Friday!!!!!!!!!!

I told myself that I was going to try and post at least one other time besides Friday each week but watching tv and reading won over blogging this week. That's okay though, I almost always make time for my favorite Friday linkups!

Here's what's been going on lately:

1. I love my job. It's been a crazy week at school with the 100th day celebration, benchmark testing, 2nd 9 weeks award program etc...but the fact that this parent took the time to write this at the bottom of her daughter's change in transportation note made my heart smile!

Also have to brag on my student Kyndal! She was not only the first child in my class to reach 100 points in Accelerated Reader but the first child in the whole third grade to reach 100 points! I am so proud of her and I love the fact that she has been reading Babysitters Club and American Girl books, both favorites of mine at her age.

2. When I was middle and high school, I loved boy bands! I liked them all, N'Sync, Backstreet Boys and even....HANSON! My friend Nicole and I were absolutely obsessed and we both loved Taylor. I saw them twice in concert and the second time, Nicole and I waited with a bunch of other crazy fans outside the concert venue and actually got to meet them! At that time of my life, (16 years old)  touching Taylor Hanson was the greatest thing that had ever happened to me, bahahaha. Nicole was in downtown Portland the other day and actually walked by the venue and took a picture. She tagged me in it on Facebook. Oh the memories. Any other former Hanson fans out there?

3. This was last week but didn't get a chance to blog about it! For the 3rd year in a row, I was asked to judge the Mr. USCA pageant at my alma mater, University of South Carolina-Aiken. My sorority puts on the pageant to raise money for our philanthropy, Children's Miracle Network. It is always so much fun! The guy that won this year was named London and he was absolutely precious! This year they had a 90's wear category and he wore a Mighty Ducks jersey, ummm amazing! One of my favorite 90's movies. He was also very well spoken and read a poem he had written for talent. All I had was my crappy Iphone camera but I still love this picture of the Phi Mu advisory council!

4. Okay time for some reality rewind! Usually I do a recap of the Bachelor but I felt like this week was kinda meh. I am sick of Princess Jasmine, I mean ooops, Ashley I. getting so much air time. I will say that it's hard for me to like Jade considering it's been released that she was a former Playboy model who posed completely nude. I know everyone has a past but yuck. I am ready for next week when Kelsey has her "Tiarra" breakdown. Hahahaha, remember Tiarra from Sean's season? What a mess!

Anyone watch Vanderpump Rules? What do you think? Is the Miami girl telling the truth? Did Tom cheat on Ariana? I think he did but that doesn't stop me from thinking Kristin is a complete whack job and she seriously needs to move on with her life. I feel so bad for her boyfriend! He has a lot of patience to put up with her obsession with her ex.

I haven't watched Dance Moms this week but I am hoping that JoJo goes home! I could not stand her or her mother on Abby's Ultimate Dance Competition. I am not even a dancer and I could tell she was a beat behind in the group dance last week. I am sure poor Nia will get the blame. Sometimes I don't know why I still watch that show because Abby makes me soooo mad!

5. It's been a great week for the Kaune kids. We received some awesome goodies in the mail for both baby Mark and Kennedy! My mom (Nana) sent Mark some adorable onesies and my friend Brittany in Portland sent him two precious Carters outfits. I absolutely love those Carters sets that come with pants with some sort of design on the booty and a short sleeved and long sleeve onesie. My cousin Louise sent big sis Kennedy her very first mink coat with matching hat and it is so gorgeous and soft! Kennedy loves wearing it!

Kennedy has been her usual bubbly cheerful self. Loves saying her ABC's, counting to ten and singing "Happy Birthday." Thank goodness it's her cousin Tristan's birthday this weekend and she will actually have someone to sing to! She also still loves to help, especially in the kitchen! Mommy had a craving for Red Lobster biscuits so we made the kind out of the box to go with our dinner last night. I asked her to get me a bowl to mix the ingredients and she knew exactly which cabinet to go to!



Baby brother Mark is kicking up a storm in my belly as I type this. He is so much more active than Kennedy was. Sometimes I would get a little freaked out because awhile would pass and I wouldn't feel Kennedy kick. Never have to worry about that with this little fella! I was 24 weeks (6 months) on Monday. The time is going by very quickly! He will be here before we know it!

Have a great weekend! Thanks for reading! Linking up with these fabulous ladies as always!

23 weeks with Mark

I haven't posted about my pregnancy since my 20 week post so here we go:

Sorry for the glare in the picture, we actually had a sunny day! 

