happy valentine's day!

4 years.

Today marks 4 years since my Dad's passing.  It is a dreaded day for me.  I don't like the month of February because of February 11th.  I miss him so much.  People say it gets easier.  I would like to know when that is!? 

Today, Sarah and I went with Miss Ellee.  I don't want to say that bringing her made it easier, just more bearable.  She was so cute.  I pointed to my Dad's plaque and said this is your Grandpa Lee.  And she said "Bampa".  She then went and pointed to other people's plaques and said "Bampa". I can't wait until she is a little older and will understand all the amazing stories about her Grandpa Lee!

Lee B. Spunaugle

August 18, 1948 - February 11, 2007

DNT TXT.

I have to admit, I'm guilty of texting while driving.  I never thought it was such a big deal and I always thought, nothing could ever happen to me... that happens to other people...

A couple weeks ago I watched Extreme Home Makeover.  They were building a house for the Brown family.  They had recently lost their daughter to a horrible car accident.  Their daughter was texting while she was driving herself to school.  She lost control of her truck and flipped it several times.  Not only was she texting, but she wasn't wearing her seat belt.  She was ejected from her truck.  Her Mom got worried when her school called and said she had never made it to school.  After getting no answer when trying to call her on her cell phone she went looking for her.  A mother's worst nightmare, Alex's mom found her daughter's flipped truck along the side of a local hwy and then found her body.  Alex was taken to the hospital where her parents had to make the impossible decision to let her go.  Such a sad and heartbreaking story!  If only she hadn't been texting while she was driving!
The Brown family is an amazing family.  They decided to make something good come out of the tragic loss of their daughter.  They load up their daughter's truck and take it from school to school in their home state Texas, telling the tragic story that led to their daughter's death.  With the help of Extreme Home Makeover they have also set up a website dedicated to getting their message out all over the country. Remember Alex Brown.  They eventually hope to travel all over the country showing teen drivers their daughter's truck

This story truly got me thinking, but it didn't stop me from completely putting my phone down while I was driving.  I cut back on the amount texts I sent while driving and I started using the voice to text feature, but I didn't stop completely.  I have realized that isn't good enough! 
Today, I read the article on the 6 month old baby boy that was killed because someone couldn't wait until they weren't driving to send a text. 

This hits close to home.  After reading the article all I could think about was that I have been putting not only my life in danger, but Ellee's life in danger.  And everyone else out on the road with me.  It's NOT worth it!  I WILL NOT text while driving EVER again!  It is to dangerous and not worth my daughter's life!  I really hope that whoever reads this will stop and think about how dangerous texting while driving is!  There are so many distractions out there on the road.  Why add another one by texting and driving!  It's not worth your life or anyone else's!

wordless wednesday.

Today was such a beautiful day!!  A little chilly, but the skies were clear and the sun was out!  Ellee was practicing for the summer and wore her sunglasses!!  It was really cute, she wore them as we walked  into the Y for her swim lesson and then back out to the car when we were done!  She waved and said "HI" to everyone and then "BYE" on the way out.  She is such a little ham!!! : )

Marbles the pony.

Last March I had taken Ellee to my friend Anni's farm and we met Cabo the horse.  Today, we took a trip back to her farm.  I wanted Ellee to see the horses again and to maybe take a ride on one.  Anni was so nice to bring out Marbles the pony for Ellee to pet.  There was no riding! : )  Ellee was to scared to get on him, we tried.  She was even scared to touch him at first.  I wasn't to surprised because it has been almost a year since she was up close and personal with a horse!  By the time we left though Ellee was much more comfortable with Marbles and was even walking around the barn checking things out.  Her favorite thing was the barn cats!  I wish I had snapped a pic of her chasing them around! : )
I'm hoping to get Ellee back over to her barn more often so she might want to get on Marbles someday!

a bit apprehensive, but she's petting her!

 more comfortable with Marbles!

kisses from Marbles

 love that her hands are in her sweatshirt pockets!

pointing at one of the other ponies! 



ultrasound take two.

Today I had another u/s done.  My midwife had called me 2 weeks ago after the 1st one to tell me my cervix was measuring on the smaller end of "normal".  So as a precaution they scheduled me for another u/s, just to make sure my cervix is progressing.  (If my cervix isn't progressing or is getting shorter that could mean that I possibly could go into pre-term labor.  The midwife said that was a small possibility, but wanted to take every precaution.)

After the u/s, the tech was not aloud to tell me all the details, but she did say that if there was something wrong then they would not be sending me on my way.  I guess now I just wait for my midwife to call.

I'm telling myself that I'm not going to worry until I have something to worry about.  And, for the most part I haven't really thought about it.  I feel great, so at this point I don't think I have anything to be concerned about.  Susan, one of my midwives, told me that there are many women that are on the smaller end of "normal".  That has helped a lot!  I was just happy I got to see him again!!  Normally we would have just gotten the one u/s at 20 weeks and would then have been done. : )

The u/s tech was nice enough to print me out some more pictures of Mr. Tucker!  And, I got to hear his heartbeat again!  Today, it looked like he was waving at me!  God's miracles are so amazing! : )

Tucker at 21 weeks & 6 days

wordless wednesday.