31 Weeks

I am 31 weeks pregnant today! Wow...only 9 more weeks till we get to meet our little girl. Although I don't want her to come early, I can hardly wait to hold her in my arms for the first time and look at her sweet face. The nursery is almost complete and ready to be filled with all of the baby stuff we will be getting this month from the 4 baby showers that are to come in the next month. Along with our birthing classes on 2 Saturday mornings and a breastfeeding class, January will be a busy month to say the least. Two big events to celebrate this month include our 4th Wedding Anniversary on the 8th and Brad's birthday on the 26th. What an exciting month we have to look forward to!

Christmas 2008

Christmas Eve with the Bartholomews

This is our annual grandparent & grandchildren picture.

Wow! Christmas was as always a whirlwind, and now it's over. We are thankful for the great times we had celebrating with family and friends. On Christmas Eve we spent time with my dad's side of the family at my aunt & uncle's house. After that we went back to my dad & Sandy's to exchange our gifts with each other. It was really nice this year being able to stay home and wake up in our own house on Christmas morning (last year we were with Brad's family in Brevard)! Christmas morning we headed to Dunn, NC for the day. First we stopped by Brad's aunt & uncle's house for a quick visit and then we headed a few miles down the road to spend the day with my mom's side of the family. We had a nice, relaxing day enjoying each other's company, eating, napping and watching some NBA.

Christmas with the Emorys

Then, Friday afternoon, Brad's mom, dad & sister arrived for the weekend. We exchanged gifts that afternoon and after dinner we went to see Marley & Me. Unfortunately, it was sold out so instead we saw Yes Man with Jim Carey. Saturday we spent the afternoon walking around and shopping in downtown Apex and headed to Amedeo's for dinner. Sunday we headed to church, ate lunch and then they all packed up and got on the road. Now it's time to pack up the decorations, put the gifts away and put the house back together. Luckily, Brad is off tomorrow so we can do these things together along with watching some football, of course. I am thankful for another great holiday and look forward to celebrating next year with our little girl!

The Melting Pot

Kristan, Carla, Leslie, & I enjoying our chocolate fondue

This year instead of drawing names for Christmas my accountability group decided we would treat ourselves to a night at The Melting Pot! Even though we were short Amanda and Mandy we had a great time catching up with each other and eating all the yummy food. We all decided to splurge and get the 4 course meal, and boy was it worth it. Although I must admit, the chocolate was definitely my favorite part of the meal. There is nothing like cheesecake and strawberries dipped in chocolate....delicious!

So Far so Good

Well, today is day 3 of monitoring my blood sugar and things are going well! Since I have been eating based on the nutritionist's advice I have had no levels above the normal range. This did mean eating a salad at Bojangles the other day after church (which was surprisingly good) but I did have a few fries and part of Brad's biscuit, so it wasn't such a big deal. It has been good learning about balancing out the starches/proteins/fruits/dairy, etc. through out the day, including snacks and I feel more energetic as a result. I think being on this meal plan will also help sustain me during the hunger that I will supposedly experience while nursing.

I did notice that yesterday I started craving sweet, sugary foods such as the left over Oreo balls in our fridge and the box of Peanut Butter Captain Crunch in our pantry. The good thing is that I can eat a little bit of these things as long as my blood sugar is within the limits (and if I eat it at night after I'm done taking my blood sugar for the day). On Thursday night I am going to the Melting Pot with my accountability group for our Christmas get together and I will enjoy it! Bring on the chocolate fondue...

Dr. Appt

This morning Brad and I went to talk to the Perinatalist to talk about how to handle my Gestational Diabetes. We spent most of our time talking with a nutritionist about how to try to control my blood sugar through diet. She gave me some good suggestions of things I should be eating for snacks and main meals. It doesn't look like I will have to change my diet up that much, except for snacks and breakfast. I also learned how to take my blood sugar using the monitor and will begin doing that 4 times a day for a week to see how things are going. If the diet works then I will go down to 2 times a day.

There is a lot to be thankful for in all of this. 1. There are no major complications that arise from GD to me or the baby except that she might be a little bigger than normal. 2. Most cases are able to be controlled by diet and exercise alone, which is our continued prayer. 3. We get an extra ultrasound next Friday to see how big she already is!