1. Still feeling great! I am loving all this 2nd trimester energy. Sleep is still treating me pretty good although my sides are starting to hurt a bit from the weight on them. I don't remember this happening until a bit later in pregnancy with Kennedy but I am much bigger this time around. Mark is also much more active than Kennedy was. I feel him moving constantly!

2. Cravings: cereal (craved this with Kennedy too!) anything with peanut butter and Mexican food. I have gained 14 pounds, but I am not really stressing about it. It is what it is. I have been hitting the gym or walking outside about 3-4 times a week. I am wearing pretty much all maternity at this point, there a few non-maternity shirts that I still wear with maternity pants. I absolutely love my maternity leggings from Motherhood Maternity.

3. We had a doctor's appointment last Friday and it went well, very standard prenatal appointment. His heart rate was 138 and at the appointment before that it was 142 so he is very consistent. I don't go back again until February 19th which seems like waaay too long but the good news is after that I start going every 2 weeks plus around 30 weeks we will have our 4D ultrasound. I have an appointment on March 6th to do the gestational diabetes test. Last time I passed with flying colors so I am hoping it will be the same this time around. Honestly, I don't think that drink is too bad especially since it's not very much you have to drink. I just chug it down. The part I hate is having my blood drawn because I hate needles. I know I sound like such a wimp but I think one of the worst parts of being in labor was getting my IV put it and my epidural. I have been deathly afraid of needles since I was 6 years old and it took 3 different nurses to get my IV in when I was getting my tonsils out. I have been told I have "small veins." It seems like they always have to stick me more than once.

4. Does it make me a bad mom that we have done absolutely nothing to get his nursery ready? I have heard this is fairly typical for the 2nd child. I think also it's because we have a 3 bedroom house so his room is currently our "guest room." We are going to have to put all the furniture in there in storage, with the exception of the queen bed. We are planning to set the nursery up with the exception of the crib because my parents will fly in from Oregon to stay with us for the first two weeks like they did with Kennedy. They will need a place to sleep and we are planning on co-sleeping with Mark like we did with Kennedy for the first 6 months. Kennedy slept in the rock and play sleeper until she was about 3 months then we did the pack and play in our room until she was 6 months old. So, there's not really much point in putting a crib in there yet. We did pick out his bedding and my in laws have purchased it for us. We are doing a hunting/camo nursery just like we did for Kennedy although this one will obviously be regular camo and not pink camo.

5. I am super excited because my parents bought us our first item off our registry, an Eddie Bauer 3 in 1 comfort carrier. I had heard really good things about the Ergo baby carrier but it was soooo expensive that I felt kind of guilty putting it on our registry. Then a friend of mine told me she had the Eddie Bauer one and loved it. I tried it on in Buy Buy Baby and it seemed comfortable plus secure. Not to mention it was half the price of the Ergo baby carrier. I know a lot of people swear by the Moby baby wraps but those things freak me out. It seems so easy for the baby to slip out. I wanted something that if I went grocery shopping with both kids, I could put him in it and have Kennedy in the buggy and not have to worry.

Hope everyone has a fabulous weekend! Linking up today with the ladies of 5 on Friday and Oh Hey Friday!



Proud Granddaughter

A little over a week ago, my grandfather, Pops,  was named Nicholas County, Kentucky's Citizen of the Year! We are so proud of him! We really wish we had been able to make it for the ceremony but it's an 8 hour drive so not really something you can make a weekend trip out of. Luckily, my Uncle Bill was there. He reported that they set out 30 chairs at the ceremony and had to put out more chairs because over 50 people showed up. 

Here is a little background on how this award came to be:

My Nana grew up in Kentucky. When her cousin died in the 90's, she left Nana her house because she never married or had children. Her one wish was that the house stayed in our family. The house is right in the center of the town, across the street from the courthouse. In 2000, my grandparents sold the house they had lived in in Aiken, South Carolina for over 40 years and moved to the tiny town of Carlisle, Kentucky. There around 1,000 people in Carlisle. People referred to it as a "dead town." Almost immediately both of them became involved in the community though the Rotary Club and their church. When the house next door to them went up for sale, they bought it and restored it. Then, the house next to that house went up for sale. My Uncle Harry bought that house and restored it. He has always loved fire trucks, so he put a memorial in it for the firemen who died during 9/11, put a fire pole in it and also an extra large garage where he has a fire truck he purchased parked in it. Soon, Nana and Pops became involved in the historic homes tour and began buying several other buildings around town and restoring them as well.  People loved touring all the houses and buildings they had restored, which included the old drug store that had been there since the early 1800's. People loved touring the "fire house" as well and sliding down the pole! The town began to thrive and have a little more life to it.

