How Did I Get So Lucky?

My two best friends in the world insisted upon throwing a little shower for baby Rex last weekend. I felt so honored. Of course...it was totally unnecessary, and over the top -- but I loved every single second of it. They did such a great job, and it was the most fun I have had in a long time. Some of my closest and oldest (meaning known the longest...not a dig on age, girlies) friends were able to make it, which made it so special.

When your belly has to be measured with what looks like a construction-grade measuring tape, all you can do is laugh....

Miss Maddie Moo (Steph's youngest cutie) was the REAL star of the shower. She was such a big girl and looked so cute.

The two hostesses with the mostesses. Thanks ladies!

Amy and Emilea

Hayley and Steph

Mommy and her mini.

Miss Maddie helped open all the cards are read them to me (hey...a big fat pregnant lady needs all the help she can get).

That's right...it sure is, and if you saw even half of the cute little outfits these girls got for Rex- you would want to be one too.

Steph is very crafty.

The entire group: Misty, Stephanie, Moi, Amy, Madison, Emilea, and Hayley

Thanks for the best shower a girl could ask for, ladies. I love all of you!

Big Boy Coming Through

Roanin is making the transition from little toddler to big boy brother in order to get ready for Rex's arrival. He is growing up so darn fast, it is shocking. Here are a few recent developments. The new room for Roanin also included a move to a full size bed. Of course, I was completely freaked the first night, thinking he would wig out, fall out, or something along those lines....and of course he did none of the above. He just looked at me when I was tucking him in like, "yeah...what the heck took you so long? I was tired of being in that little cage." Yep...that is just like me to underestimate what he is ready for. sigh....While we are here...just a few shots of his new room, since I haven't shown much of the construction since it has been finished. Here is his favorite part of the room...the built in bookshelves with the secret midget closet hidden inside.

Little Man also decided that he was ready to potty train...so I followed his lead. We actually started on Memorial Day, and haven't looked back. He is doing great by now, although there have been a few living room bombs in between. I can't believe we aren't using diapers...it makes me super happy and sorta sad at the same time. Good thing I will have another little marsupial to fill the diaper bill in just a few weeks...

Spoils from the garden

We have been enjoying fresh veggies from my garden...make that the garden that belongs to Roanin and I (after all -- he did almost as much work as I did). Although I haven't had time to take may pictures, and all of my time outside is spent frantically trying to run for cooler cover due to the huge bulge on my front...we have been having fun. A bite in between naked from the waist down runs across the yard.

Sharing with the horse...which appears to be the only thing on earth he is interested in sharing with at this point in his two-year-old life. Ahhh....can't wait to have another one in less than a month. That should be fun.

Gettin' Close...

Exactly a month from tomorrow...the day our joy doubles. Thought this might be an appropriate time to formally (as formally as blogging allows) announce the name of baby #2 for the Dunsmores.
Rex Patrick Dunsmore
Rex is a name that both Shawn and I finally just loved - it means King. Patrick is his Daddy's Irish middle name.
We can't wait. Let the count down begin.

Vacation to Nowhere...

Shawn had a week off of work, and we took advantage of the vacation time to get some quality bonding in. The week seemed to fly by...but we got plenty of activity in. We took Roanin to see the movie Up (he cried when he thought the Mommy bird was not going to get to her babies. It was so cute seeing innocence at it's best), worked on the nursery, went out to eat, grilled out, went fishing, and just hung out with each other. Here are a few of the activities...

My nephew, DJ, graduated from high school over the weekend. We went to celebrate at his party held at my parent's house. Here is the graduate cuddling his younger brother, Derrick.Roanin telling us how much he liked the barbecue at the party. Mr. Smiles posing with Derrick.

Roanin hanging out with his favorites...Cousin Danielle and Katherine.

Daddy took Roanin to his first gun show for some male bonding, and to give Mommy a little break. Roanin LOVED it. Just the two...make that the three of us, trying to get a little swimming in. Pregnant anyone?

Daddy taking his turn in the little pool with RoRo. Do we look like a bunch of hillbillies or what?

When I was growing up, I went to a camp every summer in Colorado where we made what we called "hobos" by fireside. You basically take meat, potatoes, carrots, pickles, cheese, mustard, ketchup, salt and pepper and throw it all in some foil and let it cook over hot coals. This tradition carried over into Shawn and I's marriage...we make them every time we camp and have a fire. And of course, now, we have started making the famous hobos with Little Man. This was his first time to put it together by himself (minus the raw meat part). He was so excited...he ran outside and threw the darn thing directly into the fire before we were ready. Shawn had to fish it out with a shovel. Despite a little ash...it turned out alright.

Roanin giving some love to one of the kittens. What a way to end a perfect day!

Gone Fishin'

Shawn, Roanin and I went fishing this last week. Roanin was SO excited -we had been talking it up for a week or so. Shawn even got RoRo his own little Spiderman fishing pole. It turned out to be a lot of fun...although we caught nothing. Roanin didn't seem to mind. The men set up shop.

The best kind of fishing....for minnows in a plastic bag. If only all of life could be this easy.Proudly displaying the fruits of his labor. Look at how Little Man is gripping the minnow in his fist. He did not want that sucker to get away. Daddy is showing him how to put it on the hook.

After a not-so-successful attempt at the lake, we brought the minnows home and put them in the horse's water trough. This is where the cave-man style fishing began. Pia, the cat, decided to get in on the action.

Roanin caught one that he kept calling "broken."

Who can catch the most? So far...they are pretty much equal. I couldn't believe Pia would actually reach in there and grab them. Never underestimate a new mother....

For the next shot...I would like to preface with an explanation that many hugs and kisses were given RIGHT AFTER this innocent picture was taken. Roanin tried to get one up on Pia, and really reached for a particularly fast minnow...and went head first into the water. Shawn pulled him out immediately...but he was not happy.

Poor little fisherman.

Growin' Up

School's Out for Summer (or for 2 weeks)

Roanin has adjusted SO WELL to his Mother's Day Out he goes to once a week. He loves his teachers, and all the little kids in his class. Such a difference from the first time I took him when he projectile vomited on his teacher from sheer panic. His last day in the 18 month old class was last week, and we are officially moving into the 2 year old class when he returns from his 2 week break. Yahoo!! Bring on adulthood!The two angels who take such good care of him each day, Ms. Ann and Ms. Jerri. This was a buck-wild game of ring-around-the-rosie. Ahh...the memories.

His little class of cuties.

A favorite friend, Evie, and Roanin finding snacks in their backpacks after school.

You gotta give out kisses when you won't see someone for two whole weeks...