My heart is heavy

My heart has just been aching because of what not only happened to the city I live in but the town I grew up in and all the surrounding areas! I am SO beyond blessed to be here, to have all my friends and family accounted for, to have a home to go to! With the tornado hitting less than a mile from my house, it really is too close for comfort.

Riley and I had made the decision to go to his Dad's house in Northport and get in the basement so Anna Riley would still be able to play.We were watching the huge tornado as it was coming toward our city and that has to be one of the scariest thing.  To see something like so close to you!  I had been so worried because getting in touch with my parents was not easy.  I was sad to find out that my Aunt and Uncle had lost everything but also thankful that everyone in my family was safe!  Some were not as fortunate!

I have yet to go toward the scene.  I don't think I can handle it and I am trying to stay away since I can't physically do labor work to help.  Riley has been helping a few in Alberta and in Forest Lake and he said the pictures and video on tv just do not even come close to the devestation there is!

Everytime I hear a new death toll number, it has went up.  Everytime I am able to get in touch with my parents, she tells me of more that were found dead in her area.  My heart truely aches for those that have lost loved ones!  It is very hard to see all the houses, business lost...but those can be rebuilt over time...losing a loved one can't!

It is amazing to me that everyone has really come together to clean up and eventually rebuild our city.  Yesterday, they had to turn away volunteers for the time being because they had too many!  There has been enormous amounts of supplies have been and are still being donated.  

Please consider donating to http://www.redcross.org/ ! 

There are also drop off areas where you can take things.  I am still trying to figure out what is needed.  Some shelters are at max for certain things while others still need and are accepting certain items.

But for the most part, Tuscaloosa and the rest of Alabama just needs lots of PRAYERS!!!

Good Friday

Attempting to dye Easter eggs...we stopped when her mouth and tongue was completely blue!

Lounging around with her baby

Playing outside

Riley and I before Chad and Mandy's wedding. Thanks to Mom for keeping AR for us.

Easter lunch and egg hunt at Granny Earnest's

Sunday, we went to my Grandmother's house for lunch and an egg hunt.  Granny 7 out of 9 of the grandkids there and I don't even know how many great grands!  We had so many kids!  This was Anna Riley's first time to hunt real eggs so she was quite amazed and there were quite a few eggs that just didnt make it! This was her 3rd time hunting eggs so she was finally getting the hang of what to do!  I think they hid like 13 dozen eggs.  As always, the kids would beg to do it all over a again so we ended up hiding them a few times!  I have the best memories of hunting eggs at Granny's house so I am glad Anna Riley gets to do this with all of her cousins!

PawPaw, Granna and Anna Riley

Giving Paw Paw kisses

So sweet! She was definitely a Granna's girl Sunday!

This poor egg was dropped so many times!

Easter morning

AR's Easter goodies...she mainly got several little things: books, minnie pjs, bath/pool toys, bubbles, etc.

A little dramatic! It's hard to get pictures with her now because she can't be still!

Easter with the Hollyhands

Saturday evening we went to Papa Dougs to eat dinner and hunt eggs.  Anna Riley had the best time playing with her cousins, Brilyn and Ainslee.  She was full of energy and trying to keep up with the older two. 

Weekend

We escaped all of the Tuscaloosa weekend craziness and headed to Fairhope on Thursday morning.  I thought we would just escape all the traffic and loads of people in town for ADay but apparently there was a lot more craziness that went on with the horrible weather on Friday!  We were under a tornado watch (in Fairhope) all day Friday but it never really did anything but rain and that was later that night.  We took AR back to Kangarooz on Friday since it was a gloomy day.  Saturday, the weather was perfect so we spent a good portion of the day at the pool.  When we came back and put AR down for a nap, Riley and I laid out on the beach...needless to say I got a little too much sun!  We left fairly early on Sunday morning so we could make it to an early Easter lunch at Riley's aunt's house. 

14 weeks

Symptoms:

 I hope to not jinx myself this time but I haven't been sick since Saturday...I haven't even felt nauseous!  YAY!  So I am feeling pretty good and I have a little more energy too.  I have been trying to still go to Zumba and it makes me feel SO much better but I don't make it quite as often as I used to...but I do plan to continue it throughout my pregnancy if possible.

Weight gain: about 3.5 lbs.

Cravings: I love Pineapple cream cheese with strawberries.  (But I love that when I am not pregnant)
Maternity Clothes:  I am wearing my maternity jeans and a few dresses but I can still wear all my regular clothes too.
Sleep: I have slept pretty good this week.
Gender: We find out May 5th!! I can not wait!!!
Doctors Appointment:  I had an appointment yesterday morning.  Everything looked great from the procedure I had last week.  The baby's heartrate was 156 again. 

Weekend

Riley and I attended a wedding party at N.R. Yacht Club Friday night.  My mom came and kept Anna Riley for us.  Unfortunately, AR is in a stage where she only wants me to put her down at night...which makes it not so easy for whoever is watching her for us!  Hopefully this phase will pass soon!! 
The party didn't start until 7 so we got to watch her play in the backyard for a while before we left.

I had so many plans for Saturday.  The weather was supposed to be nice and I was looking forward to enjoying it.  But, apparently I jinxed myself when I said I had not really been sick much this week and not as many headaches because I woke up at 3 am with a terrible migraine and spent the majority of the day throwing up.  So my plans turned into being in the bed most of the day! :(  Thankfully, Riley took Anna Riley for a stroll in the wagon to our friends that just moved in down the street and AR got to play with a friend for a while so I could rest. 

Anna Riley had Easter pictures with Kim Lawson late that afternoon.  She did SO good!! Probably the best picture session she has ever had!  She LOVED the bunnies but once again, I am sure they were ready for the torture to be over!  We have a lot of work on being gentle before the baby brother/sister comes in October!

This is one of the pictures Kim took on Saturday

We went to visit Mimi (Riley's Grandmother) after the picture session. 

Sunday we had a wonderful church service, lunch with my Granna and Pawpaw at Cypress Inn and supper with Papa Doug!   Oh and by the way...we are loving this weather!!! It is so hard to get her to come in!