Palisade Palms - Galveston, Tx July 2013

We decided against the 12 hour drive to Destin this year because of the new baby and a good decision it was.  The trip to Galveston started off so smooth I was almost sad we didn't decide to go to Fl again, but then.... VOMIT.  Yep, about an hour away and the oldest child got horribly... HORRIBLY car sick.  We spent a solid 45 minutes in a torrential down pour at a gas station trying to clean up the third row and child.  Disgusting... but I'm sure we've all been there so I won't go into great detail.  I will, however, mention the fact that a nice man came over and offered help after he saw me holding a crying baby while washing off vomit covered flip flops in the pouring rain as Brian would randomly hurl various vomit covered items out of the back door.  Nice people are all around... I had to decline the help because I couldn't bare to involve another human being in such a filthy mess.  Needless to say, I'm very happy we didn't have another 8 hours to drive with the stench plus a new baby who screams louder with each additional mile.

Anyway, after that the trip was good.  The kids had a blast and as always begged us to live at the beach.  They would make the best surfer boys... and I have to say... it WOULD be quite glorious.

Moody Gardens Galveston july 2013

Fun Trip to the Aquarium and Rain Forest at Moody Gardens in Galveston.  Aside from the fact that the first 15 minutes of the rain forest was blasted hot and we pretty much ran through it to get to the nearest air conditioning vent, we still enjoyed it.  Brooks somehow managed to get a monstrous poop on his pristine white shorts from some creature up in the trees, but it was cool.  Brooks didn't seem to mind much.

July Fourth 2013

July 4th 2013!  So this picture wraps up my quick year in review for the Harrison's.  I took a major hiatus starting back last June/July because of my pregnancy and then the incredibly busy year that followed.  I'm just now feeling like I can exhale... a little. 
To start, this year the 4th in TX was great.... probably about 10 degrees cooler than normal.  We had a crazy busy day... 8:30 am parade, then Brian made two rounds to the KC pool taking first Brooks, then the big boys.  Next, we went to my parents for some scrumptious backyard bbq'd ribs and finally, we wrapped up the night with an FC Dallas game and fireworks.  I think I'm still recovering from that day.
The Fourth of July is a pretty good example of how our last year went. We did one thing after another with constant activity.  It was a whirlwind.  I'm sort of hoping it's a little bit more calm this year, but I can only imagine with 4 boys that won't be the case at all.
So... take a glimpse of what the past 12 months looked like ...I threw in just a few pics of each month to highlight some of the bigger things:)  February took the cake though on special months.  Brax was born and I fell in love again and it was beginning of his sleep stealing.  (he's still stealing sleep , by the way.)

June 2013

 The month of June brought Braxton's baptism at St. Pats.  He was good up until the end and then he was ready for bed.

June also allowed us to have fun with one more sport.. Swimming!  Brady and Breck both competed for the KC Sharks this year and loved it.  I was pretty impressed with how far they came during the swim team season.  Sad to see the season end...but, they'll definitely do it again next summer.

April and May 2013

 The Spring proved to be equally as busy as the prior months.  More soccer, then Tball,  and then the kids topped it off by painting me for Mother's Day.

February 2013 BRAXTON IS HERE!!!!!!

February 26th is THE Day!  Wow, seriously crazy labor.  Let me set the scene of how it all went down.  The night before, I was sitting in front of the TV watching the Bachelor. I was highly annoyed because the show grosses me out, but I'm compelled to watch it EVERY freaking season.  All of a sudden, pop... "Uh, Brian, my water just broke."  He just looks at me like "are you sure?" 
"UM, I'm sure..... no denying this one."
There was absolutely NO rush because I hadn't had any contractions and still wasn't.  I wasn't sure if I even wanted to go to the hospital right then... but of course, everyone else thought I should.  My Dad came over to hang out in the house with the other sleeping monkeys.  We headed off to Presby without a single bit of pain or urgency.  I walked myself right in there all calm and composed despite the nice wet pants that I couldn't get rid of.
I think my water broke at 10:30PM and my contractions didn't start until about 3:30 AM while walking the maternity floor.  By 5:30, things were really rolling.  I started hearing from the nurse "Well, it shouldn't be long now!"  Not the case.  My labor went on FOREVER for a fourth baby.  It was like a cruel, cruel joke every time I heard "not much longer!"  I chose not to get the epidural again just because I hate the after effects and I didn't want to risk the chance of it slowing labor down or worse yet...leading to other interventions and ending in a C section.  Anyway, this labor was harder than my last despite I didn't even have back labor.  It just NEVER went away and I hung out at the 9 mark for a good hour to and hour and a half.  Let me tell you.... those are some LONG, HARD contractions to endure for that amount of time.  Just ask my better half about his hand.  I'm surprised I didn't cut off his circulation.  Braxton decided that 11:45AM was the perfect time to arrive.  What a moment... Nothing EVER compares to it.  My littlest of littles was here.

The big brothers arrived adorably in their Big Bro shirts and were the hit of the hospital.  They were SO very interested and excited about baby Braxton.  They sanitized up and dove right in to check him out.  Braxton is a lucky guy.

Early February 2013

 I was GINORMOUS in February.  I gave up on trying to eat right and just went with what sounded good.  What was the point?!
My sweet seesters and mom had a shower for me since this was the FOURTH baby and all:)
What a fun time we had at Celebration.  Yummy food, and the best companions ,who would never tell me to "put down that buttery biscuit!"  I wouldn't have listened if they had said that.