Ethan's Prediction - Girl or Boy?

My sweet nephew Ethan has not only officially made his prediction of the what the baby will be but has named it also. It is so precious!

Check it out here...http://the-beatty-bunch.blogspot.com/2010/04/ethans-prediction.html

By the way, the girls are rooting for a brother but I don't think that they will be disappointed with a girl. We should find out soon what the sex of the baby is. Can't wait!

Happy Birthday Hubby!

Tomorrow we will celebrate Coley's 31st Birthday! I don't write about him too much on this blog but I wanted to let you know what is going on with him as he approaches 31.

He works really hard. It always amazes me. The type of physical, rough, tough work where you have dirt and grease pretty much everywhere by the end of the day. He laughs because he has to get undressed in the garage and then run inside wearing only his undies. This policy has been established in an effort to save our flooring, furniture, etc. from the result of his work day. He is like the little boys you see completely delighted to dig in the dirt with their favorite Tonka truck - except he gets to do it on huge machines using huge tools with his big truck. Ever since he graduated college in 1999 he has been in love with his career. Completely at peace and looks forward to working on CAT's every day. He has also taught Paige and Landri the correct names for each piece of construction machinery in operation today. He started early with Caterpillar bedtime stories that read "A" is for "Articulated Truck" and took them often to ride on the machines.

He is a great dad who loves to teach the girls new things like how to ride a bike, huge tire (see post below), drive the boat, wash the boat, dry the boat...you get the point. He loves doing things as a family and loves to sit down at the table at night and share a meal with us. He has always been the king of "bath time" since Paige was born and loved spending those few hours at the end of the day with them. He isn't bothered by being the only guy in the house.

As a husband he is constantly in my corner cheering me on. He humbly serves alongside me each Sunday at church in our children's area, loves that I am at home with the girls to take care of them, teach them and grow them. He was for it before I was and has been such an encourager to me in all stages of motherhood. He has a deep love for his family and for serving our Lord together even when it meant tough decisions had to be made. He is so patient with me through pregnancy ;) and can laugh at the challenges to come. Even more so we have stuck it out together for almost 10 years! He is my best friend and my sense of humor.

He enjoys TV "Deadliest Catch", "Ultimate Fighter", all the logging shows, "Pawn Stars"; music - Zac Brown Band, Newsboys, Air1; loves searching Craiglist for boats, boat parts, etc.; loves a good home-cooked hearty meat and potato meal, Chuy's Elvis Presley Chicken Fried Chicken with Boom-Boom Sauce and the best ever Spinach Dip from the Gristmill; being out on the lake or for that matter anything to do with being in the water; Rockport; going to eat dinner with me so we can actually chat without the girls!; a Saturday off; his tempur-pedic mattress; good black coffee from Central Market; and the most favorite thing - Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream.

He is simple, compassionate, loving, funny and clearly now in his 30's! :) Happy Birthday Handsome!

Just a little redneck fun...

We were able to get outside for a bit this afternoon between rain storms and have a little redneck fun.
Coley brought home a tire tube out of a vibratory compactor, aired it up and decided to show the girls a thing or two. Paige decided to go first, then Landri and finally Coley. It was hilarious!

Science Project

Last week we become annual members of a great zoo nearby. I thought it would be a great homeschooling adventure with endless things to explore and learn about. So over the last week we have been working on our first "project". The girls and I visited the zoo and throughout the day they took pictures of their favorite animals. At the end of the day I asked them to select their favorite animal from the trip and that would be the animal we would learn more about.

Landri chose the giraffe and flamingo. Flamingos are her all-time favorite and she looks forward to seeing them each trip. This trip, the flamingos were really vocal and were all standing up "engaging" with one another. I figured out it was mating season. Oh the joy! Landri could not get over how loud they were.

Paige chose the Blue-Breasted Kingfisher (an African bird). She took pictures and was really pumped to learn more. She also wanted to learn more about Lorikeets, a type of parrot. We fed the Lorikeets some nectar by hand which the girls loved. I had several attack me, which I did not love. ;0)


We went to the library and checked out books about the animals they choose. Then we spend an afternoon on the couch reading and learning more about the animals and what makes them unique. I learned alot too. We made a list summarizing the fun and interesting characteristics about the animals and have been reviewing them.

Today was the wrap up on these animals. I asked them to build the animals we learned about out of play-doh. It was hilarious. They tried as best as possible to stay true to the characteristics of each animal.

A change of pace...

Since coming home from the hospital I have scaled way back and have felt better just being at home and getting rest. I am eating and drinking! The naseau is still there and is almost unbearable at night.

We laugh because Coley has been working until around 8 p.m. and after he gets home its not only the girls bedtime but mine as well. We have been communicating in shifts. The other night I was in bed at my normal time - 8:30 - and Coley got in the shower and then came and got in bed with me. I looked at him and was like "what are you doing?" He said I just want to hang out with my wife and began telling me about what was going on in his life. Ha! Such a concept as we share our life together. Its just been crazy. I ended up falling asleep in the middle of our conversation and I am sure that he has already forgiven me for it. However, it meant the world that he came and just wanted to be my side even if I couldn't stay awake. Speaking of...I am awake a little later tonight hanging out on the couch with the hubby while he eats his nightly ritual of ice cream.

Coley and I also got to go to service today at church together for the first time in 9 months! It was awesome to sit next to him in service and worship together. Thank you Chris and Kristina! :) Serving as a children's director at our church is a family commitment which means that we are often in different places on Sunday. We love worshiping God through our service and loving on kids but it was also good to have a Sunday with Coley. I even told Scott, our pastor, at lunch today that I really enjoy his sermons - they are always a treat and fresh! He just laughed.

I have been reminded of God's faithfulness over the past month and half. Pregnancy is always so humbling. :) I read Isaiah 43 yesterday and was blessed to be reminded that it isn't if we will go through hardship, illness, tough days, it is when - but more importantly that God is steadfast and will not let it drown us.
Isaiah 43:1-3a
1 But now, this is what the LORD says—
he who created you, O Jacob,
he who formed you, O Israel:
"Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have summoned you by name; you are mine.

2 When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.

3 For I am the LORD, your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;

I am posting pics soon...my girls have grown so much. I promise!