-:¦:- PARTY OF FIVE -:¦:-

A Weekend for Our Girls

2012-01-30T07:19:00.000-08:00

We had the B.E.S.T. weekend ever. We woke up bright 'n early on Saturday and made our way to the Houston Children's Museum. The girls enjoyed building things, outdoor creative fun, 'pretend' grocery shopping, sight-seeing, and more :) It was a real treat for them.

We ran to Chuy's for lunch after church on Sunday (it had been a while!) and the girls ate their weight in white sauce and chips. Afterward, we bounced over to a "Bounce House" for a little afternoon energy-boost. I had a few photo shoots thrown in to the weekend, too. It was SUCH gorgeous weather outside and we had the best quality time with our sweet precious girlies...

Busy week ahead. Let's hope it flies by so we can enjoy another fun weekend. I'm so in love with these little girls. They are so affectionate, sweet, playful, hard-headed, willful & deliciously kissable. I don't know where I would be without them & Clay!

Enjoy all the pics!

Daddy's Girls:
Don't they look excited?

Gigi loooooooves bananas!

Time to check out!

Olivia was exhausted from all the excitement...

Sunday lunch at Chuy's!

Gianna insisted on her OWN personal bowl of white sauce + chips :)

Later at the bounce house...

OMG...Clay got some serious air time!

HAVE A GREAT WEEK, EVERYONE!

Olivia | 4 Months

2012-01-23T19:50:00.000-08:00

Olivia turned 4 months old on Jan. 13th! We finally got her birth announcement out :) Where does the time go?

She's so beautifully cute and loveable. Her 4 month check-up went well (except for the shots). She weighed in at 11 lbs., 12.8 oz and is 23" long. Here are your 4 month accomplishments, sweet Olivia:

-You sleep all night (thank you)
-You go to bed around 6:30pm and get a late-night bottle snuck in
-You love your bouncer and (sometimes) you like your Bumbo
-Your hair is 'thinning' but you still have an "Elvis Curl" on top
-You smile anytime someone locks eyes with you
-You eat ~6oz. bottles
-We are starting rice cereal this week (fingers crossed, your sisters hated it!)
-You sleep until 7am usually (again, thank you!)
-You suck your right thumb every night
-You wear size 2 diapers
-You wear size 6-9 month clothing (and you love your sister's hand-me-downs)
-You will be baptized soon!
-You absolutely love bathtime & washing your hair
-Your sisters love to kiss your head
-You're a great car traveler
-You look just like your daddy :)
-We love you!

I love old things, especially old family furniture. Below, Olivia is sitting in her Daddy's old drawer from his baby dresser :)

Let's Bounce

2012-01-21T11:56:00.000-08:00

Olivia is getting SO big. She played in her bouncer for the first time on Sat., Jan. 21st. She loved it!

Wow, look at those cheeks!

Gigi: Naughty or Nice?

2012-01-18T07:21:00.000-08:00

Our precious Gianna Marie is quite a little stinker these days. (I lovingly refer to her as STINKERbell, instead of Tinkerbell :)

She's got quite a mind of her own. Yesterday morning, she did the sweetest thing for her baby sister. Olivia had just had her morning bottle, and drifted back to sleep. I placed her in her bouncy chair to sleep, while the rest of us got dressed for the day.

30 minutes later I went upstairs to put Olivia in her carseat. I saw that Gigi had placed her puppy blankie gently by her sister's head....so sweet!

Sweet, right? Until later that day...

We got this note when we picked Gigi up from school. I have to admit, I started DYING laughing when I saw what she "hit her friend with". This is hysterical. Ahhh, Gigi, we simply adore you!

My apologies to the toy frying pan victim :)

Wanna Wrestle?

2012-01-11T07:31:00.000-08:00

Natalie & Gianna really love sharing a room. Last night, Clay went up to check on them (they would not go to sleep!) and he caught Gianna attempting to crawl in Natalie's bed with her...they are so sweet together. That is, until Gigi gets into "wrestling-mode".

They play and wrestle each night after baths and they love to get a hair blow-dry from Daddy. They get ROUGH sometimes...like little rowdy boys. I'm telling you, Gigi could do a "pro-wrestler body slam" to someone if she really wanted to. I think her low center of gravity is a definite advantage over her "Nat-Nat" (that's what she calls Natalie:)

Exhibit A: "The Body Slam"

Exhibit B: Gigi's signature move, the "Leg-Lock"

I can't tell if Gigi is smiling or if this is her "game face". Either way, it's pretty intimidating!

Sweet Olivia opted out of the wrestling.......for now :)

Mommy's Time Out...

2012-01-10T07:28:00.000-08:00

Normally being in "time out" is a bad thing, but.......

Roommates & Table Breaks!

2012-01-09T07:41:00.000-08:00

Well, slowly but surely we are getting back to blogging (...after the hustle and bustle of the holidays:)

We've had some fun changes take place over the past few weeks! First, our 3 Chicas are all resting comfortably in their NEW rooms! We went back and forth, but ultimately decided to bunk Nat & Gigi together and give Olivia Nat's old room. That way, we keep a separate "guest room" when company comes! So...lots of organizing, furniture moving, spray-painting and crafting later, we've moved them into their new rooms a couple weeks ago. Natalie & Gianna l.o.v.e. being roommates and Olivia is happy as a peacock in her own space (and out of mommy & daddy's room:)

The girls have been doing great lately. Olivia has a bit of a cold, but is still in a constant state of happiness...it's contagious. Their school director told me that Olivia was hands-down the h.a.p.p.i.e.s.t. baby she has ever seen (I bet she tells all the moms that - heehee)

Natalie is helping us with Gianna's BGPT (big girl potty training). She's such a great & supportive big sister. As I did when Natalie was potty training, I won't embarrass Gigi by giving too many BGPT details, but let's just say that Gianna is taking her time and will decide on her OWN when she's good & ready :) That's our Gigi...headstrong and adorably spunky. She's making big strides and loves wearing her BGP's (big girl panties).

Let's see, what else? I've had a lot of weddings & families to photograph lately, and Clay has been terrific with watching the precious lil munchkins. I walked in the door a couple weeks ago from a photo shoot, and I noticed that my great-grandmother's dining table was broken in half. "Hmmmm, that's interesting", I thought. (My actual thoughts are too graphic to post here:) Clay told me that while he was tending to Olivia, Gianna apparently decided to "dance the night away"...on a gorgeous piece of antique furniture. Ahhhh, sweet Gigi. You are one of a kind and we love you to pieces...just like my table is now - in pieces. ha

We have Christmas photos to post, but for now here's a few of the girl's rooms. Olivia is sleeping in the same crib that Clay had as a baby...amazing. My parents came up last weekend to celebrate my mother's 29th birthday (Happy 60th Mamacita!). We loved seeing them.

I still pinch myself that we are blessed with these 3 sweet precious girls. Each day is different and we love them more and more. As busy & all-consuming as it can be at times, I really wish they would stay this age forever. As someone wise once said, "...We only have this moment, sparkling like a star in our hand and melting like a snowflake."

More blogging to come...

Much love to all of you,
The Pats

Olivia in Daddy's old crib

Two Princesses...

Where are the Pats?

2012-01-02T19:09:00.000-08:00

…sorry we are so behind on our blogging! To be honest, my evenings lately are spent getting caught up on several weddings and other client photos for my photography side gig :)

We have lots of fun family Christmas photos coming later this week…Love to you all!

PS: Nat, Gigi & Olivia wish you a HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Gigi's Big Girl Bed

2011-12-19T20:21:00.000-08:00

Our darling Gigi is officially a "big girl"! We picked up her new twin size bed and set everything up for her over the weekend. She and Natalie are (happily) sharing a room now. We had to break-down the crib to move it out of the room - and will get Olivia's nursery ready for her soon. Olivia is about ready to move out of Mommy & Daddy's room and into her own space.

Here are the photos of Gigi's first nap in her BRAND NEW BIG GIRL BED on Sunday! It's adorable hearing her and Natalie whispering to each other before drifting off to sleep...

Yep, she's got the hang of it...
Lil Angel

Christmas with Mia's Family

2011-12-18T20:13:00.000-08:00

We ran to Bryan for the day this past Saturday to celebrate "Christmas at Kathy's" with Mia's side of the family. The girls loved seeing all their sweet cousins, aunts, & uncles...and enjoyed the pretty weather outside:

Our Happy Olivia
Gigi with Victoria & Heather
Natalie & Victoria
Gigi
Natalie monkeying around
Gigi's turn!
Natalie swinging
Nat & Victoria
Can't wait for a fun-filled Christmas weekend coming up with family…MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Olivia 3 Months

2011-12-13T19:42:00.000-08:00

Our sweet Olivia turned 3 months today!

Here are your 3 month accomplishments:
- You wear size 2 diapers
- You sleep allllllll night (good girl!)
- You still sleep in our bedroom and are about to head upstairs soon!
- You drink 4-5oz. bottles 5 times a day
- You go to bed around 6:30pm (with a late-night bottle snuck in:)
- You are doing so well at school…your teachers love you

- Your hair is starting to 'thin out' and we have a feeling you will lose your cute dark mowhawk
- You smile every chance you get & love to babble

- Your big sisters absolutely adore you
- You sat in your Bumbo for the first time on Sunday
- You've outgrown Mommy's sink for bathtime and now use the big tub
- Mommy will weigh you tomorrow morning to get an update!

We can't imagine life before you were here! You're the sweetest, tiniest, cutest, happiest little munchkin…

Dec. 13, 2011

6:00pm
Yesterday (Dec. 12) First time in "big girl tub".

