Church Baby Shower

On a Sunday afternoon the ladies at church threw an AMAZING shower for us!  We were overwhelmed with all the gifts and outpouring of support!  Since Owen's nursery is a Jungle theme, the shower went right along with that theme. 

                               Here is the  cake... my mom's good friend, Claudette, made it!

                                         Sister-in-law Kristy, Mom, Me, and Sister Julie

                                                There are diapers in the palm tree!

                        Michael and Kristy got a UT bib for Owen that says, " I spit orange."

Aunt JuJu got this huge dog for Owen!

Still here!

Just wanted everyone to know we are still here... just haven't had time/energy for blogging lately.  We have 5 and a half weeks to go until our Owen arrives. ( At least that's the countdown I'm giving myself... if he's late, I will have to come up with a great pep talk for me! :)  He is now moving and kicking all about!  This upcoming week is Fall Break for me and MUCH anticipated!  I have a to-do list a mile long, but can't wait to get some of these things done and off my mind.  We went to our child-birth class all last weekend... it was good, but I think I'm the kinda person who could have done without all that information!  Sometimes, "Ignorance IS bliss!"  They had one of those fake pregnancy bellies that husbands can try on, and when we got there a little early Sunday afternoon, Jim gave it a try... all I have to say is that he lasted about two minutes with it! :)  I wish I had a picture!  He's been really great though... helping me with all sorts of projects.  Here's a peek into what my week will consist of:

1.  washing baby clothes, socks, blankets, etc.
2.  decorating nursery
3.  packing for hospital... at least making a list
4.  deciding on a peditrician
5.  getting camera and video camera up and running
6.  organizing guest bedroom that now has all the office stuff in it!
7.  write out detailed notes for my interim
8.  plan lesson for video taping when I go back to school ( as if being evaulated wasn't enough now it's on camera! :)
9.  returns/purchases at  Babies R' Us and Target
10.  and a zillion other little things...
11. MOST IMPORTANT:   Remind myself that this dream is really happening and before I know it... our baby will be here! :)  Panic... then pray! 

I hope your week is as great as I'm planning to have!

Practicing

I am almost seven months pregnant now and really feel like the time is approaching faster and faster for our sweet Owen to be born. Thanks to our great friends, Ryan and Genise, we have had some recent practice with their AMAZING kids, Dawson and Emma. It's so funny... I've worked with kids since I can remember, but yet the thought of doing this myself ("for real") is scary! This time we can't hand them over, call their mom and dad, or send them home at 3:45. We are the ones responsible, we are his mom and dad, and our home is his home. WOW!  I know we will make it though ... not because of our own strength, but because the Lord will see us through.

"Out of the mouth of babes"

School has started and with all the hard work comes priceless comments from kids ... here's my favorite so far this year.  Today I told my class that I was going to have a baby.  One kid said, "Oh, you have a baby in there... I was wondering why your stomach was so big!" :)    You gotta love em'!

Seattle Trip

Yes, that's right... I am "steering" my in-laws sailboat!  They obviously don't know me well enough because they trusted me to guide not only what is their boat, but what has now become their home. :)  Luckily, I survived the week without any "large" klutzy moments. Jim and I went to visit his parents last week.  They are about to embark on a two year trip from Seattle to North Carolina.  Their adventure will take them through all kinds of climates, countries, and even the Panama Canal.  We had a great time visiting together. Every day we sailed to a new port in the Pugent Sound.  One of my favorite ports had this beautiful park with fountains.

The same port had a neat museum which allowed us to learn what it would be like to be in the navy.  Jim is trying out the tight sleeping spaces!

His parents also enjoyed the museum!

Jim and his mom went kayaking one afternoon!

This is the view of Seattle from the boat!

We went to Pike Place Market and boy was that an interesting place!

Here are just a few of the flowers for sale.

The produce was unbelievable!

Here is the "Sound Effect" and our home away from home for a week!

Thanks Jim and Connie!

Our First Anniversary

It's hard to believe that yesterday we celebrated our 1st anniversary. Time flies! It's been a wonderful year. These are some things I've learned ... my husband is paranoid about food going bad, he can't stand to hear the sound of anyone brushing their teeth, and I can tell where he's been in the house by where lights are left on! :) I'm sure he could make his own list, but alas ... he's not into blogging! :) In all seriousness, this year has been full of changes and adjustments, but I wouldn't change it for anything! We are becoming a better team each and every day and we joke about how we will look back and laugh at all these "little things" we worked through with each other. The things that caused me to fall in love with him are still the things that I treasure today. We feel truly blessed by God to have found each other.

Baby STUFF!!!

Well, I'm currently sitting in our office... soon to become our nursery. It's mid-transition right now, but I think the baby stuff is winning! :) Jim and my brother got the crib together and in the nursery today, so it's in the middle of the room. The computer is still in here, along with our pre-baby stuff, as well as the baby's dresser, rocking horse, and the random gathering of clothes, books, etc. that have started to make their way to our home. I knew the "stuff" was coming, but I can't believe it's here! It does make me think of all there is to be done, but I'm super excited! Baby "stuff" is so much fun!