Easter/Meme's 60th birthday

Our Easter was actually more of a typical Sunday. We were low key b/c that evening we celebrated my Mother-in-LOVE's 60th birthday. Her birthday is actually March 24th but she was out of town and Easter turned out to be the only day that all four of her children and their families could get together. We went to Harrigan's and had a wonderful meal and time. We all had put together a book of sentiments for her with notes and pictures from many close friends and family members. She is the type of person who does not like to bring attention to herself and insisted in no big party, so this was the next best thing to include all that love her. I hope I look half as good at 60! She truly is beautiful inside and out!

We did our Easter baskets before church that day and they were a definate hit! I think putting together Easter baskets is my next favorite thing to Christmas stockings! I actually did it two months early for the first time in my life! I did not know what to expect with having a newborn this time around so I thought it best to take care of before baby arrived. I am carrying on that theme and actually have done some Christmas shopping this week!

We did have a wonderful day all around. It was beautiful and warm for the first time in years. We had family time that afternoon and it was a really blessed day!

School Egg Hunts

Delivery Day

Home

Its a .....

BOY!

Introducing Levi D. Phillips
Born Thursday February 25th 2010 at 2:35 P.M. at University Medical Center weighing 6.10lbs. and 18 inches long.

Two Days to go..........

Well I am dilated and efaced and if nothing happens before I am going to be admitted this Thursday! We will not be doing pitocin to be induced but she will break my water and we will see how it goes! Please say some prayers!



I am SOOOO thankful that last week came and went without being very eventful! Trent made it back and I did not go into labor!

I am getting prepared in many ways. I went to Target and Babies R Us late Sunday before the snow was to hit again and bought many of the same things I had at one time! Mostly just things that will be needed right away. I found myself regretful of not knowing on some things like the crib sheets and changing pad cover b/c there was just not a lot of in between! I of course purchased yellow but also could not resist a velour brown with white stars in case its a boy, which I have thought it is all along. I can always return it! The reason I went was to get a changing pad, white kimono tops, and little tiny white socks to have for those first days or month or so. Target only had the changing pad. As I stepped out of my car at Babies R Us my foot just nearly missed a folded up dirty diaper. Good times.

Just finished up washing with Dreft, side note is VERY expensive for front loaders, folding and putting away all clothes, blankets, wash cloths and burp cloths! I had forgotten how TINY the newborn things are! Trent and I held them up just shaking our heads! It is all becoming a lot more real!

I had an appt. Monday and not much has changed since last week but I have been having many true contractions that are low, long, and hard. I will be 38 weeks tomorrow and am going back just to see. I had been a little aprehensive about delivering this week but then don't want to go into labor and not make it there in time as well. There is also that size issue as well. Every baby is diffent in every way and that just keeps going through my mind! Trent will be with me tomorrow so that will help in the decision making there.

Thursday is not working out to be the best day for Trent's side of the family which is unfortunate. I am not sure any of them will even be there for the delivery! Trent's grandad LD is being dismissed that day after hip replacement. His parents are helping with that. I believe everyone else will be working. The special thing about that day though is that its his grandmother's Etie's birthday! Ty also has his class/group school picture that morning and we are supposed to be there at 6AM! All of this is just typical for the Phillips family. If you have a plan, don't count on it b/c everything always changes several times before whatever event is supposed to occur!

I realize this is our third baby and probably not as special to most as it is to us. Although such a surprise, we are getting SO excited to be surprised! Little room is ready- painted (vintage blue), crib cleaned and up, changing table stocked full of items, and dresser full. The closet has one side with girl things, mostly that were mine as a baby, and one side with all of Ty's cowboy room stuff including bumpers. Just waiting to see which side will be used!

Prayers still very much appreciated!

Baby Update

Well as of today I think I am 35 weeks by my original due date. I had a sonogram at 28 weeks that showed me a week ahead and the doctor has gone back and forth of March 10th or March 2nd. We are hoping that baby will be ready two weeks early like its brother and sister were who delivered at 7lb7oz, and 7lb11oz because Dad will be able to be around a little longer!

