Bishop knew he was cute...the guys pulling the floats stopped & HANDED him MORE beads:) 

Brad & Bish show off their beads:)! 

Look at this kid...:) 

MARDI GRAS

It seems like so long ago already...it has been a week!!! We had a blast though. We usually all take off Friday & go down early but due to job constraints we didn't leave until Friday night. We FINALLY got to Shreveport around 11:30...whoo hoo!!! It rained ALL the way there...that was comforting:)! We all got up Saturday morning & Dad & Brad went & roped us off a place to sit. We did a little shopping at the local stores & then went to eat a good ol casino buffet!! A pregnant woman's dream:)!!! (Oh Shawnee....you would have LOVED it!!!) We went to the casion for about thirty minutes & were ALL able to lose a little money...not so whoo hoo. But then it was time for the parade so off we went. We got there around 2:45 & the parade was scheduled for 4:30 (you have to get there early). We had been there about thirty minutes when we found out the parade wouldn't be un til 5:30...GREAT!!! It was okay though. Bishop watched movies in the car & we played cards...the weather wasn't too bad. FINALLY as darkness came & it began to sprinkle (after being dry ALL DAY) the parade began. I am not sure why it is so fun but it IS!! Bishop became OBSESSED with catching the beads...he didn't want anyone else to have them. One float threw some cool ones & they hit the ground so my dad bent to pick them up. Bish walked over to him & said. "THOSE were MINE!" I don't know how he could even stand....he had so many beads around his neck. And this kid is NO dummy...he quickly realized that if he waved & smiled then they threw him TOYS!!!! It was great...I have never laughed so hard:)!! I think EVERYONE should come along next year:)!! Here are a few pics:)!!!! (I am posting these only because it is MARDI GRAS...I am not happy to be taking pictures this pregnant...or with curly hair but it was raining...:)

THANKS!!!

Thanks for the prayers....mom & baby are doing GREAT!!! Caden is off the ventilator...he is off of everything except his feeding tube. Jenn's blood pressure finally began to come down & her swelling is improving daily. Please continue praying for them...they still have a long road ahead. Caden has to stay in the hospital for 6 weeks to grow & get stronger. That means daily trips to the hospital & still trying to balance a five year old at home. I will try to post a picture soon...I forgot my camera the day I got to go see him. He is precious & perfect though:)!!!! I will post more tomorrow...I still need to blog about Mardi Gras!!!!

Hapy Friday friends:)!!

Prayers Needed

Hey guys!! We just got back from MARDI GRAS!!! Whoo hoo!!! We had a BLAST...we always do! BUT...I will post pictures & blog about that tomorrow. Tonight I am asking for prayers. A very good friend of mine who some of you have met or you have at least heard me talk about her on here...had a her baby early this morning. It was very unplanned...she was not due until May 1. Caden Michael weighed in at 2 pounds & 6 ounces but is doing great. Jennifer is doing good as well. I just ask that you would lift this family up in a quick prayer...they have a long road ahead...it appears that Caden will have to stay for a couple of months & because he is in NICU his big brother can't even come meet him. Jennifer & Michael are doing as well as can be expected...they have strong faith...it is just hard to not be able to hold your newborn. Thanks guys...I will keep you posted & will blog about our trip soon!!!

Off to Shreveport...

Well guys....I will post pictures & details on Monday. We are off to MARDI GRAS!!!! Whoo hoo:)!! This Mardi Gras is a cleaner version that you can take kids too. Bishop loves it. I can't wait....I better go finish packing:)!!!

The picture is of the little boots that were given to me. I wanted to share:)!!!

It's Thursday & I am blogging...

but it has been a very uninteresting week so I have nothing exciting to say:)! Brad has been SWAMPED with homework so has mostly been just the Bish & I hanging out at home. We have played a few games, played LOTS of trains, watched movies, colored, & read "I'm a Big Brother" like 34 times:)! Whoo hoo!!! I did receive a GREAT gift today. At work we have secret sisters & mine left a surprise on the counter for me!! A pair of newborn white & pink cowboy boots:)! Could there have been a more appropriate gift?!? They are so cute!! Bishop has a pair & was excited that they could both wear their boots:)!! He is such a precious little boy...if he does half as well with his new little sister as he acts like he is going to then we will be fine. I know it will be a HUGE adjustment but I think it will be okay. His Big Brother book talks about how we have to wait for her to grow a little before we can play with her. It does tell him that he can do things FOR her...like play blocks while she watches or take her to the park & let her watch him swing:)! It is a neat book..I would highly recommend it. Well...we are off to dinner!!! Hope everyone has a great TGIF!!!

