32 weeks

How is it that I'm already 32+ weeks pregnant?  I've said it before, but the second pregnancy flies by so much fast than the first!

In some respects, this has been a much easier pregnancy than what I had the first time around.  I haven't had near the problems with RLS that I had with Eli.  I also sleep a whole better, but honestly, I think that's due to being busy all the time with a three year old and work (as opposed to sitting at home all summer).  Like with Eli, I am thirsty ALL THE TIME.  For water.  Ice water, specifically.  I am drinking about 100+ oz per day.  I have had other symptoms/problems, but all of which are common to pregnancy, and thankfully no serious dangers to to me or Landon!  : )

By now, Landon weighs between 3 1/2 - 4 lbs, and is about 17" long.  He also has fingernails, toenails, and peach fuzz on his head!  Like his brother, Landon is an active little fella.  He rolls around often, and like my other two boys, I think he'll probably be a 'sotter' player!  He can suck his thumb, and is practicing his breathing for life in the real world.

This week my back pain has become really bothersome.  By lunch I'm worn out.  I try to sit down and rest, but teaching isn't really a "sit down" kind of job.  It's hard to rest when I get home...Eli wants to play!  Needless to say, I have crashed early at bedtime.

This weekend is a long weekend and we have big plans!  First off, it's a special big brother celebration/trip for Eli!  After that, we Wesley has plans to restain Eli's new dresser.  After that, we'll be able to move Eli's clothes out of his old room/dresser, and bring out the clothes for baby Landon.  That will leave wall decor is the last step to finishing Eli's big boy room.  Landon's room *should* be finished up this weekend.  I'm looking forward to the weekend and getting a little more organized and knocking some things off our very long to-do list!

Next weekend is our baby shower.  And I just realized that I need to sign us up for another car seat safety class offered at our hospital.  The closer to time it gets, the more I feel slightly panicked because my list of stuff to do/buy gets even longer!  By this point in my pregnancy with Eli I had tons of diapers.  Not the case this time.  Not at all.....

Landon, Daddy and I can't wait to meet you!  I can't wait to see what you look like and kiss your cheeks.  Big brother Eli is very excited too.  Before bedtime he likes to go (by himself) into your room and sit on the floor in front of your crib and read stories to you.  I hope you two will be the best of buddies!

The countdown is on!!!

Wordless Wednesday

Eli dances

Strike Up the Band!

In honor of tonight's national championship game, here's a little photo of our family with Auburn's last national championship trophy!  After last season, who ever thought we would have been here again so soon?!  Win or lose, it's been an amazing and very memorable season.

2010 national championship trophy

One of Eli's favorite things to do is to "play Auburn".  He starts out by playing band and performs his own pregame show.  Most of the time he is the drum major, and he begs people to be in his band---which means you have to run behind him and sing War Eagle.  Bonus points are given if you can do rare backs, high step, and rock while performing!

Wesley and I find this highly humorous because of our time in the band at Auburn (him on horn, me on the flag line).  I guess we owe where we are now, and our little family, at least in part, to the AUMB.  We met through band 9 years ago and have been together ever since.

Just for the record, we don't push or make a big deal out of the band.  Eli has picked this up through attending the majority of the home games in his short little life.  What you don't see is after you play band, you have to get out the football and play Aubie football.  Oh, and it's always the Iron Bowl when Eli is playing.  Sometimes he lets you be Aubie, but most of the time you have to be Alabama.  And then he informs you how much he doesn't like you.

Here's a great little article highlighting Auburn's marching band and Florida State's band (which my sister in law and father in law were apart of during their time at Florida State).  I won't go so far as to say it was the best time of my life (see the article), but it certainly made my Auburn experience.  I credit many of my college friendships (and my marriage) as a result to my time in the AUMB.  One quote from the article that I loved and felt hit the nail on the head (even though I'm no musicians) was, "Our standards for ourselves are high.  We teach a precise work ethic, a pride, that we hope will carry over to whatever the musicians do after they leave here."

And, because I've said much more about the band than I really intended to, (this blog post was just supposed to just be a cute video of Eli) I'll leave you with one more awesome video.  Yay band!

Auburn Band: 2013 Highlight Video from Alan Brazzell on Vimeo.

WAR EAGLE!  BEAT FSU!

Big Brother Stuff

 Before heading back to school tomorrow (yikes!), we've been working on some big brother stuff around here.

The first project was from Eli to Landon.  The nursery is basically staying the same as it was with Eli, but I am making a few small changes to personalize it for Landon.  I've been trying to be very conscious of including Eli in all that we do and not leaving him out of this, so I wanted him to make something for Landon's room.

I painted a canvas navy, and then gave Eli some paint that matched the bedding for that room.  Eli worked very hard to paint a horse (his idea) for his brother!  If you follow me on Instagram, it really did look like a horse...the red did anyway.  He wanted to add some green after that, and basically covered up the horse, but that's ok.  It was made in love! : )

I've had a few other little projects for the nursery that I've been working on this week, but will wait to reveal those for a little while longer!

We also have been hard at work the past several days to get Eli's big boy room ready.  Big brother was very excited about paint sticks and stirring the paint!

We let him put the first few strokes of paint on the wall.

Eli was tickled to write his name on the wall in paint!!

