this is it!

Haven't updated this in awhile...

Last Thursday when I went for my 37 week appointment my blood pressure was higher than normal, the swelling in my feet was there all day/night, and I had gained 5 lbs in a week! That threw up some little red flags. Doctor suspected early signs of pre-eclampsia, so he had me stay home from work Friday & stay off my feet all weekend and we would see if things improved. Well went back in Monday and blood pressure was still up - so he sent me over to labor & delivery at the hospital to have further monitoring done. Thankfully my blood pressure went down so we were able to go home, but he went ahead & scheduled for me to be induced Friday morning. Since I've not dilated at all, they're having us coming in tonight @ 7 to give me cervidil which should soften/start opening my cervix. Then first thing in the morning I'll be checked and if I'm dilated they'll go ahead & break my water, and start pitocin. And then from then... we just wait for baby! Doctor said if he had to guess he thinks Kingston will be no more than 7 1/2 pounds. I hope he's right! I want him to fit into NB sizes!

Please keep us in your thoughts & prayers - God has seen us through this pregnancy with so many blessings, we know the delivery will be nothing different. Can't wait to introduce the world to Kingston tomorrow!

27 days!

As I really sat for a moment and thought about having this child in less than a month, I was completely hit with an emotional overload. I love this child so much and I've never even held him. I can not begin to imagine the love I will feel when I see Adam hold him for the first time. To see his little fingers grasp around Adam's... to see him look up at me... God is so good. I guess it's all setting in. Everything is ready for him - we're just waiting for our son. For our miracle. For our gift from God that I am so thankful. I thank God for this opportunity... to have cared for this child the last 9 months... and for the love and care that we will give him for the rest of his life.

34 weeks down...

At my 34 week appointment I hadn't gained any weight! So that keeps me at about 26 pounds of total weight gain in this pregnancy. The midwife checked me and said he was definitely in the head down position {which is such good news!} and I was a "finger tip" dilated. I wasn't sure how excited I should be about that, but she said it is good. It means things are starting and I'm not completely closed. I've been doing squats at night, I don't know if that's helping to drop him down any or not, but it can't hurt?! I'll go back again on the 6th for my 36 week appointment and hopefully be dilated some more! Then @ that point they will see me every week until Kingston arrives. We're really in the home stretch! I remember thinking about this point in my pregnancy when I was only in my first trimester, and now it's here!!! Praise the Lord!

I had an amazing weekend with my mom & was so sad it was over. We had my "big" baby shower Saturday and it was so awesome. We got everything we needed. Thanks to loving friends & family we got our car seat and stroller, high chair, monitor, tons of bottles, tons of pacis, more clothes, receiving blankets, burp cloths, a front carrier, first aid kits, photo albums, and more! I felt so blessed to have so many people show up! I couldn't have ask for anything better. We were given a swing, and since we already had one, we exchanged it for a gift card at Toys R Us and racked up! I picked up pads for the car seat straps, sun shades for the car windows, a double head rest for the car seat, an infant sleep wedge, green & blue hangers {to separate sizes in the closet}, a car seat net {to keep the bugs out when we go for walks in the stroller!}, and some other small things I'm forgetting. Adam & I picked up a few things Sunday that we just wanted, but knew we would live without if we had to. We went ahead and ordered a diaper genie {which was cheaper online than anywhere else, with free shipping} and a changing pad cover {which we could not find anywhere in town} and we bought a bumbo {i can't wait to use it!}. So, needless to say, we are all ready for our baby boy! Now we will anxiously await his arrival, but still enjoy this quiet time we're having alone.

Wednesday we celebrate our 3rd year of marriage. I can honestly say I fall more in love with my husband everyday. He's not only my best friend, but truly my lifelong companion. He has been so good with this pregnancy, especially lately. He is walking with me after a long, hard days work. He put together all of our baby gear for us without me having to even mention it! He does little things like fixes breakfast and helps with because "he wants to give me a break." I thank God for this man more and more each day. And he's going to be such an amazing father. I can't wait to see him hold his son for the very first time...

33 weeks!