I started having more intense contractions yesterday afternoon and they continue today but not consistent. However there is a lot of pressure and baby has dropped. We are hoping to hold on until the week of February 25th. I would really like some prayers not only most importantly for a healthy baby and safe delivery, but also that Trent is here for it. He leaves for four days tomorrow, then is back for only four and then gone for 8! This weekend he is going on a guy's trip to Phoenix, if the weather lets up. We are getting snow and ice AGAIN today. This has gone on every week for the past several and is getting old! The next trip he has is for his Men's golf team again about an hour outside of Phoenix. He would not be able to get out of town in time and of course could not just leave his team! I am very anxious about this and would be heartbroken if he were to miss it. He of course is also the only person I would want to have in the room!

We have the other issue as well with me having scoliosis which does not allow an epidural to work on my body. I am hoping to be able to have a spinal block this go around and maybe be able to enjoy delivery a bit more. The only catch is that its only good for two hours after you get it and you don't get another one. Unlike an epidural, its less guess work on the anesthesiologist and in actuallity is a lot simplar proceedure. I had Olivia 30 minutes after my water broke so this has the possibility of going quite fast!

So many things are starting to come together. When I went home at Christmas my friend Holly loaded me up with a papson swing, bouncy seat, tub, and two tubs full of clothes. I was also able to get the crib that we used with Olivia back. My friend Shauna has lent me her beautiful and specially made by her Father-in-Law cradle for the first couple of months! I also have a friend from church who brought me some nursing pajamas and her boppy last Wednesday! I was so excited to have that to be able to take to the hospital with me.

Today, my sweet friends at Calavary gave three of us who are all due the same week a wonderful shower!!! The picture shown above includes me, Beth Berridge- our music teacher, and Rochelle Morris one of the pre-school Threes Teachers. Beth is having a girl and Rochelle is having a boy! We are all having our third baby! We had a beautiful breakfast and I recieved many diapers, wipes, and gift cards! I feel beyond blessed.

Ty has moved into what used to be the playroom and that was a HUGE task to re-organize his new room, old room, and move all 'girl' items and make them fit in an organized way into Olivia's room! We painted Ty's new room a khaki and its an array of various plaids! His old room, the baby's room we painted a pale blue to go with either Olivia's old bumper, which is a yellow background with a floral print of course including blue, as well as Ty's old bumper which is a vinatage cowboy print with that pale blue sky on a denim background. I am also hoping to get the cribskirt back which was used by both, a red gingham. I need to repaint my crib still and we will do decorative stuff of course after baby arrives.

I have had moments of wishing we had found out the sex of this baby but still overall am excited to be surprised. It made finding a coming home outfit quite a challenge. I ended up buying two that are each returnable. I also had a time finding a baby book. Ended up with a lime green scrapbook- the rest will have to come later but at least I have a place for 'first things'.

Things have changed so much this time. After having two children I have come to realize how much is not really 'needed'. The planner in me gets frustrated at times but I know it really doesn't matter and it will all work out. You would think it would be sinking in at this point but it really hasn't. Its still so hard to imagine, yet at the same time I am SO curious to know WHO will be joining our family! Olivia is super excited and said she would pick a sister if she could. Ty prays for the baby every night and doesn't care either way. He asks every morning if today is the day the doctor will take the baby out! I answer each time, " I sure hope not!"

I have been more specific than I have in my whole life when praying for this baby. There is SO much unknown. I had so many sonograms with the other two and was always very aware of what to expect. We have only had the one this time which wasn't bad but not 'perfect' like the others. At that time the baby's kidneys were a little red and swollen which can be nothing or indicative of chromosomal disorders. He ran the numbers and said that the results did not increase the chance of the latter but wanted to do another one further down the road in the third trimester. We are self-pay this time and for that reason as well as the fact that whatever the case it would not change our decision to have this baby. I would rather find something like that out after seeing its little face and falling in love rather than have months of anxiety and what-ifs.