Sunday, Dec. 11 - First time in Bumbo…You liked it!

And just for FUN, here are Natalie & Gianna at 3 months:

Natalie

Gianna

School Photo with Santa

2011-12-07T19:06:00.000-08:00

The girls had their first school photo with Santa as a threesome! I had them all wearing matching outfits, but Gigi spilled something on her top and Olivia spit up on hers…If we've learned ANYTHING as parents, it's to not sweat the small stuff :) In a perfect world, they would have matching bows, stain-free tops and smiles on cue - but hey, this is real life. A little spit-up every now and then is no bigee, right? :)

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Sleeping in, Swim Suits and...Gigi Scissorhands?!?

2011-12-03T20:46:00.000-08:00

We've been having a really great weekend…

For starters, Olivia has been sleeping ALL NIGHT for the past 4 nights…"GOOD GIRL!". This morning she was still fast asleep at 8am (sucking her cute little thumb, as usual)…

In other news, Natalie and Gianna were V*E*R*Y excited to get to use their new table and chairs for meals (and art projects:) Uncle Cory gave it to them a while back, but they are "big girls" now and we are going to try to eat meals without the (helpful) constraints of a booster seat/high chair…wish us luck!

Only in Texas, can these two beach babes wear their swimming suits…even if it IS December :) It's their weekend indoor attire of choice.

Think they like it?

Remember Johnny Depp in the movie "Edward Scissorhands"? Here's Gigi's version…with marker tops:

Olivia's 1st Day at School & more...

2011-11-27T19:01:00.000-08:00

This week marked Olivia's first day at school. She did great and her sweet teachers take excellent care of her. Natalie and Gianna promised to take care of her, too (which was reassuring:) As I pulled away from school today, and began to drive off to work, I glanced in the "baby room" window and Olivia was in her teacher's arms in the rocking chair - and smiling. What more could I ask for? :)

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving and have a few pics to post soon. We jetted to B/CS, met up with friends at a Downtown Bryan wine establishment, then to Round Rock on Thursday for Clay's family get-together, then caught the Aggie game at Kyle Field (no comment), then headed south to Victoria, did a little Black Friday shopping with Grandmother, had a delicious meal with my family, hit up an antiquey-quaint wine bar with my sis, then back to Houston on Sunday for photo shoots. A whirlwind! The girls did great traveling though, thankfully! So glad we got to see our wonderful families.

I miss my sweet Olivia's face every day when I'm at work, but I know her big sisters are watching over her. That's why we wanted to have our kiddos close in age…for that very reason :) Lifelong sisters, best friends, and constant companions through life's many hills and valleys. We love these girls!

Here's is sweet precious Olivia on her 1st day of school: All Smiles. (the mowhawk is permanent)

I have been feeling a bit under the weather this week - pretty crummy actually. I was reading books to Natalie last night, but didn't want to lay in bed with her and get her sick, too. So, I sat up, read our 3 books, and went to tuck her in. My sweet, nurturing Natalie said the sweetest thing: "Mommy, you will feel better if you lay in bed with me." Awwwww….sweet girl. Somehow I think she was right.

Gianna has had a great week. Tomorrow is "Toy Day Friday" at school and she wants to take her laptop toy, she said. Gigi is at such a FUN age. Clay ran a quick errand this evening, and I got the girls ready for baths tonight. I had Natalie in the tub, and a naked Gianna was scurrying from room to room (like a monkey out of a cage). Then, several (all-too quiet) minutes passed and I went to see what she was "up to". She had managed to find her swimsuit, put it on, and was sitting in her bed ready to sleep! (HOW she put on that swimsuit correctly, I have no idea!) With a little encouragement, I told her if she went potty & got in the bath, she could HOLD her swimsuit in her bed. That was good enough for her…

Every night is so unique and as the girls get older (& wiser!) it really keeps us on our toes. When people ask me what it's like having 3, I say: Exhaustedly happy, wonderfully fatigued, endlessly thankful. God really has given Clay and me a life greater than we deserve…And we wouldn't change a single thing.

Have a great evening, everyone!

Concrete Picnic

2011-11-22T16:25:00.000-08:00

Mommy started back at work today! :( It was great to see all the familiar faces again…But I missed my sweet Olivia terribly. I thought of her sweet munchkin face all day long…

When we got home, we saw major progress on our home renovations. The backsplash is IN and Clay is picking up the new dishwasher & microwave tonight. All that's left is the flooring, cabinets, new appliances, baseboards and final touches. They hope to finish this week...YES!

All of our 1st floor furniture was moved out (including the high chairs) so we had a carpet picnic for dinner (errrr, I mean "concrete" picnic!) FUN!

While watching "Tinkerbell"...

The granite counters are in…

Suddenly I feel like a coke...

2011-11-18T14:43:00.000-08:00

Olivia's 2 month photo shoot…Enjoy!

House Progress

2011-11-17T09:36:00.001-08:00

GOOD NEWS! We finally have some progress on the home front! As we've posted, we've been living on a concrete slab with no kitchen for weeks, due to a water leak. It's been fun…sort of like camping (insert heavy sarcasm). We have to get new cabinets, counters, and floors. As much of a hassle this whole process is, it's also fun to end up with a new, shiny kitchen!

The restoration company has been great and is coming tomorrow to get the ball rolling. Cabinets will be in on Friday and granite counters on Saturday. Here are some pics of my lovely kitchen…You'll notice a few things are "missing"…like, everything!

(See those wine bottles up top? I'm gonna need those when this is all over with!)

…and our new floor sample. I'm exited to see the finished product! Stay tuned...

Lazy Saturday

2011-11-17T09:18:00.000-08:00

A typical Saturday morning in our house consists of Natalie jumping in our bed, she and I making biscuits together, Clay getting me Starbucks:), Gianna sleeping in, and then deciding what the 5 of us will do with our day. Here's a little video of Olivia from last Saturday…

You'll notice that Clay was really "hands on" that morning and eager to get going…I've never seen him SO energized. (mute the music at the bottom of blog first…)

Thumbs Up! | Check-Up!

2011-11-15T13:48:00.001-08:00

Olivia had her 2-month check-up on Monday. She did great and weighed in at a healthy 9 lbs. 3 oz. and was 21.25" long. What a giant! :) Dr. M said she was healthy as a horse (which we feel very blessed about). Olivia even gave her doc a big smile and a few "coos".

Here's a pic of her…BEFORE the shots. My sweetie did not like the 3 shots she got…it hurt me to see her like that :( Luckily, we don't go back for another 2 months…she deserves a "break".

And…You would think that Clay and I have "seen it all" with kids. The other night I saw something NEW! Neither Natalie nor Gianna have e.v.e.r. sucked their thumbs…but Olivia clearly is marching to the beat of her own drummer! Too cute…

She asked me to tell all of you to please excuse her "bed head".

Video of Olivia

2011-11-10T10:45:00.000-08:00

A little video of Olivia smiling and "talking"…To hear her, be sure to pause the music at the bottom of the blog :) She's chatty today!

Playing with Olivia

2011-11-09T14:09:00.000-08:00

Olivia and I play a lot on her jungle mat these days. She enjoys it…and I love watching her curiosity develop. We spend a few minutes each day flipping over for "tummy time", too. She took a 4oz. bottle for the first time this afternoon…that's a record! Enjoy the cutie pie in the video...

Happy (Rainy Day) Birthday

2011-11-08T14:28:00.001-08:00

Today is Daddy's Birthday! We're having a little special 'concert' for him tonight.

Olivia and I enjoyed a rainy day indoors today. I love being cuddled up inside with her on days like this! She has drifted in and out of sleep most of the day, and has allowed me to get ahead on lots of photo editing. I'm eager for Thanksgiving and time with family. We'll be making our annual "rounds" to see grandparents, aunts, uncles & cousins.

I go back to work in 2 short weeks and am trying to make the most of my special time with Olivia. Someone once said it best: "Children are the reason I crash into bed every night…and the reason I get up every morning." So true :) I'll miss spending my whole days with this sweet baby doll. She's has the kindest little soul…I can already tell. Her curious eyes stare right through me and that little smile…ah! Her 2 month b-day is this Saturday and we'll be doing another photo shoot…stay tuned!

Boogie Nights

2011-11-07T10:58:00.000-08:00

Natalie got her "dance on" at Nonnie's house and Aunt Weeza caught it on video…This girl has dancing in her blood :)

The girls are now back with us in Houston…although our house still looks like a bomb went off from the busted kitchen pipe. Don't you just love working with insurance companies? Presently, I'm sitting on a concrete slab with exposed nails on my baseboards. Perfect conditions for 3 children :) Luckily, Nat & Gigi are at school during the day…and they scurry right upstairs to play when they get home.

With any luck, this will all be over by Thanksgiving! Fingers crossed...

Lounge Time

2011-11-05T16:51:00.001-07:00

Clay and I are back in Houston taking care of some things, but the girls stayed behind for more FUN at Nonnie & Papa's casa. (Don't get me wrong, we are enjoying a little "fun", too…we may actually go lounge and watch some football out-on-the-town tonight!)

