I've been tagged!

8 shows I watch:
None. Really. Several years ago I decided I was too addicted to t.v. and so I slowly weaned myself off. Plus, I don't like reality shows and I don't have cable. If I had the Travel Channel, Animal Planet, and all those goodies... but wait, there's a reason I don't get them. I know my self too well! I am currently watching 24 on dvd and loving it. I am now on season 4. I still miss Arrested Development, Friends, and Alias. All of which I would still watch if they were still on...

8 favorite restaurants:
-Bangkok Cuisine
-Esparza's (in Grapevine - does that even count?!)
-Freebird's
-Le Madeleine's
-Macaroni Grill
-Silo ( I can afford it maybe once a year...)
-Water Street Oyster Grill (Corpus)
-Chick-fil-a

8 things that happened today:
-slept really well (unusual)
-went to doctor
-had another good sonogram
-heard Seth sing "Joy to the World" very sweetly to everyone in the office
-was non-queasy enough to actually cook lunch - thai food
-took a great nap
-continued re-reading Breaking Dawn
-showered AND shaved (major bonus!)

8 things I look forward to:
-being finished with Christmas shopping
-making toffee and wassail for the holidays
-seeing Seth's face on Christmas morning
-really showing instead of looking "thick"
-being through with morning sickness
-reading another good book (any suggestions?)
-seeing a movie with Kyle
-going on vacation (maybe...)

8 things I wish for:
-godly children
-a long, loving marriage
-to make more close friends here this coming year
-my Kaufman friends to move here. Sarah too.
-our house in Kaufman to sell
-healthy pregnancy
-energy to keep up with my children
-cute shoes that fit my wide feet

8 people I tag:
-Sarah
-Laura
-Colleen
-Amanda
-Kelly (she hasn't posted since June. Maybe this will guilt her into it.)
-Sheridan
-Camille
-Stacy

Cerclage

Thanks to those of you who have been praying for me today. I had my cerclage put in (they stitched my cervix shut - for those of you not familiar with it) today and all is well. I am a bit sore but not too bad. I will be on unofficial bed rest - doctor said to have a very lazy weekend and to not drive or lift the baby. This is actually the first time I have been awake for the procedure, which did not take that long. Still, since my feet were up in stirrups and there were at least five people in the room, I am glad I lost all sense of modesty after having children. Funny what seems okay and what doesn't. I will still not wear a bikini - I feel way too exposed. Today - no biggie. Go figure. Anyway, just wanted everybody to have an update. I will be able to now truly relax and enjoy the pregnancy now that I know baby isn't going anywhere!

Fun over pizza

I decided to film a "game" Friggs and his mom were playing over dinner a few weeks ago. As with many videos, by the time you grab the camera, the funniest part is over, but it was still worth posting. The game goes like this: Seth makes a silly face and noises and Mom has to copy him. We're easily amused.

Letter to Santa

Friggs wrote his first letter to Santa this past week, so I thought I would post it for all to see. He was so excited and even got to give it directly to the mailcarrier, who promised him she would make sure Santa got it. I held his hand and helped him write each word as he dictated what he wanted to say:
Dear Santa Claus,
I'm going to give a sticker to you. Thank you for coming to our house in your sleigh. We will leave you some cookies and milk. I want to get my family presents and my presents. We will also leave you a Dr. Coke. Santa Claus loves Dr. Cokes. My name is Seth Stringer. My family names are Grammy, Papa C, Claire, Colten, Laura, Uncle Andy, Dad, Uncle Beth, GloGlo, and Pa. I would like a big polar bear to sleep with. Also, a play motorcycle and a helicopter for my own. Please get my cousin, Claire, a new tape measure- I already have one. Please bring my brother a new booster seat and a piano for his own. Also, Blake needs a new bib and some books. Please get my mom a new washrag, cause she doesn't have enough. My mom's name is Mom Stringer. My dad is Kyle.
Love,
Seth
P.S. I forgot Maddie, Roger, Katie and Gavin.

We though it was cute how he had to mention everyone by name. He was concerned for some reason that Santa would forget them if he didn't.

Pregnant - For Reals

Yes, we are pregnant again! Apparently we got pregnant directly after miscarrying the false pregnancy. We have had a sonogram and there is a little peanut in there with a heartbeat! I am 8 1/2 weeks along now and feeling quite horrible - the real reason for not posting much. I started getting sick at week 5 this time. I think that's earlier than usual, but I'm not sure. Anyway, I am of course quite thankful for the awful hormones that let me know everything is as it should be. So far I feel just like being pregnant with Seth and Blake - not throwing up, just wishing I would so that it would be overwith and I would feel better. I usually start feeling better about week 17. Praise the Lord for phenergan! I get my cerclage Dec. 5, this time they'll do a spinal. I'm used to just general anesthesia, so I'm a bit nervous, but I reckon I'll get over it. My due date is June 26!

The Haircut

So, for the first time since I moved down here I switched hairstylists and used someone here. Seriously. Since January I have been driving back to Ennis for a cut and highlights. Was it successful? Not really. Back to square one. Getting the message across about what you want is so hard sometimes. Especially if you don't have a pic, which I didn't. But really, I think the most amazing thing is how we women view ourselves versus how we really look in the mirror. Here's what I mean. I don't love my haircut but I admit is well within acceptable range. Not a big deal.

This is what I asked for (I thought):

This is what I imagined my hair looked like, this is what it felt like after she cut and styled it. She kept using the word "feather" which scared me, and it felt very top heavy.

This is what it really looks like after I styled it. Not really Farrah Fawcett hair. I felt like it looked so much worse until I took the picture. Then I realized - it's just a haircut. She did thin out the bottom too much. You can't really tell because I'm pulling it all forward, but half of it is gone. Anyway, I don't really know why I am posting all this. But there you have it, you are welcome to see the neurotic thoughts about my hair.

Halloween and other happenings

Okay, sorry for the blogging drought. We have just had too many things going on. Plus my inherent laziness. Anyway, without further ado, may I present halloween pics:

Batman and the fat little dragon.

Princess Claire (seriously, isn't she just a beautiful girl?) and Batman.

Side view of the dumpy dragon. Amazingly, he did not complain about his hot costume. He looked so cute toddling around I could hardle stand it.

Mom and I went to a B&B in Fredericksburg and had a great time. We shopped, ate too much chocolate and ate at really nice restaurants. The next day we hiked to the top of Enchanted rock. It was a lot of fun, but work! It is 38 stories tall. I didn't feel so bad about the chocolate after that... We hadn't been on a girl's trip since I had kids, so it was really great to get away.