Brianna's Butterflies

We have already purchased the bedding for the nursery!! Or rather, gammy has:)! I found it a month ago but had to wait & find out what we were having. I bought it new on Ebay but I only had the picture to go by. The box arrived last week & I was afraid to open it...I wanted it to be perfect so I was scared it wouldn't be as pretty in person:)!! Finally Bishop was like, "MOM...what is in the box?!" IT IS ADORABLE!!!!!! So, here is the picture....

Disturbing pattern

I am discovering a pattern...I have only been blogging on Monday's & Friday's....my days off. I am hoping to do better next week. It is hard to blog about an entire week in one entry...this is a BUSY family:)! As you can see from the pictures, Bishop had a Valentine party at school this week. I didn't get to take any pictures at the actual party because it got started late & I had to go back to my class but I did get to go for a little while. It was such a sweet day! The kids were all passing out their cards & getting excited about them...no one was upset...just pure joy!!! I wish they could all remember how it felt & grow up & spread the joy like that...to everyone!!!
It was very neat. We waited until Brad got home to go through his "loot!" He got so much candy....it was like Halloween all over again. He loved it though!!

Bishop is at my parent's house right now. My dad is in NC for work so my mom met us last night to take Bishop back to her house. We met her at the mall so he got to play & "smash the bugs" on the video game thing & then they went home to play trains:)! We got to go on a REAL date...dinner without having to tell someone (no names:) to sit down or stop coloring on the table:)! It was NICE!! We then came home & Brad did homework!! Romantic, huh?!?! It had to be done though so we could go run around today. THAT'S RIGHT!! We get to spend the day shopping without Bishop...what will that be like?!?!?

I will post more pics tomorrow. We got Shayden's bedding in & put up...it is so cute...the pictures don't do it justice. OH - we went to the doctor on Thursday & had a sonogram. She is still a girl:)!!! And they checked everything just like Linda did & it was all still looking good. So...yea!! Bishop was quite disappointed when we left, however. When Mommy told him that we were going to get to see the baby...he assumed we would be taking her home. Oops...I forget that he takes things very literally. We did go upstairs to see the real babies in the nursery so that appeased him for the time being. He wants to do that everytime now...go see the babies:)!!

I guess that sums up the week. I am sure I forgot stuff I wanted to say...I WILL do better:)!!!
Happy Saturday:)!!

Shadow wanted to know where HIS Valentine treat was???!? 

Bishop getting to open his Valentine's from school...he thought that was pretty cool:)! 

VALENTINE'S DAY!!! Should a three year old really get THIS much stuff?!?! I guess he IS a ladies man already:)!!! 

My husband can be soooo sweet:). He is baking me a cake since I ran out of cupcakes!! THank you baby!! 

Girls

Well I think it has finally sunk in that we are having a girl! Brad is so funny about it...he is not sure about all the pink & foo foo stuff:)! He DID buy her a new outfit yesterday...her first camo suit. It is a camo onsie with ruffles on the butt & bows on the front. It is perfectly fitting that that is the first thing he bought her...he says he is "going to make her husband's life easy...she will learn to love hunting & they can do it together:)." RIGHT!

We did get a BUNCH of stuff from my cousin Lindsey yesterday...THANK YOU LINDSEY!! Such fun stuff...cute dresses & shoes....oh the possibilities??!!?!? I also went to Once Upon a Child last week & bought a few outfits & a kick & play. We are trying to accumulate a little at a time. Poor Bish...he is going to think that Shayden is a brat...but he was sufficiently spoiled this weekend too...his daddy is a SUCKER!!!!!!!!!

Not much new happened last week hence the no blogging. It was rather quiet around here & I like it that way! We go to the doctor this Thursday for my regular sonogram & appointment. I think that if the due date is confirmed we'll go ahead & pick the official date. Whoo hoo!! That will give me something concrete to aim for:)! OH...I guess Tuesday is V-day...oops! Bish will have a party at school...those are always fun:). I think we are going to have people over for poker...nothing mushy here. Brad bought me an ice tea maker yesterday & baked me a cake so I am guessing that is my Valentine's...I really need to go get him something!!!! I think we will go out this weekend, my mom is going to take Bishop on Saturday for a Bishop & Nana day...I have no idea what we will go do?!?!? We're so boring:)!

