12 Weeks

I made it through my first trimester. I had a few meltdowns along the way but I have started the second trimester. I am still feeling sick every day and headaches have been added to my list of "ailments". I am hoping that over the next couple of weeks I will get that energy and non-sickness feelings like I am told comes. :-) My clothes are all a little snug and I bought my first pieces of maternity clothing this weekend. I have a new dress for a wedding I am attending in a couple of weeks, so that is exciting. I don't really have a baby belly to speak of yet so no pictures as of yet. When I look less chubby and more baby belly, I will have Dan take pictures. My next appointment is May 10th and then June 10th is the ultrasound appointment to find out if it is a boy or a girl. That's all for now!

First Speck Pictures

8 weeks

Well we made it 8 weeks to our first doctors appointment. I have been tired and nauseous for about a month now and it is really wearing on me. I hear I have another month or two to go for this fun! I saw the doctor yesterday. It was a fun and not-so-fun appointment. They had to do all the regular first appointment procedures but in the end we got sonogram pictures. We got to see our baby and see his/her little heart beating. It was SO cool! It was the first chance Dan got to feel like this was all real- He got that tingly feeling! It was so sweet. I started taking Benadryl which really helps calm much of the nausea.
Dan has started painting the nursery so that is fun to see come together. I will post the sonogram pics as soon as I can get them scanned.

In other news, it is spring time here at Amor. Things have picked up at work and much of the office is scattered about the country. Amor Ministries is also celebrating 30 years so that is way exciting! The next couple of weeks we will have a camp full of people down building homes for the people in Mexico. I love this time of year. I love seeing everyone here and feeling the excitement in the air. Please continue to pray for the Amor team and those participating in the Amor trips. Thanks

6 Weeks

Morning sickness has begun! "They" say that it is a good sign, a sign of a healthy pregnancy. If "they" are right, that is encouraging. I still hate being nauseous all the time. So far nothing I have tried has worked. I have been drinking 7up, eating small meals throughout the day, eating saltines etc. It was recommended that I try sea bands so I think that is my next try.

Found out last week that my sister in law is pregnant as well! Exciting news! Their baby is due the week after ours. We get to go through all these fun stages together. It will also be fun for our kids to be playmates. Fun stuff.

5 Weeks

That's right, I am 5 weeks pregnant! Dan and I are so excited and as you can guess, nervous. I took a home pregnancy test on Friday February 19th. I was so nervous that I didn't look at it as I went through my morning routine. When I did chance a glance, there were two pink lines! I was so excited, that I rushed out of the bathroom and practically jumped on Dan who was still sleeping. "Dan, Dan wake up, wake up. I'm pregnant, I'm pregnant!" I was shaking uncontrollably in my excitement! Now came the hard part...waiting to tell anyone until we had told my parents who were out of town that day. I also was on my way out the door to workout with my sister-in-law and I had to try to keep my excitement in!

I made it though. We went to my parents house on Saturday afternoon bearing gifts. When they opened their gifts together, they each received a bib that said "I love Grandma" or "I Love Grandpa". They were both so excited. And of course my mother made me call family so she could start telling the world. I was given the privilege of telling my grandparents that they would be becoming great grandparents later this year. See, I am the first on both sides of my family to have a baby! Sunday morning we called Dan's family to tell them. His mother of course screamed in excitement for like a full minute, which was fun. His Dad and step-mom were much more practical but still way excited for us.

Currently, I am just exhausted all the time. No morning sickness yet.

I will do my best to keep you updated on my progress regularly and hopefully post some fun photos when "Speck" starts getting bigger and showing himself off! Thanks for your love, congratulations and prayers. They are so appreciated!

Christmas

I love this time of the year! With the cooler weather, the holiday lighting, the Christmas music and good times with family and friends.

Every year I decorate for Christmas the day after Thanksgiving. I start playing all my Christmas Cd's and try to get into the jolly spirit. I usually have my Christmas shopping done before Thanksgiving. I don't like the crowds and the craziness. I like to take my time and go when everyone else is somewhere else. :-) We have a neighborhood in our area where almost every single house decorates and turns on their lights for all of us to walk around and enjoy. This year we went with a group of friends and circled the block twice. (we needed to see both sides of the street) We bought hot cocoa and kettle corn as we enjoyed all the lights and music and various Disney and Pixar characters. I have never walked through with a group of kids before. It was so much fun. There were 9 kids and 9 adults, which seems to be a good ratio, and it was chaotic. I loved every second of it.

This year we are going to New Heights Community Church's Christmas Eve service to be with my family. We will go back to my folks house for chicken pot pie and hot chocolate or cider. Then Christmas morning, Dan and I will spend a quiet few hours together before we head back to my parents house. My brother and his new wife will be showing up at 11am like us. We will have brunch and exchange gifts. Then of course their is Christmas dinner. Not sure what it will be this year but there will definitely be mashed potatoes and toffee (not together of course:)).

On Saturday, Dan and I will fly up to San Jose to be with his family. It has been a long time since I have been to the bay area and seen everyone. We are both really looking forward to it.

Happy Christmas all!

Update

I really enjoy fall! We don't get all the color change but the cooler weather and warm clothing is so pleasant. I really enjoy curling up with a good book or movie and drinking hot tea, coffee, or hot chocolate. There is something peaceful and cozy about this time of year.

It is also small group time at church. We are hosting a group in our home every week and we are really excited to be getting to know more people. We are a sermon based group, so we dig deeper into the sermon and talk about how to actively apply the scriptures to our lives. I am really excited because this small group season, the church is going through Hebrews. I am looking forward to better understanding this particular book of the Bible.

I am getting ready to have surgery in a couple of weeks. I am really nervous, just because the idea of surgery makes me nervous. I am really hoping they can finally figure out why I have been having pain. I am so thankful that I was able to get it all scheduled quickly though. Good to get it over with. :-)

One of the things that has been coming up a lot in small group, church, work, and my quiet times is sacrifice. What am I willing to give up for the betterment of others and to honor the Lord. He gave everything, what will I give? Am I a believer or a follower or both? Where is my focus? Am I 100% sold out? What would I do under heavy persecution? Would I deny or stand firm?

Just things I have been thinking about lately. Happy Fall All!