2 heartbeats ???????

Yesterday was visit number 2 to the doctor. Since we had just had the ultrasound and this would be a quick one, I went solo. I wasn't sure exactly what he was going to do, I just knew that since I wasn't as far as I had originally thought, the Dr. wanted to see me one more time before we went to monthly appointments.

So after the peeing in the cup and stepping on the scale to see the results of me having to eat constantly to help with nausea, I headed to the room for the Dr.

I really do like my new Dr. He came in and asked if I had questions, which I had a few and he kindly listened and answered, then he said he was going to listen to the heart beat, here is how that went

Dr: pulls out whatever that heartbeat machine is called and puts on the cold jelly and starts listening for heartbeat.

Dr: takes awhile as he listens for the heartbeat and makes a face

Me: starting to get a little worried, the heartbeat I hear is slow and I remember Payton being fast

Dr: I am having a little difficulty because I hear 2 HEARTBEATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Me: I believe at this moment my heart stopped. (in my head) I KNEW IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I JUST KNEW WE WERE HAVING TWINS!!!!!!! In those few seconds before another word was spoken my whole world was turned upside down

Me: I question the Dr, "2?????"

Dr: Yes, your heartbeat and the babies

Me: My heart started beating again and I sighed a huge sigh of relief

After we got that straightened up, I was a little more relaxed. I couldn't help but want Steve to experience what I did. So later in the evening when I saw him, I told him we found out some interesting news today at the doctor. He asked me what it was and I told him I would tell him once he sat down (we were heading inside a restaurant to eat). He immediately sat down on the chair outside and I told him the doctor heard 2 heartbeats today. PAUSE............ I let it sink in then said one was mine. He face was priceless!!!!!

All that to say I am glad there is 1 healthy baby growing inside my belly!

Memorial Day

Team Southards had a nice Memorial Day. I spent a few hours in the morning having some much appreciated Erin time, while Steve and Payton headed to the park to explore the slides that she can't seem to get enough of right now.

Mid-afternoon I planted a few more tomato plants my in-laws gave to me while we were at the lake. Payton helped....well kinda. I had a sprinkler going for her but she was much more interested in the dirt. She loves dirt! She had her preppy pink and white Ralph Lauren swimsuit on and she was anything but clean, but oh so cute! Here is a shot of her right before I stripped her down and gave her a mini bath in a bucket outside.



Caught in the middle of the action, right after this shot she tried to eat the dirt!



Helping momma



During my morning outing I had to stop at Target for a few items. I don't know if I have ever "just run in" to Target. I seem to find myself checking every clearance section in the store, that is how I score amazing deals! My deal this day came out of the little girls section. I have loved the London of Liberty line that Target carried early spring. Since everything goes on sale at Target, I decided to check back when the clothes were on sale. I never found anything I liked in the women's section. I had seen some cute dresses in the little girls and on my way out of the store I stopped in the little girl's clearance to find this dress waiting with my name and a $4.24 price tag on it! So this XL girls dress came home with me and I was thrilled that it fit. The most exciting part is it has pockets! I love dresses with pockets, especially ones under $5!



While I was gone in the morning Steve managed to hang his 4 European mounts from his deer this year. Yes all 4 from this past hunting season. Our basement, which is the man cave, is filling up more and more with dead animals! It is his place, and I am glad we have an agreed upon space in our home that he can display his trophies and his proud accomplishments (and it isn't when you immediately walk through our front door).





We had a cookout with friends from our community group. Had a great time catching up since we haven't seen each other in a few weeks. Our group takes the summer off from meeting regularly, and enjoy some social time throughout the summer. I didn't snap any pictures, as I was enjoying time with friends. Hope you all had a great day!

Lake

Team Southards headed to the Lake for a few days. With a pastor's schedule, we don't get a "typical" memorial day weekend. But since Steve has Friday's off, we still got a few great days of lake time.

I decided Payton didn't need a swim diaper, since it was only her swimming in the pool and otherwise she would be walking around outside, so if she peed, oh well. I was a little worried about poop, but figured she only goes once a day, so we are set there as well. Sure enough, first day, 5 minutes after we are outside, I look in the bottom of her cute white swimsuit with little red hearts to see some dark clump near her rear end. Her nice little clump of poop waiting for me. I had to laugh as I stripped her down. She was content being naked.



She even went swimming in the lake with daddy. She wasn't too sure of it.



This year the life jacket was much easier than last year.






Family boat outing



Payton driving the boat.



Another family pic before heading home.



We got to spend a day with Papa and Gigi and Uncle Ben.



We are so thankful for the lake house, it is the perfect getaway for us!

Happy Memorial Day everyone!

All 3 meals eating out!

Yesterday for Steve's birthday we ate out for Breakfast, lunch and dinner! That is like a dream come true for me. I love eating out. Staying at home, I don't get many options to eat out. Steve often has lunch meetings at restaurants, but I rarely get to eat out. So even though it was Steve's birthday, I got the day off from cooking!

My dad was in town overnight for some meetings. We were able to grab breakfast with him at Cracker Barrel. Payton loved seeing her Grandpa and so did we. We head to Florida in 2 weeks for the Wiens family beach vacation and I am looking forward to time with my family.





Lunch was at Imo's pizza. It is a St. Louis fav of Steve's and there is one not too far from our house here. Their pizza is thin and has provolone cheese. People either love it or hate it. We love it!



