It's a.....

Healthy baby BOY!!

We are all so so excited! He looks perfect and is weighing in at 13oz which is actually 2 oz bigger than 'average' I know at this point all is a prediction but it's fun to think he is a strong big baby :)

He doesn't have a name yet but we are working on it. I want something cute, simple, can grow with him and it would be a bonus if it started with a 'L'.

I am so in love! I woke up this morning and couldn't believe I really am having another baby boy! I feel so so blessed and so undeserving. I can't wait to see him and Lucas blossom into best friends. I am so excited about the thought of bunk beds, shared toys, games and movies and daddies own little racing team! It is just going to be the best!

But first I am looking forward to baby boy clothes! I am in my element when I am on the boy 'side' of Carters. I went there right after I left the doctors office while the boys went to the sporting goods store :)

I found him a few cute things, he definitely won't need much I kept almost all of Luke's clothes but it's still fun to buy him a few things and I know this won't be the last :)  

Last night we went to eat and celebrate with family. It was a fun time to talk about this little one that will be joining our family in a few short months! We are so ready and so happy! He is coming into a family full of love for him and a big brother that can't wait to see him and teach him so many things!

So yep if I wasn't already I am most for sure now a 'boy mom' and I could not be happier to be joining that club!

 Thank you again for all that have prayed for us on this journey. It means more than you know.

Legacy....

I went to a funeral this morning to say goodbye to a very sweet lady. I hadn't seen her in what seems like a lifetime but once there and as the slide show played it was as if I was that little girl running down the way on early summer mornings to her house to play with her grand kids. 

 Robyn's, my childhood best friend, grandmother passed away this week.

I have had a lot of death come my way in the past few years. As sad as it is it's almost 'normal' to go to a funeral every 6 months or so. But this one really struck me. Maybe it's hormones or maybe I am finally feeling some sort of need to morn my own grandmother and mother in law, I'm not real sure. 

As I sat and listened to words spoke about Mary Francis I couldn't help but let big hot tears roll down my cheeks.

She lived for her family. That was it. Nothing more and nothing less. She loved her grand kids and took care of them. As did my own grandmother, my Mema S. They were both simple women. They didn't have any sort of 'higher' education. They worked hard to keep their homes nice and pretty. They were proud of what they had. All they needed in life to keep them happy was to see their family happy. Never speaking idle words of others and just not letting the small stuff get to them.

God always seems to know exactly what to put in my life at the right time. Yesterday I was struggling with fake persona's that people often put on. I was just at the point where I am/was tired of it. It's exhausting to listen too I can't even imagine how people live that way. But today I received a huge message to let it go.

Just let it go.

It isn't important.

I am not here to worry and wonder if someone is being truthful to me or not.

My husband and my child(ren) need me to be strong and happy. They come before all others. I support them in everything they do. I may not like to do everything they want to do (racing lol) but I am 100% supportive of  Brent and Lucas. 

I always want Lucas to see me being nice and kind to others. 

I want others to see Jesus through me and my family instead of having to 'preach' to them. I don't want to push and I don't want anyone walking away from a conversation with me feeling like less. 

That hurts me.

As I sat in that funeral home, that is across the street from my moms house thus meaning down the road from where Mary Francis lived many years, listening to her legacy I couldn't help but hope that when I am gone some of the same words will be spoke about me.

I hope my kids say she was our biggest fan.

I hope they say she enjoyed life even in the midst of hard times.

I hope my husband says she served me well.

I hope others say she was always kind to us.

I hope someone says I knew Jesus was real because she was in my life.

Those are big, huge sentences to me. They mean more to me than all the money in the world, than any career I could ever obtain, or than any social status I may think I need. 

I am not sure where exactly  I am going with all this. It just seems the older I get the more I truly understand what is important and what isn't. 

Life gets harder, more complicated, more frustrating but at the end of the day who do I want to be. Someone who relishes in that or someone who rises above it. 

Big News!

I have some big news I have been DYING to share on here!

 

We will be welcoming another little Roper into the family at the beginning of April!!

I am thrilled to get this chance again and so far everything seems to be going well. I want to do another post of the pregnancy details so far but for now enjoy all the fun pictures!

 

We told Lucas the Tuesday night before we left on our Florida trip! I was a little over 13 weeks and the doctor gave us the "I think we are out of the woods now" at our appointment that day.  I made him up a box of goodies that included a few baby things, big brother book and shirt, and a camera to take pictures of the baby. He was very very excited!

He wore his shirt for 2 days and told everyone at school his big news!

I have been loving on this baby bump but as I sit here and type this it still does not seem real! I have no idea when it will sink in.

 

14 week bump on Friday! We announced to all our family and friends on Saturday! I am overwhelmed with all the sweet words and prayers for our growing family. We are feeling very blessed.

Birthday Weekend!

I had such a great birthday this year! I am so blessed to be surrounded by such thoughtful people. My heart is full!

My fun weekend started Thursday at work. I came into find these sweet daises and lots of yummy goodies to celebrate with!

For lunch one of my favorite work girls took me to lunch at Bravo it was so good! We ate out on the patio and it was great!

My work girls always spoil me well :)

Friday I took off work for a trip to the water park in Alma! Ashley and Ethan went with us and we had a blast!

Lucas loves water, such a blessing! We will be in many pools this summer!

Sweet boy eating a quick snack

He LOVED going down the slide. After a few times of going with him I thought I'd see if he would go up the stairs and go down without me and he did it! I was so shocked and so proud! He probably went down that slide 10 times! He was SO fun!

My favorite was the kiddy pool, he could play and I could tan, it doesn't get much better than that!

Such a fun great birthday time with Lucas!

