Jinx!

I TOTALLY jinxed myself by posting about how very little nausea I have experienced. Tuesday (8 weeks to the day) I got sick a couple of times and every day since has been kind of rough. YUCK! But I guess it could always be much worse. I'm just hoping that this passes pretty quickly. Also, friends warned me that on the second time around, you start showing quicker... well they weren't lying. On Wednesday, Jamie pointed out to me (yeah, thanks Jamie!) that I have a little bump! I'm still in my clothes and I don't think others would really notice my pooch at this point, but I bet it won't be too much longer until I'm in elastic waist jeans. Oh well, what can you do?

Hershey's Better Basket Blog Hop

Hershey's has partnered with the Children's Miracle Network for in excess of 20 years, and this year, bloggers get to help!



For every blog post sporting a virtual Easter basket post, Hershey's is donating $10 (up to $5,000) to the Children's Miracle Network!!!

HERSHEY’S BETTER BASKET BLOG HOP RULES

* Copy and paste these rules to your blog post.

* Create a blog post giving a virtual Easter Basket to another blogger – you can give as many Virtual Baskets as you want.

* Link back to person who gave you an Easter Basket.

* Let each person you are giving a Virtual Easter Basket know you have given them a Basket.

* Leave your link at BetterBasket.info/BlogHop comment section. You can also find the official rules of this #betterbasket blog hop, and more information about Better Basket with Hershey’s there.

* Hershey’s is donating $10 per each blog participating to the Better Basket Blog Hop to Children’s Miracle Network (up to total of $5,000 by blog posts written by April 4th, 2010).

* Please note that only one blog post by each blog url will count towards the donation.

I received my basket from Tashia at Allie Play
Now I am passing a Virtual Basket on to:
Ashley at hudson's happenings
Julie at The Greenhaw's are Growing

3 plus 1 equals 4

Today, Jamie and I heard one of the most precious sounds... the heartbeat of our new baby! Yep, I'm pregnant and due November 2, so that puts me at 7 1/2 weeks. We are beyond ecstatic! It was so different today, seeing our little 'grain of rice' on that ultrasound screen and hearing his/her heartbeat (which was 146). The first time, with Noah, it seemed surreal. I knew there was a baby in my belly but I guess I just didn't realize how that little person would change my life. Almost like, you don't really believe that there's a baby in there, until you see and hold him or her. However today, it was so amazing to me, like WOW... that's really our tiny little baby! It brings me to tears when I think of just how immeasurable my love for Noah is and the fact that I get to experience that immense feeling again for another little person. I feel so incredibly blessed!

Noah and this little baby will be right at 3 1/2 years apart so I think that's a pretty good age difference. I keep telling Noah that now he has a deadline for when he has to start walking... that boy's gotta be walking by November or I might have to get my mom to move in with us! :) I'm sure some of ya'll might think I'm a little crazy however, Jamie and I had initially planned on our kids being 3 years apart. Plus in talking with other parents of special needs kids, they've told me that the BEST thing is to have another because it helps you to refocus some of your thoughts/energy. Instead of being 110% consumed with Noah, I'll have something else to help occupy my time and attention. I honestly think having a sibling will be a very good thing for Noah. Plus, I feel very confident that he'll begin walking by the end of the summer (I really really want him to be able to walk down the aisle as Lindsay's ringbearer). And yes, I will be very pregnant for Lindsay's end of the summer/beginning of fall wedding. HA! Now, that's going to be a HOOT!

So far, I've had very little nausea. In fact, it's happened only twice this week and it's been really brief. With Noah, I had some nausea but I only got sick once, however, I don't remember exactly during which week it started. Dr. Keith told me today that it's a good sign that I haven't had any because by this point, if it hasn't started, then it probably won't. Hallelejuah! I've been exhausted and early on I had some major headaches... but I'm thinking that was because I was trying to cut back on the caffeine. But other than that, I'm feeling good. I feel pretty grateful that I'm feeling good, because several of my pregnant friends dealt with a lot of nausea and my poor mom threw up from week 6 to week 20 every day ALL day... Lindsay should be thankful that she's even here! :) So I definitely have NOTHING to complain about! I would be oh-so grateful if you guys would just keep us in your prayers, for a healthy baby, a drama-free pregnancy/delivery and for my little man to get to walking ASAP! We've got alot going on in 2010 and our family has truly been blessed... come Christmas, we'll have 2 new members in the Powell household, Derrick and baby Brink!

