Belly Shots...23 Weeks

This is just for you, Jenny, to prove that I am not exaggerating!

Here I am hours before I delivered Bethany at 40 weeks and 6 days.

Here I am at 23 weeks with the twins.



So there you have it! I'm HUGE!

Love You All,
Abby

Coming Late March 2010

to our house!

A baby GIRL!!!!

and

A baby BOY!!!!




I always wanted bookend boys and now I get them! :)

Yep we're pregnant with TWINS!! Number 4 and Number 5!

We are thrilled for what God is doing in our lives and in our family, but we are also overwhelmed (I'm just being real). The thought of 5 kids 6 and under is...uh...well...there just aren't words. So we are genuinely asking for your prayers. For healthy babies and for God's peace as we enter into a VERY chaotic season in our lives.

May God multiply your blessings, like He has multiplied ours!

Much love,

Abby

Favorite Restaurant

So I read It's Almost Naptime religiously since I found it on The Bearded Lady's blogroll and I love it! The gal who writes this blog make me laugh until I cry and then some. So when I saw that she was having her Friday Faves about restaurants I had to participate. Especially because I've been doing a lot of thinking about restaurants since I read Mandy's post about all the yummy places she went to eat at in NYC.

Mexican Food. We LOVE good mexican food at our house and I think Chuy's is our absolute favorite, with Pappasito's coming in a close second and then of course we love Gringos and our local Los Generales (they are especially kid friendly, they don't glare at us when we leave the place a total mess and they are nice when we return...I think we eat there to much because the hostess knows Bethany by name!)

Italian Food. Again, this is some food we love! A few of our favorite places are Collina's, Gugliani's and Maggianos on special occasions.

Steak. This is really Colin's deal, those who know me, know that even though I am carnivorous now and have been for a while, dead cow with any amount of pink in the center GROSSES me out. People tell me to really love steak it has to have some pink in the middle, but I'm not sold on that. I guess that means I'll never really love steak, but I'll go along and enjoy it because my hubby is there. His favorite is Morton's with Perry's being a close second.

Chinese Food. We aren't big fans, but when we eat it we go to Pei Wei or PF Changs.

Hamburgers. We love Mel's in Tomball! Yummy!!!

Coffee and dessert. If we want to stay close to home we go to Rao's, but if we are down near my brother, we grab him and go to Ruggles in the Village where we pretend we're hip and cool like all his CTK friends!! Date night's usually involve cheesecake from the Cheesecake Factory.


Another place we go with my brother and pretend we aren't old and totally uncool is Shade in the Heights. We love it and we'll be visiting there more when he actually moves to the Heights. Also while in the Heights, we have to visit Penzey's, it's not a restaurant, but it's such a cool spice shop I have to mention it.


So those are our favorites...what are yours?

Abby

Happy Birthday Aubrey!!

Happy 4th Birthday Sweet Aubrey!

Four years ago today our sweet Aubrey Ann made her appearance amidst some pretty dramatic circumstances. Hurricane Rita was headed toward Houston and while everyone else was evacuating, we were at the hospital having a baby!

This is her then:



On her 1st Birthday with her Mamo, who she almost shared a birthday with!



On her 2nd Birthday at Johnny Rockets, eating ice cream...it's in her genes!



On her 3rd Birthday at Aunt Debbie and Uncle Gary's after yet another hurricane!




Today on her 4th Birthday at Sweet and Sassy!



Aubrey Ann, I love you more than there are stars in the sky sweet girl!

Love,
Mommy

P.S. Mama, I wish you were here to celebrate with us, you were supposed to be Birthday buddies with Aubrey, but it just wasn't meant to be. I'll always cherish the one birthday you two had together! ~Stars in Sky, Lally

Pray

I read a post on Mrs. Marler's blog today that has my heart aching, I know what it feels like to get devasting news, but GOD IS BIGGER than that news!!! Please head over to her blog and read her post and PRAY!

Dear Father,

I pray that you, the God of hope, fill this sweet family with all joy and peace as they trust in You, so that they may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13)

In Jesus Name, amen.

