Tab updated

I finally did ONE of the tabs--
(listed above)

It's one of my favorites,
on my husband.
If you're wanting to read some mushy, lovey-dovey---
then click (right above) on the My HUSBAND tab.

And you can get your fill of sweet husband pictures...

Love that man!
Or, you can just click this link!
My husband

-Enjoy!!!

A very vain photo opt, from a PRE-baby Halley

So, I ran across a few photos of me PRE-kids.
These photos aren't my typical photos, especially of lately.
But, during these times I was an avid runner/cardio lover (and I was even after I had Kie) but my body, well it never went back to being like this.

Even during these photos, I thought I had a lot of work to do. Mainly on my abs, I was trying to get a six-pack. Think that's as close as I ever got.
Or ever will get. And of course, I have some love handles....(birthing hips!)

So yes, this is an ode to pre-baby Halley.
In fact, these photos were during my dating days with Justin.
Ahhh, what a blissful summer spent on the lake in my swim suit.

ahhh, life was pretty easy then. When all that consumed my world was what to wear on my next date, getting to work and making money.

Life was a lot more simple sans kids, but definitely not as joyous!

Here's looking to you, naive girl! 

the boob debate

As most of my close friends and family know...

I nursed Kie for awhile.

No, not 3 years...(obviously, since he is not even 2 yet)

But, I nursed him past my goal of one year.

In fact, we went 19 months.

A lot of my friends quit nursing a bit earlier and some c r a z y moms are still nursing their toddlers.

Actually, I should clarify, I say it's crazy to nurse toddlers because their wild. They have a MOUTH full of little, pearly white shark teeth--and they're rough.

Ok, at least in my experience, MY toddler is.

Basically, I had to make a choice...

Was I wanting to have two boobs to nurse my future children? Or was I going to let them get bit off by my first child?? 

(Maybe I'm being a bit dramatic, but to moms that have been there then maybe you understand this is a valid question.)

I did like to nurse. In fact, I loved the quiet times Kie and I had on the couch.

Plus, as a nursing momma with a baby in her arms, it gives you a good excuse to SIT DOWN and rest some.

However, Kie was 16 months when I found out we were expecting another one.  I was wondering if I was going to have the energy to still nurse or if I was going to be asked by my doctor to quit.  I've had a lot of friends who had to stop nursing their babies because they were pregnant again and their bodies couldn't sustain both the nursing baby, the baby in the womb and their own energy.

Me, well I felt fine!

Yes, I was tired...

and I was sick.

And mainly, that was the biggest issue.

Kie would nurse and he would be laying across my stomach in some way that would NOT HELP my morning all day sickness.  Still, I pushed on.

We nursed right through the first trimester. 

Deemed the roughest.

But, then I realized how big Kie was.

It never occurred to me how BIG he had been getting.

His teeth were sprouting up,

he was learning to push and kick and resist...

and he was rough.

I mean, he's a boy.

He's pretty rough....

So I made the decision to wean him at 19 months.

We went a few weeks into the month and eventually we stopped.

There are times Kie pulls my shirt up or over...and asks to "nuuuuuu" 

Which in his language, translates to nurse.

He even says "boooobie."

In fact, he TRIED to nurse yesterday.

But, I'm glad we're done.

I've gotten a small break before I'll be nursing around the clock again.

And mothers, who've had c-sections know that nursing with a big incision is not easy or comfortable.

It took me weeks until I felt good about certain nursing positions.

I guess my next worry is how Kie will do with a new baby nursing.

Considering I know he still WOULD nurse if I allowed him to, I don't know what he'll think about a baby getting to nurse.

For now, the excuse to him is, 

"Their broken."

Broken is one of his favorite words.

In fact, I use this word a lot when he wants to turn on and off a lamp a million, billion times.

I guess we'll pass that bridge when it gets here.

Until next time,

-HK-

For the love of Kie

I thank God everyday for giving me this cute little man....

and to think, God is giving me another sweet angel boy in a few more weeks.

Just living in gratitude....

something I need to do daily.

Thank you God for this little, healthy, big-blue-eyed boy.

He has shown me love.

Motherhood is, by far,  the biggest surprise and best blessing I've ever had.

Thank you, my loving God for my family.

And for my hard working husband...

and my two baby boys.

27 weeks

I'm the worse about posting about this pregnancy.
I feel a little bad that I'm not as good about keeping note of things, but life has been very busy and once you have a toddler, well--life goes full speed! Especially when you have a wild child lil man!

I haven't seen my doctor in awhile because we've been out of town for 3 weeks.
I will be going to see my uncle, whose a practicing doctor and he use to deliver babies--next week for a check up. I know Lil Baby K is doing well because I'm growing and he kicks me, mainly at night.

I was suppose to have another sonogram at 24 weeks--so I'm anxious to see him again.