So we're in the home stretch, and it's very surreal. I've been pregnant all of 2009, but to think we could have a baby here in about 6 weeks is just crazy. When I look back at our New Years Eve party when we first found out I was pregnant, time has flown! Here we are in the middle of July with a nursery done, one baby shower done, and a closet full of clothes. Now all we really need is baby! We are so blessed with friends and family who care for us, and for our upcoming addition. We've been given a lot of clothing from friends who have had little boys, and then we've purchased a lot of clothes. In my defense, everything we have bought new for him has been on sale! I'm loving the sale racks @ Baby Gap!

I had my first baby shower @ work on Wednesday and it was so sweet! I requested it to be a "diaper & bath" shower so obviously most of what I got was diapers. We got 1 pack of NB, 3 packs of size 1, 3 packs of size 2, 2 packs of size 3 and 1 pack of size 4. And all the wipes I think we'll need for the first year... it was great! Hopefully at our next shower next weekend we'll get some more smaller size diapers, because I'm sure we'll go through those very quick! Speaking of my shower next weekend, MY MOM IS COMING!!!!!! I can't say how excited I am. I haven't seen her since after Christmas, when I was pretty sure I was pregnant, but not positive. She's seen my belly through pictures but I'm just so excited for her to see it up close. My step-dad is coming with her and I'm really excited about that too. He's never seen the house and it's been 3 years since he's been in SWGA. Friday I plan on taking everyone to the hospital to see an ultrasound. I'll be 34 weeks and Kingston should be nice & fat! He's moving around a lot these days - lots of punches and rolls. Sometimes they're painful, but I'm not complaining because it means I've got a healthy, active baby growing. Right now he should be around 4 pounds... so he still has some more growing to do! I go back Thursday for my 34 week appointment and they will start checking me to see if I have dilated any. Keep your fingers crossed!

29 weeks!

Looking back at New Years Eve when we first found out we were pregnant, time has flown! I'm trying to stay positive - knowing I could still have 11 weeks left seems forever, but it will be so worth it. Everything is going GREAT! At my last appointment [last Thursday] I was measuring right on schedule, Kingston's heart beat sounded very strong, and I had gained a total of 20 pounds. The midwife was very encouraging and said I'm having a great pregnancy, which I could agree to. My gestational diabetes test also came back negative, praise the Lord! 

Hard to imagine I've got a 3 pound baby growing inside of me, despite the knees and elbows I feel. We've gotten to feel him "roll" a lot lately and that is such a neat feeling. I'm having a bit trouble sleeping these days, and peeing is becoming a constant nightly thing. I've had a lot of discomfort lately as well - I think he is so low already, the weight is getting to me, and the heat does not help! We've had heat indexes of 100 lately and it gets hard to breath! I'm trying to walk on my father in law's treadmill, rather than outside. We also go swimming every afternoon that we can. I'm trying to stay fit and active so my labor will be easier. 

Thanks to Adam's mom and step-dad we should be getting our pack & play sometime next week, and we went ahead & ordered our swing so that should come too. And thanks to my lovely mother and step-father, we should be receiving our glider/ottoman and bedding set shortly!!! It's all coming together... now we just have to finish painting the nursery... which is supposed to happen next weekend. Let's hope we stay on schedule! My first baby shower is scheduled for Wednesday July 15th at work, and my big shower with family and friends is Saturday July 25th. My mom and step-dad are coming down for that and I'M SO EXCITED!!!! It will have been 7 months since I've seen them! Man.. time does fly! 

It's a boy, 110%!!!!

So my 24 week appointment went great {other than the fact that I've gained 5 lbs since my last appointment! what the heck!} Baby KINGSTON is a whoppin' 1 lb 11 ounce! It's crazy to think he has grown from a peanut to almost 2 pounds! This is such a miracle and I feel so privileged to be able to experience this! The ultrasound tech kept making comments about how everything on him looked "so perfect" from his abdomen to his fingers & toes. We got some good shots of his big feet and him stretching his toes out. His heart rate was 141, which is good. He's moving around a lot more now - maybe because we KNOW he's a boy he feels more confident! I'll go back for my 28 week appointment on Monday, June 15. They will do testing for gestational diabetes, and from that point forward I'll be going to the doctor every 2 weeks! I'm sure @ that point the pregnancy will fly by. I've decided to take a night class this summer to help everything speed up, and to keep me active & out of the house. It doesn't start until 6 every night so my plan is to walk around the indoor track @ school for 45 minutes or so each night I'm there. But everything's great.... we could not be more happy and more excited to meet our little boy!!! 

end of week 23!