The Kiddos

I've neglected my blog for long enough. Here are some pictures of the kids...


They really "wuv" each other!



Aubrey waltzed into the waiting room at Aspire with these on and there were only a few chuckles, because they know Aubrey...and if you know Aubrey, you know this is just how she rolls.

Great Deal...Pass it On

I read The Money Saving Mom blog everyday and today she has a GREAT deal for SkinCareRX. It's a free $20 gift card. She gives all the details, check it out!

Abby

Pray for Will

Hi guys,

I am passing along a prayer request for a little man named Will. I don't know him at all, he is the son of a friend of my friend Lisa. All I know is that if Will were my son I would appreciate the prayers of everyone. So here is his picture and a letter from his Mom and Dad. PLEASE PRAY!




Hi friends,

As many of you know, my 6 year-old son Will has experienced vision loss over the past several months attributed to what was thought to be a genetic form of juvenile macular degeneration.

We received some devastating news this week from our genetics visit last month that diagnoses him with Batten's Disease, a very rare neurological disease that initially attacks the eyes and then moves to the brain. As you can imagine, we are in shock...and while we refuse to claim this diagnosis, based on our faith, we cannot deny the DNA tests, nor the progressiveness of this disease.

My Will is such a wonderful, kind, caring and loving child. To think this horrible disease affecting only 1000 children in the country will steal his vision, mind, mobility and life is unimaginable. Since there is no cure (yet), we will rely on faith and prayers to lead the way to a miraculous healing for our son and possibly sons, since all our boys are at risk and will be tested next weeks.

I ask you plainly, with your utmost passion, to pray for our Will. Please pray for him each day; please include him prayers groups, at churches, share his picture with friends and family of faith. All we have is prayers and faith in God, and I will take the possibility of his intervention over any medicine, any day. I believe in each of you and I thank you for taking the time to read this, thoughts for my family and the hope that you wonderful friends send our way.

I've attached a recent photo of our sweet Will as a visual reminder of who you are praying for. Many thanks to Jamie Werner for taking this awesome photo and capturing his beautiful face so perfectly!!

With love and a heartful of thanks,
Will's Mom and Dad

Happy Mother's Day Mama...

I wish I could tell you Happy Mother's Day in person....I miss you, I ache to hear your voice, to see your face...one day...I love you.



Stars in Sky Mamo,

Lally Lou

Fun in Austin

We're growing little Longhorns around here! HOOK 'EM!!!!!!!

Russell and Colin went to Austin for the football Spring game and they had a blast! Here are some pictures from the weekend of our current and future Longhorns!!! :)

Cute Swimsuits and an invite to swim!

Go here and check out all the cute and modest swimsuits! Get yourself one, and then come swim at my house!!! :)

Spring Break Fun!

Pictures from our fun Spring Break outing. I wish we could have taken pictures on our tour to Blue Bell, but they don't allow cameras.

Aubrey and Daddy so sweet!

So busy eating ice cream they forgot to smile!

Levi & Owen...I just love these boys!!!

Can you get any sweeter? I don't think so!!

First attempt with all five.

Second attempt with all five. Bless Bethany's heart, she didn't know what to make of the cow statue.

Blue Bell ice cream tub bounce house.

Getting ready to jump!!

Must drink juice...even at 32!

Owen in the tree, he would have stayed there all day if we would have let him. He was very happy there!

Love this one!

In case you didn't know...Levi ROCKS!

Colin was encouraging dangerous behavior on this!

Colin, Bethel and Dee Doe

Russell got gum in his hair on the way home, resulting in a hair cut. Yes Colin is using a water bottle to wet his hair, we can't find our spray bottles...

My Firstborn!!

