Our Exciting News!

Now that our families know our news, it is time to tell our friends. On Friday, we found out we are having twins! Yes, TWINS! OK, so the picture maybe a little deceiving, we don't know yet if they are boys, girls, or a boy and a girl. We will find out next week whether they are fraternal or identical. Sometime between 18-20 weeks, we will find out the babies gender.

We are so excited! All of our families are excited too! Lola was just too happy on Friday. I know that she has been bursting at the seams to tell everyone. So have we! Lauren is happy to know she is getting 2 babies now. This also answers my question, "Why am I already so big?" My belly popped a couple of weeks ago. Yes, I have been showing. I know I am slim, but this explains a lot! I guess I also have to change my label from Baby to Twin Babies. We are excited to meet out twins. Just 28 weeks to go!

~Manders

Feeling Crafty!

Today Lauren and I went to Hobby Lobby. We didn't have anything that we needed to buy. We also didn't really have anything on the mind to look at. We were just killing some time while Billy, J, and Lola were working on a project. But I soon found myself in the fabric department. I just wanted to look at the nursery fabric. We are far from knowing whether the baby is a boy or a girl. But I thought I would take a jump start on the fabric selection

When I was pregnant of Lauren, I picked Raggedy Ann and Andy or Little Cowboys as our nursery themes. Lola agreed to decorate the nursery for me. Partly because Billy and I were in Texas. And by the time we would move back, Lauren would be a few weeks old. The minute we knew we were having a girl, I called Lola. And she got right on it. She had just finished J's house and was all creative. When we got back, we had this amazing nursery. With Raggedy Ann and Andy sprinkled throughout. She even put in pink boots and a toy box that looked like a little red wagon. Joe had made it. Not that I didn't love the nursery that my mother-in-law and I had put together in our Texas house. But this one was absolutely amazing!

Today, Lauren and I got completely lost in the rows of fabric. And I have absolutely no clue what I want to use. I am thinking about the Little Cowboys again. But for a girl, I have absolutely no clue what to use. I like that I used Raggedy Ann and Andy for Lauren because it is a room that she has grown with. It was not exclusively a baby's room. And she absolutely LOVES the rocking chair with the big Raggedy Ann that T-Lo made her. I find her wrapped up in her Raggedy Ann arms when she needs quiet time. Gently rocking back and forth.

After an hour of looking, I am kind of leaning towards Strawberry Shortcake. The original one. But I am not sold yet. I am still open to something that sparks my interest. We are also very lucky that T-Lo has agreed to decorate the baby's nursery. And after all that fabric searching, Lauren and I bought some cupcake fabric. She wants T-Lo to make her an apron!

~Manders

Quiet Time

Billy took Lauren to ride her pony. She was all decked out in her pink Wranglers, "Cowgirl Up" shirt, pink boots, and hat. Just like her daddy. She is a cowgirl at heart. That is what first attracted me to Billy when I met him. Those Wranglers, his green eyes, and that Texas twang. Miss Lauren is just like her daddy. But also a princess in every way imaginable. I watched them leave. Hand in hand. Or I should say, Miss Lauren's hand wrapped tightly around Daddy's pinkie finger. Almost too much for her little hand to hold on to. But with all the love in her heart.

I am such a lucky woman. And I thank God every single day for my family. I have a husband that loves me for being exactly who I am. And we have a daughter that is truly the center of our world. I used to think I would never find this kind of love. Or a man like Billy. Was I ever wrong. I used to be scared that I would not be a good mom. But it just seems natural. And when I first found out I was pregnant again, I was scared I wouldn't have enough love for both of my babies. But I know now, that our love only multiplies.

For everything that I ever thought I was lacking in, God made up for it 1000X's over with my family. Things may have happened quickly, but we are a family. And our love just runs over our cup. We are so very blessed. And I thank God every single day for my blessings.

~Manders

The Little Things

I'm convinced that it is the little things in life that make life worth living.

After Lauren's nap today, she brought me a book. Her favorite one. T-Lo gave it to her when I was still pregnant with her. The Farm Animal book. She climbed onto the couch and sat on my lap. Her head lay on my heart.

I won't lie here. I hadn't been feeling well. I had actually been having my worse day of morning sickness. S had taken the girls to dance practice and had fed Lauren lunch before bringing her home. And as soon as she got home, she wanted to nap. I was half relieved, half grateful to God. And I lay on the couch, eyes closed, with GH on. Praying that Billy would get home early from my parents' house. He had left to help my dad remove some dead trees. And he figured he wouldn't be home until late.

