Bitter Sweet

I wasn't sure if I was going to post about this or not, but I have decided to do so since this blog is our "scrapbook" of memories.  A friend emailed me shortly after I posted the last post and saw where the student gave me Vampire Tigger.  She read that the student said "I am going to miss you a lot."  She wanted to know what he meant by that.  Well,  We have not told many people about this but here it goes.  I am leaving my current job at Houston Academy this week.  I turned in my resignation last week and this Friday, Ocotber 21st, which turns out is my birthday, will be my last day.  There have been many things that have weighed in on our decision for me to leave H.A.  The school is amazing and I have made some wonderful friends and relationships with staff members.  I have also fallen in love with the parents and my students.  The saddest part is leaving my students.  Some of them understand and some do not.   It was a total shock to my Principal and Head Master and to many of the teachers and families.  They all want an answer to the question, WHY?  Though, it is a personal matter and our decision is private, all I can say is that sometimes things in life take a different route.

I will treasure the memories I have made at H.A. and how wonderful H.A. has been to me for the past 2 years.  I will miss my lunches with our lunch bunch, my lunch buddy, Ashley, and my close friends that helped me with everything and let me vent about anything and everything.  I will also miss my pregnant buddies, Kristy and Ashley.  I loved comparing stories of pregnancies and baby stories.

On a different note, we are taking the girls trick or treating for the first time this year with our friends Lauren, Brad, and Madalyn and my Mom is making their costumes.  The girls are going to be M & M's and I'm going to be the M & M with a pretzel inside (get it, I'm pregnant).  That was Lauren's idea and I loved it.  We have not decided what Justin's role in the M & M theme will be yet, so if you have any suggestions, bring 'em.  Stay tuned for pictures. 

Have a great week!! 

Phone Dump

Inspired by a friend, I decided to go through my phone and clean out my pictures.  This is strictly a post of pictures and comments.  That's all anyone ever wants to see anyway, right?  ENJOY! 

Olivia reading in her favorite spot. 

Our little pumpkins.  The third spot is reserved for Lillian next year.

Olivia clucking.

The girls LOVED the farm animals at the pumpkin patch.  We didn't get to stay long since mommy forgot her battery to her camera and the offical patch had not opened yet.

Allie saw a cow.

Allie went shopping for me to cook dinner

Special delivery for mommies birthday!!

Allie being silly with Gandy's sunglasses.

Meet vampire Tigger.  This was given to me by one of my students who has Asperger's Syndrome.  If you know anything about Asperger's then you know it is a form of Autism.  The child who gave this to me kept telling me that he had something to give my little girls.  Well, last week he came into my office first thing at 7:30 sharp and handed me a bag and said, "This is what I was telling you about."  I opened it and he explained what it was.  I immediately plugged it in to my wall and we watched Tigger grow.  He kept saying over and over, "Your babies will love it."  This child is not particularly in to hugs, so I asked him if I could hug him and he didn't say anything.  So, I didn't push him.  He saw the tears in my eyes as I thanked him and he threw his arms around me and squeezed me so hard and said "Thank you for everything, Mrs. Armstrong.  I'm going to miss you a lot."  Of course, more tears.  Anyway, I took this home to the girls.  Allie went crazy over it and was not scared of it.  Olivia, however, ran and cried when she saw it.  She loves it now that she has warmed up to it.   

Olivia

Saturday, we had a yard sale and my Sister, my Dad, and sister in law came to help.  We made a ton of money, which I wasn't expecting to do.  Thanks to Aunt Whit Whit, my head sales person!!!  Olivia and Allie came out for a bit and Olivia found a pot that Aunt Mallory was selling.  The girl loved this pot.  She decided to test it out and see how much it could hold.  Hypothesis confirmed: Pot can hold 25.12 pounds of baby.



15 Month Check-Up

We went for the girls 15 month check up yesterday.  Wow! I cannot believe they are 15 months old already.  Anyway, here are their stats:

Allie
Height   32 inches          87th percentile
Weight  23.12 pounds    62nd percentile
Head     45.6 cm

Olivia
Height    32.5 inches         94th percentile
Weight   25.12 pounds     85th percentile
Head      46.7 cm

The girls handled the visit very well, with the exception of the shots.  They actually handled it better than I was expecting them to.  The good news is that they will not get anymore shots until their 2 year check up and after that, no more shots until they go to school!!!!! Thank goodness.  They will, of course, get their flu shots yearly, but other than that, we are happy.