We miss our sweeties…thanks Mom, Dad & Weeza! Here they are lounging with Nonnie:

Victoria Fun

2011-11-03T12:38:00.000-07:00

We are having such a nice time in Victoria! My mother and I enjoyed an afternoon of shopping, estate sales, & driving through historic downtown...And this evening, my sister and I are going to "77901"...a beautiful wine bar downtown. It's piano night...I can't wait! It's my first "adult" outing in nearly a year! (Pregnancy will do that to ya…wink, wink)

Last night, as all the girls were sleeping, I stayed up late editing photos and watching my absolute favorite movie on tv: Last of the Mohicans. It was nice to have a little quiet time with Daniel Day Lewis :)

Here are some photos of our fun family night at none other than…Chuck E. Cheese! Oh boy, oh boy, our little girls went wild…

Gianna

Thanks Papa!
Gigi
Natalie & Chuck E. Cheese
Natalie
Gigi…calling her AA sponsor (Apple Juice-aholics Anonymous)
Nonnie & Papa
Olivia, participating from afar...
Being stuck in school isn't that bad, huh Gigi?
Ruuuuun Forrrrrrest!!!!
Olivia & Nonnie
Gigi preferred pushing the horse to riding it!
Natalie

It's Showtime!

2011-11-01T18:24:00.001-07:00

A MAJOR milestone occurred today!

Natalie attended her first cinematic experience! Since we are quarantined from our house (see previous post) we're having a fun time down here in Victoria. I wanted some special "Natalie & Mommy time" since bringing Olivia home, so Nat and I went to see The Lion King today. I was so excited to show her the magic of the movies.

From the moment we arrived, she was in awe of the big movie posters, the buttery smell of popcorn and all the bright lights. We got our tickets and our 3-D glasses and made our way in to the theater. What luck! We were the only ones there! Our own private viewing :)

She's so petite that the chair wouldn't stay down with her in it, so she climbed up on to my lap and held my hands tight with excitement. As the lights dimmed, and the screen came to life, I found myself tearing up and a lump building in my throat…With all the hustle and bustle of our lives, it was truly a magical moment for me. There I was, sitting in the same theater I grew up in, with my oldest daughter sitting on my lap…I could even feel her heartbeat pounding with excitement as she settled further back on me.

I was a little worried about the 'scary' scenes with Scar (the mean lion), but all-in-all, she was mesmerized with the music, Simba, the colors and animals…even jumping up to stand at one time. At one point in the movie, Simba gets lost and runs away…I heard Natalie whimpering and starting to cry. I asked her if she was sad about Simba and she said: "He wants his Mommy." I squeezed her tight and kissed her cheek and told her that it was going to be ok. I felt awful! She soon recovered and was swaying to the music and happy to see him find his mommy again.

So, afterward, I felt a little guilting about exposing her to that scary mean lion "Scar" and making her sad for "Simba", so I decided that I could:

A) Explain to her the delicate balance between good and evil; that sometimes mean people try to hurt us, but good people always win…And your Mommy will NEVER leave you or let you get lost...

...OR…

B) Take her shopping at Target and buy her a Barbie and the dress-of-her-choice.

Judging from the photo below, it appears I'm a total push-over and need to work on my parenting skills :)

Of course, we had to get Gianna a Barbie, too. I love you sweet precious Natalie! Thank you for making me so happy today.

Xoxo

Weekend HIGHS & LOWS

2011-10-31T08:55:00.000-07:00

What-a-Weekend!

Weekend HIGHS:

-Natalie crawling in bed with us on Saturday morning…asking to help me make biscuits.

-The girls insisting on wearing their swimsuits inside all day, in spite of the colder weather outdoors. They even napped in them! ha

-Olivia's sweet precious smile.

-Weeza spending Friday night with us.

-The girl's enjoying Halloween candy from school.

-The 5 of us taking a 2-hour nap on Sunday.

-A BIG kiss from my Gigi

-Hearing Nat & Gigi laughing together upstairs while playing dress-up.

-Sneaking away for a quick drive with Clay for a few stolen moments.

-Mia, Gramps, Luke, Victoria & Uncle Cory coming for a visit.

-Uncle Cory taking the girls to the park to play.

Weekend LOWS:

-Waking up Saturday morning to water seeping thru the floors…Yeah, THAT's not good!

-Leaving Clay to go photograph a wedding…with 3 kids and a big hot mess disaster at home;)

-Realizing the kitchen sink has been leaking for who-knows-how-long…under the flooring.

-Clearing out all our kitchen cabinets and furniture.

-Having our pretty floor ripped up this morning :-(

-Hiding Sweet Olivia in our bathroom, so she's away from the noise. Poor thing!

Ahhh, the joys of home-ownership.

Well, to lighten things up, here's a little 10-second video of the girls when they came home from school on Friday. To say they were HYPER is an understatement. They were full of candy, cupcakes, and other sugar-filled goodies from their school Halloween parties. Oh.My.Goodness. They were bouncing off the walls…literally. Too cute…until Gigi decided to steal some of Nat's candy…

The girls and I are headed to Victoria until our casa no longer looks like a war-zone…Thanks for taking us in Nonnie & Papa!

Girls Lunch!

2011-10-26T13:04:00.000-07:00

I took Olivia up to my office to introduce her to my co-workers today. She was on her best behavior and (thankfully) did not 'spit up' on anyone…phew! :) It was wonderful to see all of them!

Afterward, my dear friends Tina and Aslinda joined us for lunch at Pappasitos…Olivia's 1st dining experience!

America's Got Talent (The Natalie Version)

2011-10-25T11:07:00.001-07:00

Natalie loves to sing and perform for us. Last night's song was titled "Rainbow". She also sang other songs about Ranch dressing, chips, puppies, Caillou (tv show), jumping forward & backward, Tinkerbell, and not talking to strangers…Oh, the random thoughts of a toddler! haha

Be sure to "pause" the music at the bottom of the blog. Listen to the end of the performance to hear what she says her "inspiration" was…

Fall Fun at Brady's Party

2011-10-24T10:16:00.000-07:00

The girls had such a fun weekend. Aunt Weeza came for a visit - which they loved! Then on Sunday, we headed out to Dewberry Farm for a FUN birthday party for our friend Brady Jacob! Pizza, lemonade, sunshine, cupcakes, and plenty of fall festivities! The girls especially loved the giant bouncy…

Natalie
Gianna
Olivia opted out of the "bouncing" :)
The shoes are comin' off!

Below, Nat is auditioning for a "Pantene" commercial...
Gigi had a tougher time with her balance…

"A little help here, Nat…"

"Thanks for the lift, Daddy."

Swinging...

Thanks for inviting us to your fun party, Brady!

Olivia 1 Month Pics!

2011-10-21T10:22:00.000-07:00

Our precious Olivia is 1 month old! (Sorry, I'm a tad late in posting these photos.) She's an absolute {{ doll }} and I'm loving every second at home with her. When she's awake, she's very expressive and alert…And when she sleeps, she looks like an angel. I think she's the spitting image of her Daddy, don't you?

We adore you sweet precious Olivia!

1 month accomplishments:

-sleeping all night, with one 3am/4am feeding

-you weigh 8.2 lbs

-you wear 0-3 months clothing

-you have a full head of dark hair and a mowhawk

-you make a ton of girgling noises

-you only "fuss" when you're ready to eat

-you have Natalie's chin

-your belly button fell off at 10 days

-your eyelashes have doubled in length

-you eat 2-3 oz. bottles

-your nails were trimmed for the 1st time last week

-you wear size 1 diapers

-you love napping on mommy's chest :)

-Mommy smells your hair all day long. You smell like baby lotion and honeysuckles.

Here are the many faces of our sweet, lovable, huggable, newest addition…Enjoy!

What do dollies, bubble wrap, & Clay have in common?

2011-10-18T17:56:00.001-07:00

...More than you think!

This is what happens when Clay falls asleep in Natalie's room:

I thought it was suspiciously "silent" upstairs while Clay was supposed to be reading her bedtime stories. I snuck up to her room, and discovered her reading aloud to herself…with Clay fast asleep (snoring) on the floor :) She thought Daddy might get cold, so she covered him with blue bubble wrap, her favorite pink blankie, a stuffed giraffe, rabbit, & baby doll…then she put her #1 companion "Piggy" under his head for a pillow.

Fortunately, my camera was only an arm's length away…

(...notice her tiny hand touching his head :)

Pink looks good on you, baby.

Pumpkin Patch 2011

2011-10-16T21:21:00.001-07:00

We took our 3 lil pumpkins to the PUMPKIN PATCH today! Our neighbors Jen, Chet & Baby Maddie invited us to all go together. The girls had a great time! Olivia wore a bow for the first time (something she should get VERY accustomed to in this family - ha!). Natalie is especially excited for Halloween Trick-or-Treating. She asks every day if it's time to wear her Tinkerbell costume :) Here are some pics from our FUN family outing...

Maddie, Gigi, Nat & Olivia

Chet, Jen, & Maddie!

Look close for 3 familiar faces :)

Goat-watching...

Lift with your legs, Gigi!
Daddy's Girls

Olivia's First Set of Wheels...

2011-10-10T21:09:00.000-07:00

…"grocery cart" wheels, that is! Here she is on her first trip to the grocery store…As you can see, those little sweet cheeks are starting to "plump up" :)

Gianna's Birthday Celebration @ Mia's

2011-10-08T22:43:00.000-07:00

Since Olivia arrived so close to Gianna's birthday, we had a 2-part celebration for Gigi this year. Mia had a special surprise for Gigi…complete with homemade chocolate cake, new clothes and baby dolls! Gianna was so surprised and {loved} the attention :) Thanks Mia & Gramps!

Blowing out her candles...
Baby!
It takes a real man to put together a hot pink baby doll…while sitting at the kiddie table…thanks Gramps :)
Heather & Aunt Donna got to meet Olivia...

Yummy.

THANK YOU FOR MY SPECIAL BIRTHDAY MIA & GRAMPS!

