IT'S A GIRL!

Last Wednesday we found out that baby Joyner is a baby girl! It is going to be fun and we are so excited! She looked healthy and happy in her sonogram, and Fay and baby sister are going to be such good friends!

Being Pregnant with an Infant

When we found out we were pregnant again Fay wasn't even sleeping through the night, labor and delivery was NOT so distant a memory and I was suffering from postpartum depression, so I didn't exactly have the most ecstatic reaction. But now I feel so differently and so amazingly fortunate. Having had to do fertility treatments with Fay I never dreamed I would have a surprise pregnancy, much less one that happened so easily. This baby is already laid back, or maybe now I am laid back about motherhood. Either way I am getting to enjoy this pregnancy more than Fay's. We had worked so hard to conceive her and I was terrified that she would be taken from me or that something would go wrong. My faith had been put to the test and I was on the losing end. Now that we have Fay and are blessed every day by her smiling face, it has given me a good perspective for this baby. Not to say I don't worry at all I definitely have my moments but I also know this time around that every ache and pain is not a miscarriage and that I would get my energy back by the second trimester (which I have), and I know what to expect. That alone has given me so much more freedom to embrace this pregnancy. And Fay makes it all the more fun because as she grows I don't have to be too sad, I know I will get to experience this all again very soon :) She is so lucky to have a sibling on the way to be her constant playmate, her pal, and her best friend.

Now that I have had some time to digest this crazy miracle I am so thankful for God thrusting us into parenthood with a bang. I haven't had time to be scared and I don't have time to stress. My life is so full of God's goodness and love that I literally have to pinch myself sometimes. I can't believe we had it so easy this time around, and I would take this any day over having to medicate myself into hormonal oblivion to get pregnant. So all that to say...I am really excited for you baby #2. Your sister is an awesome girl and I can't wait for you to meet us. We love you so much...

Birthday Wishes

Today was my 28th birthday and I am blown away by all the amazing blessings God has bestowed on me in my lifetime. Things are just so wonderful right now and this birthday was extra special because I have the love of my life to celebrate with and Fay! Life couldn't have been any better today. We went to church and then had lunch with my mom and grandmother at the country club. My grandmother ironically got me the book I am currently reading The Help...I love this book and couldn't believe that out of all the books out there she picked this one...she thought I would like it. Well I do! And she has great taste in books and movies, so I normally like what she recommends. My mom got me the Nook electronic reader! A gorgeous scarf, a cute clutch, and a monogrammed bag.

Dave got me chocolates, a really funny card, and planned dinner with 3 of my best friends and their husbands, and Laura cooked me a chocolate cake! The day was filled with cards, texts, calls, and emails all telling me happy birthday. It's always so nice to be remembered. Thank you to everyone who helped me celebrate another year!

Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it. Today I got a chance to look around and I definitely didn't miss anything! What amazing friends and family I have.

Swim Lessons!

Tuesday was Fay's first Parent/Tot swim lesson at COM. We had to make up our first class from Monday morning, so Dave got to take her after work. It was adorable and she loved it....and even went under water 3 times! I got to go with her this morning and loved every second. The pool is extra warm for the babies and she really did enjoy it and made her tired. They kick almost the entire half hour and afterwards it was like she had just swam a mile.

Polo on the Prairie

This past weekend was Polo on the Prairie at the Lazy 3 Ranch. Louisa Musselman Fikes' family has put this event on for 24 years to benefit MD Anderson cancer research and we have been the past 3 years. We had the best time, the weather was beautiful, and Fay was a trooper! A fun group of us stayed with Lou and B at their comfy and gorgeous ranch house and Fay got to meet her new friend Max Lavie. He is the son of Brendan's sister Katie...they were so cute together. It was another fun year out at the polo fields and we plan on making this an annual event for the Joyner family. Thanks for having us Fikes!
(Oh and we forgot Fay's bag so she is wearing a boy onsie from the Albany Dollar general. She still looks pretty though :))

Dave's Birthday Weekend

We also went to the ranch for Dave's 31st Bday with our good friends the Hammonds and Souths. We had a great time and hung out at the Castell General Store...Fay is a true Wallace...she loves sitting around the country store playing games and drinking beer with Daddy! We had a blast and I ate my weight in crawfish!

Weekend with the In-Laws

We spent every weekend in April at the ranch and Keith and Nancy joined us for one of them. This was Fay's first time in the river! Very much an eventful day of sun, fishing, and feeling good.