Quicky Post: Fall Break

The girls and I have been staying pretty busy since Thursday.  After I got off work, I came home and picked up the girls and Justin.  We went to the park and let the girls go wild.  Little did we know that they would wear us out even more. 

Friday came and the girls and I took a trip to the mall.  We shopped till we dropped.  The girls did so good.  No fussing, no crying, and not even a single attempt to jump out of the stroller.  Below is a picture of Allie when we pulled into the driveway that afternoon.  She was exhausted.

By the end of the day, I was pooped, too.  I was so tired that when I went to bath the girls that night, I forgot one important thing.  Can you figure it out?  If you can't see the picture very well, I forgot to take Olivia's socks off.  Olivia didn't even mind.  Justin was undressing Allie for me and said, "You know she still has her socks on?"  I laughed so hard at myself for doing that.  I told my Mom what I did and her comment to me was, "At least you took their diapers off."  So true, Mom!!!!  Glad I can laugh about it. 

21 Weeks With Lillian

We had our check up yesterday with an ultrasound.  Below are some pictures of Lillian at 20 weeks and 6 days. 
 

Lillian's profile

We were able to catch Lillian in mid-yawn.  The black "O" shape is her mouth while yawning.



And this is little Lillian assuring us that she is indeed a girl.  She might hate me later in life for this one. 



Lillian weighed in at 14 ounces, right on track.  All of her organs and major body parts are present and accounted for.  Her heart is looking good with all chambers present and working properly.  Lillian's heart rate was at 153 beats per minute.  I love the sound of that little heart beat. 

The neat thing about this ultrasound is that we were able to see Lillian very clear.  With the girls, they were so smashed and packed in tight that we could not see them clearly like this one.  I can tell you one thing, though.  I can definitely tell a difference in carrying twins versus carrying one.  Things are much more comfortable and calm this time around................so far. 

We wanted to go ahead and schedule the c-section since I will be in school this time around and need to get a substitute ASAP.  Doctor G said he will deliver Lillian via c-section whenever we want, even if he's off on the day we choose.  He said he would come in and perform the c-section, anyway.  This Doctor is so good to us.  Lillian is scheduled to be here between February 9th and 17th.  We have not decided on a day yet, but will by our next appointment on October 28th.  Justin's birthday is on February 9th and Justin would love to have a little girl delivered for his birthday.  Maybe she will be here on that day.  We'll see.   

The closer and closer we get to February, the more excited I am to meet Lillian.  I look at Allie and Olivia now and wonder what Lillian's personality will be like at their age (15 months).  I love being a mommy and wife.  There is truly nothing better than your child seeing you and running to you with pure excitement written all over their face while getting to share that with your husband.  God has been so good to us over the years and I am thankful that he chose Justin and I to bring Allie, Olivia, and Lillian into this world.  Have a great week and stay tuned for pictures from Fall Break this weekend.

Relaxing Weekend

This weekend was so nice.  The weather was perfect and we did not have one place to be for once.  We have been going, going, and going for the last few months and have not spent a weekend at home as a family in I can't tell you how long.  It was nice to not have a weekend of family time with just myself, Justin, and the girls.  We had such a nice weekend.  Here are a few pictures from the weekend.  Have a great week!!!!

Allie eating her blueberries.  Can you tell she loves her berries?

I swear I did not do a thing to make this child smile.  The girls favorite thing to do now is smile.  Good thing I have a camera near by at all times. 

 Allie playing with her duck that this sweet older man up the street made for them. They love these ducks so much.  She was all dressed up for Church yesterday.  The bow did not last long but Justin managed to sneak it in her hair without her knowing.

So, I'm not sure why this picture won't rotate.  Sorry.  Olivia watching "Chuggington" before Church yesterday morning.  Her bow did not last long either.  Thank goodness Justin is my bow attendant and can get them in there better than I can.  Thanks Justin!