My Nana passed away from cancer in 2007. Our whole family was moved by the amount of people that came to her funeral and the kind things they had to say about her love for the little town she grew up in. In June of 2013, they named a banquet hall after her in her memory. We were lucky to be able to attend the dedication ceremony since it was summer and Nick and I were both off. Kennedy was about 6 months old.

Pops could have just packed up and came back to Aiken but he continued his hard work and involvement in the community. He did remarry in 2010 to a wonderful woman named Julie, who we really like. He has continued to be involved in the tourism industry and donating money to restore the cemetery in town. I remember when I was younger, I always thought Carlisle was "boring" but now I am proud when we go up there. Proud to show off all that my family has done to make it the sweet little town it always has been.

I am one proud granddaughter!!!



TGIF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What a week! TGIF!!!! I am linking up today for Oh Hey Friday and 5 On Friday, but completely forgot to include the buttons and I am posting from my phone. I blame this crazy week and pregnancy brain! I am sure there is a way to do this from my phone but I am technology challenged. Go to farmerbell.blogspot.com or hellohappiness.blogspot.com if you want to link up!

1. Has the weather been awful where you live? It has been cold and rainy allllll week here which means two terrible words for teachers: indoor recess! Ugh....there's only so many days my students are entertained playing board games and watching movies instead of running around playing outside. I need that time outside as well! Being inside all day is just too much! Indoor recess does not allow them to get out the energy they need so they are extra talkative which makes for a long day. Rant over.

2. Monday night I stayed up way past my bedtime to cheer on my Ducks in the national championship. I finally gave up at 10:30, they just couldn't get it together. Sad night for us Ducks fans, we are so tired of being second! Thankful for a good season though! That same night, Kennedy woke up at 4:00 am burning up with fever. I stayed up with her until 6:00 am snuggling and cuddling on the couch. I hardly have any sick days left and have to save them for doctors appointments and my maternity leave in May so Nick stayed home and I went to work. It's never fun leaving your baby at home plus I was absolutely exhausted from only having 5 hours of sleep. Nick took her to the doctor and thankfully it was not the flu, just a viral infection that she got over in 24 hours.

3. Bachelor recap! OMG...how funny was this week's episode? I do not like either of the Ashleys at all, but at least Ashley S. is entertaining! She had both Nick and I laughing hysterically. The way she acted during the paintball date was INSANE!  I am almost 100 percent positive Chris is just keeping her around because the producers are urging him to to due to ratings. The other Ashley, can't remember her last initial, but the one who looks like Princess Jasmine/Kim Kardashian  is just annoying. At first I thought "no way is she a virgin" but then after that disgusting/awkward makeout scene, I had second thoughts. That girl cannot kiss, ewww! She practically took his face off! She needs to go!  Still loving Kaitlyn and Whitney the best, although I have to agree with everyone on social media that Whitney's voice is incredibly annoying.  Also I thought her hair at the cocktail party was a hot mess, however it was soooo sweet what she did with the whiskey/special date that her hair didn't even matter!

4.. Need some mommy advice! When you are in social settings and another child does something that's not so nice to your child, what do you do? I always feel so awkward disciplining another person's child but I get so frustrated when other parents either aren't paying attention or don't do anything when their child acts that way. The most recent time, a child snatched a toy out of Kennedy's hands when she had just started playing with it. I just looked at Kennedy and said "I think she really wants a turn, so let's let her play with that." Kennedy looked at me like I was nuts at first like "seriously Mom, I just got this toy" but she did move on without a fit. Then, 5 minutes later the SAME child did the SAME thing with a different toy. Aaaah. I am not saying Kennedy is perfect but we have just been really lucky that she has been awesome with sharing so far thanks to daycare, church nursery and lots of playdates with cousins/friends. What does everyone else do in these situations? Do you just suck it up or do you say something to the other child?

