This is a profile picture of the baby waving at us!  🙂

We are blessed!!!

Noelle learned how to write Mom a few weeks ago, but that just wouldn’t do… she kept saying, “Teach me how to write “Mom-o.”  Noelle has given me more nicknames than I’ve ever had before, including “Miss Meliss.”  Pretty funny.

Noelle had the ideas for these crafts and even rounded up the supplies.  All I did was tie where she asked me to tie and glue where she asked me to glue.  She’s one  creative little girl!

*Pics of the Baby Boo coming soon!  Pondbaby3 is SO cute!!!  🙂

Way back in May when we found out we were pregnant, Noelle nicknamed our new baby, “Baby Boo.”  It kind of stuck.  We’ve been calling the baby that all summer.  Today Noelle drew this picture “of the Baby Boo’s heartbeat” after seeing the up and down pulses on the doctor’s screen while the heart was beating.  I thought this was so creative.

Also, this morning I told Noelle I was proud of her for dressing herself and looking so cute lately.  She said, “Thanks Mom.  It is my talent!”  Noelle is, as all three of my kids are, and as my mom says, my “heart song.”  That’s the only way I can describe the love I have for them.  My heart just sings with joy for them.  There are no words.

Anna Kate is talking up a storm.  Her new favorite word to show off (a lot of you have heard her say it in person), is “Barbie!”  Her sissy taught her that, of course.  Her eyes dance and she is majorly clingy with Mike, which is so sweet.  We were talking about what gender our new baby will be, and I asked Mike if he’d be okay with three girls.  He looked down at both girls cuddling him at that exact moment and said, “How could I not want more of this?”  He’s the best girl dad in the world… we shall see! 

Thank you for your emails, thoughts, and prayers!  We went to the perinatologist this morning, and our baby is measuring well and has a nice strong heartbeat!  Although I was 100% exposed to chickenpox early in my pregnancy (could have been the library, pool, or gym?), there is only a 2% chance of birth defects as a result of this.  They want to look at fluid levels and the baby’s kidneys in a month, but we are relieved and have no worries that our little one is just fine.  So, now we get to relax and enjoy our healthy pregnancy!!!  🙂

Swim party 2010!!!

It was 105 today in Texas = CRAZY!  Of course, I LOVE IT! 

Doting parents (Anna Kate creeping behind the orange table)

*LOVE* this picture 

We celebrated Heather’s birthday too!  Sweet Jon!

Landon wouldn’t get off the first present he opened, so he sat on the fire truck while he opened all the rest!

Noelle had a horrible stomach bug last week.  She started out having 102.5 fever, and I was so nervous it was the onset of chickenpox (even though she’s been vaccinated).  Then she started throwing up.  I’ve never been relieved when a child throws up, but at least I knew we didn’t have the other.  :)  One day Mike brought her home flowers to cheer her up.  She was so proud!  Sweet Daddy!

Noelle got it in her head that she was “homesick.”  She was home sick, after all.  She told me this is the worst “homesick” she’s ever had.

We’ve kept ourselves busy with all sorts of things, like having birthday parties for her little friends.  Today was “Big Sister’s” birthday.  She’s the pink hamster with the crown and tutu.

*Noelle made up with her McDonald’s Littlest Pet Shop bobble head kitty and even invited her to the party (next to the yellow hamster)!

We have been labeled as a high risk pregnancy for about 6 weeks now due to some routine blood work that came back positive for varicella (chickenpox).  Although I had chickenpox as a child, my titer levels tested are out of the normal range.  I was asked to go see a perinatologist, but I just thought this was so strange that it had to be a lab error and requested the lab work be redone.

We waited 4 weeks to redo the blood work.  I got the results yesterday that the levels are even more out of the normal range than the first test.  The doctor spoke with me on the phone about the risks to the baby such as anemia, slowed fetal growth, not thriving in the womb, and even worse, but I can’t go there in my mind.  The importance of going to the specialist is that they will monitor the baby’s growth, keep an eye on any extra fluid, blood flow, etc.  If anything looks alarming, we will know very quickly and can take proper precautions to help our baby.

At some point during the last 6 months, I was exposed to someone who had chickenpox, however, I do not have the chickenpox and am not contagious.  Our appointment with the specialist is at 11:45 on Wednesday, the 25th.  We would appreciate your prayers on Wednesday that our appointment goes well.

Are we nervous?  Not too much.  Are we worried?  Actually, not really.  Are we concerned?  Yes, definitely.  Do we think this will all boil down to treasuring our little one that much more?  FOR SURE!

Thank you for your prayers.  We will definitely keep you posted.

Noelle LOVES summer dance!!!

We had fun in Cedar Hill with my friend, Kristin!

We went to a fun Playscape with Bailey and Sadie.  Noelle and Bailey are two peas in a pod!

Did someone say popsicle?  We’re on it!  When Anna Kate saw this picture, she pointed at Sadie and said, “Sa-D!”  It’s so fun to have little buddies for each kiddo!

Lots of Big Sister excitement around here!

Surprise!  We are expecting our 3rd amazing baby in February 2011!!!

Welcome to the wonderful world of big sisters, Anna Kate! 

                                  The biggest sister with her big beaded bracelets!

The girls have tea parties every day!  I love Anna Kate’s new curls.  What a fun time!