Once a Bearcat....ALWAYS a Bearcat

We have some BIG news at the McCollum house hold. Ben has recently accepted the Head coaching job at Northwest Missouri State University. He had to be up there on Sunday night to get started, so Peyton and I are alone during the week and will see Ben again on the weekend. www.nwmissouri.edu You can read all about Ben if you follow the link and click on athletics. Peyton and I are very proud of Ben and although there is a lot of change in store for us, it is all going to work out for the best.

I had to put my letter of resignation in today. It is always so difficult to tell your boss and the people you work with that you are leaving them. I had a lot of tears and a lot of hugs....our time in Emporia has been great and the people here are ones I will remember forever. I am going to be applying for a position at Horace Mann Elementary which is the laboratory school on campus at Northwest. Ironically enough, Coach Tapp's wife taught 2nd grade too and her position will be coming open at the end of this week. Once I get everything settled, I know I will feel much better! Then there's our house and getting it sold and OH YEAH, we are having a BABY! I had to go to the doctor today because I was having so many contractions (probably stress induced). I am dilated to 2 1/2 - 3cm already and continue to have a lot of contractions. My mom is hopefully coming to stay with Peyton and I for the rest of the week and hopefully most of next week too. Ben is only three hours away, so hopefully he will make it back in time if I do go into labor at some random time.

:)

BOY or GIRL????

At this point, it is KILLING me to know if we have another little boy or a girl in my belly! While we were in Topeka, we found a boy and girl outfit to bring the baby home in from the hospital. I also found the cutest little ruffly socks and headband bow to match the girl outfit. We ordered Peyton a big brother t-shirt and it happened to come in yesterday, so he will have something fun to wear when his baby brother or baby sister arrives. I have been busy washing all of the neutral clothing, etc. and I think we are as ready as we are going to be as far as baby gear (for now anyway). I will be 35 weeks on Monday, so it won't be long until we will know who is in there!!!! I have been having a lot of contractions...especially at night. They are mostly Braxton Hicks as far as I can tell, but I was dialated to a one at the last doctor's appointment. I will go to the doctor on Wednesday and will update again. I am really swollen in my legs, ankles (or should I say cankles) and fingers, so that really stinks. The warmer the weather, the bigger everything gets!

We have had a busy couple of days around the house too. We trimmed bushes, put new mulch down, and fertilized the lawn outside and then cleaned the entire house today from top to bottom. Ben was a great help with the cleaning. I don't think I would be able to do it without him! Peyton was a great helper outside with the rake and mulch. He loved spreading out the mulch after we dumped it out.

I feel sad that spring break is over, but am so happy we were so productive!

Family Trip!

Here is Peyton and Mommy looking at the elephants!


Peyton and Daddy fed the goat. This goat loved us when he saw that we were getting food. He came running right over to us to get a snack! Peyton thought it was pretty funny to have him eat out of his hand!

Daddy and Peyton roaring like the lions.

On Friday, we took a family trip to the Topeka Zoo. It was a little chilly that day, but overall a successful trip. The zoo is very nice and is just the right size to see all in a little over an hour. Peyton loved the tigers, gorillas, monkeys and lions. He talked about them when we got home and is still talking about them today! It is amazing how much he remembers about the trip. It was so fun to take a short trip as a family!!!

Pony!

Emma riding the pony with Ryan.

Peyton's turn! As you can see, Mommy had to be RIGHT next to him and he had to keep his thumb in his mouth.

Brushing the pony before he put the saddle on.

Holding Emma's hand to cross the road.

Checking out the other horses in their pen.

Peyton and I have had such an awesome spring break. We were busy every day with some activity. On Tuesday when Ben had to be out of town recruiting, Peyton and I went to the Emporia Zoo in the morning, out to lunch with a friend, and then after nap, out to Ryan and Amanda's farm to ride Emma's pony. Peyton probably won't be a cowboy anytime soon as he wasn't too comfortable on the pony, but he did enjoy watching Emma ride, looking at the horses and cows and helping to brush and feed the pony. He and Emma are such good friends. They are fun to watch together!!!

March Madness...

Here is a picture from this morning - 34 weeks exactly. Peyton loves to take pictures when we do and always has his little belly in a picture too!

I can't believe it is already March! The time is flying by so quickly! Ben's team lost in the MIAA conference tournament the first weekend in March and the season came to an abrupt end. It has been very wonderful for both Peyton and I to have Daddy back and home at night and on the weekend. It has been kind of strange for me to be caught up on laundry and keeping my house sort of clean. We have enjoyed a lot of quality family time - Peyton is on to baseball and LOVES going to the ESU baseball games with us. It has been very nice here so we have had some great afternoons and weekends outdoors.

As far as the pregnancy goes, I am 34 weeks today, so at most 6 weeks to go! I can't believe how quickly time seems to be flying by. I am feeling great...but have been swelling in my ankles and hands. I have spring break this week, so it has been great to have some down time to relax. I have been washing our gender neutral baby clothes and digging out baby towels, blankets, etc. Peyton has been a big help with all of the organizing. He loves to look at all of the little clothes and says, "Wow, Mama!" He is quite the character and comes up with all kinds of things to make us laugh. He has been doing a lot of pretending lately that there are snakes we have to hide from or that a lion is coming to get us. He has developed a new love for Thomas the Train and still thinks school buses are pretty neat. We drive by where Emporia's school buses "sleep" every time we are out and about. He also has been noticing all of the stop signs when we drive and always tells whoever is driving to stop! We love our little backseat driver!

Today we have been to the library for craft morning and then went to the park to play with our friends. Peyton was very hungry and then ready for his nap!