I love a parade.......

*Please note: images posted below are not ACTUAL images from lastnight....we didn't bring the camera, and even if we did...I STILL cannot find my card reader. Priority for this weekend! :)



Lastnight Grant came home from work a tired treeman. We had decided to order in pizza and watch a movie.....but all of a sudden, my Grant decided to have us pack up and go downtown.

Grant used to surprise me a lot. He'd hear about an event, call me from work and say "Get dressed up! We're painting the town red!!!" Lastnight there was a parade in downtown Mobile to "Celebrate Mobile". I love a good parade, but there is nothing quite like going to a parade in Mobile.

Our parades come complete with bands, floats, and BEADS!!!! Since it is the off season, and college kids are all at home, it was not as busy as the pictures you see below, which were taken during Mardi Gras. Mobile, incidentally was the birthplace of Mardi Gras---not New Orleans as is the common belief. We do our Mardi Gras a bit differently for sure----it's more family centered....all you have to do to get something is throw your hand up and say "Throw me something mister!!!"

We caught teddy bears, and other stuffed animals, which we gave away to older, more season ladies. We caught moonpies, and Reese's cups and of course....Mardi Gras beads. You end up catching so many throughout the season of Mardi Gras! Grant found two little girls that weren't wearing any gave his away.

I love the marching bands, although good ol' LA would shine in comparison....many were off in their stepping, not standing tall...and when the parade had to stop they were talking and carrying on. Their drum lines played pretty well, though.

After the parade we went to Grants old work to have a bite to eat. I realized the other day how infrequently this is going to happen when our Little Girl comes into the world. I think we have enough love to give, but I will certainly miss....in some ways....it being just us.



This is what some of the floats look like----and this is how crowded it is
during Mardi Gras!

I hope our Little Lady gets to be an Azalea trail maid!
These are ladies that do exceptionally well in their studies in highschool.
They are taught ettiquette and get to make appearances all over Mobile in their
frilly dresses, parasols and hats. Although it is a small picture, you can see the Queen---she's dressed in blue.



Order of Inca float; Civic center in the background.

What the French Toast?

I had always imagined the perfect order of things...you find someone, you like them...they like you...you fall in love and get married and THEN you have babies.

I guess things don't always happen as we plan.

Yesterday I spent most of the day setting up a registry. I had an inkling babies were expensive, but I assure you I really had no clue. I asked two friends to look at my preliminary list....and of course...they had more input. Which meant more to add to the list...which means my already expensive list seems to be even more expensive!

I'm glad there are a lot of folks that love this Little Lady. We really do need their help!

Setting up a registry is fun.....but completely overwhelming.

I have come to realize that a person is growing inside me. One that is not going to be unable to fend for itself in anyway...will make messes....and will add more "stuff" to our already small apartment......

but i know I'm just going to be smitten. :)

Ark Building for dummies......

Highly recommended movie that G and I saw lastnight: Evan Almighty

Fashioned after Bruce Almighty, the movie is chuck full of laughs and VERY clean.....I mean almost squeaky.

G and I were both very tired lastnight as Tuesday we did a tree job together---yes, at 4 months pregnant I was out there helping him drag brush to the road. Little Lady is earning her keep before she gets here!

We had a quick dinner and then watched this movie from start to finish. This is a rarity because Grant and I rarely agree on what is entertaining.

Economy Busters (or Frugal Momma!!!)

Yesterday I went grocery shopping for the usual. Lately, however I have been checking out the Drug Store ads. Seems every one of them is having a BOGO sale this week. I guess I should pay more attention..... Here are my Walgreen's purchases this morning.

Planter's dry roasted peanuts 20 oz jar BOGO 3.49 saved 3.49
Planter's honey roasted peanuts 12 oz can BOGO 3.49 saved 3.49
In fridge drink dispenser (for sweet tea) BOGO 6.49 saved 6.49
(*our old one was in BAD need of replacement!)

Sunlight dish detergent 12 oz bottle BOGO 1.79 saved 1.79
Comet BOGO .99 saved .99
Coffee mate creamer BOGO 1.79 saved 1.79
Blue Diamond Almond 6 oz jar BOGO 3.29 saved 3.29



I spent 21.00 dollars on these things, and saved JUST AS MUCH. They were all things we need (nuts are good hurricane food!). And I didn't take any extra gas to get there, because there's a drug store on practically every corner in this town. I just planned it as part of my route.

Another obsession as of late is baby clothes. I've been popping in the Good will here once per week for the past 3 weeks. I know that I will likely receive a lot of things in baby showers, however I can't see spending a grand amount of money on clothes that children grow so quickly out of! If people are going to be so gracious as to buy us a gift, I would rather it be something else that we need! At the Goodwill, 0-24 mos clothing is just 99 cents. I figure I used to smoke 2-3 packs of cigarettes per week. That's roughly 15.00 a week. So instead of spending money on cigarettes, I'm putting that money to gently used baby clothing, that I need anyway. I'm not only saving money, but I'm helping the environment. Would you believe that I have 18 outfits, 6 each for 0-3 mos, 3-6 mos and 6-9 months? The outfits are all like new. Guess how much I've spent??