I love you,

Gigi

Olivia's Rub-a-Dub Time

2011-10-08T21:12:00.000-07:00

Our sweet Olivia is such a petite thing that she gets baths in Mommy's sink. She likes bath time…it's the "drying off" that she could do without! Here are some photos my sister took while she was visiting us recently :)

All clean and fresh :) She is such an Angel...

Natalie as…Punky Brewster?!?

2011-10-05T22:27:00.000-07:00

We've allowed Natalie to have some "creative freedom" with her clothing as of late. She l.o.v.e.s. to pick out her outfit the night before school. I love seeing what she decides on…She's quite the {fashionista} and loves to accessorize, too! As you can see below, she chose a spunky Hello Kitty sparkly top, paired with some non-matching (ill-fitting) floral leggings, 1 Elmo sock + 1 Cookie Monster sock, 2 headbands (yes, really…2!) and her hot pink Converse tennies. When she came downstairs with 2 different socks, I thought "Future Project Runway Star!". She really "works it", too.

I just don't have the heart to tell her she looks like a 3.5 year-old version of Punky Brewster...

Look at those socks…"SOOO fierce, girlfriend!"
Headbands...

Visit from Mia & Gramps

2011-09-29T22:24:00.000-07:00

Mia & Gramps were in Houston today and popped over to see us!

Natalie said...

2011-09-29T07:27:00.000-07:00

Olivia and I picked up Natalie & Gianna from school yesterday. Natalie held Olivia's hand the whole drive home, and as we were unloading the car, Natalie said to her: "Are you ready to come inside, sweet precious baby? You can play with me!" Bear in mind that Olivia was asleep the whole conversation, but it was the s.w.e.e.t.e.s.t. thing ever. Natalie is our sweet, caring, nurturing one. (If Gigi is ever upset, Natalie always runs to get her blanket or a Cinderella band-aid for her:) Gianna is our little pitbull with the heart of a teddy bear, and Olivia…well, we'll see!

I just ordered the cutest stuff off etsy.com for Olivia's Newborn Photo Shoot…can't wait. I took the past few weeks off from my photography biz to have the baby, and things are picking back up again. Engagement, bridal, and maternity shoots all weekend and some next week. Fall is always a busy time…my favorite time of year!

Olivia Grace | Week 2

2011-09-28T13:48:00.000-07:00

Olivia is having a great week. She had her 2-week check-up yesterday and is in great shape. She has surpassed her birth weight and is now a hefty 6 lbs., 3.2 ounces :) She's already grown a 1/2 inch too! She's really the sweetest thing and I'm loving every second with her. She is awake for quite a bit of the day and only takes an hour-long nap here and there. She loves to be held the rest of the day…So in order to "try" to get a few more things accomplished, I pulled out the trusty o'le baby swing today. She seems to love it…and fell fast asleep.

I plan to have her Newborn Photo Shoot sometime soon. That will be FUN!

Gianna is TWO! | Sept. 24, 2011

2011-09-24T16:40:00.000-07:00

Our sweet precious "Gianna Marie" turned the BIG 2 on Saturday! Nonnie, Papa, Great-Grandmother & Aunt Weeza came up for a FUN visit. We love you sooooo much Gigi girl!

Here are your 2 Year Accomplishments:

- You had a great 2 year check-up and weigh 24.8 lbs. & are 33" tall

- Your favorite shows are Calliou and Elmo on PBS

- Oreos are your favorite dessert, but you only eat the creamy middle

- You love sleeping…especially on weekends

- When you hug, you squeeze SO tightly

- You wear a size 6 shoe & 2T-3T clothes

- Your pretty hair is long & 1/2 down your back

- You love bath time and you try to get us wet too

- We are starting potty training...You copy Natalie every chance you get!

- You have a habit of taking all the wipes out of the container and "cleaning" everything

- You love to draw & color…especially after stealing Nat's crayons

- You call Natalie "Nah-Nah" (Nat-Nat)

- You love ring around the rosie and duck-duck-goose

- Bananas are your favorite thing to eat (you insist on eating them whole)

- We love every thing about you!

HaPpY BiRtHdAy!!!

Natalie:
Thanks Weeza for baking their favorite cookie cake!
Cookie Monster...
Grandmother + Olivia

Blowing out candles!

Clay also got a gift, as the father of 3 girls:

"For Girls Only - Mysteries of Womanhood" - ha!

Choo-Choo!
Natalie got a new Tinkerbell costume!

Clay fired up the grill for some delish fish!

Gigi looooooves necklaces!
…and hair accessories!

A pretty bracelet from Great-Grandmother...

Sweet Olivia slept...
…and slept...
…and kept sleeping...

Gianna's new Abby doll...
We love you sweet Gianna!

Olivia 1 Week

2011-09-20T07:53:00.000-07:00

Today marks Olivia's 1 week birthday! She has already grown a lot (even though she's still a lil peanut:) She is sleeping GREAT at night and wakes up around 1am and 4am, but goes right back to sleep. She's a DOLL and looks just like her big sisters did as newborns. I wonder if her beautiful dark Italian hair will fall out, and she'll turn blonde-ish like Nat & Gigi?? ;)

We went to our 1st dr. appointment on Monday, and she has gained weight and is healthy & strong. I find myself staring at her all day long and dousing her with kisses - she gives a mini 1/2 smile when I do! Girls are so much fun and I can't believe we are blessed with 3 of these little munchkins.

Olivia meets Uncle Cory, Luke & Victoria

2011-09-17T08:03:00.000-07:00

Mia, Uncle Cory, & our niece and nephew, Luke & Victoria, came to visit us last Saturday!

Mia & her 5 grandchildren...

Olivia Grace has arrived!

2011-09-13T14:08:00.000-07:00

Our newest addition is finally here! Olivia Grace arrived on Tuesday, September 13 at 2:08pm. She weighed 5 lbs., 12 oz. and was 19" long. She's tiny, sweet & perfect. It was a great delivery, and a restful hospital stay…Thanks to all of you for your sweet emails, phone calls, and prayers!

Natalie & Gianna are on l.o.o.o.o.o.v.e. with their "Baby Olivia" and love to smother her with kisses. Now that we are home and settled, we'll be bloggin' more often :) Here are a few photos from our hospital stay and her arrival!

Earrrrly morning arrival to the hospital...

Excited big sisters...
Clay sharing the happy news...
Natalie kissing Olivia...
OUR PRECIOUS GIRLS!

Looking at Olivia in the nursery...

Mommy & her 3 girls...
Nonnie & Papa
Mia & Gramps
Aunt "Weeza" Whitney
Daddy & his girls...
Nat & Gigi made a giant card for Olivia!
So sweet...
Do you think Gianna was excited?!

The first (of countless) diaper changes...
Olivia's 1st time in her car seat...
Heading Home!

{ Kissy Sissys }

2011-08-30T12:37:00.000-07:00

Some bath-time pictures my sister took while the girls stayed with them last... These 2 really love each other :)

{ That's A Wheely Big Belly! }

2011-08-26T07:41:00.000-07:00

Happy Friday, everyone!!

We are SO ready for the weekend! Clay is off to his annual Otterpalooza weekend with his buddies. I'm really excited for him to have a little R&R before the baby comes...which will happen sometime in the next 2 weeks or so! Ah!

Meanwhile, the girls and I are super excited to have my family with us for a weekend sleep-over at our house. (And since we are keeping every bit of this pregnancy a mystery, I have no idea when "GO TIME" will happen...It's good to have some "reinforcements" around me just in case :) Thanks Family!

So, I remember almost 9 months ago when I first found out I was pregnant....

I was driving home and looked down at my tummy. All I could think of was that in a few short months, it would be hitting my steering wheel again like it did with my girls. Well, sure enough...I've ballooned out of control and here it is today: That's literally too close for comfort! :) {CAUTION: Objects in photo are larger than they appear.}

Good grief, that is ginormous looking! Is that Octo-mom's belly? Sheesh...

I think we have everything in order for the new bambino (diapers, etc.) Natalie has gotten very attached to her own baby doll "Baby Madelyn" lately. I think she's "nesting" like Mommy. Gianna, on the other hand, still likes to pull Baby Doll Madelyn's hair and dunk her repeatedly in the toilet. Is this a bad sign? ;) Remind me not to leave the new baby alone with Gigi...ha!

Love,
The Patranellas

Zoo Day

2011-08-23T09:02:00.000-07:00

Today is ZOO DAY at Nonnie & Papa's house! It started with morning biscuit-making with Papa...

...and Natalie was catching up on the economy and "kindergarten" news:)I hope the Zoo is ready for THESE 2 little monkeys :) + safari hats, of course...

Making chickens...

Natalie feeding the chickens...

Awwwwww.....

Aaaaahhhhhh!!!!!!

What a fun, educational day for the girls...Thanks Nonnie, Papa & Weeza!

PJ Day & Nonnie's House!

2011-08-22T07:11:00.001-07:00

Last Friday was "Pajama Day" at school! And when we pulled in the driveway after work, Aunt Weeza was there! The girls were thrilled, to say the least. Whitney then took them to Victoria on Saturday morning - where they have been happily having a wonderful time with Nonnie & Papa. We'll get them back tomorrow...miss those munchkins!

With a mini-break for the two of us, Clay and I have been enjoying some time together & getting some things in order (before the baby comes). In my last dr. appointment, my dr. said she thinks I have at least 2 weeks left, if not more. That's good! Whenever it plans to arrive is just fine with us :)

Enjoy your week, everyone!

In our PJ's with Aunt Weeza: At Nonnie's house...

At the library!
Natalie & her beloved Dora :)

Reading about kitties must be VERY exciting!