He liked it and he put a ring on it!

Sorry for channeling Beyonce with my post title, but I couldn't resist! :) Last night, my sister got engaged! She and Derrick met last May and began dating very shortly after. Funny story how they met... my dad and Derrick played golf together in a tournament and later that day, dad was going on and on about what a great guy Derrick was. Lindsay and I were at the house and I starting nudging Lindsay, like, "there you go Lindsay, Dad's found you a man!" Well, the very next day at church (Easter Sunday) low and behold if Derrick isn't sitting directly in front of us with one of my best friends, Melissa Clark and her husband Stuart. I whispered to Linz, "you know this is fate!" completely joking around with her... well, sort of joking around. Secretly I was thinking about HOW ironic it was and that I would love to somehow set them up! After church, I just oh so casually mentioned to Stuart that Lindsay was single... of course, we were all laughing and cutting up, giving Lindsay a hard time. A few weeks later, Melissa calls me and said that Derrick was interested in meeting Lindsay and she wanted to know how we could go about setting them up. I told her just to give him her cell number. A couple of weeks go by and Lindsay and Derrick meet up and pretty much hit it off from the very beginning.

Derrick is a GREAT guy and he and Lindsay compliment each other perfectly! He fits in so well with our family and he, Dad, and Jamie have all three become big buddies and get along so well. In fact, he and Jamie eat lunch together all the time, so much that Lindsay and I joke around with them regarding their "man dates". I'm so happy for Lindsay and Derrick and their future together! They don't want a long engagement so looks like we'll be having a wedding this summer! Exciting!!

{the little lovebirds}

Party Like a Rock Star!

And so the birthday "season" begins... today, we had TWO birthday parties. And seriously, could the weather have been any more perfect?! The first party was Noah's cousin, Madelyn's first birthday party. We woke Noah up to get to the party and he was a bit grouchy. However, we had a great time and enjoyed some great food. Haley (Madelyn's momma) did an awesome job putting together Madelyn's party! Unfortunately, I was only able to get a couple of pictures of the cousins, Noah, Madelyn, and Eastlon.

Immediately after that one, we headed to Athens to Jamie's childhood best friend Kenny Winter's little boy, Carson's 4th birthday. Noah finished his nap during the ride and was in a much better mood for Carson's party. Kenny and Shana always throw fun birthday parties and the kids always have a blast! This year, the theme was pirates (apparently Carson has a thing for them right now) and she had so many cute activities planned. Plus they rented inflatables: a slide and an obstacle course and Noah LOOOOOVED them! He was all smiles while playing. Also, Noah drove Carson's John Deere Gator and enjoyed that too! We had such a great day, spending time with friends and watching our little guy have so much fun playing. After the party, we hung around and went to dinner with Kenny and Shana and their boys.

Pre-children, we hung out with them all the time. We used to have Alabama football season tickets seated together and would spend almost every weekend in the fall with them tailgating; plus, we've gone to the beach together a few times. However, once the kids came in to the picture, it became much harder for us to make it to Athens (and for them to come to Florence) for us to hang out. We've ALWAYS loved spending time with them and it's NEVER dull because Kenny is hysterical. We really enjoyed getting to catch up after the party. Next up, another birthday party on Monday night!

Now for some pictures I took during the day's festivities...

{Madelyn, Noah & Eastlon}


{obstacle course}


{Momma & Noah... I'm not sure who's having more fun!}


{Daddy & Noah}


{all smiles}


{Noah and Kenny}