Big Sister

We learned around Thanksgiving that Zoe's wish came true- we're expecting another baby girl around July 28, 2014!! We were very lucky and blessed and got pregnant quite easily after getting off the pill.  We were actually in shock that it happened so quickly since I had myself convinced that this time would be more difficult.  We had been talking about it since Zoe turned 2 and finally decided to go for it in early October.  So we were very fortunate.  Can't wait to see how Zoe is as a big sister.  She is already rubbing my tummy and talking to the baby - it makes me so happy.  This pregnancy is going very smoothly, I'm already 18 weeks and feeling pretty good.  Hopefully time will fly and July will be here before we know it!

BFFs

Cutest thing I ever did see....Zoe and Parker sitting out at the lake after getting their hair done by DeeDee :)

Our Valentine

Zoe turned 3!!!

Can't believe our baby is 3 already.  As of 1/21/14, she was 32 lbs, 2 oz (65%), 37 inches tall (49%) and all girl.  Her favorite food is donuts.  She loves to sing out in the morning, "Hey Daddy,  maybe we can go get donuts" and thinks it's hilarious every time.  Now that we've moved, we no longer have our beloved Bluebonnet Bakery right down the street so it's a little more difficult to fulfill that request but she's not letting that stop us from eating them.  She also loves pizza.  This year, for the 1st time, we threw her a big girl party and let her invite a few friends.  We rented the party room at Mama's Pizza and had a great time.  Adults got to drink beer and socialize and the kids got to pig out on pizza and color and play so it was a win win for all. She dressed up as Ariel, her favorite princess, and didn't take the dress off the entire day.  I've since had to hide it in her closet b/c otherwise I think she would live in that thing.

 helping Mommy bake her birthday cupcakes

 I inadvertently bought trick candles, Zoe was determined and perplexed at the same time

And on top of all things girly like being obsessed with princesses, necklaces, crowns, etc., she is already planning her wedding.  She comes home from school every day and tells us she is going to marry John Patrick, her "boyfriend" at school.  Her teachers have this bin of dress up clothes and captured this gem for me....I can already see me using this pic in her wedding video some day!!!  She is truly 3 going on 23...so smart, so vocal, and makes us laugh and shake our heads at the stuff she says every day.

Christmas 2013 in pictures

Halloween 2013

We started Halloween with the morning parade at TLCC.  It's always one of my favorite parts....this year my Mom came with us, although I don't know how much she was able to enjoy it.  We both were kinda just in a trance.  Dad's funeral was the day before Halloween so needless to say, these holidays were quite different for us.  But we put on a happy face for Zoe and she loved it as always.

 Zoe, Lily, Tanner and Samuel- I just love how happy Z looks in this one

 We went to Keeley and Kellie's house for the 2nd year in a row.  Their neighborhood is great for the kids and I always love to see her and Ethan trick or treating together.

 our fairy princess

She totally got it this year....she went right up to the doorways with no fear and yelled Trick or Treat.  It was awesome!

these were taken a few days before Halloween but I just love them, VV always provides the best tricks for them to play with. 

Fall Family Vacation + My 32nd Birthday Celebration

We had been wanting to go on a family vacation for quite some time.  We never got around to it this past summer, so when fall came around and the heat finally dropped, we decided to go for it.  We booked a weekend at the JW Marriott in San Antonio and stopped at Enchanted Rock on the way there.  The resort was amazing, totally family friendly and nice for couple retreat time as well so much so that  I think we will definitely go back.  They have a huge water park that will be much better in the summer.  

 starting out on the hike

 picnic at the top

 

Zoe's new found love for cactus- she now points them out wherever we go

Met Uncle Rich and Aunt June for a birthday drink

Racing the ducks- sadly we did not win

 Visited the Alamo

 Birthday wine and cheese left by the sweet check-in guy

 playing checkers

 Moonlight goof session

This weekend was bittersweet.....while it was so nice for us to get away, it was also the last weekend my dad was up and at 'em.  When we left on Friday, Dad had just started hospice and was still up and moving around.  I was wary to go and leave him, but he insisted and told us to go and have a good time since we had everything pre-booked.  By Sunday, he had taken a bad fall and was confined to the hospital bed that was set up in their master bedroom.  We rushed back on Monday and he was pretty much unresponsive and in a coma.  He was kept comfortable for a few days and passed away on Friday, October 25th.  I'm still struggling with this today- I hate that I did not really get to say goodbye while he was still conscious.  But I also know that he had been in so much pain these last few months and I do not regret starting hospice one bit, in fact, I wish he had let us start it earlier b/c I think it would have helped with his pain.  Dad put up a hell of a fight and I am thankful that he is no longer fighting this battle on earth.  We had a beautiful service on Wednesday, October 30th and I was overwhelmed seeing the wide range of people that influenced his life in one way or another.

This was taken the weekend before, on October 12th.  We gathered the Newell family together at Dad's request not knowing at the time that this was be our last dinner with Dad and the whole family.  You would think that we would have been prepared since he had been battling the cancer for 10 months, but looking back on it, the end all seemed to happen so fast.