"The Sugars"

Yes, that's right it looks like I have Gestational Diabetes...woo hoo. This past Monday I went in for my routine screening and drank that lovely fruit punch mixture. I can't explain it but something inside me wasn't too surprised when I got a call yesterday morning from the Dr. office about it. It turns out my blood sugar was around 200 and the most they want it at is 99. The good news is that I don't have to go back to take the 3 hour test, the bad news is that when your blood sugar is as high as mine was they just automatically send you to a specialist. So, this Friday the 12th Brad & I will be going to this doctor to see what they want to do about it.

A blessing that I see in all this is that Cheri, a good friend of mine, went through the same thing during her pregnancy about 2 years ago and was referred to the same doctor. It's good to have someone to talk to who has gone through all of this before. Also, this is something that is very treatable whether it's through diet & exercise (goodbye holiday treats), a pill, or shots, there is a way to regulate it.

One of my biggest concerns is that she'll be a giant ,which may increase the chances of a
c-section! I had visions of holding a 6-7 pound newborn in my arms, but the chances of that happening are looking less and less now. Please pray that I would rest in the Lord's care for us and not allow any anxiety to creep in during all of this.

Thanksgiving

Last Tuesday night Brad and I headed to Brevard to spend some time with his family. On Wednesday we headed up to Gaffney, SC to go outlet shopping with Brad's mom, Lynne. I was especially excited to go to the Pottery Barn in search of a few more items we would like to have for the nursery. We ended up buying a cute 3x5 rug as well as some storage bins for the dresser/changing table. I was hoping to find some cute crib sheets that coordinate with the bumper I already bought, but no luck! Brad's sister, Leah came into town late Wed. night and on Thursday around lunch time we headed to Brad's granny & Paw's house to give thanks with his aunts, uncles & cousins. On Friday we relaxed at the house and ran a few errands before we met the family at the movie theatre where we saw Four Christmases.

On Saturday morning Brad and his dad left the house early headed to the App State game. Lynne, Leah, and I headed to Brad's other grandparents house for our Thanksgiving meal with his mom's side of the family. We hung out all day there and enjoyed time together. Sunday morning we got up early, packed up the car and headed to church. We ate lunch with the family and got on the road headed home. Don't get me wrong, I love going places, but there's nothing like coming home!

He Knows Her Name

I have a Maker
He formed my heart
Before even time began
My life was in His hands

I have a Father
He calls me His own
He'll never leave me
No matter where I go

He know my name
He knows my every thought
He sees each tear that falls
And hears me when I call

Over the past month, ever since watching the OCC (Operation Christmas Child) video at church, the lyrics of this song have kept coming back to my mind. These truths about my Heavenly Father are so precious to me. These words are so powerful, especially as I am carrying our sweet daughter as she grows in my womb. I can't help but tear up when I think about how He has been forming her for 6 months now in His own image. He has a purpose for her, one that we pray she will embrace. He knows her name, and He knew it even before Brad and I decided on it a little over a week ago! Oh how we pray that this little one will trust Him as her Savior and Sustainer. That she will fully realize the depths of His love for her...and that we will do the same as we strive to be parents that honor Christ above all else and reflect His love and mercy.

Missing Mom

This is my mom pregnant with me!

Over the past few weeks I've really been missing my mom. I think it's due to the fact that I know she would love to be here now helping me prepare for her granddaughter. So many times I have wanted to be able to ask her how her pregnancy with me was and to just share this experience with her.

My mom was and continues to be an inspiration to me. She loved the Lord and I rejoice knowing that today she is in Heaven with Him. She taught me so much about overcoming obstacles and making the most out of them by the way she lived her life. Now don't get me wrong, she wasn't perfect and I realize that, but she was the perfect mom for me. Some people don't get to experience the love that my mom gave me their entire lives. Because of the Lord's goodness and mercy I got to experience 19 years of being totally loved by her. She was always telling me how much she loved me and I love remembering her for that.

