You said what's in there?!

So a few days ago I decided to save some postage and deliver our annual Christmas Card to some family members in town. I went over to Hunter and Joy's, which was also an excuse to visit my cute nieces (and awesome brother and sis-in-law :).

Well, while I was there I picked up Adeline (pictured on the left) and was holding her... Then Gracie (pictured on the right) came up to me and kept asking me to hold her, which of course won me over, how can you refuse that face??

Well as soon as I was reaching down for her, Joy said, "Gracie! She's got a baby in her belly... she doesn't need lots of kiddies hanging off of her!" ... and then Joy went back to doing her business....

Well then I noticed Gracie was staring at my belly, looking at me like, "Say whaaaat?!" Then all of a sudden she started quizzically patting my belly, like, "... is there really a baby in there?" And then sure enough she lifted up my shirt to have a look. Joy and I started laughing and then Joy explained that the belly was inside the belly....

She then told Gracie that the baby could hear her if she wanted to say hey, or Merry Christmas to him... So she got really quiet and then whispered, "Hey bebe... Merry Christmas!" ... and then she gave him a kiss... She's going to be such a great big cousin to baby boy.

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First mobile blog post: Watching Tangled with Dad and Hamilton. :) So sweet!

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Kiawah Halfer

WARNING: PHOTO OVERLOAD -- I'M JUST SO PROUD! :)

This past weekend a group of friends plus the Larson's trucked it to Kiawah Island for the 33rd Annual Kiawah Island Golf Resort Marathon!

Of the ten travelers there were six runners, a pretty good mix if I do say so myself. Of the six runners we had five half-ers (Jimbo, Caro, Carrie, Brian.. aka Krisitin, and Ray) and one full-er (Tom... aka Yom). Of the runners it was three of the six's first 1/2 - and they all did AMAZING! 

.. and I'm especially impressed with how well they did considering the weather was absolutely HORRIBLE. It was cold, wet, rainy, icky. But they all stuck it out and finished the whole thing. So proud, guys! :) And not to forget the cheerleaders, we braved the weather too. It was hard standing in the cold, stinging rain, but someone had to do it. Cheers to Kristin, Becca and Julia!

Here are some of the pictures I captured from the race:

PRE-SWEAT, TEARS AND ROCK AND ROLL:

MY STRONG HUBBY MAKING HIS WAY TO THE FINISH LINE! SO PROUD: 

CAROL... AKA CAROLINE ZOOMED PAST ME SO I DIDN'T GET A PICTURE OF HER RUNNING - BUT HERE SHE IS, SMILE AND ALL AT THE END:

RUN FORREST! RUNNNN:

(notice the guy in the khakis, plaid shirt and red Bubba-Gump hat, AWESOME!)

RAY IS SPRINTING HIS WAY TO THE FINISH LINE:

CARRIE'S MAKING HER WAY TOO IN THE BLUE:

BARELY CAUGHT BRIAN COMING THROUGH LOOKING QUITE SERIOUS:

SAD TO REPORT BUT NO PICTURE OF TOM FINISHING (the standing was getting to this mama-to-be so I was situated on a near-by bench). IN THE SPIRIT OF TOM, HERE IS A TOM MUG SHOT FOR ALL TO ENJOY:

ENJOYING THE FESTIVITIES, WAITING ON OUR FULL-ER, TOM:

We not only traveled for the run, but also some fun! We stayed at Ray's aunt and uncle's house -- which was aaaamazing. It only intensified Jimmy and my dream of one day owning a beach house of our own (a gal can dream, right? :).