Belly {ART}

2011-08-13T20:00:00.000-07:00

We had a little fun this weekend with finger paint. Or should we call it "belly paint"…

Ready…Set…GO!
Now this is what we call "Living Art"!

Getting messy is FUN!
Baby Patranella is due 1 month from today! We are on pins & needles with excitement!

Pink Lady

2011-08-04T14:13:00.000-07:00

Pink is Natalie's favorite color, but not today. Our sweet Nat-Nat is home with pink eye :( It's been making the rounds in her 3-year old class, so we had a feeling it was coming. Regardless, she and Mommy have had a fun day at home together (with the exception of putting in the eye drops). We spent the afternoon playing with construction paper and glue…and made artwork for our family members. Here is the masterpiece she made for Gianna...

Pregnancy Update | 1 Month To Go!

2011-08-02T11:37:00.000-07:00

Hello friends & family!

The girls have kept us so busy these days (+ jobs, photography biz, and everything in between), that it dawned on me that I've rarely updated everyone on the latest "baby news". These past 7.5 months have f.l.o.w.n. by...Clay and I can't believe the new baby will be here in a month and a half!! We are so excited to meet him/her and eager to bring it home to be with its 2 big sisters. What will the girls think!?

In pregnancy news, this one is going really terrific. I feel very blessed and fortunate to have fairly easy pregnancies. I'm about to go into some details for you, since I figure I need to 'document' this important time. Forgive me, but here goes...

We are still due on Sept. 13 and so far, I've gained 22 lbs. (normal for me = basketball belly). I'm still feeling energized and no swollen toes yet! The Houston heat has been miserable (for all of us, huh?!) but I jump back in the air conditioning every chance I get :) The baby is resting on its side these days, and I've noticed it has been moving less (since it's getting so BIG).

The only thing we really have yet to do is come up with NAMES! I know what you are all thinking...(you've known for 7.5 months that a baby was coming in September and you don't have a NAME yet?!?) haha. What can I say, we have it narrowed down (sort of) but nothing is set-in-stone yet. Stay tuned :)

With a little over a month to go, I made the first (of many) new purchases for Sweet Precious #3...its 1st diapers! I admit I got teary-eyed as I pulled them from the shelf. Memories flooded back of our other two babies and how fast they grow...

Natalie and Gianna are doing great. We spent the weekend on the Guadalupe at Mo Ranch with my family and will post pictures very soon. They loved the river and everyone enjoyed some R&R. Clay and I even got to sneak off for an evening walk by the water one night - which was beautiful. The canyons were breathtaking and the water was crystal clear...heaven. We sat by the waterfall together, rolled up our pant legs, and dipped our feet in the water for a while...and talked and talked. I love those stolen moments together...it's important. I hate to gush, but I really love my husband who is my best friend in the whole world. After 10 years together, I can't imagine my life any other way...And these little munchkins below are the icing on the cake!

Hope you are all doing very well...Have a great week!

Galveston 2011

2011-07-28T13:08:00.001-07:00

We ran down to Galveston last weekend to Uncle Frank's beach house. It was GREAT! The girls absolutely loved the ocean and could hardly wait to find their sea-legs. Gianna would have swam to China if we hadn't stopped her :)

Mom, thanks for e.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g. you did to make everyone have a great time...We really appreicate it and loved our time with y'all...

Mia & Natalie:
Daddy & his girls:
Gianna, getting a mud treatment:
I love how the "pinky" is sticking out - like she's sipping tea :)

Natalie:
We were shocked that a whale washed ashore! Oh wait, that's just me looking pregnant.
Gianna with Gramps before bedtime:
"The Greatest Crabber in the World", Luke! He caught our dinner one night!

M m m m m m m
Natalie, Victoria & Gianna cooling off in the kiddie pool :)
Clay & Cory

School Dayz

2011-07-27T14:51:00.001-07:00

The girls on the bench at school :)

This BITES...

2011-07-19T09:17:00.000-07:00

Gianna is a tough cookie. She's feisty and plays hard, but I was completely bummed when I picked her up and was handed this note by her teacher. My Gigi had been bit! (*gasp*)

"Who was it?", I asked (knowing that by law they can't tell me...) My secret plan was to let the air out of HIS mommy's tires! My sweet Gigi Marie had teeth marks on her little leg, and when I pointed it out she said "ow-eee" with a srunched up nose and pouty expression (too cute).

I'm thinking for her birthday in a couple months, we're getting her some brass knuckles...or perhaps a Hello Kitty switch blade? I wonder of those come in pink...

Grillin' & Chillin'

2011-07-12T12:35:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday, we fired up the grill and had our FUN neighbors over: Jen, Chet & Madelyn. The girls had so much fun sharing their pool with "Baby Madelyn" and we loved catching up with our friends.

This is Gianna's "Baywatch s-l-o-w m-o-t-i-o-n Pamela Anderson impression"...
I can only assume that these 2 gals are discussing Maddie's tanning advice for Gianna:
Cute pie Madelyn:
"Do these stripes make me look fat?"

"Ring Around the Rosie" with Jen...

In other news, Aunt Weeza is visiting us in Houston for a few days and the girls are loving it!

Gianna's Day at Texas Children's Hospital

2011-07-06T07:43:00.000-07:00

We woke up bright and early on Tuesday morning to get Natalie off to school and take Gianna to Texas Children's. Gigi was scheduled to get her ear tube procedure, and it could not have gone better! She spent the better part of the morning playing with the hospital's many toys and being her happy self. She looked especially adorable when she had to put on the yellow pj's with "Texas Children's Hospital" on them. She didn't like leaving Mommy & Daddy when it was time to go back, but the whole procedure took 5 minutes, and once she was awake, we joined her in the recovery room.

I've never seen her look so adorable...a bit groggy, with her hospital garb on and those cute pigtails...sipping some cold apple juice from the friendly nurse. She was so relieved to see us :) The cutest thing of all? She was asking for "Nat-Nat" (too precious). We waited for a few minutes for the medicine to wear off and were headed back home by 10:30 am...not bad! She ate a great lunch, and after a terrific 3-hour nap, she was back to her old self. Her doctor said she's probably hearing in "stereo-sound" now :) We hope this is the last of those dreaded ear infections...and the beginning of great hearing for her! We love you, sweet precious Gigi.

Some pics from the hospital:

Trying to make her escape!! V-R-O-O-M We brought all her favorite "creature comforts" from home:
1. Purple Elephant
2. Paci (just in case:)
3. Her Favorite Blankie
"I think yellow is a good color on me!"

They have wagons here!

Thanks for the prayers and thoughts, everyone. I'm feeling great! - Gigi

4th of July

2011-07-04T08:15:00.000-07:00

We had a GREAT 4th of July! Clay and I missed our girls allllllll week (but really enjoyed the special time together!) We met up with them and all of my side of the family in Pandora, Texas at my Great-Aunt Dorothy's 90th Birthday Celebration! It was great to see everyone...and to see our girls again! Clay and I were bursting at the seams to walk through the door and smother them with kisses and hugs. Here are some photos my sister took from the family get-together:

Natalie chillin' on the drive there...

Meow.
Grandmother and Gianna being silly...

Aunt Dorothy, the birthday girl:

Nat-Nat

Our precious cousin, Baby Grant!

That's Gigi in the bottom right :)

Lee, Justin, Grant, and Lil Bonnie

CAMP PAPA NONNIE: Day 5

2011-07-01T09:08:00.000-07:00

Happy Friday, everyone! This week has flown by. We can't wait to see our girlies tomorrow. We're going to my Great-Aunt Dorothy's 90th birthday party! I can't to hug and kiss our precious little munchkins. Hope everyone has a Happy 4th of July Weekend!!!

Natalie started her day this morning with some "children's coffee" :)
Natalie washing her Elmo dishes after breakfast. (We've determined that Camp Papa Nonnie is actually a 'cover' for Nonnie's Finishing School...haha. Natalie has even mastered setting the table! Martha Stewart would be so proud...)
Gigi-Girl in the garden...

CAMP PAPA NONNIE: Day 4

2011-06-30T10:26:00.000-07:00

Holding hands...such sweet sisters

Tree-climbing before lunch...
Ready for the 4th of July!

Some fun reading: Gianna loves Dr. Seuss and Natalie is catching up on the latest James Avery Catalog :) Ooooh-la-la!

CAMP PAPA NONNIE: Day 3

2011-06-29T08:31:00.000-07:00

We talked to both girls last night and they are having a really great time in Victoria. Clay and I went to one of his favorite restaurants, Carino's, for dinner...followed by an Academy run because Daddy needed a new fishing shirt! The night before, we went to a fun restaurant on Washington near Downtown and then grabbed our beloved Pacuigo for dessert. Heaven!

I had a SPLENDID 10-minute (very funny) conversation with Natalie on my way in to work today. She's so excited today because she and Gianna are going to the library! Something tells me, however, that Gianna is not familiar with the phrase: "use your library voice" :)

Natalie buttering this morning's biscuits:
Toddler Day at the Library!

Popcorn and a movie!

CAMP PAPA NONNIE: Part II, Day 2

2011-06-28T09:09:00.000-07:00

Day 2 of "PapaNonnie" started with a manicure and an "Appletini"...Natalie l.o.v.e.s. painting her nails...and this orange polish matches her shirt perfectly!

While Gigi was taking a mid-morning nap, Nat was busy at work in the kitchen...
...making a giant chocolate chip cookie!
A GIANT cookie fresh out of the oven...blowing on it to cool it off :)
SUPPER TIME!

