Visit with Santa

For the last few years, we've taken the kids to see Santa at the Bass Pro Shop for many reasons. 1) It's a free photo. 2) There's a ton of stuff to do with the kids there. 3) It's just a cool place to go. So, today was our day to go tell Santa our list of demands, I mean, wants, and get our picture taken.

We arrived a few minutes before Santa "opened" and the line wasn't too terrible. I just knew we would go through the line quickly and then be free to do the fun activities they have there at Christmas. Boy, was I wrong. Santa's computer was down so the camera and the ability to upload the pictures to the online program they use wasn't working. After 1/2 hour or so of waiting, they finally said that we could go sit on Santa's lap and tell him our list. Luckily, I brought my camera so I took my own picture. I was so surprised at how well Andrew did. He didn't fuss at all!

Halloween 2010

The kids had a great time trick or treating tonight! Austin was Shaggy (from Scooby Doo) and Andrew was a "construction site worker man." My favorite part was Andrew saying at every house "I want a lot of them" (referring to the candy). They were both troopers and walked and walked and walked. Andrew actually got more candy than Austin did!

IT'S A GIRL!

Our little surprise baby really is a surprise. It's a girl!

We've always had a girl's name picked out, ever since before we got pregnant with Austin. When we first told Austin, we asked him if he thought the baby was a boy or a girl. He said that he hoped it was a girl and that he wanted to name her Gracie. (Gracie is the name of his little girlfriend from kindergarten.) Luckily, our girl's name is Grace Anne. Austin was so excited when we told him that it was a girl!

I'm measuring right on schedule at 20 weeks and she weighed 12 ounces. Her heart rate was 147 beats per minute.

Now, it's time to change my shopping habits. Think pink instead of blue!

Andrew's Halloween Party

Andrew's class had a Halloween party and it was the best party that I've been to since we've been at Bright Horizons! They had a snow cone station, "go fishing," and face painting. And, of course, there were snacks!

Zoo Field Trip 2010

I took the day off to chaperone Austin's field trip. As usual with a bunch of 1st graders, it was like herding cats. But, I only had 2 boys, Austin and one other, so it was easier to manage. They sure are fast though! They didn't necessarily run, but they can walk a lot faster than I can even when I'm not pregnant. The kids had a good time and I think the parents did too. We will sleep well tonight for sure!

Tornado Intercept Vehicle

Yesterday, we found out that the Tornado Intercept Vehicle from the Storm Chasers series was going to be in town for 3 hours today. Three hours only. And in the middle of the day. After talking, Gene and I decided to check Austin out of school for a couple of hours to take him to see the thing.

We didn't tell him that we were going to check him out. We didn't want to get him distracted for the few hours that he'd be in school during the morning. I went to the school to check him out and he was completely surprised. And when I told him where we were going and what we were going to see he was even more thrilled! The guy in the picture is Sean Casey, the camera man who built the vehicle.

Summer pics

As the summer's winding down, here are some fun pictures from the summer. Austin learned how to swim for real this summer! He is completely thrilled. We signed him up for lessons at the YMCA before summer camp. Over the July 4th weekend, he just decided he was tired of floaties and started swimming on his own under the water! Andrew swam well too this summer with his swim belt. He'd let go of us and kick his feet under the water.

Fair 2010

We decided to take the kids to the fair this year. Neither had been yet and I have fond memories of riding rides, eating all the fair food, and just having fun as a kid. As children, we mostly went to the local carnival that was in Gulf Shores during the summer. It was such a treat every year.

We knew it would be expensive, but my goodness! Never the less, the kids had a great time and that's what's important. Austin loved riding the rides. His favorite was the caterpillar roller coaster. It made me so nervous for him to go on by himself. Andrew had a good time too riding the dune buggies and the merry go round.

1st grade to date

First grade is going so well compared to where we were this time last year. The teacher has only called once to talk about some things that have happened during the day. Other than that, no calls from the counselor, the principal, etc. It really is amazing the difference a year makes. Austin's not only grown physically but he's matured as well. We've noticed in the last few weeks and months that he's verbalizing his feelings more instead of impulsively hitting something or someone. This is much improved over last year.

We are so proud of Austin and how far he's come in a year's time!

There's a bird on your head!

Well, not really. This week, Austin's class was reading Don't Let the Pigeon Drive The Bus. Austin's always loved that book and thought it was just hilarious. His class did all sorts of things based on the book. One of which Austin saying that he said to not let his pigeon go on WipeOut. They colored a pigeon, made a "nest" and tied the whole thing to their heads.

Poop in the potty

Andrew pooped in the potty for the first time tonight! We've been working at home and at school on potty training and Andrew was so excited to get into pull-ups. Andrew is doing well with peeing on the potty but was having trouble with pooping. Tonight was the night! So sad that we get so excited about something so simple as going poop in the potty. It's a huge milestone!