Bish is whining in the other room so I should go...Have aGREAT week:)!!!

He is a prince to me....doesn't he look like me in this picture?!?! 

Bishop & his class at the "Royal Feast" It was held in honor of "Old King Cole" They are studying nursery rhymes:) 

MMMMMMMMMmmmmm...cupcakes:)! 

Ladies & Gentlemen

ATTENTION PLEASE...the Baker's have another BIG announcement to make! We have found out the sex of the baby:)! Can we get a drum roll please...........

It's A GIRL!!!!!

We had a sonogram on Saturday thanks to one of my best friends!! Her mom is a sonographer & offered to do one....Linda is amazing. She has been doing sono's for a long time....she takes the time to look at all the organs & see that they are all functioning. She checked on the sex several times because Brad just wasn't sure:)! It was amazing. She kept moving around & moving her hands up to her face...she even rubbed her eye for us. It was so beautiful & amazing. My mom & dad & Bish got to watch for a few minutes & then left so we could watch in peace:)!! It was really funny because Linda was able to determine it was a girl very quickly but Brad just kept asking if she was sure:)! I think he knew in his heart that it was a girl...he is just really unsure of what to do with a girl...kind of like what I felt when I found out Bish was a boy. He is very excited...just soaking it all in:)!! And we do have a name picked out...we gave up on another B name & settled with an S....another drum roll please.............................

Shayden Starr Baker!

So..that is our big news this week. Bishop is super excited about his baby sister...he can't wait to take her to the park & rock her:)! He can already tell you her name if you ask. I am very excited about buying girl things...I have already bought her a couple of outfits & we ordered the bedding for her room (I had already picked it out....I just needed to make sure it was a girl:)! I think this made it all a little more real...we have LOTS to get done. There WILL be another baby coming along VERY soon:)!!!

Hope everyone has a GREAT week:)!!!

A day at the park....(nice shirt, huh?!?) 

He loves to go HIGH...I'd push him all day for that smile:)!! 

But see...he LOVES it...it is a challenge!! He is SO his daddy:)!! 

This makes me SO nervous but he is good at it. And Brad tells me I have to let him be a boy... 

He loves to go up AND down the slide:) 

Bishop getting a helpful push from his friend, Caleb! 

Wednesday

It's Wednesday...that means Small Fry day...yea!!! I love Small Fry! Technically it is work...I have to be there & do it but it is so nice. I have gotten to know SO many women through that program & made some GREAT friends. Today we made old fashioned Valentine's...the kind wih the little heart doilies & glue & construction paper. Fun times...we had 17 kids. After Small Fry, my girlfriend, Jennifer, & I have been taking our boys to this great little park down the road for about an hour. The weather has been BEAUTIFUL & they have a grown up swing that we can sit & chat on while the boys burn off energy!! We did that today & ended up staying almost 2 hours...it was just so nice & peaceful. Bishop played & played...he spent probably thirty minutes in the dirt just building snadcastles & playing with his new toy. Such a boy!! After that, we drove 15 minutes just to get sweet tea at Chicken Express (those familiar with this delicacy will understand:)! We got home around three and were sitting on the front porch drinking our drinks (he has a red slush & I was not allowing it in the house:) when the phone rang. We have a new cousin!!!! My cousin Betsy had her baby around two this afternoon...a boy named Morgan Wesley Reynolds. YEA...all are healthy & doing well. And so it begins...she is the first of all the prego's I know to have her baby:)! I can't wait to meet him. Betsy already has a 10 year old, Colby, & 4 year old twins, Calebi & Colton....needless to say she has her hands full!!
Since then, we have played trains, colored Thomas, & now he is watching (sort 0f) a Thomas movie:)!! The pictures are from the park...
Hope everyone's week is going well!!!

Call it what you want...I'm FAT!!!! 

