Dr. Appt Update...

..........I had my dr appt on Tuesday. All went well................my blood pressure was 112/64 and everything checked out great. The baby's heartrate was 156. I have gained 14 lbs so far.......YIKES............but still on schedule, as I am trying not to gain more than 30 lbs..........if I stay on this track, I will have gained 28 lbs by end!!!!

We have decided on a name......Cooper Reese Craycraft.

We go back on Jan 7 for the lovely glucose test....just what I need AFTER all the Christmas goodies!!!!! But hopefully it will go well....

Bart and Abby just found out yesterday, they are having a little girl..............so now both of my sister in laws are pregnant with girls, and already have girls...................

What's in a name?

Apparently a lot!!! As we cannot decide on a name, let me rephrase that, my husband cannot decide on a name for the newest boy in our clan..............we are definitely set with Cooper as the first name............just can't decide on a middle name.................so we'll see what turns up!!! But for now, it's Cooper ______ Craycraft.........I think Tony really likes to hear Hayden say Cooper!!!!

PS Aunt Abby, I agree with you, the ultrasound looks like Brady's to me too.............

Ultrasound.....

..................we had our 20 wk ultrasound this morning to determine that everything was okay and on schedule...and to determine the sex!!!! The baby looks great, heartrate was 158, my blood pressure was 110 over 68, and the baby measures 1 lb and a week over the actual date.......

Whole lotta shaking going on...

........I understand with a second pregnancy, you are a lot more "in tune" with your body...you know more of what's going on................and let me just say, this one, has been moving and kicking for the past couple of weeks, which is earlier than what I remember with the boys. I can lay down at night (most active time) and you can see the kicks already.............which leads to me ask for prayers.....I'm under the impression that we might have another Hayden instead of another Brady-----just to let you guys know...........Hayden is quite active and Brady is my calm one (Hayden is a lot like me and Brady is a lot like his Dad!!!)

First Beach Trip...

..............we also had a beach trip in September, so here are a few pics from Santa Rosa Beach, Florida!

Pumpkin Patch 2008...

.........I'm trying to catch up!! MeMe and PaPaw visited the last of September and we took a journey to the Great Pumpkin Patch..........the pumpkins Daddy picked out were as big as the boys!!!!!!!!!

Dr. Appt...

I had a dr appt yesterday afternoon...............everything is progressing good. My blood pressure was 118 over 66 which is great, I've gained 4 lbs which is perfect as you are to gain a pound a week. (let's just hope I stay on that schedule and don't go over!!!!) They did a doppler again and the heartbeat was loud and strong---170 bpm.

We go back on Nov 19th for ultrasound and next appt........we tried for Nov 11th, as Tony is off work that morning, but already fully booked that day.........so we had to settle for 8:00 on the 19th............and hope that the baby cooperates!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Calling out to Kristin Potts Goode......

Kristin---

Lori wants to get on your blog too............so please email me your email address so I can forward to her and then I will reply to you with her email address...................my email address is stephanie@anchorbyrne.com

2nd Dr Appt.....

.............well I had our second dr appt yesterday. All is well, I've gained 2 lbs for the first trimester, my blood pressure was 108/62, and the heartbeat could be heard loud and clear!!!



After wearing my normal pants yesterday, I have officially decided to move to maternity wear.....as I am fine when standing up (I have a little bump already)....but when I sit down, I can't stand it anymore!!!



Didn't realize I would be in the maternity wear already, but MUCH more comfortable!!!!! Yeah for elastic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Updates......

.............as you guys know from reading my blog, I have not posted in quite a while. There is a reason for this, we are pregnant with number three!!!!! That's what Julee' meant, Kristin......



We have not told Tony's parents yet as we wanted to tell them face to face and they are coming to AL this week, so we've been on hold with posting the info--SO MARSHA IF YOU READ THIS DON'T CALL THEM, AS WE WILL TELL THEM SOMETIME ON FRIDAY..............and SECOND, this time, I've been sick unlike I was with the boys. Not only have I felt queasy but I've actually been vomiting.........which is really quite lovely...especially considering one night it was at 4:11 in the morning!!!!





