Pizza Party Decor

Considering I knew I'd been in my 8th and 9th months of pregnancy during the boys' birthdays this year, we opted to have a joint party a week before Daniel's actual birthdate and a month before Samuel's.  It was challenging coming up with ideas and keeping my creative crazy self under a close watch with constant contractions.  About a month or two before the party, I finally figured out the perfect theme.  Daniel and Samuel really like pizza.  I don't know if it's because we rarely have pizza or what, but they devour it any time they get it!  So, there it was; the best theme for both boys would be a Pizza Party!  I got to work on decorations a long time ago, worried over having a baby, and even post-it noted all the supplies in case I was on bed rest for the party.  However, it has already come and gone, and as Daniel has said all day, "My birthday is over."  :)

The Invitations

We might have spent too much time on these.  :)

However, these allowed the boys to get involved

as they glued the toppings onto every invitation.

Tulle Pom-Poms from the Ceiling

These were put up a WEEK before the party,

and I've never seen Daniel so excited!

The Birthday Banner:

"Topping Off Another Year"

Get it?  Topping?

Samuel's Birthday Shirt

I color-coordinated everything of the boys.

Samuel's shirt, gifts, and cake candles were all green.

Daniel's Birthday Shirt

Everything of Daniel's was red.

The Birthday Favors

I had my mind set on doing aprons for every kid,

until I started having frequent contractions.

SO, I went with gingham pails filled with red Kool-aid,

pizza-flavored goldfish, and Italian ice pops.

Thank You to Our Friends

I made pizza slices for each child

(similar to the invitations) 

that said, "You were such a sweet slice of fun

at our Pizza Party!"

The Gift Table

Please notice the felt pizza set, pizza snacks,

and Italian ice in the "window sill."

They were small gifts to the boys

that were GREAT as decorations.

Table Decorations and Food

We went all out with pizza

and the red/green/white theme.

I hung more pom-poms over the table,

used burlap as table runners,

and wrapped plastic ware in gingham napkins.

We ordered pizzas, and I made a round-about

Mini Fruit Pizza (cookie) bar.

The Boys' Personal Pan Pizza Cakes

The Tower of Pizza Cupcakes

My husband had the bright idea

that I should make the boys' cakes this year.

I was not a fan of the idea until

they were all finished.

The toppings on each yellow cupcake were:

Red Buttercream Frosting (homemade) as sauce

Grated White Chocolate as cheese

Fruit Roll-ups as pepperoni

Green Twizzler Pull N Peels as peppers

Cookie Dough Bites as sausage/olives

The Cutting Boards

I cut out cutting boards from cardstock

and hung them on the back door

leading out to the backyard.

I'm crazy big on details, pregnant or not.  I was so thankful to have had the time and ability to do all of this for the boys.  What a blessing they are to me!

Seatbelts

There's a certain kind of contraction that scares me...  Had a sweet friend not warned me before having Samuel about the "seatbelt" contraction, I would have never even realized I was in labor.  They didn't hurt all that bad with Samuel.  In fact, when I went into the hospital after having this feeling of a seatbelt tightening around my lower waist for about an hour every two minutes, I had already dilated to a 5!  That was a bit frightening. 

This time around, I promised myself that if I had "seatbelt" contractions, I would take them seriously.  So, Friday night, during our date night, I began feeling them.  Only problem was, they really did hurt.  Painful.  Took my breath.  And, to no one's surprise, they were two minutes apart.  I really had no intentions of going to the hospital until Brian became concerned enough to call my OB.  He felt best that I head to the ER, having tested positive for chances of preterm labor earlier in the week. 

I couldn't help but be worried.  Was I going into labor already?!  1 day shy of 34 weeks, and I knew I was contracting.  Or was my own seatbelt confusing me? 

Our fears ceased when placed on the monitor and the contractions slowed.  I was grateful that they were calmed, and this sweet child had decided to stay in place for a little bit longer.  You'd think after two labors and deliveries I'd be used to this, but I rode home that night so thankful for having not known and buckled in tightly. 

Easter Events

Easter is very important to our family.  Not the eggs and hunts or the baskets and chocolate, but we are really focused on teaching our children what Easter really is about:  the death and resurrection of our Savior.  Now, I realize that our children are only toddlers, but we try to speak often of Jesus and read the Bible daily.  So, when Easter and all of its events roll around, it's prime time we mention Jesus' purpose clearly to our kids. 

Daniel hunted eggs (at his Mother's Day Out party) with the best of them.  He knew which candies he liked and the ones he'd rather give to Dad.  He and Samuel loved opening their baskets from Mimi: finding dollars and quarters in their eggs, getting new trains and cars, and eating until their bellies ached.  However, Daniel can tell the story of Jesus by looking at the pictures in his Baby Blessings Bible and The Very First Easter book.  That, to me, is what Easter IS truly about.