It's because of these things that I am excited to use my mom's middle name (which was actually what everyone called her) Sue, as our daughter's middle name. I hope and pray that one day I will be able to experience with our little girl the things my mom never got to, like her college graduation, wedding (my mom would have loved Brad so much), and motherhood.

My first visit to my grandparent's house.

24 Weeks

16 more weeks to go!!!

Another Checkup

Today we went for our monthly checkup and everything went smoothly. We are so thankful to our Lord for a healthy pregnancy so far. Our appointment was one of the first ones of the day and we were only in there for around 15 minutes...it was great! Now that she is moving so much the thought of not finding her heartbeat doesn't even enter my mind, and that is so nice. Last night she was kicking a lot after dinner and Brad finally got to feel his daughter's little kicks. It was great to see the look on his face. I was even able to see my belly vibrating after her kicks!

One thing that I have decided after getting on the scale today at the doctor's office (we don't even own one because I think it's too easy to become obsessed about your weight) is that I am going to get back into the habit of exercising most days and using a little self control when it comes to food. I know I am picking a horrible time of the year to get back on track with all the temptations of the holidays, but I feel like it's what I need to do. The doctor said my weight gain was fine, but I don't want to get in the habit of indulging so much that it's hard to go back to eating more healthily after the baby comes. So self control and exercise, those are my two goals. Don't worry, I'm not going on a "diet"...that is so not my style. I believe in everything in moderation, it's just that since I started feeling better after the first trimester it has been so nice to actually enjoy food again, which has made it hard to say no. In my mind after 9 weeks of nausea I felt like I deserved it! However, now it's back to reality...

4 More Months!

I can hardly believe that we only have 4 more months until we get to meet our little girl! With the beginning of the holiday season only a few weeks away it doesn't leave much time to prepare for her arrival. I told Brad the other night that this time next year we will have an 8 month old...how crazy is that? We are slowly starting to get the nursery in order. Yesterday we went to pick up the crib and when we got home Brad took down the twin bed and put the dresser/changing table in it's new home. We are giving the mattress & box spring to some good friends of ours who have a son who will be transitioning out of his crib soon. This afternoon we are going to Lowe's to try to pick out a green color to paint a corner cabinet that was my grandparents ( I think my grandad made it but I can't remember). The weather is suppose to be really nice this week so I thought it would be a good time to take it outside and paint it.

We went to Babies R Us Friday night (yes, we were Halloween party poopers) to register for the small stuff. I purposefully thought it would be the perfect night to go because nobody else would be there. Since I worked with infants for 5 years before taking my current job at Salem I pretty much knew what we needed and it wasn't overwhelming at all until we got to the oh so pleasant breast feeding section. I never knew there were so many attachments and accessories that went with the pumps. Luckily while we were standing there in confusion Brad's boss Diane called and I was able to ask her what I definitely needed. Thank you Diane!

I am still feeling really good and am thankful! The last few nights I have slept amazingly, 9 & 10 hours! So far this little one is doing a good job of not keeping me up at night kicking. Hopefully that will continue! I am feeling her kick all the time now and it has become such a familiar feeling. Most anytime I sit down from doing something I feel her rumbling around in there. Her kicks are getting a lot stronger now as well. Every time I get Brad to put his hand on my belly to try to feel them she stops. He has only felt her move once in the last few weeks. He's fine with it, but I really want him to be able to share this feeling with me. He knows in the coming weeks he will have plenty of opportunities to feel her so he's not really concerned. I have many more thoughts going on in this head of mine but I'll save those for another post since this one is getting kind of long.