5. Besides being sick, Kennedy has had a great week. She had a blast at her friend Evie's birthday party last weekend even though poor Evie was exhausted/cranky due to only taking a 45 minute nap that day. Brandi and Paul couldn't even get her to blow out her candles, so sad! We are so excited though because Brandi found out she is also having a boy! So fun because our boys will be close in age just like our girls which will make for great playdates! Little Miss Evie was not cooperating for pictures but I did manage to get this adorable shot of our friend Paisley and Kennedy at the party. I love Kennedy's smile in this picture, just wish she was looking at the camera!

It's been such a crazy week that I didn't even take a picture of my growing belly, oops, maybe next week. I am 22 weeks this week and feeling great! We go to the doctor today which I am super excited about, as always! I think the only time I actually enjoy going to the doctor is when I am pregnant.

The picture below showed up in my best friend Megan's timehop yesterday. I miss Kennedy being this tiny! I remember this picture because it was one of those weird but awesome winter days in the south where it was 80 degrees outside, which is why Kennedy is wearing a summer outfit in January. Wish we could get one of those days about now!

Hope everyone has a fabulous weekend! We are off Monday due to Martin Luther King Day and I am excited for a much needed long weekend!



Friday Ramblings

You know what I like best about the 5 on Friday/Oh Hey Friday linkup? It allows me to be random and post about different things! It's always hard for me to dedicate a whole blog post to one entire topic unless it's a big event. Plus, I just love being random!

So, here we go!

1. Last Saturday, we had dinner at Jessica and Joe's. As usual, Kennedy and Janna had a total blast playing together. Aren't these little princesses adorable?

Joe grilled pork chops, Jessica made carrots and potatoes and I made Mix and Match Mama's Smores bars for dessert. I forgot to take a picture of the Smores bars but holy yum, they were so good! Very easy as well. I thought her pineapple bars were my favorite until I made these! Definitely check out her 100 bars.

2. Okay, before I dish on my picks for The Bachelor, let's talk about Andi and Josh's breakup! I am sorry but I have to say I totally saw this one coming. I think I am one of the few people that didn't care for Josh. I got such a player/cheater vibe off him and he seemed soooo fake! I love Andi and I really wish she had made a better decision. Even though Nick could be a jerk at times, they seemed to have really great chemistry. Wonder what would have happened if she chose him? I of course love Chris but I didn't see him and Andi together.

My picks for Chris are either Kaitlyn or Whitney. I know some people thought Kaitlyn was annoying but I thought she was funny! Even Nick laughed at her comment about "you can plow my field anytime!" Life's too short to be so serious. I do wish she would eat some cupcakes though....

I thought Whitney was very sweet and seemed genuine. I loved the fact that she was a fertility nurse and that she was a bit older than some of the other girls. I also love her bio statement that she's a terrible dancer, but that doesn't stop her. That is so me!

3. So I totally have to share a funny story from work this week. Our district superintendent came to tour our school and visit classrooms last Monday, the first day back from Christmas break! No one even knew she was coming. She and my principal walked into my classroom while we were doing literacy centers. I had a small group I was working with at my table doing a guided reading lesson on the Nooks. The rest of my students were actively engaged in their literacy centers. They walked around for a bit, observing what I was doing with the 3 kids I was working with and what the kids were doing in their centers. When they got over to the "making words" center, I heard our district superintendent start laughing. I just kept on working with my group. They slipped out of the room. The whole day I kept wondering what was so funny. Finally my principal told me at the end of the day that one of my students spelled "shit" with the letter tiles, lol. In his defense, one of our spelling words this week was "shirt" so I am pretty sure that's what he was trying to spell since he's not a bad kid. Luckily, the district superintendent thought it was hilarious. Whew! Again, life's too short to be serious and not have a good sense of humor!

4. Has it been cold this week where you are? We had temperatures this week down in the teens but with the wind chill it felt like 9 degrees outside! I know you northerners are probably thinking "so what!" but for us southerners that is super cold! I am just hoping we don't have another epic ice storm like last year. Again, I am not a fan of cold weather! Brrr...bring on spring!

5. So what has Kennedy been up to this week?

Hmmm let's see...trying to steal Mommy's pregnancy pillow!

Can't say I really blame her, it is so comfy!



Being her usual talkative bubbly self! This was taken when we got home from church last Sunday. She made a necklace in Sunday School that says "Kennedy is victorious in Jesus." She loved it and kept pointing to it and saying "Kennedy, Jesus!" I think victorious was a bit too big of a word, hehe.

