Happy Birthday Sammie!!!

Happy Birthday to our Sammie girl. She is 2 years old today!! At times it feels like 20!! We had the kids pictures done at Nathan's school today. They all did really well. Nathan was laughing at us and the photographer was just snapping away. I think she got some really good ones of him. The ones of all 3 kids together might be another story. We're hoping to get one where all 3 are looking at the camera and smiling. Meghan wasn't really smiling, but hey, she's exempt from that right now. We are having a little birthday celebration for Sam at our house in Brookfield on Sunday for those who would like to attend.

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Meghan Kinley is here!

So yes she is almost three weeks old but I do have three kids now....no computer access at home or a digital camera, so I think three weeks ain't that bad. On to the good stuff. Meghan arrived on the 21st of July, weighing in a mere 8 lbs 8.7 oz (for those of you who don't know us that well, Meghan is what we call our lightweight.) She has dark hair and looks like the perfect mixture of Nathan and Samantha. In case you were wondering, I am doing very well considering. Meghan is doing fantastic. She is eating well and sleeps like a dream, most of the time. Nathan and Sam both just adore her. They take turns smothering her with kisses. Sam is a great little helper when it is time to change diapers.Ryan and I still have a hard time believing that she is really here. This pregnancy went by faster than the other two, way faster. What a joy she is though and we love her very much. I am sorry that I don't have much more to say right now, but I will hopefully write more later, but enjoy all the pictures for now.

Tomorrow is D- Day!

July 21st is here or least close enough. It is time for the baby to arrive and for all of us to find out what it is. How do I feel...is there enough time to describe all my thoughts? I mostly feel anxious. Not nervous so much, just ready to find out if we will have a boy or girl and what it will look like. I have to be at the hospital at 6 am so hopefully by mid morning we will have all the answers. Keep me in your prayers and I will be letting everyone know as soon as I can how everything went.

20 days and counting!

Yes, it is hard to believe that in a few short weeks baby three will be here. I must say that this pregnancy is starting to get to me. I am hot and tired all the time. I am super uncomfortable and just don't want to move. I have stuff I want/need to get done but physically can't. I know to most of you out there...you completely understand. Ryan thankfully has given up his side of the bed so that I might actually get some sleep. Nathan is very happy about this. I have finally started to go through the baby clothes and pull out the neutral things. While doing this I of course pulled out Nathan's baby stuff and saw all of his little boy outfits which made me want this baby to be a boy even more! As I tried to explain to Ryan, I want a boy because it has been so long since I have seen our baby boy stuff, Sam is still so little, and lets face it...cute baby girl stuff is always around... cute baby boy stuff is hard to find. If Sam was more of the average size of girls her age, then maybe I wouldn't want a boy so bad. Don't get me wrong I will be happy with either. So anyway, July 21st is the date set for the delivery. So once again it is time for the baby poll.

So here are the facts from the previous children:

Nathan - born one day before his due date- 10 lbs 3.5 oz, 21 inches.
Samantha - born one week before due date - 9 lbs 9.5 oz, 20.5 inches.

(Gawdun- yes we still owe you, and we will get you your blizzard!)

So everyone have fun. (The winner is based on who is closet without going over.)

Our Sam girl!

Okay so these are just some totally random pictures of Samantha and ones of her very first french braids. Can I tell you that I am so excited that I have a daughter with hair that I can play with. I can't say this totally makes up for Jed not being a girl so that I could have a little sister to do this with, but it comes close. Anyway enjoy.

Family Reunion 2009

So here are my additions to the Family Reunion pictures. As usual Nathan did not want his picture taken but all in all I think our family picture turned out all right. Ryan and I didn't win any of the jars this year but we did win big with the drawing for the front porch swing. We have needed a swing for years now and we have attempted to win it at past reunions. You might question as to why we didn't just buy one, well we haven't had the money to buy one. We ended up paying five dollars for the raffle ticket this year. All in all we have only spent 25-20 dollars over the years, so I think we got a good deal be just waiting. However, it is still sitting on our porch waiting to be hung. I have slacked in getting it painted so it is for once my fault that something has not been finished. Anyway enjoy the pictures.

More From Destin

Here are a few more pictures to enjoy from our trip.

What an aMAYzing month!

Most of the time Ryan and I are really boring. We don't usually take trips (not that we don't want to, just can't afford to) or go anywhere that isn't more than 50 miles from home nor do we have any special events or such things happening. However, that was not the case for the month of May. Every week we had something planned.

