Snowmobile

The South: where you can wear a down jacket at 7:00 am, cook hot dogs at 12:00 in a t-shirt, and crank up your AC at 5:00.

Either Mother Nature is experiencing a mid-life crisis, or Jesus is making arrangements for His return.  There's never an excuse to not be ready, I guess!  But we live in a world of the unknown.

I have so many questions all the time, like why we have self parking cars and yet we're forced to listen to a two minute recording when calling any company.

"Listen carefully as options 1-79 have changed."

Or why an ironing board sounds like a thousand knives straight out of a horror movie whenever you open it.

Or...why this little invention is one of the most unreliable things on the planet.

One wrong move and, well...you know the rest.

March has been a ton of fun! On the 11th we celebrated Hilary and Bennett's soon-to-be baby girl and Jocelyn's second Birthday.

We also caught up with Joy for a much needed visit.

Only hours after playing in the nice, warm sun we awoke to THIS on "Spring Forward" Sunday.  How breathtaking are these pictures?  I simply took these with my iphone, but with a subject this beautiful you can't go wrong.

We were STUNNED, and it is a morning that will live in history: a beautiful snowfall in the middle of March- just when I had given up hope for this year!  

Then came St. Patrick's Day, and Emerson's daycare had a precious party, as always!  How adorable are these kids??

Emerson and Ross always coordinate so well; just look at this flashback from their Valentine's Day party.  HOW cute!  What's something else they have in common?  They will soon be a big brother and big sister.

Something extra special was also taking place on 'lucky' St. Patrick's Day.   I'll let Oprah give you a hint.

I got my second car in the fall of 2008.  I had just landed my first 'big girl' job and moved into an apartment with two of my best friends since childhood. 

This is the car that we drove home from our wedding ceremony with beautiful -and funny- decorations (I still have the Bride & Groom ducks).

It was also the car that we drove to the hospital while I was in labor (after wallowing on the grass downtown; you can refresh your memory on that story here).  It safely carried us and our new baby girl home from the hospital.

We took many trips in this car, as evidenced by the almost 217,000 miles I put on it.  Here was my car in dog years.

It had gotten to the point that the work necessary to keep it running was just not worth the investment, so Ryan said some of the most magical words I've ever heard, right behind "Sure, you can go to the Belk sale," and "Treat yourself to something nice today" while I walked in a store that wasn't Home Depot.

He said, "Just go ahead and get yourself a new car."

WELL, PULL MY LEG AND FORCE ME!!!

That's like telling this kid to buy the biggest ice cream cone on the menu with extra sprinkles.

But hold the gummy bears, please.  I'll never understand why ice cream bars serve gummy bears as a topping.  They'll just become hard as a rock and result in something disastrous.

Another gummy bear ice cream victim...I can spot him a mile away.

I digress.

I knew from the start that I wanted a three row SUV.  A) Have you EVER seen me pack for a single weekend? B) I have many things to cart around for my job, and C) With our second bundle of joy due in just a few months, we needed to prepare for two car seats and extra room for other riders. Plus my shopping loot.  Do you know how many purchases you can hide in one of those?  I'm totally kidding.

My two top contenders were the Toyota Highlander and the Honda Pilot.  I test drove the Highlander several months back, and when they gave me the sticker price I slithered out of that car like a snake and told them to have a nice day.

My parents got a brand new Honda Odyssey last summer, and I was truly amazed at all the capabilities it had.  This replaced their first Odyssey that lasted 11 years and took us back and forth to college many a time.  Plus, they've had an Accord since 2006, and I can honestly say that if you were to offer my mother a Maserati she would scoff and ask where the Honda place was.  She swears by those cars.  So I test drove the new Pilot, and here's what happened.

I absolutely fell IN LOVE.  It was like operating an easier version of a rocket ship; that's the best way I can describe it.  Emerson can watch her DVDs in peace and not eat up all my phone data, it has a TON of cargo space and seats seven, and perhaps my favorite feature is the Apple Play which mirrors most of my phone apps, such as navigation, phone calls, and music, etc.  

Here's what my Dad envisioned when I tried to explain "Apple Play" to him.

Checkmate!

They had three available 2017 Pilots on the lot, and I later learned that they'll make really good deals depending on what color you want.  I originally asked for silver or blue, because that's what I'm used to...and I hate change.  But the diamond pearl color he showed me grew on me almost instantly. And now it would be my top choice. I negotiated this entire car from start to finish by myself, although I did call Ryan a time or two for safe measures. I guess the almost 7 years I spent at my sales job helped me talk numbers confidently.  The negotiations were finalized on Tuesday of that week, including the trade-in value of my car, and I scheduled an appointment on Friday morning to make the purchase.

