Labor Day Weekend

September 7, 2009

We had a great long weekend these past few days. Max and I spent Saturday morning in the kitchen baking. We made Heath bar Cake, BeBe's Chocolate Dessert, and Banana Bread (or pie as Max called it). By the end of our adventure he could run the mixer "all by myself." He did a great job and even enjoyed washing the dishes. Saturday afternoon we got to visit with Jay's uncles and their families at the Kelley's house. They came in to see everyone with the long weekend. It was wonderful to catch up with their families. It is unbelievable how big all their boys have grown.
Sunday after church we picnic-ed at the fountains with McDonald's. Then Max played his heart out in the water. Jay showed his how to put his newest McDonald toy on the water spout to be thrown up into the air by the water pressure. He thought that was really cool. After fun in the sun, Max fell asleep before we got on the bypass and then we all got a good nap at home. Later in the evening, BeBe and Big Daddy came over for a fabulous pork tenderloin dinner with scrumptious desserts. They both tried for a long time to feel Mary Kate move. Nothing we did would get her going. But you know it, before they got out of our neighborhood she was kicking to beat the band! Sorry BeBe and Big Daddy, maybe next time. Monday afternoon Grandma and PawPaw took us to purchase Mary Kate's bedding. They wanted to get that as a gift for her. It is really cute and just girlie enough. I can't wait to get Jay in gear this week to get the spare bed out and paint purchased. I will upload pictures once the project begins. We spent Monday evening at the Slusher's for Fantasy Football Draft. I am not sure what Jay is getting into, but I had a good time chatting with the gals. Max did a good job playing with all the little girls. Sarah Grace was on his heels most of the evening mimicking his every move. They were all really cute. We had a good restful weekend with lots of important family time.

Hello World!

August 30, 2009
Last week at 17 weeks, Mary Kate had lots of new tricks to show us. She waved her dainty little hand at us as if to say, "Hello out there!" or "Max, shhh, I am trying to sleep." We have a long way to go, but it seems so real all of a sudden.

Sucking her Thumb

She has found her hand and likes to try to suck her thumb!

Toes

Mary Kate has Jay's monkey toes! Two different ultrasonographers have commented on the length of her toes!

Lil Fans

August 28, 2009 Friday night we went to the high school football game and had lots of fun. Avery, Sarah Grace, and Max climbed all over us and up and down our seats. They were thrilled to be there! All three of them cheered all night with "Go Greenwave!" and Max repeated "Go Cody!" a million times. He thinks it is so cool that his neighbor is the quarterback. We look forward to the next game, but we will have to see if we can make it past 3rd quarter. At that point everyone was over it and ready to go home except the Dads. Delana had a good idea of bringing a Mommy Kido car and a Daddy car. We might have to really consider that as the games get colder.

Pictures of the Weekend

August 16, 2009

This weekend we celebrated Jay's sister, Shannon's birthday. As her cakes read she was 21 plus 11 years old. We spent the day at the Kelley's pool playing and sunning.

Today we are 16 weeks or 4 months pregnant! Yea! It's passing by day by day. Before we know it Mary Kate will be home with us. It had been requested that I post a new tummy shot, so here it is. Jay snapped it while I was in cooling off from working in my flowerbeds. Whew! It is hot and HUMID here today.

The Last Few Weeks

August 12, 2009

It has been a whirlwind of a summer here in the Kelley house: Positive pregnancy test, Max's 3rd Birthday, Destin Trip, It's A Girl!, 10 Year Class Reunion, Jon and Josie's Wedding, and now finally NOTHING on the calendar for a few weeks. Whew! So what have we done since the last post?

Max used some of his Pa Birthday money to buy a big boy bike. He rides with fury! I honestly didn't think he would be able to ride being so young, but once again he surpassed my expectations. He can even ride the entire 3 mile loop that Jay and I walk in the evenings. Unbelievable!

He had also learned to swing "I do it all by myself, Mommy." Up until now we have had to go out and push him on the swing, but now he refuses our help most of the time. Oh! He is growing up so fast.

We are also now 15 weeks pregnant and it is still a little girl. I guess I won't believe it until she is in my arms. It is clear on Mom's ultrasounds: there is nothing there! We can count 4 fingers and a thumb on each hand, 10 toes, a rhythmic (thank goodness) 4 chamber heart, bladder & kidneys, stomach, spine, eyes, nose, mouth, 2 lobe brain . . . it looks like it is all there . . . except for boy parts! Yea! I can feel her fluttering around in there when I am still, and we think Jay felt her earlier this week when she was parting on some Taco Bell. We have decide on the name Mary Kate and are excited about meeting her in January. Mary is after my grandmother, Mary Frances, and I just love the thought of Kate Kelley. Max talks about "Mary Kate" or "my Kate" all the time. He has big plans for the two of them. We also got confirmation from Mama Nora (Max's babysitter) that she will have room for Kate once she arrives. Max is excited about taking her to Mama Nora's with him.

Max also went for his yearly visit to Vandy Cardiology. He got to wear his holtor monitor again and did it like a champ. Once the results were in we found out that we are finally cleared and only have to see them if something arises in the future. He had significantly less PVCs and PACs (extra beats) this year than he has had in the past. Yipee! Just a little history if you are lost, Max was diagnosed prior to birth with an irregular heartbeat that was caused by abnormally large holes in his heart (ASD and VSD). Prior to birth I had all kinds of work ups. We did a fetal echo and monitored it by doppler with prenatal visits and ultrasounds. After birth we were sent to Vandy Ped Cardiology for another workup. At 3 days old he had ekgs and echos done of his heart. His prenatal diagnosis was confirmed and we followed up later. By the time he was one the holes had closed, but the rhythm was still abnormal. So, now that we are 3 years old we have been deemed 'normal'. It is a great relief off our shoulders. Hopefully we won't have to go on this adventure with Mary Kate, but she does have a higher risk due to having a brother with the condition. So? We will see. It is all in God's hands and he will carry us through it again if it is in his plans. It does cause anxiety, but knowing there is someone "bigger than the boogie man" in control helps me to not concentrate on the possibilities.

So, what all does August hold? Who knows! We have consignment plans, Shannon-Dianne-Pa Birthdays, flea market plans, and hopefully some relaxing in between! Until next time . . . .