Donut Date #1!!

I label this "Donut Date #1" b/c I hope to have many more....and particularly during this pregnancy! (And, while breastfeeding when I burn 800 cals a day feeding). As most of you know, the temperatures in SA are still in the 100s. The pools are even starting to get warm. YUCK. So, genius me came up with the idea to have a donut date with the kiddos. I had Friday off of work for the holidays, so I fully intended (and, did enjoy) a day in the life of a stay-at-home mom!

We had a FUN time! I don't know if the kids had more fun than the adults. We couldn't stop watching them run around the donut shop like CRAZY kids. Luckly, no one seemed to mind. I sure didn't. I was most amazed at the SUDDEN sugar rush, and then a total low at the end. I think I was right with the kids on the rush, and the low.

This is Ryan's first Krispie Kreme! Hot off the belt...he loved every minute of it. (Agian, working on his "cheese" face).

The only one missing in the pic above is Abby. She decided to sleep in this morning. Her sugar rush came a bit later, while the others were slowly crashing.

The above pic is our hefty attempts at getting the boys lined up in a row for the picture I'd been waiting to snap! This is the moment I wanted captured!

We're almost there.

Yes! We did it! (only bad thing is sweet Abby is missing)

He LOVED the donuts!!! Love this pic of Jack Walker!

MY most favorite moment of the donut date was the surprise arrival of Kim and Scott!!! I cannot tell you how happy this made me. For those of you that don't know, Kim and I have grown up together since we were two or three. She's my fav! While I'd like to think they were at KK to surprise me, they came to see Abby and Sharla. They flew in from Seattle the night before, and didn't get it until midnight. Thanks for waking up on Texas time.

Here's the adorable Abby and Ryan!!! Destiny.

Abby, I can't wait to meet your baby sister!!! Welcome to the world Katie!

Brothers!

I couldn't be happier for Ryan. He's going to have a little brother!!! One of my friends mentioned that they'll be "brothers", and that just melted my heart! I LOVE the idea of Ryan having a brother, being a brother, and playing with his brother!

I guess I'm fascinated with that word, because the use of the word was never needed in my household. It was always, and still is "SISTERS".

As most of you know, I change my mind often...as I did with Ryan's name. If you'll remember back, we were set on Gavin....which Ryan is so not a Gavin to me. Well, we're loving the name:

Parker Stewart

Yes, I can see this changing. We're 100% set on Stewart as the middle name. That is my dad's name. Parker, we love but that could possibly change.

And, yes we ALREADY have a name. When you have to conquer the last name "Tootle", you start planning ahead to win the battle.

If You Don't Want to Melt, We Try the Following

You have to get creative with temps being in the 100s. Today, my car read 109 degrees. So, the Tootles choose their options carefully. EVERYTHING outside is HOT, HOT, HOT. I seriously think this is the HOTTEST summer I've ever experienced.

Here are a few of cooling activities. Try them:


1. We try different ways of eating popcorn.

We'll try anything to beat the heat.

2. Work on our "cheese" faces for the camera.

3. Eat popcorn as fast as we can, before the pregnant momma eats it all.

3. Play-doh time!!! But, first we go through each tool, and be sure that momma can see it. Hold it way out there.

Way out there.

4. Try playing with play-doh without mushing it up, or getting your hands dirty. Make momma mush it up, and roll it out for you.

5. Play-doh is a serious sport. So, we use total concentration.

6. Again, trying to keep our hands clean.

7. Swimming with Nama!!! (aka. Nema now that we're big Nemo fans). We love swimming with Mimi too, but unfortunately momma forgets to pull out the camera there. I guess its the total relaxation feel from the amazing pool/backyard.

8. We CHILL. And, work on our "Big Kahuna" personalities.

Ryan, that's a good "Big Kahuna". Doing the Chesley-chuckle with it! Nice!

9. When chilling out, you can stop working on your bubbles. No, Ryan. Seriously. You can stop now.

10. We work on getting sores on our knees, and toes as we (Ryan) get in and out of the pool 500 billion times. Note Ryan's new pals...Dora and Boots. Here's where I need you to keep a secret....we lost Turner and Felipe at a restaurant last week. Shhhh. Please don't tell Ryan. He hasn't figured it out yet.

11. We give the paps the "hand". Talk to it!

12. We hog all our snacks from the other kids in the baby pool. Don't share. It's too hot. ;)

Our Little Swimmer

Tuesday night, the Tootles headed to Sonterra. Rod hit a few golf balls at the range, and Ryan and I went to the pool. I plopped myself down on a chair, and Ryan assumed the position. Arms out, floaties on....laters Mom. When Rod got to the pool we had dinner and just enjoyed the three of us. Nice evening...one of my favs. Love my sweet family.

Ryan invited Felipe, aka "Eppe" and Turner "Churner" to join him at the pool. (Handy Manny tools...Ryan's favorite from the box aka "ox")

Turner held his breath the longest. He wins.

Full of joy....just don't take the tools out of his hands please.

Role playing..."Turner, on three we're going under water. Don't laugh Felipe, you're next."

Ryan's doing great in the water. We started swim lessons the beginning of June. He's great a blowing bubbles, and jumping in the water. He's not a huge fan of the slide. He goes down it with the most terrified face. Reminds me of the Santa slide on A Christmas Story.

We're Going Green!

We got grass!!!! The HOA was probably just about to knock on our door. Here are two before shots. Drab, sad and dry. This grass' love-tank was apparently empty. We weren't feeding it the love it needed. It was less than stellar to begin with.

The "drab and sad" took away from Rod's amazing rock wall. Ryan, what color is the dirt? That's right. It's BROWN.

So, instead of filling the love tank, we decided to get a whole new tank! We got all new grass!!!!

While I watered, Ryan practiced his swing!

Ryan, this is called GRASS. What color is the grass? That's right, it's GREEN!!!!
For those of you from San Antonio, you're probably thinking, "this is the worst time to plant grass." For those of you who aren't in SAn Antonio, the city is currently in Stage 2 water restriction. This means we can only water our grass once a day between 3am - 8am and/or from 8pm to 10pm . Our day is Thursday b/c the last digit in our address is a "7". But, we can hand water the grass everyday, any time of day. So, we've been hand watering twice a day, every day since we went green!

Excuse the camera-phone quality. These were just too funny not to post. I can't describe how funny this moment was for Melanie and I. I had tears in my eyes. After putting them on, he remained so focused on his bubbles, and then decided to whirl around the baby pool in hopes all would see his new shades. We see them....loud and clear.

Yep, still lookin' good. I promise.

Lovin' My Baby Boy!

Just missing my boy today!

We Gotta Mover and a Shaker!

While I'm only 15 weeks, I've already felt the baby move. And, these aren't just little flutters, I can tell Toot #2 is making a MOVE! I've sort of been second guessing what I've been feeling because I'm so early. Until today!!

I had my standard four week appt (the ones where you're in and out in less than five minutes). She had the hardest time getting the heartbeat by doppler b/c the the little one just wouldn't stay still. You could hear it moving around in womb, but that wasn't what we wanted to hear. I WANTED A HEARTBEAT.

Once she targeted its heartbeat, she targeted mine in the same spot. I LOVED it. I told some of my family members that it was like "mama bear's heartbeat" with "baby bear's heartbeat" going at the same time. It was really cool! My "connection with child" got a little deeper after that.

So far so good with this pregnancy!!! If one didn't know this was my second baby, they'd think I was six months along. I'm already POOCHED out! I'm high, and pointy. I THINK I was this way with Ryan. I also think I'll have another torpedo for a belly.

FLOATIES!!!!

Check who sports the floaties...and, sports them well!