And all at once, my daughter brightened my day. We read about her animals. And she told me that she loved me. And liked to hear my heartbeat. Then with no real thought behind it. She kissed my head and told me I would feel better soon. I almost started to cry.

Then the thing I would pay a million dollars if Billy could have seen. Lauren bent over and kissed my stomach. And started talking to her "new baby." "I love you. I want to play wit you. An kiss you. Be good girl for mommy. I love you." She kissed my stomach again, then rubbed it softly as she lay her head back on me.

By this time, the tears were slowly coming out. I know that my daughter understands that we are having a baby. She understands the love I have for her. And she loves her new baby, even if she has never met the baby. Even if my stomach is not yet a belly. She knows.

~Manders

A Sign?

After dance practice this morning, I took the 2 little ballerinas for ice cream. It was close enough to lunch time. :) And while we were at the Plaza, I decided to buy them each a gift at the toy store. Their teacher said they had been doing really well. Listening to her, and learning all of their dances. With my 2 "Lerinas," as they call themselves, we walked across the Plaza to the small toy store.

Lauren was set on a pony the minute she seen it. It is pink. Of course! What else would you expect from my daughter? Little M picked out a monkey. Which was too cute! It had those long draping kind of arms and legs. She was in love! This toy store is very hands on. The girls were able to play with the toys. And the shop owner even gave them each a big lollipop. The kind that is round and swirled with a bunch of colors. They could be bigger than the girls themselves! Something like this...

While the girls had fun, I wanted to look at some baby things. I know in my head that it is early to be buying things. But I can't help myself! The toy store is in the Plaza. Every building in the Plaza used to be a home. So there are a lot of little rooms in there. Each one is themed. As I was looking at some little picture frames and baby books, Lauren came up to me with a pink teddy bear in one hand and a baby doll in the other. "For my new baby." She said it so proudly. And she really, really, really wanted to buy them. I couldn't say no.

Do you think Lauren knows something we don't? I kinda wonder that. Billy was thinking the same thing when I told him the story after dinner. And after Lauren showed him what she bought her new baby. They are on the bed in the guest room. The room that will soon be a nursery.

Do kids just know? S is completely sold on the idea. Her oldest daughter has told them each time she has been pregnant that she was getting a new baby sister. And well, they have 3 girls. I wouldn't mind another girl. And I think Billy is sold on another daughter. I guess we will just have to wait to see if Miss Lauren is right.

~Manders

A New Baby

Yes, we are having a new baby!!!

Billy and I hadn't really started telling people. Just a select few. Like our parents, Lauren, J, Lola, the G Family, and my sister. Then I realized that I may have let it slip out. Well, kinda. On the blog yesterday. Then when I was talking to Anna Marie, I said something about morning sickness. And then when I talked to Cole this morning, I mentioned I needed maternity clothes. Oops! So much for waiting until after our anniversary! :P

We figure that we should just put it out there. We are pregnant with baby #2! My due date is March 25th. How exciting is that? Lauren keeps holding her baby doll saying, "New baby mommy." I think she might be a little confused. When Billy and I told her we were having a new baby, something tells me she thinks she is getting a new baby doll. It's a good thing we still have 7 months to explain it to her.

I am also very lucky to be pregnant while 2 of my close friends are expecting. Anna Marie looks too cute! She is due in November. They are having a little girl. That's 2 daughters for Joe. He is over the moon. Have you ever met a man that only wants daughters? And S is having baby #4 in March. We are pregnant together again. Due dates are days apart again! D is praying for a boy. But something tells me they will have another little girl! :)

I have been having some pretty strong morning sickness. Somehow, I forgot about that when I was thinking about my pregnancy with Lauren. I haven't been eating much, other than toast for breakfast. Around 2PM I get hungry and can keep food down. To date, I have lost 6lbs, and gone up 3 bra sizes. The doctor told me that is completely normal and not to worry. The memories are all just beginning to come back to me. hehe

This pregnancy should be a little less stressful than our first. The first time, we were moving between Texas and here. Getting adjusted to Billy's work. And traveling with the band. Since then, we have gotten settled here. We still go to Texas, but not as often. Or for as long. And the band has slowed down on their gigs. The only gigs that they have scheduled are 1 in each month, between Oct-Dec. Now I just need to figure out how to be pregnant and how to chase after Lauren!

~Manders