Weight gain: 20-25lbs maybe? Not too sure. I've not weighed myself. I'm guesstimating by my size. Ha!
Stretch marks: None, so far.
Feeling: I'm a bit tired these days. I've been feeling pretty amazing until the past few days. But, I still have energy.  I am wanting to get home to get back to my normal walks and schedule.
Cravings: Anything really. This pregnancy I've not been wanting sweets AS much.  I still love my Mexican food and anything with bacon.

The start of the pregnancy I was CRAVING hamburgers.
Really good hamburgers from P.Terry's.
I hadn't eaten a hamburger in years, and in a matter of months I had more hamburgers in a few weeks then I'd eaten in 6 years!

I can't wait to get back to Austin in a week or two to see my doctor and we can go through our delivery plan.


I still have some time but my doctor, and I believe, that Baby K will debut earlier. My body tends to go into labor earlier than normal.
I predict Baby K will debut at 37-38 weeks. Which gives us 10-11 weeks.


Which means I need to get on the ball to get the nursery ready!
Stay tuned for some more pictures to come from our beach vacay!
And MAYBE some more belly pictures.


**Belly pictures aren't really my thing. 
I'm not good at taking pictures of myself and generally I feel kinda silly doing so :) haha


Until next time,


-HK-

The love bug must of bit me

Hey lovely readers--
This post will be a lot more cheerier than the previous (and a bit random, bear with me!)
 It's amazing the roller coaster of emotions you experience when pregnant. Heck, just being a woman you experience a range of emotions!

One moment I'm ready to pull my hair out, the next I'm looking at my handsome husband like I'm a 16 year old girl with a high school crush!


And on that note, warning--right now I'm in a mushy, lovey mood...
I wanted to say how much I adore my husband.
Sure, he may annoy me on the occasion.  Doesn't every spouse?
And yes, sometimes when he asks me a question JUST because I asked him one. Which gets a little old.
(For instance: "Is your phone ringing?" -Me asking.  Justin, "Is YOUR phone ringing?')
::Now imagine that kind of questioning every time you ASK a question::
It gets old. But he thinks it's funny.

Now, back to the mushy.
Sometimes I look at my husband--mainly when he is working (which is all the time) and I'm amazed by his talents.
Seriously, he is so very talented. He can do almost anything. And he's a perfectionist.
His work shows his craftsmanship.

Kie & Papa J ready for swim lessons

He is diligent but speedy.
And he is so confident.

I have never met a man that is as skillful in SO many trades MORE than my husband.
He also has such a great athletic built.
Haha, I may be blushing when I write this--and I'm not trying to make anyone UNCOMFORTABLE when reading about my husband.
It's just amusing because PRIOR to my husband I dated guys that would deem themselves "gym rats".
Then I married the ONE man who NEVER works out.
And doesn't need to!

He's got a great, toned body naturally.
And when I think of my past and all the dudes that spent so much time in the gym or running makes me laugh--because I thought at the time it was so important.  Now, I've got a man--with a real man's body. He has great muscles and they're muscles that he actually USES not just ones he builds in a gym to fill out a shirt.

He does wake board every morning--
(He is on the lake at 5:30am everyday before work!)
And he has a physically grueling job...
plus, when he IS home...he never sits down.
He runs circles around me.

He is just blessed with good genes,
while I, on the other hand,
can look at a package of Oreos and immediately they jump to my hips!

Ok, enough shallow talk.

::Currently, our remodel/reno is BEHIND in schedule::
I've tried to be patient--and I'm working on it...
but when you're pregnant you have this URGE to nest and it's so hard to nest when everything is everywhere.

But, I won't go there for now.
This weekend has been great--J got me some more maternity clothes.
Even though I thought I could get through this pregnancy with what I had from my last--I realized I needed a few more things, plus I let some friends borrow some items and some have managed to go missing with all the moving we've been doing.

Maternity clothes have gotten SO cute. Even since I was last pregnant!

Kie & Mickey :) His new favorite friend

What is the sweetest is that Justin really likes to buy me clothes.
He always sits out of the dressing room and waits on me to come out in the outfits.
Seriously, can you make a better man than that?

Lately though, I have NOT been saving like I'd like.
With being out of a kitchen for a month PLUS---we have been eating out a lot.
Also--with being OUT of the house a lot means we have been shopping more.

Regardless, we have been paying down so much of our debt this past year that we are nearly debt free.
I cannot wait TO say we are officially debt free and no longer have a credit card.
We have slowed down paying the debt faster because we have been financing a renovation...
and we have a lot of doctor appointments and a future c-section to pay IN FULL in CASH.

I won't go there now--but let's just say that Obama's REFORM (prior to this recent Health Care Law) made it where our insurance no longer carries maternity.