God is in control, always has been. You would think that by now, with so many things not going as I planned but learning how and why His plan was better that I would have learned that! I am definately a work in progress and continue to grow through life experiences such as this one!

Happy New Year!

I cannot believe we are well into 2010! We had a WONDERFUL holiday break. We had Christmas Eve at Trent's parents house, which is always incredible. We had a hard time getting there, and its just across town! The roads were iced over and snow was EVERYWHERE! We had gotten 8-10 inches the night before and a lot more came later!

I really love and appreciate how much effort his mother (aka Meme) goes to in order to make this time so comforting! She makes an incredible amount of fun, sweet snack treats in addition to an UN BELIEVEABLE yummy meal! Christmas is her absolute favorite and its more than obvious in her home. I tell her every year that her house should be on a Christmas home tour, its just beautifully decorated- EVERY room! My favorite part about being at their house is sitting by the fire, which is always roaring and crackling, and eating peanut butter brittle/chocolate and or drinking spiced tea while all the cousins play together! There are 10 children total and watching them interact with one another is just priceless to me! I only have two cousins which have always lived FAR away, we are talking Alaska for several years, and then more recently California and Oregon. I have seen them a handful of times in my life and never at holidays. I am so grateful that my kids get to experience Christmas surrounded by so many people they love and knowing so well. I know my last post was probably a little too 'real' for most people who read this, not like its a huge list or anything! I think I have been able to figure a lot of that and decided how I will handle things differently next year... more on that in a later post.

We had a wonderful time and went home with a ridiculous amount of gifts which filled my suberban as usual! The kids fell asleep on the way home as always, we carried them to bed and then began laying things out. We woke up to even more snow! I heard the kids watching TV and Trent and I jumped to meet them, all of their gifts were on our hearth and they had not even noticed them.!! We sat down and started drinking coffee dropping several hints and they finally caught on and were very excited!

Later Trent and the kids bundled up and went out and built a snowman and made snow angels, they had a blast! I had a blast watching them from the window and inside my warm house! I have never seen anything funnier than Olivia asking her dad to knock her down, watching her stiff body fall, and then watching her legs and arms go!

We have had the tradition for the past several years of going to a movie on Christmas day with the entire family but b/c of the weather and cold, Olivia and I skipped out and had girl time at home while Trent and Ty went to see Avatar.

The next day we headed for Arlington and celebrated with my family that evening. My uncle and new girlfriend joined us along with my aunts and we had another great evening of visiting and eating! That next day, Sunday, Trent and I made a trip to Sam Moon only to find it was closed :( I was seriously almost in tears. I hadn't been in a year and was looking forward to finding some accessory bargains along with a possible diaper bag.......oh well. We ended up going over to Grapevine Mills where I waked forever and found nothing. Trent however made out rather well and we found a few things for the kids.

Later that evening we headed to Austin for three days to a tournament at Barton Creek where Trent recruits at every year and I have the treat of joining him! We had the best time ever. It was so nice to be alone and have real conversations! We always stay downtown and there are so many great places within walking distance. P.F. Changs was right across the street and we headed there first off! The next morning Trent was all over the three courses while I spent time reading a great find, "Finding God."Very deep but very good. After he was done we went back to our hotel relaxed and then headed to the sushi bar across the street. Its our favorite thing ever and we usually go to one of some sort every year for our anniversary, I have to say this was the best yet! I had nothing raw but some really incredible fried rolls!!! The next day the tournament was cancelled due to freezing rain and the course being saturated from the night before. We took advantage of that time and went and saw 'Sherlock Holmes'- GREAT movie! We then headed to Round Rock for some outlet shopping. I am not a big 'namebrands' type of girl but I LOVE Burberry. I was sad to find that the purse I wanted was at the huge discount equal to our house payment!!! DANG! I have already contacted my China town hook up and will be going that route forever! That night we returned to Barton Creek for The Coaches Panel Town Hall Meeting, which I spent in the car b/c the weather was so bad and parking was CRAZY! After that we had our best night of cuisine yet... Cafe Bess on 6th Street, where Trent's friend from college is now the head chef! WAY cool romantic atmosphere and even better food. Fried Artichoke and Double Chocolate Bread Pudding........SINFUL.

