Christmas questions...

Ok, I have been a mom for a little while now and with a 4 (almost 5 year old), 3 year old and one on the way, I am definitely no expert. And I find that this year it is particularly hard to know what to do or say when certain questions are thrown my way by the kids.

#1 - Is it ok to tell your kids that the reason why the Grinch has termites in his teeth is because he eats junk food and doesn't brush them?

#2 - When you go into a store and there is a nativity scene and your son jumps on the cow and pretends he is riding it like a bull, is it ok to laugh? (By the way, Hobby Lobby really should have their nativity scene off the floor.)

#3- What do you say when your child ask if God gives Santa gifts or does Santa give God gifts? After all, he reminds you, "God is so good" as the song says.

#4- Or what about when you are trying to explain the song "All I Want for Christmas is You" and of course you are listening at night and Delilah comes on so your kids think that Delilah sings the song and they want to go see her because all she wants for Christmas is to see us. I don't even know where Delilah lives!

#5 - How about when your child is insistent on buying Santa a gift because everyone gives him cookies (by the way, thanks Dora the explorer) and your suggestion of drawing him a picture just isn't good enough. oh, and the present he wants to get Santa is a fiddle.

With one week to go, I'm sure that these are not the last of the questions that I will be faced with, however these might just be easier than the questions that will be coming when the baby arrives :) Wish me luck!

The Baby Has a Name!

Well, we finally have a name for our baby boy! I'm not sure if it was the threat of the baby coming soon or my nagging, but Ryan finally agreed to a name. We decided on Coleman Ryan McCuiston. We will call him Cole. It was my grandfather's name on my dad's side. His actual name was Roland Coleman Ryan. We really wanted to use a family name and I felt strongly that we use Ryan somewhere in it because, of course, it is Ryan's name, but also it is my maiden name. So, now that we have settled on a name all I have to say is monogram machine here I come...

34 weeks!

I'm 34 weeks pregnant today! Hopefully I'll make it to 40 weeks, however it's not looking good. This pregnancy has definitely been eventful, unlike Ian and Maddie's. Besides being sick the first two months or so, last week I cracked a rib. Because they can't do an xray the doctors are not sure how bad the rib is or if it is even cracked, it could be a torn muscle. However, the theory is that the baby kicked me and there is a small crack on my 11th rib. Also, I was told that I will more than likely re-injure myself during labor, so that is something to look forward to :) I have also been having painful contractions, so when I went for my regularly scheduled appointment yesterday they decided to go ahead and check me. I looked good and the baby's heartbeat was 144. However, they told me that I am 1 cm dilated and 25% effaced. So the doctor gave me strict orders to do nothing for the next two weeks. They want me to at least get to 36 weeks before I have the baby. She said that even though I am 1 cm I could still go until my due date, however, the look of worry on her face and all the instructions she gave me did not reassure me. Who knows...maybe we will have Christmas baby :) As long as the baby is healthy I don't care when he comes. My next appointment is next week, so please keep me and the baby in your prayers!

Family picnic

After church this morning we met my family at the covered bridge park in Cullman. We grilled hamburgers and hotdogs and had a great time! It was nice to be there with all of the family. I love to watch the kids playing in the leaves. I wish that we could have had a church service together, but since we were going somewhere close, we decided to just go to our home congregations and then meet. We used to do this every year when Papa was alive, but last year we didn't get to (although I can't remember why). I'm glad we got to this year because it's one of my favorite activities to do in the fall.

Here's some pictures of all the kids. I think the only ones that didn't get to come were Caleb and Katrina.

Catching Up!

We had our internet service cancelled because we couldn't get it to work right, so I have a lot of catching up to do on my blog. The last week and a half have been pretty busy for us. Ryan took that Friday off and we went to his parents house for the weekend. The kids loved playing at Nana and Bopa's and Ryan and I got to go out and spend some alone time together. After church on Sunday, we met Erin, Nolan and Thomas at the pumpkin patch. We had a good time. We went on a "hayride" (there was no hay so the kids couldn't figure out why it was called a hayride), and went through a cotton maze and a corn maze. Then the kids played on haybales and went down a big slide. It is so nice that we are close enough that the kids are able to do things together during the holidays.





