Wednesday, August 22, 2007

August, Wilmington and What we did this summer.


Here we are, all 5 of us on our Surry Ride around Carolina Beach.
We went to Wilmington last weekend after spending the night with G&G Ray. It was Grandpa's 50th birthday and he got a big suprise! We spent our time in Wilmington just doing things together as a family. It was a ton of fun.
This summer has been full of tons of mini and macro adventures for our family. The next few posts just show hi-lights. I for once don't get very chatty, just provide simple descriptions. I figured though it might be good to give an update on why we've been so busy this summer.
Posted by Picasa

August Children's Nature Museum in Wilmington

outdoor play area.
Tiny dinner upstairs, Charmie is preparing a scrumptious meal for us on the "grill"
Charmie and Mardie play scientist and combine colors to make new ones.
Pirate Charmie and no Beard Mardie on the pirate ship!
Posted by Picasa

August

I'm finally getting the hang of this order thing. Here's my little gunslinger playing with his beloved pop gun. The photo is to show his self designed tape mustache!
Reeds Gold Mine, panning for gold!
Posted by Picasa

June

Boys posing on a horse at Ghost Town in the Sky.
Mardie, one of the littlest campers at summer camp walking on a trail near the paintball area.
Daddy in the pool with the boys during swimming time at camp.
Zuri's first photo.
Posted by Picasa

June

Ghost Town in the Sky - Maggie Valley NC. in the saloon with the Preacher.
Here are my Jr. gunslingers with a lawman down at the entrance.
Rocky and Charmie on the Chairlift.
A view of Mardie on my lap on the chair lift. This thing was crazy to ride trying to balance, keep the bar down, hold a toddler, etc. That horizontal line coming off Mardie's temple is the road. We were so high up the ride took over 15 minutes!
Posted by Picasa

June

The funeral service.
The first day at the lake. Charmie and Mardie look ready for water!
Daddy on a jetski, having fun going fast as usual.
Another shot of the beautiful lake.
Posted by Picasa

June

Our 2nd trip back from Michigan. . . ok eventually by the time I'm done I'll get the order thing right. The boys are in a better mood. Maybe they are getting used to the long trip?
This was the first day at the lake. I don't have pics from the boy's 2nd day there. I went shopping with some of Rocky's Aunts.
The family gathered for a meal after the service.
Here's our little family after the service. Poor Mardie slept the entire service, he was barely awake here.
Posted by Picasa

More from May

Once again out of order. . . me with a honkin zit (can anyone say pregnancy hormones?????) with my little man after the funeral.
This is how we all felt on the way home from our long drive to Michigan.
Father's Day, driving an RC boat up at the lake.
Japanese leftovers. Mardie says, "YUM" While Charmie says, "cum and take a luk har at m'teef!"
Posted by Picasa

May

These are out of order but here goes. . . I know you guys know what this means!
Our first trip to Michigan this summer. Grandpa Ray takes a moment to help Charmie unwind from having to be so well behaved in the funeral parlor.
Rocky and his brother Charles.
The boys get a ride with Uncle John in the sidecar.
Posted by Picasa

Church Picnic - May


Here's the first of my what did we do this summer pics. I'm just posting hilights from each month. Here Rocky is giving Charmie and Mardie some extra instructions beore their "race".
Posted by Picasa

Saturday, August 11, 2007

Meet Zuri Elizabeth Ray!

Here'a a good shot of her face Resting in mommy
And this is one of several views she finally cooperated on to allow us to determine that she is a girl. Since this was a little too early for final confirmation stay tuned for the end of the month update!
Posted by Picasa

update

Well I can honestly say I've been trying to post for the last week or so but I've not been able to get Picasa to connect with Blogger and I wanted to post pictures. Like ULTRASOUND pics of Zuri Elizabeth, btw, we're having a girl if you hadn't figured it out or heard from me yet! Our Dr. wants another ultrasound at the end of the month for confirmation purposes, the one we had was really too early but there was no male anatomy to be seen so the determination is GIRL!
After we found out Rocky agreed that I could splurge on a diaper bag so I got a Vera Bradley. I had not had one of these before and I love it. I chose a retired style and print, the Bermuda Pink, Cary-All. It's exactly what I wanted as far as size and shape are concerned so I'm really excited to stuff that puppy and tote it around. VB is having a huge clearance sale at the end of the month at the Charlotte Merchandise Mart and hopefully I can find my hospital overnight bag there! I've got my eye on a style, the Miller bag and a few different prints. I'll just have to see what they have when I go though.
Rocky and I also created a registry at the usual store. . . but after talking to my friend I realized like her, I didn't want or really need what the usual store had to offer. Zuri has been promosed plenty of clothes from her cousin (November birthday) and a family friend (January birthday) and I already have pretty much all the "gear" a baby needs leftover and saved from my first 2 Rays. Things that Zuri needs are cloth diapers, related supplies, bath and bathing items, etc. I followed my smart friend's path and created an online registry. I don't know if we're going to have a shower, I don't know if anyone will buy anything for Zuri off it. . . but at least if asked about a registry I can say where ours is and it's stuff that Zuri will use and need, not just a bunch of stuff we don't really need.
We did keep the other registry because we get a 10% off coupon after Zuri is born to use on those items if they are not purchased. Who can pass up a savings? As we draw closer to my due date I can tweak that one to ensure I get a savings on the things we still don't have and want.
The coolest is that after this weekend we are much closer. I was actually able to remove quite a few items from both registries. This weekend the Charlotte area had at least 4 of it's major consignment sales and we were blessed to be able to go to 2 of them plus a smaller one closer to our home! I think I finally got the missing links to my maternity clothes (seeing as how the last time I needed winter maternity I was a business professional not a SAHM!), some basic layette and accessory items for Zuri, a 2nd diaper bag, toys, winter wear and costumes for the boys and I was even able to help out another friend who is preggers with her first, and twins at that, who couldn't go saleing by almost rounding out her list!
I am so excited to be mommy to a girl. To get little special things for her. I didn't think it would be this way. We were going to be blessed whether we were having a boy or a girl, but so far for me expecting a girl is very different from expecting a boy. I am nervous seeing as I am entering into uncharted territory but I know God is giving me the grace for this job so I just need to hang in there and follow his lead!
My OB/CNM delima seems to be finally situated. I went to my first really appointment and loved it. The midwife and her nurse were actually nicer this time than before. I was pleased with our interaction and feel that both Zuri and I are in good hands. I am so glad that this experience has the potential to be just as rewarding as it was with Charmie and Mardie. I was beginning to worry.
I've been to a couple of knit nights at my local yarn shop. Last time we had a yarn tasting where a new yarn company, Universal Yarn brought 4 sample balls (Cottonwood, Flax, Links and Trellis) for each participant to knit and play with from their new Fibra Natura line. I've never knit with 100% linen before. These yarns were a joy to work with. It was a lot of fun.
While I was there I got some different cotton yarn and I've started knitting a blanket for Zuri. I'll post pictures when it's complete. Janet has started a wash cloth kick and I am going to be soon to join her as I LOVE fine knitted wash cloths for baby.
I have a funny feeling that when it's all said and done I will have made quite a few things for little Zuri.