4th Birthday + Letter to Luci

I am a little behind on posting...but gosh, we have been busy! Luci's birthday celebrations wrapped up with a fun day on her actual birthday! We had such busy day...with a few mood swings from the birthday girl. Ahem. But overall, it was a great day!!

Right after she woke up, she got to open presents from Mommy and Daddy. She got new Hello Kitty luggage, several Doc McStuffin toys, a Sophia cup, and a Hello Kitty towel. She will also be getting a trampoline (maybe) later this summer...fully enclosed. She loves jumping on Brendon and Ellie's and we think she is ready!

After presents, she got to blow out 4 candles on her birthday donut!! She loves donuts!

After donuts, we got ready (had meltdown #1) and went to church.

After church, we met up with the Hoskyn's at Cavanaugh Pizza for some yummy lunch! We love their lunch buffet!

After pizza, we headed out to Chuck E Cheese for a few hours so the kids could play games. We purposely ate pizza elsewhere because I cannot stand pizza from CEC. Yuck.

After Chuck E Cheese (and melt down #2), we headed outside for a little sprinkler/water table fun! She loves playing in the back yard in the water!

After outside, we came in and cleaned up, Mitch went and picked up Olive Garden...and we watched the Lorax.

Whew! A busy, but fun day for the birthday girl!!!

Luci,

We love you so much. Every night when I go in to check on you...and watch you sleeping for a bit...I always wonder how I could possibly love you more. But everyday, I wake up loving you more than I did the day before. You are our world...and we cannot wait for Emmi to come into our world and see you become a Big Sis! You are such a sweet, sassy little girl! This year has been my absolute favorite with you. You are so much fun to be around...and I love the fact that we can have actual conversations now! You are quite the talker! I know you get that from me! We love to hear your laugh....we love to see your smile. Always know 3 things Sis...

1. Mommy and Daddy love you and have always wanted you.
2. Mommy and Daddy love each other very much.
3. Jesus loves you more than anyone, and he blesses our family daily.

I cannot wait to see what year 4 has in store for us! Always continue to be the sweet, loving girl that you are, and remember to let your little light shine for Jesus!

Love, Mommy

Time flies when you are having fun!

Pre-K3 Graduation

I'm just going to go ahead and start off by saying...I am not emotionally stable enough right now to have my baby graduating Pre-K3 and turning 4 all in the same week. I probably bawled my eyes out for over an hour total last night. Poor Emmi...she is only going to know what I sound like through sobs! I cannot believe how fast she is growing up.

Her school had a graduation ceremony yesterday afternoon for the 2 year and 3 year old room. It was absolutely precious. Her teachers and staff did an outstanding job putting together the program. They had a slide show of all of the kids pics at the beginning, and I had to keep pinching myself the entire time so I wouldn't start bawling!

The kids did a fantastic job. There was lots of singing, the pledge, the Lord's prayer and lots of Bible verses. Luci was supposed to have 2 little parts...quoting a scripture (Even a child is known by their doings. Proverbs 20:11) and singing with 2 other girls the song "Thy Word". Well, poor little Luci. I knew right when she walked out there...it wasn't going to happen. During the entire 30 minute program, my precious baby stood on stage with her head down...and most of the time with her hands in front of her face. She was scared to death. I kept trying to get her attention to encourage her...but nothing was happening! I kept making the joke that she wasn't my kid...because I was always the kid that wanted to be front and center! ha! Imagine that!

I was a little disappointed in the beginning that she didn't perform because I knew how well she knew her stuff...but you know what, she knew her stuff. We had been practicing her songs (well, the ones she told me about!) for weeks...and had been practicing her scripture for almost 2 weeks. She knew it. That is what is important. She is learning and hiding those words in her heart. The Bible doesn't say that you have to get on stage and perform what you know...It says, "Thy word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against thee." She knows her stuff, and I am so proud of her!!! She doesn't have to be like her Mommy and she doesn't have to be like her Daddy. I hope she does eventually get over her stage fright...but she is fine if she doesn't! ...although I am so glad I made the decision to hold off on dance lessons...no way am I paying all of that money for her to not do a recital!!! Lol!

All graduated!!! She did go and get her diploma on stage!!! :-)

So proud of our baby girl!

Getting flowers from Daddy!

School picture this year and last year! She went from a toddler to a little girl sooo fast.

 Graduation 2011, 2012, and 2013. Give me a minute while I finish crying...

Well, she has "Summer Camp" this summer, and then she will officially start Pre-K4!!! I really hope there is some support group out there for "Mothers of kids going to Kindergarten" next year...I am going to need all the help I can get!!! :-)

4th Birthday Party- Hello Kitty Style

We celebrated Luci's 4th Birthday with a big bash at the park last Saturday...complete with pizza, cake, and lots of Hello Kitty! It turned out to be a rather warm day, but at least it wasn't raining! This preggo Mom got a little too warm...but it wasn't too bad. The kids all seemed to have a good time...and Luci herself had a BLAST!!

 Ready for her party!! 

Baby Presley came to visit us before the party!

 Sooo exited! Waiting on her friends and family too arrive!!

Play time!

All of the kiddos eating their pizza, applesauce, grapes, and juices!

 Cake time!

Just thinking about trying a little...

Pin the Bow on Hello Kitty!

Gift time!

Once again we were so blessed by the kindness of our friends and family. Luci enjoyed herself so much...and has had so much fun playing with all of her new birthday treats!! The birthday celebrations are not over...more birthday fun to come this weekend as we celebrate her actual birthday!!! As you can see...we tend to do birthdays big in our house! You are only little once right?! I hope when Luci is older she can look back on her childhood with lots of special, fun memories!

And just for fun...