The first weekend consisted of great time with Grandma Re. We all wore ourselves out going strawberry pickin' and to Wild Adventures. We didn't get to see to much of it but we enjoyed going to the water park for the first time. We all decided that we will ride the rides and see the animals first before hitting the water park. Both Sam and Nathan took a little time to get use to the water and not be afraid, but once they got it...they loved it.





The second week was our much anticipated trip to Destin Florida with Nonna and Papa Rich. What a fabulous time. I haven't been to the beach since Ryan was on the road truckin' and even then it was a 20 minute walk at sunset, while we were waiting for his load. The kids of course have never been. Nathan was ready for the water, but then turned a bit shy when the first waves came up to him. Sam it took another day to even get in the water. On the other hand both of them loved, loved the sand. We also had the fun time of going on a dolphin cruise. Nathan and Sam both had the chance to steer the boat. Here are just a few pictures. I'll make another post later with more.



As for the third weekend, well anyone who knows our family know that this is when we have our annual McGhee/Goddard family reunion. With that excitement we had cousin Corey,Nikki, and meeting for the first time Derek Preston. We haven't seen them since Sam was first born a year and a half ago. It was some nice to see them and talk and just have fun. The only downside was their trip was just too short. Once again pictures will come later.

The last weekend we had a great time cleaning from all of our guest and from us being gone. In other words we chilled out and tried to get oriented with the real world again.

We had tons of fun and enjoyed every minute of it all. Now the real excitement starts of the countdown to baby #3. Oh by the way...Ryan WILL be here for the birth! Thanks to all those who volunteered to go into the delivery room with me...I am sure I will still use your help in some was or another.

Easter Pictures!

We had lots of fun this year. Nathan understood a little bit better the idea of "hunting eggs". I can't remember how much money we all found or the number of eggs we found. I just can't wait till next year and see if I can find the big prize egg!

I really should blog more.

I always felt a post would be better with pictures. Since at the moment I have yet to develop any (I am old school, no digital camera) I guess I should overcome that assumption so at least y'all will know what is happening in our family. First let me tell you about our newest addition. NO, I am still pregnant and feeling bigger and more tired everyday. That great event won't happen until July. I am talking about Harley. Harley is our new puppy that we adopted from the humane society. We are not sure what kind of dog he is other than he is tan and black. They said he was a Carin terrier mix but the vet who kept him just laughed. I don't care what kind of dog he is as long as he doesn't get too big. We made sure to ask that at least. So far he is doing really well. He plays with the kids and loves to fetch. I figured that I didn't have enough to do with two kids, one that is potty training, another one on the way; that I would allow a dog to enter into the house. I know how happy it makes Ryan and I guess he needed some happiness in his life since he has to live with me. :) Speaking of Ryan...his job is still going great. He has finished training troopers to do what he does and now he has the opportunity to go through school to become a trooper himself. Which now I enter into the picture. This Trooper school is rumored to start on July 1st. Which under normal circumstances is fine, but seeing how I am to deliver our third child a few weeks later...well the story continues. Also to be rumored is the fact that normally the students (Ryan) aren't allowed to go home for the first 8(+/-) weeks. (This is the thing that scares me just a little.) I know there are hundreds if not thousand of women who give birth without their husbands, but that's them not me. Actually I am okay if he is not there, I'll be very sad yes, but I know I have tons of family around. My problem is not knowing for sure if he is or isn't going to be there. I have to have plans ahead of time. I have to pick who is to go into the delivery room with me, find someone who will be able to drive me to mine and the baby's appointments,help take care of me and the other two kids in case I don't recover well after the c-section and on top of all that, Nathan will start preschool a week or two after the baby is born. GEE WHIZ!!! I may just be over reacting but oh well, I am entitled to it for right now. I just what to know what is going to happen. The great news is Ryan, the kids and I are going on a vacation. A real vacation. This wonderful event is all because of my awesome in-laws. Nonna and Papa Rich wanted to take us all to the beach before the baby comes. So in about two more weeks...Destin here I (we) come. I have finally bought me maternity swimsuit (hopefully it will arrive before we leave) so I am ready. The week after that we have the annual reunion and my cousins Corey and Nikki will be visiting and staying with us. Very excited for them to come. I will get to see their son Derek for the first time. Oh wait! This weekend we get a visit from Ryan's Grandma Re. We are so excited that she will be here as well. The kids and us always get so excited to see her. So see at least I get to have a lot of fun before the new baby comes. As I said about Nathan, he will be starting preschool come August and he seems to be very excited about that. Of course I'll blog more on that as time gets closer. He is very much enjoying Harley and playing with him. He is saying new funny things everyday. Still working on potty training, but doing really well. Diapers are only used at night and he is starting to pee standing up. He is so excited about that. Samantha is sassy as ever. Attitude and sweetness all at the same time. She babbles a lot but hasn't said any real words yet. She loves playing with Harley too, even though he is almost bigger than she is. She is definitely in the monkey see monkey do stage where she wants to do everything Nathan is doing. Still she makes Ryan and I laugh with all her personality and mood swings. So as you can see we are all doing well and having as much fun as we can. As always I will try to post more often, but no guarantees.