Even though we DO have health insurance...Blue Cross Blue Shield in Texas no longer carries maternity when you have a private business. --Basically, if you own your own business or a small business you're pretty much screwed when it comes to insurance.
Therefore, we are paying OUT OF POCKET for a very expensive c-section! And not to mention all the countless doctor appointments. We have already paid $7,000 for just the doctor appointments alone!

::I asked the Doctor if wouldn't mind doing a breast augmentation or a tummy tuck when he was finished with the surgery--since we were already paying for so much!::
He thought I was serious and began to lecture me.
Ohhhh Doctors, don't you have a sense of humor?!
I digress...

Anyway, the weekend has been great.
Lots of family time with my two sweet men... <3 Sometimes I can't get enough of those two.
AND tomorrow we will spend a better part of the day out on the Lake Austin with some of my favorite people!

Can't wait to see Justin wakeboard and I need some sun on my legs....
Hope everyone is having a blessed weekend!

Until next time,
HK

Big Daddy & Kie out at dinner one night

Boat time! Kie & I on Lake Austin

Shhh, don't tell Dad I'm standing on his head

toddler times

So, my toddler....
My precious, blue eyed lil man.

ADORABLE to look at.
PRECIOUS to watch while sleeping...
And even there are the times when he acts and behaves OH SO perfectly!

Mainly when others are around.
He performs.
he spins,
he dances,
he talks,
he hugs,
he kisses,
he does tricks,
he counts,
& spells his name.
::He can count to 3 & Spell K-I-E!::

He smiles,
says "tank yew"(thank you)
and "peas" (please)
when he wants something...
Or when you hand him a snack.
(nack!)

THEN...
There is the toddler side I get to see...from time to time.
Oh, who am I kidding...
The toddler side, I see nearly everyday.

The wild child.
There's the disappearing act.
::When he goes into hiding, and no matter how much you call his name he stands completely still and quiet behind the curtain or door, or in the shower.  Refusing to answer to his mother's frantic calls.

The instances happen when I make a mistake to take folded laundry to be put up in it's proper place.
Kie is with me one second--GONE the next.
Of course I know he can't get anywhere that could be too scary--but it's those .0003 seconds that your brain runs into crazy thoughts like he drowned in the toilet or managed to undo the dead bolt and wandered into the street.

He loves giving me a heart-attack.
Of course he is not swimming in the toilet or running into traffic.
Instead he hides, like a Navy seal (do they hide? Idk) behind the door or curtain.
Not breathing or making a noise.
::Once again, I'm sure he is breathing but I cannot hear him for the life of me::
Finally I discover his hiding spot and he laughs at me.

AHH....
Love you too, Son.

Oh, toddlers.
You're so cute because you look like a mini adult.
Your little bodies so small and still squishy.
The plump little arms and legs.
(Though they're slimming up so fast!)
The sweet, innocence in your eyes....
::I say this before you smack me in the face::
The love for your parents,
your grandparents,
your uncles & aunts,
the puppy or the kitty,
or the many strangers.....
lol.

Though you don't understand why sometimes people may ignore you.
I'm sure they would love you if the happened to look your way.
But, unlike your mom, some people don't notice babies or toddlers.
I'm sure it would be a sad way to live life not noticing other sweet babies and kids...
but there are those kinds of people in the world.
Sometimes they sit on the plane next to us,
And though you try desperately to say hi to them--
however, they have their earphones stuffed all the way to their eardrums.

Yes, those are the people you try your hardest to talk to.
And it breaks my heart because you don't understand why they won't listen.

Oh, sweet lil wild man :)
I want to put you in a bubble and keep you there.
Keep you innocent.
And precious.
And wild.
And original.

The more I think of it,
the more home-schooling seems to be the plans I'm toying.


To raise you where Christ is first in the curriculum.
Where you can study art & music,
develop any of your passions.
And we'll go from there,
I realize you can do this in public or private schools.
But for now, I think we may try homeschooling.
yes, it's still years away--and maybe once the second baby comes--
I may realize I need a break.
But, for now I want to protect my lil cherub.


Oh, toddler times....
You exhaust me.
But with every screeching (literally) second of it,
I learn something new.
I learn about myself.
How I need to be patient.
I learn how to be a better mother,
failure is the best lesson.
I learn what kind of woman I wish to be.
A better Christian, a better wife & a loving mother.


So forgive me sweet toddler when I fail.
When I lose my cool,
Or when I give up and hand you the 3rd or 4th popsicle for the day....


Just know, regardless of the time-outs (that I've yet to enforce) or the threatened spankings....
that I do love you.
And that I'll get this parenting a toddler thing down.
Especially before your brother becomes a toddler.


well, you're up from your nap....
and at least I'm smart enough not to try and blog while you're running around.


Until next time,


-HK-