Shower of Blessings

Alondra and Gerald Redd and Amanda Albee were so gracious to throw us a shower with all of our friends and family here in Dallas. We had such a wonderful time of fellowship! We enjoyed having our family meet so many of our closest friends who have become our family here in TX. Jonathan's mom, my parents, sister, and grandmother were able to travel down for the occasion. We were showered with gifts and blessings as Gerald spoke some uplifting encouragement and prayed for us. Enjoy the pictures!

Baby update!!

For all of you who may want an update on our recent visit to Labor and Delivery. I had a small scare at work on Sunday. I had to call my doctor from work around 8:00am. When she heard my symptoms she sent me down stairs to L&D to have the baby put on a monitor to make sure everything was OK. Luckily I work only 7 floors up from L&D so it was extremely easy for me to check in and comfortable since they are all familiar faces. (Since I work in the neonatal ICU I get to see these nurses quite often.) Jonathan and I only had to spend a few hours there before going home with some surprising news that I had probably passed a kidney stone - most relieving since that meant there was nothing wrong with our sweet baby who never stopped kicking me the entire morning!! I rested for the remainder of Sunday at home and wasn't allowed to lift a finger. Jonathan is already a great dad! He even went to the grocery for me because he knew I would want to go on Monday! We visited the doctor's office Monday and got some clarification and reassurance. The baby weighs 3 pounds and 2 oz. and has lots of hair already!! We won't post any picts. of the sono. because he/she would only look at my spine, not the camera. We are very grateful that God protected our baby and that it is all over! Thanks to all of you who lifted up a prayer. I felt very calm the entire time and never really panicked. God's peace is a wonderful gift. Hope everyone feels updated now. Any guesses to what color this head of hair might be!!??

Green Green and More Green!

Green is the color!! If you don't like green, you won't like our nursery or the wardrobe of our little one for about the 1st 3 months! Since it's my FAVORITE color, it really hasn't bothered me much to not be preparing in either blue or pink for our surprise. Once again we were blessed this past week by my mom's visit. We shopped, sewed, and had a girls day with the luxuries of lunch followed by manicures and pedicures! We (meaning mostly my mom) finished all the bedding for the nursery in ONE day. Although the day lasted 14 hours! We teamed up and made a bed skirt and bumper from fabric I've had for 3 years (I'm not a planner at all!). Even Jonathan joined in on the fun and made the bulletin board with ribbon, fabric, and of course, DUCK TAPE!!!!! Hey, it works! It really was a blessing spending the time with my most precious mom and hearing her birth stories of Heather and me and learning some of her grandparents that I always hear about but never got to know. Our relationships really are precious gifts from God! Here's a few picts to capture the week. Enjoy.

More progress...

Jonathan is earning huge brownie points for his "baby momma" (haha). The nursery is really coming along and will be ready soooo early!! I 'm making progress as well when it comes to cooking this kid! At 28 weeks, I think I've doubled in size compared to the last picture. As exciting as all of this is, I think my most favorite part was when I put the linens on the bassinet and it was officially ready for a baby! I'm so glad God gives us 9 months to prepare for this precious baby. I think it must be more for our benefit than the child's. Mentally, preparing for this sweet addition to our family has truly come in stages and I feel confident will take the entire 9 months to come full circle. Right now I am really feeling very sentimental about he/she being here ready to hold and cuddle. Being pregnant has been a wonderful experience (one of which I'm not through with) and all I anticipated it to be, but the closer we get to September the more I'm ready to see and touch this one growing inside of me. I can't wait!
** Quick update.... at our last appointment on Thurs. the heart rate was 135, the head was down, and I don't have gestational diabetes (whew!). We really are soooo blessed by our God in Heaven. All the praise really belongs to him. As you pray for us, please thank Him for health and all the provisions He gives us. God Bless You.

Working Hard

We have had a wonderful visit from Jonathan's mom (considering "Gran Pat" as a new name) this week. She has spent countless hours helping us get ready for the baby. She and I worked on refinishing the bassinet while Jonathan tore down shelves in the closet that is miraculously turning into a real nursery!! This weekend a new coat of green paint may even make it onto the walls! Needless to say, we are getting excited. We're also looking forward to another visit from my mom (remains nameless as far as the baby is concerned). I'm sure I'll have plenty of work for us to do when she arrives as well. I'll update more as the nursery comes along.

24 Weeks and Counting...

Here it is! Everyone is always asking for an updated tummy. Believe it or not this is 4 weeks bigger than the last picture posted at 20 weeks. The baby really is bigger, but you can't really tell by the picture. Oh well, it will be obvious soon enough, huh!
Jonathan and I feel so blessed by all the love and prayers and excitement that our family and friends are showing us each day of this journey. We are making lots of progress around the apartment. Jonathan has worked soooo hard this week and he has successfully put together our wardrobe so that we can clear out the closet to make the nursery. Yes, we are actually putting the baby in a closet. I promise all of you with disbelieving eyes and dropped chins that it is really a big closet!! He/she will have plenty of room to sleep, grow and play. Isn't that all they do the first year? Thanks for all of your encouragement that you show each day!

Windy trip to Surfside!

What a wonderful trip the fam had in Surfside, SC. None of us wanted to leave. It wasn't quite the same without Jonathan there, though. However, I ate enough shrimp for him, me, and the baby!! Dinner at a local seafood diner - $80. Polka dot sundress - $40. Umbrella and chair for the pregnant lady - $20. Uninterrupted time with family...priceless!