Here is our Easter in pictures:

Showing off the loot from

his Mother's Day Out Egg Hunt

Despite not being able to hunt eggs

or go to Mother's Day Out,

Samuel's sweet teacher made sure

he had his own bucket of goodies!

Checking out whose bucket was best

Easter Sunday

Heading out the door to church

Our somewhat annual Easter picture

in Mimi's backyard...

Please take a moment to understand that

pictures with toddlers, pregnant women,

and preacher dads aren't always ideal.

That being said,

Brian had changed out of his suit

before I had even unloaded the car,

Daniel had had an accident

in his brown pants thus the green shorts,

and I was about to sweat to death.

I honestly love this picture.

It's SO our life right now.

Daniel gets his "cheese" from his Momma.

This makes me laugh because Daniel and I

have an almost identical picture to this

from two years ago when I was pregnant

with Samuel...  I was actually wearing

this same dress 2 years ago!

Loving on Mimi

Playing in the fountain in Mimi's backyard

Samuel admiring his new Francesco Cars 2 car

"It's dollars, Mommy!"

I don't know who was more excited

about the Easter baskets...

The boys or their Daddy?!

Easter Bunny Chocolate +

A Chocolate Loving Boy =

Pure Satisfaction

33rd Week with Baby Boy #3

It's been a wild couple of weeks in this pregnancy.  It began with Samuel breaking two bones in his leg, Brian getting a bulging disc in his back, and contractions have been making themselves known...  very well.  I had a feeling that things were progressing a little too quickly, so it came as no surprise when, at my OB appointment this week, I learned I had dilated to 1.  No big deal, right?! 

I was thinking so too, until my OB decided to test me for my chances of going into preterm labor.  He said not to worry over the results because he didn't think they'd come back positive.  In fact, when I did not receive a call that afternoon from his office, I stopped worrying myself.  However, the next afternoon, the call did come that confirmed I was at a high risk (95%) of going into preterm labor. 

Wow, how that changed more than a few of my plans!  I'll be visiting the doctor every week now, getting checked and an ultrasound. 

2 Away from 2

Samuel is a mere two months away from turning two years old.  Oh, how wrong that seems!  It feels like yesterday that we were being shocked with a positive pregnancy test when our firstborn was only 3 months old.  We couldn't fathom having a second child so soon, but Samuel has filled our lives with such sweet moments and precious times that we couldn't be more ecstatic to have him!

In his 22nd month, Samuel:
Weighed 27 lbs.
Wore mostly 18 month clothes. 
Still wore some 12-18 months.
Sported size 5 - 5 1/2 wide shoes.
Favorite shoes are his Scooby Doo crocs.
Loves anything with a ball on it.
Celebrated his cousin Kallie's 1st birthday.
Did NOT want her to kiss him.
Would tell us when he messed in his diaper.
Liked wearing pajamas.
Was becoming a very good pretender.
Was very loving. 
Liked giving kisses and hugs.
Not receiving them.
REALLY enjoyed cake and cupcakes.
LOVED ice cream.
Was a great eater.
Was incredibly shy and timid.
Always super cautious and careful.
Liked drawing and coloring.
ESPECIALLY enjoyed sidewalk chalk.
Did not like having his haircut.
Slept through our first hail storm.
Broke his leg at McDonald's Playplace.
Had his fair share of x-rays.
Visited Vandy ER to get his temporary cast.
Disliked bugs and boogers.
Could count from 1-11.
Said all of the alphabet.
Had a slight problem with biting others.
Daddy has a nasty bruise to prove it.

Some of Daniel's Favorite Things:

Food(s):   Pizza, Spaghetti, French Fries

Toy(s):   Balls, Elmo anything, Books

Show(s):  Sesame Street

Movie(s):  Backyardigans, Veggie Tales

Snack(s):  Fruit Rollups, Ice Cream

Song(s):  ABCs, What a Mighty God We Serve

Color(s):  Pink and Blue

Thing(s) to Do:  Swinging, Playing Ball, Riding in Stroller

People:  Daddy, Mommy, Mimi, Ca, Pop, Grandpa

Some of Samuel's Popular Phrases:

• I see sumptin (something).
• I get down.
• I do it.
• I get it.
• Hold me.
• Ride it.
• Play outside.
• I love you, ______.
• Daniel did it.
• I'm too big.
• Where's______?
• Happy Bird-day (birthday) to Kallie!

Samuel does NOT like dirty,

and Kallie, you are dirty.

No hugs for you.

Playing outside with sidewalk chalk.

Making his first line of trains.

Getting a sip or ten of Daddy's milkshake.

A new book from Mimi!

The day following his fall and broken leg.

Completely not enjoying the cast.

Two days following the fall,

and Samuel had mastered the cast.

He had climbed into the chair.

ON. HIS. OWN.