Hoppy Easter!!!

We had a fantastic Easter this year. We went to Nana and Papa's house in Paris, TN. Aunt Amy, Uncle Jamie, Houston, Madeline and Elizabeth were all there too. It is always so much fun when we all get together.....a little loud and crazy but good fun. At one point Ella was running in circles laughing hysterically because she thought she was being chased by the kids. We had to pick her up every once in a while so she could just catch her breathe.

On Saturday night, Eric and I decided it was time to tell our nieces and nephew about Baby Peanut. Eric showed them our latest Ultrasound picture and asked them what they thought it was. "A Monkey!" "An Ear!" "A Possum!" "Ethan & Ella" Oh so close!!! With a few hints, they finally got that Aunt Teppie was having another baby. Soon after that Houston said "How are you going to take care of three kids?" To which I replied "That's a good question!" And Madeline answered, "I don't know, but my mommy has enough with 3!" Oh out of the mouths of babes : ) Houston has also decided that Peanut is a boy and his name is Sam. I guess he figures he and Ethan have some evening up they need to do in the family!

Spring Break with the McCollums!

Last week my nieces Emily and Meg were on Spring Break. Amy loaded them up and they came to visit us in Tennessee! We had a great time visiting and playing. Here is a quick review of the highlights in pictures......

Going to the Playground! Our original plan was to go to the zoo in the late afternoon. I called on the way to check when they closed and found out they were closing in an hour. We made a quick turn and went to the park instead. It was a lot of fun. Ethan has a wierd phobia of the grass, so it was a good time to get in some therapy : )

We finally made it to the zoo! We had such a fantastic time. Emily and Meg wrote down the animals that they saw in their journals. I was so impressed with how smart my nieces are! Ethan and Ella did so good. I am not sure that they really looked at many of the animals, but they sure enjoyed the whole atmosphere. The place they like the best was the aquarium. I think we are going to plan a trip to the Chattanooga aquarium this summer.

We also went to a bounce place then Pizza Hut for lunch. Yummy! Ella loved the bouncy place. She was so ready for is to let her down and go play. Maybe in a couple of years! We did let them bounce on the side of some of them and they really liked that. The girls also went to the movies and Miss Mable's Tea Room. They had a great time. The girls also played dress up in the dresses their Mimi made them. They loved how they swirled around. We are so glad they came to see us for Spring Break! I guess we will enjoy it while it lasts.....I am sure someday coming to Tennesse for Spring Break won't be near as cool.

February 8, 2008 SURPRISE!!!!!

Ah I woke up just like the day before. I had no idea that this morning would change all our lives so much! Eric was getting ready for work and I was lying in bed watching Sports Center (his choice not mine). I remembered that I needed to call in a prescription that day. Before I could get it, I had to take a pregnancy test just in case because of its awful side effects. So off I went to do that. Unloaded the dishwasher, sat down and watched TV for a minute. Should I get the kids up? Oh no wait….better go check the test and get that out of the way.

I walked into the guest bath and looked at the test on the sink. Double take…..was that TWO lines? Huh? I must be seeing things. I hear Eric say something, so I thrown the hand towel over the test and jump back in bed. Eric says “Why do you look so weird?” I am still in shock so I say “just tired.” He goes back to the closet to finish getting dressed and I run back to the bathroom for a second look. Yes. Definitely 2 lines. How did this happen??? I mean I know how it happens for most, but no us! We were told that we couldn’t get pregnant on our own. Holy cow. Eric’s birthday is tomorrow. Boy can I have fun with this!!! I run upstairs to get the babies up and whisper my secret in their ears and they smile.

Thankfully Eric leaves shortly after that. (I am told later that I am in MAJOR trouble for letting him go to work because he would have called in sick. Whoops) I quickly call my mom, my sister, and Kristen. I know exactly what people mean when they say that they are about to pop. Kristen, my personal OB nurse, reassures me that the home tests are pretty accurate. Even so, I have my mom come over so I can get an official blood test at the doctor’s office. I still don’t believe it. I go to the bathroom and look at the test, then throw the towel over it again. When I call the doctor’s office to get the test they act like I am crazy. “Mrs. Greer, we usually don’t do blood tests if you have a positive home test.” I reply “I know, but I don’t believe it. When can I come in?” I go in immediately, get my blood drawn, and pay to have the results to me stat.
All day I am avoiding calls from Eric and his sister, Amy. How in the world could I play this one off? I can’t even sit down I am so excited! I finally get the “official positive” test results from the doctor. Hallelujah! Praise God!! I check the home test one more time and throw it in the trash.

Now how in the world do I give Eric the total shock of his lifetime??? I decided when I was at the doctor I would get the kids Big Brother and Big Sister T shirts, take their pictures in it, frame it, and give it to Eric for his birthday and let him figure it out. Well I am not sure how many of you have tried to get a16 month old kid to stand still so you can get a good picture of them and then throw in a second child??? It isn’t possible. Just take it from me. So I decided the next best thing was to just wrap up the shirts and let Eric open those.