I think the light has finally be turned on!

How very happy and excited I am. Nathan is finally going to the potty. He actually goes when we sit him on it. He hasn't had an accident in at least a week now. He still doesn't tell us he has to go but he will go now. The funny thing is he has to wear his underwear backwards, of course that is where the picture is and where he can see it. I hoped that he would be potty trained by his third birthday, I didn't think that would happen seeing how I wished this just a few weeks ago, but I guess miracles happen.

Let's play Catch(up)!

Okay so I know that it has been forever and a day since we blog, so here it is Valentine's Day and I figured why not. This will probaly end up being a longer post but hang in there.


First, I have know idea when these pictures were taken. It's has just been to long. However, I am pretty sure the pictures can speak for themselves. This is what happens when Ryan and I are just being lazy in the mornings and leave Nathan to fend for himself until we get up. Needless to say, after these two occasions, we have become a bit more active in keeping tabs on him until we are ready to get out of bed. So a word of warning to parents of young children...Don't leave them unsupervised, even inthe safety of your own home.








The next bit of ppictures is of poor Sam. She was just so tired. Need I say more?

I'm Engaged!

I think that engaged is going to be my word. It means involved in activity,greatly interested. So because of those definitions I think it covers what I want. To me it is a bit more meaningful than just involved. It has more action to me. It came to me last night and it hasn't left my mind since then, so tell me what you think.

Three times a Charm!

I'm sorry, but I have to laugh. Helen and I were talking the other day, and she was commenting on how rotten she is feeling. She was saying how she can't wait until this pregnancy is over, and on and on and on about having no energy and feeling sick all the time, and I did this to her. You get the idea. Before I continue, please don't get me wrong, I have a tremendous amount of compassion and sympathy for my wife and she is doing a much better job than I could ever think of doing with staying home with 2 YOUNG children and maintaining a home all while feeling the way she does. Anyway, what I was wanting to say was that while she is NOT pregnant, she is always saying how she misses being pregnant and how much she loves it. If she could only just STAY pregnant and not have to worry about giving birth she would be perfectly happy. Now that she's pregnant, she talks about how much she hates feeling like this and you know the deal. So, I just chuckled when she was telling me the other day, and then she asked what I was laughing at and I told her. Anyway, just my perspective. Bye.

I need help in finding the right word.

One word to described my plans,hopes,dreams, for the new year. Please, i don't know that many words. I know what I want so Jen I will tell you and then you can tell me my word. I want to be more organinzed with my time, my home, my children. I want to be less stressed over nothing and learn to let things go...especially things that I can't controll. I want to laugh more with my family. Spend time on my projects and not feel guilty. I want to become better in all areas of my life and the different roles I play. So Jen in the incredible brain that you have I am sure you can find me my word, not to mention even if I did have a word...could I spell it?

Why did I choose do this a third time??

I know I have no reason to complain. I did this to myself (well kind of). I just keep forgetting that things tend to get worse with each child. I would be okay if I was just tired or just nauseous, but not both.I feel like I am starving all the time but heaven forbid I actually think of food. Food in general just makes me sick to even think about it. As i have told several of you already, I can't even find one "go to" food. As for being tired. I think that I could sleep at least 20 hours out of the day and still want to sleep more. I hate feeling like this. I get nothing done throughout the day and it generally doesn't make me a pleasant person to be around. I did have my first emotional pregnancy breakdown the other day. I was so ready to put my lovely children out in the middle of the road,(just in case you are wondering...I didn't) Ryan did great in listening to my babble as all of you are pretty much doing right now. Sorry. I know things will get better and that pregnancy is only temporary, but I am so ready to be over the morning/afternoon/evening/all night sickness!