Progress

The last few weeks we have made some progress in getting ready for the arrival of our daughter about 4 months from now. Last Friday night Brad and I had a little date night! We went over to Southpoint in Durham and ate at Moe's. After that we headed over to Pottery Barn Kids to look at their window treatments. We went there because I ordered a really cute bumper pad and sheets online (for a great deal) from there a few weeks ago and wanted to see if they had anything that coordinated. We then headed over to the movie theater to see Fireproof. Brad and I both agree that it was better than we had anticipated and would highly recommend it to anyone! After that (we went to the 6:15 movie) we headed over to Babies R Us to check out a few things, but especially a few stroller and car seat combos we had been looking at online. It was fun trying out everything and "test driving" them a bit!
On Saturday Brad's parents and grandparents came into town to celebrate Brad's Uncle Neil's retirement as Harnett County's County Manager. It was nice to have them here for a few days and to be a part of such a special celebration. While they were here we did a little shopping and both Brad's mom, Lynne and his granny both bought some cute summer clothes for you know who next year on clearance. It is so great to have little girl clothes hanging up in her closet already. I can't wait to put her in them!
Sunday we went back to Pottery Barn Kids to return the curtains I bought Friday night b/c they didn't look right. So Lynne and I went back to try again except this time I brought the bumper with me. Thanks to Anna who gave me a 20% off coupon and to a gift card I bought some much nicer, lined panels that match perfectly for only $12 more than the original ones. I also got a dust ruffle to match that coordinates really well with both the bumper and the curtains. Oh yeah, I almost forgot that we also ordered the crib on Sunday afternoon as well and we should be able to pick it up in a few weeks.
Last, but not least, I think we have finally decided on a name, although Brad is convinced that I will change my mind between now and when she comes! I keep on telling him that this is not going to happen, but he knows me too well to believe me. By the way, we are keeping her name a secret for a while, so don't ask!

Pullen Park

Saturday afternoon I met some college friends & their kids at Pullen Park. It was a perfect fall day and we had a nice time catching up a little bit while the kids played. I was especially glad to see my old suitemate, Caroline, who I haven't seen since her wedding over 4 years ago, and her 18 month old, J.J. She has just moved back to the area after living in New York and then Charlotte. We are glad to have her back closer to home. Here we all are..

April & I holding her boys Brett & Breandan, Caroline & JJ, Jennifer & Silas, & Shelly & Toby

As you can see we are in desperate need of some little girls to even things out a bit and luckily Jennifer & I are both having them!

Our Sweet Girl

Here she is in all her glory! Those are her legs with the arrow in between pointing out her "girl part"


Here is her spine, it's awesome how you can see her bones so distinctly (this looks much clearer on the actual picture)

This is my favorite picture of them all because you can see her hand so clearly going for her mouth! I wonder if she is a thumb sucker like her mamma was?

Here is her arm. Every time I look at these pictures I am more amazed at this precious gift from the Lord! I feel like I love her so much already, I can't imagine what I'll feel when I see her face to face and am able to hold her in my arms. The thought is overwhelming! I told Brad this morning that ever since seeing her on Wed. I just can't stop thinking about her and wondering what she'll be like. I can't wait to meet this little girl!

It's a GIRL!

Yes, I can hardly believe it. We are having a little girl! I was hoping to scan our ultrasound pictures into our computer tonight, but of course or scanner isn't working right...ugh! Oh well, I will take them to work tomorrow and try to scan them there. I drank some caffeine before our Dr. appt and it seemed to work because she was moving all over the place. It was so neat to see her arms and legs moving all around. The ultrasound technician said it looked like she was tap dancing in there.

We were glad to hear that everything looks normal and that her growth is right on target so far. Speaking of growth, I gained 6 pounds last month! The Dr. didn't say anything except "Well, you don't want to gain that much weight every month."
Brad and I had a great night of celebration. After our appointment I took him back by the YMCA to get his truck and we got to share the news with some of his coworkers. They were all excited and it was so much fun to share our joy with them. After calling our parents & Brad's sister we began calling other friends & family. We enjoyed a great dinner at the Peak City Grill & Bar in Apex, which was so yummy! We got this chocolate chess pie for dessert, which was AMAZING. After dinner we went to Target to buy our little girl her first outfit. We opted for something blue with little flowers on it since I am sure she will be getting her fair share of pink from everybody else.

What a great day! I have truly felt the Lord's blessings on us today especially, what a gracious God we serve. His mercies never fail, they are new every morning!

19 Weeks

Well, it finally looks like I'm pregnant! It seems like in the past two weeks my belly has popped out quite a bit. It has been fun being back at school this week and having people realize that yes, I am pregnant and not just putting on some extra pounds. It was also fun to tell the kids in both of my classes by playing a game of "telephone." The sentence I told them was "Mrs. Emory is having a baby in 5 months." Both times one kid spoke up and said that they had already guessed it. They were all really excited and wanted to know if I will bring the baby to school so that they can see him or her.