$20.00!

Tell me where you can get 18 baby outfits for $20.00 brand new????

I win.

Again.

Blessings abound!

If this isn't uncanny and completely blessed by the Big Guy, I'm not sure what is!! :)


I have been praying for quite some time now for a job---any job. Currently I work for a wheelchair company ON COMMISSION and prior to that I worked for a company that sold communication devices to folks that couldn't speak for one reason or another. I realized something in all of this....I'm NOT a salesperson.

I craved getting back into my field---working with kids with disabilities, and it hasn't been easy down here---or has it?

I think the Man Upstairs has a great sense of humor, and most of the time, he puts things right in front of us, yet we are too stubborn to see it.

One year ago, before deciding to move down here, I drove to a residential based school for children with Mild to Moderate Mental Retardation and challenging behaviors. The only position they had available was $8.00 and Grant and I both agreed that I should pursue other options.

Something tells me that I should have taken that position......

I applied recently for the same job---and with a degree the pay rate increases by half. I have been saying for weeks I would work a clerical job for $12.00 and hour....and I got my pay rate....the position just happens to be IN MY FIELD!!! :)

On Saturday I had an interview at the school. On Saturday, I got hired at the school! The funny thing is, when I scheduled the interview the lady told me the only shift that was available was from 10 pm to 8 am, and was I still interested???

Although I really didn't want to work overnights, I told her I was because I NEEDED a job. Turns out during my interview they decided with my skills that I should be working with 2 little boys with challenging behaviors that were aged 4 and 5. I was a little worried with my ever-growing belly. On Sunday night I had dreams about the boys, and I felt like I was being told it would all work out!

They were unexpectedly taken from their parents, as well as 1 older brother and 2 sisters. All of the children have some type of disability. Here's the heartbreaking part......all of their disabilities were most likely drug induced. Their parents were making Meth in their house. This sort of thing is a regular occurrence here, no matter how much I wish it wasn't.

I got to meet them yesterday, and they are the sweetest little boys you could ever ask for! I finish my training next Tuesday, and I start with them on Wednesday from 2pm to 10pm!!!!!



I am so ridiculously excited!

So I guess things just have to happen in God's time, not ours. It took me a whole year to get a position here in my field, but wisdom takes time, I suppose!

Rain Rain....

GO AWAY!!! Momma K NEEDS TO PAINT!!!!

But WHERE are the pictures, you ask???

Everyone wants pictures. Of my belly. Of my life in general.

Trust me, you'll get them. As soon as I can figure out who took hostage of my card reader. Or I find the cable that goes to my camera. Or the cable that goes to Grant's camera. My life is in a state of upheaval at the moment, as I am nesting. And didn't you know that cleaning for a woman means tearing the whole blessed house apart? Oh no, we don't just work on one room at a time, or one project at a time....we have to tear apart the whole blessed house and while we are completely satisfied with our accomplishments, we put everyone else in misery.

I used to think I got this trait from my mother....but then I found out my stepmother....as well as many, many other women do this when they are REALLY REALLY cleaning.

Which brings me to my mom. My mom believes in the "law of attraction". When you need something, it just comes to you. I'm hoping that is true for a job. I really need one. And I'm praying and trying to have faith that God knows what he's doing in that area of my life. The Law of Attraction does seem to ring true, however, for sheets.

Yesterday I just happened to go to Burlington coat factory for no real reason at all. I had figured that with last weeks leftover money and a check from my mom that was a gift 3 months ago that I had enough money to pay our phone bill, with $35.00 left over. I SHOULD have put that money away too, and added it to this weeks money for bills. It just so happens that there was a 2 (YES, TWO!!!!) pack of GREEN KING SHEETS, 300 thread count on CLEARANCE for 29.99 just waiting to be plucked at Burlington. I bought a new comforter from Dirt Cheap a few weeks back for $25.00. I swear Grant has had the same sheets and comforter for about 10 years now. So lets see....that's a complete new outfit (plus an extra set of sheets) for a king sized bed for less than $50. Gosh, I'm good.

So the need for new because of the new baby fortunately hasn't broken my bank. I think I should start my own decorating business. Or write a book. Gosh I have a lot of ambition!

Oh boy....it's a....

GIRL!!!

As you can probably tell by the changes to my layout!! I'm awfully old fashioned, and originally didn't want to know my little one's gender. On Monday I had an ultrasound, even though it's early yet.