Anyway, to bring everyone up to date, at the first appt which was at 8 wks, we did have an ultrasound performed in order to determine one or two this time...........and luckily, it's just one!! What a relief!!!!! Our due date is April 6........but dr. and I have discussed and we will be having a section again....so will be scheduled for section the week before the due date.





Tony's parents are leaving WV tomorrow and will drive about half way.........then will arrive on Friday...............so we will tell them this week!

Family pics.....

..........we recently had family pics taken, and even though we had them taken at 8:30 in the morning, it was very WARM!!! So I was nervous at how they would turn out!!!!

So I'm sharing them with everyone.......................go to www.abernathyphotographics.com, click on enter site, then click on clients, then type in password: craycraft, and then click submit.......enjoy my three men!!!!!!!

I am trully blessed everyday of my life!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Babysitters: good or not so good.......

..............this is a week old, but thought I would post it! It appears that the "sitters" don't always make the boys behave...............and for the record, this was Rhonda watching them this particular day!

Soapbox..........

.............let me just start this day by posting "on my soapbox". Have any of you guys noticed that NOTHING is built to last???? AKA, we have a front end loader washing machine purchased July 22, 2006............granted it was not the most expensive, BUT it certainly cost more than what I really wanted to spend!!! This weekend we noticed it was leaking at the FRONT of the machine, not from the hookups or the drainline..................and Tony mentioned that it was making noise when we ran it and he clearly remembered how quiet it was when we first bought it........

So we contacted Sears to make a repair call, thinking we would pay the $69 repair service charge and whatever it took to repair it..........then we would be on our merry way to washing clothes again. OH NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The repair guy shows up yesterday evening only to tell us that the tub on the inside has come loose and done MAJOR damage to the inside thus why it is leaking. We did not purchase the extended warranty and of course, the manufacturers warranty is only for 1 year!!!!!! Before quoting the parts, he forewarned us that we wouldn't be happy and could probably buy a new one cheaper...........................that was an understatement!!

After he contacted the parts center and gave them the list of items he would need, the printout of costs they sent him...................get ready, you're going to love this...................the parts and labor would total $1701!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We can buy the same washing machine for $749!!!!! Don't you just love "disposable" appliances!

Something's missing....

............that's right, the passies are gone!!! We had planned to wait until the 18 month mark to toss the passies out, but last night when the boys were laid down to sleep and we could not find the second passie, we decided we had had enough............after all, the boys are at the point that we have not been giving them the passies unless they were sleeping..............last night went well, let's hope it continues!!!!!

My life...

.............okay, I am so far behind that I don't even know where to begin!!!! I must post events from our vacation trip to West Virginia.................then we returned home............we have been working on remodeling the downstairs bathroom......................I stabbed myself last Wednesday night, passed out, and had to go to the emergency room for a couple of stitches.............Tony has been going into work about every other day and starts back to work on Monday..................Hayden has discovered how to get out of his bed and into his brother's at night, which sends Brady into orbit!!!!!!!! So the nights have not been the best.................oh, did I mention the boys ended up sick on our vacation, and got Tony and I both sick? Life's been hectic, the summer's been short, but it is ALL GREAT and God continues to bless my family everyday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hopefully, I will get pics posted tonight................but don't hold your breath Abby!

CONTEST......

Okay everyone has to go to www.cbs42.com and vote on the most lovable baby...................I can tell you which page of pics to go to because they switch them around each time you go the site..............I had to enter Brady and Hayden SEPARATELY.....................so everyone has to vote!!!! As the winner is decided by the number of votes.............................you can vote as many times as you like!!!!

Send the website to EVERYONE you know and vote for the boys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Pink Eye.........

......................I am late getting to work today, as Brady had to go see the Doctor today! We noticed yesterday that his eye was running a little...........and I did make the comment to Tony that I hope he didn't have pink eye as he eye looked a little red........................guess what? We woke up this morning with his right eye completely matted over...........and thank goodness the doctor could take him at 9!!!

So we have eye drops and a refill for when Hayden gets it!!! But they should do the trick and us be healed by Friday!!!! Which is when we plan to "hit" the road to West Virginia.

Ready or not Peaches....

............here we come!!! Here is a little preview for Meme, Papaw, and Peaches.....................