Here are just a select few from the evening of fun (PS-This weekend helped me realize just how ready I am for a big ol' Cam glass of vino :) -- but no worries, it is all worth it!):

IT WAS ALL DOWN-HILL FROM HERE :) - HAHA:

ALL THE GALS WITH CHRIS, OUR FABULOUS HOSTESS WITH THE MOSTEST:

ALL THE BOYS AND BERRIES WITH MASE OUR HOST... with the most?:

BRIAN HAS THE BEST FACIAL EXPRESSIONS OF ANYONE I KNOW:

Oh and forgot to mention... our lemon of a vehicle -- the volvo -- had some issues on the way there... (and back for that matter). But good thing I'm married to the smartest man alive! Jimbo fixed it both ways. Of course Carrie, Caro and I had to document... everything! :)

Overall, a fabulous weekend with new friends and old! They all gave me some major inspiration to do a half after ol' bambino is born... Perhaps the Nashville 1/2 in 2012?? Any takers?? :)

The Spoiled Rotten Drama Queen

No, I'm not talking about a family member, co-worker or friend... Nope, this post is dedicated to Miss Sadie-Stinker Larson... aka the Spoiled Rotten Drama Queen of the Larson abode.

Well this morning I left the house around 7:00 a.m. for a Chamber event downtown. As I'm in the event I feel my phone buzzing in my pocket. I pull it out - I have 3 missed calls, and it is only 8:00 a.m., something must be going on! Then I noticed Jimmers had texted me... "Send me a message when you get this."

Oh great. Something was wrong! So of course I text back, "WHAT'S WRONG?!" Long story short, Jimmy told me how she hurt her paw outside and that she literally cried for at least 3 minutes, hiding underneath our bed. Jimmy was running late for a meeting, so he had to end up just leaving her under our bed, which we have NEVER done. She typically is left either outside or in the laundry room. (Side note for those who are thinking ill things of Jimmy -- Sadie has always been a bit of a drama queen... and a bit on the sensitive side... You yell at her for tearing up a pillow and she acts as though you have ripped her head off...)

So I rush home to check on the little stinker... and guess who greets me at the door? Tail wagging, toy in mouth? Sadie. She was fine. Noth-ing was wrong. I let her outside, she ran around. She did circles around me. Gave me lots of kisses... Oh what a stinker.

Something's telling me she is starting to figure out why my belly is getting bigger... SOMEONE isn't going to be the "baby" of the house any more! :) Oh little Sadie... we love you!

Babyyyy Ruuuuuth?!

Nope! No Baby Ruth for this growing baby... but an odd craving I get a lot is for a Milky Way! Weird... I'm not typically a big sweet/candy person... but the Milky Way hits the spot for this pregnant lady!

Thanks to co-worker Janet Koss for making this baby happy! :)

Doesn't this look to die for:

1/2 Way & Happy Birthday!

Today we had our 20 week appointment (although I won't technically be 20 weeks until tomorrow), and it went really well! We not only confirmed we're having a boy, but we really got to see him in action. He was stretching out his wee little legs and throwing his hands all over the place. It was so amazing to see. He was coming in at 11 ounces, and his heart beat is 146. The tech took tons of photos and burned them on a CD for us which was so cool... So I've posted a few of my favorites below for friends and family to enjoy:

BABY BOY YAWNING:

STRETCHING OUT HIS WEE-LITTLE LEGS:

SWEET SIDE PROFILE WITH HIS LEGS CURLED UP :)

ADORABLE PIC OF HIS LITTLE LEGS:

And not to be overshadowed by her "little brother" -- today marks another Larson milestone: Sadie's 3rd Birthday! Although we haven't had her for quite three years, our little rascal turns three today, and I can tell you -- it's a birthday I was ready for. I can tell a huge difference in her from three years ago... Here are a couple pics from then to now. She is a really sweet puppy, or I guess I should start calling her a dog... but although she gets into trouble now and again, I wouldn't trade her for anything! Here's to many more years with our four-legged love bug!

THE NIGHT WE GOT SADIE:

 SADIE'S PUPPY TRAINING GRADUATION:

ME HOLDING SADIE AS A PUPPY AT THE OLD HOUSE:

SADIE NOW:

 A LITTLE HIKE FROM LAST WEEK:

So much to be Thankful for!

