Fun Times!

We are having such a good summer in Alabama. In the past couple of weeks, we have gone to the condo in Panama City Beach with my sweet friend, Amy and her babies and had a BLAST! The kids are all the same age and it was a truly memorable time.

Kelly's fiance Adam came to see us for a couple of days and they got a lot of wedding planning business taken care of - including their engagement portraits. They are so perfect for one another and we can't wait for them to be united in marriage in 2 months. (www.kellyandadamwedding.com)

I am steadily getting more and more fit each day by working my tail off at CrossFit. I LOVE it but HATE it all at the same time. It is intense but effective. Love waking up and starting my day with that workout downtown Montgomery.

We have spent a ton of time at the pool here at the Waters. Noah and Ellyotte have become such swimmers and little fish. It is so fun to watch them swim together.

Ellyotte turned TWO on 21 July! I have a blog entry about this past year with her that I will do at some point this weekend.

And Noah... Noah asked Jesus into his heart to live forever the other night before bedtime. I am such a proud mama. The only thing missing is Danny -  we miss him while he's in Japan so very much. But, he'll be back for the wedding in 2 months and we can't wait to see him and start our new life in Asia!

I am teaching still - next term is in about a week. And this next weekend, let the bachelorette festivities begin! Kelly and I are taking 10 of our best girlfriends/bridesmaids to NEW ORLEANS! We are staying in a fabulous hotel on Canal Street and will be there Thursday - Sunday. Red Dress Run is Saturday - we have our COSTUMES READY!!!!! Whooo hooo!

Let Fall Begin!

We had a wonderful time in Alabama these last two and a half weeks. Dan had to go TDY to D.C. and to Nebraska so he drove us home to Bama over the Labor Day weekend then travelled from there while we visited my family and many, many friends.

We went to TROY football games, visited friends, had playdates, rode the golf cart, went out to eat, and overall just had a joyous time. I needed the help with the kiddos as I continue to heal from the clot.

My girl friend, Amy Hall, and her kids, Ava and Cy, came down to see us from Nashville. We had SO much fun! Amy is a talented photographer (Grace Images) and she took Ellyotte's newborn portraits while we were at my parent's house. I am very proud of those pics - see post below for a few of the best ones.

Ellyotte is growing so fast. And is a delight - just pure joy. She eats 3-4 ounces every 3 hours and is a long string bean with the longest toes and fingers we have ever seen! She's very predictable - the only time she cries is when she's hungry, her pacifier falls out or when she's ready for bed.

She goes to bed each night at 6:30-7:00 and sleeps for about 7-8 hours before waking for a feeding. Then she goes back to sleep for 3-4 hours then wakes for a little bit if it is morning. And if not, she goes right back to bed. Her nap schedule isn't so much a schedule... she still sleeps soooo much. Literally, she naps for the majority of the day. Whoo hoo!

We are back home and slowly getting back into the swing of things. It is nice to be back in our own home and have our animals back from the boarder where they stayed for 2.5 weeks. It is still hot here in the Bayou and we are ready for FALL weather!

Enjoy the pictures. More to come.

Santa Claus is Comin' to Town!

We went back to Alabama this past weekend, except this time it was to celebrate Christmas a bit early with my family. And this time, Dan was able to come with us. It was still sobering to be back home when just a week earlier, Noah and I had to unexpectedly head home to say goodbye to Chris. But it was joyous, nonetheless.

We had a wonderful time with my family. We laughed, opened Noah's gifts, ate (well, everyone else did... I am struggling a bit with this baby!) and relaxed while the rain fell. On Saturday, my dad took me and Dan out to buy a new laptop which was my 30th birthday present from my folks. We met up with my mom and Noah at East Chase in Montgomery and Noah got to have his first visit with Santa!

Thankfully, there was no line whatsoever so we had the place to ourselves for a bit. I tried to sit Noah in Santa's lap and he wouldn't have it. So it took my parents, Dan, the photographer and the elves to get Noah to relax and actually smile! He waited till after about 12 shots were taken to smile.... but we finally got one with him smiling. I certainly didn't want to be in the photo but one of us had to while the other parent tried to get him to crack a smile for the shot. He was typical Noah: as soon as he got down from Santa's lap, he wanted back up and Santa was all he talked about for the rest of the day!

Dan and I finally had a date night... it seems like ages ago since we last went to the movies. But we went to see "The Blind Side" and loved. There is nothing as refreshing as seeing a movie that is uplifting and happy. We had a great time.

This weekend we have Dan's work Christmas party and it should be a lot of fun. Then a week from today, we have the rest of the Beall clan coming to Louisiana for Christmas! We are really looking forward to seeing them and being all together: Brad (Poppy), Carol (Grammy) and Uncle Todd and Aunt Annie will be with us for the week. We can't wait!

I am hanging in there with Baby Beall #2. It is hard to believe I am expecting.... again. But, we are rejoicing in each day of this pregnancy. I have an off-base OB that I will see in the next week or so and am looking forward to hearing the little guy's heartbeat and possibly having an ultrasound.

I felt absoutely fabulous till about a week ago. Then I got an upper respiratory infection that did me in and I am still recovering from that. Unfortunately, I think it has turned into a sinus infection that I hope clears up soon. Pregnancy wise, I am absolutely wiped out most days! I don't remember this exhaustion when I was carrying Noah.

And although I am not constantly nausceous, I do struggle with night time sickness. It hits me about 4 pm and if I don't stay diligent about eating frequently (which I don't want to do because my stomach hurts) then I lose control of the nausea and get pretty sick. So that is a cycle I am soon hoping will pass. I never got sick with Noah (until later in the pregnancy when indigestion became my enemy!) so this is a new thing.

The other thing that is much different about this pregnancy is that I am already starting to show! WOW, you really pop out earlier with Baby #2 than with Baby #1. I guess it is because your body already knows what to do?! It is wild to me. And I think it is another boy... I just KNEW Noah was going to be a boy; no doubt in my mind. That is how I am feeling about this one too. We shall see!