Watertable...

The boys have been cooling off during these hot days!!!!!

Chattanooga...

Chattanooga...

While we were in Ringgold, we stayed at the Chattanooga Choo Choo and did "activities" in Chattanooga........we visited the Model Train Museum which Brady loved..........and he and Hayden learned to "say" Choo Choo..............we also visited the Chattanooga Aquarium.......another hit with the boys. They really liked the Penguin Exhibit!!!!

Cecilia's Birthday....

I'm late posting again, but over the weekend of May 31, we traveled to Ringgold to celebrate Cecilia's first birthday!!!! It was a circus theme which ties into her nursery!!!

It's such hard work...

............being a kid!!! I am soooooooooo tired, I can't even eat!!!! Why are you torturing me, just let me go to bed!

Look what I just bought...

...it's a Brady in a Box!!!!

Daddy's gone.......

Tony flew off to West Virginia on Saturday and will be gone until Sunday evening........so I'm going to be posting alot of these for his sake...........but hope everyone enjoys!!!

15 month checkup....

.............the boys had their fifteen month checkup on Friday afternoon. The boys checked out just fine--no concerns by the Doctor. However, we will be going back at 18 months for checkup (no shots though--YEA)! Brady was 29 3/4" and weighed 19 lb 13 oz---which was disappointing for me!!! Hayden was 30 1/4" and weighed 21 lb 2 oz.

Doc wasn't concerned as long as Brady was not loosing weight. They really reacted this time to the shots, which is HEARTBREAKING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Morning routine.......

Okay, I read lots of parenting magazines, websites, emails, etc. and I know they say you should not allow a child under the age of 2 to watch TV. HOWEVER, in my morning routine of trying to get ready for work and get the boys ready for the day, I do allow them to watch Disney channel. When I walked into the den this particular morning, Hayden had made himself quite comfortable in order to get ready for Mickey Mouse Clubhouse to come on!!!!!

Brady.....

This is why MOMMY doesn't let me have cheese puffs..............note: this "occurrence" did NOT take place at home, he was at Mama and Papa Ts.................

Hayden.....

I'm so lonely, nobody loves me, why don't I have a bed, my parents are so mean-they make me sleep in a bookcase..................

I'm behind again.....

...............considering I get complaints that I do not keep my blog current...................these are for you Abby!!!!!

That's my Brady........

Sometimes you don't have to say anything..................this is one of those moments, there is nothing to say, this just has to make you smile!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Another weekend come and gone...

Well it was another exciting weekend..........Mama T watched the boys on Friday and allowed Tony and I to get more done to the basement.....................we purchased a new TV Saturday morning, and then installed it.............then off to Kayla's sixteenth birthday, which involved Brady getting overheated and throwing up!!! Then back home..............Mama T returned to her home......and Sunday, we rested!!!!! The basement is coming along and they come tomorrow to measure for the carpet.....................Tony mudded on Friday after we hung the drywall for the closet on Thursday evening.................he also painted the ceiling in the second basement bedroom...........it's a slow process, but we are on schedule and should have the two bedrooms completed before he leaves for WV the end of May.......................

Then when he returns, we plan to redo the basement bathroom!!! He also starts classes for the month of June!!! This should be exciting.

Brady does it........

...he's a little wobbly, and still crawls and then walks.....but it's progress!!!!!

Hayden...

Hayden has a new tooth that has cut thru on top.......the upper left side, second tooth.

We're alive......

Okay so it's been a while since I've posted................so thought I would try to get back on track.

This past weekend was a busy one. We are trying to re-do our downstairs area.....which was a den, one bedroom, bathroom with laundry area, a closet under the stairs, and a landing area. So we (Tony and I) shipped our kids off to Kimberly and Rhonda for the day Saturday............and I finished out the stairs closet, painted it, put in crown molding, this is all after Tony scraped the ceiling in it (yes, we HAD popcorn ceilings, but no more)......he painted out shelving for me......and I then placed luggage and my sewing/materials in the closet........ORGANIZATION finally!!!

He redid the closet in the bedroom.....by ripping it all out, and them painting it, placing new shelving in it, installing hooks on the door, re-painted the door, and installed new hardware on the door............................

