Charlie update

I went to the doctor today for my 32 week (8 month) visit. I have gained 16 pounds (gasp!). He measured my stomach like he always does. Typically with most pregnant women, you can measure from the top of their tummy to the bottom and the length in centimeters should be close to the # of weeks pregnant that you are like 28 cm =28 weeks pregnant. Well, I am 32 weeks and my stomach is measuring 38 centimeters. So, according to the size of my belly, I should be due in 2 weeks, not 2 months. Dr. Huggins said that Charlie's growth is impressive and that he wants to do an ultrasound in a few weeks to get a better estimate of his weight (not that it matters, b/c I am having a c-section either way). If one more complete stranger asks me if I'm sure there's only one in there, I am going to scream!!! I want to laugh in their faces and say, "Do you think I haven't had any prenatal care? Do you think it's 1925 and ultrasound machines don't exist? If I have made it to 8 months pregnant and don't realize that I am carrying twins, then someone needs to alert the American Medical Association and turn in my doctor, and, they need to call DHR too, b/c I may not be suitable to raise said twins."
Now that I've vented, I promise there is a post in the works of Huett's birthday, but I am using pictures from several sources so I am having to get it all together. Just to keep you all in suspense, it invoved a real-life Batman, a bat-cave complete with fog, black-lights, bubble machine, and secret passage-way, and confetti that fell from the sky! Pretty freakin' awesome!! But there are pictures soon-to-come! I hope everyone is having a good week!

Birthday Cupcakes

Since none of the kids went to preschool on Huett's birthday, I made his cupcakes for that Friday and I think they turned out pretty darn cute if I may say so myself!

All I did was cut out a stencil and used it to do the sprinkles!
Huett thought it was really neat! And they tasted pretty good too!

On the actual day of Huett's birthday, we took him to a magic show at the Fultondale library.

This was the magician.


The boys thought it was pretty silly!

They got tickled over a few of his jokes



So far, Huett was really enjoying being four years old!

They were paying attention and acting so grown.


Ava thought his card tricks were really funny!


Then, we took Huett to one of his favorite restaurants. Stix (one of my faves too!) He is finally over being scared of the flames, and he just loves the food!

Archer wasn't all that impressed by the show
(notice his eyes, they are exactly the same color as Ava's in the next picture, which are exactly the same color as Trisha's)

Ava couldn't wait for the yummy rice!

Sam loves it too. Come to think of it, I don't know very many people who don't love Stix.

At the end of the meal, our waitress surprised Huett with icecream and a birthday candle!

I think the loud drum scared him a little but he was tough.

He blew out his candle!

He didn't want to share his ice cream and he ate every bit of it himself. He even resorted to drinking it with a straw when it melted. He had a great 4th birthday!

Fourth of July!

Better late than never! We had a fun Fourth of July! We grilled out at one of Mikey's friends house from work and went swimming. Then, that night we went to watch the fireworks at the Vulcan in downtown Birmingham. These were the first really big fireworks that the kids had ever seen!

Sam was really surprised about the fireworks, and a little freaked out, hence the wild-eyed look in this picture.

He retreated to the safety of his Gran-Gran's lap for the rest of the show.

Ava, however was totally into it!

We really had great seats. It didn't last as long as I remember it but isn't that how everything is when you grow up?

Ava held her hands to her chin with her little jaw dropped for the first few minutes. She really loved the sparkly ones!

These were our seating arrangements...not shown: Mikey, myself, Trisha and Archer

After the fireworks show we had a spend the night party at our house. We made it home around 10:30 and did a few fireworks of our own...in our pajamas.

Sam still wasn't into it and a little freaked out so he did what he always does...shot basketball.

Huett, however thought the sparklers were great.

Ava loved that too. She said they were so beautiful.

Please don't turn us into DHR for letting 3 year olds play with fireworks. I, being a nurse, should know better...and no, it wasn't my over-protective husband who shot a roman candle out into the yard that hit a tree trunk, bounced off the roof of the very porch Sam and I were sitting under, and landed at Huett's feet while we all screamed in horror. Luckily by the time it had landed, the flame had died out.

After the fireworks extravaganza, everyone was sacked out.

I didn't so much as hear a peep from them the entire night until around 8:00 the next morning!

She slept in the middle. I think she had a blast!

Sam was worn out too! We had so much fun!

At then end of the night, Mikey had to clean up the debris! Nothing like a man that's not afraid to use a broom. Even if that is probably the only time in our almost 5 year marriage that he has used it! Still nice to know he can! Love you honey!!

Alabama Power Charity Softball Tournament

On the last weekend in June, Mikey and some of his friends from work gathered up a team to play in their company softball tournament. It was an all day event, so the boys and I had to go for moral support!

I know there aren't too many pictures of Mikey that make it to my blog but here are a few of him in action! Ladies , try to control yourselves. This is one good looking guy. Look at his calf muscles in this picture!

I love this picture too. I wonder if our sons will grow to be as good looking as he is? I am sure they will!

Running home for the score! They guys played a total of eight games between 8:00 that morning to 9:30 that night! It was in the mid to high 90's all day. I know, am I crazy for taking a 2 and 3 year old there while being 7 months pregnant? Probably a little, but I would do it again tomorrow. It was really fun. I did have swollen ankles by the time we made it home and I called in to work the next day but I am so glad we made the trip!

This is the team. They finished in third place, which is pretty good considering they only got to practice one time and only a few of them made it to that practice!

Now, more importantly, what did the boys and I do at the ballpark all day? They had a moonwalk and a big slide, a covered playground. face painting, and train rides. It was a blast...ridiculously hot, but lots of fun!

later in the night, they turned the sprinklers on at the fields. I let the boys loose and they had a blast. Don't think I wasn't tempted to jump into the stream myself, but I refrained!

Sam got a snake painted on his face!

Huett went for the Pirate look!

Getting his face painted is the only occasion for which Huett will hold completely still and let a stranger come this close to his face!

Sam goes for the reverse-feet first slide every time!

This shot was at the start of the first game! Notice how clean the boys still are. That didn't last for long.

Huett was sweating like a grown man when he came out of this moonwalk.

Huett goes for the traditional slide, on the back, feet first!

All in all, we had a blast! The boys needed to see their daddy play and I am glad we joined in on the fun! Can't wait until next year...I'm not sure if Charlie will feel the same... We'll just have to wait and see!

Archer's first swim!

Archer went on his first swim last weekend at my grandmother's pool. Isn't he the fattest 3 month old you've ever seen? He is going to be such a big boy!

He seemed to enjoy the water. It did help that the pool is almost the temperature of a bathtub. I guess that's what you get from an Alabama summer.

I love this sweet little picture of him. I could just pinch his little cheeks off.