That evening my my side of the family took Luke and I out for Mexican! My favorite!  Brent was racing so he couldn't go.

Saturday (my actual birthday) Brent and I went to Altus/Ozark area to two of the wineries we have close by! It was such a neat experience I can't believe neither of us had ever been before!

 We ate lunch at the restaurant Wederkehr has and the food was out of this world amazing! I had the Quiche and it was so yummy! I seriously want to go back right now just to eat. SO so good!

                 Quick picture the waitress snapped, not the best but it's all we got! ha!

After lunch we went to the Post winery and tried a few wines then went on a tour. The wine and juice was so good! We left with a few bottles of each and I got this funny sign :)

I loved getting to spend the afternoon with Brent and do something neither of us had ever done! So fun! And Brent gave me the best gift EVER the go ahead to start planning a trip to DISNEY WORLD! I am so excited I can hardly contain myself!

When we got back Brent and Lucas put on a little birthday party for me, Lucas was worried I didn't get a 'party' I guess so him and daddy went to the store and he picked out everything I would need for a good time SpongeBob hats, a balloon, cupcakes and candles to blow out. It was precious and he was so proud of himself.

 After my SpongeBob party mom went home and the boys took me out for the evening. We went to dinner at Mcalister's and then to see Epic at 'the big movie'! Such a great time! I am so blessed to have Brent and Lucas they take such good care of me!

Yesterday we went to a birthday party for Lance, one of Luke's little friends. I didn't take one single picture but it was a fun time!

Then for dinner we went to my sis in laws house, we ate a yummy dinner and played with the kids! The best way to end my weekend!

I am so grateful for Brent making my day so great and spoiling me year around and such amazing family and friends. Thank you for all the birthday wishes they truly made my day!

This 26 thing doesn't seem so bad after all! ha!



What's Goin on Round Here!

I didn't do a weekend post yesterday because I didn't feel like it was a good one but now looking at pictures from the weekend I feel I need to post them.

This is a hard time for our family. My mother in law isn't doing to well and we are really starting to see a decline in her health. I try very hard to keep this blog a positive place but sometimes life happens and it's not always positive.

Sandra went into the hospital Friday night and is now in respite/hospice care until my father in law can decide what is best for her now. He has taken care of her though her Alzheimer's but now her mobility has changed and it's worrisome for her to be at home.

We are all having a hard time with this, we knew this day would come but it doesn't make it any easier.

Lucas and Nana a little less than 4 years ago.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Friday night I conned Brent into eating mexican even though he is supposed to be on a diet. I am a fabulous diet partner! ha!

We did some shopping at the mall and went to Toys R Us. It was a fun night with my boys :)

We got home way before the storm hit and I was up a long time watching the weather while Brent was at his parents house.

 We made it though again with no damage and I am so grateful! We didn't even have to take cover this time and Luke slept right though it.

Saturday we went to eat lunch and then went rug shopping. I have tried and tried to find a rug for our living room for what seems like forever with no luck! We have brought home and returned two rugs that didn't work so I was quite discouraged to say the least but Saturday we found one! We are so happy with it! My living room feels complete and is so much softer! I am in love! I'm waiting on a sunny day to take some pictures of my living room to show off the whole thing :)

After that we headed up to the hospital for the rest of the day.

Sandra was in good spirits and enjoyed all her visitors :)

Saturday night we stayed home and the boys watched Star Wars. Lucas loves this stuff. It's so funny! He loves all the characters and the battle scenes and of course loves that the main character has the same name as him. I really can't get into Star Wars type movies but I love that he loves it so much. Hearing him talk about it is so cute!

Just washed and dryed bed means time to roll around in the hot sheets!

 Sunday we got up early and did lots and lots of yard work! Well mainly just flower bed work. We weeded the flower bed and cleaned out all the old much and replaced it with new. We also added a small flower bed to the other side of the drive way and Brent built a little rock runoff from the drain spout.

Lucas loved helping us move mulch and rocks around with his gator.

And wearing my gloves and finding as many bugs as he could, he had so much fun :)

                         Flower bed is done for the season! Praise the Lord!

We have so much going on this week! 4 tball games, first tumbling class tonight, school meeting tomorrow night for me, going to the water park on Friday with friends and Brent is going racing on Friday, Saturday we are headed out of town to go on a wine tour, and Sunday we have a birthday party to go to for some friends. This season is SO busy but it's all so FUN! I wouldn't change any of it!   



Thursday Tidbits!

• It has been a busy week! With Emmy's birthday, tball, dinner with friends and a play date we have been going every night! And it won't stop for the weekend either! But it's a good kind of busy, seeing people we love :)

•  Yesterday Emmy and momma got to go home! We are so thankful that Emmy is doing so well and eating great! What an answered prayer! I got to help pack her up to head home and that was so special for me. I am just so smitten with her.

• And more Emmy pictures because my phone is FULL of them! ha!

•  We had a tball game Tuesday night and in the middle of the game Lucas came over and asked if we could go to the pizza place afterward. How do you say no to that?! Brent helped coach 2nd base this week and then stayed on the field when the other team bat as well to help out and Lucas really loved that! He is a big momma's boy but when it comes to play time he is all daddy's!
•  
• We had such a fun dinner with some friends last night, I am SO sad I didn't remember to get a picture! Hate when that happens!

• Hope you all have a great weekend! Ours will consist of a carnival, a BBQ, lots of baby snuggles, and some rest :)

Emmalyn Kay!

Yesterday we welcomed a sweet new baby girl into the family.

Lucas' new cousin Emmy! She weighs 8 pounds 2 ounces and is 19 inches long.

She was a big baby for being born 2 weeks early! She is so pretty and such a good baby :)

I am in auntie heaven! We are in love already!