Our First Purchase

We were looking around the other day and came across a gender neutral stroller that we thought was cute at Babies R Us and said "oh we will probably register for that one." But in the back of my mind I remembered I had seen another one I really liked at WalMart. So I just happened to get online at Babies R US and saw they had the same stroller and it was on clearance from 260.00 to 167.00. Jonathan said go ahead and order it since we could use it either way and it was such a good deal. So I went to order it and low and behold it is out of stock because Graco is no longer making this travel system "pattern." So I did some checking around and found it for even less than what Babies R Us had it on clearance for. I know it's early, but I just loved it and so did Jonathan (so that means he won't mind pushing it :) We think it's super cute!

His Love Is So Deep

The rhythm your heart makes is such a blessing to my ears. Fast and steady, nothing less of a reminder of the awesome and merciful God we serve. Unworthy of furthering His kingdom, yet He promised and blessed us with your precious life. To take care of, for this short time we are here on this home away from home.

Father, I don't have the words to thank you for this life you perfectly form inside of me. What a sweet journey you have us on and we praise you for allowing us to witness such a beautiful miracle. May Jonathan and I honor you as we take this path you have before us and may your kingdom receive ALL the glory!

It seems so fast

So I have made it to the 12 week mark in my pregnancy. So far this pregnancy could not be more of a blessing and seems to be flying by.

At 12 weeks:

• no nausea
• tender body parts (really not that noticeable)
• indigestion (hopefully a head of hair)
• ready for bed by 10 pm (sometimes earlier)
• my skin has been really clear
• we have heard the heartbeat
• we have seen the precious little baby via ultrasound
• definitely have the "bump" going on
• have the names picked out (1 boy name and 1 girl name)
• purchased our travel system (post to follow)
• am SO ready to get the nursery cleaned out (only 4 weeks until we find out boy or girl)

My Life As I Know It...

Is about to go from a little busy to insanely busy. I am typeing this post mainly to reach out to my prayer warrior friends because of the special place in life God currently has me. Usually about this time of year I am diving head first into soccer and in a couple of months you would usually see a post about how I just dont know how I juggle it all. But this year is very different for the special gift I carry inside me. If you know me well, you know I love (ok don't really love) a full plate. Which I manage to fill up all on my own, then stand back and say "oh my goodness, what was I thinking????" I say all that to also say I really enjoy some of the things I currently have going on in my life. Coaching soccer, getting gifted certified, teaching etc. That might not sound like much just looking at the list of three things, but here is what a typical week will look like:
Monday: Big girl soccer 4-5:30, Little girl soccer 6-7:30
Tuesday: Gifted class 4-6:30 (actually a welcomed break from soccer)
Wednesday: Big girl soccer
Thursday: Big girl soccer 4-5:30, Little girl soccer 6-7:30
Friday: Thank goodness a day off unless I have a high school game
Saturday: Little girl soccer games
Sunday: Some little girl soccer games (hopefully not many)

This does not include the many high school games I will have during the week. This will start tomorrow and last through May.

So my hopes are that I will make it through the spring season, not stressed or overwhelmed. First and foremost this baby's health is most important. So my prayer is that if something has to go I will have a peace about it. Both soccer teams bring in an income, so whatever God decides, I know he will provide. Another thought in the back of my mind is that I will be in my second trimester next week, so the majority of the spring season will be during my second trimester and I want to be able to enjoy this part of my pregnancy. I couldnt wait all my life for this and the last thing I want is to have my pregnancy on the back burner while I run around like a chicken with my head cut off.

I guess this is the beginning of those "changes" that everyone talks about. But it is such a good change and very welcomed. I'm sure my desire to be a mom will also help me prioritize.

