Video Fix

Molly's can be quite elusive when it comes to camera cooperation but here are some times where we succeeded in capturing her:)

One from December (can't remember if I've shared this one):

One from today:

The video I'm waiting to capture?  Her recitation of the rhymes of Mother Goose, her latest obsession as evidenced by this picture:

This is the result of asking daddy to "dress me up like Mother Goose".  Pretty close likeness, wouldn't you say?  Anyway, she frequently sits and reads through her books of rhymes but she stops as soon as I turn the camera on her;)

Boy or Girl???

How bad do I wanna know??  Real bad:)!  How soon will I find out??  Real soon!  I'll be starting my 18th week of pregnancy tomorrow.  With my last pregnancy I knew at 17 weeks that we were expecting a baby girl...of course, we'd also had about 8 ultrasounds by now compared to my 1 so far this time.  NOT a bad thing mind you, I mean the assumption (I stress assumption because truly anything can happen at any time which has been all too real for several people in my life) is that you really don't need to look in on healthy babies as much, so I'll take that!  But we really got to watch Molly grow which was truly fascinating.  This little bundle will have changed drastically from the little blob-next-to-a-yolk-sac it was at 7 weeks.

Here's our baby at 7 weeks (the oblong shape on the left, yolk sac is round shape on right).  Amazing.

Anyway, back to when...  We find out a week from tomorrow at 19 weeks gestation on February 2nd.  The family feelings are as follows:  Ryan things boy, I think girl, Molly changes her answer daily, and none of us actually have a preference--just predictions.

We have names all picked out.  Wanna hear 'em?  The boy name was easy since it's the same as the one we didn't use from last time:  Jack Oliver. 

Jack is for my maternal grandfather (Granddaddy).  A lifelong learner and teacher--there was nothing he didn't know something about.  A gentle man who was a friend and a helper to all kinds.  He stood for truth and had an unwaivering faith in Christ. I could go on and on. He passed away just before Ryan's and my first anniversary and though I'm sad he never got to see Molly, I'm grateful that Ryan was able to see and know what a neat man he was.  My mom, Jacquelyn (Jackie), was named for him too.

Oliver is for my paternal grandfather.  I never had the privelege of meeting him, as he passed away not long after Kara was born, but he's a man I've always enjoyed hearing about. He also raised my dad--and I'm pretty crazy about him;)--so I think it's a great name!  My uncle, Oliver Jay (twin brother to my dad, Oscar Ray), was named for him too.

Now, if it's a girl her name will be...wait for it...Ruby (middle name still to be chosen from our list of about 5 possibilities).  Ruby is Ryan's paternal grandmother's name (though she actually goes by her middle name, Frances, because I don't think she likes Ruby...but we do!)  She is a strong, quiet, woman, a fighter, with a bone-dry sense of humor that never fails to make me smile every time I see her.  And though I've never had the opportunity to actually sample her infamous cooking, Ryan tells me that her dressing, chicken, butter beans (note: served in a bowl with a handle), stewed tomatoes with onion (for putting on peas), cornbread, jelly cake (plum jelly), coconut cake, and on and on and on and on, were the best he ever had;)

Ryan and I liked all of these names and we were so excited that they all linked up to loved ones in our lives with the kind of character or attributes that we would be truly grateful for our son or daughter to have.

So there you have it.  In a week we'll be back to share if it's a Jack or a Ruby!  Any guesses?  Let us know in the comments:)

Happy Birthday Dear Daddy!

Yesterday Ryan caught up with me (he was 3 months behind) to 29!  Friday I treated to him to an evening of celebration...just the two of us (Molly hung out happily at Aunt Karma's).  We went to a new place for dinner and followed it up with some live music at Eddie's Attic.

On Saturday, Molly was very thoughtful of the birthday boy...sleeping til 8:30 was a gift in itself especially after a night of late "partying" which we've grown quite UN-accustomed to!

She was excited that it was Daddy's birthday and insistent on birthday hats all around.  I dug through a drawer til I came up with some New Year's leftovers from several years back and that did the trick.  We ambushed him with noisemakers and his birthday present (a cover for his new Kindle) wrapped in paper that was a Molly original.

We spent the day doing nothing in particular...a nice breakfast out, some family play time, a rainy day nap, and grilling steaks for dinner.  Oh, and birthday cake.  Molly-made (with Mommy's help) strawberry shortcake complete with candle (lit twice-once for Daddy and one more time for Molly) for dessert!  The day was made even sweeter by phone calls from loved ones scattered throughout.

It was a special day for a special man that both Molly and I adore.  Thank you, God, for Ryan!

Ch-ch-changes!

 Okay, even though I'm still missing the Christmas recap and Wyatt's super Scooby birthday party report I figured I'd go ahead and post about some pics I have uploaded.

MiMi, Pop and Sadie (their dog) came to visit for New Years and while they were here we took advantage of their vehicle (and their help) to make some exciting changes in Molly's life.  First up, her new BIG GIRL BED! (which is exactly what she calls it, always.  In fact, it sounds like one word when she says it... "my beegurlbed")

"Helping" Daddy move the bed into her room:

Really, for now, it's just a box spring and mattress on the floor.  The bed part will come when my parents make a trip down with the iron bed that I used growing up.  We weren't sure how she'd react and adjust--a couple of months ago we took the side of her crib off and put the toddler rail on and she HATED it-- so we left her crib in the room for the first few nights in case she had to go back in it for awhile (you have to take it apart to get it through the door).

