... we were home 3 days , and Mindy called me to see what we were wanting to do about our car. We hadn't even started looking for a van.. (seriously, that is!)

The next few days unfolded very fast, and she committed to the jetta, sight unseen. We gave them an offer.. they took it... then we even upped our price after talking with a dealer and a trade in option . She didn't balk, and had the money to us w/in two days.

We went out one evening.. found about three vans, went the next day to test drive... and then this van was ours:



I am now a mini van mama!
well technically the sales guy let me drive it for 4 days w/o even closing the deal or giving them any money.. weird I know! But I have to say, as sad as I was to say good bye to my little car, I have become quite used to the smell and feel of a new car!

We didn't have to give up the heated leather seats(which my jetta had) and gained TONS of storage space in the stow and go hideaways

the kids are ecstatic with all their cup holders!

We keep finding more bells and whistles on this thing and my jetta actually had every single upgrade except the engine.

the kids, (and myself) are loving the hands free doors opening and closing too!

they think its magic!! LOL

It has taken me a bit to get used to being up so much higher, but I am loving all the room, that um, the jetta was seriously lacking!!

we also went up in our price point by about $11,000, but amazingly God provided exactly what we needed to be able to make the payments. and Andrew won't have to go get a second job. yeah!




we also got another ride. Miss T is LOVING her new stoller. yep. I spelled it right. she doesn't say the 'r' ! LOL

we were able to find this awesome Eddie Bauer Tandem Stroller that will work with our travel system (also Eddie Bauer) that we already have. and it matched decently!! so glad we didn't have to buy a whole new car seat/carrier for the baby too.

so yeah... we're just waiting now.....

actually last week I lost my *plug*.. (TMI for some.. ahem, Jonell... lol), so I got all excited.. and well nothing else happened last week. My friend Emily was on stand by to transport Brigham to and from VBS.. but we never needed her! BTW, Brigham absolutely LOVED vacation bible school. He has talked non stop about the activities and he has been singing along to the songs in the 'new van'!! I have to admit , I enjoyed the three hour break I got each morning last week, as well.

Life never seems to slow down, and we start two weeks of swimming lessons tomorrow. Should be fun for him- He'll be in the 'bigger' pool. And he is signed up with his friend Hannah, so I think they'll have a good time. just hope he puts his face in the water this year!! LOL

I am still editing pictures from 3 photo sessions and trying to get that all wrapped up before d-day.

I'll keep ya'll posted on the baby scene... been contracting the last couple days. and it seems as if my night out Sat at the Taste of Tippecanoe had paid off. I intentionally walked and walked and ate all spicey food!! We were there for about 5 hours in the heat and humidity.. but there was great music and great friends and awesome food! totally worth it if it sent me into progression too =)

and since I may be losing this look rather soon, I'll leave you with the maternity pics that my friend Farrah took while out in Colorado.

totally going to frame these next two (in b/w) with a pic of baby in the middle!

and this one sums it all up!!!

my garden is growing!

one of my favorite things about summer, is all my landscaping! When we moved into our home nearly 4 years ago, there was not a single flower bed. We have spent each summer adding here and there, and I transplanted a ton of perennials from my mom's 'master garden'. This is my happy place. Even now, at days before giving birth, I find myself kneeling (not so gracefully) in the dirt and feeling the earth and smelling the fragrance that surrounds me. I relish in the beauty that God has placed around me. And as my son keeps saying.. " mom, you have a green thumb!"... I am thankful that I am able to keep things living.... here are just some snap shots of what is blooming right now! I love that I have things perfectly placed and times, so that there is always a bit of color in each part of my yard at all times =)

(ps. don't look to closely at the little bistro table... I had a pink table cloth and stuffed bear on it, for a shower I threw for my friend Emily on Sunday). pink is not the color of choice for the front yard.. lol ! (clashes with the house! =)

whoops I lied.... there are some little magenta flowers on this shrub in the front of the house.....

our kitty , Buckeye making his debut on the ol' blog.... doesn't he look thrilled ?

my mom got me this little boy statue when I had Brigham.....

and then she looked all around to find this little girl statue , when Tatum was born.

wonder what kind of statue she will be getting me in a few days?

I am actually pretty exhausted right now, so I am off to take a nap while the kids do. I will update later with pics from the shower I threw on Sunday, as well as an update on the baby scene.

finishing up my 38th week tomorrow!!! yikes~

Colorado... last one!!

it was a dream come true for my husband....

it was a perfect day! the weather was great and Andrew and I had so much fun on our second date while being in Colorado . (the first was to dinner at the Village Tavern which was fabulous and shopping at Flat Irons mall.)

It was so much fun to see my hubby get so excited! He was giddy like a little kid!

We got there about an hour before game time so he could go down on the field and get autographs. He ended up with 3 or 4 really good ones. He brought his prized world series baseball and a hat to have signed.

We watched the players warm up...

Here Andrew is with the head coach chatting it up....

an action shot...

this is an Indiana boy trying to steal third! Our seats were about 20 rows up along the 3rd baseline. again .. perfect!

we had this old man (who pretty much was not all there.. lol) take this pic for us. Andrew has always thought it was sexy for girls to wear jerseys. Me.. not so much.

But I humored him, and sported one over my mongo prego belly, and apparently see thru purple shirt from Target!!

It was a great day away from the kids, and just to hang with each other. Andrew is so passionate about baseball, and well, I am 'sorta' in to it.. I should say I like the event of it, but never get in to who the players and stats are and such. A on the other hand knows every detail about every thing! I am learning to get a better understanding of his love of the game.

oh, and the stadium food was pretty fantastic too! =P