This Weekend

Jonathan and I had an awesome weekend. Friday night we had supper club at a friends house and it was so much fun as usual. We always try to have some time of devotional and Friday night we shared praises and prayer requests and will be lifting all of them up as the week goes on. Jonathan and I are SOOOO blessed to have such a good God fearing circle of friends. Our friends Mick and Stephanie are friends after my own heart, they served us only my most favorite food in the whole world and who our son might just happen to have a middle name that sounds a lot like the restaurant the food came from, the one and only Hudson's Bar-B-Q! Yum. Ok we are not naming our son (if we have a boy) after Hudson's, but it is a small similarity that I love their food and that name ;) Saturday we got up and had breakfast as usual. Saturday's for some reason have been hard for me, I think it is because it is off the "routine". Who would have thought you would need a routine before the baby gets here. But because I sleep in and don't eat as early I am waking up not feeling so go and our usual IHOP is NOT sitting well. It has become an AVERSION to say the least so I did get Chic-fil-a which was WAY better and did not keep me feeling like crud the rest of the day the way I had the 3 weeks prior. Later that day we headed to my bubbs house for dinner. They cooked us yummy spaghetti and meatballs, then home, to bed, and up for church the next morning. Sunday was relaxing and here I am Monday starting the week all over again :) Yay, Im so glad I have another week to look forward to! :) :) :)

Nicknames

I never really ever had a nickname growing up. My parents called us by the names they gave us at birth. I didn't get my first nickname (which I am only called by a small precious few) until high school from a best friend, "Annie". I remember that I felt special in a sense to have been given a nickname. Other than that I am just plain ol Anne Marie. Jonathan on the other hand seems to have a million and one nicknames, over half dubbed by his family, but even friends make up nicknames for him all the time. Im not sure he really cares much about a nickname either way. All this to say with a baby on the way, these things come across your mind. In the name selection process you pick names that you fall in love with for one reason or another. Jonathan and I both adore the names we have picked out for our little angel, but I have found when you tell others the names you have picked they seem to think they can start making up nicknames. It is the strangest thing. I guess it falls right in line with "everyone is going to give you their opinion so you can let it go in one ear and out the other." But I feel like names are important and play a role in the person that you are, after all it is part of your identity. If you have seen the names we have picked you would probably have picked up on what people may try to potentially pull with their names. For our daughter her name will be Emersyn. I just love this name, that is why we chose it. I do NOT like the name Emmy. If I did I would have chosen that name. We love Elijah for our son, I HATE ok don't like that word, STRONGLY dislike the name Eli. Again, if I did I would have chosen that name. So I guess I would love to know your thoughts on nicknames, are they fun or is it annoying when people call your child by something you didn't name them? I don't think we will have as hard of a time with Emersyn, but I have a feeling with Elijah, people may try to shorten it. How do you go about kindly making sure people call your child by the right name? I guess this REALLy hits home for me because all through my childhood I was called by the wrong name. That is mainly because my birth certificate read Anne as my first name, Marie as my middle, and Farmer as my last (my dad says mistake on the hospitals part, we did have it corrected my senior year in high school). However, Anne Marie is my first, no middle name, and Farmer was my last. So all my teachers called out Anne Farmer. Every year I had to correct them. I even had some never correct it and call me Anne the entire year. What does that say about someone who does not even take the time to get your name right. That doesn't include the times I was just called Marie, or Anna Marie, or Anne Maria, the list goes on. I don't want my children to go through that and I am confident we chose names that are not that difficult for even someone who has a brain the size of pea. Ok, we know God doesn't make people with brains the size of peas, but we do know people sure can act like their brain is the size of a pea.

Baby E

Today Jonathan and I had our first trimester ultrasound of baby E (we call the baby "baby E" because either way his or her name will start with E). Our appt. was at 9:30 and they took us straight back, sat me in the chair, put the gel on and there was baby E. Of course I burst out in giggles at the first sight of our first born. I looked right at Jonathan who had a big grin on his face. The baby was moving tons. Every time I would giggle the baby would stop moving, then I would get it under control and the baby would just start kicking and moving her/his arms. That went back and forth for a few minutes. The baby's size was perfect for the due date they have estimated (Aug 21). We also got to hear the baby's precious heartbeat (music to every mommy's ears). The heartbeat was 176 beats per min (girl maybe?). I told the ultrasound tech that I have not been sick a minute (she said boy maybe?) Anyway, overall we were elated to see our little angel. I told the baby she/he could kick mommy all she wants :) It's so reassuring to get to see the precious gift God is growing inside. Whenever I think about how blessed we are I get so overwhelmed. I am so thankful God chose us to carry one of his children and grow them up in His ways. It amazes me how little this baby started and how big the baby will grow. I spent sometime in prayer today for those still waiting on their blessing. Jonathan and continue praying for a healthy baby who grows to love the Lord and we hope you will pray that along side us as our friends.