So pregnant life is wonderful. The most exciting part of my day is feeling the baby move, and the trying to get Adam's hand on my belly in enough time for him to feel too. Over the past few days I've actually seen my stomach thump up when the baby has kicked - which is amazing. Overall I feel better now than I did before I was pregnant. My feet have not been swelling - I credit that to our new ONLY water beverage diet, and walking everyday that I can. Lately I've been feeling under the weather, and tonight the weather is not cooperating and I almost feel guilty that I'm not walking! I've come to love it! My next appointment is in a week & a half, on May 18th. This shall be the day we know once & for all if this is truly a baby boy or not. We're still 99% convinced it is a boy, I think the doctor was just rushing. If there is still any question, I won't hesitate to ask them to switch it to the 4D sonogram so we can know for sure before I leave that doctors visit. Four week after that appointment I'll have my 28 week visit, and then I'll start going every 2 weeks I believe. I hear that is when the pregnancy really starts flying. I can't wait to meet this baby so I'm ready for turbo speed. We put the first coat of primer on the nursery wall. I tried to help as much as I could but the fumes were too much, and Adam's being awesome about it. We've decided to paint the room khaki instead of chocolate brown. We realized with brown walls & dark wood furniture our baby would be living in a bear cave. Maybe he'd sleep a lot then?! But we think with the khaki walls, plus the AWESOME tree decal [8 ft x 8 ft = the whole wall!] we found, the nursery is going to be the coolest. I painted the used side table we got from a friend the chocolate brown so it will go along with the "espresso" wood furniture. If we end up getting the bedding we picked out, we will stick with the green and yellow accents in the curtains, lamp shade, and glider cushion. All of it's so exciting!!! Whether this baby turns out to be a boy or girl, we feel so blessed. 

Four more months!

So I'm 21 weeks, and more than half way there. I say four more months because he could come in 16 weeks!? Lets hope! Everything has been going wonderfully. He is moving more and more, and Adam was able to feel him move yesterday morning! (I think it was the hiccups) We had our "20 week ultrasound" done on Thursday and all of his measurements are great - she actually measured me ahead 4 or 5 days, but I don't know if that'll work itself out or not. I don't mind if he comes a little early anyways! While we were having our ultrasound, she knew that we already knew the sex so she wasn't really looking out for boy parts or not. When the doctor came in, he started looking and couldn't tell one way or another; boy or girl? We never got a good clear shot between the legs - so they want to do another one in four weeks to make sure. Well of course our minds started racing, what if it's a girl?!? That would be completely fine, as long as we have a healthy baby. But I went back that afternoon to my friend and she did another ultrasound and still swears to me it's a boy - the problem was a: his chord was right next to his boy parts, b: he wouldn't ever give us a good shot! Bottom line is, the baby is healthy. In four weeks he'll be bigger and they should be able to definitely tell. IF for some reason he's not a boy, we will be very shocked! But we've decided if the doctor does not give us a thumbs up 110% that it's a boy, we are going to act as if we are having a surprise delivery. We would rather be surprised by choice then in the delivery room after we've bought all boy things! Everything we have picked out could be used for a boy or girl, and we could always hold off on clothes. We've got a plan, don't you worry. But we still think in our hearts it's a boy. During the ultrasound there are many times we swear we see a little weenie, I just don't think she was looking for it yet. My belly is getting bigger and bigger everyday and I'm falling more in love with it. I can't help but just rub it all the time! It's so fun! I will try & post videos from the ultrasound later.

19 weeks!

