Life's Adventures January-March 2016

 {Park & Play Time with Auby}

I have to say our days have been filled with lots of laughs, many to dos, some tears and unexpected happenings, a bit of apprehension, but a whole lot of love. When I became pregnant, people continued to tell me that my ability and time spent blogging would quickly be cut in half. As a blog enthusiast, I couldn't believe this to be true, but of course, life happens. I still love putting my thoughts and words on paper. Whether I fail in grammar or time, it is such a fun reminder of our life together and all the memories made. So enjoy a long picture post from January-March of 2016 as I prepare for baby Liam.

January 2016

Grammy & Papa Z's Visit to Dallas
January 16-18, 2016

This January, Grammy and Papa Z came up to Dallas for the weekend. We enjoyed our time with grandparents. We ventured to the Perot Museum, played with playdough, watched lots of Disney & Pixar options, enjoyed a special church service listening to daddy teach, and had a delicious meal at Cafe Brazil. It was surely a special time with family.

Segway Tours & Fantlet Hangout 

January 23, 2016

 

Ray and Michael went on a Segway Tour experience in Dallas. This may have been the "coolest" present ever. No seriously. Poor guys completed there segway tour in 30 degree weather but boy did they have a blast. 

While the boys were out, Aubrey and I joined Kristin and our Fantlet friends at Chick-fil-a for a fun lunch and play date. I have to say, anytime chicken, ketchup, a play yard, our favorite cow, and this crew is together, it is surely a success. The kiddos were definitely all smiles. When the boys returned, K and I enjoyed a soothing outing of pedicures.

 

Aubrey's Big Girl Bed
January 29, 2016

This month we switched Aubrey over to her big girl bed and said "bye bye to the crib." Yes it is a queen bed that takes up a good amount of space in her room.  We already had it as an extra bed and thought it would make a great addition in her space and would allow Liam a crib for his room. She is so in love. We even celebrated with cupcakes and new decor.

I think this face says it all! Yay for our big girl bed!

Jacob's 5th Birthday
January 30, 2016

We absolutely enjoyed celebrating our sweet friend, Jacob, for his 5th birthday party at Main Event for bowling and arcade fun. I love watching our college crew of littles grow up together.

Warm January Park Days
It's crazy that our "winter" has been pretty nonexistent this year. We have enjoyed many days in the park with our munchkin. Many of these little outings take place between daddy and Auby while mommy is resting with Liam.

Potty Training
Aubrey has been off and on with potty training. We aren't "there" yet but absolutely love celebrating the little moments when she chooses the potty. We celebrate with what Auby has called "tee-tee candy." I'm ready to be full into potty training once this summer hits. With Disney's Frozen movie panties ready, I'm ready for a successful summer of potty training.

February 2016
Friday Night House Leak

As Ray and I prepared for Parents Night Out at our church, we came home to a huge leak from the upstairs bathroom. It leaked through the floor into the laundry room, parts of the kitchen, and through the carpet. While it was a three week stressful ordeal while I was 31 weeks pregnant, we now have new paint in the kitchen, our holes in our ceiling have been redone, and we were given brand new carpet, all with a paid deductible.

If Gathering
February 6-7, 2016

I am reminded that the Lord never promised us the ram but He did promise the Lamb. I am so thankful for this time away to remember that Christ never promises us triumphs. We will suffer trials; however, it is through this beautiful chaos that we can turn to Him.

Liam Loving
This little man has constantly been on the move. I'm so thankful for this cute little travel partner. I cannot express my excitement enough to see him in the next few weeks.

Chick-fil-A Wednesdays
ABF Bible Study Nights

Our weekly favorite has been taking this little munchkin to "Chick-a-lay" for some chicken and good play time. Can you see her excitement?

 

{Playdough Fun}

Valentine's Love'n

February 2016

On February 13th, the husband and I took Aubrey for a Valentine's breakfast treat. She surely loved her chocolate donut with sprinkles. 

 After our time at The Donut Kitchen. We ventured over to Lowe's for a late morning of build and grow.

 {Aubrey's first Lowe's Build & Grow Experience- Valentine Frame}

 {Aubrey's church Valentine}

 {"Doh" you want to be my Valentine?}

 {Dinner with the Dukes- Eating chips & salsa with my girl}

Outdoor Park Play
February 2016

 {Auby loves her some sunglasses and soccer}

 {Painting with Daddy}

Hope Park Play
Unexpected Play Date with pals

After being under the weather, the family enjoyed a fabulous outing to Hope Park.  We unexpected ran into our Cox friends.  The weather was a bit cool and a bit overcast which meant we would have the park to ourselves. What a sweet unexpected outing with friends. 

{Park Play Family Selfie}

Guest Reader
February 26, 2016

Mr. Zellner was a guest reader in my classroom during Dr. Seuss Week. The students LOVED the opportunity for him to come and to visit with Aubrey. From Fox in Socks, Theres a Wocket in my Pocket, and Are you My Mother were some of our classroom favorites this morning.

