Pink or Blue?

Pink or Blue?  Yesterday (at 20 weeks 6 days), we found out the gender of our precious baby (due April 17th).  What did we determine? Well, before I get to that I want to go through some Old Wives' Tales and their results...you know, just for fun!  My results will be in parenthesis at the end of each test.

(1) The Mayans determined the sex of the baby by taking the mother's age at conception, and the year of conception. If both are even or both are odd...it's a girl. If one is even and one odd it's a boy.  ((BOY))

(2) If you crave salty foods, it's a boy.  Sweet foods, it's a girl.  ((BOTH))

(3)  You have worse morning sickness if it's a girl.  ((GIRL))

(4)  If you carry low, it's a boy.  ((BOY))

(5)  If you have worse acne, it's a girl.  ((GIRL))

(6) Heartrate over 140, it's a girl.  Under 140, it's a boy.  ((GIRL))

(7) If the mother prefers to lay on the left side, it's a boy, if right then it's a girl.  ((GIRL))

(8) Leg hairs grow faster, it's a boy.  ((UNSURE))

(9) Chest growing a lot, it's a girl.  ((GIRL))

(10) Chinese Calendar - Based on my info and THIS chart  ((GIRL))

So based on all of these, it is most likely that I will have a girl.  And we found out that I am having another beautiful girl!  She wanted to keep her daddy hopeful at first..she had had her hand between her legs, but she is definitely a girl...now we just have to decide on a name!

Here are a few more pictures of our sweet baby girl.  The ultrasound technician surprised us and switched to let us see her in 4D which was amazing!

I am...

Forgetful - I forget what happened 5 minutes ago, and I've even forgotten (only once) to give my child breakfast until she asked for it!

Crazy - Ok, emotional may be a better word, but sometimes the weirdest things make me frustrated or sad!

Tired - I take a nap with my daughter almost every day...if I miss that nap, I feel physically drained.

Unorganized - No matter how I try to re-arrange our home to make room, it never seems to work...Somehow, Sydney's toys find their way back into every room of the house!

Useless - Maybe not completely, but I have been seriously slacking on housework (and blogging) lately!

But most of all... I am 17 1/2 weeks pregnant - which my husband says is a good excuse!

A much needed update!

In case you haven’t heard already…I’m pregnant! And very excited…and very impatient…and tired…and nauseous most days…and the list goes on and on! But we are definitely excited to add a new member to our family! The due date is April 17th (or earlier)!

I had my 12 week check up today, and everything was fine. I got to hear the baby’s heartbeat along with several kicks! Apparently, this baby is going to be a mover like Sydney was! I have 2 months left until we find out if this baby is a boy or a girl, and I get more impatient EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. If it’s a girl, we’re all set with pretty much everything we need, but if it’s a boy….we’re going to have to start hitting some sales! 

Sydney has been a wonderful child, especially considering she has to play alone most morning because of my nausea! She has been content to do so, and has even cuddled with me on the couch! She is growing like a weed lately! Her hair has gotten longer, and her vocabulary is growing every day! We are working on ABCs right now, and she can recognize A’s, O’s, and J’s very well, but tries on the others. She is also learning shapes, and right now hearts are her favorites. She likes the color blue and can recognize it, along with red. Purple and green are harder for her, but she can get them most of the time. I can’t believe she will be 2 years old in 4 months! Time really does fly when you have kids!

We are looking forward to going to Tate Farms with Marsha, Katie, and Austin very soon, and I will be sure to share pictures from that trip with everyone! I don’t have many cute pictures to leave you with, but I will leave you with a funny story from today’s trip to the doctor.

I was turning onto a street on the way to the doctor today, and I hit a pothole (I’m bad about that…) and it bounced the car a little, and Sydney yelled, “I’m back here!” I just died laughing and told her that I hadn’t forgotten she was there and that we just hit bump. Oh, the way kids can make you laugh.

Outlive Your Life by Max Lucado

“Dear Friend,

May I share a story that is very dear to my heart?

It's a story of hillbillies and simple folk, net casters and tax collectors.

A story of a movement that exploded like a just-opened fire hydrant out

of Jerusalem and spilled into the ends of the earth: into the streets of Paris,

the districts of Rome, and the ports of Athens, Istanbul, Shanghai, and

Buenos Aires. A story so mighty, controversial, head spinning, and life

changing that two millennia later we wonder:

MIGHT IT HAPPEN AGAIN?”

