caroline is going to be a big sister!

We've tried to tell everyone, but unfortunately I still don't think everyone knows. If you're finding out through our blog that I'm pregnant I'm so sorry we weren't able to tell you in person...I have good excuses. I'm a little over 13 weeks pregnant. My due date is July 4th! I like to call this baby my "little firecracker" b/c I swear I could feel him/her move as early as 9 weeks, which most say that's impossible. Here's a little Q & A to get some of the questions out of the way:

1. Are you sick? With C I was sick until 7 months. I've been nausea with this baby since the 6 weeks mark. I didn't start vomitting until week 11. You can pray for me in this area b/c it's been difficult.

2. Do you think you'll be on bedrest for 2 months and induced again? Who knows...let's be optimistic!

3. Are you going to find out boy/girl? yes in February

4. Tell the name? nope...sorry Pops

5. Do you want an epidural? heck yeah...bring it on.

merry christmas

playhouse disney live

Caroline got to go see Playhouse Disney Live yesterday with her friends from playgroup. It was nice to see how much she is maturing. She was able to sit still for mostly the entire time. A year ago it would have never been possible. I think she really enjoyed seeing all the characters on stage. She especially liked seeing the Little Einsteins rocketship and she liked it when Minnie Mouse came on stage. I think she was a little bummed however that Pluto never joined the group. You weren't allowed to take pics during the actual show so I only got this quick snapshot during intermission. She was trying to show me her new shirt (that I intended to give her at Christmas). Going to this show made me see how much I think she would enjoy Disney World. I know that right now if we took her she wouldn't be able to remember it, but the cool thing about right now is that she thinks everything is real.

The only souvenir she wanted was a Handy Manny hat.

cash and dave ramsey

Can you imagine what it would be like to just use cash? Keith and I have been fortunate in that we have never had a lot of debt. I would say we were the average American family-1 car loan, maybe a small student loan, and maybe a little on the credit card. About a year ago I discovered Dave Ramsey. You can tune into him on AM radio and he also comes on the Fox Business Network at 7pmCST. It gives me such joy to look back a year later and see that the only payment we make is a mortgage payment and hopefully not for long! If you're going into this Christmas season with a big weight on your shoulders I highly suggest finding out where you can take his "Financial Peace University" class and following these baby steps:

1. $1,000 to start an Emergency Fund
2. Pay off all debt using the Debt Snowball
3. 3 to 6 months of expenses in savings
4. Invest 15% of household income into Roth IRAs and pre-tax retirement
5. College funding for children
6. Pay off home early
7. Build wealth and give!
Invest in mutual funds and real estate

"Debt is dumb, cash is king, and the paid-off home mortgage has replaced the BMW as the new status symbol of choice." Dave Ramsey

trail of lights

We took Caroline to the Trail of Lights on Sunday. Somehow I've managed to pick opening night to go for the last 2 years! I'm glad we went on opening night though, despite the crowds, because there was a parade of which included bag pipes, Santa, Will Wynn (Austin mayor) and of course magnificent clydesdales.
Caroline's favorite part was standing in the center of the big lighted Christmas tree and spinning around to make herself dizzy. Oh, and of course eating her first funnel cake. Here she is with a full mouth.

fredericksburg

Last weekend we pulled it together and managed to drive out to Fredericksburg for the day on Saturday. Fredericksburg was the birthplace of Admiral Nimitz and is home to The National Museum of the Pacific War. December 7th was last weekend and it is also the day of Pearl Harbor. Keith's grandfather, we call him "paw-paw", is a Pearl Harbor survivor. Although we only went for one day it was nice to honor paw paw and visit with the family.

Pops and Caroline looking at WWII planes


Who popped in there!

Took this one for you mom

beatrix potter

I watched the most delightful movie today while Caroline was napping, called "Miss Potter." It's the wonderful story of Beatrix Potter, the most famous children's author of all time. She was most known for "Peter Rabbit." I love old English movies, especially ones that are heartwarming and wholesome. If you're looking for a good flick let this one be your next.