Baby Ava & Liam's Diaper Shower
February 27, 2016

On Saturday our sweet ABF hosted a double diaper shower for my friend Julie and I in honor of our babes that are expected to arrive in early March. What a beautiful brunch at Breadwinners for our joint diaper shower with sweet church friends.

 

 {Julie & I with our beautiful hostesses}

 

{Julie & baby Ava with myself & Liam}

Fantlet Twins Turn Three
Playstreet Museum

Happy 3rd birthday to our beautiful fantlet twins. We absolutely adore you both and are so excited to celebrate three amazing years!

 {Ray gives the best bear hugs}

  {Auby loves her some chocolate cake!}

March 2016

Dr. SeUsS WeEk
March 2016

 

{My Firstie Team: Tanya, me, Diana, & Keri}

Read Across America Day was a perfect celebration of all the wonderful work our firsties had done for Open House. I am so incredibly proud of these kiddos and my fantastic First Grade team!

 

Open House- March 3rd

 

First Grade Baby Shower
March 4, 2016

 

On Friday, my first grade team hosted a sweet baby shower and luncheon for myself and for baby Liam. With a delicious meal, thoughtful gifts, and sweet comments, I am so thankful for their love and support this school year. They are truly a group of fantastic women and it has been an absolute pleasure to work alongside them. 

Georgia's 1st Birthday
Saturday, March 6, 2016

We loved celebrating sweet Georgia Ruth this past weekend. What a gorgeous Saturday for friends and fun in the sun! Plus I'm dying over this adorable little mop and broom combination set.

This little cheeser never ceases to make me laugh. While we are still experiencing the fabulous two year old phase where everything is no and we do tend to walk a fine line with timeouts, I have to say, this little munchkin and her daddy are the light of my life. So here's to the beauty that all life has in store. The good, the bad, the unexpected... it all makes this crazy thing we call life so much of an adventure!

Baby Bump'n #2: Weeks 28-37

It is amazing how time can stand still yet still fly by. When I hit the third trimester while not getting sick on a daily basis or every few days, I absolutely felt the exhaustion of pregnancy. This growing a baby thing is truly hard work. But with that being said, through the pregnancy pains and sickness, please know that I feel absolutely blessed to be carrying this precious baby boy. Liam you are my rainbow baby, my miracle. God has such a special plan for your life and we are so incredibly thankful for you. I am so emotional this pregnancy thinking of how you were perfectly planned for us. I cannot wait to see your sweet face, to hold your sweet body, and to love and cuddle you. You are perfect and I cannot wait to tell you all about a God who gave you to us! So until we meet sweet boy, here is a picture post of our time together from week 28-37. We shall see you soon sweet love!  

 Snuggling with your big sister.

 

 

At 31 weeks, our doctor scheduled a sonogram appointment to check on our little man, fluid, and just checking overall on the pregnancy. Liam of course looked great even though you hid from the camera. Oh how you love to tuck your arm behind your head or hide your face. But mommy and daddy got the last laugh as you showed your little baby bum to us. 

Number of weeks: 37 Weeks
Measurement: At 31 weeks, you were already measuring almost 5 lbs and your leg length was measuring about 2 weeks early. Already this tells me that you are already taking after your daddy.
Baby Size: At 37 weeks, baby center says that our babe should weigh about 6 1/3 pounds and will measure a bit over 19 inches. From head to heel little Liam should be about the size of a bunch of swiss chard.
Heartbeat: Ranges from 140-150.
Pregnancy Clothes: They don't even fit these days. You always hear every pregnancy is different and boy are they right. The weight gain thing is normal but my body is carrying this little bundle so very different that almost every maternity piece I previously had looks like regular wear. I'm hoping that he comes a bit early as I would hate to go out and purchase more pieces at the very end.
Sleep/How I'm Feeling: As I tell the world, "I'm making it." I am so incredibly thankful to carry this little love and know that there are so many women out there that would trade my place in a heart beat. I was that woman. For 14 months waiting for Aubrey and the loss of our second child, it is embarrassing to even make any complaints. But being human, being stretched thin, having the worst mama and wife guilt, and all that comes along with hormones, I think I'm doing "ok" at this point. I've just hit the uncomfortable wall and try so much not to compare the two pregnancies. But hey, I'm human. Also while TMI, I'm dilated to a 3 and am 80% effaced. The doctor says he's extremely low and could honestly come any day. I am so thankful as I'd LOVE to see him early.
Most Memorable Moment: Seeing little Liam at 31 weeks melted my heart. He surely knows how to move and groove in this mama's belly as well as show us his baby bum.I also love how Aubrey talks about Liam. I know it will be a huge adjustment when her baby brother arrives but there is something so sweet when we pray and she says, "We pray for daddy, for mama, for Aubrey, and for baby Liam. I can't wait to see their love grow.
Moving and Grooving: You are all boy! From belly punches, rib kicks, to sweet hiccups, and laughable rolls, you are surely a mover. I wonder if you will move as much on the outside as you do on the inside.
Cravings: everything from sweets, chips and queso, margaritas, and wine.
What I look forward to: I absolutely cannot wait to meet our sweet boy. While I do believe that we will meet him sooner than later, I am excited to see if he will look like his big sister, daddy, or mama. I know that he will be a perfect little addition to our family.