We all hope the answer is yes. We all hope that God still uses ordinary people to change the world. Will he use us? Will he use our church? In this book, Max Lucado talks a lot about how God has used ordinary people to change the lives of a few, which in turn changed the world. He goes through the book of Acts in a way I've never heard it. He uses it to explain the events of the first church to show how God used many common, very different people – just like you and I – to change the world as they knew it then. He brings what we learn from the book of Acts back into today's terms to show how these things can and do still happen today.

I have thoroughly enjoyed reading “Out Live Your Life.” It has shown me how the little things I do can really make a difference, because as a church all of our little things are magnified. Several people all doing little things for others can in turn make a huge impact on the world. His illustrations in the book of how the first church shared the good news of Christ's resurrection to the world has helped to show me where I need to improve as a Christian. I would definitely recommend reading the book. It is written in a way that you can read it alone or in a small group study, which is great.

As a matter of disclosure, I received the book “Outlive Your Life: You Were Made to Make a Difference” by Max Lucado from BookSneeze.

Daddy wants a new title for this post...

Apparently...I don't think like everyone else...and my math skills are lacking due to lack of sleep :) Anyways...Kyle wanted a new title for this post...and I don't have one....and of course, he doesn't either...sooo....

Sydney Marie - 16 Months

So...16 months ago we were at the hospital with our first baby, Sydney Marie.  She was (and still is) the most precious thing in the world (maybe I'm a little partial).  I have enjoyed ever single day. (Yes, even the no-sleep, dirty diaper, runny nose, high temperature, vaccine, teething, no good, very bad ones).  Seeing that sweet little smile makes it all worthwhile.  So, since I have been terrible at updating my family blog...I'm going to try to give you a good update on what Sydney is doing now.

Sydney:
-can walk and run...She laughs and squeals when she gets to run around with any older kids
-LOVES to be outside...especially if water is involved
-loves to pet Hypnos
-has realized she can climb onto the couch by herself...and is able to get off now!
-still likes to take 2 naps, each about 2 hours long!
-can feed herself with a fork...as long as it's a food that will stay on the fork :)
-still loves her stroller
-still likes to eat almost everything (no mashed potatoes please)
-weighs 22 pounds!
-is getting pretty good at copy-catting what you say or do
-can tell you what a dog and cat says
-can show you where eyes, nose, and belly buttons are
-can wave and blow kisses
-has an ever-expanding vocabulary including: mama, dada, eat, please, thank you, May-may (Megan), dog, cat, bye, hello, hi, sh-sh (shoe), night-night, eye, no

She is doing so much these days, I can barely keep up!  She is getting into her sneaky stage...she sneaks off with things she isn't supposed to have.  She also loves to climb on things now that she has realized she can! 

Sydney's first skinned knee

Drumming is one of her favorite things

Along with playing Daddy's guitar :)

She's just too cute!

Since I have been slacking, here are a couple of videos for you to enjoy!

Sydney playing with Bubbles on Easter


Sydney in her new raincoat and rain boots from Kidorable.com

It's Sew Macy

I found this new Etsy store...with a lot of cute stuff! It's called "It's Sew Macy".  She has infant / children's clothing, towels and burp cloths, and other gift ideas-like a REALLY cute eyeglasses case! 

Fan It's Sew Macy on Facebook HERE

Check out her blog HERE

In case you've noticed, I've been slacking on our family blog lately....Check out my new blog HERE to see why!

Thoughtless Thursday

Motion Monday Part 3

Motion Monday Part 2

Motion Monday Part 1

Busy, Busy, Busy

So I've been neglecting our family blog lately...for a couple of reasons.

#1 Sydney is getting 4 (or more) teeth on top and is not very happy about it (and I don't blame her at all)
#2 My new blog So Mommy! is taking up naptime now
#3 My mom, stepdad, & sister have been moving into a new house and we've been *trying* to help
#4 I've been reading the Harry Potter books (along with others)

and most recently (yesterday) Sydney went to the doctor to get her 1 year vaccines (she was sick at her check-up so we had to wait).  Well, she was already having a bad day...short nap, horrible diaper rash appeared from no where, didn't want to eat, blah, blah...Lucky for her it was only 2 shots this time.