Ryan had also taken Monday off, so we took the kids to the Birmingham Zoo. I think it was the first time Ryan had been to that zoo. It was a beautiful day to be outside and the kids loved the animals and the train ride. The tiger was a little scary because he was eyeing Maddie like she was snack. I think it might have been feeding time.



On Tuesday I went for my 3 hour glucose test. Everything turned out fine. I met a girl who was also there for the test and we talked pretty much the whole time and it turns out that she works for a radio station and had tickets for Disney on Ice. So when we got ready to leave she asked me if my kids like disney and then handed me four tickets. Also, baby Jaiden was born so since I was already at the hospital I got to go by and hold her. She is adorable. She looks just like hannah and has a head full of dark hair.
On saturday night our class from church met at Ben and Rachel's house for supper. We had a really good time and the food was great! The kids got to carve pumpkins which I loved because I had no idea when we were going to carve them at home.

1st Soccer game

We finally had Ian's first soccer game. The last two games were cancelled because of the rain. Granny and Grandaddy came to see him play and he was very excited. We won the game 7 to 0. I think we scored more goals in this game than we scored all season last year. Ian didn't score a goal but he was very close. I am very proud of him! He played so good! He kicked the ball all the way down the field. He has defintely grown in his soccer skills.

22 weeks down, 18 to go!

I had my 22 week visit this morning at the OBGYN. It went really well. I took the kids with me because it was so early in the morning I hated to ask anyone to watch them. It was their first time to go and they were really good. I think they told every nurse in the place their age, and they thought it was cool to be so high up (5th floor),they spent about 10 minutes looking out the window by the elevators before we left. The doctor said that I look good and that everything was on track. I am borderline anemic, but that wasn't a surprise to me because I was with both Ian and Maddie. They want to wait, however, and give me 4 more weeks to try to bring my iron levels up before they put me on an iron pill. Baby mccuiston didn't cooperate very well this time. When the nurse came in to check his heartbeat she couldn't find it at first because he wouldn't hold still. Then she pressed down hard and he kicked her (the hardest kick I've felt yet) and finally she had to hold him still with her hand (very uncomfortable) to get his heartbeat, which was 148. She said that he can hear the waves that the Doppler makes and that he probably doesn't like it. I was hoping he would kick her again because she was really rough with my belly and it wouldn't look good if I kicked her :) Next month I have my glucose test and next week I start my 6th month of pregnancy. I know that once the holidays start these last months will go by quickly, so I'm really trying to write everything down and to spend some special time with Ian and Maddie before the baby comes.

Sweet Big Brother

Today I was helping Ian clean his room and we were talking about where the baby's bed was going to go and about putting the baby's clothes in his closet. I then asked him if it was ok that he was going to share his room with the baby and he put his arm around me and said "Yeah mommy, I don't care if the baby sleeps in my room. I don't even care if he slobbers on my toys, I can wash them."

Soccer season has begun...

It's time for soccer and we are excited! Ian's playing and Ryan's coaching again this year. Maddie didn't want to play, she said it was for boys, so she is content to sit with me on the sidelines and cheer. We are also the Incredibles again, which is nice because I can wear my shirt from last year (at least for part of the season). It's going to be interesting to see how much Ian has matured in the past year. Hopefully we won't see him on the field with his shirt over his head, or standing on his head, or dancing around one end of the field while all the other kids are at the other end (although all of that was pretty funny). And maybe we'll even win two games this year :) Go Incredibles!!!

It's A Boy!!!

