Easter Pic

Well, I'm still having issues uploading more Easter pics, so I'll just put this super cute one on here...

Easter!

First, let's pretend that it hasn't been a year since I updated this...now, on to business!

We had a wonderful Easter weekend. What a great time of friends and family, but more importantly to celebrate our risen Savior! I was thinking yesterday how exciting it will be to share the Easter story with Parker when he's old enough to understand.

Here are some highlights from the weekend...

On Saturday, we had a fun egg hunt at Tim's parents' house with his sisters and their families. Parker was getting sleepy when we went outside, but he was a good sport...except when we tried to hold his hands for a cute picture. Instead we got a fit on film! We always have tacos, and they were as delicious as ever. I made an ice cream sandwich cake, which was pretty good too, if I do say so myself!

Saturday night was prom, and Tim and I went for a little while. It's always fun to dress up and have a hot date. We went to Outback for dinner when we left.

Over night the Easter Bunny came and left us each a fun basket with lots of yumminess for Tim and myself!

After a great church service, we came home and had our own little photo shoot in the front yard. We got several cute shots of Parker and even managed some of the 3 of us!

Then, we headed to my parents' house for lunch and a little hanging out/ napping time!

What a great weekend!

I'm having issues adding more pics, so I'll try on another post later!

A month of Thanks...

In honor of Thanksgiving, I'm trying to focus on one thing a day that I am thankful for. God has blessed our family so much, that this will be easy...but getting on the computer to update is another story!

Day 1-This is a tough one...do I pick husband or baby first??! I'm going with...husband!

I'm so thankful for Tim! I was telling a student today about he and I got together. God had a perfect plan for us coming together; it was in His timing, and at a place in both of our lives when we were ready to find each other. One thing I love is when people ask how we met, and I can say church. I want people to see that Christ is the center of our marriage and now the center of our family.

Tim is so thoughtful and always wants to do what's best for me. He puts Parker and I above himself. He's working so hard to finish school, and I'm so proud of him for that.

There's TONS more I can say about him...but it all comes down to how much he loves me. I never doubt this, and that's one of the bazillions of reasons why I'm thankful for Tim!

Day 2- Parker!!!

You always here that a baby changes everything...and it's so true! Sure, there's the lack of sleep, stress from feeding and changing, and all the other baby-things...but there's so much more. There's the first smile, the point when the weight loss (or whatever your baby is struggling with and you cry about every day) finally turns into a gain, now comes the rolling over and the almost crawl. It's pure joy! Parker brings a smile to my face just thinking about him. When I'm at work, everyday I get a PPoD (Parker pic of the day), and it gets me through to the afternoon. I love learning all of the little things that he likes/ dislikes, things that make him laugh or smile, but more than that I love watching him learn things. I've been so impressed with him this week. If you move something, he looks for it. He knows where to look...so hiding things is starting to be a new favorite activity. I could keep going on and on and on...I just love him so much!

Day 3- My Mom...

The older I get the more I appreciate her, but now, as a mom myself, it's doubled (probably more!). She is the reason Parker doesn't have to go to day care, and for that I will forever be grateful. She has taught me so much, and there are so many things that I hope to pass down to Parker that she has shown me!

It's about time...

I guess a 3 month break has been enough. I mean since I last posted, I HAD A BABY! How could I not have put that on here yet??! We finally have Internet at our house, so I have no excuse for no updates...plus, I've taken over Tim's Mac, so I enjoy using the computer :) I will be blogging again. I have an AMAZING son that I need to keep people posted on. He's too awesome for me to keep to myself! So, blog world, this is a promise...at least once a month, I will be writing on here! I have so many things to catch up on, so I will begin my next post with Parker's birth story and then his monthly updates with lots, and lots, and lots of pictures! Here are a few to hold you over until I write again...

35 Weeks and a Shower Surprise!

Wow! 35 weeks...it's CRAZY to me that things are going so quickly.

People keep saying that the nesting feeling will start soon, but I'm still more into the sleeping. This is causing a problem because nothing is ready. Our poor "nursery"...I use the quotation marks because at this point nothing about it resembles a room fit for a baby...is a disaster. Tim did stain the dresser today, so I'm going to say that his nesting phase is beginning! The dresser does look amazing! Anything with cherry stain is good to me :) My goal will be to have the room cleaned out by the end of the week so Tim can paint next weekend. I'm writing that

on here so people can ask me about it and I feel a little accountability!

