Birthday boy!

I have not had internet for a few days. I am sure I have been missed.

Two important happenings since I last posted:

1) Today is little Henry's 3rd birthday! I can't believe he is three. I feel like a maw-maw when I say this, but they grow up so fast! We are going saturday for his train birthday party. I can't wait.

2) Thanksgiving was fabulous. We were able to see tons of family and eat tons of food. But possibly the more important thing: We won the Egg Bowl. From Dixon with Love!!

I go tomorrow to the doctor to find out for sure that this little one inside of me is a girl. Hopefully the baby will be a lilttle more cooperative than she was last time. An hour later we think it's a girl. Ha. I will let you know!

Happy Tuesday!

give thanks

I have so many reasons to be so thankful this season. It's been a year full of changes, but none of which I would take back. I am so thankful for each opportunity that God has given us and look forward to seeing what next year brings, especially meeting this precious baby!

I hope everyone takes time to count their blessings this year. I know I am.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

"Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His love endures forever."

1 Chronicles

buttoned pants no more

Well, I think I wore my regular jeans tonight for the last time during this pregnancy.

I wore them to dinner.

I unbuttoned them during the meal.

I think the hardest part, for me, is knowing the numbers on the scale should go up every time I step on. I know it's supposed to, but still it sorta-kinda-in-a-small way bothers me.

That is so vain, I know. And I kinda feel bad for even thinking it. There is a precious little girl (or boy!) inside of me and I know I am gaining for a wonderful, wonderful reason.

But this is my blog and I can be honest: It's still hard. Maybe that is what is so wrong with our society...

But I digress.

Here is a picture taken of my belly tonight. I am in my 19th week. Almost half way. I think it's about time to buy some maternity clothes.

18 weeks and 2 days

And in the same shirt 10 weeks ago:

Slight difference.

Here is a picture taken last weekend at the MSU/UA game. Melanie and I are only a couple of weeks apart. She is having a sweet boy!

This was the first time I really looked pregnant in clothes.

I have been so blessed during this whole pregnancy and would not change a single thing. I have not been sick at all and have really been able to enjoy the whole process. God is so good!

AND, big news...we are getting close to deciding on a name. This is huge for me. I can't even decide what to eat for dinner half the time.

A picture of the coaches

Don't they both look fabulous? (no wind suits, but still fabulous)

Nana had a wardrobe change, as you can see from the picture. No ruffled white blouse, as promised. But please note her maroon shoes. Always with it, that lady.

Really, they had a great time - and they won! Nana was so funny; she said she was just too wired to sleep from all the excitement of the night. It was the best thing. She loved every minute.

Maybe these two HACs will get asked to do it again soon.

My only regret is I can not get my hands on a tape of their pre-game speech.

And get a load of this little bulldog. Henry really got into the bulldog spirit at the football game Saturday night.

LOVE this little man!

When he was told the baby was a girl, he said he would "Teach her to crawl and play the frums (drums) REAL loud!" Then, when told the baby would not be able to play at first because she will be too little, he added "I will hold her and feed her."

Sweet big cousin!

IT'S A....

Untitled from Laura Tomlinson on Vimeo.

This is how we told the family. This was taken at my parents house. Note: Henry was upstairs sleeping. Didn't seem to bother him, though.

(Please excuse the screaming in the video and my annoying voice. I hate hearing myself on camera.)

So the doctors are about 90% sure on this, so I was a little hesitant on posting. I am going back on Dec. 2nd for another viewing. Little Baby Skaggs was not cooperating during the ultrasound at all! To start with, she was on her side. We finally got her to turn over, but her legs were crossed. Then when she uncrossed her legs, she covered herself up with her hands.

Modest little thing.

We told our families Sunday. I was going to wait to spread the news until it was 100% sure, but I feel like some of the shots we have of our little babe are very conclusive.

I can't wait for all things smocked.

Trey's first words: "Boys are now the enemy"

He still has a glazed look in his eyes. Every time he sees a little girl, he smiles. This is going to be fun.

I will feel so much better on the 2nd when hopefully little miss will be cooperating and I can get a 100% YES that she is, in fact, a she!!

But in the meantime, we are going with GIRL! We are so excited!

Move over, Coach Summitt

Are you going to be in Starkville Friday night? You should. And for more reason that I will be arriving later that evening.

The reason? My mother and sassy Nana have been asked by Coach Fanning to be honorary Assistant Coaches for the MSU girls basketball team.

This is not a job being taken lightly by my Nana. I talked to her earlier today about her upcoming responsibilities. She is not so much concerned about that as much as she wanted to discuss her outfit for the night. In her words she is wearing "just something she threw together" that she has had picked out since the moment asked to accept this offer. If you are looking for her there, she will be the cute 80-something year old in "winter white pants, winter white ruffled shirt, sprinkled with maroon accessories." Those are her words, not mine.

My mother has not confirmed an outfit; I have asked. I am really hoping for a wind suit with white sneakers. I will let you know.

In the meantime, here is a rundown of their responsibilities:

• They must sit on the bench throughout the game

• During time outs, one of the HAC (honorary assistant coach, of course) must hand Coach Fanning her clipboard.

• I feel confident water bottles will be involved at some point.

• I am also hoping for mid-game team huddle involvement.

• But the best responsibility is that the HACs are responsible for giving the pre-game pep talk to the players in the locker room. Nana tells me she is just going to let my mom do the talking then when she feels inspired she will chime in.

This is great on so many levels.

Sadly, I am not going to be able to make it to their coaching debut. Stupid work. I will be arriving just as the game is ending. Perhaps I will make it to the post-game party? Mama, you hosting?