Wednesday at 3:15 we have our ultrasound! On one hand I am really excited which is evidenced in the fact that I have been telling everyone about it. However, on the other hand I really don't care one way or another, which is great since I have always wanted a little girl. I think I am most excited about just seeing how the little "blob" with a beating heart had developed in the past 11 weeks since our initial ultrasound and to see him or her moving around in there. I am secretly hoping that after this Brad will want to see more and agree to pay the extra $100 for the 4D ultrasound at week 30! I am not holding my breath though since I know my husband and how frugal he can be with some things. Check back on Wed. night for the update!

Beach Trip

Brad and I had a great time last week relaxing at Pine Knoll Shores in spite of the noreaster that hit the coast. It is so funny because each of the 3 times we have been to PKS we have experienced 2 noreasters and the beginning stages of a hurricane. Although it was pretty windy a few days it really only rained at night for the most part. We spent a good portion of our time back and forth from our townhouse and Emerald Isle where my aunt, uncle, cousins and their kids were staying. Brad enjoyed fishing in the afternoons although he didn't catch very much, while I curled up on the porch with a few books I had been wanting to read. All in all it was a very relaxing vacation and as always it was so fun to get to spend a whole week together. I know we need to relish these next few months before we are a family of 3!

On the way home yesterday we started talking about all of the projects we needed to accomplish before the baby comes and we realized that we have a lot to do. For me the most daunting task is getting everything out of the nursery so we can get all the baby's stuff in. Right now both of our extra bedrooms look like a tornado hit. I feel like I am at a stand still until we get a shelf put in the guest room closet for me to put some stuff from the nursery in there. I just have to keep telling myself to take one thing at a time and it will all get done!

Here are a few pictures from the beach. Since I am showing more now I kept on telling Brad we needed to take a picture of my growing belly, but it never happened.

We're off to the beach!

Tomorrow after church Brad and I will be leaving for a week at Pine Knoll Shores. We are so thankful for the Allen's who graciously let us stay at their townhouse for FREE! All we have to pay is the cleaning feel for a whole week at the beach. We are looking forward to a little R & R as well as spending some time with my aunt, uncle, cousins & their families who are staying just down the road a little bit. This will be the first time since our honeymoon that we have been away just the two of us for a week, and with the baby coming it will probably be our last for a while. We plan on enjoying every minute of our time together!

First Movements

Last night I went to bed and while I was laying there with my hand on my slightly protruding belly I finally felt our baby kicking! At first I just dismissed it as gas but then I felt it 3 more times in the same vicinity over 5 minutes. It was just the slightest little thump, but it was so great! I called to Brad who was still watching TV in the living room and he came in to see if he could feel it too. Unfortunately it is hard for him to feel anything at this point, and of course about 30 seconds after he stopped trying I felt it again. Hopefully he'll get to feel something soon!

Evidently we have bad luck with cribs!

Well, ever since we brought the crib home from the consignment sale on Saturday I have been thinking about googling the model number just to make sure it was safe. Well, today I finally got around to looking and guess what....it was one of the many cribs made by Jardine (320,000 to be exact) that was recalled back in June because there is a problem with the slats and spindles breaking, causing possible strangulation and other injuries. YIKES! I am so thankful for that little voice in my head telling me to check things out more. Could it be my mother's intuition kicking in already?
Needless to say we are taking the crib back tonight and getting our money back. I think now we will probably be buying a brand new crib, although at this rate I wouldn't be surprised if the next crib we buy was recalled at some point as well.
As for the pack-n -play it is currently out on our back deck airing out. I sprayed a whole bottle of Febreeze on it this morning, so we'll see if it helps at all. I am thinking about putting it on Craig's List and explaining the whole situation just to see if anyone wants it. If not, to Goodwill it must go!