  Sitting on her new bed:

Looking like Aunt Kara on her new bed:

It's been two weeks and change now and she's loving her new bed!  She took to it from the first night and Ryan moved the crib out a couple nights later.  She visits her crib now in the "baby's room" and talks about it being for the baby.  She's got a good 5 1/2 months til it's taken over for good...I'm hoping it'll be old news by then!

Initially at nap time she would just play--it was light outside and she could see well enough to entertain herself (quietly so as not to get caught-she's sneaky!)  But now I think she's over the novelty of being able to get out and in as she pleases.  Before we leave the room she repeats to us, "I'm gonna stay in my beegurlbed" and we say, "that's right, stay in your big girl bed" and for the most part, she does!  Amazing.

Chillin' with Daddy:

We haven't changed a thing in the bedrooms since we moved in (as far as painting and cosmetic changes).  Molly's room has never been "decorated", just functional.  I thought I'd wait and change it a bit whenever she made the transition to a bed and now we're here!  For starters, MiMi and I picked out a new bedspread in a sunshine-y yellow (sorry, no pics yet) and I guess I'll go from there...

 Enjoying all the company on her big girl bed:

We're so thankful for the smooth transition and can only hope for the same when I get good and serious about potty training!

More November

So I'd be lying if I said I've felt like a great mom these past oh, 15 or so, weeks.  I don't know how single moms do it cause I couldn't have made it without Ryan for sure!  Soon after I found out I was pregnant (on my birthday, by the way.  Sweet, huh?) the blech-iness began.  Ryan has been taking care of everything in the mornings so all I have to do is drag myself out of bed and manage to get ready.  Then at the end of the day I pretty much crash on the couch while Molly rules the roost til Ryan gets home (read: I stuff her face with popcorn and her brain with Netflix).  She usually rubs my back and feet and says, "you feeling better, mama?" in a concerned tone.  She's the best.  BUT we have done some things.  Like play with beans:

This is her "I like playing with beans" face:

And she's had lots of fun being on the 2011 leaf collection team with Daddy:

 She enjoyed many a tarp ride to the woods:

And thanks to the mild Georgia weather there was some time to enjoy the tricycle from MiMi and Pop:

 Look at this face!  She's delicious!

The blech-iness is starting to subside and I'm looking forward to the energy boost-y part of pregnancy...

A Thankful November

UPDATE:  when I hit publish it only put up the pictures for half the post.  No words:(  So I've tried to write them (at least some of them) again...

We started November with a soup, salad, and homemade bread celebration in honor of Tim and Jessie's embarkment (I know it's not a word) on the journey of parenthood (in like, 3 days now--whoa!)

Actually, Molly and I were the only hosts.  Ryan had an impromptu week long business trip to Oakland, California.  Even so, it was a lovely gathering of friends and family with lots of laughing.  I love laughing with that group:)  And I'm now anxious to meet baby Judah, or Alice...

Speaking of babies....the next thing we did in November was share with our families that WE were expecting a new little one too!  The three of us skyped my parents and we let Molly share the news.  The next evening we shared the excitement with Ryan's parents in person (this time Molly wore a "big sister" shirt) in Mississippi, our Thanksgiving destination.  

Speaking of Thanksgiving...as I mentioned, Thanksgiving this year was spent in Mississippi.  It sure was good to spend time with family we hadn't seen it quite awhile.  Swaylor and Molly donned their handmade matching owl hats for their adoring fans:

These two are about 3 months apart.  Swaylor was just weeks away from her two-year birthday.

On Thanksgiving day we drove to the camp in Quitman to meet up with the whole Sellers clan to celebrate our thankfulness.  Molly enjoyed her very first 4-wheeler ride with Daddy.

Uncle Michael's giant 16' Santa greeted everyone:

Passing the time before lunch:

Ryan stealing samples as Ben and Amy get the turkey table-ready:

Tad and Josh chatting with PawPaw:

Molly digging into her feast:

Hannah and the newest addition to the family, her nephew, Sam (Amy and Ben's baby boy):

A Christmas happy from Aunt Betty Carol and Jenna...a new apron, hat and accessories (which she proudly wears daily!):

Fun with Sam!:

Beautiful girls!  Hannah and Jadyn:

We coupled the Thanksgiving gathering with a joint birthday party for Zayke (1/2) and Swaylor (12/9).  MiMi baked the cakes and I cut and decorated them as a cowboy boot and a horse.

The Birthday Boy:

The Birthday Girl:

There were also various other activities--like shooting at the pond--that I didn't get pics of.

Here's Jenna and her buddy, Molly (pardon the red-eye):

And a beautiful mother/daughter picture:

That evening we set about having an early Lucas Christmas.  Swaylor and MiMi:

The next morning Molly got to open one of her presents:  

When she saw the picture of the tricycle on the box she got very excited and jumped up and down until it was all unveiled:

What a cool tricycle!  Thanks MiMi and Pop:

That afternoon we all went to visit MawMaw Lucas.  It was a sweet visit and we got some great family pictures before we left:

And there may have been an incident involving me and a player piano...but we'll never know.

And that evening Molly and Swaylor got to open their things.  Proud of her fancy shoes:

MiMi and her little girls:

Pop, MiMi and their brood (even if they're not all looking:):

So much to be thankful for!

Two happy girls!