1. WAS YOUR FIRST PREGNANCY PLANNED? it was God's timing, but we definitely wanted kids
2. WERE YOU MARRIED AT THE TIME? Yes
3. WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION? It was one of the BEST moments of my life! The Dr was the one that told me and I was shocked and thrilled all at the same time!
4. WAS ABORTION AN OPTION FOR YOU? No
5. HOW OLD WERE YOU? 24
6. HOW DID YOU FIND OUT YOU WERE PREGNANT? Pregnancy test at Dr.'s office
7. WHO DID YOU TELL FIRST? Colin
8. DID YOU WANT TO FIND OUT THE SEX? Nope
9. DUE DATE? Jan 5, 2004
10. DID YOU HAVE MORNING SICKNESS? yes, but not as bad as with the girls
11. WHAT DID YOU CRAVE? sour things
12. WHO/WHAT IRRITATED YOU THE MOST? moving while 9 months pregnant
13. WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST CHILD'S SEX? precious baby boy
14. DID YOU WISH YOU HAD THE OPPOSITE SEX OF WHAT YOU WERE GETTING? No, we were just thrilled to get to be parents
15. HOW MANY POUNDS DID YOU GAIN THROUGHOUT THE PREGNANCY? 25
16. DID YOU HAVE A BABY SHOWER? Yes (thank you Leigh and Sarah! :)
17. WAS IT A SURPRISE OR DID YOU KNOW? 2 I knew about, 1 was a surprise
18. DID YOU HAVE ANY COMPLICATIONS DURING YOUR PREGNANCY? No
19. WHERE DID YOU GIVE BIRTH? Texas Women's (and it was awful!)
20. HOW MANY HOURS WERE YOU IN LABOR? 12
21. WHO DROVE YOU TO THE HOSPITAL? MY MOM!!! And I would not trade that memory for anything!!!!
22. WHO WATCHED YOU GIVE BIRTH? Colin
23. WAS IT NATURAL OR C-SECTION? natural
24. DID YOU TAKE MEDICINE TO EASE THE PAIN? No
27. HOW MUCH DID YOUR CHILD WEIGH? 8lbs 2.5oz
8. WHEN WAS YOUR CHILD ACTUALLY BORN? January 8, 2004 at 12:32am
30. WHAT DID YOU NAME HIM/HER? Russell Jeffrey Muirhead
31. HOW OLD IS YOUR FIRST BORN TODAY? 5 Years, 1 month and 2 days

Vanilla Bean Almonds and Clear Play

I love these almonds!! They are delicious!! Once you eat one it's hard to stop. Supposedly they will help you manage your weight if you eat one ounce a day by being a more satisfying and filling snack. I wonder if it helps you even more if you eat 5 ounces in one day...you know just wondering not because I ate 5 ounces in one day, I ate six! :)



Anyway, the serious point to my post is Clear Play. The Bearded Lady wrote a great post on the Clear Play DVD player. It filters out a lot of the "trash" from movies...seems like a great idea to me. Go check it out!

Abby

Date ideas??

Hello blogging friends! I have a question. Do you have any fun and INEXPENSIVE date ideas? Colin and I always seem to end up at Starbucks, which is fine, but it's getting old. What do you do when you get a night out without kiddos???? :)

Abby :)

Happy 2nd Birthday Ashley!!!

Dear Ashley,

Happy birthday darling, we love you!! You're two now, I can't believe it!! I know it probably seems like only a moment that you've been in heaven, but for those of us still here on earth, two years is a long time to be without you. We miss you like crazy, and spend a lot of time thinking about you. I want you to know your little sister is precious and we are wild about her. We love our new little cousin, just like we love you!!! We can't wait until the day we are all together again, and the pain of losing you won't even be a memory because all our tears will be wiped away. Until then....here are your pink balloons from your cousins! We love you stars in sky sweet girl!!

Aubrey drew you a happy face!!! :)

Stars in sky,
Uncle Colin, Aunt Abby, Russell, Aubrey & Bethany

CRAZY LOVE

I'm looking forward to reading this...check it out!

This time FIVE years ago....

I was breathing/grunting/screaming through contractions!!! YIKES!!! Where has all the time gone??

Hmmm...am I sure I want to do this without drugs??

Praying for baby Muirhead...will it be a boy or a girl?

She drove me to the hospital, wouldn't trade that memory for anything!!

Anxiously awaiting!

Some Daddy love!!!

And then our lives changed forever...more to come! :)