1st day of first grade

Austin is officially a 1st grader! We met with Austin's teacher on Friday afternoon. Luckily, Gene, Austin, and I had already met her last fall when her husband took some family pictures of us. From then on, Austin would go by and visit her and give her hugs. We are so thankful that Austin was placed with a teacher he already knew!

On Thursday night, Austin asked me if his new class would go to the library or play outside. I told him that he could ask Mrs. Fehler on Friday. So, when we went to her classroom, he asked his questions, got the answers, and started looking around and playing with Legos and marbles. He did some assessments to see where he was and luckily he was right where he left off from the end of last year.

We went to the official meet the teacher on Monday afternoon. There weren't a ton of people there which was good. Austin played with Legos (again) with another little boy.

Today, Austin was so excited to go to school. He said his favorite part of the day was playing with Legos and his favorite part of after school was snack and lemonade. We read his 2 books and I signed his agenda saying that we read the books.

We have high hopes for this year! We're praying all goes well!

Surprise, surprise, surprise!

Well, the Fambrough family will be expanding by 1 in March 2011. Yes, we are expecting #3! We weren't planning on having another baby and it's thrown us for a loop. But we're adjusting to the thought of being a family of 5. We told Austin over the weekend and he's hoping for a girl probably because he thinks that a girl wouldn't play with his stuff like Andrew does.

So far, I'm feeling gross. There's no other way to put it. The first trimester has always been rough for me. I'm waiting on 12 weeks to be here and the sickness to be over!

Vacation 2010

Since the oil spill in the Gulf, we decided to try something different this year other than going to the beach. We took our trip late in the summer and we just weren't sure what state the beaches or the water would be in. We went to a nearby lake and rented a house. Overall, it was OK. It really was a nice place. But we took too long a trip there. It's more like a 3 day trip place.

On Sunday morning, we went to the lake and got on the paddle boats until the pool opened. We spent most of the day at the pool. On Monday, the kids didn't want to go to the pool in the morning so we went to the Gadsden Imagination Place. The kids had fun there and it killed some time inside since it was so hot outside. On Tuesday, we went to Noccallula Falls and played putt putt. Wednesday we hung around the pool and Thursday we went to Chick Fil A for lunch and to let the kids play inside. By Friday, we were done and ready to come home.

What about Baby Andrew?

It seems I've been posting a lot about Austin lately and not so much about Andrew. Austin's had a lot going on these days!

We ordered the headboard for Andrew's big boy bed yesterday. He's quickly outgrowing his crib. With the 5 stuffed animals, 2 blankets, one snuggly, and one pillow all in the crib plus Andrew, he doesn't have much room to move around. We're going to be making the transition to big boy bed, hopefully, in the next few days. Austin didn't have trouble moving from crib to big bed, but I have a feeling that Andrew will be different. He'll be the one that gets up and wanders around.

Other than that, not much to report on 'Drew Baby. He's saying all sorts of words and has started saying 4-5 word sentences. This morning I went to his room to get him up and he said "I calling for you Mommy." It's amazing how smart he is.

Who's going to be my Mommy when I grow up?

On the way to summer camp this morning, I had the most interesting and grown up conversation to date with Austin. He asked me "Who's going to be my Mommy when I grow up?" I told him that I would always be his Mommy no matter how big he gets. He said, "No. Who's going to be my Mommy when I grow up?" After a series of clarifying questions, I finally figured out that Austin was asking...who was going to be his wife when he grows up (and his "Mommy").

So, I tried to explain that before Mommy and Daddy got married Daddy was my boyfriend and Mommy was Daddy's girlfriend. Then, I said that after we got married I was Daddy's wife and Daddy was my husband. When you have a baby, you become a Mommy and a Daddy. Austin thought about it for a minute and said "So, I have to find her?" I told him yes, he would have to find her. But he had to find someone he liked a lot and loved a lot because he had to live with her for the rest of his life!

He has blonde skin like me

We've never had a conversation with Austin about why people look different from one another. It's never been something that has been brought up by us or by him. Austin is observant of someone being a boy or a girl or having brown or blonde hair. But not the color of their skin.

Austin had a rough week this week at summer camp. Until now, things have been good behavior wise. This week, Austin hit someone, with his hands and lunch box, and threw other camper's things. One day, Austin came home very upset saying that the counselor had called him a troublemaker. Of course, I was upset by this and called the director of the program.

I asked Austin what the counselor looked like. He said "He had blonde skin like me, was stretched out, and skinny." It was just so funny and so innocent how Austin described the counselor.

2 teeth in 3 days

Austin's had two loose teeth for a month or so. We've been just waiting on them to come out. On Tuesday, he lost the first one. Today, he lost the second one. The tooth fairy must like our house to visit twice in one week!

Summer fun

We've had a great time so far this summer despite the usual Alabama heat and humidity. It has come on with a vengence over the last week or so.

Austin caught his first lightening bugs. He was thrilled. We caught 4 and he kept them in his room for a little while before sending them downstairs for the night.

We've had fun in our blow up pool perfect for hot summer days!

We had a pool party with Ella this weekend. The kids had tons of fun!