"You need to get that car sooner," Ryan warned. 

"But why???"

"Because you don't want anything to happen to your trade-in."

I thought nothing of it, but I did heed his advice and drove like a little old lady for the next couple of days.  The morning of  the big day I was taking Emerson to daycare and noticed that the car behind me was following a little too closely.  In hindsight I should have painted a subliminal message on my back window.

This may have done the trick.

Before I could even think the car in front of me stopped suddenly, but because I was a safe distance behind I slowed up gradually. Unfortunately that wasn't enough time for the car behind me.  I looked in my rear view mirror and saw them barreling toward me.

"NO, NO, NO!!!!!" I thought.  And then it happened.  But not what you think!  The massive truck behind them was so heavy that it couldn't stop in time, and the car fishtailed so they wouldn't hit me.  I heard a massive CRUNCH as they were crashed from behind, sending them trailing off into the grass. I cannot make this up.  Thankfully no one was hurt, but their bumper had seen better days.

So, I proceeded to drive like an even older little lady to my morning meeting.

Your Uber has arrived.

An hour later I made it safely to the car dealership where I told "old blue" to be good and that we had a fun ride; literally. The paperwork took about 2.5 hours before I was handed the car keys.  This was right after the sales manager gave me a long sheet of paper that I told him rivaled the length of my last Belk receipt. 

"Mine, too!  They had a really good sale on men's suits last week."  I liked this place already.

Later that afternoon I drove off with our newest family member, Pearl.  

I. LOVE. THIS. CAR.  It has more capabilities than you can count, and by this time next year I will be a substitute pilot for Delta.

It even has a hookup in it for a Playstation/Xbox/Wii.  Can you imagine??

Sorry, Officer...I was about to beat that last level.

One day this week I took my precious grandparents for a ride.  "We love it and it rides beautifully, but we couldn't even start the engine on this car." Hilarious!

So because I'll never forget the big snow on Spring Forward weekend and the purchase of this car just five days later, I can also consider it my "Snowmobile."

We are looking forward to so many fun and new memories with Pearl, including taking our second baby home from the hospital.  The next morning we had a play date with Eden, and these two were so precious and hugged non stop.

That afternoon I met my awesome friend Megan to see the long awaited live action remake of Beauty and the Beast, and let's just say that there are few movies in life that I'd give a 10.  This was one of them.

On the ride home later that evening I had the opening music stuck in my head, so after dinner (in between playing hide and seek with Emerson) I learned it, and it's one of my favorite piano pieces ever.  You can listen to it here.

With all the traveling I do I have never taken for granted the safety the Lord has allowed us.  Every time I get to my destination I thank Him for a safe trip.  What's one of the most important aspects of safety?

The importance of being careful IN STYLE!

Made in Heaven: Second Edition

Last Spring I opened this fortune cookie and smiled...because I knew what we wanted and were hoping for.

Soon, a visitor shall delight you.

This slip of paper is still on our fridge.  

October 11, 1984 and December 2, 1987 were two special moments in history.  These were the days when I became a big sister to Jay, and Ryan became a little brother to Kevin.  Through the years we have all gotten along and are so close to our siblings. 

Truly, I couldn't imagine life without my brother, and I know Ryan feels the same way.

Emerson was barely sitting up by herself before we started getting questioned about our second child.

I always knew that I wanted at least two children, but GOD is in control, and it's all about HIS timing!  I'm going to be honest; we had to wait a little while for this one.  This whole idea of when you're "ready" for another is nonsense.  God will tell you when and IF He's ready.   Because what's so easy to forget is the fact that we are promised nothing, and everything we receive is admittedly something we don't deserve.  And furthermore, to whom much is given much is required.

So we prayed.  And prayed.  And Emerson prayed for a "baby brother or sister" for several months.  And I could practically predict when I would be asked what we were waiting for and "isn't it time" for another?  And some days it would just weigh heavily on my heart.

Some people wait months.  Some years.  Some spend their whole lives waiting for something they want.  Again, no one is promised anything.

I completely understand that every person who asks these type of questions... (Are you dating/working/getting married/having a baby soon?) is doing so with good intentions; that's the truth.  People mean well, and the questions are coming from a place of genuine interest and care.  I never felt any ill will toward anyone who inquired about our next baby, but perhaps it's possible to strike up conversations about other topics instead.

