Baby Love

We've made some serious progress in Knox's nursery! PRAISE THE LORD! I was determined to have it completed before October and we beat our goal! Whoop, whoop!

There are still some minor adjustments to make but we have all the time consuming tasks finished. My precious, sweet as pie, ridiculously talented neighbor/friend painted Chivas' grandmother's glider and I had it re-upholstered.  Wonder if I blogged about that? Hmmm....

Anyways, if you don't have a piece of Lisa Singletary's art/furniture, add it to your Christmas list!! I ADORE everything she has ever created for me...and trust me, I'm a tough crowd!

So as a precious gift from her and her sweet little family, she created the most perfect name sign for his room. I AM IN LOVE>...and she is making a frame to match! Check it out:-)

I'll post complete photos of the entire room after I finish moving some things around! It's honestly the most calming room...we love...big time...

So here's the deal...

I am on the fence...more like wobbling to the negative side about posting maternity photos.  You know how it is...a pregnant Momma sure doesn't feel like the belle of the ball. But then you have all the folks who are ALL ABOUT a pregnant bump.  I reluctantly agreed to one photo and pray no one looks at it and shrieks...so here goes!

25 weeks:-)

Okay, so enough of that! Let's update on my sweet pumpkin, Knox!

He never. stops. moving. ever.

I'm hoping he "gets his silly's out" before he is born. No one likes staying up all night, right!?!?

I honestly wake up during the night and he's having a serious dance party. He takes little naps throughout the day but honestly doesn't remain still (assuming asleep) for longer than 15 minutes or so. We are all so ready to hold him and smell him and even change his diapers. Sam and Chap are honestly as excited as me and Chivas...I can't wait...precious moments coming our way!

BUT...there's always a but you know...I've got to remain pregnant so that we get a chubby full term, healthy baby instead of a premature sweetie.

I'm not very good at carrying babies full term. Sam was born at 35 weeks with a halted (grueling, hospitalized) premature labor at 33 weeks. Healthy...thank you sweet Jesus.

Chap was born at 36 weeks. Healthy...PTL

And now I am diagnosed with incompetent cervix...ugh those words:-(

I don't like personal details but basically I'm not standing for longer than a few minutes at a time, not walking long distances, and having lots of side lying rest. Don't get excited...not the vacation I was hoping for. But, anything for baby Knox. I have cervical length checks via ultrasound every week to 2 weeks to make sure I haven't progressed further. And guess what? It actually lengthened itself the last time! Amazing human mother body...thumbs up!

Please pray for a LONG, full term pregnancy and next time you see Chivas, please give him a high five for being a champion husband and father! I'm telling you, he has stepped up! We go back next Tuesday so I'll try to update then! 

Is it FIRE DAY yet?!?!

Chapper looked forward to their field trip to the fire station ALL WEEK last week. Every morning he woke up and asked "is it fire day?!?!"  He's coming out of his shell some and actually thought about shaking Sparky's hand...big milestone for Chap. Of  course, he ultimately decided against it BUT atleast he didn't cry when he saw him! I'll take that! He was so excited that his Daddy walked with his class. Mommy got to drive there! Ahhh the perks of pregnancy...

Maybe one day I can talk Chap into smiling for a picture;-) 

Bulldozing...

How's that for progress? We had an awesome visit with our sweet Dr. Moses yesterday. She says our little shugga looks great! We had our "big" anatomy sono yesterday and Knox was turned over on his tummy. I have a feeling we'll have a little tummy sleeper regardless of how many times I turn him on his "back to sleep"! He was very active...I'll explain the post title in a second...

Apparently I have an anterior placenta...which is not really uncommon but most definitely explains why it's taken SO LONG for me to feel him moving. My placenta is on the front of my tummy, just under my belly button. So he is having a great time beating his placenta up instead of me! I'm just thankful it's not low and covering my cervix! NO C-SECTION for me PLEASE!

We watched him kick and tuck his knees beneath him and play with his cord and THEN....
This child stretches out and uses his yummy little legs to BULLDOZE himself into my side. I wish y'all could have seen the US tech's face and reaction. She said "OMG, little stinker!" He literally repeatedly shoved off one side to bury his head down into the other side. Totally explains the horrible "theres a damn head in my side" feeling I've had the past week or so. Tech said she had NEVER seen a baby do that before! He was being quite stingy with his face so we couldn't see any of it...he was busy snuggling into the very corner depths of my poor uterus. Dr. Moses said "well he definitely acts like a boy"...Well played, God...well played. We've been blessed with a super boy...with heavy machinery capabilities...

I didn't cry!

My QTs are off to their first day of school! Sam is in the 2nd grade at Middle Elementary and Chap is in 4 year old Pre-K at First Baptist. They both did so well this morning and so did I! Well, I did take a million photos but that's better than absolutely losing my cool and boo-hooing like I've lost my mind...

Last night we made sure everything was packed in their bookbags and ready to roll! Then I had the make the important decision on what to wear...
After being shot down on khaki shorts and polo shirts we decided to just wear comfortable Under Armour and tennis shoes...boys were happy and Mom didn't have to iron. Score.

Have a look at my little posers....

And then Ty had a nervous break down...I actually did way better than he did!

I'm certain dogs are way smarter than we think...it's amazing how he knew his little babies were leaving for the school routine again...

Maybe that's why he insisted on sleeping in their room last night and obsessed over their morning routine.

He's getting old...and wise...

And then he had to sit in his Daddy's lap to be consoled...

Have and great first day, Sam and Chap!