We had our ultrasound yesterday morning at 10am. Katie kept the kids and Ryan met me at the doctors office. It was very exciting! I had a feeling we were having a boy, but I had been wrong with both Ian and Maddie so I wasn't really trusting my feeling. The first shot of him that we saw, he had his hand resting on his face. He looked adorable! He weighed 8 ounces and his heart rate was 153. Everything about him (heart, brain, spine, etc.) checked out good. The doctor said that I am measuring correctly, 18 weeks, so my due date stayed the same (Jan 20th). Before we got in the ultrasound room, we still had not decided for sure if we wanted to find out what the sex was, but once we were in the room we had to know. I'm glad we found out because even though I said I was on board with the whole not knowing thing, I definitely would have had a hard time the next five months. I'm too much of a planner and I like to have everything ready.
We waited until Ryan was home from work to tell the kids. When we told them they were both very excited. Ian was happy he would have someone to play with and Maddie was just smiling (still a little unsure I think), then we let them watch the video and they thought that was neat. I pointed out the baby's head, body, legs and arms and then they wanted to know if we could see inside the baby's stomach. We then called our families and let the kids tell them that we were having a boy. Ryan brought cupcakes home to celebrate, so we ate those after we made the phone calls. We haven't narrowed down a name yet, but there are a couple that we like. The kids have decided against Sportacus and Ian now believes he wants to call the baby Jonah or Tire and Maddie has settled on Berry (yes, like a strawberry). However, just so everyone knows, we will not be using any of those names :)

Future Superstars!

Here are two pictures of the kids rocking out. I think they are so funny! They both love to sing and "play" the guitar. They usually end up making up their own songs, so it can get very interesting. I really should get Maddie a pink guitar so that she and Ian won't fight over who is going to get to play it first. Of course, Ian has decided that he wants a drum set for Christmas, but I am thinking no...not with the baby trying to sleep, maybe next year (still doubting it though). However, maybe I should start encouraging this talent of theirs, and they could start a band and support Ryan and me in our old age. Hmmmm...something to think about...

Baby's Moving!!!

I felt the baby (or Sportacus as Ian still calls him) move for the first time last Wednesday. It was just a couple of little flutters but it was very exciting! On Friday, he/she moved 5 times in a row and then I felt movements again this morning. I love this part of pregnancy! Even with morning sickness, backaches, going to the bathroom a hundred times a day, and all the other things that go on in a pregnancy, once you feel the baby move, it sinks in (at least for me) that this baby is real and it makes it all worthwhile.

Busy week!

We have been extremely busy this past week. On Saturday, I took Ian and Maddie to see their first play, Beauty and the Beast, at the Princess Theater in Decatur. We met my family there and I thought the kids did great! Ian was a little concerned at first but then realized it was like the movie and loved it. Maddie liked it as well, however, it was a little loud for her so she ended up watching the whole play


while holding her hands over her ears. After the play the kids got to meet the cast. Ian was enthralled with Gaston and Maddie couldn't wait to see Belle. She met Ms. Potts first and talked about Belle the whole time (poor Ms. Potts) and then she got to get her picture made with Belle. As we were going to meet the Prince she said she had to tell Belle one more thing and when she went over to Belle, she tugged on her dress and told her she was 3.
The next day we went to a family reunion in Eva. It was my Memaw's side of the family. We had a nice time but couldn't stay long. The next morning we got a call that my Dad's uncle had passed away, so we ended up staying longer in Decatur than originally planned. Monday night I went with my sister to Maywood camp to pick up Caleb. Laina went with us and we had so much fun. I haven't been able to spend much time with Laina over the last few years so it was great hanging out with her. On Tuesday we went to the funeral home for uncle Jr. Towards the end, I caught Ian dancing in front of the casket, so needless to say, they did not go to the funeral.

Maddie got her first hair cut on Wednesday. I didn't want to cut it, but there was a piece that hung from her crown down past the rest of her hair. It wouldn't curl like the rest of her hair does, so I cut that strand and it curls so much better.

Thursday before Ryan came to pick us up, I met Jessica and her kids at the Snack Shack. I'm ashamed to even say how long it has been since I've seen her and I can't believe how big her kids are. The kids were cute together, although we might should have picked a place that had a playground because they were a little restless. Next time we'll know :) It was nice visiting with them, but we will definitely have to visit longer the next time we get together.

Finally out and about!

