We're Having a Boy!

Words can hardly express how elated we are today. Today is an awesome day in the Stine household. Ali Kate turned one today which is a huge deal in itself. Didn't I just deliver her yesterday? Has it already been an entire year? We're doing gifts and cupcakes along with dinner out on the town tonight. (Eating out has become a family birthday tradition. Since the birthday girl doesn't have a favorite restaurant yet...and Mommy's pregnant, I think Mommy gets to choose for her. I'm thinking something involving onion rings or french fries....Outback anyone?). We celebrated with Dad and Betty last week, so this is birthday party number 2 for our little princess. We've gotten her a few toys and a Little Giraffe blanket and pillow set. She'll love them! It'll be her first blanket to use in bed since she's now one.

We went in for our ultrasound today...and we're actually having a boy. I can barely type that without wondering if it's for real. After three girls, people only expected us to have another girl. I've been saying this entire pregnancy that it's a boy, but I tried to prepare myself this week for the possibility that it was a fourth girl. Any child is a gift from God, and we'd welcome another girl in our girly world here on Central Trails. Deep down though I really wanted a boy this time. As the tech was doing the ultrasound, I thought twice for sure that I'd seen his malehood. Then she zooms in and stops and says, "Anyone want to guess what that is?" I said, "I think it's pretty definitely a boy." I began crying right then and there. Tears of joy for sure. I think Matt and Abby thought I was crazy. Oh, well. I'd just wanted a boy so badly, and I couldn't believe that I actually had a son in my tummy. What will the Stine household be like with a boy? No telling! He'll have plenty of little mommas for sure! I can't wait to check out the boy stuff. Matt and I are going to have to have the "how long can I put him in smocked clothes" discussion soon. And we've got so many great ideas for boy names. It'll be hard to narrow it down.

Thank you, God, that we have a very healthy baby boy on the way. Everything looked great on the ultrasound. He's measuring 19 weeks, 2 days...and weighs 10 ounces. Oh...and I gained one pounds this month for a whopping weight gain of 3 pounds so far this pregnancy. I'm elated over that too!

Now, do I really have to part with all those gorgeous baby girl clothes we no longer need?

The first person to find out today was Jamie Lee. She was downstairs at the hospital when we were leaving. She was the first one to find out and to see the sonogram picture. Afterward, we tried to call my mom....to no avail. Mom, answer your cell phone! We got Matt's mom on the phone. She screamed in delight the entire phone call. Matt started the phone call by acting like nothing was going on and making small talk. Then she kept saying, "Well, tell me, tell me." So he finally said," You're going to have your second grandson." She just screamed! It was like having a firstborn all over again.

When I called my dad, I asked if he remembered that today was a big day. He said, "Yeah...it's Ali Kate's birthday and you're finding out you're having a boy." I said, "You're right." Then he said, "So did you get her another cake?" I said, "Dad, I just told you big news!" He said, "What big news?" Then I replied, "That you're right. We are having a boy." He almost sounded like a schoolgirl on the other end of the phone. He just kept saying things like "You're kidding" and "I knew it was a boy." Then he said, "I've got to tell Betty. She just knows you're having a girl, but I told her it was a boy." He was tickled blue! He wanted him a grandson for sure.

Oh, Ashley Anthony almost started crying too. She started to tear up when Abby told her. (She kept Isabella and Ali Kate while we went to the doctor.)

I'll try to keep track of the name game we'll play the next bit. Right now we like Dawson and Grant alot...but I don't want to hone in until I've explored all my options.

Yay! I'm just so excited! I'm over the moon!

You CAN Teach an Old Dog New Tricks

In case you can't tell, I learned how to post pictures tonight. Now I'm probably going to be posting pictures like a crazy woman. It makes this journal that much more meaningful. I started blogging as a way to journal my life quickly. I type way faster than I write. But pictures are always worth 1,000 words....so I'll be using them tons now. It makes this more fun and pleasing to the eye since I don't have a pretty background. I refuse to pay money for graphics on the computer.

Aren't We Cute Together?

