What's in a name??

So the first question everyone asks a pregnant woman after, oh maybe 12 weeks, is "Do you know what it is?" Now of course until you actually have an ultrasound your answer is "Not yet". Once you do find out, if you find out, the next most commonly asked question is "What are you going to name the baby?" Or my favorite "Do you have a name?" Well for all of you that just can't wait, the answer is YES, we do have a name. But no, we are not sharing it until he is born. This may seem cruel to those very close to us, such as our children who constantly try and catch me distracted so that I will slip up. Or my parents who also can't wait to hear the baby's name. But for Jeff and I, it has been a special and precious little secret to keep and we have enjoyed it thoroughly. But for those of you who just have to have a hint, here is what I can share. He is a he (I feel compelled to put that in here since Roger Federer told everyone he was having a boy and then his wife had twin girls) and his name will come from the Bible and end in -a or -ah. That said, most people immediately think that our name pool has narrowed dramatically and that we only have a handful of names to choose from. Not so, below is the list of all of the names we considered for this little guy in alphabetical order. And yes, our son's name in on the list, but I bet you will never guess. Elijah Ezra Isaiah Jedediah Jeremiah Jonah Joshua Josiah Judah Nehemiah Obadiah Tobiah Zephaniah Zechariah As a special treat, here are some of the names the kids came up with for the baby. Noah and Calla - Rainbow Bubbles Davis Calla - Apple Cider Monkey Davis Noah - Food Lover Davis Bella - Nemo Disney Davis While these names are definitely creative, I think we will stick to our first choice and let the kids give him a nickname.

What Happens at Grandma's...

This weekend we started out strong with a fun trip to the peach orchard for a bushel of peaches on Saturday. While our family does love fresh peaches, even we couldn't eat the over 100 that we picked. So we had even more fun sharing them with our friends and neighbors and making peach cobbler. On Sunday we headed to church and then to Grandpa and Grandma's for dinner and an ice cream social at their church. The older kids, Calla and Noah were going to spend a few nights with Grandpa and Grandma while Jeff and I got to enjoy the little ones at home. Monday Calla, Noah and Grandma headed to Dan Nicholas Park where they rode the train and the carousel, walked through the petting zoo and wildlife zoo and played putt putt. In my opinion, that is enough for about three days but you don't know my Mom and her endless energy. Once they got home, ate and changed, they picked Grandpa up and went bowling. The kids had so much fun, they even won medals, which they wore every waking moment after that. On Monday night back at home, Jeff and I left the little ones with some great friends and headed out for a date night, the first in a very long time. After dinner we strolled around the bookstore and even did a little back to school shopping for the kids. On Tuesday, Calla, Noah and Grandma went to see Surf's Up at the local theater. Then on to lunch, a little shopping, another round of putt putt at the local mini golf course and finished up the day at the park. I think I could have made all that into 2 weeks, but I digress. Here at home, we headed to playgroup at the Howards' where I thoroughly enjoyed getting to chat with some ladies that I don't often get to see. Then back home to catch up on laundry and make dinner. Finally, on Wednesday the kids were due back home. I had to take Bella to her therapy appointment so I wouldn't be home until 11:30am. No problem, my Mom said she would bring them back early this afternoon. I would think by this time that my Mom would be exhausted and ready to trade back, boy was I wrong. She took them to Reed Gold Mine where they mined for gold and found a fleck. They went through the tunnels, watched the movie and took a guided tour. Once finished, they headed for lunch and then over to my Uncle Bruce and Aunt Linda's where they all enjoyed visiting, going to yet another playground and walking up by the lake. Needless to say, the little bundles of energy never made it back home until 5:30pm. Now, I KNOW everyone involved is exhausted. I am sure Grandpa and Grandma are enjoying their quiet house. All the kids are sleeping peacefully in their beds after a warm bath. And I am looking forward to sleeping in late and doing absolutely nothing tomorrow!

VBS

What a wonderful and exhausting week we have had. Vacation Bible School started at our church on Sunday and it has been a whirlwind ever since. Since our VBS program starts in the morning and runs through lunch time, it made for an interesting new routine. We all had to get used to getting up extra early and most days we stayed and had lunch afterward. I worked in the craft room helping the kids to make picture frames. Calla and Noah were able to participate in the VBS program since they are in school, and Bella and Micah enjoyed the preschool program. So many kids got to hear the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ and our own little Calla chose to make a decision to give her life to Christ this week as well! We are all very excited and very appreciative of Calvary and the hundreds of volunteers that made this week possible.