Sorry for the absence of posts lately. I guess not too much going on. I had an ultrasound yesterday & everything looks perfect. She was able to show me his 4 chambered heart, his stomach, his bladder, the spheres in his brain, his spinal chord, the umbilical chord, eyelids, his mouth moving, etc. She said everything looks great! It's amazing how much he's grown in two weeks, even though he only weighs half a pound! I go on the 23rd for my actual "20 week sonogram" even though I'll be 21 weeks - and they'll tell me what I'm having, hehe. Hopefully Adam can come, keep that in your prayers, because I'd really like him to see how much Kingston has grown since he saw him six weeks ago. 

I feel him move now. And it was so neat yesterday to feel him kicking and then actually see him kicking that same spot! It's not a frequent movement that I feel, but every so often it happens and it just makes me melt. I'm still listening to his heart beat every other day or so, it's just a soothing sound. 

I had a little arts & crafts weekend last Saturday and made his name for his room. Hope everyone likes it! I will post another belly picture next Friday @ 20 weeks! This one is from last week at 18 weeks!

2nd ultrasound & 16 week appointment

So Tuesday I went for my 16 week appointment & everything is perfect! His heart beat sounds good (which we knew since we listen almost everyday) and I will go back to have another ultrasound at the doctors office on April 23. We already know what we're having, and it was confirmed again with an ultrasound on Wednesday. He is ALL boy & is making his daddy proud. We saw his fingers and toes, his ears, and his heart just pumping away. His heart beat was around 140 which is normal for this stage. Today starts week 17 and according to my book he's about 5 ounces and the size of my palm. I still have not felt him move but I know it will be happening anytime now. My belly is definitely getting rounder - and I will post a new picture at 18 weeks!!!

All is well

Sorry it's been awhile since I've posted! Things have been going so well! No more sickness - just eating a lot! I'm trying to get out and walk as much as possible in the evenings. The weather has been really nice so that has helped. My belly is definitely getting bigger and I think I've gained a few more pounds. My next doctor's appointment is next Tuesday the 24th. On Saturday I ordered an at-home fetal heartbeat monitor. You can rent it month to month instead of paying an arm and a leg to purchase one, so I rented it for three months. This way Adam and I can enjoy those special moments together at home, because he hasn't been able to experience them with me at the doctor's office. This weekend we put together the crib and it looks awesome! I think I/we've determined that the room isn't as big as we thought it would be once the furniture was put together. So we will probably just have the crib, changing table with 3 drawers and the glider and ottoman in the room. We do have a bookshelf in his closet that we can put storage bins on for socks, bibs, blankets, etc. We put together the furniture so soon because I wanted to have a peace of mind about how much we could fit in there and if we were going to be anymore pieces for the set. I've picked out a bedding set on Walmart.com (which is the included picture) - and I went ahead and ordered the pillow so we could see the colors up close and personal before we decided on the whole set. We won't paint the room for another two or three months.. and then we can start getting ready for baby showers! A friend of mine has already set a date for my church baby shower, and it's so crazy that it'll only be in 3 and 1/2 months! The time is going by pretty quickly... Friday I'll be 16 weeks!

it's a boy!!!!!

So I was fortunate enough to have an ultrasound done last Wednesday to see how baby has grown. I had heard some talk that if it's a boy, you could possible find out really early. I REALLY thought it was a girl so I didn't expect anything but good pictures when I went in. Well sure enough... we saw a "winky-dink"! I was completely shocked, a: because it caught me off guard, b: adam wasn't there to see! But either way, I was so so so so so excited to know. And on top of that, his heart rate was 169 which is great. And I got to see his arms and legs stretching and him moving all around. It is pure amazement. We are going back tomorrow so Adam can see him on the ultrasound and I'm so excited to see his face! Now we'll wait to feel him start moving!!! 

Heard the heartbeat again!