We went to visit Mimi after her shots and she enjoyed her spagetti dinner, but when we got back home she was very VERY pitiful...she followed and cried all evening...she even watched 45 minutes of Finding Nemo.  I was holding her for a few minutes before bedtime and she actually fell asleep! 

She seems to be feeling better today.  She has been asking me to "breed" her books and telling Daddy about "pretty lights" so hopefully she is on the mend now :)  Here are a few pictures of my wild child being calm.

She got caught "texting" like Mommy LOL

Playing outside

Eating her 1st candy bracelet

She wanted in her bumbo seat...she's "throwing him in a pan" (Pat a cake)

Sydney's 1st Bubble Bath

Here's a sweet picture of Sydney with her paci and "Bunny Love" (Aunt Megan was nice enough to let Sydney borrow it for awhile...it was her favorite when she was a baby). Sydney knows it's naptime when she has these 2 items.

Here are some pictures of Sydney's first bubble bath...she was scared of the bubbles at first...but once she saw mommy hold them she decided it was ok and she enjoyed playing in the bathtub.

Motion Monday 2

Teaching her to play guitar early on...she loves to try!

Motion Monday

She loves this car. If you watch closely you'll see her moving her mouth...that's how she sings right now LOL No sound, she just moves her mouth!

- Sydney Marie -

Sydney Marie -

1 year ago today, I was in the hospital holding you for the very first time. I don't think I (or your daddy) could have ever imagined how perfect and wonderful you would be! 9 months was a long time to wait for such a precious gift. You were 6 lb 5 oz and 19 inches long!

Your first month home was a little rough on all of us...you were tired, hungry, and didn't know when you were supposed to sleep, but we had plenty of help from our family and friends and we made it through! After the first month it seemed we could handle anything :)

We took you to meet Dr. Marques, Mrs. Linda, and Mrs. Marguerite (who took care of myself, your Aunt Marsha, and your Aunt Megan). They all thought you were as precious as we did! They have taken VERY good care of you (and helped me learn as well). In March, you weighed 8lb 9 oz and were 22 inches long. We got to see your first real smiles. We were very excited to start seeing a small glimpse of your sweet personality. I think those first smiles got Daddy wrapped around your tiny finger! You got to take your first long trip-all the way to Pensacola, FL for your Great-Grandpa Andrews 80th birthday party. When we got back home, you got to see your first snow..in Alabama! You weren't a big fan of the cold weather!

In April and May you started trying to be active! You tried to play with your toys more and of course you were smiling a lot more! You weighed 11 lb 2 oz and were 24 inches long! You were growing so fast! You started trying new foods like applesauce, cereal, and even a little juice! You got to go on your first family "Girls Trip" to Orange Beach, AL. You got to touch the sand and play with your cousins Austin and Katie. Even though you were so small, you really enjoyed your trip! You were getting more and more amazing every single day. Even though Daddy and I thought you were perfect from the start, you seemed to get more perfect every day!

You were baptized on Father's day at Hartselle First United Methodist Church. You didn't mind the water at all. You started rolling over and getting to your toys to play a lot more. You were a very happy baby most of the time! You didn't like to take long naps (ever), but you slept pretty good at night (Daddy and I are very thankful for that)! We got to hear you laughing a lot this month and even caught a few times on video for you to watch when you get older. Your laugh is the sweetest thing on Earth and makes everyone around you smile!

Before we could blink, you were 6 months old! You weighed 14 lbs 6 oz and were 24 inches long! Time flew by way too fast! You learned the sign language for "milk" and got very excited about it! You also got to go to your first Adkins Reunion in Cordele, GA!

The next 6 months flew by faster than the first 6! You started crawling and babbling more and more everyday! Not long after you started crawling, you were cruising around the furniture, and then walking holding our hands, and then we finally convinced you that you could do it on your own! We also got your ears pierced for you and you got your first sucker after they pierced them. You didn't cry too much and you haven't bothered them since then! You made your first friends, Lorelei and Autumn, and really enjoy playing with them! You got to pet some interesting animals (at the zoo) like a snake, bearded dragon, and an alligator with your friend Autumn! You got to see the pretty Christmas lights at the botanical gardens with Lorelei. You got your first 2 teeth in at11 months old, and are trying to get a new one right now. You can say several words like da-da, ma-ma, duck, dog, uh-oh, oh wow, pretty, hey, and hello. You are getting pretty good at repeating the things we say, which is amazing.

