She's cheesin'.

She knows she's super cute.

She knows she's my baby.

She did a super happy dance when she realized it was the first day of February. "Oh, goodie. Now our baby can come."

She doesn't realize she won't be my baby much longer.

(Yes, I'm having contractions. No, they aren't doing anything, just like the other times. Yes, I am ready.)

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I met with the doctor Wednesday.  I wanted to know what "the plan" was for the low platelets.  First thing, I just then was learning he had my LMP date wrong.  Like a whole week wrong.  So that means he has my due date as almost a whole week off.  Whatever.  My date is 2/10/2012.  And, that is what I'm going by.

So, the plan?  Well, there really isn't one.  My platelets came back at 112,000 this week (again, it can change daily).  But, when they are above 100,000, we don't need to do anything.  So, we'll redraw and count next week and see where they are.  I'm continuing to pray that they stay up and we don't have to have any more discussions about steroids and inductions.  Let's let this little girl come when she's ready (okay, let's let her come within the next two weeks).

Because my mom and sister have been bugging me, here's a belly picture from this week...38 weeks.

And, I actually went and got the hard drive out and looked up 38 weeks with girls #1 and #2 (#1 on the left and #2 on the right).

It would probably be a little easier to compare if they were all the same direction and shot, but well, I can't tell.  Same size?  Different?  My mom thinks I look smaller.  I'm guessing when she sees this, she won't think so.  I will say this. I'm the same weight I was with both girls at 38 weeks.  I find this a little ironic because with #1, at this point I was still teaching like 3 aerobics classes a week (I was doing 7 in the beginning), and this time?  Well, I'm really not doing a lot of anything.

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...But, you can't take the Texas out of the girl.

It must be in their genes.  Because they love their cowgirl boots.

They would wear them all the time if they could.  Well, actually, there isn't a rule about not wearing them.

They love them.  And, if they wear them with nothing else on, well, that's okay, too!

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The girls are loving having baby stuff out.  They think it's for them (and their dolls, too).  Our dolls use real bottles and get to sit in real baby seats!

But, that also means the girls like to use the baby stuff, too.

And, at over 3 years old, I'd say she's pretty darn cute in her little bebePod!  Okay, her sister's, but whatever, they can share it.

I guess it's genetic, too.  Because The oldest did it, too when we were preparing for #2.  (Seriously, please tell me how in the world #1 is now 5 years old...here she is at almost 2.)

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First, a quick Happy Birthday to my mom!  She has a ruptured disk in her back and has been in a lot of pain for weeks now.  It seems to slowly be getting better, but we are thinking of her.  Love you, mom!

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January 2011

Brought the snow...and then the ice.  Ice that shut down our city for close to a week.

February 2011

The "birthday" of Mommy and Me Monday.  We celebrated with angel food cake.

March 2011

We had some silly monkeys jumping on the bed.  Thankfully, nobody fell and bumped their head.

April 2011

Nice weather in Atlanta brought swing and backyard weather.  We enjoyed it.

May 2011

It got even warmer.  We had our first trip to the pool.

June 2011

Recital!  She worked months on her tap and ballet routine.  She had so much confidence.

July 2011

Road trip.  We went to Houston for almost two weeks for my sister's wedding.  We got to see both families and my extending family.  It was a great time.

I was 10 weeks pregnant and exhausted.

August 2011

First day of school.  The girls were super excited.

September 2011

We found out our newest little is a girl.  The girls were excited to see pictures of her.

October 2011

Birthday girls.  Five and three.  How did this happen?

November 2011

Our little girl!  Our first 3D/4D ultrasound.  Coolest way to see your baby, ever (besides their birth, of course).

December 2011

Santa came...Santa came.  And, he brought tiaras and wands (and other fun things)!

Next year has so much in store for us...we are very excited about all of the blessings!  May you all have a happy and healthy and blessed 2012!

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My little scientists are at it again....longer hair, talking more, taller and even more curious and inquisitive.

Last summer, I introduced the girls to dry ice experiments and sublimation.

We received a frozen goods package, so I had to do some more dry ice bubbles with them.  And, just like last year, they loved it.

Of course they had forgotten how it went at first.  And, I decided to do it in the bathroom sink (less clean up...lazy mommy, right)?  But, they did remember my warnings about touching the dry ice.  When I got the dry ice out of the styrofoam box, they crammed in the corner and said "watch out, watch out, you don't want the ice to burn you!"

We put some hot water in the sink, then added some dish soap, and then I tossed the dry ice in.

Instant bubbles.  Remember, they are filled with carbon dioxide, so when you touch the bubbles, they let out a little cloud of "smoke."

They started smacking at the bubbles and got a bit of "smoke" in their faces.  But, they were still quite cautious.

But, they started to go all in...notice they both have their tongues out:)

And, then they totally went for it.  Picking up the bubbles.  Scooping them. Blowing on them.  Popping them in their hands.  I think it's safe to say they enjoyed it just as much this year as they did last year!