So today I had another appointment, which took an hour and a half to get through, but I heard the heart beat again! I think the baby was playing hide & go seek because it took them awhile to find it, but all is well. The doctor said all of my lab work has come back positive, and I'm feeling great. I go back again in 4 weeks on March 24th. Tomorrow I'm actually going to see my sister in law's mother at the hospital for an ultrasound! It's been 5 weeks so I'm anxious to see how baby has grown. I'm not sure that she can give me a picture or not, but I'll let everyone know how that goes! I'm also looking into renting an at-home doppler machine, where you can listen to the baby's heartbeat right at home! You can rent them from month to month because they're very expensive to buy. So I want to get one for 3 months - that way we can listen to the baby's heart beat while I'm only going to the doctor every 4 weeks, and they don't do ultrasounds often. Plus, Adam has a hard time getting off of work to come with me and I think it would be very special to be able to lay in bed at night and hear the heart beat together! 

12 weeks!

We've made it! Last week of my first trimester. I'm so relieved to be at this point. Honestly, I feel great. I have more energy, not so sick to my stomach often, and just loving every moment of this. I will go back Tuesday to listen to the heart beat again, and then won't go until 16 weeks. That will feel like forever... 

We are very blessed to have both sides of our family - that love and want to help us as much as they can with this baby. Yesterday we had our crib and changing table purchased for us! It's so beautiful too! It'll take about 3 weeks to come in, and so we'll probably go ahead and put it altogether when I'm around 16 weeks. To some that may be too early, but that way we can rearrange it as much as we want and we will see how much room we have for other items. I'm thinking we'll just get a glider/ottoman and another tall chest of drawers. I'm super excited - my friend Jessica is going to come & paint our tree on the nursery wall when the time gets closer. We probably won't paint until 5 months or so - and I'll have to find out all the details on painting when you're pregnant. I know Adam doesn't want to do it alone. This is just all so exciting!!! For other furniture pieces I'm registered at Walmart.com.. that's got the pack & play, glider, etc. But for now, here are some pictures!

Bum bum, bum bum

I heard a heart beat! (Sorry this is a little late) But everything went great again! I've only gained about 1.5 pounds and I'm still measuring on time for September 4th. I go back again on the 24th for another listen. I asked why so soon, and she said nothing was wrong - but I think they are trying to get me on track w/ the "every 4 week" schedule. This will put me going at 12 1/2 weeks, then again at 16 weeks, then again at 20 weeks when we find out what we're having! I'm going to try and get an idea before then... my sister in law's mother works at our local hospital doing ultrasounds and she has said I can come up anytime I want! So I may start going in a week or so and just getting some more pictures, since the doctor's office only does another one at 20 weeks. But, it was such a cute sound. Unfortunately Adam could not come with me, but maybe he can come next time! On the sleepy note... I'm still sleeping a lot. My hormones are starting to kick in full force I think - I've cried twice in the last two days. But, it's okay, all worth it! Tonight we are going out for a friends birthday party, and for Valentines day tomorrow we are having a formal dinner at Adam's dad's church and then watching a movie :) Should be a nice, quiet weekend with some good alone time. Hope everyone has a Happy Valentines day! Love you!

PS - I'll post another belly picture at 12 weeks - next Friday

10 weeks, 3 days

Well another week and weekend has come and gone, and it's Monday again. On a brighter note, my doctor's appointment is in two days and I should be able to hear the heart beat!!!! I'm so excited! Everything is going great though, I've had no problems this time around. I'm still going to bed as early as possible and still eating a lot. I had ordered some maternity clothes (2 pairs of pants and 2 dresses) and they ended up being way too big (I know I'm not as big as I'm going to get, but they were huge) so I sent those back and I'm waiting to re-order them all in smalls. I weigh myself each morning at work, and if the scale is correct I've only gained 1.5 pounds, but my pants sure tell a different story. I bought a "belly band" at Target last weekend and it allows me to wear my same pants, leave them unbutton and nobody will ever know! It's really comfy too. Thankfully I can still wear my jeans without a problem because they are pretty low rise and stretchy. I've started to registries on three different websites: Walmart.com, BabiesRUs.com, and Target.com. I've picked out the nursery furniture on Target's website, and then other things here and there on the other two. I'm not picking out anything specific to a gender yet - we have plenty of time for that :) I still think that it's a girl... I keep saying "she" and "her" when I talk about the baby - but Adam of course says it's a boy. Either way, we'll be happy! But we will definitely find out - I can't imagine not knowing. Other than that, things are great! Adam's still working tons, and my online class is still as easy as ever. I'm not completely sure what I'll do in the fall when the baby comes, but I still intend on taking at least one class at a time. Online, of course!

