Catch up!

Ok, with the last few weeks left of school, blogging has been a little harder...so here comes the big catch up! I am not crazy...and do realize I am doing one post with a million different things...hang with me! First off...here are the "Parks Lillies" as our family has nicknamed them. They are blooming and have overtaken our front walkway. My Grandpa Parks first planted these almost 20 years ago when he was still with us. Since then, the original bulbs have multiplied and now are planted all over Texas in at least 5 of our family homes. We continue to have to split the bulbs (I need to split these...they are HUGE!) and love passing them on. I love the fact that it is a beautiful legacy and when it blooms I always smile knowing my Grandpa is watching over me. Love you Grandpa!
Next, we finally hung letters above Cade's crib! So far, this is the only "wall decor". It might stay that way as Charles likes to keep things simple. They look beautiful!

Also, here is what Cade has been up to! He has been a busy little man and moves constantly in Mom's belly...sometimes well into the night. I think we have an active one on our hands!

"By this week, your baby now weighs about 2 1/2 pounds (like a butternut squash) and is a tad over 15 inches long from head to heel. His muscles and lungs are continuing to mature, and his head is growing bigger to make room for his developing brain. To meet his increasing nutritional demands, you'll need plenty of protein, vitamins C, folic acid, and iron. And because his bones are soaking up lots of calcium, be sure to drink your milk (or find another good source of calcium, such as cheese, yogurt, or enriched orange juice). This trimester, about 250 milligrams of calcium are deposited in your baby's hardening skeleton each day. She can blink her eyes, which now sport lashes. With her eyesight developing, she may be able to see the light that filters in through your womb. She's also developing billions of neurons in her brain and adding more body fat in preparation for life in the outside world." -www.babycenter.com

I also got the chance while Charles went on a "Boy's Fishing Trip" in the Gulf to visit my parents, sis, and niece Mackenzie last week. We had a blast and I love how her personality is really coming out! This picture says it all!

Keep hangin in there...few more updates! A few nights ago we were able to see some good friends of ours at dinner before they head to Canada for a few years (hopefully less). Their precious daughter Avery Grace is 9 weeks old, and we just fell in love with her. Here are some pics at dinner!

Another important even of the week was Sonic's "Free Float Night" on Wednesday!! How could I resist pickin up some friends and headin to Sonic? Well, unfortunately, one Sonic turned into 3 and by the time we were done...we each had enjoyed 3 small root beer floats...but they were free! LOVED it and can't wait till they do this again!

Happy Memorial Day!

Please do not forget to stop today and pray for those who have served or are currently serving in the Armed Forces. No matter what branch they are serving in, they are there for OUR freedom. Do not take for granted what this day means, especially for the families who have given the ultimate sacrifice and lost a loved one. Thanks to everyone out there who have not only served this beautiful Country, but served me as well! May God Bless you daily for your committment!

Charles gets spoiled!

The Elementary school where Charles works decided to throw him a "Daddy Shower"! I got to go as well, but the shower really focused on him! It was one of the best showers I have ever been to, and the expressions on Charles' face was priceless! The theme was a sports theme and instead of appetizers they served hotdogs/chips, popcorn, and cracker jacks! Instead of a cake, they had cupcakes with lil' footballs and baby booties on them! It was SO MUCH fun! Look at the pics below! The "Line-up"
More Food

The Cake

Friends at school

Charles opening gifts

I love his smile while he was opening gifts! Priceless!

As always, here is what Cade was up to this week!

"This week, your baby weighs almost 2 pounds (like a head of cauliflower) and is about 14 1/2 inches long with her legs extended. She's sleeping and waking at regular intervals, opening and closing her eyes, and perhaps even sucking her fingers. With more brain tissue developing, your baby's brain is very active now. While her lungs are still immature, they would be capable of functioning — with a lot of medical help — if she were to be born now. Chalk up any tiny rhythmic movements you may be feeling to a case of baby hiccups, which may be common from now on. Each episode usually lasts only a few moments, and they don't bother her, so just relax and enjoy the tickle."

Our First Shower!

So, we are blessed to have so many that love us! The Elementary where I work gave us our first Baby Shower! This was so much fun and we loved every minute of it! My friends are so amazing as you can tell in the pics! THANK YOU all so much for loving us and Baby Cade!