Below are some pictures of our craft, starfish picture frames and also our craft area which was decorated like a small beach shop. I think Bella and Micah enjoyed the decorations more than the crafts. The other crafts for the week were a lantern, sunglasses and a roll of sweet Hawaiian bread the kids got to shape and then bake and eat.

It's a World of Laughter, a World of Fun

It has been a long time in getting to our Disney post, mainly because I needed the two weeks to catch up on laundry:) and wade through the 1300+ pictures (yes that is two zeroes, not a typo) to get the best ones to put on here. In the end, a smilebox made much more sense. So enjoy our whirlwind slide show through our trip to the beach, two waterparks, the Magic Kingdom, Calla's birthday and shopping spree, the armadillo family down by the pool and finally the lack of Grandpa and Grandma pictures toward the end, due to my Mom coming down with a very serious ear infection that kept her asleep in bed for two days. Despite my Mom's illness and my crazy pregnancy hormones and the 100+ temperatures, we had a fabulous time and can't wait to go back.

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

A Week of Ups and Downs

Up - On Monday Jeff took the day off and we went to the zoo with the kids and Grandma. It was a beautiful day with temperatures in the 70's. The kids had a ball seeing all the animals and imitating them. Since we went to the NC Zoo, it takes a long time to get through it and we didn't leave until closing.

Down - All seven of us were starving and tired and starting to debate where to eat when Jeff says "we aren't going anywhere". Collective sighs and gasps! Our front driver side tire was flat and not just low flat, flat flat. Pancake on the ground flat. While Jeff diligently works at trying to jack up the van and get the old tire off, we realize the spare has not been used since 2000 when it was put under the van. We cross our fingers that it comes off and has enough air in it to get us home (about 90 miles). While Jeff struggles with the tire changing, Micah gets sick again and again. We are not sure why, but something got to him and he does not feel well at all. The tire finally gets changed after another drawn out fiasco over air pressure, we make it home to recuperate.

Down - Tuesday morning I go in for my Gestational Diabetes test and fail. Not just D+ fail or right under the cutoff (which is 134 btw) but really fail (163). So now I have to go back at the end of the week for a 3 hour test.

Up - The preparation for the 3 hour test is to load up on carbs for 3 days prior. Therefore, by doctors orders I must eat pasta, breads, chips, ice cream, cake, etc. until Friday, bummer:)

Down - We spent the rest of Tuesday, Jeff's last day off, in Sam's Club getting two new tires put on the van. At least the giant soft pretzels were good.

Up - Wednesday the kids and me and my Mom all head downtown on the Lynx train to Discovery Place to enjoy the morning. The new pirate exhibit is open and fantastic. Calla and Noah loved the wind tunnel, it simulates a catagory one hurricane with winds up to 75 mph.

Down - Jeff's car has no AC and we have to take it to the shop Thursday night which leaves us with one vehicle for Friday. Never fun, at least the van has new tires.

Down - Friday morning I go in for my 3 hour Glucose test. After 4 vials of blood, 15 hours of fasting, and countless Parenting and Pregnancy magazines I find out that I must wait 4 days for the results. Fingers crossed it comes back normal.

Up - Thanks to continuing ed, Jeff got home early Friday. We had pizza for dinner and the kids were so tired they were in bed by 8:00pm.

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. 13 You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.

July 4th Weekend

Well at the risk of another vacation titled post, I decided to cover the 4th first and then or latest trip to Disney. So on to July 4th. One reason Jeff and I moved into Waxhaw was for the small town charm that we loved so much in the town we both grew up in, Newton Falls. One of the crowning jewels of Newton Falls was the 4th of July carnival, parade and fireworks display. As a matter of fact, we missed it so much, that for several years after we moved to Charlotte, we headed back to Ohio for the 4th just to spend it with friends and family in our small hometown. Now that we have a growing family of our own and most of our relatives have relocated, we set out to create new traditions. Waxhaw's parade has been a town favorite for years and their recent addition of the fireworks display has really brought back those childhood memories. And now it is time to make some new memories with our children.