Baby #3 says "hi!"

Yesterday, I had my 18 week check up. There was an ultrasound and I had to keep my head turned during it so I wouldn't see the gender (which was really hard for me!) The ultrasound tech tried to get some good pictures but without revealing the gender and the constant movement of baby 3 made it difficult.

They did find a dark spot on the baby's bowels which they believe may just be a calcium deposit, but I have to have a level 2 ultrasound (whatever that is) and see a maternal fetal medicine specialist in April who will give us a result. (It could be nothing or something as serious as cystic fibrosis.) I was a little scared yesterday when I heard this news, but today I feel everything will be ok. I've joked that this has GOT to be a girl because she is causing some serious drama!

Hopefully, I can make it through these extra ultrasounds and tests without someone slipping up and telling me the gender! ( the clinic here has gotten a reputation for slipping up and telling people who don't want to know gender.) One thing I am sure of at this point (not that I felt differently before) is that the gender really doesn't matter, we just want this baby here healthy and happy!

Bunny Hop!

This past Saturday was Ellie's preschool fundraiser called the Bunny Hop. It is an annual event that is our only event to raise money for the preschool.  It starts out with a pancake breakfast and then there are tons of activities for the kids to do such as bouncy houses, pictures with the Easter bunny, bean bag tosses, balloon pop, Wii games and many, many other fun activities. They also have a huge egg hunt for the kids. This year, Mia (Worth's mom) and Grandma and Papa (my parents) came to the bunny hop with us, and we had a blast despite the chilly temperatures outside. Worth and his dad were playing in a golf tournament here (which they won 2nd place) so they missed out on the bunny hop fun!

The bean bag toss is always fun. Ellie is a pro because this is one of her favorite activities at the UGA tailgates

Emma loved the fishing pond. She went back for a second turn when she figured out she was fishing out candy!

Hula hoop queen

Emma was mesmerized watching Ellie get her face painted

Ellie's final product

Emma got brave enough to have a turn getting her face painted

Emma's final product (Excuse the big scab on her nose - still left over from her face plant on the concrete. She won't keep her hands off of it for it to heal. Ugh!)

The bouncy slide was a new addition this year. There were no volunteers manning it - so, hopefully, the kids didn't destroy it....

Or my mother for that matter. She felt sorry for Emma because I wouldn't let her go up the slide because of all the chaotic kids. Grandma took Emma up and slid down with her. Her face is hilarious in this picture! I don't know who had more fun, Grandma or Emma.

The balloon pop game was by far, the biggest hit. The line was very long to wait on this game!

Ellie standing beside Papa anxiously awaiting the start of the egg hunt

And they're off!

Emma getting instructions from Grandma

Didn't take long for Emma to figure this game out:)

Ellie's stash.

Happy Birthday Freddie!

Our sweet little baby (our 1st baby) is 7 years old today!

Strawberry Shortcake fun and Azalea Festival

This past week was "S" week at Ellie's preschool. So, Friday, her school hosted a strawberry shortcake social for the parents to come and eat strawberry shortcake and celebrate the letter S.  It was so cute and Ellie, in true diva fashion, didn't want anything to do with the strawberry shortcake. (Neither did Emma believe it or not!) So mommy ate and the girls played. It was a fun little get together for the children and parents as well.

Saturday morning, Worth was on call, so the girls and I ventured out to the local Azalea festival. The azaleas around here are blooming (and the pollen has been crazy.) Every year  the city of Valdosta has the azalea festival to celebrate all the flowering shrubs that bloom ALL over the city. We didn't get a chance to go last year, so I thought we would try it out this year. We had a blast! There were tons of vendors and TONS of things for the girls to do. They both threw major temper tantrums when it was time to go home. Ellie and Emma both rode a pony for the first time. ($6 a child to ride for 2 minutes - a rip off, but they both were dying to do it, so I caved.) I'm not a big pony/horse fan. I had a bad fall off of one at age 5, and although I think they are beautiful animals, I usually keep my distance. I can't believe Emma was not afraid. She just jumped on that pony and looked like an old pro up there. They made me walk beside her because she wasn't 3 yet. I was terrified, I kept envisioning that thing kicking me in the face. Needless to say, I held on to Emma for dear life. Since I had to walk with Emma, Ellie had to ride by herself. She didn't even think twice about it! She loved it!

In other news, baby 3 is growing steadily. My clothes are getting tighter by the day and I have a massive appetite. I have an ultrasound scheduled for March 21st (my 18 week visit) and I will post pictures when I get them. Although, we won't be finding out the gender this go round:) We're just praying the baby is healthy and strong and my pregnancy continues to progress normally. We do know that my platelets were at 105 at my 8 week check up, so once again, no epidural planned for me. I have another round of bloodwork when I go in on the 21st, but I'm sure they will be about the same if not less. The doctor here said we will try prednisone again at the end of the pregnancy like we did with Emma - but we all know how successful that was:( At least I've been through natural childbirth twice now, so I'm not scared. I know exactly what to expect!

The spread for the strawberry shortcake social

The kids marched in - this was the best shot I could get of Ellie - too many big booties in the way!

Sillliness

Both my girls NOT eating their shortcake - so mommy HAD to finish theirs

At least one moment when they look like they love each other

Ellie's friend trip posing

These are all phone shots, so I apologize for the quality. This is Ellie loving her pony ride at the Azalea festival

Best shot I could get of Emma since I was walking right beside her

Of course, there were TONS of bouncy houses and slides

There was a boat ride, Emma was too small. Poor thing wanted to do it so bad!

Sand castle fun with their friend Anna Beth

Ellie was suprisingly good at maneuvering this boat

Story time with Daddy

We try to get to the library a couple of times a month. Ellie and Emma love going and bringing home different books to read. Last Wednesday night Daddy sat down with them after dinner for story time. This is a rare occurrence since Mommy is usually doing the reading, so I had to document it:) ( Ellie tricked Daddy into reading a 94 pager! HeHe!)