      Last year...                                                                         this year!!!

Misc Monday

Just a few misc pics from this weekend...

The pic on the left is right after we planted our Red Bud tree in April 2012. The pic on the right is one year later...May 2013. I cannot believe how much they have both grown...

We went to a different location of Harp's this weekend and they had these mini carts. The back of my ankles may never be the same...but Luci sure had fun pushing the cart around! 

I found a Rangers maternity shirt this weekend! Mitch is happy!

I have celebrated 4 Mother's Day. My little baby girl is no longer a baby. Sniff Sniff. I couldn't possibly love her more...even if I tried.

Mitch grilled burgers last night and the weather was so perfect that we ate outside...and I asked for a smile...and this is what I got! Silly girl!

I'm not sure if it is the pregnancy hormones or the fact that she is turning 4 soon...probably a combo of both...but geez, I almost burst into tears sometimes when I look at her sweet face. Can't she be little forever?! I just love this little girl sooo much!!!!

Why Mother's Day is Just Another Day

Mother's Day is really just another day for me in the Minnick Household. Why? Because every day I am treated like a queen. That really is no exaggeration. I don't talk a great deal about our marriage on this blog...that is not its purpose...but today I will.

Mitch and Luci really did nothing different than they normally do...(well, I did get a few gifts...more on those in a bit)! Luci always showers me with hugs, kisses, and tons of "I Love You's"...more than I could ever ask for from a 4 year old!

This weekend Mitch has cleaned, washed, dried, folded, and hung up clothes. He has done the dishes, some cooking, a few household repairs. He walked the aisles in the grocery store for an hour with me while we bought our weekly groceries. He kept Luci out of my hair for a long bath and an extra long nap. He took me out to dinner... got up early and made me breakfast before I had to work on Saturday...drove me to work on Saturday and picked me up...sat with me (and entertained Luci) in Motherhood while I tried on clothes for an hour... He even sat and waited for 2 hours at the UPS store on Friday night so he could catch the delivery truck because they had messed up my Mother's Day delivery this week. These all sound like a special weekend for me...but really, it was no different than the norm. Oh yeah, did I mention that he has done this the last two years while going to school to get his Master's? (3 more classes!! Whoop Whoop) He is so good to me. He shows Luci every day the qualities that she should look for in a future husband. I think any guy she dates will have a hard time measuring up to her Daddy. Thank you Grammy for raising such a great guy...and teaching him how to be a great husband. I am so blessed to have him in my life.

Every night (generally before she even takes a bite) Luci tells me right off, "Mommy, you fixed a good supper." Why does she do this? She has heard her Daddy say that every night as we have sat around the table since she was born. Even if supper may have been a flop...he would never tell me. He appreciates my efforts...even when it may not taste the best! ha! He builds me up, supports me, takes care of our family, and is a Godly example.

There is no family that I would rather be Mommy too. These guys have made the job easy for me.

We went to Paris today to celebrate with my Mom, Nana, and my Sis with church and a great lunch. These women have all been great Mother's...and have all taught me a thing or two about being Mommy...even my Sis (I would never admit it! Ha!)

Me and my Mom!! One of the most self-less women I know! She is the truly the best!

We truly had a great weekend!!! Mitch, Luci, and Emmi bought me a few special treats...roses, cards, candy, new cast iron skillet, and an attachment for Emmi's stroller!! I love them so much!!

Happy Mother's Day to all of the special ladies out there...and Mommies to be!!!!

21 Weeks

Well, we hit 21 weeks today! This week hasn't been the best. I have been suffering from allergy turned sinus issues... and have just have felt pretty bad. I even missed a day and a half this week from work...which I have been desperately trying to avoid since maternity leave will be here before I know it. Hopefully, I am on the mend!

Emmi is approximately the length of a large carrot or 10.5 inches.

My morning sickness seems to be a little better this week...fingers crossed...

I have been soo hungry this week...and I'm sure the scale would show it too! ...I just haven't stepped on one in a while! lol!

I still cannot shake this tired feeling that I almost constantly have. I was not this tired with Luci. Not at all. I am supposed to be having this energy burst since I am in my 2nd trimester...but most days, it is nowhere to be found.

No more progress on the nursery this weekend...but we did sell a few items that we needed to get out of the way.

Luci did the sweetest thing the other day. She asked me if she could talk to Emmi. I said sure. She comes over to my belly, cups her hands and whispers something...and then just tells me she is done and walks off. I guess she is already sharing secrets with her Little Sis!

Mitch finally felt Emmi kick on Wednesday (May 8th)!! She apparently didn't like the position I was laying in...and let me know about it! She was kicking up a storm! He only felt 2 kicks...but they were strong enough for him to feel! I will wait a few weeks before I tell Luci to come feel. I think she would get frustrated if I told her to come feel and she couldn't. We will wait until Emmi gets a bit stronger.

20 Weeks

Yay! We reached the half-way point (well unless I am early like I was with Luci)!!!

Emmi is sure growing fast now! I am getting bigger and bigger! hehe!!

We have bedding now, a diaper bag, and are about to get started on the nursery! Things are moving along.

I am still nauseous most mornings...but maybe it is getting a little bettter...

My biggest whine right now is my tail bone. Geez, it hurts. I do not remember it hurting this bad with Luci. I can't even imagine what it is going to feel like when I am 9 months along. (Tasha, you can stop reading right here.) My chiropractor is working with my back and teaching me some exercises to help. Hopefully I will feel some relief soon.

I haven't had really any cravings this week except for real Coke. Up until 2 weeks ago, I haven't had a real Coke in probably a decade. Now, I can't seem to get enough! I am letting myself have one a day! lol!

Me and my two girls!!!