In the den, we have now converted it to a bedroom...........he scraped the ceiling, took out the carpet....as we ordered new carpet for the downstairs area this weekend.............ripped out the base molding, and Dad framed out a closet for us in that room. Tony also ripped out the carpet in the landing area as we plan to install hardwoods in that area.

It was a busy weekend, but we at least saw success!!!! Now we have to finish everything before they come to install the carpet!!!!!

Sweet Bobby update....

...........in a previous blog I mentioned a great website "SweetBobby.com".......I purchased the boys Easter Sunday outfits from her....and they were perfect!!!

She, Mandy Frey, is planning to open a childrens store in Columbiana hopefully at the end of summer. I am super excited about this and wanted to pass it along to anyone who might live in the Birmingham area.

Mandy is a sweet person and plans to carry a variety of items and lines of clothing!!!

And of course, she monograms...for all you Southern Moms!!!!!!!

Easter......

We traveled to Marion for the weekend........Tony came down on Saturday and returned back to Bham on Sunday as he had tickets for the NCAA Tournament.............it was exciting as the boys enjoyed their first Easter Egg Hunt............well, I should say that Brady enjoyed the basket grass and Hayden enjoyed the little girls!!!!

Tony was a good Daddy and helped Hayden look for eggs........with Brady not walking yet, he was carried around to look for eggs!!

On Sunday, we dressed the little boys up and off to church........................and Sunday afternoon they played with their lawnmowers the Easter bunny brought them...............

Teeth and Runny noses.......

It's that time again, the boys are cutting more teeth.............the beginning tell tell sign is the runny nose!!! Hayden's has a top tooth coming in, the second one on the right.......it actually has broken the skin.........and his nose is running!!!!!!!

Brady's teeth have not come thru YET.........but his nose usually runs and his eye tears when he is about to cut some........and that started this weekend..........his next teeth to come in (as he seems to cut two at a time) will be his "I" teeth!!!!

FUN FUN!!!!

One year photo session....

I have to share this as I am amazed!!! After a photo session where I took Mom as backup, you realize real fast with two little ones, there are certain "adventures" where another person is a must!!!! Mom and I left the session exhausted after trying to get the boys to stay in one area and have some direction from the photographer.........and sadly, we both felt that I would be very lucky to have one good shot.

Well obviously the photographer was at a completely different session than we were.........as she posted 66 shots for us and I am VERY pleased................and remember, I am into photo journalistic photographers, not your photography (where you sit and just look at the camera)........the website is www.fairytalefotography.com choose client preview, choose Craycraft Twins, and then enter 20763.

Shhhhh.....don't tell Daddy!!

Daddy doesn't know yet and Mommy's not telling until he gets home!!! It's not really her fault, but then again, I guess it could be...................while she was getting my brother ready this morning, I did my usual walking around and I traveled into a great land called Daddy and Mommy's bathroom. They keep SO many unusual toys in there........and I just have to play with all of them.........especially the ones that I have to stand on my toes and reach up to the counter to get ahold of.

Well that's what I did this morning and discovered a shiny triangular object with a long tail attached to it...........Mommy called it the "clothes iron". So I pulled on the long tail until the toy would come down to play with me...........the only problem is, it came down on my head!!!

So now I am wearing a butterfly, at least that's what Mom calls it, but funny, it doesn't look anything like a butterfly to me!!!

Shhhhhhhhhhhh............don't tell Daddy yet!

Blog off for now.......

......sorry haven't blogged lately, we are all sick, will return when we are all well!!

So proud of my boys.........

I just have to post this..................the doctor asked at the checkup if the boys were using sippy cups yet or still on the bottles................I was honest and told him we do have them on cups EXCEPT for the last feeding at night. To which his comment was, "well if that is the only time they use the bottle, I'm pretty sure you can do away with them all together!"

So since 2-15-08, our house has been bottle free.........and the boys never even missed them!!!!

YEA BIG BOYS.....Mommy is so proud of you...........and SO glad to be rid of all the bottle parts!!!

Boys 1 year Checkup...

