The Belly Progression

I didn't take very many pictures AT ALL this pregnancy, but here is what I have:

5 Weeks
Looking at this picture makes me wanna cry. Will I every be that skinny again?!

27 Weeks

32 Weeks

32 Weeks

32 Weeks

35 Weeks

38 Weeks

41 Weeks + 1 Day (I was in labor when this was taken and delivered a few hours later.)

7 Months in One Post

In an attempt to speed up this "catch up" process, I'm going to fly through 7 months in one post. I'm going to pick one (or two) of my favorite pics from each major event and share them here. I've gotta hurry or I'm gonna start forgetting little Parker's milestones! My two readers are split over these "catch up" posts anyways, mom doesn't like them and Alyson does! :)

Thanksgiving 2012

We spent Thanksgiving with the Ketchums. Thomas got to ride a tractor with Pops, and I think that was the highlight of his life up to that point.

Christmas 2012 

Riding the "tweeler"with his cousins minus Joseph and Uncle Todd.

The year of trucks and tractors galore! (and the last year for the smocked outfits!)

By far the most popular and most played with gift: the wagons from Grammy and Poppa!

Thomas Turns 2!

We celebrated with a tractor birthday party! The kids made "tractors" out of boxes, and everyone had lots of fun!

Easter 2012

Our Family Vacation 2012: Chattanooga

This was Michael's idea as I, of course, always want to go to the beach. He suggested we take Thomas to the Children's Museum and Aquarium in Chattanooga. I have to give it to him, Thomas LOVED every minute. Really, I think we could've just taken him up there to ride on the public transportation bus, and he would've been just as thrilled. He adored the Children's Museum and loved seeing all the fish at the aquarium!

Playing in the sand at the Children's Museum (see...he would've liked the beach too!)

Posing with a penguin

With Daddy in the shark cage

According to my iPhoto, that's the end of our major events until Parker's birth! Hopefully I will be back soon to introduce you to our newest member!! :)

The Announcement

Two weeks after my brother made their big announcement, we had one of our own.

"Big Brother"

We were thrilled to let everyone know that our family was going to be adding another little one! Even more exciting, he and his cousin were due only 3 weeks apart! An exciting summer was definitely ahead! Ashley was due at the end of May, and I was due mid-June!

Family Dedication

Pinelake does family dedication. We had the great honor of dedicating our family to the Lord and specifically committing to raise Thomas in a Christian home. Part of the dedication is to choose a verse to commit to praying over your child. We chose Proverbs 19:20-21 (NASB):

Listen to counsel and accept discipline,

That you may be wise the rest of your days.

21 

Many plans are in a man’s heart,

But the counsel of the Lord will stand.

Halloween 2012

We thought a cow would be the perfect costume for Thomas this year. Why? Because he is an excellent moo-er. However, when we got this sweet little darling into his costume, he refused to moo. Out of the costume--excellent moo-ing skills. In the costume--not a peep. Kids!

Our silent little cow

Thomas with his friends Ellington the giraffe and Wade as himself

Getting some candy (that dad ate...)

He's over it...

 We also took Thomas back to the Pumpkin Patch this year. I think he had even more fun this year. We went with friends, so he had some other kids to play with. Plus, with his new tractor obsession...it was a sure fire hit!

Homecoming at MSU was also during October. Every year, we walk over to the Drill Field with Dad to find his brick. We walked all the way over there and searched forever only to finally determine (after pulling up last year's pictures on the blog and trying to determine the brick's location) that the brick had been taken up for construction. So we took a family photo in front of the construction instead. 

That same football game, my nephew had an announcement to make! He was a big brother! My sister in law and brother announced that they were expected in late May. 

Carving a pumpkin with Dad! 

Sliding down the toddler jumper at the church's Family Night. We had an entire section reserved just for the preschoolers. It was fabulous. The kids had a blast!

More Randoms from Sept/Oct 2012

Say What?

Sweetly watching for Daddy

Michael would shoot me for posting this, but he probably never looks at this blog so whatever. How cute are they studying together?!?

Sliding at the park for his friend Austin's 3rd birthday!

Taking a break!

Huh?!

Sliding at Pump It Up! for cousin Andrew's birthday!

September Randomness

I'm sure there are sweet stories behind each of these lovely photos, but I don't remember. He's cute though! :)

Thomas in a box.

Visiting Nanny at work. Quite obviously on MAROON FRIDAY!

Posing in front of the cooler...? He adores Poppa's store. It is almost always our first stop in  Columbus.

Napping in the stroller! Maroon right down to his socks!

Playing at the park with cousin Luke and I believe Grammy was in attendance as well!

Sliding by himself. A first.

Luke and Thomas at Wee Babies Music at the public library. This was taken as evidence that the class actually existed. Every time Stephen was in town and we tried to go, it was canceled. This time, I had the boys by myself.

Last fall I won two tickets to the dotMom Conference in Birmingham. I'm so glad I did because I made a great new friend! I asked Ashia to go with me. We had met briefly at church and talked a bit about the conference, so when I won the tickets, I asked her to go with me. She's turned out to be an awesome friend! Plus, we had a great weekend AWAY from the kiddos! I'm secretly hoping to win tickets again this fall, except it would be a bit more challenging since Parker is so young. He would definitely have to go with me.

Ashia and I in the photo booth!

Me and Jen Hatmaker! OMG!

Random picture of Michael and Thomas on the monkey bars. :)