Above his name he also wrote "Mom" (Momma) and "Nana".  We decided it looked like Nana was written in cursive.

My parents graciously offered to help us paint the room and strip furniture this weekend.  It turned into a MUCH bigger project than any of us really anticipated, so we were very grateful for their help!

Eli's room, like Landon's, is still a work in progress.  Stay tuned for the final reveals!

2014

I can't believe it's 2014 already.  2013 was full of so many great things, but I'm so excited for what's to come in 2014.  Just to name a few...

*Landon making his appearance in just 2 more months (eek!)

*My brother's wedding

*Several trips to the beach

*Eli turns 4 (what?)!

*Wesley's 10 year high school reunion

I kind of think New Years resolutions are stupid.  If it needs to be done or should change, why am I waiting for a certain date on the calendar to do it?  Why wait???  But, nonetheless, here are a few goals for 2014:

*Blog more.  I said this last year, and at time didn't do a great job it.  In fact, I blogged less in 2013 than in any of the other five years that I've been blogging.  On one hand, I don't regret it, because it meant I was out living life and not sitting behind the computer every night.  On the other hand, this is our family's little scrapbook and record book.  Balance is the key I suppose!

*Lose weight.  I sure hope it comes off after March and doesn't overstay it's welcome.  : )

*Run.  I'm giving myself through the summer and the heat to recover/adjust to life with two kiddos, but come fall, I'm going to get back at it!

*Read more.  It's something I love, but between being a wife, mommy, and teacher, something has to go.  My list of books to read is always longer than I have time for!

*Be more intentional with reading my Bible.  Enough said I think.

Here's to 2014!

2013 Review

This is one of my favorite posts to do all year!  I love looking back at what all we've done and how much Eli has grown.

Here are some of our highlights from the past year:

In January, we stayed around the house and recovered from holiday travels, but Eli did get some loving from all the grandparents when they came to see us.

In February, Wesley ran another half, setting a new PR.

We also explored a few other trails in south Alabama.

In March, I ran the Color Me Rad 5k with friends, which was tons of fun!

We also vacationed in south Florida with Ginny, Pops, and Aunt Katie for Spring Break!  It was so much fun.  I'm ready to go back.

In April, we celebrated Easter.

We also went to Auburn for A-Day and rolled the trees at Toomers one last time.  Who knew we'd be back at the corner rolling as much as we were this football season!  : )

In May,  I apparently didn't blog very much, but the highlight of May for us is always the start of summer!

In June, we spent a week at Disney and took Nana and Puddin' along for the ride.

We also finally conquered potty training!

In July, we visited with Uncle Brian and Aunt Mollie.

We also went back to the beach.

We also made our annual trip to Texas and celebrated Maddie turning 2!  While we were out there we visited the new George W. Bush presidential library.

(This picture makes me want to grow my hair out...also, look how skinny I used to be!  *sigh*)

In August, I started my 7th year teaching, Wesley started his 5th year of teaching/coaching, and Eli started k-3!

My little man also turned 3 years old (where is the time going?!) and we celebrated with a water slide birthday party!

We also announced to all of our friends (our families already knew) that Eli would be a big brother in 2014!

In September, a new day started for Auburn football, and our weekends were quickly filled with trips to Jordan-Hare and cheering on our Tigers!

We also found out that we are having another precious boy, Landon Michael Taff!

In October, we went to the pumpkin patch with Eli's gf and bff, Abigail.

Nana also took Eli on his very first field trip - to a different "puntin patch" (as Eli called it).

Puddin' and I also flew to Texas for a quick (30 hours) trip.  I got to meet my nephew, Aidan, for the first time!

Eli also dressed up like a firefighter for Halloween.

In November, we flew to New York for Uncle Brian's wedding.

We also went to the Peanut Festival!

Wesley unfortunately got the flu and we missed getting to see our families for Thanksgiving.  We had our own little Thanksgiving at home, party of three.

Wesley was feeling somewhat better to try to make it to the Iron Bowl, and even though he relapsed a little, he said it was definitely worth seeing Auburn beat Bama!

In December, Eli participated in his first Christmas program at school.  We're so proud of him.  He learned several songs with motions, and was also a wiseman!

We also created some new Christmas traditions (like reindeer food) and also soaked up some great, quality time with family!

The Lord has been very good to us in 2013.  We're anxious for what's to come in 2014 (especially meeting Landon!).

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Christmas Part 2

Christmas part 2 took place the day after Christmas with my family in Dothan.  If I'm not mistaken, this is the first time we've all been together since last Christmas!

Eli got to meet his little cuz, Aidan, and got some good big brother practice in!  He was so sweet to Aidan; loving on him, asking to hold him, giving him kisses and talking to him!  It makes me excited to see him with Landon.

A view of the Christmas madness!

Love this sweet girl.  I can't believe how grown she looks (and acts).

Auburn is always a theme at Christmas!

Eli also received several Jake toys...which makes for one happy 3 year old boy!

Ahoy mateys!

Aviator Aidan was not to be outdone in the headgear.

I loved watching these two cousins play together over the weekend.  They only see each other about twice a year, so they play hard and make up for lost time!

When it wasn't raining, or too windy, we tried to get out and play in the backyard.  Of course Eli's vote was for soccer.

This has been a fantastic Christmas season.  We've had so much fun and made great memories with all our family!