Sleepy weekend

Well this weekend went by too fast like all of the rest. Friday night we went to Albany and ate Moes because there is hardly anything in the house & I've just not had the energy to go grocery shopping at WalMart and deal with the crowds. As soon as we got home at 8:30 I hopped into bed. Saturday morning we both worked a few hours, and then Adam came down with a 24 hour bug that kept him on the couch all day. So I happily joined him :) So Saturday was a VERY lazy day. Sunday we had a church, I joined Adam's mom & step-dad, our sister-in-law and her girls from lunch at Cracker Barrell and Adam played at a youth event with the youth group band the rest of the afternoon. We did not watch the Superbowl because we do not get local channels, but neither of us really cared. I was in bed by 7:30 anyways. I just love sleeping! Other than that things are great! No more sickness really... but I'm continued to be amazed by all of these blue veins that are showing up all over my body! I know it's a good thing though - means the baby is getting blood. We can't wait until next Wednesday for our doctors appointment. 

Moving along...

Well tomorrow marks week 9 and things are moving along nicely. My "morning sickness" is no longer in the morning, more like as soon as I walk into work. Maybe it's mental, or maybe the smell of something just rubs me the wrong way. But it's been pretty miserable. We've been slow, and just sitting all day long with an upset stomach is the worst. All I want to do is lay down and go to sleep, so I really look forward to getting home everyday. I try and go to sleep as early as possible, yet I still feel like I didn't get enough sleep the next morning. Though this baby is only the size of a medium green olive (as of tomorrow and next week), it sure is sucking all the energy out of me! But it's great... I'm so thankful there have been no complications this time around. When it comes down to it, I'll be sick all day, everyday to have a healthy baby in 7 months. Only a week & a half until we hear the heartbeat! Can't wait! This weekend will be filled with as much resting as possible... probably several hour naps on Saturday and Sunday. I've come to love my bed!

Oh so tired

This has been such a great week, seeing the baby for the first time, but man am I tired. I don't do very much at work... heck I sit all day long if I want to. But I am exhausted!!! It's 6:20 and I'm about to get into the bed and just relax. My whole body is sore - between the "growing pains" I'm feeling and everything else, this baby is making a big change! The "morning sickness" has never entailed throwing up, but the nausea last all day long. I won't complain too much, I know that it's just the hormones changing and my body getting used to this growing baby! 

Our peanut!!!!

Everything went perfect! There is a healthy 7 week 5 day old baby growing inside of me, with a heartbeat! It's too early to hear the heartbeat but we did get to see it. Man, what a relief. God is so good - His love endures forever. They say I will be delivery this baby on September 4th, 2009, but we all know they rarely come on their due date! I'm hoping for September 5th, my Mom's birthday. But hey, if the kid wants to come a little early I'm sure I won't have a problem w/ that after a long, hot summer with a belly. I go back in three weeks on February 11th. I will be almost 11 weeks at this point and they will be able to hear the heartbeat! I'll go every 3-4 weeks at the beginning, and then every two weeks toward the end. They will do the next ultrasound at 20 week s when we find out if it's a boy or girl! It's so unreal - the miracle of carrying another heartbeat inside of your body!!! We love everyone so much and are so thankful for the support, already. More to come....

7 weeks, 4 days

Our first ultrasound is in two days!!!! Needless to say I am very nervous. At this time 9 months ago we found out that our first pregnancy was not successful. Losing a baby, even one you weren't planning on, was one of the hardest things I've had to go through. But nonetheless, it was a great growing experience for both Adam and I. We learned to lean more on Jesus, because we know that through Him all things are possible. It was possible to move forward, and to not hurt anymore. I believe the experience opened up our eyes (well more so Adam's, I've always been a baby fanatic!) to the thought of starting a family. Starting a family at twenty-one and twenty-three, you say? I'm sure many people are either rolling their eyes, or in shock, but it seems natural to us. 