The lady said, "You wanted to know the sex, right?" And I said....actually, no i didn't....but....DID SHE KNOW FOR SURE???"

She said she always knows the sex of her babies. I found out later from someone else that she's been wrong only once in 25 years.

She gave me an envelope which contained a reporting of my xx or xy chromosomed kiddo. When an envelope is the only thing from keeping you from knowing, you pretty much cave.

When Grant got home, I asked him if he wanted to know....which OF COURSE he did! I opened the envelope and he looked first. He of course said...."HA!!!! I WAS RIGHT! It's a boy!!!"

And then I looked. It didn't say boy at all!

There hasn't been a girl on Grant's side of the family for years. Although we were hoping.........we didn't believe it was actually possible!

Grandma Jams was ecstatic. She will no doubt plaster the girl with pink. In fact, there has already been talk of a pink tu tu......Grandfather Orvis shouted to Grandma Jo to tell her it's a girl, and the next day sent me a text that said "Thank heaven for little (AND BIG!) girls". Grandma Orvis seemed pretty happy too. Grant told her, so I'm not sure what her immediate reaction was!

The Little Princess has to share a room with her brother, so I am trying to come up with decorating ideas that will suit both. I'm pretty much set on a star theme--Christian thinks that's a good idea because he already has glow in the dark stars on his wall, and he says we can get more and put them over the babies crib! I want him to be involved as much as possible, because I'm afraid of the sibling rivalry that will occur! Atleast he'll have a little sister to protect!

Back to nesting.....

My little cardinal......

Daddy has taken to call me his "little cardinal". My nesting instinct has begun, and this week I am focused on the kitchen. On Sunday when your brother and daddy went to the movie theater to watch "Indiana Jones" and have some boy time, Mommy and you had some girl time. It was a lot of hard work and Mommy was sore the next day---but I painted the horrible kitchen cupboards in our kitchen....a direct violation of our lease! Fortunately, it does look amazingly better and maybe they won't notice when we move out! Mommy learned a lot of tricks to make "something out of nothing" from her Mommy, and Daddy says that's a valuable trait to have around here---money is tight! I've managed to redecorate the kitchen for $40!!!! Try doing that on Trading spaces!!!!! :)

Next up is the bathroom, which is mostly done---I just need to paint a few things. Grandma Jams says she will help me with your room when we come to it---you are sharing a room with your brother and we have to figure out how to make room for you!

So that leaves the living room and Daddy and I's room! Do you think we can do it all before you get here so your little nest will be comfy???

Love,

Your momma,

A cardinal for the next 20 weeks or so!

week 13

Whoo hoo!

Welcome to week 13 and the second pre-natal visit with Dr. Busbee!

Mommy is feeling much, much better! I have a pretty good attitude, and I love your daddy so much now, its just not even funny! I am so surprised by how much I disliked his company before!

We went for our second pre-natal visit this week. Dr. Busbee is so nice---and so are all the nurses that work in his office! Mommy has gained 15 lbs since she found out she was pregnant, which has her a little concerned. The nurse told me that I'm pregnant and I'm supposed to gain weight---which I know is true, but I've been concentrating on trying to take a walk, swimming, or doing yoga every day now that I'm feeling so much better. Mommy wants to stay strong, because she knows she'll need to be when you come into the world!

Dr. Busbee offered some screenings to me today---he said that mostly all they do is cause worry, because there are chances that they can turn up as false positives for things such as spina bifida, Down's syndrome and cerebral palsy. I told him that I would love you no matter if you came out to be a flying purple people eater and that the pregnancy would continue regardless!

Next he put some goop on you and we tried to listen really hard for your heartbeat.......and you weren't up for playing apparently! We could hear my heartbeat, and digestion sounds, but no little you!

Dr. Busbee wants to schedule and internal ultrasound for dating, because maybe you're not as big as we thought! He didn't seem too horribly worried, so I'm trying not to be either!

Daddy got a new job with a tree company---he works outside in the hot Alabama sun all day, but he is making good money and will be home every night and on the weekends! Now it's time for mommy to find a good job and we'll be all set for your arrival!

Here's what's supposedly going on in your little world----unless we're way off on development!

Week Thirteen

• Your infant is about 2.91 inches (7.4cm) and weighs around 0.81 ounce (23gm) - This is about the same weight as 4 quarters.
• If you could peek in again you may spot your baby as he begins to practice inhaling and exhaling movements
• Eyes and ears continue to move and develop
• Baby's neck is getting longer, and the chin no longer is resting on his chest
• Her hands are becoming more functional - Your baby may find it comforting to start playing with her fist.
• At this point all nourishment is received from the placenta
• On your next doctor visit you should be able to hear heartbeat with a Doppler by now - (Don't worry though if you can't, the heartbeat can be confirmed through U/S). Your baby's heartbeat is much rapider than your own and may remind you of the race