Weeks Forty-One and Forty-Two

One of the highlights of these past couple of weeks was our trip to Atlanta to see "Disney Presents Frozen on Ice". While we were there, we also visited the aquarium. Allison and Hugh took Amelia as well, so Nora had a friend to play with all weekend.

I have to admit, I had hoped that since it was 10 months since Nora's last big car ride that she would be a better traveler, but she really wasn't. My child hates long car rides. HATES!!  The trip to Atlanta was torture. She whined and cried and screamed, and I thought Brad and I might lose our minds. Thankfully, on the car ride back, she got really into watching a couple of movies, and we were able to travel in peace.

While we were in Atlanta, she definitely had fun but also had some moments of crankiness. Both Frozen and the aquarium were packed to their limits, and I think that was a little bit overwhelming. It was also stressful for Brad and me at the aquarium because Nora wanted to explore a little more freely, which just wasn't possible due to the very large crowd. I'd say the highlight of the aquarium was the dolphin show when we were able to sit down and just enjoy it.

Overall, I'm glad we took the trip. I'm not sure how much Nora will remember of these excursions and events, but I'm hoping she at least has some vague memories of the fun she had.

The big FROZEN show:

Happily waiting for the show to begin

Anna, Olaf, and Kristoff

The trolls!

It's Sven! And Arandelle is saved.

Sisters are the best

The Aquarium:

Waving to the scuba diver

A moment of grumpiness

Back to smiling

And the hotel:

Showing off $38 in Frozen memorabilia

Farewell, Atlanta!

Week Forty

It's absolutely Fall in Tennessee. Leaves are starting to change color. The temperatures have dipped down into the 60s and low 70s during the day and much colder over night.  Pumpkin spice everything is everywhere. We have started packing away summer clothing, much to Nora's dismay, and long-sleeve season is almost in full-effect.

Yesterday, Allison and I took the girls to Gilreath Farm to visit the pumpkin patch and corn maze. The girls weren't much interested in giving us those picture perfect smiles we were looking for, but they did have fun, which is what really matters.

Arriving at the farm

Bounce houses are always a big hit!

Riding the barrel?

Giddyup!

Pumpkin' pickin'

Mommy and her big girl

Cheesin'

"Hi goat! How are you little guy? Are you hungry?" 

Checking out the corn maze

She was proud of her corn

Conversations with Wilber the pig

And I feel like this is the conversation Amelia and Nora had each time they saw one of us pull out a camera...

They don't give up, do they? I'm gonna look bored, and you squint at the camera.

Mission accomplished.

Weeks Thirty-Eight and Thirty-Nine

The past couple of weeks have been kind of low-key. Brad has been working extra evenings since it is football season, and I have been busy at school.

However, we did get some good news early in week 38. We found out that baby girl is 100% healthy with all of her bits and pieces working exactly as they should. We also chose a name for her.

Nora likes to call her Tilly as a nick name, but I kind of love "Matilda" as it is. Time will tell which name will stick, but either way, we're pretty excited to meet this sweet little thing come January.

I took an afternoon last week for some pampering. I got my hair cut and colored, and I got a pedicure. Nora hasn't stopped telling me since then how much she loves my hair and my toes. She's such a girly girl. Here I am taking a new hair selfie with a certain little monkey jumping on the bed.

Still no news on the house. We feel pretty sure at this point that it won't sell by the time we're ready to pull it off the market which is a month from now at the latest. I am sad that we most likely won't be settled into a new home before the baby arrives, but we will make it work and we'll try again in the spring, if that is what it comes to.

Week Thirty-Seven

Last night, Brad and I went out to dinner all alone at a fancy restaurant to celebrate our 11th wedding anniversary, which was last week. We went to The Melting Pot, which is one of our favorites, while Hannah baby sat Nora. Nora wasn't thrilled to see us leave, but Hannah said she settled in quickly, and they watched Tangled before Nora passed out (early!) for the night. I'm disappointed that I forgot to get a picture of us because we were actually pretty put together for once. We do clean up nicely, and I have almost no proof of it. It was nice to have a few hours in a cozy booth at one of our favorite spots. It may be months before we have that opportunity again.

Being mid-September, we're starting to have a day here and there when it isn't too hot and humid to play outside, and today was one of those days. We decided yesterday after dance class that we would meet Allison and Amelia today at Victor Ashe Park for some play time, but when we got to Victor Ashe, there wasn't a single parking spot to be found. Between the perfect outdoor weather and a large soccer tournament, it was packed. So, we headed over to a jungle gym/playground at North West Middle School where the girls had a great time playing for a solid hour and a half!