Here's a little history on our perfect, God-planned love story: We met back in the fall of 2004 when Adam and his band Chasing Victory were on tour. No, I did not at all even know who the group was, nor did I know anything about their show in town that weekend. I got a call from a friend one night that I knew from the past, and he told me he was on tour with a band from Georgia, they were coming to town to play a show and they needed a place to stay late that night. Turns out, they were told to leave the church they were going to be staying at because they covered a Bon Jovi song, how silly. So, my Mom being the cool Mom that she is, allowed the group of strange guys with piercings, tight jeans, and weird hair to stay in our bonus room for the next two nights. So I like to say that Adam sort of landed on my door step, because he did! It was not love at first sight, but there was definitely an initial attraction on both ends - but who was I kidding? This guy was in a band, traveled the country, and lived nine hours away from me. The thought of something happening was not even a thought in my mind. So they came and went, playing their show and hopping on the road for the next town. We kept in contact online, and that eventually turned into text messages and phone calls. When I began to get to know him as not just a kid in a band, but as a handsome, loving, honest man seeking God's plan for his life, I was done for. The rest is kind of history. We dated from November 2004-July 2006 when we got married, at the ages of 19 and 21. At this point, I had moved to Georgia after one semester of college in North Carolina, because the distance was just too hard. I knew he would still be on the road with his band, but at least when he came home, I would be there. It was a very, very trying time for me. I had never left my family for more than a few weeks, and not being able to hang out with my best friend (my mom) hurt so bad. Eventually I got used to it, got a job, started school, made friends. We also got a dog, Jack, as soon as I moved down because I knew I needed something to keep me company when Adam was gone. So as I'm typing this, we have been married 2 1/2 years, we have our own beautiful home, we have two great dogs (Penny was an addition in July), two great jobs, and a life that we known has only been made possible through the love of Jesus Christ. So, having a baby seems like the natural next step. I'm so in love with my husband, I can't imagine anything else being more appropriate than to carry his child for him. So, we're doing it! 

After the miscarriage we thought we would start trying as soon as it was safe. After months of thinking, I decided that I didn't want to end up getting pregnant right during the summer of my 21st birthday. We had so much planned, with traveling to NC to see my Mom and family, and traveling to Boston for my brother's wedding, that we thought we'd put it off a few months. Well then the thought of school came back into the picture, and having a baby was to be put off until I am done with school. Some people KNOW they are destined to be a doctor, or a teacher. Me, I go back and forth. The one thing I KNOW I'm supposed to do is be a Mom. I just love babies and family more than anything. So, a heart-felt talk we decided the timing was right, and we could do this. We prayed over the pregnancy that was to come, knowing that God would be in control as He is with everything. And He is with us through the good and the bad, promising to never leave nor forsake us. We weren't sure how long it would take to get pregnant. I had been off the pill for several months and I'm healthy - but we just weren't sure. No matter how long it took, we knew it would happen at the right time. Well, the right time was the first month! I had taken a trip without Adam to NC (he had to work) and had expected my period anytime during that trip. Well it never came, and I was to fly back home on New Years Eve. I was so anxious that I took a test during our New Years Eve  party and it was positive, right away! We didn't tell anyone, even though we were both thrilled. I got a few weird stares when I didn't drink champagne at midnight, but that's okay. So here we are. I will continue my education, taking one class at a time to pro-long my scholarship and keep my mind going. I only feel nauseous every so often if I don't eat a big enough breakfast with my vitamins. I'm VERY tried, sleeping all the time. And my boobs are sore - probably the most common symptom. Other than that, things are great! My pants all feel so tight, thought I've only gained a pound. Sometimes I have no appetite for anything, and other times I want to do nothing but eat. I'm so excited at the thought of being a Mom and having my own family. I can't wait to see the baby growing and to hear the heartbeat. Please keep us and our little blueberry (the size this week!) in your prayers!!!!!