I was also able to see a handful of my highschool friends that New Year's Eve that we returned. One of my girlfriends planned for us all to meet at the Galleria to eat and play, it was wonderful to see everyone! I was so surprised, they all came baring gifts, of the baby sort! SO SWEET! I had been unsuccessful in finding neutral items but they had much more luck and this baby is SET! My friend Holly had saved every item of Olivia's that I passed onto her as well as passing along several of her baby items. I don't know if I have mentioned this, but we gave EVERYTHING away! I was overcome with excitement! When we got home I opened the tubs and began reminiscing.... of course I did not remember that it was ALL pink! I think that pretty much seals the deal that this baby is a boy ;)

All in all, we were BEYOND blessed this holiday. We have returned to much busy-ness and re-organizing of our home to accomodate our newest family member who is coming fast. I have grown a lot and am now at 32 weeks- hard to believe. Lots more to report but this post is already too long and I know its more for my documentation than anything! I have two sick fighting children who need to be tended to so more to come at a later date!

Bah Humbug.......

I really think we need to re-evaluate on how we celebrate Christmas...........

I really do like Christmas and even the commericial part of it.... today I am feeling really guilty about that. Several things have happened, or been said lately that have laid heavily on my heart and made me just be thinking a lot about it all. This is the first year that my kids have truely even 'gotten into it'. You know, excited about Santa, talking about Jesus' birth. However they are really confused, which I believe is because of all the mixed messages we are giving them. While they understand why we celebrate Christmas, and talk about Jesus' birthday and it being HIS party, it is obvious that they are MORE excited about the magic of Santa and ALL that he brings. I don't want to be a grinch and totally leave Santa out, but all for selfish reasons I think. When I think about it, its because that is the 'FUN' part of it, and because of the tradition and memories I have as a child. Ty even asked out loud the other day, "If its Jesus' party, why does Santa come?" Basically, what does he have to do with it? Got me thinking.

I was sitting on my couch looking at my tree in adoration and remembering where each ornament came from. Most of them are from my mother, but in the recent few years, many symbolize various things that have happened during that year. For instance I bought a school house this year to signify Ty starting kindergarten, I have a shopping bag from NYC from our trip two years ago, etc..... As my eye moved down, I started looking at all the presents and remembering whom I wrapped each one for and still feeling the need to get more. I think its because I feel like it is a time to let people know they are appreciated and loved. I also have two aunts and an uncle, all of whom are not married nor have children, and feel like I am the only one who will help them to feel this way on Christmas. I am BIG on birthdays too for this reason. But this is not THEIR birthday. All three of these people are not church going, or place a high priority on the role God plays in their lives. I started thinking and wondering what Jesus thinks about all this. There are so many, and more under my bed to put out tomorrow night to be from Santa. What message am I sending to all of these people? Yes it feels wonderful to feel loved, and I think that feeling comes from God and sharing His love, but at the same time is not centered on Him.

When I think about the example Jesus sets for us throughout The Word, it focuses mainly on being a servant to others in need. Every single person in my family is not in 'need'. Everyone has various wants, and of course that is relative from person to person and family to family, as to what their financial situation is. I just think, all that money spent on 'need-less' items and how there are people that have NOTHING, could have had all the more. I only bought one toy for a child that is less fortunate and only gave $20.00 to a family that my class collected for. We have spent a few hundred in order for everyone in our family to feel loved.