Baton Rouge, Star Wars, & Zellner Family Fun

For months my Zellner family had been planning a plotting a sweet little family getaway to Baton Rouge, Louisiana for a weekend of Star Wars and a belated Christmas celebration. From Friday, January 8th to Sunday January 11th, we celebrated, loved-on, and laughed with these adorable faces. I am so thankful for a weekend away, time spent with family, and while always short, a truly memorable trip with all. Enjoy our fabulous picture post of our weekend together in Baton Rouge.

I have to say that our babe's 7-8 hour trip was a sure success with these special riding buddies. With ipad in hand, Fox and Penny, blankie, road trip snacks, and a happy go lucky little lady, we were all smiles as we made our way to LA.

We received a fantastically warm welcome that made this prego mama's heart and tummy smile. I surely loved the Double Trees delicious cookies. As we waited for our extended family to arrive, we relaxed with the family and finished a few more of Aubrey's ipad favorites.

And then our family arrived. Bring on the pillow fights, pool nights, laughter and love, from boy's movie dates, girl pedis, and family from above. What an absolutely exciting weekend with family.

Pillow Fight with cousin, Olivia

Loving on cousin, Kendall

Matchy-Matchy Brother/Sister Love

Relaxing after a long drive
Kendall, Jacob, Olivia, and Rachel

Aunt Rachel & Miss Aubrey

Pool Fun with daddy and the Zellner zoo

Star Wars men trip

Olivia & her mini me

Aubrey loves her cousin, Olivia

Cousin, Jacob & Auby

While we rang in the new year for 2016, we celebrated a fun evening and belated Christmas celebration with family.

Aunt Becky & Nephew Jacob

Becky, Kendall, & Rachel

Girl's Trip to the mall... Lions, Tigers, and Ponies

Aubrey loved singing on Olivia's Karaoke Machine

 Pink Pedi Toes

What a special weekend away celebrating family!

Toot 2 a Happy New Year 2016!

2016 will be a year of great adventures!
But before we end an amazing year, I wanted to thank the sweet friends for wonderful celebrations for our final days of 2015.

On NYE we gathered for dinner with two sweet couples from our ABF, the Ogles and the Hanks'. I loved watching the sweet babes play together as we wrapped up 2015 and celebrated the upcoming year. With sweet friends, sweet treats, adorable babes, and an early NYE (counted down NYE at 7PM), we had a wonderful evening of celebration and fun.

When we returned home, I put the babe in bed and enjoyed a glass of sparkling grape juice. Ray and I rang in the New Year together but I quickly faded after midnight. Just so happy and thankful for our year together. It definitely had its ups, its downs, and everywhere in between. I'm reminded and humbled for the memories made and those to come in this brand new year.

The next day, we met with our college crew for a New Years Day celebration and play date. Thank you to our Fant friends for hosting our afternoon together. It was filled with a delicious lunch, play date, Bean Boozled Christmas gift card exchange, and time spent together with sweet friends who are more like family. While the kids played, the adults gathered for a great afternoon of conversation and bean boozled fun! From jelly beans that had the ability to taste like skunk smell, toothpaste, grass clippings, barf, and more, this game surely held a lot of fun and some pretty sour faces. This may have been the best gift exchange yet!

Thank you to our sweet friends and to our final days of 2015. We are so thankful for the sweet memories made with great friends and littles. I look forward to seeing what next year will hold for these great groups.

Auby, my HEART!

 {"Mommy, I silly!" Morning play before school}

This silly, little munchkin has my heart. From shy to loud, to cuddly to running around the room shouting, "I got my mama and daddy" while giving Mattie the sweetest little hugs, you are a constant source of entertainment. This winter break, while mommy struggled a bit with baby boy, I have to say my time spent with the hubby and little was so memorable and fun. While daddy was at work, mommy and Auby enjoyed some fun time together. I definitely want to capture these little moments just the two of us before our new adventure begins in just a few short months.

 While on Christmas break, Auby and I enjoyed a mommy and me play date at Play Street Museum. While it was a bit on the full side and we did have to wait half an hour before entering the play area, it was so worth it. I loved Aubrey calling my name as she made me a yummy hot sauce ice cream sundae without cherries in the dinner, drive the Frisco school bus, had me help her get a pup ready for walking, and played with letters in the school house. It was fun to watch her speed past all the stores with her grocery cart that was full of wooden pickle jars and wooden fruit. I love her sweet little independence and huge smile on her face. Plus after a Subway lunch and a quick cup of milk, you were out like a light and so was mommy.

 These little hands I could truly hold for a lifetime. 

"I love you for always. My baby you'll be."

To my little girl. Thank you for making me a mama. For showing me that the simplest of moments can be the best. That life can never be boring spent along side you. You make each day magical. And while being a parent has its challenges and struggles as does being a toddler, I couldn't be more thankful for you!