Taken on Christmas Eve, this pic shows that we've still got it! Matt has gone on and on about how we still look good together. (And I'm 4 1/2 months pregnant with our fourth child here!) Anyway, I nagged him to take these pictures at his parents' house...and I know he's now glad he took them! We got some cute ones of the girls too.

Freezing in Mississippi

Today was absolutely freezing! And of course the girls wanted to play outside. They needed to be outdoors since we've gotten little activity outdoors with the muddy yard and cold temps. Today was colder than we've been experiencing though. So clad in their reindeer fleece pajamas, coats, hats, and mittens, they braved the cold temperatures for a little backyard fun. We chased each other, swung (of course), played basketball and soccer, and just acted silly. It was wonderful. Matt and I were even in our pjs with coats of course. It was a delightful way to ring in the New Year. Not sure if our neighbors who stayed up till midnight last night appreciated our early morning fun....but we did!

Isn't Isabella just so cute!

Abby loves going headfirst down the slide

Abby....the best thing

A few days ago Abby said to Matt, " Dad, do you know what the best thing you could do for me is?"
Matt waited a second before she said, "You could get me some Crystal Light."

Of all the things Matt could do for her....that was the best thing. I wish I was so easily satisfied! She also told me tonight that I made the best ham she'd ever tasted. I took full credit for everything short of raising Wilbur's cousin.

Tinkle, Tinkle Isabella

Today is day two of potty training....and I don't want to jinx myself....but I think Isabella has the hang of this! It all started Sunday on the way home from church. She started crying that she needed to use the potty. She'd never used the potty once in her life. When we got home, I asked her if she still needed to potty. We went to the bathroom and she actually peed! Then we made our voyage (just the two of us) to Target for our big girl panty shopping spree. She picked out Dora and Elmo panties although she really wanted the Diego and Thomas boy underwear. She got really frustrated in the store that I wouldn't buy these. Telling her that they were for boys was to no avail. She didn't care at all.

Anyway, we went home and wore them the remainder of the evening. She peed once again before bedtime. Yesterday she pottied 4 or 5 times with NO accidents. Today she tinkled twice in her panties a little, but she told me both times that she'd done it....and she finished her business on the potty. It took Abby a long time to get to that point. She pottied several times today, and she did cry wolf a bit. But it was actually a stress-free day of training. Matt was hoem for New Year's, and it honestly seemed like a normal day.

She hasn't pooped yet....she's taken care of that in her diaper from bedtime. So we'll cross that bridge when we get there. I'm just so proud of her right now. We're rewarding her with 2 M&Ms for each successful tinkle. She loves that immediate satisfaction.

For the record...since I'll forget by the time we train Ali Kate or the new baby (oh, by the way...we find out what we're having in only 3 days.....I'm brimming with anticipation!).....I wanted to record how we're training her. We've gone straight to big girl panties with diapers for naptime and bedtime since she always wakes up wet from sleep. She is getting rewarded...and we're not punishing for accidents. I've taken her many, many times to try....and she's been given extra drink to make her go. She's very excited about her progress. It helps that she's seen Abby go her whole life. We also made phone calls to relatives to announce our big news. She loved that! She also loves showing us her panties.

Anyway, I am very optimistic about this. I'm a little nervous about taking her out for a long time....but we'll take our chances.

Way to go, Isabella!

Pottery Barn and Jesus

Ok....so I have to blog this really fast before I go and do some housework. When we were in Pottery Barn Kids in Orlando, the girls were playing kitchen with other kids. The store was very open to active play. Anyway, this one girl was being rude to Isabella and grabbing toys from her. Seeing her sister treated this way, Abby walked up to the girl and said," You should share with her. The Bible says that you are supposed to share, so you should share your toys. Okay, sweetie?" It was the sweetest thing for her to try to help Isabella and teach others what she'd been taught. I did try to talk to her about not being too bossy to other kids....I don't want her preaching to everyone. But at the same time I was proud that she wanted everyone to handle the situation correctly and wanted to help them do just that. She is listening to what we teach her!