May weekend fun

 The Rogers family had a great weekend this week! Uncle Brodie came for another visit. Friday night we went to Golden Corral, which works out well with a baby because there are so many options for her. Elliana always eats so well when we go to a buffet. Saturday morning we got up fairly early and decided to go hiking at Dunbar Cave State Park. This was most likely our last visit since we'll be moving soon, which is sad because we've got lots of good memories going there. Hopefully where ever we end up moving to there will be a park nearby and we can makes some new memories. It was Brodie's first visit to the park and, minus the mesquitos, I think he liked it. Elliana always enjoys being packed around and she also loves the ducks and geese.
 On our way home we decided not to waste such a gorgeous day inside (it was only about 10:30 a.m.). So, we decided to head up to the the Twin Lakes area, which is about 2 hours from home. Bryson and I went last year for Mother's Day and had a good time. There's a restuarant there named Pattys that is fairly famous and though we didn't eat there this time, Bryson and I did enjoy it last year. We really thought about going by there again just for the fact that they have a mini zoo behind the restuarant and we knew Elliana would love that. However, also on the way was an old homestead, 1850's old, that also had a farm that we could tour. For the sake of less driving we decided to just do the Homeplace this trip.
  At the Homeplace they have a small gift shop, some artifacts from the 1800's with info. on how these different items were used back then. There also had a video you could watch that told you all about the history of the Homeplace before you went out to tour it. Anyhow, we strapped Elliana into the stroller and started walking through. It was very neat to see not only the house that was built in 1850, but the working farm that it was on. They had people working there dressed up like the 1800's people and they were going about tasks like they would if they were really  working back then- herding sheep, chopping wood, caring for the animals, sewing clothes, etc... There was an old cat sleeping on the front porch of the house and Elliana squealed with delight when she saw it. She really seems to love cats. I'm hoping to get her a kitten once we move.
  After going through the house we continued touring the farm. They had a smokehouse, different barns, another small house, a wood shed, and lots of farm animals to  check out. I took a picture of most of the animals. I'm sure that was Elliana's favorite part of the trip, as was mine. they had two large draft horses in a pasure with a mule. Bryson, Brodie, Elliana, and I watched one of the horses and the mule play fight for the longest time. In fact they were still at it when we left. That crazy mule would not leave that poor horse alone for even a second! The horse was much larger than the mule and I kept hoping the horse would just kick the daylights out of the mule so he could have some peace. I guess the horse has more patients than me though. Anyhow, it was good entertainment. After about 2 hours on the farm we decided to head back home. Elliana was tired and crashed pretty hard on the ride back.
 Sunday we decided go to Joey's (one of Bryson's favorite co-workers) church in Dickson TN about an hour from home. Joey and his wife were singing a duet and the whole service was going to be music. I knew Elliana would enjoy that. I had met Joey before, but never his wife. They are both really nice people. Bo and Lacie were also there with their 2 year old little girl Sara-Kate. Bo is another co-worker of Bryson's and Lacie (Bo's wife) and I have had lunch together a few times and hung out a bit. After church we ended up eating at Taco Bell with Bo and Lacie (Joey had a sick boy so they had to get home). Needless to say this weekend was extra busy with all the running around we did, but it was a nice change.
 I've decided that it's starting to warm up a little too much for me here lately. I like summer time, but being pregnant in the summer is not ideal to say the least. If we had planned this pregnancy we definitely wouldn't not have chosen Sept. for a due date. That means I get to be huge pregnant throughout the hottest part of the year! Oh well, thank God for air conditioners, right?! Speaking of hot weather, I think Elliana is ready to go for a 'swim' in her duckie pool. Let's see how long big mama can stand to stay out there with her. :)

playing with Bro bro

Just riding

So sweet

Just enjoying our hike

Beautiful day

The homeplace built in 1850 and actually lived in until 1969

Don't let the bed bugs bite!

Loved this little wagon. Wish I could've brought it home with me

Little corn husk dolls

The smokehouse out back

Another house

getting the sheep herded from here to there

two little piggies!

Their better end

The horse and that pesky mule

It was a hot, but fun day

                                                She was hot and tired, but she never got fussy

The 'boy' coming out in Bryson. He found a snake to harass

This kid has the life. Fed, diapered, clothed, and relaxing...Brodie's hand is even acting as her head rest!

