Easter

Wow.  I haven't posted anything on here in a month and a half.  No, I haven't been sick or disabled or anything.  The pregnancy is going well, and baby and I are doing great.  My doctor told me this week that I have a textbook pregnancy.  For that I am quite grateful.  It's been the same for all three.  I don't really know why I haven't written on my blog except that I've been busy (isn't everyone?) and also pregnant enough to not want to do anything after 9pm!

We have been on the move a lot, and also have been busy bees around the house in a frantic combination of spring cleaning and nesting!  We are currently or recently have been working on: getting the house clean inside and out, refinancing our house, selling one car, purchasing a new car (3 car seats don't fit in either of our cars!), finishing our backyard project, visiting family, working some serious over time (Brett), getting ready for baby boy, and raising two fabulous but demanding little ones!

We went to Wilmington for Easter and Hilton Head later that week.  We saw lots of family that week and got to attend baby Addison's baptism.  It was a great week.  Lots of sun, sand, ocean, and family time.  Here are a select few pictures of some of the fun we had.

Can anything top the pure joy of a child on the beach on a perfectly warm, not too hot, not too cool spring day?  I really can't think of anything...

The kids had a blast at on the beach at Hilton Head while visiting Grandma.  They could have played all day every day with no breaks.  Watching your children run wild and free on the beach with the wind whipping their hair and the sand squeezing between their toes elicits memories of your own childhood in the sun, sand and breeze; and all the joy you felt as a child comes washing back over you as you see your own children experience the same sensations.  Its another one of those unexpected joys of parenting.  Like playing Santa.  Which is almost more fun than being visited by Santa.

In Wilmington, we were so happy to participate in the baptism of my sweet niece, Addison.  My dad performed the baptism, and it was short and beautiful.  We don't have any photos (forgot the camera in a rushed packing effort!).  I'll get some from Ian and repost!

The kids had a great Easter in Wilmington - a little too much candy, but otherwise it was great!  We had several egg hunts (one with filled eggs, the others with empty eggs, and interestingly equally fun for the kids!).  Again, we had no camera, so these photos (taken with a phone) are pretty bad!  Sorry!

While in Wilmington, we got to visit with Nana and Papa John as well as Grandpa Knox and Grandma Julie.  Knox and Julie were "in town" (all the way from Australia) for their annual visit.  They had all sorts of handmade treasures for the kids and we enjoyed a fun morning on the beach with them as well.  Then, in Hilton Head, we got to see Grandma (Brett's mom).  So, in one week, the kids saw three sets of grandparents and played on three beaches!  Three times the love and three times the fun.

And baby boy is coming right along.  I have been asked three times in the last few days if I am due "any day now," which is only slightly disconcerting since I have 7 1/2 weeks left!  So, with hesitation I post a picture of me and my apparently LARGE belly. :)

Baby #3 is due on Father's Day, and Pierce was born on Mother's Day.  How about that? :)