CAMP PAPA NONNIE: PART II

2011-06-27T14:25:00.001-07:00

I had a photo shoot in Victoria last weekend, so Nonnie, Pappa and Weeza asked to keep the girls for the week! They are already having a b.a.l.l. and we miss them terribly. We spent Saturday afternoon in the pool and the girls took turns running and nose-diving into the water.

Here are the photos from Day 1:

Natalie's impersonation of John the Baptist...

Snack time!
Go away mosquito bites!

We're Goin' TUBIN'!!!

2011-06-23T10:39:00.000-07:00

...Unfortunately, I'm not referring to the BIG FUN tubes that float down the Guadalupe River. Our sweet precious Gigi Girl is getting ear tubes. With 10+ ear infections under her belt, we made a special trip to the Med Center today to the ENT. The doc was great and Gianna was on her best behavior during her appt. She even crawled up on the receptionist's lap! She was all smiles and sat very still during all the tests. Good girl!

We love you sweet Gigi...Hopefully getting tubes will make your little ears feel better :) xoxo

At the dr's office...

"Mommy, you DO realize how lopsided my pigtails are today, right??"

Patranella Family Reunion + Father's Day 2011

2011-06-19T22:26:00.000-07:00

We had the perfect Father's Day! We spent it with ALL of Vince's side of the family at the first ever Patranella Family Reunion. It was great fun, and the girls loved meeting all the other kiddos. Tons of folks showed up and it was wonderful to catch up with all of them...We hadn't seen some in quite a while! Here are some pics from the festivities...

Precious Natalie:

NO reunion is complete without t-shirts!

Vince, Clay & Cory

Daddy & Gigi Girl...

Mia, Gramps, Uncle Cory, Luke, Victoria & Gianna

Our girlies...

Sicily!

Playing around with Daddy...

Clay's generation of cousins (Clay is on the bottom right):

All the "in laws" (those of us LUCKY enough to marry into this wild bunch of people! ha! That's me and Ryan on the far right & Kathy is in the front in blue :)

Centanni!

Galveston, Green Hearts & Growin' Bellies

2011-06-16T12:03:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday, Clay and I snuck down to Galveston to treat Aunt Kathy to a birthday lunch! It was wonderful to catch up with both her and Uncle Frank, and spend some fun time at the beach house together. Sitting on the porch swing, as the warm ocean breeze surrounded us was especially relaxing. Happy 60th, Aunt Kathy!!

On the way back, Clay and I stopped on the sea wall to take in the scenery. Thanks to the trusted o'le tripod, we snapped a pic quick together. The wind was blowin' (and my belly is growin') so this is the best shot we got :) I think it's safe to say that the shirt I was wearing needs to be retired....Mama's lookin' like a sausage in a mini dress. Eeeek.

Speaking of growing bellies, the pregnancy is going great. Less than 3 months to go! I've left my beloved 2nd trimester behind (the easiest part of a pregnancy), and have now entered the 3rd trimester (a.k.a. the dark side)...when sleeping gets less comfortable and most importantly, I can't wear my high heels! Noooooooo! My doc told me to "leave them at home from now on." Me = sad. But, it's all worth it in the end when we bring home our new little angel in September.

Natalie and Gianna are having a fun week at school...clown art, splash days and face-painting! Natalie was so excited to show us her green heart. And as you can see in the background, Gianna was green with envy :(

Splishin' and Splashin' with Mia & Gramps

2011-06-06T20:18:00.000-07:00

It was such a hot weekend that we needed a little coolin' off in the pool on Saturday. Fortunately for us, Mia and Gramps came to visit this weekend! I had a big wedding photo shoot, and Clay was out of town for work, so the reinforcements arrived :) Thanks Mom and Dad for ALLLLLL of your amazing help. We loved having you!

Here's a little short video of Mia with her girls in the pool. Unfortunately, I filmed it s-i-d-e-w-a-y-s on my cell phone, so please turn your heads ever-so-slightly to the left to view it :) Be sure to turn off the music at the bottom of the blog...

Hope you're all having a great week! Natalie and Gianna had "Splash Day" at school today. And on the way to school, Natalie cheerfully said: "I'M SOOO HAPPY TODAY!!"…She was really excited about getting to wear her swimsuit…again :)

Gianna experienced her first knee scrape this week…poor baby. She and Nat are wearing 'hers & hers' matching Cinderella band-aids…which Nat was happy to share with her little sister.

Like Sister...Like Sister...

2011-06-03T06:18:00.001-07:00

It wasn't all that long ago that Natalie was doing her first Wall Sribble. Now, I'm afraid Gianna has discovered her artistic side as well! This magically appeared on the wall by Daddy's side of the bed. We couldn't PROVE it was Gianna...other than the pen in hand and a huge grin on her face.
And here are the girlies this morning on the way to school...Gigi loves wearing her hair in pigtails these days :) And that is Natalie's swimsuit in her lap...Splash Day at School is every Wednesday this summer (but she insists on taking her suit in her backpack every day just in case...too cute.)

Breakfast at school...TGIF!

Memorial Day 2011

2011-05-30T20:36:00.000-07:00

We had SUCH a fun & relaxing Memorial Day Weekend...Hope all of yours was great, too! We got the girls a new swimming pool and they.never.left.it.all.weekend. We even made some 'water balloons' at one point - which they LOVED. The sun was shining, the water was inviting, and the hot dogs were tasty! It was the perfect family weekend with the 4 of us. I wish we had 3-day weekends more often :) And of course, a heartfelt thank you to the veterans who made it possible...

Enjoy the pics!

love.bugs.
sister.kisses
"Where's Gigi?"
"There she is!"

Natalie loves to "strike a pose" upon request :)

"Cowabungaaaaa!"

Balloons & Tiaras

2011-05-26T17:41:00.000-07:00

Here is a short video of the girls after school this week. Natalie insisted on wearing her tiara to school all day! (No worries, we will NOT be putting her in pageants - haha!) She and Gigi l.o.v.e. playing with the balloons that their Great-Grandmother gave them…even a car ride home calls for a celebration with balloons! (Please 'mute' the music at the bottom of the blog.) Enjoy the singing...

How Natalie ALMOST met Brad Pitt...

2011-05-24T12:10:00.000-07:00

This is a true story.

Many of you may have heard of the latest Brad Pitt movie called "The Tree of Life". (It recently won 1st place at the Cannes Film Festival and is soon to be in theaters.) It also stars Sean Penn...why am I telling you this? Because I have QUITE a story to share...

It was back in 2009 and I was 8 months pregnant with our oldest daughter, Natalie....

I was working at The Association of Former Students at A&M at the time, and had an interesting email pop into my inbox from a friend one day. She emailed me that there was a movie being filmed in a town nearby and they were casting for a pregnant woman with fair skin. I almost deleted it, but then I started thinking about. All I knew was the title: "The Tree of Life".

I googled the movie, and saw that it was in pre-production...and that it starred Brad Pitt and Sean Penn. I couldn't believe it and was instantly intrigued! I read the casting description a bit closer and (knowing that I have the most fair/albino skin on earth) I decided to contact the casting director.

I called the number and it was her cell phone! I couldn't believe I was actually talking to a Hollywood Casting Director! She told me they were looking for a "fair-skinned belly double" for the film, and the woman in the role was a redhead. I told her I was one, too and she asked me to email her some photos of my belly :)

That evening, I took some photos and emailed them to her....and waited.

She contacted me 2 days later and said they would love to meet me in person! Ahhhhhhhh, I was thrilled. We scheduled a date for me to drive to the movie set, and she told me I was one of the 2 people being considered. I got more excited every day...To think, I could actually meet Brad Pitt!

Well, the morning of our casting meeting had arrived and I was dressed to impress. I went in to work that morning, as my meeting wasn't scheduled until later that afternoon. But wait...Uh-oh, something was about it happen...

Let's just say that Sweet Natalie was ready to meet the world...on the EXACT day of my casting call. Before I left my office, I called 2 people: my doctor and the casting director. I told her that I would not be able to make our appointment because our baby decided to arrive a few days early. She was gracious and wished me luck :)

Needless to say, I think that was the only shot Natalie & I had at Hollywood stardom. I can't wait to see the movie...and the "belly" that ended up in the film. Ha! I can't wait to tell Natalie this story someday.

Ashley

In other news, today is Gianna's 20 month birthday! She is getting so B.I.G., is talking up a storm (or at least trying to) and follows her big sister everywhere she goes. Her new favorite phrase is "Go Mama!" when a light turns green. I look forward to her big hugs every day after work and miss her cute smile all day. Natalie loves teaching her to say & do things...such a good big sis. We love you, Gigi Girl!

{May Days}

2011-05-13T12:23:00.000-07:00

Hello to all of our friends & loved ones!

HAPPY FRIDAY! WAHOOOOOOO!

This week has flown by for us. We have some catching up to do with you! Since returning from Camp PapaNonnie, the girls have been doing MAH-velous! Except one thing...

We knew it was a matter of time...honestly, we were probably lucky that it didn't happen sooner. Natalie has discovered she can come downstairs on her OWN in the mornings. At least we didn't have a toddler crawling out of her crib ever at 2AM! But, alas, at 3 years old, this is her "new thing". Now, I love this! I love hearing the pitter patter of her little feet on the floor as she nears our room. The only issue is she's up with the chickens...literally. The birds wake her up every morning because they start GAWKING at 6:30AM! Where's a bb gun when I need one? So, needless to say, our days of sleeping until 8am on the weekends seem to be at an end. Gigi on the other hand, still sleeps like a grizzly...until Natalie bursts in her room to wake her :)

So, the past 2 weeks have been e.x.t.r.e.m.e.l.y. busy ones. We are looking into enrolling the girls in swim lessons this summer. They'll love that :) We had a great Mother's Day at the Houston Arboretum (pics coming soon). My photography biz is doing really well, and has kept me happily busy. I spend a couple hours each weekend on shoots, and most week-day evenings editing photos. I love it, though. Clay was in Austin yesterday for a "work meeting" (a.k.a. enjoying cervesas while on a party boat that his boss rented for the company)...To say I was jealous is an understatement! Where's a glass of pino grigio when I need one???!! No alcohol for mama til the new baby comes in September :) That's ok...the occasional Diet Coke will have to suffice. I'm getting bigger these days...in the belly. I'm not one to talk weight, but I've gained 12 lbs so far...McDonald's - I'm lovin' it!