Kristen, Rob, and Henry will be there, however. And I am not promising my sister is not planning something. There may or may not be homemade signs involved.

Go State! And Go HACs!!

And now I introduce to you

The Dynamic Trio:

Coach T.

Coach Nana (the one on the left)

Coach Fanning

Hopefully we will carry tomorrow nights sure win on to Saturday with a win against Bama. I can't wait to be there. We need a little more cowbell.

Encouragement for the day

This was just emailed to me - just what I needed! Hope you are encouraged too.

Philippians 4:6-7

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Happy Hump Day!

child rearing skills

I really hope Sophie is not an example of our future child rearing skills. She is really bad.

I left Sophie alone in the house for ten minutes this afternoon. I came home to find Sophie laying on her back on the couch. This obviously means she did something wrong. Whenever she misbehaves, so rolls over on her back and gives her major puppy dog eyes, which obviously works on my every time (see picture).

I found my purse on the ground, unzipped. Trouble. I walked into my office to see an empty granola bar package. (Yes, I had food in my purse. Snack emergencies) She ate the entire thing! And not just one bar. It was a Nature Valley crunchy granola bar that comes with two bars per package. Her stomach is swollen and her breath smells of oats and honey. She is still smacking her lips. Bad dog.

On the baby front, I have had the strangest dreams lately. Is this normal? I am not even very far along in my pregnancy. Last night I had a dream that a new study came out that breast milk was really bad for babies and that all children that were nursed had a higher risk of getting tuberculosis. So random. In my dream I asked my all-knowing mother, who confirmed that yes, breast milk is really harmful for babies. The dream was so real that I woke up really confused about breast milk. Of course by the time I finished my breakfast I realized that it was, in fact, a dream. How weird is that?

Here are pictures of a pretty sunset at the beach. Trey and I went walking there the other night and I just had to take some pictures on my phone.

Obviously this was taken before Ida. On that note, can I get some praise, please? I survived my first coastal storm. Granted, it was just a tropical storm, but if you know me you know that is a huge step in the right direction. I don't do bad weather. Never have. But I surprised even myself. Sophie, on the other hand, was not a fan. She needed desperately to tee-tee during the worst of the rain and wind. We finally put on rain coats (which did no good) and took her outside. She refused to get off the porch during the first 4 attempts. Finally, Trey walked her to the middle of the yard only to have a gust of wind knock her down! She looked like a drowned rat when she was through. Not a happy camper.

Last note of the day: Please pray for my big sister, Kristen. Tomorrow and Thursday she will be taking the STEP 3 exam, which she must pass in order to get her medical license. Please pray that she will have a clarity of mind, confidence, and strength, clarity of mind, and confidence as she takes this LONG test. I can't imagine! She is the smartest and most dedicated person I know, so I know she will do great on the test and in her role as an OBGYN, but the more prayers the better! Thanks!

Go Dr. Kristen!!

Brag Book and Ida

I just woke up from an amazingly long nap. It was awesome.

With that said:

First of all, a hurricane? Really? I am in no mood. Since moving to the coast (OK, way before moving to the coast) I have been very vocal about my views towards silly things like Hurricane Parties and "riding out the storm". Just don't. How dumb. So I thought moving to hurricane land in the middle of the season was a little risky, but we seemed to have made it out in the clear. So what is this Ida thing doing out there? Isn't it a little late for a hurricane? Trey is telling me it is just going be rain for us, that the storm is heading east of us. We will see.

Well, that's enough about that. Just know I am not above driving to Starkville for the smallest hurricane. All you coasties can make fun all you want.

On to much brighter and cuter things. I have been anti bare belly pics and ultrasound pics public posting since the start of my pregnancy. I love looking at others, but am a little wary about posting my own for some reason. I just am not so sure about my bare belly for all to see or my insides.

However, I just keep looking at this picture of Baby Skaggs. It was taken at 13 weeks. I have to say, Baby Skaggs is already the little looker. Look at that profile! Isn't that the cutest little it? The little nose and lips. I love him/her.

So I put my no posting ultrasound pics rule away to post this one. I still will not do bare belly pics. Sorry.

Henry told me yesterday on the phone that I was having a boy. And that I should name it Henry. We told him we already have a Henry and we can't have two. To which he replied, "But I want two Henrys".

So there you have it. My almost-3-year-old nephew called it: it's a boy. And we will name it Henry Skaggs.

baby update / advice please!

Had my 16 week apt. today. All is perfect! Thank God for a healthy baby!

The baby's heart beat was strong; I still am taken back every time we get to hear that. It's amazing. I am still feeling great. Even my extreme tiredness is fading! I still go to bed earlier than normal, but it's so much better than pure exhaustion during the day. I even did a P90X workout yesterday as opposed to a slow walk/jog or tennis. Granted, I am having trouble walking today because of it, but the point is I had the energy to do it!

We tried to talk the dr. into doing an ultrasound to find out the sex. He said no. Isn't the customer always suppose to be right? Doesn't this apply to patient/dr. relationships too? Maybe not. We had a 12 week ultrasound and he wants to do a 20 week one, so it looks like we will be waiting a little longer before buying blue or pink. Unless I can get up to Jackson to have my sister take a peek. Hmm... We'll see!

The decision I can't seem to decide on is if I want to have the H1N1 shot or not. I can't decide. My dr. recommended that I do, but I am being a little chicken about it. I had the seasonal flu shot, but the H1N1 shot seems so new and unstudied. I am sure it has been well researched, but I am worried how it will affect my growing wee one. Thoughts?

TGIF everyone!