You have a LARGE group of family and friends that love you very, VERY much and I hope you always know that! Daddy and I are doing our best to raise you to be the wonderful person we know you can be! Hopefully, with a LOT of help, we will do a good job! I pray everyday that I will know what to do and say!

We love you baby girl and can't wait to spend more time with you!

Motion Monday Part 2

Motion Monday

Thoughtless Thursday

11 Months already...

We took Sydney for her first ride on the carousel on Sunday...she really enjoyed watching it, but wasn't too sure about riding it. I think Daddy made her nervous!

I can't believe Sydney is 11 months old already! We went to the doctor yesterday because my mom and I thought for sure she had an ear infection (she was whiny, rubbing her ear, and holding her head to the side)...well, her ears were perfect! But we did find out why she's been acting like that...she's apparently had a sore throat/cold that no one knew about. Dr. M. said that her throat looked very pink and it could be bothering her quite a bit. He said she should be feeling better over the next 2 days though. I'm glad it was nothing worse!

While we were there, they decided to go ahead and do the " routine check-up" portion of her 12 month visit. She weighs 19 lb 4 oz and is 28 3/4 inches long. She laughed when Dr. M. pushed around on her tummy, looked at him funny when he moved her legs around, and wiggled a lot when he looked in her ears/nose....she even showed him that she could walk! She was very good while we were there, but she always is! They have so much stuff to see now that she's mobile! She played with their cabinet handles, found a chair to bang on, some books to read, and even some fish to watch!


At 11 Months you:

- Have decided to let go and walk short distances
- Think it's funny when Athena growls at you
- Take 2 long naps a day
- Love eating the "graduates" stage foods
- Have started eating table food with us
- Still like Mommy's milk, but will take it in a cup sometimes
- Still LOVE bath time
- Like to cuddle
- Know which cabinet in the kitchen has your snacks in it
- Like to see kids and play with them
- Spent your first night away from Mommy (and survived it)
- Can wave hi/bye...but usually do it when no one is looking
- Had your first Christmas with us!!


I have already started planning and buying supplies for her birthday party! I can't believe my baby is almost ONE! It seems like only yesterday she was a teeny tiny little thing! Look for more information on her party soon!

Drumming with Daddy

Kyle was trying to teach her how to play her drums...at least she tried!

Christmas Day with Sydney

Here is the video of Sydney on Christmas Day...she was excited about the tree and the dogs were just excited!

Happy New Years!

For New Years, we spent time with good family and friends. We went over to a family friends house and had dinner and hoped and prayed the kids wouldn't break anything! LOL We went to visit a long-time friend of Ricky's and had a wonderful time! Their house is beautiful and the food was amazing! I think they enjoyed watching our goofy kids play around on the bean bags and watch the fire.

Sydney clapping with her tongue stuck out

The 3 grandbabies: Austin, Sydney, & Katie

Gotta love the look Sydney is giving Megan

She loved the blanket from Michael & Sandra

On New Years Day, Kyle & I headed off to Leesburg, AL for our anniversary trip...and our first night away from Sydney. Sydney got to stay with my Mom, so I didn't worry about her at all. We went to "The Secret" Bed & Breakfast. We were up on the mountain with no plans whatsoever, which was great! The view was AMAZING! We went out to dinner and came back to watch some movies and relax. It was nice to relax and not have to wake up early! The breakfast was wonderful! Fresh eggs, pecan pankcakes, and sausage....yum yum! After breakfast and check-out, we took the scenic drive through Little River Canyon which is a beautiful place. When we got home, Sydney was so excited to see us that she started clapping! It was the cutest thing! I'm so glad we were able to take a short anniversary trip together since we haven't spent much time alone since Sydney arrived...not that we mind though! We love her to pieces!

Here are some pictures that Mom took while we were gone. Apparently, Austin & Sydney had fun playing with their cars! Notice Sydney's dirty mouth? I guess Mimi let's her go wild and not take baths! Just kidding! Mimi said she had *just* finished eating and who could pass up this cute picture opportunity?