Getting Behind AGAIN....

I'm getting behind again in our posting, so here's a quick run-down of the last month:

We started off the beginning of June coming back from a great trip to Gulf Shores, AL with my Dad's family. We missed Uncle Ryan and Wiley, but it was so fun getting to watch Kate and Graham play with their cousin Miller! Kate and Graham LOVED playing in the sand during the day and in the surf in the evenings. We were so thankful to be there before the oil came in a ruined such beautiful beaches! Thanks again Caseys for a wonderful trip!

Exactly a week later, Kevin headed off for his first youth trip of the summer and the children and I packed up and headed up to Raleigh. Kevin and the youth kids had a great, but exhausting, time at World Changers: Nashville and we had a blast catching up with friends from Wake Forest. We were able to spend a whole week with the Varners and it was so fun seeing Kate and Savannah get to play together again! They even had their first slumber party - we let them sleep together in Savi's room, and for the most part they did pretty well! We definitely missed a couple naptimes, but it was worth it to see them have fun together! One of the highlights of the trip was having a playdate at Rolesville Park! It was especially fun to see Stephanie and Eden after a whole year! It's hard to believe how much children grow and change and it just makes me miss everyone all the more! To top it all off, these sweet friends decided to turn the playdate into a surprise baby shower for us! We had cupcakes (which Graham REALLY enjoyed) and they gave me a Moby wrap! Thanks again, girls! It's hard to believe next time we travel up to Wake Forest we'll have THREE children! Wow. 

After that trip, we spent a week at home and decided to join the community pool here in Camden.  The children and I made a trip to the pool four days that week. They have a great kiddie pool area that's about 1 1/2 feet deep and fenced off by itself. It was amazing how they were a little unsure of themselves the first day, but by the end of an hour they were splashing around, floating on their tummies, kicking their feet, belly flopping the water....it's so much fun to see them learn to enjoy something new! 

Friday we got everything ready to head down to Edisto Beach for Kevin's family vacation. Just as I was loading the car up about an hour before we needed to leave, I thought it would be a good idea to miss the step and fall down three steps to land flat on my side in the garage. It definitely hurt, but mostly I was worried about the baby. Thankfully after a little reading and feeling the baby move around a good bit, Kevin and I were convinced that the baby was OK and we got on the road. So other than a couple days of being sore and keeping track of the baby's movement, everything was OK! When we got to the beach we were SO excited to get to see Dustin propose to his girlfriend, Gracie on the beach right in front of the beach house! They've set their wedding date for December 4 and we couldn't be more thrilled for Gracie to officially become "Aunt Gracie!" We truly had such a great time at the beach with all of Kevin's family PLUS some great extended family! Kate and Graham got to play with Paxton and Reece and we just loved watching them enjoy the sand and the waves. Kate and Graham were both so much more relaxed in the water than before and even took a couple trips out on Philip's kayak! We saw dolphins and baby sharks, too! I think the highlight, especially for Kate, was getting pulled down the beach in Paxton's wagon - thanks again, Uncle Pace! It was such a fun week that, of course, went by way too fast!

This time we only got to be home for a weekend before Kevin headed off on youth trip #2: Crossroads Camp. He left Monday morning and my parents came to stay with us here in Camden. Monday we were so blessed to get to meet up with the Hoffmans, a dear family from my church growing up! We met them and the Keesey/Headley clan at the park and played for a little while - it was so great to catch up! We spent the rest of the week tackling painting and cleaning projects here at the house. On Wednesday Aunt Chelle came to pick up Kate and Graham so they could spend a few days in St. George while we worked. We were able to get most of 2 of our big projects done, get the whole house clean, get all the baby stuff clean and in place, do lots of shopping for the baby, AND squeeze in a trip to Mema's for dinner - and boy are we exhausted now! Thanks again, Mom and Dad AND the Lotts for all your help! Now we just need a baby! :) 

At my doctor's appointment on Tuesday, I was dilated 2 centimeters and 25% effaced. I've been having several Braxton Hicks contractions every day, so hopefully this baby will come sooner rather than later. The doctor told me that if I make it to my appointment next Tuesday, I could choose to pick a day to be induced. Since my due date isn't until the 16th, I doubt I would schedule an induction before then because I'd really like to experience going into labor on my own. We'll see - so far this is more progress than I've made at this point in either of my other 2 pregnancies - so maybe!!! :) 

OK...So now Kevin is home from camp, Kate and Graham are home from St. George and we are just waiting for our precious little one to arrive! Will update again soon!