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Two Serious Girls with Santa.  The Story Continues.

(Last year, I did the succession of pictures, but I just couldn't add one and not re-show the others...so indulge me!)

2011: Atlanta

Santa and Mrs. Claus at the Chick again.  Those are WAY better smiles than I ever get.  Best so far.

One girl wished for "a lot of princesses; two Ariels, two Belles, two Sleeping Beauties, etc."

The other girl decided right before to ask for a "book or a toy" and came up with a "Scooby Doo book because we don't have one of those."

2010: Helen, Georgia

Santa and Mrs. Claus are sitting without a line. Mrs. Claus lures Natalie with a candy cane.  Success.  Two smiling girls with Santa.

2009: Atlanta

Santa and the Mrs. at the Chick.  One girl wishes for an Ariel doll.  One girl wishes to get the heck away from these strangers.

2008: Santa on the Square

Two very unhappy girls.  Terrified of the nice man in the red suit.  Neither cared about Ariel dolls or candy canes.

2007: Santa on the Square

One terrified girl.  Actually, she was quite pissed at me and Santa.  Surprisingly, Santa still visited.

2006: Santa in Smyrna, Georgia

One pretty chill little girl.  If only we knew what the future held.

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Our little big first born has found herself on the stage.  This year's program was a lot different than last year (where daddy got a standing ovation).  But, it was only different in her performance.

She was confident.

Practiced a lot.

And nailed her lines with clear speaking and enunciation.

Now, we just have to figure out how she ended up in the class that did Thanksgiving again!

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Every woman needs a girls night out (GNO) every once and a while.  Ours was just this week.

It was so much fun to get a great group of ladies from different places in my life together for dinner, fun and a little outing (and of course, my littlest girls joined us for dinner).

After noshing on some lasagna, salad, cheese sticks and breadsticks (yeah, I picked it up from a restaurant....totally worth it), we had a little more girly time and watched some hair style videos and played with Elnett Satin hairspray.

Everybody watched the videos intently (we can all use a little help) and decided that some of the hair styles by Johnny Lavoy were much easier than others.

We had two of the littlest girls very excited to have their hair played with and sprayed (and the next morning, you totally couldn't tell they had hairspray in their hair. It was just as soft as it always is).

Then, one friend wanted to try out the Chignon style* (of course, there were some assistants, too).

There is a lot of teasing involved.

And spraying.

And, it's handy to have somebody near by to hold those extra bobby pins.

Sometimes, you have to stop and admire your handy work, too.

After dinner and playing with our hair, we got in a car and had a ride downtown to the Schecky's GNO.  There were women everywhere checking out clothes, accessories, and getting their hair and make up done.  There was also a photographer taking pictures of all of the products in the goodie bag, so we stopped to help out.  The "swag" bags were awesome.  Hair accessories, samples of Elnett hairspray and so many other fun things.

There were booths and tables set up everywhere.  Some handmade products, some companies.  Lots of fun.

We even stopped and had our make-up done.  It's nice to have somebody else do it for you.  Yeah, we're a little silly.

If you are looking for a fun GNO, check out Shecky's and see if there is one by you.  A couple hours of girly fun time, swag bags and some free drinks, too.

At the end of the night, the ladies were sent home with some fancy gift bags and their own full sized bottles of Elnett to try out at home.  It really is a great, strong holding hairspray, but still allows you to take your hair down and refresh it without feeling cakey or sticky.  You can find it in most retail locations if you want to try some out.

Do your own Chignon:

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I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Elnettt and received tickets to the GNO event, a ride to the event and a gift card to purchase the food.  I will also receive a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.

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Visitors still aren't announced ahead of time here.  I think it works best to just tell/show the girls something instead of giving them notice.  Because, well, I'm not good at dealing with "when?" questions!

So, we didn't tell them that grandma and grandpa were visiting last weekend for their birthday.  And, we certainly didn't tell them that we would be surprising them at school for their birthday celebrations.

First, I went into the room (she knew I was coming) and took a sweet picture of her (so loving that I was actually there for her birthday celebration. I always missed them before!)

Then, grandma and grandpa walked into her classroom.  She wasn't surprised or excited at all!

Nope, not thrilled one bit at seeing grandma...

or grandpa.  That isn't the picture of joy.  Not one bit.

We then helped celebrate by sharing ice cream cups with all of her friends and signing happy birthday.

Then, we went to little sister's classroom to do a little surprising there as well.

I went in first, and then grandma and grandpa came in.

She was a little more hesitant, but then ran over and gave grandma a big hug!

Grandpa got some loving, too.

Then, she sat down for her ice cream and happy birthday singing, too.

And, wanted one more picture.

It was a very busy and exciting weekend here, and I know the girls greatly enjoyed their visit.  They are already asking when grandma and grandpa will visit again.

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