Baby Shower Pictures

***Doctor update: Went to the doc on Weds for my routine 2 week check-up. I was really nervous because this was the point in my pregnancy with Elijah that my BP started going up...a week later I was on complete bedrest and about 2 1/2 weeks later Elijah was born by induction because my BP got VERY high. This past Weds, my BP was GREAT! I was so thrilled and so was my doctor! I know a lot of you have been praying about that for me and I just want to tell you THANK YOU and keep praying - we're not out of the woods yet. A lot of you know how scary it is for me to think that my high BP played a role in Elijah's stroke in-utero and we DO NOT want to repeat that this time. By the way, the new baby will be tested for the blood clotting disorder shortly after birth...we are working that out with Elijah's hematologist right now. Next appointment is in 2 weeks and then every week after that until baby comes!

The pretty table

Opening gifts

The fiber-optic plant (FOP) is an inside joke with me and Steph :-)

Opening the beautiful quilt that my mom made

Most of the shower gang

Lori, Ashley, me, Stephanie & Abbie

My family: sister Kristi, nieces - Katherine & Faith, my mom, me, sister-in-law Nova and mother-in-law Debbie
Me and my mom, Kathy

Me and my sister, Kristi

My sweet niece, Katherine

Almost 33 weeks

The Baby's Room

The baby's room is pretty much completed, except for a few ideas I have for a couple of the walls. We worked REALLY hard and it was a long process! Our guest room was definitely the ugliest room in the house and nothing had ever been done to it. We had to make it work where the guest bed could stay in there, and we had to find a place to put the computer. We found a perfect nitch in a huge closet that we have and it also keeps the computer out of sight, which is nice. Here are the before pictures of the room:

A special THANK YOU to my mom, my sister and Lori - I couldn't have done it without you guys. And Lori, I didn't post the picture of you painting on here since you thought it was horrid! You're welcome. :-) Oh yeah, Jason and Elijah helped too, and I got to wear a very special mask to keep me from breathing the fumes. Elijah enjoyed it as well! The red color was really difficult - it took a gray base and two coats to get it right but I love it! Here is the work in progress:

And here is the finished product! I am very pleased and love my bamboo blinds! I didn't think I'd be able to afford them but found them on sale, YAY!

My mom handmade the baby's quilt because I couldn't find anything like what I wanted in the right colors. Isn't it gorgeous? I love it!!!

Baby shower and belly pictures coming soon once I sort through them all and help my mom with this estate sale Thurs - Saturday. Only 6 1/2 weeks left to go!

Lots going on!

We have had A LOT going on lately! For starters, last weekend I went to a women's retreat with my mother-in-law and her church at this gorgeous house below! We had a good time and it was very relaxing to get away for a night.




However, I returned to find Elijah's eyes were very swollen and "weeping". Never knew exactly what was wrong, but the antibiotic drops cleared it up. So, we fought off the mysterious eye infection, whatever that was! I felt so sorry for him though...


I have really been working on the baby's room a lot this week as well as helping my mom with an estate sale so I have been collapsing at night! I am really starting to lose energy faster the bigger I get. Hopefully we will be almost done with the baby's room next week and I will post before and after pictures. My baby shower is also this weekend, so I'll have pictures of it next week as well. It's getting closer and closer to this baby's arrival - I can't believe it and I am so not ready! I guess I better kick it into high gear...

Go out and Vote!

Did you guys know that Texas actually counts this year in the Presidential primaries??? Jason and I have really been educating ourselves this year on the candidates, and are excited that our vote is going to count on March 4th! We went to Dallas yesterday to hear Barack Obama speak. Now, before you go and start calling us Democrats....we're not...but we're not Republicans either. I guess you could call us Independents - we vote for who is the best candidate, and since we both tend to agree with parts of what the Republicans stand for and parts of what the Democrats stand for, then we can't really be one or the other. I know, that's lukewarm in Bible theory, but not politically I don't think.

I don't consider myself very politically inclined, so this was my first rally to attend. It was unbelievable!! The crowd when we arrived was ENORMOUS and we ended up in a line that went all the way up to the 4th floor of a parking garage!!! I didn't think we would make it in, but we barely squeezed in before they closed the doors and sat on almost the top row of Reunion Arena. It was a very educational experience and I really enjoyed it. I think Elijah did too, because he clapped every time the crowd clapped. Who knows, this may just springboard him right into politics one day....he'll say "I remember when I was 3 years old and my parents took me to my first political rally...that's what started it for me!" :-) Here are a few pictures, including one of Elijah clapping...



Make a difference this year and go vote in the Presidential primaries! Early voting has already started and the official voting day is March 4th! Since John McCain is pretty well a shoe-in for the Republican nominee, I encourage you to go and vote on the Democratic side since it is so close. And since this is my blog, in my opinion....vote for Barack Obama!!! He needs Texas and one other state to almost for sure shut out Clinton! (Sorry to all of you Clinton supporters out there...I'm just not a fan! Please no hateful comments. :-)

Happy Valentines Day!

My little Valentines:

At 30 weeks, this one weighs about 3 lbs...

and this one came home from school with about 3 lbs of candy!

After we picked the kids up from school today, Abbie and I took Ellie & Elijah to the park and flew a kite. It was a beautiful day and Elijah's first time to fly a kite!

Jason & Elijah have started a garden project over the past few weeks. It has been a major undertaking but I think will be worth it this spring when we have lots of fruits and vegetables to eat! Here are some pictures of the progress...

Progress is also being made on the room where the baby's crib will be. He'll actually be in our guest room, but we are changing things up and making it more cozy for a baby. We started painting this week and are hoping to finish that this weekend. I'll post pictures of the progress soon, and of the beautiful baby quilt my mom and her friend are making for his crib. It's hard to believe that he'll be here in less than 10 weeks!!!

Computer nerd

He walks, he talks, he doesn't use a pacifier anymore, and now he plays PBS Kids games on the computer! My little boy is growing up way too fast...good thing I'll have another teeny tiny baby to hold in a couple of months. And yes, we do think that he's going to be left-handed - computers are not the only thing that he uses his left hand for. I have no clue how to teach a lefty to do ANYTHING...do you teachers out there have any suggestions??

Blog posts coming soon: 1. Gardening, 2. Baby's nursery

Ode to the Pacifier

Pacifier, pacifier, you were my bestest friend
But even still, I had to say goodbye to you in the end
Mommy & Daddy say I've grown into a big boy
And I had to get rid of you because you're not a toy
I was really upset and cried big crocodile tears
Because you were there for me for 3 1/2 years
I'll miss you but I know that it was for the best
My only prayer is that you finally have some peace and rest

RIP Pacifier: 2004 - 2008
We will miss you!

The Wedding in Pictures

25 weeks and counting...

Went to the Dr today for another checkup on baby boy. Everything looks and sounds fantastic! I can't believe how fast this pregnancy is just flying by - I had my glucose test for diabetes today and go back every 2 weeks from now on - WOW! I'm past the halfway point, so I guess it's all downhill from here. Here's the most recent belly shot...

And Elijah and I both got our hair cut this week. It was a long time coming for both of us.

Brad & Nova's wedding is tonight, followed by some wedding activities for the weekend, so I'm sure I'll have an update with pictures next week sometime...