"Did you know that you can save hundreds on your car insurance by switching to Geico?" may be a good place to start.

So we'll rewind to the week after Christmas 2016.  Jay and Laura had come and gone, and the festivities were winding down.

My parents actually stayed an extra couple of days to help me un-decorate the house; after all, I'm fairly certain that the Rockefeller Center has less Christmas decorations than I do. The next day I just felt OFF.  I was super nauseous and tried to rack my brain.

Had I gone on this ride without remembering?

Shortly after midnight on December 30th I took "the test."  And as weird as I felt, I was going to be shocked if it was anything but positive.  Without even a drumroll or fanfare I got the results almost immediately: BABY #2 was on the way!

My heart!!!  What a way to ring in the new year!

Ryan was asleep, so I resisted the urge to scream and do a gymnastics routine.  Emerson was sleeping sweetly in her bed, so I went in her room, kissed her, and said..."Sleep well, big sister."

I used to play Life all the time and remembered adding "pegs" to the car when your family would grow.

BRING ON THE EXTRA PEG!!!

The next morning I called my doctor's office to make an appointment.  I was so sick and nauseated that even turning the cart on an aisle in Target made my stomach do flips.  So what exactly was I doing in Target when I felt so sick?!  Getting the supplies to tell Ryan the big news...DUH!  Come on, don't you know me well enough by now?

While the time and place when you tell people are certainly an important factor, it's HOW you do it that really makes it memorable.  I wanted something history-book worthy.  When Ryan came home that afternoon there were two signs leading into our kitchen where "Sandstorm," one of USC's traditional pre-game songs was blasting.

Emerson was wearing a Gamecock jersey,  and there was a gift on the counter.  

"You just missed him, Ryan!"

"Missed who???"

"Will Muschamp.  He just dropped off this package for you."

Will is USC's head football coach.  You're welcome if I saved you a trip to Google.

"Hold the questions please, folks. You'll get the full story in the blog, okay?"

Inside the package was a letter written directly from the "coach's office."

Dear Gamecock fans,

     As we have said farewell to the greats such as Marcus Lattimore and Jadeveon Clowney it is time for us to focus on the future of Gamecock football.  It is with great pleasure that I welcome our newest recruit, Baby Moody #2 to the Carolina family.

Forever to thee...Summer 2017!

Sincerely,

Will

There were also some assistant coach onesies.  Ryan high-fived me and was absolutely over the moon.  I'm pretty sure there was a fist pump involved, and this is the same guy who would probably say "meh" if he were to win $100,000.  Translation:  Ryan was SO, SO EXCITED!

Gamecock Newest Recruit

Summer 2017

We celebrated that night at Outback and decided the perfect weekend to tell our parents so that they wouldn't suspect anything: the weekend before Valentine's Day.

I searched local stores in depth for ideas on how to reveal the big news.  Our parents are some of the people who ask us all the time about another baby, so we had to be sure and catch them off guard.

After much retail research I decided to fill a basket of candy and goodies for them. After all, Valentine's Day is all about goods, so I didn't think it would be that suspicious.  However, take a close look at the candy:

BABY goldfish, BABY Ruth, "He" and "She" Hershey bars, and pink/blue candy.

Just in case that didn't give it away, I wrote "special delivery" cards.  The most massive ones I could find, of course.

Here is the card to-scale next to the empire state building...

As we know, though, it's what's on the inside that counts:

Dear Poppy and Nana,

Roses are red, Violets are blue,

In September 2017 your next grandchild is DUE!!!

Love,

Ryan, Katharine, Emerson, and ?

Then they would open a gift bag with one of these.

And so we set out on a mission.  On February 3rd I had my first Doctor's appointment, but all they did was blood work and scheduled the ultrasound for later.  I'll admit that I was very nervous to not have an ultrasound yet just to confirm things.  How would we know everything was okay?  How would we know something REALLY crazy wasn't happening...like TWINS?!?  But nonetheless, when my blood work came back normal we knew in our hearts that all was well, even if we didn't have a picture yet.

My parents were first up that Friday night.  After Emerson opened her Valentine's gifts from them I brought in the basket and card.  In true fashion my Dad started eating the candy immediately, and neither of them had a clue.

That was until they read the card aloud together.  And this is a screen shot of their ACTUAL reaction from the video we took:

They were absolutely shocked.

I could take this picture out of context and make SO many memes it's just insane.