Last week we celebrated our last Thanksgiving sans-baby boy Larson. It was a great day/week and I was so sad Sunday night when I realized our Thanksgiving week-long stay-cation was over (Jimmy and I both took the ENTIRE week off).

I've also been a bit delayed in posting because I have become one of "those" people... You know "those" people who never take pictures but reap the benefits of you having to tote around your camera and annoyingly get in everyone's face?? Yeah... I've never been one of "those" but I've slowly but surely been turning into one. The Larson family camera has seen better days and I'm holding out for Christmas when we'll get a new handy dandy camera from Grammy Cheryl :). Any suggestions? I'm thinking about the Cannon Elf? We want something that will fit in Jimbo's pocket.

We had around 36 or so celebrating at my parent's loft in Simpsonville. It was not only our last Thanksgiving sans-baby boy, but also the last Thanksgiving with Cheryl as a "Larson." It was loud, chaotic, fun, memorable, exciting, yummy, special, etc. I just love big family get togethers!

There's no telling what next year will bring but for now I'm thankful for an amazing husbando who just gets me and supports me in everything I do. A little bambino growing in my belly. A fabulous (growing) family -- I can't wait to celebrate with not only a new baby boy, but with Cheryl's soon to be husband and his daughter next year. I'm thankful for my parents who not only know how to throw a great celebration, but are the most loving and giving parents a girl could as for. I'm thankful for my crazy siblings, their spouses and my adorable nieces and nephews who make the holidays just that much sweeter.

PICTURES TO COME ONCE THE PEOPLE THAT DID ALL THE WORK SHARE THEM WITH ME. :) NO WORRIES... This isn't going to become habit! ... PICS HAVE BEEN ADDED AS OF 12-3-2010, compliments of Miss Fannie Annie Cook :)

Three Newly Learned Lessons

1 -- Girls' night is super duper fun and I love hanging out -- especially with my Wednesday Wine Crew... But midnight is too late for me and growing baby boy in my belly. This AM was a little rough for me... but totally worth it! :)

2 -- Regular pantyhose do not fly when you are over 4 months preggo. Although the belly isn't big -- the hose will still roll. Enough said.

3 -- What it feels like to have a baby seriously move! Just a minute ago baby boy moved big time. It kind of felt like I was on a roller coaster and my stomach dropped a little. If I had to sum it up in a word it would be.. "WOOSH." So cool :)

Where's the glow?!

Now I'm not complaining but where's this "glow" everyone talks about that you're supposed to get when you get pregnant? I haven't seen it, but would appreciate seeing it soon.

Everyone says, "Oh my hair was the best ever when I was pregnant....", "My skin was radiant....", etc...

Blah. Blah. Blaaaaaah.

My hair looks bad (but partially my fault - I'm extremely behind a cut/color, which will be fixed later today)... My skin is not glowing, but breaking out.. I feel like I'm in high school all over again without Proactive (yeah, did you know you can't use Proactive while pregnant?). ..... and to make matters even better -- I had my first nose bleed yesterday. Ew.

I know it is all worth it, but come on glow!

Happy Birthday, Adeline!

This weekend we celebrated my youngest niece's birthday, Adeline! It's so hard to believe that she is already a full year old. Boy how time flies when you're having fun! Joy and Hunter had the fam over for some cake and ice cream and it was so much fun! Here are some pics from the day:

Her cute little outfit had to come off for the destroying of the birthday cake (which was fabulous)!

It was extra special because Ma, who suffered a stroke earlier this year got to come too!

Hard to believe this was just one year ago:

We love you sweet "pookie took" Adeline! :)



Proud Papa & Flutters

Since we found out we are having a boy last week Jimmy has gotten even more excited about the whole pregnancy thing, and it is really cute.

