Secret

(can you tell i used bribery to get this picture...such a fake smile)

Guilty. For the past 2 months it really has been so hard for me to blog because I have been keeping a big secret from the blog world. It is hard to write what you really think or feel when you can't be completely honest. After taking 6 pregnancy tests all with positive results, I am happy to finally be able to officially document that The Stracener Scene will be adding a new member March 2011. We are so very excited and a little nervous too but we cannot wait to meet this new addition and to see what is in store for us. I think James is going to be a great big brother even though I don't think he quite understands exactly what it means as he likes to claim he is the little sister...(this is the usual response when we ask him if he wants a little brother or a little sister) it prompts "No I am the little sister"

So anywho, I am 13 weeks and baby strace #2 is apparently the size of a medium shrimp (not large in case you were wondering), almost through the 1st trimester thank goodness. March 4th is the official due date. Some of you may recall that James' due date was March 16th, he arrived March 20th. I am very excited about having 2 March babies. I personally think it is a great time of year for a baby to be born just before spring! It also works out perfectly that I will be going through those last few months during the dead of winter. I remember not even turning the heat on last time and sleeping without covers. I do not see how women do it during the summer. I am not sure I would survive. This pregnancy has not been too different from the first as far as sickness goes. Maybe a little more nauseous than before but the exhaustion and mood swings have kicked me in the rear. Well the exhaustion has kicked me the mood swings have probably kicked Chad a time or two. Fortunately he tries really hard to be patient and ignore half of what I say. No specific cravings just yet honestly everything sounds really good whenever I day dream about food.

Also the plan as of now is to not find out the gender this time...keeping my fingers crossed that both Chad and I can do it! I think it would be such a fun surprise for everyone and honestly we really do not care whether it is a boy or girl as long as he/she is healthy!! I know such a typical line but it is the truth! I think it would be great to have a girl and have one of each but then again I think it would be great for James to have a little brother to grow up with. Just for the record my initial feeling is boy :) Oh and we have pretty much decided on our names for each but sorry to disappoint that will also be kept a secret...

Other very random thoughts, 1) still trying to figure out why our 2 yr old LOVES the show "Minute to Win It". If you haven't seen it comes on Tuesday nights and it is great! I think James loves the excitement when the contestants win their challenges. But seriously his eyes are glued to the tv while it is on. You would think Woody or Buzz had taken over our screen. 2) James has a new phrase that makes me laugh every time he says it..."that'll be fun" Not sure where it came from (someone reminded me that I tend to say it often...i never realized). Usually he uses it to get us to do something with him. For example the other night we were on our way home from dinner and this is the convo:
James: "We go home"
Me: "yes we are going home"
Chad: "We are getting a bath when we get home"
James:  "We go home, Get bath and then go in the play room, that'll be fun!" wink wink
3) I am no longer "mommy" I have been downgraded to "mama". Out of no where just one day he started calling me Mama. A little sad about that because I know the inevitable is coming the day when I am just plain "Mom"

Congrats to all our friends who are expecting babies Jan/Feb/March 2011! James and baby strace have lots of future playmates I know they can't wait to meet!

Sweet Summertime

Ok I am going to try this one more time. Long story but this post has been in the works since June and I kept adding to it then had problems with the pictures I added, etc, etc. So I am giving it one more shot and keeping my fingers crossed. I know most of my faithful readers are thinking where have you been?...the few that I do have. Well it has been one busy hot summer for us. Weekends are crazy, work is crazy, weeknights I am exhausted thus my blog has suffered. I hope to make more effort for the month of August!! So this post I am going to try to recap our summer so far. I have hit some highlights such as my girls beach weekend and the 4th of July. Other things we have been up to lately...
1) We have spent many many days at the pool. Chad and I decided to join a local pool and we have agreed that it is one of the best decisions we have made lately. James LOVES the pool and every time we go he is just as excited as the 1st time he went. He has become such a good little swimmer too (with the assistance of his swimmies). He jumps off the side all by himself and goes under water. Swims and kicks his little legs and repeats the whole process over and over. It has made for some good long afternoon naps for all us. Here are a few pics from our time at the pool.

2) We have added to our Toy Story Collection. These little characters have provided countless hours of entertainment and laughter. James treats them like real people and it cracks me up. They watch him eat meals, watch him go potty, and they are told "bye-bye" and given kisses when we leave. He reassures them with "Be right back" too.

3) We have been "working" on potty training. We have made great strides but still not there. This week has been a pivotal week as Wednesday his teacher asked for me to put him in big boy underwear. And I am happy to report he only had 1 accident. I think that is pretty good for a first day. However I am not happy to report that this morning after he is dressed (in his big boy underwear) and I am dressed for work waiting on my coffee to finish brewing noticing that something has gone wrong with the coffee maker and all of the coffee has not really made it into my mug...I hear "Mommy I go poopy". I am thinking please no and I pat his bottom and think "Oh s#$%" (literally). I know probably too gross but it is reality. I can't be mad at the sweet boy we are still "training" but that is the LAST thing you want to do at 7:00 am trying to head out the door. For a moment I think it would just be easier if you were still in diapers...
4) We are down to only one paci in his crib and trying to get up the courage to make that one disappear. I really think James will be fine but I am dreading those first few nights.
5) We have made a few steps towards planning for his big boy room. I have purchased the bedding and still looking at furniture. Poor James is in for lots of adjustments over the next couple of months...no more diapers, no more paci, and no more crib. Don't worry I plan to spread them out so it is not all at once.
6) We have had a few visitors this summer and have a few more on the calendar in the next month. Just recently my good friend Lorie and her daughter Ashlyn came to visit. James and Ashlyn are exactly 1 year apart. They came to visit us last year here is a picture of them watching morning cartoons.

What a difference a year makes! We had a great time with them again this year. We went to the pool, we watched movies, we made cupcakes and we laughed alot too (mainly at me...I had few clumsy incidents). One involved a swim diaper ripping at the seams and poor James hit the floor. Fortunately when I realized he was ok. We laughed very hard at the scene...I was just trying to test his reflexes :) He has some good ones! Here are a few pics from their trip this year...

7) We have only made one trip to Birmingham this summer and that was for a wedding which is odd for us. And I don't think we have an available weekend in August. Hopefully we will be able to come visit in September!

I think that is an update on us for now. I hope to be back sooner than the last time!