Blessings

This week seems to be going much more smoothly for the Baker's!! I think the stomach bug has left the building which is s HUGE relief. Brad is super swamped with homework this semester...he is taking college algebra. YUCK!! I think that he understands it but when you take a math class online it is a MAJOR hassle and his teacher is major twirp about posting things. He likes to try to plan his homework & get it done on specific nights (for my sake:) & she is posting things sporadically just to make sure that people like him don't do that. I have come to the conclusion that there ARE people that just insist on being complicated. I just can't understand why. I am still having trouble with this pregnancy...everyday seems to bring more challenges with coping. It is nothing serious thankfully, I have just been overdoing & have been told to stop lifting as much as I can. I am just not sure how to not overdo because there is TOO much to be done. I have to work & I have to keep up with a three year old...even if I cut out everything else (which isn't possible:) then that is enough to keep me worn out. I know that this too shall pass. God handed this baby to us so he will provide a way to keep us both healthy (& sane:) until the end. What will be hard is not lifting Bishop...I lOVE, love, LOVE to cuddle with him....he'll just have to come to me I guess!!

Our lives SEEM so busy these days!! A wedding in the works, a college graduation:), at least 6 of my friends are pregnant not including me so LOTS of baby showers, preparing for our new little one, work, school...somedays I wonder how we do it!! And our lives aren't nearly as crazy as some I know.

*** I have to inform everyone that as I type my son is running around in underwear (YEA!) & a Dora backpack. I have to remember that the personality that gets him in trouble at school is the same one that makes him a one of a kind. I am sure that someday all the things that are bothersome now will make him very successful!!!***

The pictures are of my ever growing belly...yippee. I am getting bigger FAST....I feel like my face is already getting fat so I better get a good head shot in soon because as it swells...NO MORE PICTURES!!!! I think the last one before Bishop was born was taken mid-September. I control the camera in this family so that means I can DELETE me if I want to:)! Okay...boring blog is now ending...:)

Nope...just kidding....my grandma sent me this funny & it actually made me laugh out loud so...

TOP 5 THINGS TO DO AT WAL-MART IF YOUR SPOUSE TAKES TOO LONG

1. Get 24 boxes of condoms and randomly put them in peoples carts when they aren't looking:)!

2. Go to the service desk and ask to put a bag of M&M's on layaway

3. Look right into the security camera; use it as a mirror, and pick your nose:)!

4. Hide in a clothing rack and when people browse through, say, "PICK ME!"

5. Go into a fitting room & shut the door and wait a while; and then yell, very loudly, "There is NO toilet paper in there!!"

*Kerri, I have the entire list if Brent here's that there are lots of strange things happening in stores:)!!

Another week is slowly coming to a close....I think I am glad this one is over:)! On top of all of our Bishop drama, I caught a stomach bug yesterday. Not fun when you aren't pregnant...WORSE when you are. Luckily it was short lived. I was able to go to work for a couple of hours this morning. I would like to praise my wonderful husband for taking over last night. He & Bishop disappeared to the living room only to emerge for bedtime. It was a MUCH needed break for Mom seeing as I was curled into a little ball in the chair. So...THANK YOU BRAD!!!!!

I will try to post some pictures of the prego belly that is growing rapidly for all of those who live far far away:)! The doctor didn't tell me how much I had gained last time I was in though I would probably NOT post that anyways:)! The baby is growing & I feel it more & more...that is the FUN part. Brad has even got to feel it though I don't think he gets as excited as I do:)! Bishop is slowly accepting that "his" baby may be a girl. He still wants a baby boy but is starting to come around about the idea of a sister. He insists that we are going to name the baby "Little Partner." Uh huh...

I better run...I need to pick up the house before we leave. Have a fabu weekend!!!!!

Back on track...

I think I am back. I can make no promises these days but I think I have returned to the land of blogging:)! Thank you all for missing me!!!

It has been a long couple of weeks in the Baker house. As I type, Brad is in the bathroom trying his hand at plunbing since our little Bishop attempted to flush a seashell down the toilet. I mean he attempted to flush them down TWO toilets. Yes....my sweet little boy has turned into a quite the little troublemaker. Let's recount the week & why I haven't blogged, shall we?!
Yesterday he mangaged to turn off the refrigerator without our knowledge & ruined an entire fridge full of groceries. The day before that he got ahold of a Sharpie & went & colored on the living room wallpaper, the table in the living room & ALL over his body. That was in the TWO minutes I went in the kitchen to clean up the dinner mess?!?!?!?
Yesterday he got in trouble for school for not listening which is NO big shock because we are battling that at home. It is almost TOO much for a pregnant women to handle. He really is a sweet boy....I just can't figure out why he is acting out?! Do you think heould realize that life is about to change drastically?
Just so it doesn't sound like he is rotten...he is learning the most important lesson he can. We couldn't get in the front door the other day & finally I got the back door open after I found the spare key & when Bish finally realized it was open he siad, "Mommy, look.....it's open!! THank you Jesus!!!" So he is a sweetheart who is very loving....I can't figure out where this behavior is coming from? Me?
SO...that is my life the last few days & should explain the absence...I am not sleeping well & so am very tired & am dealing with some issues. I did want to blog. I did go to the doctor on Monday & got a good report. The heartrate is still 170 & all seems well. We should find out in the next two weeks what it is but I must confess I think it is a girl. Which of course is ironic because I am the only one that wanted another little boy:)! I will be happy either way of course....healthy is all I ask!
I must runl....I need to shower & put the child to bed....Happy Wednesday:)!!