This past weekend was the first time I had actually gotten out of the house and gone anywhere (besides my mom's house) all summer. Maddie and I got up on Saturday and went to Katie's 6th birthday party. It was a Fancy Nancy party and it was adorable! The girls got to make hats and dress up, and then they had a tea party. Maddie looked so sweet all dressed up even though she would not smile for any pictures. (by the way, a picture is coming soon). While we were at a tea party, Ryan, Ian and Grandaddy went fishing at the pond in Eva. They
caught 8 bass and Ian reeled in 3 of those. Ryan said that some guys were down there fishing along with them and they asked Ian how many fish he had caught. He told them he caught 10 or 20, so I believe that we are raising a true fisherman - the catch always seems bigger than it really is :)

Sunday I finally went to church. It was the first time I had been back since getting sick. It was so good to see everyone and fellowship with friends. I was a little afraid, however, that they just might make me place membership again :)

On Monday I went for a checkup at the OBGYN. Everything looked good and the baby's heartbeat was strong (163 bpm). And yes, still just one heartbeat! My next checkup will be at the end of August and will include an ultrasound. Ryan and I are still trying to decide if we want to find out the sex of the baby or let it be a surprise. A part of me thinks it would be fun to not find out and then again the other part really wants to know so that bibs and burpcloths can be monogramed ahead of time. We will see which part wins out...

Big News for our family!!!!!

If any of you follow my blog regularly I am certain that you have noticed my lack of blogging. Well I have a very good reason. I am pregnant!!!!!!! Yes, our third baby is on the way, due in January and I am soooooooooooooooo sick. "Sicker" than with either Ian or Maddie which constantly prompts people(even total strangers) to say "Maybe it's twins"! Which prompts me to say lots of things I shouldn't. Twins - I don't think so!!!!!!!!!

While I am on the subject, I want to thank all the people that have helped out while I have been sick. Lots of friends brought food and have helped with the kids. Nana and Bopa came and helped and then took the kids home with them for a week (we didn't have to twist their arms). Mom and Dad have been off and on and that is where I am now. Lots of babysitters here. So for all of you that helped we love and thank you so much. What a blessing you are in our life.

And aside from the sickness, we are all very excited. Ian wants a boy and wants to name it Sporticus and Maddie wants a girl named Ryan. Ryan and I just want a healthy baby (notice the singular use there?). I feel certain that soon this sick period will pass and I am looking forward to a great pregnancy and having lots of fun preparing for this new bundle of love. I will catch everyone up on our happenings soon. Say a prayer!!!

Swimming, a Birthday Party, & Fishing

This last week has been really fun for the kids, and busy for me. We have spent quite a lot of time with Katie and Hannah (and we always love that!)On Tuesday we met them at Chick-fil-la and spent about 5 hours there (the kids were playing great, why mess with a good thing). And then on Wednesday I kept Lila while Kim went to the doctor. She is always sweet and good and Maddie loved trying to play baby dolls with her. I say "trying" because Maddie would tell Lila what to do like feed the baby or hold it a certain way and then Lila would look at her like she was crazy and throw the baby down :) On Thursday we met Katie and Hannah at the park. We had a picnic and the kids played for a few hours. We finally let them play in the creek. Not sure if that was a good idea, but they loved it and got completely soaked. On Friday we went to Hannah's house to eat lunch and let the kids swim. Kim, Addi, Levi and Lila were there.The water was a little cold at first, but that didn't stop the kids from getting in. After they played for a while they got push up pops. Maddie and Lila got it all over there faces. Not to be outdone, Hannah got it not only on her face, but all over her arms and legs. It was hilarious!




On Saturday we traveled to Decatur to go to Hudson's birthday party.It was a really cute party. They had it at a firehouse there in Decatur. The cake was adorable and Melanie did a really good job with the decorations. They had a firetruck that the kids could climb in and after the kids ate pizza and cake and Hudson opened his presents, they went outside to play games. The firetruck then came around and sprayed water and let the kids run through it. Ian thought that was really cool. He hasn't stopped talking about it since. After we got back to my mom's, Ryan decided to take Ian fishing. Ian has been asking to go for a month now and Ryan just couldn't tell him no :) They didn't catch anything, but had a great time.