Go Ayla's Army!

While we were in Destin we participated in Great Strides.  It is a fundraiser for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and my niece Ayla has Cystic Fibrosis.  We all had on our Ayla's Army t-shirts and most of our family was there.  It was really great to get to be there and be a part of it.
 I am sooooo proud of my sister.  She definitely out-did herself and raised a whopping $9,500!!!  Her goal was $5,000 so she did an amazing job. 

Ayla's Army!

Miss Ayla herself!

Nanu having some fun on the slide!

Gavin

Nolen

Papa playing with Ayla and Nolen.

Where Have We Been?

For those few of you who read my blog and wonder why it has been so long since I updated....we have been BUSY! 
We went to Florida for a 9 day vacation with a wedding and a Great Strides walk thrown in.  We had a great time.  As always....it was a little stressful trying to see everyone and still relax and somewhat enjoy "down time".  I definitely did not get to see everyone that I wanted to see.....but I just can't help it.  I always come home feeling guilty because I didn't call someone or get to see someone that I wanted to......but it is so hard when your whole family lives there and you don't get to see them enough as it is.  Ok...enough complaining, come to Tennessee and visit us--it is so much easier that way!
We got up on Sunday and went to Church.  Before we left....we went down to the beach for a walk.  The boys had so much fun finding shells and running.  It was a little bit of a challenge keeping them out of the water.

Wow....do my kids LOVE the beach!  They seriously will stay out there ALL day and not complain one time.  It is definitely the best vacation for our family.

The boys got to see dolphins almost every day we were there.  They were really close and Gavin was mesmerized.  You can see them checking them out in this picture.

I think they were meant to live in Destin on the beach.....we were told several times how they look like little surfer boys and should be models--personally I couldn't agree more :)!!

Especially....if you don't mind a little snot.  Sorry--salt water and allergies will do that to a kid.

They had fun being buried in the sand.

Nolen will lay on his face in the sand and it does not bother him one bit.  However, when you leave the beach if there is one spec of sand in his sandal he totally freaks out! 

Check out the "MerMan"

Nolen and Ayla had a great time playing on the beach too!

We got to eat at all of our favorite restaurants which is very important when in Destin.  I must admit I didn't get to eat EVERYTHING I wanted because of being pregnant.  Cooked sushi isn't quite the same and I didn't get to indulge in much fish--but it is totally worth it!  However, Eric was kind enough to indulge and inform me how amazing everything was. 

Gavin got to do the big trampoline bouncy thing....he really enjoyed it but could not seem to get the hang of the jumping thing.

And....of course no trip to the beach would be complete without Daddy taking the boys surfing.  Gavin LOVES it and had a blast.

Nolen on the other hand....not so much!

Emergency Bathroom Break!

For those of you who have boys.....you know one of the advantages are the "ease" of bathroom breaks.  No sitting on nasty toilet seats, if you are in the car you can just pull over and let them go.  If a true emergency arises you can just empty a water bottle.....which is what we did last week. 

We had been out to eat with Eric and a friend and Gavin had drank a little too much sweet tea.  We had no sooner got in the car and pulled out onto the road and Gavin starts saying he has to pee.  I don't know about you but my boys wait until the LAST possible minute before telling me they need to go.  He was literally about to wet his pants. 

So, I am in downtown Knoxville--I don't do well down there and so I was just focusing on trying to find the interstate.  I could not find anywhere to pull over--NOWHERE.  So, finally Gavin said "just give me that water bottle".  I handed it to him and he got out of his booster seat and stood up, pulled his pants down and began to go in the bottle. 

Well, I finally found the interstate and pulled over to the side of the on ramp.  Then it happened---when I stopped Gavin fell back in the seat, his P-Dog (that is what we call it) came out of the water bottle and pee went EVERYWHERE!!!! 

It got on Nolen (he said, "Mommy, Gavin just peed on me!"), on MY PURSE, on me and all over my car!  The only two people that pee did not get on was our friend Carley and Gavin.  We finally got things under control and cleaned everything up.  We laughed until we cried.  Gavin just kept saying, "Seriously, I am soooo sorry.  It was an accident!" 

So, we definitely made a memory last week.  I am not sure....maybe it would have been better to just let him pee in his seat.  Another joy of having a boy, works just like a sprinkler--they squirted me when they were babies and they are still squirting me!  Oh, but I love them!!

Baby's now the size of a plum!

As you move into the second trimester, baby shifts into the growth and maturation stage. After weeks in the critical development stage, almost all of her systems are fully formed.  (Notice they said "her".....it must be a sign!  HA!)

Well, I am officially 12 weeks!  Yay!  I am feeling a lot better--the nausea is pretty much gone.  I am still tired but I am sure that is normal considering the 2 wild boys that I have to chase around.  By the way, Nolen was playing outside in his underwear today and I didn't even care. 

