Soccer Mania

Well, we have finally started our first season of soccer. We have been trying to keep little man active all year and this is one of our first tries at soccer. We started with swim lessons last summer and kept them going all fall and winter (just finished our last session in Feb and will start back in May). Now our little man is working on running and kicking! We were hoping to get in the program here in Jasper but due to some conflicting communication on what age they start here, we decided to go with a small group about in a community 15 miles south. Tucker had a blast! He kept asking on the way home if he would get to go back the next day. He is mainly doing what his coach calls "Soccer Olympics". Basically doing some drills with lots of free kicking and play in between. Just what a 3 or 4 year old needs! Tucker had a blast! He is very excited about being a big kid, playing soccer, and getting to have blue Gatorade aftewards! We'll see how the rest of the season goes. If well, we plan to start back up again here in Jasper in the Fall. Quick photo while he came to retrieve his soccer ball.
Trying to kick the ball at the coaches feet.

Going for the goal

Before heading out, Mommy tried to get a photo.

Here we have Tucker throwing the ball in the air. He was very excited!

Saying he is 3 and 3 year olds play soccer!!!

Spring is in the air

Just as we finished up a few days of cold, yucky weather, we headed to the beach with the DiPiazza Family! We had a great time enjoying beautiful weather in Destin. And great company! Tucker was a fish in the pool. We could really tell his swim lessons this past summer, fall and winter had paid off! Lots of fun and laughs as we enjoyed one last trip out of town before little one joins our family! Abby and Tucker playing Santa in the bath.
Aunt Chele taught Tucker how to make a drip castle! He loved this!

Tried boogie boarding (tried being like his older cousins).

Digging holes! Loved having a giant sandbox called the beach.

Pregnant Then and Now...

Well, again, I am playing catch up on what has been going on with the Rhodes! Funny how the blogs start to get further and further apart. One reason, lots going on. Second reason, in our new house the computer is downstairs in the office. So we just don't get to blogging as often as we used to. And thirdly, well, these days this Mama is starting to feel her age at 7 months pregnant.

Must say, second time around has been a bit harder in some ways but then again not really. With Tucker, I was teaching 23 fourth graders and on the go each day from 6:30 to 5. Now, I am chasing around a strong-willed 3 1/2 year old. With Tucker, I didn't have time during the day to think about every feeling or every movement. Now, I definitely have more time to pay attention to what is going on with my body. With Tucker, I had gestational diabetes. Now, and praise the Lord, I passed my one hour glucose test at 24 weeks. But still trying to watch the carbs just to play it safe (but still enjoying ice cream and chocolate). And with Tucker, I was just turning 30 at 9 months pregnant. With this little one, I'll be about to turn 34 just after birth. With Tucker, I was so anxious about getting the nursery put together and all done. Now, well, all we really have to do is paint and put furniture together-no big deal- it will be done before birth! So, there are definitely some changes this go around. But, it has been just as much of a joy and amazing blessing as it was with Tucker. Although the excitment is different 2nd go around, the joy and love is truly the same if not even stronger because you know what is to come! And we are so thankful for this blessing!

Little one #2 is definitely growing and doing well. Moving a good bit- I guess. I keep just saying that maybe this little one will be a bit calmer! Don't get us wrong, we love the energy our sweet boy has. We wouldn't want it any other way. BUT it would be nice to have our 2nd be a baby who just goes with the flow and isn't so opinionated! :) Guess we'll see come May! We are officially 28 weeks going on 29. Like I said, we had our glucose screening at 24 weeks due to my history with Tucker. It was an easy test (to me just tastes like really sweet Sunkist) and after leaving I kept waiting to get the call that I had failed and needed to come back for the 3 hour. Well, by 3 I hadn't heard a thing (went in at 9:45) and was beginning to wonder if they had forgotten to call. So I called and learned that by not getting a call- I had passed the test! Talk about a shocker! But a nice surprise. Harris is now thinking we might have a little baby girl growing due to these results. It is all hormone related and guess there could be some different hormones working in there! :) Again well see, come May 3 or 4th. This past week, Tucker and I went to my 28 week visit. Tucker had not see Dr. Brown since he was two weeks so he was curious about who she was. And boy was he curious about it all! Lots of questions from the minute we hit the parking deck. He enjoyed getting to hear the heartbeat for the first time. Although I am not sure he really knew what to listen for. It was a good visit for him and a good introduction for him to the hospital. Come April, he and Daddy will be going back for a Big Brother class and tour. I think that will help him as well. While at this visit, we did talk about what day of the week we would be welcoming our little one to the world. We were just curious so we could plan out Harris' vacation days as well as Tucker's plans with family for those days we are in the hospital. Turns out, we learned two specific dates we'll go in for a repeat c-section: May 3 or 4. Will let all know as we get closer to time!! Counting down the days!

