Crawfish Salute and Easter!

A group hug/huddle with David's friends and mom :)

Several of David's high school and college friends with mom



The crawfish race



This was a really big weekend for our family. The Hat Club of Little Rock had their annual Crawfish Salute and this year's honoree was David. The charity that it was benefiting is Big Brothers and Big Sisters. We think David would have really liked that since he had a love for children and loved teaching them tennis. We felt so honored and touched that they selected David as their honoree. We were also moved by how many of our friends and David's that came to support this cause and event. The Hat Club did such a great job of throwing a wonderful event but also making us feel so special. They are such an impressive group of guys and do great work!

Today is Easter and we celebrated big! The Easter bunny came to our house and we opened his presents this morning. David Franklin said "but I didn't see him anywhere." :) Then we went to early church, home for an attempted and unsuccessful nap and then to the club for lunch with Meme, Grandpa, Mommie Boo (who as of Monday is an Arkansan and has moved to Hot Springs which we are thrilled about it), the Vaughts, and Mammers. Then we went back to Mammers house for an Egg Hunt, hitting the pinata, and eating of the bunny cake that DF helped decorate and cupcakes. Our bellies are full of chocolate and sugar this afternoon!












We are most thankful for God's ultimate gift of life everlasting and Jesus' sacrifice for us. It is neat that these events fell of the same weekend. As we miss David, what hope we have because of the Resurrection, of getting to Heaven and seeing our loved ones again.

School Easter Party

We've been very busy lately but I've been horrible at taking any pictures and/or blogging. I'm just pooped at the end of the day!

We have had lots of fun with our friends, went to the Arkansas Derby- which I picked and won for win, place and show with 25-1 odds!! The bank, bunco girls, and our home group have all had little showers for us which has been so nice! Last night it was a surprise at Home Group! We even made a quick trip up to Fayetteville to visit the Johnson's.

Today was the Easter Egg hunt and party at St. Luke's. The Easter Egg hunt was moved inside due to the weather, but it didn't take away from the fun at all! I forgot my camera but decided to whip out the phone for some pics. As we were driving home, DF was asking for more candy and chocolate bunnies. I told him not too much more and he asked why not. I told him that because when we eat too much candy our bellies get big and can give us tummy aches. He said, "Like yours, Mama?" I guess he thinks I've been eating waaaay to much candy lately! There is some truth to that since I almost spit out the rice crispy treat I stole out of his Easter basket laughing so hard...

Destin

Things got a little goofy on our last day and somehow Franklin turned into a Mer-Man!





Always on the run out there!

We went on our "last hurrah" trip to Destin last week before we are locked down pretty close to home until this baby comes. The beach and ocean were gorgeous, I had forgotten how pretty it is and how much I love the water! We went with the Herndons and the Choates. It was so much fun for the boys to have playmates at the beach and fun for us to have grown up time too! The guys went deep sea fishing one day and Franklin LOVED it. He caught a red snapper and was realing it in, but a shark ate it off of his line! So the trophy fish got eaten by a shark, but he still had the head as proof. Pictures to come.

It's been hard being back at home for David Franklin because he doesn't understand that the beach is far away and we can't just go there like we do the playground. He's been asking to go to the beach CONSTANTLY! A sandbox may need to be in his future.

We took it pretty easy and I didn't that get many pictures, and we didnt' get a big group shot :( I was doing good just getting there 8 months pregnant and chasing a two year old though. We had a lot of fun and made a lot of happy memories and are so thankful we got to go!

Expecting

We had some new family of 3 pictures taken before our family grows. Here are a few of my favorites, ok a lot of my favorites... I had a hard time cutting them down. Crazy that in two short months or less, we will be a family of four!

I'm not really a fan of "maternity" photos, especially when I'm the one pregnant in them, but there is something so sweet and special about them with an older sibling. David Franklin is loving my belly and wants to lay his head on it so often, I couldn't resist. He also sees baby toys and blankets and tries to give them to "our baby, mama."


Since we are keeping this baby's sex a surprise, I keep getting lots of questions on if this pregnancy is different than my first. The answer is yes, but not drastically. It's been an easy pregnancy,and so was my first, thank the good Lord. I'm not convinced that the differences are because it's a girl or boy, but because it's a different baby. They analyze how I'm carrying and ask how I carried before. I don't know if my memory is just shot, but I don't' think they are too different. I looked back at pics when I was 32 weeks and it doesn't look that different to me as far as high or low. I may be a little pointier this time :)


I know that this baby is the one God wants us to have and it's the one I want and can't wait to meet. Some days I think it's a girl, and other days I think it's a boy. I really don't know and I really don't care what the sex is but it is getting harder not knowing I will admit!! I'm starting to want to nest and it's tough not being able to shop and plan! Oh well, planning is overrated.

I can't believe how big my boy is getting and I'm getting pretty sentimental about that. I just keep looking at him and thinking he's my baby but he's growing so fast and learning so much everyday. Questions GALORE- poetic justice Jason and my mom say because they say I asked a gazillion questions as a child. His mind is trying to process everything and it's so fun to watch but I don't want it to happen too quickly and lose that baby innocence too soon. He is such pure joy and we are so lucky to have him in our lives. Ok, better wrap it up, the hormones must be at healthy levels this afternoon :)

He's my boy. I make him say "always, always mama's boy." :)

These last pics are just so our lives right now...racing with daddy, pottying all the time and everywhere, he wants to see the baby (my belly), and he loves to have "group hugs."








Going outside is SO much more fun than on a potty! Although pretty sure it's frowned upon at a national park.

Spring Break Staycation

It's been a nice Spring Break week.

DF and I have had many adventures together; Mid America, Entergy Park, HSCC park, Garvan Gardens, play dates and cookouts with friends, read many a book, played many games, and I have soaked up all of my one on one time with him. I know those days are numbered and they are so special to me. He's been really loving on me and wanting his mama and I have thoroughly enjoyed it. He's been just screaming out Mama and running into the room, looking for me. It scares me a little at first but he seems to just want a hug and then he's off again.

The Hurtados came over for dinner Thursday night. We couldn't resist taking belly pics together. Our due dates are about two weeks apart. It is crazy to be pregnant again with my very oldest friend. We took the boys to Garvan Gardens on Friday morning; it was the coldest day of the week but, oh well. We were wearing out because they both wanted us to carry them and we didn't bring strollers. We had to hitch a ride from a golf cart driver and that saved the day!

The choo choo trains were the biggest hit for them by far, who cares about all of the different colored tulips!

The week is ending with a bang--we are having a big girls weekend at the races for Blaine's Bachelorette. I've been looking forward to it for a long time :)