We waited on pins and needles until Eric got home. Of course since we were anxiously awaiting him, he didn’t get home until after 7. After the kids bath, Eric read them a story and they just had to give their Daddy an early birthday present. He didn’t know it, but I was recording the whole thing : )


I was told later that Eric was thinking “Why in the world did she give me some shirts for the kids for my birthday?” Apparently what I thought was pretty plain isn’t plain to a man.

Words can’t express how eternally grateful we are for God to bless us again with a child. Every child is a miracle straight from God. We can't help to feel "extra blessed" given our history with trying to get pregnant....and stay pregnant. I firmly believe that God is watching over us and little Peanut and will keep us safe. I do ask for your prayers during my pregnancy. Of course, my experience with the 12 weeks of hospital bedrest is always in the back of my mind. I am hoping that was because I was pregnant with 2 and this time will be completely different. Please pray for us to have a uneventful, boring, run of the mill pregnancy : )

Snow Day!!!

On Saturday we had our first official snow day! The meteoroliogists talked about it all week and finally they didn't let us down. We woke up on Saturday morning to 3 beautiful inches of SNOW! That is the most snow we have gotten in Nashville in years.

After we had a hearty pancake breakfast, we began to suit up to go play. Aunt Amy had saved her kids' snowsuits, so we were all set. They looked hilarious when we held them up to Ethan and Ella. Although they were 12 and 18 month sizes, they were HUGE! We were able to fold up the legs several inches and they worked well. And do you know my smart little boy went right up to his suit and pointed and the belt and said "Buckle" clear as day? Proud mommy : )

We were only out for about 15 minutes, but it was fun. They weren't really too sure what to think of it at first. They walked real cautious down the sidewalk. Ella barrelled right into the snow, took 2 steps, fell, then cried. Ethan had to be picked up and placed into the snow. They were much happier when Eric and I just carried them around. It was a lot of fun. Now we are ready for SPRING!!

Quick Update

ok I have been horrible. I think it has been 3 weeks since I have updated. I can blame it on a number of things....sickness, laziness, craziness, ya da ya da ya da : )

We have been really busy. Mid February we had a real treat. My Aunt Sharon, her husband Gene, and my Uncle Lynn came to visit Mom and Dad. They have officially all seen more of Nashville than I have. We got to join them for a wonderful breakfast at The Loveless Cafe one morning and catch up a bit. It was so good to see them and we look forward to seeing them again soon!

So much growing up has happened in the last few weeks too. Ethan is now RUNNING everywhere. After dinner every night, he just runs lap after lap around the couch. If I could just have an ounce of that energy I would post every day to this blog! He is also cutting 3 molars. He is such a champ. Besides the gallon of drool that comes out of his mouth, you wouldn't know he was teething. He isn't the least bit fussy. He is also talking with a lot of words now as opposed to just his own very cute language. His favorite is acting like his is talking on his cell phone. He loves to say "Hello!" I swear it is one of the cutest things you ever will hear. His other favorite new toy is Mommy's gold sequin purse that she gave to Ella. I think it is hilarious to watch him carry it around.....Eric....not so much!

Ella is growing a lot too. In the last few weeks she has taken her first few steps to being a full out walker! She still has a bit of a Frankenstein stagger, but she is really coming along very quickly. Ella loves to play with her Buddy. She has this full bellied giggle anytime she thinks he is chasing after her. I could listen to it all day! Ella's favorite past time is reading. She would sit in my lap all day and read books. I think she gets that from her Mimi and Mommy.

We have been working on naming body parts with them for the past few weeks. The 2 we have down pat are: belly and eye. They are both very proud of their Boodha Bellies and pat them loudly anytime you ask. Be careful if you ask them where their eye is. They are just as excited about them and will poke your eye! I am trying to get them to point next to their eye, but no they like to go straight in full force. I can't even say "I Love you" to them without a little finger jabbing my eye! Every day gets more fun with them. They are developing such great little personalities and have so much fun together.

Eric and I have been extremely busy too. Eric continues to work long, hard days. We are both anxious for his busy time to be over. It is hard to have him gone all day then have to rush into the bedtime routine as soon as he gets home. We are ready for Spring time when he gets home earlier and we can enjoy each other a bit before bed.

We also decided to put our house on the market and look for a larger home. (I hear the collective sigh) I know it isn't the ideal time to sell, but it is a great time to buy so hopefully it will all come out in the wash. We are in a good position. We don't have to move, so we don't have to do anything if we don't feel like it is the right move for us. So now you know why instead of blogging during nap time I was decluttering and cleaning! Wish us luck!