I think she is also really starting to understand more that she has a baby brother on the way. Every night when we say our prayers we ask God to watch over Mommy, Daddy, Kennedy and Baby Mark. She has started to stay "baby brother, Mark, my baby brother" and then will ask to kiss my belly. It is the sweetest thing ever!

Speaking of Mark, my mom (Nana) sent him his first smocked outfit this week. Is it precious or what? Can't wait for him to wear it this fall!



Thanks for stopping by everyone! Have a great weekend!

First Oh Hey Friday 2015!

Happy 2015 everyone!

Here are my thoughts on this first Friday of the New Year:

1. Do I have to go back to work on Monday? This has been such a relaxing break! We also got a lot of things accomplished, such as registering for baby Mark and transitioning Kennedy to her toddler bed. Is there anybody else that feels like the months of January and February go by soooo slow? I guess I also just feel like those months are so blah, nothing to really look forward to. I am also not a cold weather person so now that the holidays are over, I am ready for spring and warm weather!

2. I am waaay too excited about the start of two of my favorite shows next week, Dance Moms and The Bachelor! It's been a hard wait but thankfully I have had Vanderpump Rules, Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and Real World: Skeletons to tide me over.

Being the MTV reality tv junkie that I am, I am also excited about the new Real World Challenge, Exes 2. It's bittersweet though due to the tragic losses of Diem and Knight. Loved them both!

3. Our New Years has been low key ever since we had Kennedy, which I love. My brother in law Jon and sister in law Rachael have come over for the past 3 years and we play cards and board games. So much fun! The picture below showed up in my Timehop from New Years 2012. This was our last New Years before we had Kennedy. We dressed up and went out to dinner at Outback with friends and then went to our favorite country bar/club. It was a ton of fun and I am glad we have that memory but I wouldn't trade our new NYE tradition for the world. Love being at home with our little family!

We also shot off some fireworks, which Kennedy enjoyed watching.

On New Years Day, we spent the day relaxing and laying around the house. We also watched Oregon stomp all over FSU, what a game! Go Ducks! :) Nick says I am a softie for even saying this but I actually really felt bad for the FSU fans. All those turnovers were just embarrassing. I know what it feels like when your team plays pitifully, hello, Carolina/Clemson game this year! I just love watching Marcus Mariota play. He handles pressure so beautifully and has such amazing accuracy. I hate that Carolina only had a so/so season but it's been fun watching my second favorite team do so well! I am so ready for January 12th!Quack Quack!

Kennedy and I dressed in our Duck gear and it was fun scrolling through my Facebook feed and seeing all my high school friends dressed in their Duck gear as well. A lot of them had pictures with their kids too.

4. You know what I love even more than being pregnant myself? Having friends that are pregnant at the same time as me! My friend Catherine is having her second baby boy at the end of February, my friend Brandi is having her second baby in June, my friend Cassie is due in July, just days after her 1st wedding anniversary and now my cousin Kristin has announced she's due at the end of July!  Lots of blog friends that are pregnant too! Yay for the baby boom!

However, with the baby boom comes hurt for some people that I know have been trying for a long time. I know that awful feeling when you are longing for a baby yourself and it seems like everyone around you is announcing a pregnancy. It's no fun at all and if you are in that boat, please know that I pray for you every night. I may not pray for you by name but I pray for women who are dealing with infertility and miscarriages. I am also specifically praying for my friends Sara and Jessica and would love it if you would join me. I have mentioned Sara before on my blog. She and her husband Greg have been trying for almost 2 years. Our friends Jessica and Joe already have a 3 year old daughter, Kennedy's BFF, Janna, but are struggling to conceive their 2nd child. It took them 18 months to get pregnant with Janna and they have now been trying for over a year to have a 2nd child.

5. Kennedy has really enjoyed being at home with Mommy and Daddy the past 2 weeks. It is really starting to sink in that we have a child, not a baby anymore! She talks in full sentences and is so much fun to be around, most of the time! We have had a few 2 year old meltdowns. She absolutely loves her Disney Princess kitchen that her grandparents got her for Christmas and will literally play with it for hours! She also still loves doing puzzles.

 She said the funniest thing the other day. I was loading her into her car seat and I said "uh oh your nose is running, I need to get a tissue." She said "Mommy, you silly, my nose not running!" I then realized she had taken what I had said literally, lol, so cute!

Baby Mark is doing great! I will be 21 weeks on Monday. You can read my 20 week post here.

Linking up with Karli and Amy today! Here's to an awesome year! :) Thanks for reading!