This morning, since Daddy was in Austin, the girls were helping me get dressed for work (maternity clothes = comfy!). Gigi saw my belly and immediately started tickling it while making her "gishy gishy gishy" noise (I think she's trying to say "tickle, tickle, tickle" but that's how it comes out:) Natalie leapt at me too, and before I knew it, I was being belly-tickled from all sides. Then, they both just started pushing on my belly...like it was play-doh; which it pretty much feel like these days :) Or more like the Pillsbury Do-Boy. That's ok, I enjoy pregnancy and am really trying to relish every second of this one (Don't get me wrong, by month 8, I'll be praying for the seconds to fly by - ha!)

I'm so excited for this weekend, because my dear college friend, Jodi, is having a baby shower. I've been working non-stop, so a weekend "off" will be FUN. Mama's hittin' the road and headin' to Austin!

Ta-ta!

DAY 6: CAMP PAPA NONNIE

2011-05-01T08:57:00.000-07:00

By her final day at Camp PapaNonnie 2011, Natalie had mastered reading classic literature (Pride & Prejudice) using Weeza's reading glasses :) It's never too early for Jane Austen!

And something else very special happened. After much thought and careful consideration, Clay and I decided that our dog, Hayden ("Poo"), was in need of more attention and a new home. But, there was only 1 person we had in mind :) He's been with us through so many wonderful times, road trips, family get-togethers, new babies, and lazy days at home on the weekends. Yet, with 2 precious rowdy kiddos and a 3rd on the way, our sweet puppy of 8 years has been "adopted" by my sister. We feel so content, sure & happy about this, and we know that he will be spoiled rotten in the years to come! Thanks Whit...We miss him, but know that he's ONE LUCKY DOG to have you!

DAY 5: CAMP PAPA NONNIE

2011-04-29T09:03:00.001-07:00

In honor of today's Royal Wedding (yes I was up at 3am watching it!), Gianna had breakfast fit for a princess! Cheddar bacon scones, canary pearls, and of course, her "Harrod's" bib (from London) that her Uncle Cory got her :)

Pretty day for the zoo!
Gianna looking at the tigers...
LION! Nonnie said Gigi kept trying to jump the fences to get to the animals! This gal is fearless :)

The zoo is tiring :)

DAY 4: CAMP PAPA NONNIE

2011-04-28T08:33:00.001-07:00

Yesterday was a bit H-O-T, so the girls are ready to get outdoors today. What a nice cool front we've had!

In this morning's first pic from Nonnie, they are putting on their flip-flops to head outside :)

Using my toy hair-dryer...
Applying lipstick before stepping out for the day...

What could be better than an outdoor lunch?!

Clay and I went to Flemings last night with a good friend of ours....delish! We ate like piglets (steaks, salmon, creamed spinach, crab cakes, salad, and a marvelous chocolate dessert!) We crashed for the night immediately afterwards :) It's nice to get out-on-the-town this week and kick up our heels a little!

DAY 3: CAMP PAPA NONNIE (+baby news)

2011-04-27T08:03:00.000-07:00

Day 3 started with the girls favorite thing...BISCUITS! And these are Papa's special homemade ones...YUM. You'll also see that they are wearing their commemorative "2011 Camp PapaNonnie Shirts"! But, don't be fooled...Camp PapaNonnie isn't just about playing...it's educational too! It's Toddler Time at the public library this morning. The theme this week is "Snug As A Bug", so the girls are dressed as a ladybug and bumble-bee :)

It's HOT outside, so the girls are enjoying movie time this afternoon :)
Clay and I have been having a ball this week...and it's only Wednesday! We've been out to eat every night and stopped at one of our favorite dessert spots last night...Paciugo Italian Gelato :) I'm debating whether I'll get up in the wee hours of the a.m. on Friday for the Royal Wedding. Why not? I think I might throw on my bathrobe and pearls and make some english tea...Cheer-io Dahhhlings. Something tells me that, if I know my husband, he won't mind missing the festivities and will continue to zzzzzz :)

In other great news, Clay and I had our 20 week ultrasound yesterday...The BIG one where you find out what you're having! We were so happy to see that baby #3 is developing on track and is healthy...and wiggling. Its cute little arms were all over the place and we already love it to pieces. We didn't feel the least bit anxious to find out the gender. I can't tell you what a magical day it is on Delivery Day...when the whole family finds out together! We can't wait for that special day in mid-September.

More camp pics to come...Mwah! We love you, Sweet Precious #1 & #2.

Here are some photos my sister took of the Easter Egg Hunt!

Easter Pics 2011

2011-04-26T12:47:00.000-07:00

In La Grange...

The Girls and Mia!

Mia and her sisters (we missed you, Aunt Sally)

The Gals...

On to Victoria...

Playing in our dresses after Church...

Followed by the church picnic!

Grandmother and Whitney

Gulp.

Daddy and his girls...

What Sass!

DAY 2: CAMP PAPA NONNIE

2011-04-26T08:25:00.000-07:00

Day 2 of camp is going great! The girls started with some 'tea & biscuits' and then scampered off to explore for ladybugs :)

We miss you, girls! Have fun today!

Easter + Camp PapaNonnie 2011

2011-04-25T07:23:00.000-07:00

What a terrific Easter...LOTS of pics to come! We headed to La Grange for Clay's Family Get-Together (with an extra special Easter egg hunt for the girls thanks to Mia & Gramps!). Uncle Cory, Luke & Victoria were there too, which the girls loved. Natalie & Gianna got to see all their extended aunts, uncles & cousins and had so much fun. It was a warm, breezy day out in the country...Clay and I even munched on some wild dewberries. YUM!

Then, we were off to Victoria. Aunt Whitney was the guest-preacher at a beautiful small Presbyterian church. They were so welcoming and friendly. Weeza gave a splendid Easter sermon, followed by a fun & relaxing church picnic (under the most splendid big pecan tree) at the Victoria Park. Grandmother was celebrating Easter with us too, which the girls absolutely loved. (By the way, I asked Natalie the other day what we should "name" the new baby? Her answer: "GRANDMUDDER!" I like it :)

AND NOW...LET THE 'REAL' FUN BEGIN! Camp PapaNonnie 2011 is off & running! Clay and I jet-setted back to Houston yesterday, as the girls begin their annual week with Nonnie & Papa (+ Weeza this year! :) My mother & sister have a week of activities & play in store for them (and Clay and I have a week of play in store for us - ha!) We've almost forgotten what it's like to go out to eat without packing sippy cups, bibs, and mandarin oranges. We are already missing our Sweet Precious Munchkins, but we know they are having a B.A.L.L. My mother sends photo updates via cell phone all day, so I'll be posting them here all week.

Thanks Nonnie, Papa, & Weeza...this is a real treat!
DAY 1: Natalie and her morning "Children's Coffee" (drinking out of Nonnie's acapulco china of course):
Fun at the piano:

Loooooooove to Huuuuuuuuug

2011-04-13T07:38:00.000-07:00

This past weekend was b.u.s.y. I put together a really {FUN} mini-session photography shoot for some clients. Oh my goodness, these photos turned out amazing! Clay and I recently bought a Victorian sofa and hauled it out into a beautiful wide-open field of bluebonnets (along with some additional vintage props and furniture...so FUN!) I called my sister, Whitney ("Weeza"), and invited her to come play in the flowers with me for a day. We had the best time, and although it was HOT, that gentle Texas breeze helped us survive...Well that, and a bacon cheeseburger from Sonic :) Thanks for coming, sis! Here are some photos she took of the girlies playing on Sunday: This bunny was ours when we were little. Gigi loves it, too... "I've got your nose!" - her new favorite game :)

This gets dragged out every weekend! Parents: Looking for several hours of entertainment? BUBBLE WRAP!

Natalie's 2 greatest "loves" in life: Cinderella Band-aids and flip flops (although clearly the flip flops are not required to be matching:)

These 2 sweeties loooooooove to huuuuuuuuuug!

I can't stand the preciousness!

Natalie's 3rd Birthday - {PHOTOS!}

2011-04-03T21:15:00.000-07:00

We had a nice little get-together at the house for Natalie's 3rd birthday. Nonnie, Papa, Grandmother & Weeza came up for a fun afternoon of Chuy's, cake, balloons and family time. We're celebrating in Bryan this upcoming weekend :) Here are some fun pics of Natalie's Big Day: Gianna loved claiming all of Natalie's new toys...

Do you think she likes polka dots?

Gianna & Weeza

"I think my finger's stuck."

Nonnie & Gigi

Grandmother, Natalie & Nonnie

Apparently, 'hoarding' starts at a young age...

"Thank you Weeza for the chocolate chip cookie cake!"

The day before, I brought some cupcakes to school for the kiddos. They attacked me like a pack of hungry lions! This was a special day because it also marked the last day Natalie & Gianna were in the same class together (tear drop...)