My fancy new desk:)!! 

Wildfires

If you aren't from Texas (which I think most that read this are) then you don't know that Texas is being ravaged by wildfires ALL over the state. It is a very scary & tragic thing. Whole towns not far from here have been wiped out completely. So, in response to our church wanting to sponser a town that was completely demolished & my mother here to help....we cleaned out our closet. I got rid of a LOT of clothes & shoes & even purses. And you know what....besides helping my fellow man, it feels GOOD to have a little less stuff. My parents our going to come here next weekend to help us clean. We have GOT to get a little more organized if we want to fit all things baby into our home. So, they are going to come help because they love us...aren't they great?!?! (And because they have to haul it all off...we have NO trash service:)! It is such a releif to know that my house will get a face lift next weekend!! For those who truly know my mom...you know that my house will be SPOTLESS before she leaves. I can't wait!! The real challenge will be cleaning out the study/nursery...we have the computer out but the cabinets are FULL of stuff. And we have to clean out the kitchen cabinets. Andthe bathroom cabinets....and the list goes on. Basically it will be spring cleaning early....to get ready for a new family member:)! Speaking of the computer being out...it is now in the living room on the FABULOUS desk that Brad & my Dad built this weekend. It is the first thing you see when you walk in the house & it is beautiful. They did a great job & we are one step closer to having the nursery cleaned out. It was a long weekend....I didn't feel real great. But we had fun & it was certainly productive. Church was SO wonderful & uplifting....I can't even express how much it recharged my heart. SO...I leave you with my favorite new quote which is posted on my front door...

"Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God."
Corrie Ten Boom

Beautiful flowers from a beautiful man....NO, not Brad:)!! 

See how pretty they got, Robin?!?! Lucky YOU, I guess:)!!

I LOVE THE BIRTHDAY BOY!!! 

Very few guests attended but they were quite special ones:) 

Brad was excited about his birthday presents:)!! 

Happy New Year!!!

It's January the third & I am just now acknowledging that it is a wonderful New Year....that is probably a good indication of how the rest of the year will go...trying to catch up:)!!
We had a great New Year's. My girlfriend from Midland, Robin, drove in with her son Caiden & her fiance drove in from Austin so that we could meet & get to know him. It was a WONDERFUL weekend!! We really didn't do much but lounge around, play games, & hang out. I think Caiden is the only little boy on the planet that can keep up with Bishop's pace so they had a blast & entertained each other. Robin & I did have an exciting Saturday...we went shopping for her wedding dress!!!! Brad & Trent took the boys to Chuck E. Cheese & the park & Robin & I went shopping!!! That is her in the wedding dress though it is NOT the one she picked. I made her try that one on just for a laugh:)! What's sad is that I do not have one picture from New Year's Eve. We were such dorks....we barely made it until midnight. We were all ready to crash long before 12. It was a great weekend & it was hard to say good bye...at least when they move to Austin they will be closer. It was really nice to get to know Trent too...Robin, you did good!!

Monday was Brad's birthday!! Whoo hoo!!! The big 2-8!!!!!! We went & met my parents at Salt Grass for dinner, cake, & presents. A good time was had by all. Birthdays get less & less exciting as time goes by. Bishop looks forward to his for months, we decide the day of to go have dinner. Such is life I guess:)! Brad had a good time I think!

Brad...I know there wasn't much in the way of gifts this year....I thank you for being a wonderful husband & father & I know that someday in the future we will make up for these times!! We have come so far in the last four years. You have to admit it has been quite a journey:)! Maybe a LONG one but a journey either way!! You are my rock, what keeps me grounded. Thank you for being the man that I need & loving me through my faults!! I love you.....