The girls ran and climbed and slid and fussed and whined and needed boo-boos kissed. Then they did it all again and again. We eventually had to pack it in when there was more fussing than playing and when too many people, who I assume also couldn't find a place to park at Victor Ashe, showed up and it got too crowded for comfort.

Weeks Thirty-Five and Thirty-Six

We were excited last week to learn that Nora's Wroblewski cousins were in town from Toledo, and that they would be hanging out at Dede and Grandpa's pool, so we packed up our stuff and headed that way so they could spend some time playing together. They are like little fish in the water while Nora is still hesitant, but once pool time was over they had fun playing together, and they even were kind enough to pose for the camera for us.

Threenagers.

Naomi's first picture with the gang!

Here is "Uncle Brad" getting in a few quality minutes with Naomi. Silly girl got very serious when I turned the camera on them.

So, once again, it is football time in Tennessee!! We train 'em up young down here in the SEC. We've been brainwashing teaching Nora that on Saturdays in the fall, we wear orange. She is reluctant but is going along with us for now. She did randomly yell out "Touchdown!" in the car a few days ago, so I think she is starting to catch on.

GBO! VFL. 

Weeks Thirty-One through Thirty-Four?!

I have never let the blog get away from me like this before. FOUR weeks? I guess between "pregnancy brain" and "back to school brain", time has just flown by. So, here is an update on what the Lyle family has been up to since my last entry.

Around the time that I took an unintended hiatus, Grandpa took a fall in the back yard and hurt his leg pretty badly. He's slowly making his way around, having more good days than bad. Lea recommended that he do some therapy in the pool, so here is a rare shot of Sam and Patsy in the pool together. This may be my first time witnessing this in the 11 years I have been a Lyle!

I don't think Grandpa has been faithful with his pool therapy, but it was fun seeing him in the water, begrudingly as it may have been.

Another big Lyle family event of the past few weeks happened when Brad finally had to accept that his faithful friend, the '98 Honda CRV, needed to be put to rest.

This car had over 223,000 miles on it. She'd made a handful of trips to Canada back when she was just a baby, and she was our trusted family vehicle ever since. Lots of great memories were made in this car on countless road trips around the south east. Not to mention, this is the car that brought Nora very carefully home (and maybe more slowly than she had ever traveled in her life.)

Here is Nora enjoying some final moments with her first car.

Brad had the tough decision of choosing a new car for our growing family. He went back and forth between a newer model CRV (what I thought was going to be the obvious choice) and a 2005 Toyota Sienna. I was honestly shocked when he chose the mini van over the SUV!  I definitely poked some fun at him over the Dad-mobile, but I have to admit it was a really good choice.

Somewhere in-between Sam's injury and the new car, I started a new school year! This is my 3rd year at Austin-East, and right now, there is nowhere else I'd rather be. I've moved on up from 9th to 10th grade, which means I have a lot of the same students I had last year. I have to admit (and hope I don't jinx myself) that it's one of the best starts to a school year that I've ever had. I love my students, I love my class room, I love my job!

Behold, 1st day classroom. It will never look this good again-- until August of next year.

This classroom runs on love, laughter, and Diet Coke. Yes, yes it does.

This week, we celebrated Naomi's first birthday. I can not believe that she is a year old!  It is truly amazing how much she has grown in the past year from a 3 lb 32 weeker to the beautiful, thriving, healthy little girl that she is today. Nora adores her, and we love every minute that we get to spend with her. She has the sweetest little disposition, and I'm excited to see what the next year has in store for her.

Classic Naomi face.

Someone passed out after partying a little too hard!

It was the perfect day for a pool party.

Oh, and our house is still for sale. 6 months and counting. Sigh...

Some updated pictures for our online profile. Someone PLEASE buy our house!

... and I'm now 18 weeks pregnant. Almost half-way there!

Nora has been talking a lot about baby sister and seems excited, though I can sense some hesitation, too. A sweet moment yesterday was when she was rubbing my belly and she said, "Hi baby sister. It's me, Nora. I'm going to rescue you!" Then she kissed my belly. I'm not sure how she plans to execute this "rescue" or what she thinks she is rescuing the baby from, but it cute.

Ok, all caught up! I need to not repeat this 4 week break again.