2.5 weeks...and counting!

We're expecting baby sister in just over two weeks. Her name will be Cecilia Frances Perry. She will be named after my mother (Cecile), my favorite uncle (Cecil), two great grand fathers (Cecil), and Brad's great grandfather (Cecil). Frances is taken from Brads Grandmother. The kids are getting even more excited to welcome their baby sister into the world. Anna Kate calls her baby Bacillia and has named all her babies Bacillia. She loves to change them and burp them and feed them. She will be a great big sister. Barnes has already shown us the gift of unconditional love he has for Anna Kate. I know he will love baby Celia just as much.

I've been getting AK's big girl room ready and decided to redo the playroom too. I know Hub is over all my weekend projects. Almost there!!! Just need a few finishing touches and were ready!
I went to the doctor yesterday and baby is doing well. Heartbeat was perfect and they did an ultrasound to see how big she is. Well, she's a Perry baby, so they only come in one version. *BIG* They said right now at 36 weeks she's projected to weigh 7.9lbs. To give some perspective, my friend had a baby today at 40 weeks and 1 day. Her baby weighed 7lbs 13oz.
The projected weight of baby Celia on Aug 5, is 9+lbs at this point based on what she has left to grow. But I wouldn't have it any other way. Oh, her birthdate will be Aug 5! It's already scheduled. I will be excited to share my birthday month with her.

I hope she looks just like Anna Kate with curly dark hair. I hope she is healthy and smart and has a sweet spirit about her. I REALLY HOPE she's a good sleeper and doesn't have the tummy troubles that the other Perry children have been plagued with. Most of all, I'm thankful The Lord has blessed us with another miracle and opportunity to see the closest thing to Heaven. The sweet face of a newborn baby.

Counting down to Celia! 19 days!!!

Mother's Day blessings

Brad and I were in Dallas on Mother's Day and I didn't get to see my sweet little people. I missed them so much and kept wishing I had them there to hug and cuddle.

Things I love about my two babes:
1. They greet me like I've been gone for days even when I've just run to the store for an hour. They sing songs and dance and hop when I'm home. What a glorious reception each time I walk thru the door.
2. They need me. I mean really really need me. Not just to clean up messes or get things they can't reach, they need me in a way you only need your mommy. Boo boos can't be healed until I proclaim it better with a kiss! Celebrations can't be complete without a jumping up and down followed by a big hug and an, "I'm so proud of you!!" Cereals made better by the perfect spoon. Errands are made more fun by less than necessary trips to the car wash to see the colorful foam. And movie night is made special by popcorn and snuggling on the couch. These little people need me to help them find their way in this life but also to try and make it a special little life for them as well. We really have a blessed life and these two great blessings make me a better person than I thought I could ever be. I can't wait to meet perry baby #3 and add her into our lives. The kids are so excited about her joining the family. :)

2013 Tee Ball- team RJ Young

This was Barnes' second year to play tee ball. Our team members from last year were all kids that were older than bbp so they moved up to coach pitch and we stayed in tee ball. It was at first a hard transition for Barnes because he wasn't going to know anyone and begged to play with his old team.

But in true Barnes Perry style by the time the first half of practice was over he knew everyone and was giving high fives telling people great job! He is such a social child, it is probably his greatest gift. That he never meets a stranger and genuinely want to know about other people.
We enjoyed our season with RJYoung and learned a lot. Like how to slide(into every base) how to hit the ball straight and far, how to anticipate the ball coming to you and how to not run and tackle the ball and the player who's also going after the same ball. He was given the Game Ball on 5/13 for always hustling and running when on the field. Coach Luke says we have a future ball player on our hands. Whether he ever plays much past childhood or not, I have to say, I've just been impressed with his enthusiasm. He really does everything 110% whether its sports, loving his baby sister, caring for his mommy or watching every move his daddy makes trying to replicate it. He's got heart and zest for life and I hope it continues all the days of his life. Half of success is the desire to succeed and do a good job and I have no doubt he has this trait in spades.

Day 3 animal kingdom

Animal Kingdom was lots of fun! Just like being on safari. We ate lunch with Minnie, Mickey and the gang. The kids had a blast!!