Mis Chicas

Natalie looooooves her Daddy! Although "bubbles" come in a close 2nd! Look at the HEIGHT on those bubbles!!!

Natalie Turns 3!

2011-04-03T20:06:00.000-07:00

Our Sweet Precious Natalie is 3! We had a fun little family celebration and made it a very special weekend for her. We LOVE you, Nat-Nat!!! More photos from her birthday weekend coming soon…Click here for my sister's amazing birthday blog post (she's much faster than I am :)

Here are some photos from her big day…and the many faces of her FUN personality. Clay and I were hysterically surprised when she started "posing" with her hands on her hips :) Where did she learn that? You are the light of our lives, Sweet Precious…

Butterfly Wings

2011-03-31T14:33:00.001-07:00

Hello everyone! I must admit, it's been a rough week. Clay and I are both down with some kind of mean/evil illness, but thankfully our girls are A+! Let's pray it stays that way...

Gianna had her 18-month check-up this week and it went great. She weighs 22 lbs. 12 oz. and is 31" long...She's a growin' little weed! She got 1 mean shot, but was happy with her Minnie Mouse sticker afterward. We love you, Gigi Girl.

Natalie's 3rd Birthday is this Sunday...We can't believe SP1 (Sweet Precious #1) is already T-H-R-E-E! She wanted to wear her butterfly-winged headband to school today. I love these pics below from our car ride this morning. With Natalie's glasses, don't they look like they are eating popcorn at a 3-D movie theater? Haha - except in this case, it's Cheerios :-) Don't worry, they eat a more delicious breakfast once they arrive at school...This is their "breakfast-car-ride-appetizer" so to speak... We're having a special birthday weekend for Nat-Nat...Full of grandparents, great-grandmother, Aunt Weeza, Uncle Cory, Luke & Victoria...Can't wait for some good o'le family time! I have a surprise planned for her this Friday at her school...Pssst, yes it involves cupcakes! I'm sneaking up there for an afternoon surprise party for her...I'll take pictures to share :)

Til next time... The Pats

Gianna 18 Months + UPDATES

2011-03-24T08:47:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since we *UPDATED* all of you on the specific things that our girls are up to. We've been such busy little bees lately! Last weekend, we enjoyed a {FUN} afternoon with our dear friends, The Bryans. The kiddos played their hearts out (and slept great that night, I might add! :) We ate delicious crawfish (Mommy's favorite) and really enjoyed catching up with everything their family is up to.

We're looking forward to catching up with them + MORE friends this weekend. We're attending a buddy's wedding reception, a cousin's 1st birthday party, and can't wait to see everybody!

So...here is what our Sweet Precious Girlies are up to these days...

Gianna:
Oh my, Oh My, OH MY!
This little one is really kicking it into high gear. Today is her 18-Month Birthday! It's like a magic buzzer goes off at 18 months. She's communicating, running around, and sharing her feisty preciousness with all those around her :) Yes, she's f.e.i.s.t.y. Sometimes Clay and I call her Gianna...sometimes we call her "GiANGRY". One of her favorite things to do is an early evening wagon ride after a long day at school. We've recently learned that she MUST have a snack while strolling 'bout the neighborhood. She proudly holds a ziploc of Cheerios or Apple Jacks and "munch...munch...munches" the whole way. She has 16 teeth in now, wears size 6 shoes, and is wearing 18 month-2T clothes. This girl L.O.V.E.S. her big sister, Natalie. They are in the same class in school together and they have been having a BALL...except for 1 thing. When Natalie leaves the room to go "potty", Gianna throws a fit because she thinks Natalie is 'leaving her'. WAIT A MINUTE! It has just dawned on me. Why didn't I think of this before? I think what Gigi is trying to tell us is that SHE wants to go potty, too! Ah yes, that must be it. Hey, not a bad idea?! Let's get this little one started early on the potty! :-) She's a terrific sleeper and loves to hit-the-sack at night. She's a cuddle-bug, but loves her independence, too. You can't hold her down for long! This gal is on the GO...Gigi has a beautiful, cheeky grin that lights up the room. We love you, Gigi Marie!

Natalie:
Aaah, our sweet precious Natalie...
She will be 3 on April 3rd. My, how the time has flown. Natalie is like the calm in the eye of a storm - but don't get me wrong; sometimes she will definitely take a step into the storm when she's not happy :) She's very caring and careful with Gianna. Last night, Gianna was fussing after her bath and Natalie scurried into the playroom, grabbed a stuffed monkey, and brought it to her: "Here you go, Gigi." She's such a doll. She is meticulous with her things and puts everything in its place. She's a tiny little thing, and 3T pants are still a little long on her. Her hair is long and beautiful and she has the most precious smile. She loves Mickey, Cinderella, Cookie Monster and Elmo. Mickey is her favorite show. Her latest thing is "Mommy Mommy, look at me!!"...then she'll do something silly like a forward roll or spin in a circle. She's really proud of herself these days and has a great confidence about her. Her favorite shoes are flip-flops, and she loves headbands & bracelets...she's a girly-girl for sure! We love you, Sweet Precious Nat-Nat!

Clay and I are doing great. I'm feeling good...15 weeks along with bambino #3 and eager to meet this little cowboy or cowgirl! We have a long way to go though...In the meantime, I'm enjoying getting chubby and making Clay wait on me hand and foot; which he is, OF COURSE, happy, thrilled & overjoyed to do...Right, mi amore? hehehe :) We are sneaking off to Round Top on Sunday for a fun day of antiquing together. The girls are excited to spend time with Mia & Gramps :) Friday can't come soon enough! Have a great weekend, everyone!

Love,
The Pats

A St. Patty's Surprise

2011-03-18T09:46:00.000-07:00

We got home from work yesterday, and of ALL days, our walls were spotted with rainbows! A lucky St. Patty's Day coincidence, perhaps?? Gianna was especially enamored with 1 in particular. Ironically, it was in the e.x.a.c.t. same location as a blog post I did of Natalie from 6 months ago!

PS: Our hair always looks like the Bride of Frankenstein after a hard day at school:

And here was Natalie in the same spot 6 months ago :)

Happy Simplicity (+ pics!)

2011-03-14T07:40:00.000-07:00

Today is a BIG day at the girl's school! Today is the first day that Gianna has been 'upgraded' to the BIG KID CLASS, where Big Sis Natalie has been waiting for her :) Natalie will move to her next class soon, but in the meantime, they get to spend LOTS of time playing, laughing, sharing toys (haha, that's a joke) and looking out for one another.

Gianna is on an antibiotic right now, and I slipped out the door this morning and completely forgot to give her the a.m. dose! So, at lunchtime, I took it to school and was pleasantly surprised to see that she was sitting at the big kid table, spoon in hand, eating lunch with the others...and Natalie! Both girls were so happy to see me...Those are my happiest moments. The teachers informed me that Natalie has had Gigi "on display" all day...parading her around the class and telling ALL the other children that this is "MY Gigi ~ MY sister!" :)

Backing up just a bit, we had a terrific weekend. Clay and I headed south & snuck off to Goliad, Texas for a day of antiquing and Texas History. We are both texas-enthusiasts and love learning about the good o'le days of our great state. (*Yes, we will be that old retired couple in their winnebago visiting all the state parks some day.) On Saturday, we snuck off to the Espirtu Santo Mission for a history lesson, walked the incredible nature trails (pics coming soon!), and combed through all the antique stores in town. We had some luck, too! I've been on the hunt for a few vintage items to use in some upcoming photo shoots and Saturday was my lucky day! It was great to get out of the "city" and get back to simplicity...wildflowers in bloom, a cold Diet Coke, and strolling hand-in-hand from shop-to-shop. I love you, Clay :) Wouldn't want to experience that with anyone else...

Back in Victoria, the girls had a lot of fun with Nonnie, Papa + Weeza! Click here to view my sister's blog with some neat photos :)

UPDATED: And here are the pics!

Gianna + Nonnie feeding the doves
"Beep! Beep!"

Some photos from our visit to the Mission in Goliad:

(PS: Every time we are at church, Natalie wants to give Jesus "Cinderella band-aids for His boo-boos"…too sweet)

Party of Five

2011-03-11T11:53:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone and HAPPY FRIDAY!

We've had quite a week. Our sweet Gigi Girl has just not been herself the past week...sleepless nights and fussiness (which isn't like our sweet precious). Sure enough, a visit to the doctor proved an ear infection was behind it! Sweet Precious is on the mend, and she and Natalie are happily spending time at Nonnie & Papa's casa for the weekend. We can't wait to meet up with them!

In other news...We are SO excited to finally announce that we are expecting Baby #3! We are t.h.r.i.l.l.e.d. beyond words and bursting at the seams to tell all of you! We are 14 weeks along, and are due September 15th...1 week shy of Gianna's 2nd birthday :) Aaah! It's been a 'different' pregnancy to say the least. A bit more tired than the others and a wee bit o' morning sickness from time-to-time. All in all though, it's been great! I've just recently started feeling it fluttering...OH, THERE IS GOES NOW! We are probably NOT going to find out the gender again...best surprise ever! Boy or Girl, doesn't matter to us! The way I see it, another girl would only increase our female dominance over Clay ;) And if it's a boy...oh my, I'd have to read a parenting book on boys...NO CLUE!

I really have a weird 'thing' against sharing ultrasound pics, but hey, it's the 3rd. All the rules are going out the window :) This goes down in the History Books as the WORST ultrasound pic ever! I've diagramed it for you - haha!
We hope all of you have a fabulous weekend...Clay and I plan to sneak off to a trade show for some antiquing and frolicking.

Love,
The Pats