The beautiful RJ Goodies Cake! YUM, YUM!

So, excited to get our bedding!

The girls

Hangin' out after the party!

Also, I would not be a good Mommy if I did not share what my Cade did this last week! He was a busy lil' one! Including many nights where he did not let me sleep cause he was up ALL NIGHT kicking and playing in my tummy! He is quite the lil active one!

"The network of nerves in your baby's ears is better developed and more sensitive than before. He may now be able to hear both your voice and your partner's as you chat with each other. He's inhaling and exhaling small amounts of amniotic fluid, which is essential for the development of his lungs. These so-called breathing movements are also good practice for when he's born and takes that first gulp of air. And he's continuing to put on baby fat. He now weighs about a pound and two-thirds and measures 14 inches (an English hothouse cucumber) from head to heel. If you're having a boy, his testicles are beginning to descend into his scrotum — a trip that will take about two to three days." --BabyCenter.com

We are starting the LAST TRIMESTER!!

OK, can you believe it? We have officially started the last trimester!! We celebrated with a cake (of COURSE!) and I took a new pic of the belly! See below...

THE CAKE!!

Cade and I starting 26 weeks!

Also, here is what Baby Cade did this last week according to BabyCenter.com!!

Head to heels, your baby now measures about 13 1/2 inches. Her weight — a pound and a half — isn't much more than an average rutabaga, but she's beginning to exchange her long, lean look for some baby fat. As she does, her wrinkled skin will begin to smooth out and she'll start to look more and more like a newborn. She's also growing more hair — and if you could see it, you'd now be able to discern its color and texture.See what's going on in your uterus this week.

Adios 24 weeks!!

So, we are about to begin 25 weeks...I am working on pics of me as a baby to post. Remember my parents live in a different city...so I have to get them next trip home...although I will say, my pics will not bring quite the hysteria that Charles' did! Here is what cade has been up to this last week. He has really popped out a bit more in my belly and I enjoy eating certain foods to "stir him up". In fact, I LOVE to eat and then take a bath about 30 minutes later. This causes him to move around a lot, and I sit there for about 20 minutes and stare at my belly. My FAVORITE is when he makes ripples in the water (Mommy calls them waves)! YES!! He actually makes the water move! Charles loved watching it the other night and I think we have a very strong, active boy coming our way!!

"Your baby's growing steadily, having gained about 4 ounces since last week. That puts him at just over a pound. Since he's almost a foot long (picture an ear of corn), he cuts a pretty lean figure at this point, but his body is filling out proportionally and he'll soon start to plump up. His brain is also growing quickly now, and his taste buds are continuing to develop. His lungs are developing "branches" of the respiratory "tree" as well as cells that produce surfactant, a substance that will help his air sacs inflate once he hits the outside world. His skin is still thin and translucent, but that will start to change soon." --BabyCenter.com

Cade's Room!!!

So, we had a busy weekend full of painting, adding a chair rail and moving furniture in to Cade's room!! It actually looks like a real room now and even has a lamp and curtains (Thanks to Grandma and Grandpa Hall)! Check out the finished product!!

"Daddy" taping and starting the paint project! He was SO excited!!

Grandma Hall helping paint

Grandpa Hall and Uncle Chris painting the chair rails

Daddy and Grandpa nailing in the chair rail

Please do not notice the hair! It was a long day!

Yeah it's Done!!

This is Mommy and Cade's spot that we rock in each night and read/listen to music.

And, of course we said goodbye to week 23 of the pregnancy...so here is what Cade did in Mommy's belly this week...

"How your baby's growing:Turn on the radio and sway to the music. With her sense of movement well developed by now, your baby can feel you dance. And now that she's more than 11 inches long and weighs just over a pound (about as much as a large mango), you may be able to see her squirm underneath your clothes. Blood vessels in her lungs are developing to prepare for breathing, and the sounds that your baby's increasingly keen ears pick up are preparing her for entry into the outside world. Loud noises that become familiar now — such as your dog barking or the roar of the vacuum cleaner — probably won't faze her when she hears them outside the womb." - BabyCenter.com