The boys did well, they are still growing on their curve...........and we didn't tell the doc that they are already in forward facing seats, as he said to wait at least another month.........we didn't hit the 20 lb mark!!! Brady is 29" long and 18 lb 12 oz and Hayden is 29" long and 19 lb 12 oz.

The adventure for the day was that I had their one year portraits done (before the doc and shots!)..........but this is the first time we've been in a studio since we are both moving..............let me just say, "EXHAUSTING" and Starbucks was visited at the doc office!!!!!!!!!!! It was a constant chase at the photographers.........I am praying to get just one good shot as the studio setup was great!

It's Time to PARTY.........

The boys birthday party was a success and we could not have ordered better weather!!!!! They did perfect.............dug into their cakes like they should have! But really had little interest in their presents, of course the paper, tissue paper, and bows were the best item!!!!

The boys are one.......

Where did the time go? What has happened to my babies? Why did I pray that the day would just end so I could get some sleep?



I look back over the past year and how much they have changed. How did this all happen, how did God choose us to have two babies? How did they change so quickly? How did they get this big?



I yearn for the "baby" days but am constantly reminded each day, how much they are learning....and I race home or look forward to the call from the sitters to say what they have accomplished that day!!! I am so proud of them and so proud to be a mom......to be their Mom.



I never understood how Moms could go on and on about their kids, telling every little detail for poopie diapers to spit up to sitting up to crawling to walking.............but I understand now, it's a miracle we live with everyday and we cherish everyday with our kids................therefore, we can't help but share the overwhelming joy we have with others in hopes of them sharing our enthusiasm.



It's been a hard year, it's been stressful, it's been joyful..........and I would not change a moment of it.



If I died today, I could leave this world knowing that my life was worth something, that it had real meaning, that I left my mark on this world by leaving a little of me behind by creating two beautiful boys...........thank you Brady and Hayden for making me a better person!!!



Mommy loves you and Happy Birthday!!!!

More teeth.....

Brady is cutting two more teeth.....on top............one has broken the skin and hopefully the other will before Thursday. So he'll be one with eight teeth and Hayden will be one with four teeth!!!

GUILT due to ABBY....

.......well I'm behind on my posting and to make matters worst, one of the reasons I'm behind, my "lovely" sister-in-law is going to make me feel bad about!!!! Last weekend I had a brilliant idea to re-do the upstairs guest bedroom and convert into a playroom. As this Mom and Dad would like to be able to look around without toys constantly obstructing our views........and Dad agreed this was a genius idea (not something he thinks Mom has a lot of!!). So we spent last weekend moving the den furniture out from downstairs, moving the bedroom furniture from upstairs, painting the playroom, re-arranging the nursery slightly, and moving the toys to their own room now!!!! THIS IS THE BEST MOVE we've made yet!!!

Then I've spent the week trying to plan everything for the upcoming party!!!! YEA!!!!!!!!!!!!

Then to make us even worse parents.....we shipped them off to Kim's for the day on Saturday so we could finish up things around the house that we just can't do with the boys around (aka I did some sewing, which I discovered is IMPOSSIBLE with the boys around....you know that a sewing machine is the most fascinating toy!!)

SO DEAR ABBY, we are horrible parents.......but we will be making up for it this weekend!!!!! See you then!!!!!

PS I'll post pictures of the playroom, you're going to love it....I striped it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Look what I can do..........

We are bad parents.....

Brady has had a runny nose, which I attributed to him possibly cutting teeth....as that has been the pattern for he and Hayden when cutting a new tooth! So I have been checking his upper gums as they appeared a little red to me.

No luck so far.....

Then Saturday, after eating breakfast I was standing behind him as he was in the highchair, and I was attempting to clean him up.......when I caught sight of something white in his mouth......to my amazement, he had cut a tooth on the bottom.....not only that he is cutting BOTH teeth on bottom at the same time and they are thru the skin!!!!!

So now Brady has six teeth!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Snow In Alabama...No Way!!!!

Well believe it or not, it's snowing here. The morning when we awoke, there was to be snow on the ground.....much to my disappointment, there was NOTHING!!! As usual, the weathermen are wrong!!!But for about an hour now, it has been snowing AND much to our surprise, it's sticking. It's suppose to continue snowing throughout the day.....who knows, maybe we will get the 3" they predicted!!