32 weeks, a spy party & unexpected blessings!

Lets start with the 32 weeks portion of the post. Time is flying by! The paper chain in my office is getting shorter and shorter! This little man will be here before we know it. We are so looking forward to meeting him, but there is that part of me that loves having him in my belly and I am not quite ready to have him yet. The house has been taken over with baby paraphernalia. Al's drum room is packed so full you can literally not walk in. The crib and changing table have yet to be assembled, they are in the garage and I haven't picked out our paint color yet. The next month or so will include preparing for this little guy. I know we can do it in a weekend though so we aren't rushing Olivia out of the nursery. We're praying for the perfect next host home for her. We will miss having her so much and I know she will be a blessing to her next host family. 

Spy Party! We hosted a fabulous celebration for Carina's 30th birthday. God has blessed me with incredible friends and Carina is one of those. My family has adopted her and her men as part of our family. My dad refers to Chris as "The Legend". Other than the fact that Chris is an artist, I am not sure why Dad gave him that title. :) Carina has a not-so-secret desire to be a spy or detective when she grows up so we had a spy/detective themed party for her. It was so much fun! Some of us wore costumes while others came in "disguise" as themselves. We played some fun games and took some great pictures! I will post more when I have them. Lets just say, baby Lars with a mustache is a sight to see! 

Now, unexpected blessings! Al and I were planning on purchasing our stroller/car seat combo. This was our only must have costly item that hadn't been gifted to us. The cost was $269.99. We were planning on waiting until July to make this purchase. Well, God had another plan! Last Friday night I had my laptop out and I was checking email before bed. I felt like I was supposed to look at Craig's List. I didn't have any reason to, just felt like I should look. So, I opened it to baby/kids items and there was a posting for a stroller/car seat combo from Graco for $100. The pictures were incredible and the price was even better! The posting said it was in perfect condition, well cared for in a smoke free, pet free home and it was right here in Spring Hill. I didn't email right away. I waited until I talked to Al in the morning and he said, Email them! So I did. The sweetest lady, Mary, called me back. She said they would be around and I was about to head out to meet Jeans and Trish at the pool anyway so I stopped by. I was greeted by Mary and I immediately knew she was a believer. Her spirit connected with mine immediately. I met her husband and he was the same way. They showed me the stroller and it was better than the pictures represented. It is only a year old and is in perfect condition with all the bells and whistles. Jeremiah and I can tell you the time and temperature when we are out walking. ha ha ha I said I wanted it and thanked them for the blessing. She told me that they had prayed over the stroller and asked the Lord to bring the perfect person who would be blessed by it. I love how the Lord works that way! 

Birthing class was fun again this week. It might make me a dork, but I am loving it! I love learning all that is going on in my body and with our boy. I am not to thrilled to hear about the coming pain! ha ha ha! I am paying close attention to the relaxation and breathing techniques and sweet Al has been practicing his massage on my pained lower back. 

I will try and post some more spy party pics later! This one is blurry, but you get the idea. I love this one of me and Trish and of course Jeremiah at almost 32 weeks. 

31 Weeks!

Our big adventure this week... we started birthing classes! It seems like it is going to be a really fun class. This first week was just kind of an introduction and get to know everyone time. Our teacher's name is Jill and she was a crack up. She made it fun for everyone there. There are about 12 couples in our class with a pretty even split of those expecting boys vs. girls. Next week is our first labor video. Pray for Al! ;) 

30 weeks, a trip to Tulsa and a baby shower!

I am a week behind, but now I have some pictures to post from our trip to Tulsa! We had an excellent trip and my shower was incredible. The girls did a great job and there were a ton of people there that I hadn't seen in ages. Some even since moving to Nashville! Thank you to all who came, it was a very special day to celebrate God's fulfilled promise to us. It was great to share more of our testimony and thank so many for believing and praying for us over the years. The drum room has turned into baby central until we have Jeremiah's room ready to unpack in. Mom finished Jeremiah's bedding and it turned out better than I could have imagined. I love it! I can't wait to set up the crib and see it all together. 

Here are some pictures from our weekend! 

Al playing on the swing at my brother's house. 

I love how Kellee is looking at his Uncle Al in this picture. Al loved his video camera! It was a fun surprise. 

Weslee and his cousin Jeremiah at 30 weeks

My sisters Becky & Sarah Apparently I was very excited about seeing Jeremiah's bedding. :)  You'd think I didn't pick out the fabrics!

Me & Rebecca at the shower  This my Rachael & I at the shower. Rach and I go waaay back. Al and I had our first "date" at their house. 

Angelique had this made for Jeremiah. Glad that the world will have that question cleared up when he wears his new onesie. 

