A Sad Night: RIP Kate Russell

Our little family lost a sweet kitty last night. Kate, had been with us since November 2006. She stayed inside at our old house, but since we have moved to the river she has been outside and loving it! Paul and I heard a noise around 4:30AM, he ran outside, but it was too late. We think it was coyotes! She was such a good kitty, so loving to everyone!



We will miss you, Kate! Mommy and Daddy love you sooooooo much!

Another Pirate Baby & House News

We are so excited our friends, Steven & Lauren, are having a new addition! They are due in November so Nick and their baby will only be 4 months different in age. They are going to be awesome parents and we can't wait to meet the baby!

Also, we got a call this week that the house will be ready in about 30 days! YAY! So we are looking forward to moving in around mid-May! New pic below!

Nick's first Easter picture:

Already April!

Sorry I have had such a long break in blogging. Things have been crazy around our house or should I say the river house (since we don't currently have a house, lol). I have got several things to catch up on and I love bullets so this is going to be a bullet blog...just makes things so much easier! *House: Our new house is coming right along. They put up the shingles, windows, and doors this week. It is amazing how fast it is going up and we hope to be in it by mid-May. Hopefully in plenty of time to get things settled before Nick comes. *National Board: I mailed my National Board portfolio entries off this week! What a relief! Although mailing the portfolio entries only means now it is time to start studying for the assessment that I take on May 9. *Abby: Abby is growing like a weed and has been working on potty training. I am proud to announce that she is napping beside me on the couch right now and has been in big girl pants with NO accidents since Thursday!! She has even stayed dry at night! I am so proud of my big girl! *Pregnacy: Pregnacy is GREAT! Everyone is so thoughtful and always asks how I am feeling! It is great to be able to answer WONDERFUL!! I have been feeling great! I hope things stay that way and the labor and delivery is that way too! Nick is almost 25 weeks and around the size of rutabega. *Hubby: Paul is great! He is loving ECU baseball season and trying to be there as much as our living 40 minutes away will allow. He is doing great with dealing with all the house stuff and I truly appriciate it because I don't know if I could handle one more thing on my plate and for the most part I'm agreeable to his decisions with a few exceptions. It is easier to just make approvals rather than pick things out! *Registry: Last night Paul and I finished up our baby registry at Babies R US! WOW! What a feat! I had no idea! Please feel free, if we are friends, and you have kids, to check it out and let me know I forgot something! *Nick's Nursery: I posted the beginnings of Nick's nursery quilt my Aunt Melva is making on facebook last weekend. This going to be our "theme". I really didn't want to be limited to a set from the store so we are piecing together things to include everything we wanted including: pirate ships, nautical stuff, ocean/river animals, etc. Can't wait to get in new house so we can start putting stuff together! Nick's Buddy: We are so excited our friends, Travis and Ana, are expecting a new addition!! We found out a couple weeks ago at one of their famous cookouts. When they were drawing for the door prize they picked out a piece of paper that said they were prego! YAY! We are so excited, glad we have good friends going through this adventure with us!

All Moved: Phase 1

As most of you already know we sold our house and have moved to my parents river cottage. We are building a new house in Ayden, but it will not be ready until late April, early May. We can't wait to get into our new house and begin our life this summer with our little family of three. The river is great and we are so blessed to have this option. My parents have been soooooo understanding and also are keeping our dogs for us! We miss them greatly, but we know they are well taken care of! Things will be a little different for us over the next couple months, but it will be well worth it in the long run!

I can't believe February is almost over! Nick will be 20 weeks this Tuesday! Time is flying!
Hope everyone got to get out and enjoy this beautiful weather today!
Have a great week!
Kim

A BLUE Sweet Potatoe

Yesterday Paul and I went for our first ultrasound of Baby Russell and found out that we are having a little BOY!!! We are excited he is healthy and right on target to arrive in July. Today I am 18 weeks and my iphone app says the baby is the size of a sweet potatoe!! He is growing everyday and I can tell that my stomach is getting bigger. We have a lot going on right now with house stuff, but hopefully we will be in our new house by May to have plenty of time to get ready for the baby.



Last night we had a "Gender Party" and announced the gender of the baby to all our family by cutting into a cake that was BLUE on the inside. My Mom hosted it at her house because our house is half-way packed up. My Mom also allowed me to host Bunco tonight at her house! I know, she is the GREATEST!! My bunco girls ate the pink cake tonight and got the news it is a BOY!




We are so excited and can't wait to meet our little man!! He is going to have a lot to live up to being named after Paul's Grandfather who meant so much to both of us AND his middle name is Paul's and his Dad's middle name. His name is going to be:
Nicholas "Nick" Stephen Russell

Holy Gucamole!!!

Today we are at 16 weeks and Baby Russell is the size of an avacado!! Last Friday I had a doctors appointment and again got to hear my precious baby's heartbeat! My Mom and Abby went with me and she had a BLAST, the mid-wife was so good with her and let her play with gloves and other stuff! Only two short weeks until we find out if Baby Russell will be a boy or girl!! Can't wait!

We are really excited and proud to announce that our friends Jamie and Jennifer are expecting another addition their family! Paul and Jamie went to college together and Jennifer and I clicked from the moment we met, I think it was in the mall parking lot (correct me if I'm wrong Jen). LOL! Jen has been great about answer my crazy questions about pregnancy so far! You can read about their family HERE.

Love this pic of their family, hopefully we can get a cute pics like this of our little family one day! Sorry, Jen I stole the pic off your FB, hope its ok!

Also, my friend Nickie is having contest on her blog, check it out HERE!

Lots of changes and house stuff going on I will update you when things are more final. Just be in prayer that Paul and I will make the right decisions for our family.

Kim

Lemonade Anyone???

Today Baby Russell is the size of a lemon.

We have so many friends going through trying times right now please remember these requests in your prayers tonight. This weekend Paul and I found out that a friend we went to high school with has breast cancer. We have friends that are at all different stages of the baby process. Also, a lady from church who works for the sheriffs department was hit by a car on Sunday and is in the hospital with a broken leg. So terrible! To make it worse she has a toddler! Please remember this family, also.
Have a blessed rest of the week!

It's only fitting for this blog post, when life gives you lemons make lemonade!

Kim