Crazy Cravings!

I love hearing the crazy cravings that pregnant Mommy's have!  Mine don't seem to be as exciting as some others I have heard. I guess I like to keep it simple:-) What were your irresistable cravings during your pregnancies????

My number 1 craving...CHICK-FIL-A!

On a different, yet related note...
I don't normally voice my opinion on politics and social issues that cause a ridiculous uproar but I truly couldn't care less who marries who. Call me liberal...I don't care.  There aren't many issues that I tend to have liberal feelings about and the gay marriage topic may very well be the only one.  The gay married couple I am friends with are truly the most wonderful, intelligent, caring Christians I have ever met! EVER!  I was genuinely happy and proud on the day of their marriage! I also support Chick-Fil-A on their decision to voice their beliefs and opinions!  Everyone should be able to do so:-)
So yeah, I LOVE Chick-fil-a...Particularly their cool wraps and nuggets drenched dipped in Polynesian Sauce!!!!

Craving number 2:  BORDEN Chocolate Milik

I want to KISS and HUG whoever is responsible for our local Wal-Mart carrying this brand of chocolate milk! It's literally all we drink while we are at our beach house in Alabama because Borden is so easy to find there. Have you noticed it's almost always empty and gone at Wal-Mart??? It's probably because I bought it all. So, I normally would tell you to try it but please don't. Because then you'll love it and buy it too. And I wouldn't want to have to fist fight you in the milk section over it;-)

Craving number 3: Welch's Grape Juice

Holy Moly, Knox is probably going to be born with purple hued skin! It's the only drink that quenches that dying-of-dehydration pregnancy thirst...

Unfortunately, my teeth aren't their normal pearly white...

And Last but certainly not least...PREMIUM saltine crackers!

Thank you, PREMIUM for your salty, low-fat goodness!

I'm Never Bored...

When the Olympics are on! I would say it's a healthy obsession. My husband would say...not so healthy. Who could argue with a little friendly competition? AND it's great for the boys to watch! Sam has now devoted his life to becoming an Olympic gymnast. Yes, my sofa is getting absolutely trampled. Chap just wants to be Ryan Lochte...I'm totally okay with that;-)

This is our favorite swimmer, Ryan! Yes, we are on a fantasy first name basis...can't you see why?
He is a total badass and actually looks anatomically correct unlike that Phelps kid;-)

We LOVE our women's gymnastics team! LOVE the drama, LOVE the leotards, LOVE the floor routines!

BEACH VOLLEYBALL! We care nothing for the men...all we want to see is this amazing duo!

I'm pretty sure they were in the Olympics when I was a small child...which makes  them even more awesome!

We're BACK!

So it's been like 2 years since I posted. I'm not going to attempt to make up for lost time and i've decided to start with now (lucky you;-).
The Thompsons are doing well and we are all healthy...thank you LORD!

Sam is now 8 years old and will be starting 2nd grade in a couple weeks. He has matured so much in the past 6 months or so. He is so funny and lovable and has finally grown enough to help with some serious household chores...SCORE for me! He has an insatiable appetite for life and is enthusiastic about EVERYTHING! He has the kindest, purest heart and he wears  it on his sleeve:-)...I've never been so proud of him. Sam loves: building or tearing down any structure, writing and drawing, fishing, helping his Daddy with "men" chores outside, helping Mommy cook, reading, teaching his little brother anything (good or bad). His current favorite color is blue and his favorite food is Macaroni and Cheese (big surprise there!)

Chap is 4 years old and will be starting Pre-school 4! Boy oh boy...he is my sweetie pie. Don't get me wrong...I am not establishing a "favorite"!!! But, my Chappie is my cuddle bug. Now as I said, I don't pick favorites but Chap surely has! He is a Momma's boy! Chap has really enjoyed doing some big boy things lately with Daddy and Sam. Life has been so easy since Chap is old enough to be slightly more self sufficient than the previous year. Chapper Dapper is the laziest child I know! Now, I certainly don't mean that negatively but it's the absolute truth! It's who he is and I LOVE it! He is a serious couch/bed potato and loves to eat and play on the ipad. He has always been the "easiest" child...even as an infant. I always say that our GOD obviously noticed the "break" I needed after Sam's early childhood and decided to give me Chap. Chap loves computer games, MUSIC, his cat (Shug), his Mommy, and all things TRUCKS! His current favorite color is green and his favorite food is pears and sandwhiches (cheese, mayo and turkey...specifically:-)

Oh the third...boy oh boy...the sweet one I've begged and pleaded prayed for for years! Did I ever see myself as the mother of three boys? HELL Heck NO! This pregnancy was no surprise as I finally brought Chivas to the understanding that a Mother NEEDS a daughter.  Well...a Mother needs a CHANCE to have a daughter, right? Boy oh boy...I learned that my GOD has a sense of humor! Did you know that?????
We found out early at 15 weeks pregnant that my sweet grand finale to our family was...another penis on a sonogram screen, another burping, farting little man, another matchbox car to step on in the night, another lego to suck up in the vacuum cleaner, another lizard washed and dried in the laundry...
And what my selfish self didn't realize during the 10 minutes of disbelief after that sonogram was that Cannon Knox Thompson, third son of Chivas and Lauren, was the absolute most perfectly placed gift from our FATHER.  Now I can't even imagine it any other way...he is going to be (and already is) perfect, perfect, perfect...

What was I thinking wanting a daughter??? Silly me...

Proverbs 16:9 “A WOman’s heart plans her way, but the Lord directs her steps.” (NIV)