 

I have decided that dresses are my best friend. Maternity clothes look huge on me and my regular clothes are tight and not comfortable. I found some good bargains on some summer dresses that I can wear for a while. 

We are sooo excited to go to Florida on Friday!  We cannot wait to lay on the beach and be lazy. 

In a little over a month we will know what this little baby is!

Runaway Child!

So....I am sure this won't be the last time that one of my children threatens to run away but it was the first.  On Wednesday, Gavin asked me if he could have some Gatorade.  I said "No, you can have some water and then you can have Gatorade with dinner." 
He went on his way and a few minutes later I caught him heading out the front door with his indoor t-pee/tent and his sleeping bag.  I asked him where he was going and he said he was running away.  I told him that we would miss him and that every one in Florida would miss him when we go down there next week for vacation.  He said, "Actually, that is exactly where I am going--to Florida."
He then decided that he needed some more stuff before he leaves.  He went upstairs and came back down about 15 minutes later.  He had a pillow, his stuffed dragon and a bag.  Inside the bag were the following items which he informed me were "just memories", his football and basketball trophies, a bible, 2 books, a camo hat, house shoes, and his ticket stub from "How to Train your Dragon".  HA!
When asked how he was going to eat--especially with his milk allergy his response was, "just leave me alone to die"!  I'm thinking he may be a little dramatic--like his Daddy.
He quickly changed his mind and decided that he couldn't make it all the way to Florida so he was going to run away to the back yard (so he could still eat our food and see us).  When dinner time came....he came inside, ate dinner and didn't mention it again.  So....I guess he decided to live here for a while longer--and we are so glad!

11 Week and 3 Day Check-Up

I can't really do a 12 week check up because I am not 12 weeks yet.....but I had a Doctors appointment today and everything looks great!
First of all.....I only gained 1 pound!  This is the smallest amount of weight I have ever gained in a month while pregnant.  So.....I must say I am pretty proud of myself. 
I didn't see my regular Doctor today....it was the nurse practitioner so she was not familiar with my crazy pregnancy history.  She mentioned that because I am not quite 12 weeks...they may not be able to find the heartbeat by Doppler.  I asked her what would happen if they couldn't....she insinuated that they weren't concerned and I would just go on my way and hear the heartbeat next month.  That was NOT going to work for me!  I told her the fertility issues that we have had and that hearing or seeing the heartbeat is a HUGE relief for me. 
Soooo.....she decided to spare me the anxiety of trying to find it on the doppler and just give me an ultrasound.  It was the coolest thing.  In exactly 4 weeks....our baby has went from a lima bean to a baby!  It is the size of a lime but it is a baby....with hands and legs and feet, rubbing its eyes and kicking like crazy!!  It is the best feeling ever to know that there is a baby growing inside of me.
So....without further adeiu.....I introduce you to baby Gifford #3!

We could definitely see a little Nolen in this baby's profile!  We will find out towards the end of May or early June what we are having...then the fun begins!  Shopping!

According to TheBump this is what is going on with baby's development right now.

Baby's now the size of a lime!
Your fetus currently enjoys a 1:1 ratio between body and head, and has skin so transparent that blood vessels show right through it. But fingers and toes are no longer webbed, and hair follicles, tooth buds, and nail beds are forming -- setting up a significantly more attractive future.

Easter!

We had a great Easter!  We were all completely exhausted last night but it was a great weekend.  Our boys looked absolutely adorable and Gavin did not complain once about wearing a collar!

I hope you had a wonderful Easter as well and in the midst of all the chocolate and easter egg hunts celebrated the REAL reason for Easter.  As Nolen says, "Easter is weely (really) all about Jesus.  He died on da cross and then came awive (alive) again and went up to Heaven."

The boys Easter Baskets.  We took them to see "How To Train Your Dragon" last week and they LOVED it!  Hence the giant stuffed dragons!

Our Family!

Daddy and his boys

Mommy with her boys

Daddy and Gavin

Mommy and Nolie Polie

Brothers--how cute are they?

Nolen

Gavin

Even if he is all dressed up--he still has HUGE muscles!

Nolen hunting Easter eggs

Gavin

Nolen found himself some eggs and then he said "I'm done looking for eggs"!  He was over it.

Gavin showing off the eggs he found so far!

Had to throw this one in.....aren't they a cute couple???? (Eric and his brother)

WARNING....I am about to seriously brag on my husband!  Eric did a monologue at Church yesterday.  WOW....he did amazing.  First of all, the fact that he can memorize 3 pages of lines blows my mind.  He was so the "character that I honestly forgot that it was my husband up there.  We have had so many people call and say what a great job he did.  I am just sooooo proud of him.  I should have recorded it so I could put it on here for everyone to see. 

Ok..thats all for now.  Tomorrow I have a Doctors appointment and I will update then!  Yay....almost 12 weeks!