A lesson learned the hard way

So, here is a good thing to remember when shopping at consignment sales....ALWAYS smell the stuff you are thinking about purchasing!!! I learned this lesson the hard way last night when I got out the pack & play to show Brad the "great deal" I had bought for the baby. As I am taking it out of the bag I realize it reeks of smoke! UGH! As you can imagine this was very frustrating to me for a few different reasons, one because we paid $45 for it and two I just feel bad for the poor baby who had to live in the midst of second hand smoke! In my opinion smoking is one of the stupidest things someone can do to themselves (hello Lung Cancer!). But to do it in the house with your baby, I mean really?!? That infuriates me!
Even though I still won't be able to ever put our baby in this disgusting portable crib, I don't want anyone else's baby to be put in it either. I have decided to at least Febreeze the heck out of that thing and air it out all day tomorrow to see if it makes any difference at all. Then, I will probably take it to Goodwill and take the loss. Neither Brad or I feel right about selling it to someone else directly, it really just needs to go sit in a landfill somewhere if you ask me. So, our search for a used, but clean Pack & Play with a bassinet attachment continues...

Consignment Sale

Today was the big Kids Everywear consignment sale, and boy did we get some good deals! The most exciting purchase was a crib! We have been researching cribs through a great book I bought "Baby Bargains" the last few weeks in anticipation of going to this sale. "Baby Bargains" is a great book because it rates all sorts of baby stuff, kind of like Consumer Reports, except it also includes personal reviews from consumers. So this afternoon when we went to look again we took our book to make sure we knew whether or not to buy a crib. Well, the one crib that I really liked happened to be a well rated one so we bought it for $75! It is a white (which we hadn't originally wanted) sleigh style crib with bead board on the headboard and foot board. I love it! It's very "Pottery Barnish."
Our second purchase was a dresser/changing table which is also white. It isn't in perfect condition, but the drawers open and close easily and there aren't too many dings. For $60 it looked great to us. The only thing I need to do is change out the knobs and it will be really cute. If we were to have purchased both of these items brand new we could have easily spent $600-$700 so I feel good about what we bought.
The last thing we bought was a Pack N Play with a bassinet and diaper changing attachments to leave in Brevard. We decided to buy one to leave there so we will have a little more car space when we go to visit Brad's family. Sorry there are no pictures, the crib is currently in our living room because it wouldn't fit through the door of the nursery. As soon as I can I will post pictures.

I can't wait to sleep on my back tonight!!

This morning Brad and I had another Dr. appt. and everything went well. The doctor said that at this point things couldn't be more normal, which we praise the Lord for! We got to hear the heartbeat again, which she found a lot quicker this time around since the baby is bigger now. That is just the most amazing thing to me to be able to hear that little heart beating inside of me...WOW! We have scheduled our ultrasound appointment for Oct. 8 at 3:15. I already had a talk with the baby that she or he better show us the goods that day, or else!
One of the most exciting things the doctor told me this morning was that I didn't have to worry about sleeping on my sides for a while. This news was thrilling since I have had quite a time this week fighting the urge to lay flat which has lead to some restless nights. I am going to sleep so good tonight, I can hardly wait!
This afternoon I am going to volunteer at the Kidseverywear consignment sale that starts this week. I have heard so much about it from my friends at church and I am excited to see it for myself! I am looking forward to scoping things out this afternoon so when Brad and I go tomorrow I'll already have a lay of the land. We are going mostly to look at cribs and other furniture type items but I may pick up a book or two as well since I love children's books! Monday I'll go back to hopefully get some good bargains on maternity clothes.

Busy Beaver is Back

Busy Beaver, that's Brad's nickname for me when I get in the "zone" of trying to accomplish many different tasks in any given period of time, leaving little for rest and relaxation. Although Brad has not always loved this trait in me, (he often can't just sit and relax when I'm working like crazy) over time he has grown to appreciate my desire to be on top of things. For me I've learned that if I don't get right on a project it just doesn't happen, so this is how I have learned to operate. Plus, there's just something super rewarding for me about sitting down at the end of the day knowing that I have been productive.
Well, for the first time in a few months the busy beaver is back in action and it feels so good! Last Saturday I cleaned our bathroom until it was completely spotless and I was so excited about it! First of all, it felt great to actually have the energy to accomplish such a task and then just looking at out sparkling tub made me so happy. So, now that I'm tracked out for 3 weeks (Woo Hoo!) I am contemplating all of the tasks that I want to tackle over the next few weeks before we go to the beach.