On Wednesday when we had our doctor's appointment, we got three ultrasound pictures. When we were leaving Jimmy asked if he could have one. I asked him what he wanted it for. He responded by saying, "I want to put it up in my cube!" (Like, duh -- what else?!) Well Jimmy showed off his son at work and pinned it up in his office.

The next morning we were getting ready for work and Jimmy asked where the other two pictures were. I told him and then asked why?... He then asked if he could take another one with him to work to show. I just started laughing and said okay as long as he brings it home :).

Well, guess who just came by my office to get all three pictures? Jimbo. Such a proud papa! :)

So yesterday I'm pretty sure I felt the baby for the first time. Since we got to "fall back" one hour Saturday night we had extra time before church to veg out and just watch tv Sunday morning. So I was very still for awhile, just laying on the couch watching TV. Then Jimmy told me I really needed to get in the shower so we wouldn't be late. So I jumped up and ran upstairs and started the water. Well as soon as I did I felt a constant little flutter on my right side about four or five times in a row.

Jimmy told me to describe it, and it might sound strange but it kind of felt like my stomach was yawning...? Strange, huh? It also felt like constant butterflies/bubbles but just on one side, four or five times in a row and then it stopped. I haven't felt it since, but it was so exciting!

Little Jimmy!

We had our 15 week check up yesterday, and we weren't expecting to find out what we were having, but as luck would have had it... we did! I simply asked the doctor if she thought there would be any way possible they could schedule our 20 week appointment just a tad bit early so that we could know what the sex was by Thanksgiving... Well she looked at me... with the hopeful light in my eyes... and said -- maybe we'll just go back there today?

I think I squirted a couple tears and said, "REALLY?!?!?!"

Then she said, "Well.. you aren't even 16 weeks yet... let's see if we can find the hear beat fairly easily. If so, we'll go back there and see what we see." Sure enough she stuck the little heart beat finder on my belly and we immediately had a heartbeat. She then smiled and said, "Let's go back there!"

So Jimmy and I were like little kids on Christmas morning. We both kept looking at each other like, ".. here we go!" Then the tech simply asked us if we wanted to know the sex and we both pipped up and said, "YES!" :)

As she was scanning the belly she asked if we had any feelings. I told her how I originally thought it was a boy the day we found out (but I really think I thought it was a boy because I always figured I would have a boy first)... but then I had changed my mind with all those silly tests... The Chinese Birth Chart, the pencil test, etc... So I told her we both thought it was a girl...

Then she started laughing and said, "well you're both wrong -- we have a baby boy!" Our little bambino had his legs spread eagle with it all hanging out. (Apparently he isn't going to be very shy :)

Jimmy and I were both shocked, thrilled, excited, astonished, etc... It was such an amazing time that we won't ever forget.

We can't wait to meet you Baby Boy Larson!!! :) You are already very much loved.

Happy Halloween Y'all!

So we had a Halloween party to go to Saturday night at our good friends' Kelly and Greg's house, and I was kind of worried. I'm not much of a dresser-upper, and to make matters worse... I couldn't have any "liquid courage" to help me get through the evening :-). But in true Cam fashion... we figured out our costume at 5:00 p.m., just in time to get dressed and ready to go! We decided we would be Fergie & The Black Eyed Peas (".. G... L... A... M.... O...R... O.. U ...S...."). And we did it without spending a dime!

Jimmy sported a black eye, some P's on his shirt... Get it? Black-eyed P's?? wahh, waaaahhhh... We figured the wig and suspenders just made it more Halloweeny. Then I decided to rock one of Joy's maternity dresses with some crazy red heels, big ol' jewelry, big hair and a fur coat... What else? I also celebrated the evening with a little Welch's sparking grape juice, which was yummy!

We also rocked out all  night with a little boom box we brought with a CD I made with nothing but Blackeyed Peas and Fergie songs...

We weren't annoying... No, not at all :)

But it was a lot of fun! Here are a couple more pics from the evening (thanks Carrie!):