Dinner was just Steve and myself, as we headed to Roadhouse to get him a steak. Sara and Jay next door (have I mentioned what awesome neighbors we have all around us) watched Payton overnight so we didn't have to get home early. After dinner we got Steve a peach milk shake then headed to the movies to watch Date Night.



Good food, good times celebrating Steve!

Happy Birthday Mr. Southards

Today my husband turns 28. At times 28 sounds old, but it so many ways it sounds young. I feel like I express myself well. But when it comes to expressing my respect, love, appreciation and attraction for my husband, I feel like my words come up short. I know what I experience inside, sometimes is hard to describe. Here is my best shot...

I can describe him
- as humble, yet so powerful and strong;
- a leader, yet a servant at the same time;
- strategic and focused, yet when he is at home, he is the goofiest guy you would ever meet.

A man who loves
- the Lord
- his wife
- his daughter
- his family
- his friends
- seeing people live full lives as God intended
- the outdoors


He has taught me
- to listen and speak from my heart
- to appreciate differences
- what serving your spouse should look like
- to think long-term financially (still working on this one)
- to enjoy nature more
- not to get defensive and take things personally

I love seeing him
- full of life, not depleted and worn down from the problems others place on his shoulders
- on the farm, working, getting his hands dirty
- enjoying nature
- in camouflage, I have never seen a man make camo look Hot, Steve has succeeded
- with his shirt off, tan body :) hehehe
- playing with Payton, watching his eyes as he looks at her
- looking into my eyes, saying a thousand things to me without speaking a word

Steve, today we celebrate you. God has used you to impact the lives of so many people, more than we might ever know. I am privileged to be your wife, it is an honor to journey through life with you. I look forward to the day, we are walking side by side with our walkers, and you reach over and grab my rear end, knowing that even after all the years, and all the history we have, that we are still so in love with each other!

A little bit of nothing

A few random things that do not fit together :)

Two Friday nights ago we went to the Royals game with some ICCC staff and volunteers. It was fun to get out to the ballpark, as this was our first game for the season. We were thankful that Hilary (next door) watched Payton, as we were so high up in the stands that would not have been fun to keep an eye on her and her wanderings.

It was a beautiful evening, cool, but comfortable, and they had fireworks at the end of the game. Steve and I have become friends with one of the players and his wife, we met him last off-season, so this was my first time watching him actually play. It is weird, because to me he is a normal guy, but watching him make plays and showing him up on the jumbo-tron was funny.



Erin and I were glad we were one of the first 10,000 women who got a free t-shirt for ladies night!




We went out to Buffalo Wild Wings with Zack and Erin (below) afterwards. We didn't get home until after midnight (Hilary kept Payton overnight), I told Steve I felt like I was a teenager without a curfew, we usually have to get home to get Payton from the sitter, so it was fun to be out late and eat all sorts of unhealthy, yummy food!



Last Thursday was a rough day for me. We hadn't seen sunshine for what felt like months (it was a few weeks) and it was once again rainy. I was stuck inside all day again, and feeling lousy. I am taking medicine that has helped physically, but emotionally (hormonally) I am still a little off. Steve was leaving Thursday night for a few days and I was feeling lonely. I had a little breakdown, and when Steve asked what was wrong, I had about 10 different things going on in my head, so I knew it was hormonal. While I was crying to him, the door bell rang and it was our friend Amanda (Steve's high school friend who lives here in Olathe) and she said she had just been reading my blog and wanted to bring us dinner. I was so touched by her gesture. I had already been dreading getting off the couch and cooking. She stayed for a bit and shared about her recent trip to Egypt. It totally lifted my spirits and got me out of my poor me episode. She brought Boston Market which I haven't had in years, and it was so yummy! I believe God sent Amanda to me at that moment to love on me. Thanks God that you care about me even in my poor me days!



After we ate Amanda's dinner, I decided to do something productive with me evening. It was still rainy, so Payton and I went down to the basement and cleaned out her closet. We have a closet down there that I throw all sorts of "baby" stuff in. Whether it be toys to transfer out, old clothes, bathtubs, car seats, etc. It is amazing that is 16 months we have acquired sooooo much stuff! And remember, I am the rebel that really doesn't buy toys. I made 1 garage sale run last spring and got a few bigger items for cheap. I think I have spent a total for $30 on toys for Payton in her entire existence. We still manage to get sooo much stuff. Probably because she has a Papa and Gigi Southards that fine great toys and bless her with them. Papa S is the master garage sale bargain finder, and we are thankful for the many great deals he has found.

Here is Payton, in heaven playing with all of her stuff at once! We did get it organized so when this baby comes around, I know where the age appropriate toys (those toys you HAVE to have for 1 month's use) are, so we have quick and easy access to them.



While Steve was gone we made Jiffy pancakes! They are my favorite pancakes and Steve always wants "healthier" ones, so we took advantage of his absence and chowed down on pancakes!

Hello Mr. Sunshine!

Warm weather has finally come to KS. We went from rainy and 50's to sunny and 80's and humidity! We welcomed the warm weather, even if the humidity had to come to early. A few evenings ago I walked outside and thought, boy it feels like Florida, no reprieve in the evening, just humid!

Since we don't really have "official" water toys, I do tend to be a rebel sometimes in buying toys, we found a bucket and paintbrush and went to town! Payton was thrilled to be outside and I loved seeing her in her swimsuit.





We eventually got her car out (hand me down, thank you Sheri) and washed her car as well. Never too early to keep your car looking good.





As soon as she wakes up from nap today, we are heading outside!