                                                                                                                                      

Thankfulness

 Though most of us mainly concentrate on thankfulness each year at Thanksgiving, it's been on my mind today. I realize just how ungrateful I can be, which is shameful when I am so very blessed! God has truly blessed me in so many ways, and I really don't want to take anything for granted. I could not ask for a more wonderful, loving husband than I have in Bryson. He has been such an answer to prayer. I know that God created him just for me because he's everything I prayed for and so much more! I know that very few women ever find what I have in Bryson. Thank you Lord so very much for giving me my Bryson!
 Along with Bryson, one of my most treasured blessings from God is my baby girl Elliana! Wow, what a treasure she really is. I'm just blown away at how fulfilling being a mom has been! The gift of motherhood is such a special thing. I pray that I never take for granted this privilege I have to be called mom. Bryson and I pray for wisdom in bringing up our children. The responsiblity is enormous, and not something either of us take lightly, but the benefits of parenthood are overwhelming .
 I am in such anticipation for the arrival of our precious baby boy! I am so undeserving of these priceless gifts God has decided to entrust me with, yet am so very thankful to Him for these children. I pray that God would be so gracious to once again bless us with a healthy baby. Kade is already so very loved by Bryson and I. Elliana will be very excited to have a brother as well. She loves other babies. In fact we were just out swinging a bit ago and a little 16 month old boy was out blowing bubbles with his mom. Elliana was grunting, and giggling at him with excitement. It was so cute! Thank you God for Elliana and baby Kade!
 Just a few more things I am greatful for (and this list could go on to infinity but I'll just name a few) my salvation through Jesus Christ (without Him I am nothing!), all of my family - parents, grandparents, siblings, in-laws, etc.., my family's and my own health, Bryson's job and his willingness to provide for his family, the sweet opportunity that I have to be a stay-at-home mom (no job could ever compares to this!), and that God daily meets my needs and the needs of my family! God is so good!
 There are lots of upcoming changes for the Rogers family. New job for Bryson, moving, and Kade's arrival in September to name a few! We are very much looking forward to all these things. I just pray that God gives us wisdom in all of the decisions we have coming up...namely where to live. I tend to get anxious over the 'unknown' but know it's all in God's hands and I just need to trust Him even with the smallest details.

                                                                                 

house hunting

   So we finally got Bryson's release date from his current workplace in Cumberland City. His last day there will be June 18, and he starts in Chattanooga on June 21. We've got a lot of work ahead of us! I've been searching online pretty much all day today for a house to rent with not much luck. I think with the economy so bad everyone is wanting to rent right now, so all the rentals are taken! I sure hope we can find something soon. The good news is T.V.A. will be moving us. That's a HUGE help. They moved us to Clarksville from Tuscaloosa and that was incredibly nice. Moving is no fun and this will make our 6th move in about 4 1/2 years of marriage!!! Hopefully, this will be our next to last move ever. We'd like to try to save up a decent down payment before building a house. Once we build we plan on staying where we are.
 Elliana hasn't shown any interest in even standing on her own since her first step on the 5th. Go figure. That girl is a mess. She's so much fun. I wish I could keep her as a little baby forever. She's growing up way too fast. She's so funny just to sit back and watch. Earlier today after one of her naps she was playing in the floor. She was pulling on the seat of her outdoor swing and grunting. I'm not sure what she wanted to do with it, but it was funny watching her work to pull it this way and then the other. She was concentrating on her little task so hard too. I really wonder what she's thinking sometimes. It's be neat to get into the mind of a baby don't you think?
 Baby Kade has been sure to make himself known these past couple of weeks. He's really been giving some powerful kicks and punches, especially for me just to be a little past 21 weeks. He really seems to be much more active than Elliana. Elliana moved a good bit, but not like Mr. Kade! I love it. It is so reassuring for me to be able to feel him squirming around inside of me. It's one of my favorite parts of pregnancy...and trust me I don't have a lot of favorites when it comes to pregnancy! The end result is worth every bit of the backaches, swollen legs/feet, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, weight gain, stretch marks, wacky hormones, sleeplessness, and heartburn! :)
 Mother's Day, I almost forgot! Yes, this past weekend was my first 'official' Mother's Day and it was fantastic! Bryson was sure to make it special for me by taking me and Elliana out to eat. All of us then went down to Jenkin's Park in Trenton for a bit and just hung out. It was so nice to just relax and not be rushed. We had no where we needed to be and Bryson was even patient with me at the restaurant when it took me almost 2 hours to eat! No, I really didn't eat that much I promise. It's just that I was having some major heartburn and indigestion thanks to little Kade. I hadn't eaten much all day and it was around 2 in the afternoon so I knew I needed to eat something. It was weird, as pregnancy can be I supposed, I would be really hungry feeling one minute and then feel like I was going to pop the next. Oh well, it was still a nice time. Elliana was so good and really seemed to enjoy swinging with her daddy at the park. I'm thinking we'll have her birthday party at that park in June as well. It just reminds me of growing up. I went to a few birthday parties there when I was a kid. It holds good memories.
  It's Friday and time for mine and Bryson's Friday night hot date, yea! It's the one day a week we usually splurge and eat out. It's always nice to 'go out' and do something for a little change each week because I'm definitely a home body most of the time. I just love Friday evenings!  He's on his way home from work now, so I better be getting ready. Until next post...
  