My shower hostesses! (left to right) 

Tiffany, Rebecca, me, Mandy, Suzanne & Angela (Al's sister) 

Our nephews (minus Jack) playing in the water. It was so fun to have both our families together for a cookout on Memorial Day. 

29 weeks! Happy Birthday, Al!

We are at 29 weeks! I can't believe how fast each week is going by! Al is 33 today and we celebrated with Chris, Carina and baby Lars last night. Al and Chris have the same birthday, we call them the twins. :) Do you think they look alike? They are actually a lot alike in random things they say, do and like, but at the same time couldn't be more different. This was our second year to celebrate their birthdays together and we look forward to many more! Al is getting his gift from me and Jeremiah while we are in Tulsa this weekend. (shhh, don't tell him, but his family and I got him a video camera!)

We are heading to Tulsa first thing in the morning for a weekend visit and my first baby shower! I am so excited, I am sure I will have a bunch of pictures to post when we get back on Tuesday night. Our house is about to become over run with baby items and I can't wait! 

Many have asked about the wall I take pictures against. It is in my office at work. This week I started a paper chain countdown to mark the number of days until my due date. (Melinda, I remember you did that for you and Peter's wedding) It will be fun to watch it shrink. I am still working out the details of my end date here, but I am so excited about being a stay at home mom! I know it will be an adjustment, but worth every moment I've waited for it. 

I will see some of you this weekend and I can't wait! Becky, Tiffany, Suzanne, Angela and Mandy have put a lot of thought and effort into this shower and I can't wait to celebrate with them! Angelique will be taking maternity pictures afterwards, I am so excited for our full weekend!

28 weeks!

Here I am at 28 weeks! Jeremiah's arrival is getting closer and closer! We will be in Tulsa next weekend for my first baby shower and I am so excited! I can't wait to get his room set up and ready. Mom is working on his bedding and I have a few people with projects for his room. We are so blessed to have so many who want to help. 

I had a visit with Dr. Presley on Monday. Everything looks good! I am having an ideal pregnancy and Jeremiah is healthy and growing like he should. He is riding low, low, low which means no room in the bladder, but I can breathe easy becuase he's not up in my lungs. :) 

Happy Mother's Day Weekend!

Happy Mother's Day to all the mom's out there, mommy's to be, those who want to be moms, adoptive moms waiting on their precious little ones to come home and everyone in between! I am praying your days are full of joy and peace. 

Last year at this time we had just lost our second baby and I was heartbroken on Mother's Day, this year I couldn't be more excited to celebrate the gift of Jeremiah. Things don't always happen in our timing, but I know God has a plan and purpose in the wait. 

I have been very blessed with an incredible mom! I love her dearly and I am so thankful for the example she is to me and so many others. I am also blessed with a mother-in-law who serves the Lord with her whole heart and a handful of women God has placed as spiritual mothers in my life. I love you, ladies! 

This picture was taken on a visit back to Taos, NM where I was born. I am in the yellow shirt glaring at that baby. :) I think I was about 7. My mom is the beauty in blue. (l to r Dianna, family friend and her daughter, Becky on Dad's lap, Peter, Mom, Josh holding friend, me and Sarah)

27 Weeks

27 weeks and counting down the days to Jeremiah's arrival! Not because we are ready or have everything we need, but because we aren't ready and we don't have everything we need. :) I am feeling great, seriously blessed to say I have no complaints. I am a  bit more tired than usual, but giving myself grace for that. This time has flown by and I can't believe we are in the third trimester! Here are some of my current favorite pregnancy things: 

Smoothies: I make one every morning for breakfast. They're delicious and good for me and baby boy so its a safe thing to be hooked on. 

Strawberries: I am buying Kroger out and freezing them for smoothies and eating them with yogurt for a snack. Good thing they've been on sale!

Apples: These have been an all pregnancy favorite for me. Apples, applesauce, apple juice... 

Chocolate: So you don't think that I am choosing all good things for me, I will be honest. :) I have never been one to buy a candy bar and eat the whole thing except for the occasional Aunt Flow craving. These days nearly every afternoon or evening I want something chocolate. Haven't given in too many times, but will now and then.

Coffee Frappuccino: Starbucks Coffee Frozen Frappuccino's are so yummy to me right now! They are not only packed full of caffeine, but sugar as well. Trying to keep them to once a week and early in the day so I am not awake all night. 

Mac & Cheese: I want it nearly everyday for lunch. I have been trying to substitute it for a more adult choice of broccoli cheddar pasta, adding some real broccoli to it, but really there is no substitute for the blue box. 

Last, but certainly not least... Jelly Belly Jelly Beans. I love the Juicy Pear, always have. I have now introduced some new flavors to the mix. Yum! 

OK, this list is making me hungry so I will stop now. 

I am going to try and head out to the National Day of Prayer time at Spring Hill City Hall today.  Remember to pray today for our world, nation, neighbors and families!