Here is my list so far:

1. Plan and cook dinners: I hope to try out some new easy recipes now that my appetite is back and I can actually stomach the smells.

2. Go through my closet: I've had a few friends lend me maternity clothes and I need to find room for them now that my regular clothes aren't really fitting anymore.

3. Make a coupon notebook: My friend Lauren has one and seeing hers last week inspired me to do the same!

4. Clean out the closets in our guest bedroom and what will be the nursery: this task I dread the most because we don't have very big closets. I'm already wondering where we are going to put all the baby stuff we will be getting!

5. Favors for our women's outreach at church: I need to go to Michaels, AC Moore, to get some ideas for the christmas gift tags we will be making and come up with some possible designs.

6. Figure out what to do with all of my craft supplies: they are currently in a desk that we will be getting rid of so I need a new system that will hopefully fit in a closet! Ugh..I have a lot of rearranging to do.

7. Read: I just bought some books from Amazon last night they are 1. The Vaccine Book 2. On Becoming Baby Wise 3. Baby Bargains

I Feel Like Me Again!

The last few days have been great! My 2nd trimester began on Sunday and I can definitely tell a difference. Even though I came down with a cold this weekend, on Sunday I still felt like I had more energy than I have had in a long time! Another blessing is that I haven't been as nauseous or famished as I have been either. I can think about and plan dinner now with out gagging or getting sick and tonight I made dinner for the first time since the end of June! Brad has been so great to me these past few months, not that he isn't always great, but he's been even better than normal! I am a very blessed woman! He has been such a servant, going to the grocery store countless times, cleaning the bathrooms, doing laundry, making my lunch, doing dishes, the list just goes on and on. It felt so good tonight to be able to fix dinner for him instead of the other way around. We even got to go out for mexican, his favorite, on Monday night and I could tell he was so happy. Now that I'm feeling better it's my goal to serve him the way he has served me!

More Beach Pictures

Brad and Leah playing a rousing game of our new favorite game Cornhole (aka Baggo).

Just for the record, I beat Brad for the first time ever while we were there!

Leah and Brecken

The Emory men playing Bocce on the beach

The Emory ladies reading and enjoying the sun

Our spread on the beach

A Week at the Beach

Brad and Paw on the beach

Last week we went to Sullivan's Island with all the Emorys and we had a great time! We usually go to the beach each year with Brad's parents and sister, Leah, but every few years we go with Brad's uncles and their families too. All together there were 16 of us in a great house right on the beach.

We spent most of our time out on the beach reading and swimming out in the ocean. I'm not a huge ocean fan so I was glad to see that the tide had formed a large pond not too far inland from the ocean. It was a perfect spot to float around on my noodle and relax without the threat of a wave knocking me over at any minute. Brad's sister, Leah who lives in Mt. Pleasant (just 10 minutes from our house) came by most days with the kids she nannies for Brecken and Luke. It was fun to see her and watch her with the boys.

It rained Wednesday, but the ladies used it as an opportunity to go shopping in downtown Charleston. While we were there we also picked up some Toll House Pie from Kaminsky's a great dessert bar that we love. The only dissapointment was that they didn't have any peanut butter pie that day...as Brad said "BOO!"

Hello Conviction!

So I went to my accountability group toinght and that's where it happened...the conviction that is. My friend Kristan was telling us about her sister who is pregnant and has been so sick she hasn't been able to keep anything down in two weeks. She even went to the hospital where they gave her an IV and told her basically they could do nothing else. To top it all off she has lost 10 pounds...YIKES! As soon as I heard this I immediately began praising the Lord! This was some great perspective for me that was much needed. Even when I am feeling my worst I have been so blessed in my pregnancy so far and I need to focus on that instead of how "bad" things are for me. Praise the Lord I am gaining weight and am able to keep almost everything down. I have alot to be thankful for!

Sick of the Nausea!

