23 Weeks (Easter)

This was Easter... and 23 weeks. I think it was also my first Easter dress in a really long time... probably like, 30 years! I have to do these things nowadays... I don't always feel so feminine in my larger state. : )

21 Weeks

I don't know that the horizontal stripes do me any favors. ; )
This is me at 21 weeks...

I love you Mom!

Some of the Reasons I love my mother:

1. She loves me!

2. She's creative

3. She's spontaneous

4. She doesn't let obstacles stand in her way

5. She loves God

6. She likes to read

7. She shares what she has with others

8. She likes to have fun

9. She sticks to a plan

10. She is excited about being a Nana!

11. She loves her family

12. She works hard

13. She's not afraid to get dirty

14. She love country music

15. She gives great hugs

16. She cries when she has to go home

17. She makes sacrifices when she needs to

18. She has a contagious laugh

19. She is loyal

20. She loves her church

21. She always sits in the front row : )

22. She wears socks with holes in them

23. She still has the very first Mother's Day gift I gave her... an Apron.

So this is only a partial list... of course there are too many reasons to count why I love my mom. But I did want to put a few of them here, so she'll know how much she is loved and how much she is missed.

I love you Mom!!! Happy Mother's Day!

This and That

It has been awhile since I've posted anything, although I find that is a normal trend.

We are progressing along without any incident and Pebbles is growing right on track! We had another ultrasound a few days ago. Our little girl looks healthy and happy... we continue to pray that she'll grow healthy and strong. I'm not praying for big anymore... we'll let her grow big once she comes out! Ha! I am officially 23 weeks... only another 17 or so to go. I can't believe it has gone by so quickly, although time seems to do that these days. We set up the crib and changing table in her room the other night. Wow does that make it so much more real! Now every time I walk by that room, I see that crib in there and realize, if only a little bit, how much our lives are going to change in a few months. And what a blessing it will be.

My Mom and Norm are coming today and will be here for Easter weekend. I am so excited to get to visit with them!!! They stopped for about 36 hours on their way back from Mexico last November... but other than that, it has been almost a year since we've seen each other. Of course, I look a little different now than I did back in November. Think they'll notice? ; )

I am anxiously counting the days until I "retire" from this job and start a new one... as of this post only 51 more days! Our plan is for my last day to be June 30th. That is so exciting and so scary all at the same time. I have always worked... I have always supported myself. Of course, walking away from a great job during these odd economic times is cause to make one stop and think. But I trust in our Lord... He has always provided. And I know he always will. I am so grateful to Jeff for being on board with this plan too... just another reason why I know God brought us together.

Speaking of Jeff, have I mentioned ever that I have the most wonderful husband in the world? I do. He's the best... and I don't tell him that often enough. He makes my heart smile every day, and especially on my bad days. He helps me to see the good in people, he inspires me to love others, even when I don't want to. I praise God for him and look forward to 58 more years together! I LOVE YOU JEFF!!!

Have a wonderful Thursday... have an even better Easter. May we all remember the true meaning of this most important holiday. The death, burial and resurrection of our Savior, Jesus Christ. All good things come from Him, through Him all blessings flow. Do you know Him?

My friends

I have known Julie for almost 15 years. (Wow... that makes me feel old.) We met at ACU during our freshman year. One of my first (an fondest) memories is us lip syncing to Mariah Carey's song "Hero" during the freshman follies performance that fall. That was certainly a good indication of the fun we would have over the years. We won't mention the choreographed dance to Vanilla Ice's "Ice Ice Baby". : ) I recently had the pleasure of finally visiting her new home in Tennessee and meeting her newest daughter, Audrey, who was born last November. That's the longest I've waited to meet any of her children... but with the holidays, her visitors, our "trip" to Montana and all that followed, we just didn't find the time until now. We enjoyed a very nice couple of days visiting, talking about babies (new and old), going through maternity clothes, baby clothes, nursing advice and all of that fun stuff. I am blessed that we are still friends, after all these years and all the miles. We haven't lived in the same state for over 10 years! In fact, we finally realized recently that we hadn't seen each other since my wedding. I think that is the longest that we had ever gone between visits.

Anyway... I just wanted to share these pictures of my precious friend and her family. I admire her so much for the great job she does with three energetic girls... and I hope that I can learn some things from her as I grow into this parenting thing. Thanks for having me Jules! I definitely felt like one of the family... just like always. Can't wait to see you in August! I love you friend!

18 Weeks

Here I am at 18 weeks... Getting a little bigger around the middle! ; )

These aren't the most flattering photos in the world, but it's good to see the expanding belly. I know I'll be happy to have them later when I've forgotten exactly how this all went.

I can't believe we are almost half way through this "phase"!!!

(P.S. Thanks for the shirt Jen! : )

It's a GIRL!!!!

We recently found out that our little Bam Bam is actually a Pebbles!!! Imagine my surprise, as I was beyond certain that we were having a baby boy. So much for Mothers Intuition!! ; )

We are extremely excited and just as nervous too... really it just makes it so much more real. This is a precious little person. Not just an idea or a plan for the future. Wow. That is a bit overwhelming. Not to mention that at some point, she'll actually have to vacate her current housing situation and be welcomed into the real world. Um... ouch.

All that aside though... I grow more and more excited each day. I definitely feel her moving now! It is still really subtle, and it can't be felt from the outside yet, but she is definitely in there moving around. It makes me feel good to know that. I have spent some time wondering what she is going to look like. I can't wait to see her precious little face... to kiss her precious little cheeks.

Needless to say, we love her so much already and we haven't even met her yet. I know this is going to be a love that neither of us can even fathom. I guess it'll help me to understand a little better what God, Our Father, feels for us. And that, in and of itself is just amazing.