Hunkering Down

Well, we started off 2011 with a nice long weekend of hunkering down in the snow! Not sure that Tucker knew what to expect this past weekend as we told him we might get snow. The past few weeks there have been other times of snow, yet he had not been able to play in any of those. So, We really don't think he believed us! Well, after the ice started on Sunday afternoon and the snow started right after Tucker went to bed, we knew we would have a pretty snow by morning! And boy did we! After measuring, we had a nice sandwich layer (ice-snow-ice) of about 5 inches. Would have been more if the ice wasn't on top. But made for great sledding! Daddy was stuck home due to the ice on the roads. Aunt Becca and Uncle Matt came over by 4 wheeler. And to top it off, the day of fun in the snow was ended with a wonderful Auburn victory! The snow is still here (as of Tuesday, 1/11/11). Still pretty but not fun to be in- just all iced over! We enjoyed our snow but are ready for it to go! Ready for dry ground to play on and no more staying home! Working on a snowman with Aunt Becca
Sledding Fun

Good old flat moving boxes worked the best!

Celebrating a great slide by Tucker! He had a blast!

Pushing off in the deeper areas...

... turned into a nice little slip and fall by Daddy! The container turned into a snow plow!

Off to find a nice sledding spot

Trying to make a snow angel- but his body couldn't push through the top layer!

Just getting out! Dancing around in the snow!

House

Christmas 2010

So, we are a little behind in uploading photos! Our snowy weekend has given us a chance to upload and catch up! Here are a few of our Christmas pictures! Crashing that night in his new sleeping bag/tent on Mommy and Daddy's floor
Testing out Santa's new gift

Toy Story is our obsession and thank goodness Santa knew that!

Stocking stuffers-

What Santa left behind!

Cuddling with Mommy on Christmas Eve

Doggy treats for Santa Paws

Cookies and milk (and reindeer food in the yard)

Opening a few gifts before Christmas Eve dinner

With Daddy after Santa

Santa's ambassador at Bass Pro shop

Bringing our list to Santa

Enjoying treats and lunch at his school party

Working on his craft with Daddy at his school party

Boy or Girl??

Yes, we are a bit behind on this posting! Guess you can blame the crazy month of December for it!
Now if you are wondering whether Baby Rhodes is going to be a boy or girl, you shall have to wait about about 19 more weeks! On Dec 14th, we did have our 19 week check up and had our big ultrasound. Everything looked great and measured great! It was such a relief to see our precious one moving all around. Got some great pictures- including a foot print one! All, we have to say is this child will be following in Big Brother's foot steps (literally) and enjoying larger feet! :)
Tucker was excited to see pictures of the baby. He talks to the baby, kisses it good night by kissing Mommy's quickly growing tummy, and gives it big hugs! He is ready to share with his baby brother or sister. We believe he is thinking this baby will just pop out running!
We go back on Jan 18th for our 24 week checkup. We'll start rotation of doctors and actually have the glucose screening 4 weeks early due to Katie having gestational diabetes with Tucker. Now worries about it this time. We know either way we'll be fine and so will little one!
Will keep you updated!

Boy or Girl??