1) Russia hacked into your Time Warner Account; hope you like foreign movies and subtitles.

2) "I've taken a job as an astronaut; see you in 2027."

3) Chip & Joanna Gaines are in the driveway ready to remodel your family room

 The next morning we told Ryan's parents.  His mother looked closely at the candy and thought something was up and then blurted it out before Ryan's Dad could read the last sentence of the card.  Nonetheless, I'd say the look on his face shows enough surprise!

Both my Mom and Ryan's Dad even went to their closets and pulled out the last outfit we gave them when we told them about Emerson.

We also Face-Timed Jay & Laura and Kevin, and they all had the Publishers Clearing House look, too.

For our grandparents I got Valentine's gift boxes and filled them with the same pink and blue themed goodies.

And cards:

They were all super surprised and thrilled!

 ...and here is a still shot of both of my grandparents with their jaws dropped.

This past Monday we had our long awaited first ultrasound.  I was almost 13 weeks!  They apparently don't do them early unless there is an issue, so while it's a huge blessing to be issue free it's also a whole month after we had our first ultrasound with Emerson at nine weeks.

But it was certainly worth the wait!

At 13 weeks we were able to see the little head and body, legs, arms, feet, and even the brain developing.  Of course, the baby was already moving!  It's already trying to keep up with Emerson...and yours truly.

Then came the question of how to make the news official.  What would our announcement be?  I've always thought that if a picture says a thousand words a video says a million, and I had an initial idea of what I wanted to do but completely scrapped it when a better one hit me:  Emerson needed to have a big sister job interview.

Ryan was on a work trip, so one morning I propped up my iphone on top of some books on our coffee table and sat Emerson on the couch.  Who knew if it was going to come out decent or not, but it was worth a try, and I was thrilled with the finished product!  It's something we will cherish forever and will show our next baby one day.  

I started by asking her some real questions that you'd get in a job interview and then did a hands-on training to make sure she could put the baby in the crib, stroller, and high chair properly.  What was particularly special about these items is that my own grandparents gave them to me when I was little, so they've come full circle.  And they made some fantastic props.

You can watch the interview here: Emerson's Big Sister Interview

So God answered our prayers, and I almost hesitate to say it that way, because there are countless people who pray for a baby or something else in life and do not yet have it.  Does that mean God didn't listen or didn't answer their prayers?

I learned a lesson about prayers a long time ago that has really stuck with me.  God DOES answer all prayers.   He does so in three ways:

1) Yes

2) No

3) Maybe...aka Waiting

The second option can be heartbreaking, and the third option can be an emotional roller coaster, but rest assured that God hears each and every cry and prayer from His children.  Every one.  Whether you're praying in front of a congregation or huddled in your closet crying He sees all and knows all and carries the big picture in His hands.

God planned for Emerson to be a precise age when she will become a big sister.  That hit me one day, too.  Every single second is part of his divine plan.  During those months when we prayed I believe God was preparing us for the next step, although we felt like we were "ready" before. But as the saying goes...if you want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans.  Just as there are prerequisites in college, you can also apply this to your life.  Things need to happen in a certain way, and maybe God needs you to experience something/meet someone/accomplish something before the next part of his plan unfolds.  Have you ever thought about it that way?

We are incredibly grateful to be parents again, and honestly I still want to pinch myself when I wake up.  I also received two major blessings this week:

1) I can feel the baby moving already; I was over four months along last time when it happened, but I guess I'm more sensitive to it now.

2) Because I had gestational diabetes last time they went ahead and tested me early.  Last Tuesday I took the dreaded three hour glucose tolerance test...and PASSED!!!!  It was an unbelievable relief to not have to endure that again, although I would have done whatever it took to keep the baby safe.

Here is a look inside my pantry now that I have free reign....

KIDDING.  Mama, please don't call me about that.  I googled this photo, ok???

Plus, I haven't really felt nauseous since the first week.  WHAT a relief.  Emerson is crazy excited about the baby, which we are calling "Baby Bean" at the moment.  She hugs and kisses my tummy frequently and said, "Will Baby Bean be here in five minutes?"  

SHEESH!  I certainly hope not, but this is also teaching her a lesson of waiting.  For the record, she refers to the baby as "He" a majority of the time, but let me be clear and say that we do not know the gender and won't know until the end of April.  We will be absolutely thrilled with a happy and healthy boy or girl.

So as usual, our lives are about to get ever the more interesting and fun, and as Matthew West sings..."It's day one of the rest of your life."