I got Olivia this doll at Target last year (from Santa). Its their knock-off version of the American Girl Doll. I was SOOO excited about it, I LOVE dolls. It was a little over $20.00, which for me was a lot to spend on one item, especially for a three year old. She liked it okay, played with it a handful times over the past year, now the hair is all matted, b/c it is plastic and now she is actually more at the appropriate age to have it. She just now has showed more interest in it, sleeping with it and changing its clothes. I was searching all over for another similar to it, almost purchased the Madame Alexander one for around the same price, even considered doing the American Doll thing. Then I got a grip. Seriously, $100 for a doll for a now four year old???!!! We are not in that financial situation to be spending that kind of money on one item for such a small child. I remember when I was a girl how $40 was a lot for the ever so popular Cabbage Patch Doll! I had SEVEN of them! I have a lot of friends who have done this and have absolutely no problem with it and all I can say there is, its none of my business. I am only in control of me and my heart is the one feeling the pull that we are living in excess. There are so many children and people in our world living in true poverty. If we lived more conservatively then there would be even more to give.

I struggle with want. I have wanted a new-er suberban now for two years. Mine drives just fine. Its the old body style but has a huge crack across the front windsheild, which my husband says its still driveable and we don't need to spend the $$ to fix it. It also has a dent in the back left bumper, non working CD player, missing interior lights, rubbed off color on the glove box, and a volume control that comes off daily. I justified 'needing' a newer one b/c of this baby coming. The one we have now is bench seating and I did not want Ty swinging his leg over its little carrier and face everytime he gets in and out of the car. It would be nice, but I do have a car that is paid for, that runs and runs well, and although I see its many flaws most others do not.

I often think of how it would be nice to get my hair colored and highlighted again, or have my nails done on a regular basis, or get pedicures more than once every couple of years like a lot of my friends do. I don't because we are on a tight budget.

The fact is, we live in a really nice house in a nice neighborhood that is furnished very nicely as well. We have been fortunate to have received lots of wonderful hand-me-downs, or what I like to call pass-alongs, and it probably appears that we have even more than we do. We do live fairly conservatively, but we are FAR from in need. We find the money to do the things that we really want to do, and most of them are not in service to others.

I try to justify our wants in comparison to others. I am not sure why I do this. We have an incredibly wealthy friend who does not even work because of his huge oil inheritance. He flew Trent on his private plane to CA to Cypress Point last week. Their house and cars could be on MTV's Cribs. Seriously. Trent spends time with him on a daily basis. They play golf together and have a lot of common interestes and have developed a good friendship. Its hard for me to understand. He is a super nice guy, not stingy by any means, but I look at him and his situation and become somewhat embarassed of the material things we have. WHY??? I know that we are blessed incredibly, and thank God each night for the things we do have. I know there are SOOO many with far less. I think God is really trying to help me see how excessive we have truely become in today's world. The best and the greatest and latest...........on television, on our friends, more so in our town that we now live in! Its really 'showy' here as compared to where I grew up. As mature and spiritual as I thought I was, I have been sucked into it. How sad to not only be sucked into the world but at a time that I should be focused more than any other on the opposite. Not self, but others.

Not self plus others, I think that is missing the point as well. The mentality of I will do some for others and that way I will still feel okay for doing more for myself (or my family). I need to be passing along all that has been passed along to me and more. Almost all of our children's toys, with the exception of about 20% have been given to us. ALL of my maternity clothes have been given to us. SOOO many sugary delights have been brought our way in the past two weeks! I have had three friends now, who just broght dinner to me on various occassions b/c they knew I was struggling to make it while my husband was travelling. To think that I am not even a smidge close to poverty and have been given SO much.

I have not discussed this with my husband, and I know his family will not be on board- but I really think we need to re-evaluate how we celebrate Christmas. Not just MORE emphasis on Jesus, but ALL emphasis on Jesus! I think I have become more confused than my children and not able to keep up my responsibility as their parent to teach them how to truely LIVE DAILY IN CHRIST.