The little stinker is into everything

digging deep!

messy face

I still love my goats!

Elliana had just woken up from a nap and wasn't too pleased when the goat bleated really loudly in her face!

Loving the swing

sure wish I had Elliana's beautiful complextion!

My sweet little family

They're too cute together

Elliana meeting her aunt Peggy for the first time

Papa

Getting to pet some baby bunnies!

Checking out a cute little frog

This was a new one on her

Mother's Day 2010

Beautiful curls!

                                                         

Elliana has taken her first step!

 For the past few days Elliana has been letting go of whatever she's holding onto and just stands there. Today Bryson finally got to see her do it and for about 10 seconds at a time. Then she (probably accidentally) took a step! I was filming too! I can't belive we're already at this point with her. It's all flying by! I really can't believe she won't be 'the baby' in 20 short weeks too. So many changes. Her personality is just blooming right now. It's so amazing just to see what she'll do new each day. She's extremely curious about everything. She's getting very smart about things too. She knows when she's got something she's not supposed to have and when I say something she takes off crawling like a mad woman trying to get away. Oh boy, I'm going to be very busy with this crazy girl!
 I'm behind on my blogs so I'm trying to go back in my mind and see what I've missed. Last weekend Brodie came to stay with us. Elliana loved it! Brodie was like a new toy for her. She loved playing with him. The whole weekend was a rainy mess so we stayed in and chilled out most of the time. Though we went to the mall and a few other shops Saturday to run some errands. On Sunday Brodie went to church with us and then bought us all some Olive Garden for lunch, thanks Brodie! I love love love olive garden zuppa toscana!
  Saturday was also the Kentucky Derby, my favorite horse race to watch! I love watching it every year. It's really special in that my Popie always watches it too. For the past several years, probably a decade or so, I've called him and we've talked horses. We both decide on a horse we want to win;  of course I hear what granny's pick is too.  :) There's lots of pre-race stuff that they disscuss throughout the day (it's the one day a year I get to completely control the t.v. because Bryson knows how much I love it!) So we get to hear the stories behind the horses, owners, jockeys, etc... It's pretty interesting to me. Anyhow, after the race is over Popie and I have to talk about the race itself. This year I picked 'icebox', who came in second. Popie picked the favorite, a horse called 'lookin at lucky' who ended coming in 6th I think. Neither of us picked the winner this year. Maybe next year we'll have a winner!
 This past weekend was also very eventful in that we had a major flood here in Clarksville! The largest flood on record actually! It rained all weekend long- hard, heavy rain starting on Friday. The river started rising by Saturday morning. It was incredible how fast the water rose. I took pictures starting on Sunday when areas closest to the river started flooding. By the time the river crested early Monday morning tons of homes, roads, parks, and bussinesses were flooded. We thankfully live on a big hill, and though we are only 1/4 mile or so from the river our place wasn't in jeapoardy. It's really sad seeing how many people's homes and workplaces are ruined though. A lot of the roads are still closed even today. Bryson traveled 100 miles Tuesday trying to get to work and we only live 20 miles from his workplace! He had to detour around flooded areas that much! It's was crazy! Hopefully by next week everything will be drying out. We've only lived in Clarksville since October of last year and we've witnessed the most historic flood on the books (except I think they've forgotten about Noah's flood) :) 
  We are STILL waiting on a release date for Bryson from T.V.A.! It's so exasperating dealing with them sometimes. He told them a week ago Monday that he was taking the Chattanooga job and they're still trying to work out a date. His current boss wants him to stay until August (really?!) while the boss in Chattanooga is wanting him by the first of June. Everybody wants my boy! :) Anyhow, I hope they can at least maybe meet in the middle somewhere. We rather get there sooner than later. I'd like to get established with a new OB doctor and all before I deliver. We'll see what happens. I'm sure I've missed something, but that's all I can think of for now. Pictures to folllow.

She's so big!

This kid loves playing with her diapers...at least this one's clean!

Mean Uncle Brodie playing keep away from the baby

Awww

Look at those teeth!

The ball park on Sunday

The same ball park (different angle) on Mon.

Ballpark again (still not at it's highest here)

No one was in line for gas???

Chruch's Chicken

some people left their cars in this lot...bad idea!

Oops should've posted this one at the beginning. I just love this!

It's very hard to see, but look closely and you can see the top of a red car sticking up

Such a mess

The roads were a disaster!

well duh

Don't think anyone would want to swim in this pool, nasty!