Disney day 2! Magic Kingdom

The first full day we went to Magic Kimgdom. The first ride they did was the teacups. Since Mommy gets sick on most spinny rides so I opted out of the tea cups. We got to meet Alice and the White Rabbit when we were leaving. Anna Kate was terrified of the rabbit but did talk to Alice. We then headed to lunch at crystal palace. As you can see from the pics, Anna Kate was having NO part of any of the characters and was screaming and scrambling to get away from them!! By the time we made it through the character rotation once, she had warmed up to them and was fine the rest of the trip. So glad for that! I was concerned she was going to be scared the whole time we were there. Thankfully that wasn't the case. Barnes had so much fun and just loved seeing all the characters. I love this age, he just believes absolutely every magical thing that this wonderful world has to offer. To him, meeting the characters was as real as anything could possibly be. That's why I am so thankful we took them now. Another 3 years and he would be too old for the magic of the characters and would just think it was people dressed up. :)

My favorite memory about this day is during the fireworks show, they have a narration by Jiminey Cricket that talks about dreams and wishes coming true. Barnes leaned over to me and said, "mommy, will all my dreams really come true?!" Oh, how sweet and precious his little spirit and soul is!!! I am so blessed that God gave him to me. I cried the rest of the show. That one moment made the trip more magical and wonderful than I can ever describe. Children are life's great, great gift!

The surprise (err, I mean worst surprise) of a lifetime!!

Brad and I were fortunate to take the kids on a 10 day trip to Disney earlier this month. We surprised them early one morning by pulling them out of bed and telling them they were going to DISNEY WORLD. I've seen YouTube videos of kids being surprised and I expected our reveal to be quite similar.

1. Lots of screaming!!!!!
2. Jumping up and down!!!!!!
3. Pure elation!!!!

Well let me say, that Brad and I were so thrilled at the idea of taking them. We would lay in bed at night for several hours planning our character meals and talking about how we might surprise them or what we should do while we were there. It was fun to dream and look forward to going!! Even for two thirty-something parents.

So fast forward to the morning of the trip. We wake the kids at 5:15am. I have their Disney shirts laid out in the bed downstairs with cute little personalized bags the travel agent had made for them. We bring them both downstairs. And I ask, "Barnes, look at that shirt over there, where would you wear it? (It's a Mickey ears t-shirt and a pair of jeans). He says, "church." I say, "you don't wear jeans and t-shirt to church. Where would you wear that Mickey shirt??" He says, "church." Hmmmm, this is not quite going how I thought it would. But it's WAY early and the kids are WAY foggy and not thinking clearly.

BBP asks, "do I have my t-ball practice this morning??" I say, "well, mommy and daddy have a big surprise for y'all!!! How would you like to go to Disney World instead of Tball practice???!!!!" This is the response:

1. Lots of crying
2. More crying
3. Anna Kate crying
4. BBP saying, I just wanna go back to bed!!!
5. I can't miss t-ball practice!!
6. More crying!!!!

Welp, definitely NOT the response we had planned on. My words of advice for surprising your kids about Disney world or anything else for that matter....

1. Don't do it at 5:30 am when it's dark out and they didn't get enough sleep. They're confused and foggy and even mad for waking them up so early. Just do it at a normal time when they're thinking clearly and can appreciate the $5k+ surprise you just dropped in their lap!!!

I will be telling the story of how my two monkeys cried and screamed bloody murder that they didn't want to go to Disney, for the next 4 decades!!! So funny!! Wish I could upload the video! It's priceless.

Here are pics.

We have a surprise....

Brad came to me a few weeks ago and asked if I wanted to go on vacation in April for a week. Of course, I said, sure! Where?

Fast forward to this past week and we were discussing where to go. I had mentioned some time ago that is love to take the kids to Disney before the new baby gets here in August. That turned into a phone call with a Disney travel agent and the trip was booked the following day! It all happened that fast!!

The kids don't know and they are going to be soooooo thrilled when we tell them! 10 days at Disney... They will be absolutely over the top with excitement!

Can't wait to make memories that will last forever and see the magic on their little, precious faces!!

AK will be a good big sister!!

Today we stuffed Easter treat bags for the boys at Youth Town. It's a project that service league does each year. I let the kids decorate the bags and help fill them with candy. We had a couple other girls and their kids helping. Whitney had her sweet little 6 month old son, Pierce, with her. Anna Kate loved Pierce and took it upon herself to read a book to him. She would read the page and then show him the pictures, just like mommy and daddy do when we read to her. I know she is going to be a wonderful big sister in August!!

And I'm glad the kids got to help provide something special for those less fortunate than us. It's laying a foundation of life long giving and service I want them to understand and embody. Thankful for my precious children and all the blessings The Lord has bestowed on our family.