Yes, I know I have been trying my best to keep my complaining to a minimum, but please just grant me this one entry! I am currently frustrated and feel like I just need to get it out and I'll feel better. I think I have hit the proverbial "wall" because I had a great weekend in that I was hardly nauseous at all. I guess I got my hopes up that things were beginning to ease up so then this afternoon/evening when it hit again the frustration multiplied! Okay, here it goes... I am tired that the mere thought of the dreaded topic "dinner" makes me gag! I'm tired of fearing my trips to the grocery store because the sight of most of the food there makes me sick to my stomach! These days I go in, get my staples, usually Triscuits, apples, cheese, granola bars, apple juice, & cereal, and get out as fast as possible. I'm tired of being attacked by the various smells that come at me when I quickly open the refrigerator. I have been praying that I feel better next week when we are at the beach with Brad's family. I just want to feel like a normal human being again, and soon!

Our First Appointment

This Friday we had our first doctor appointment. I wasn't very nervous until we walked into the waiting room, and then it hit! Luckily, I had some paperwork to fill out so that kept me occupied until they called Brad and I back. Then after a few minutes of waiting in the ultrasound room the Dr. came in and we got to see the baby! Luckily we could see it immediately so there was no question he/she was in there. Then we saw this little "blinking" on the screen...the heartbeat! That was absolutely one of the most amazing things I have ever seen! To see that little heart beating inside of me makes the nausea not seem so bad after all.
It's funny because even though you can't see anything but a big blob from the ultrasound picture I have been showing it to everyone that we have told since Friday. My next appt. is in 3 weeks, right after we come back from Sullivan's Island. Hopefully, after that the nausea will begin to taper off and go away. That's my prayer anyway!

It's Beginning to Sink In

So, after weeks of keeping quiet about the baby growing in my uterus, Ft. Knox (aka Brad) finally agreed to let me tell a few people about my pregnancy this week! We ate dinner with our friends Matt, Cheri, & Ethan on Thursday night and finally spilled the beans. It was such a relief to be able to ask some questions and hear bits & pieces of her experience with her pregnancy. After dinner we went back to their place so she could loan me some of her pregnancy books for me to read. She even got out a bag of her maternity clothes and offered to let me borrow them whenever I was ready. It's so wierd to think of how I"ll look as a pregnant woman with a huge belly!
That same night we tried to go over to Anna & Tim's house to tell them too but unfortunately they wern't home. I really wanted to tell Anna in person but it didn't end up happening that way. We saw them Friday night when we played games with 2 other couples from church but there just wasn't a good opportunity to pull Anna aside for a few minutes. Then we went to our churches softball team cookout/celebration last night and there still wasn't a good time to talk. So on the way home I told myself that I was going to have to tell her today at church. Well, after we got home I got a phone call from who else but Anna. She was calling because she thought I was a little down at the party and wanted to make sure I was okay (little did she know it was just some nausea). Well I couldn't hold it in any longer so I just told her over the phone. She screamed so loud and was so excited! It was so sweet to hear my cousin and friend rejoicing over what the Lord has done for us. This child is going to be so blessed to have such a great "aunt & uncle" in Anna & Tim.
So, needless to say, this pregnancy is finally starting to seem real and it feels so good!

Our BIG News!

After a more than a year of praying, waiting, hoping, and crying I am FINALLY pregnant! After a week of wondering I woke up Saturday morning and took a pregnancy test. Almost immediately I saw the 2 lines come up in the window. I stood there shocked for a minute or so and then went in to wake Brad up with the news. After a few minutes of celebration we prayed and praised the Lord for this amazing blessing.

It's funy because even though I am excited I also want to balance those feelings out with the reality that I am only 5 weeks along. I know many women who have had miscarriages pretty recently and this reality is extremely sobering !

At the same time it has been so hard keeping this news to myself these past few days. Being around two of my close friends has made it exceptionally difficult! Brad is set on waiting until after our first doctors appointment before we tell ANYONE, so I am committed to respecting his wishes. I know this is the wise thing to do, but if it were up to me I would have told Anna and Cheri by now! I wonder if Brad will be able to keep the news to ourselves when we spend a long weekend with his parents and sister over the 4th of July. I guess we'll see!