About us at 35 weeks...We went to the doctor on Thursday. For the past 4 visits, which means 8 weeks, I have measured to the day the correct size. I've loved it because each midwife we've seen during those visits has used the word perfect! Sadly, the chain of perfection ended with this visit. I measured 35 weeks and 3 days...3 days ahead of where I actually am. Tim tells me I'm being ridiculous, but I told him I'm just being pregnant! Everything else in the visit was great! We actually saw an intern instead of a midwife this visit. We have met with her before and think she's great. We really hope she's at the hospital when the time comes. She's the person who let us hear Parker's heartbeat for the very first time several months ago. This visit, Parker would not stay still long enough to hear the heartbeat for an extended amount of time. Quick little beats, then he or she would jump around. When I say jump, I mean jump! Tim said it was the most he had ever seen my belly move. I let him know that it happens all the time, he just doesn't see it because I'm usually not laying down! She also told us that Parker is not very big. She's guessing he or she won't be much more than 7 pounds, but he could be long. This marks the visit where we will begin going every week. That scares me a little because I know that means we don't have much longer.
Other things that are happening at this point in time...
hiccups-they happen all the time...and I love it! That's one thing that Tim can see from across the room. We both think it's great!
heartburn/ acid reflux-AWFUL! The doctor told me to give up on the Tums and Rolaids and go straight for the Zantac. It has helped a lot along with the 3 pillows at night!flip flops-I got a doctor's note to wear flip flops to school...woo hoo!!! The feet swelling is at it's worst in 4th and 5th periods, so even though it sounds silly, I know the flippy-floppies will help!Pictures-we had maternity pics made by a friend of mine last weekend. We haven't told a lot of people so it will be a fun surprise when we get them back!

Now, the shower surprise...
This year, I am only teaching freshmen, but for the previous 2 years, I have taught sophomores and juniors, many of the same students. They're amazing. I was their class sponsor last year, and I just bonded with this group of kids. Well, they surprised me yesterday with a baby shower after school. Tim even came! They planned it all themselves...pizza, cake, drinks, decorations...I was totally impressed! I felt honored to be their teacher!

Parker's First Party!

We had our first baby shower last Sunday! A wonderful friend of my mom's and her daughter...who happens to be a great friend of mine, threw it for us. We got some AMAZING gifts!!!!! My parents gave us the crib, Tim's parents gave us the high chair, and two of Tim's aunts and cousins-in-law gave us the "cadillac of pack and plays". We got lots of cute clothes, books, bath stuff, a vibrating seat, and a shirt for me that says "Baby Loading.

..Please Wait". I love it! People keep asking us how they're supposed to get anything for Parker not knowing if we're having a girl or boy, but I think I like it even more! It's fun to think about how cute a girl will look in a little outfit with a big bow or flower, but then how a little man will look in the same outfit. I've always thought I had a good imagination, so maybe we're just putting it to use a little more! Julie and Aarika who threw the shower along with Regina (Julie's future daughter-in-law) had the place decked out in rubber duckies. It's funny...I've always liked rubber duckies. (That's how I wanted my bathroom decorated in high school.) Som it only makes sense that we register for things with rubber duckies on them. I mean, hey, they're yellow, and that's good for a girl or boy! They even made cupcakes that had duckies on them! Here are some pics...

More later...new things are happening every day!

More than a Miracle

Have you ever thought about pregnancy? I know those of you with kids have...of course...but the further we go, the more I really think about it. The way that Parker can move around and everything else inside of me stays where it should be, well, all I can say is it's more than a miracle! To think that not only is there a little person living inside of me right now, but knowing that I'm living with the same body is crazy! Of course there are plenty of changes...my internal heater is on overdrive, my hair and face are all kinds of oily, I sleep more than should be allowed (that's my favorite!), and the gag reflexes find a new source everyday...but those changes aren't enough to stop the everyday. God is amazing! How can people be pregnant, have a wife go through pregnancy, or even think about having a baby, and not realize that He's got it all under control. He planned it all out...perfectly! It really is more than a miracle!