Only 13 more weeks to feel my precious little man inside. It seems like it just got started good, and soon it will all be over. The pregnancy part, anyway. Then the real fun begins. I have loved being pregnant, and know that I will love each of his developments once he’s here. He is quite the little mover. Sometimes, it feels like he’s having a party in there!

Daddy is getting more excited about his little boy, too. We went to Shreveport a couple of weekends ago and did a little shopping. We bought the bedding, camo at Bass Pro Shop, and a few clothes. My sweet husband was enjoying picking out boy stuff. He chose 2 very cute little outfits at one of the stores.  My sister in law gave me her crib last weekend, and it is perfect. It’s cherrywood, which is what I was wanting. So I have a few little outfits, a crib, bedding, and a cradle. I have finished my registery at Target and Wal-Mart. Now I just need my house to be built.

We went back to Shreveport last weekend to pay for the appraisal and get some things going on the house. We have been pre-approved by the mortgage company, so now we’re getting stuff together for underwriting. Once they give the go-ahead, we can order our house. While we were there Saturday, I got to pick out the carpet, cabinets, paint, countertops, etc., for my new house. It was so exciting! Our estimated move-in date is August 15th, just a couple weeks before Jacob is due. It’s coming down to the wire. I’m thinking that I might want (need) to start my maternity leave about a week before he’s due so I can get the nursery put together and finish any unpacking that needs to be done. I’d really like to have my house in order before he arrives. Of course, being just days away from my delivery will most likely limit my mobility, but I’m sure I can call on some family or friends to come help me out.

I really feel like I should be doing more to get ready, but there’s not a lot I can do at this present moment. So I guess I’ll just spend my time cherishing each bump and kick. He’ll be here before I know it.

Since my wedding day, I don’t know a happier day than yesterday. I went for my 2nd sonogram and got to see, in all his glory, my sweet little boy! And everything is just fine. No bright spots on his heart. He is doing wonderful! I start to cry just thinking about how God is truly making all my dreams come true each day. Perhaps it’s just the pregnancy hormones (everything makes me cry these days), but I think it’s just the overwhelming love that He has for me. I spent many years waiting, hoping, praying, and still waiting for these things within my heart to come to pass. With each year that passed, still single, my heart waivered, but never strayed. I held fast to His promise that He gives us the desires of our heart. It wasn’t easy, but now so worth it! I haven’t done everything right, by any means. But God still honored my faithfulness of the years. And today, I’m married to the man of my dreams, have two beautiful step-daughters that love me, and a precious little boy on the way. You don’t have to be perfect for God to do what He says He’ll do. He’s perfect, and His promises will come to pass. He doesn’t waiver, even when we do. And He certainly doesn’t change His mind about us, despite our wrong choices. He makes a way, where no one else sees a way. I certainly didn’t think this time last year, that within one year I would be married and have a baby on the way. There weren’t even any dating prospects a year ago. God is so good! I have done nothing to deserve all that He has done for me, but His great love transcends all that.

And, as if the wonderful news at the sonogram wasn’t enough, my boss informed me yesterday that when I get ready to come back to work, I can bring my sweet little Jacob with me to work. I can keep him with me all day & don’t have to worry about daycare for a while. He would rather me come back with the baby, than not have me at all (his words). Do I have the greatest boss or what?!

It seems I have a little worshipper inside. Last night, a group of us were practicing some songs that we will be singing on Sunday when we minister in Hope. Little Bit was just kicking and moving! I had noticed movement during praise & worship at church, but now that the movements are getting easier to feel, wow! Baby wiggled and danced the whole time. I’m going to have to start putting headphones on my belly and letting him (sonogram in 11 days, and then I’ll use female pronouns if necessary) move and groove.  I love that my baby loves to worship! He will most likely be surrounded by music his entire life, since Mommy is a big time band nerd!

I’m 21 weeks along tomorrow! I haven’t posted in a few days, but as I’ve said before, not for lack of stuff to write about. Things have just been busy. We had a level 2 Sonogram on April 14th and not only did we not find out if we’re having a boy or girl (the umbilical cord was right between the legs all up in the way), the doctor said that she saw a “bright spot” on the baby’s heart. She said not to worry about it right now, that these things usually turn out to be nothing. My question is, what mother to be, especially when it’s their first baby, is not going to worry when something is found? I fully believe that God is in control and that He’ll take care of my baby, but when you hear something like that, even if just for a moment, you’re worried about the baby. We have another sonogram scheduled for May 12th, so hopefully we’ll get to see little boy or girl parts, and find that nothing is wrong with the baby. They said that these “bright spots” in no way indicate any type of heart defect, but can be a soft marker for something else. So we wait ’til May 12th.

The baby is definately active. There was constant movement during the sonogram. So much so, that the technician had trouble getting all the pictures that she was wanting. I told Josh that it’s so weird to see that much movement on the screen and not feel hardly any of it. I’m starting to feel more, and definately rounding out.  My waist has almost disappeared. I didn’t have any morning sickness during the 1st trimester, but have had several nauseous mornings during the 2nd. I had some round ligament pain for the first few of weeks of my 2nd trimester, but that has almost resolved now. I’m enjoying the changes my body is going through, and very excited to start feeling more movement. I also got a cradle for the baby a couple of weekends ago. It’s so pretty! It has a cherry finish and I love it. I got it at a garage sale. My sweet mother-in-law found it and told my husband to tell me about it. I went after work that day and it was still there. I called Josh & he came over to look at it, and told me if it’s what I wanted, I could have it. So it sits in our house, waiting to rock our sweet little wonder to sleep.

We are still working on getting our house in Genoa. We have submitted the floor plan and credit application to the mobile home people so they can get us an estimate on the triple-wide that we’re wanting to build. Our salesguy was very impressed with the detail on the floorplan, and that felt good. I worked hard on it. I did learn a few things from my dad. We have run into a snag on the land, but hopefully it will be resolved soon. The land we had previously picked out was being surveyed and we were just waiting for a call from the owner to let us know the outcome. We have left several messages checking the status of the survey, and no one will call us back. We had noticed the other day when we were driving by the land, that a mobile home has been moved onto part of the land. It’s quite a way from where we were wanting to build, but we’re wondering if the owner sold all the land to someone & just hasn’t told us. Now we’re looking for other land to consider.

Josh and I will be joining forces with some friends of ours and starting a church next week. We will start off going out to different churches to minister in praise and worship throughout the summer. We will be meeting (when we’re not ministering in another church) in one of the couples’ home at first. We are very excited about this new adventure. Things are moving right along at break-neck speed for us, and we are so enjoying the ride. I will try to start posting more often, but I make no promises.

I think I just felt the baby’s movements for the first time ! It’s so very exciting. I can’t wait to feel him all the time. I had a doctor appointment on March 30th and everything is still going well. I’m now 17 weeks pregnant, and have only gained about 10 pounds total so far. The baby’s heartrate was 143 this time and the doctor said that was good. I started having round ligament pains I guess about 2 weeks ago. It’s no fun at all, but not the worst pain I’ve ever felt. I’m believing for that pain to resolve and to pain-free the rest of the pregnancy and through the delivery. I know that pain-free is a promise from God available to me, and I plan to have everything that He has. He has blessed me so much already, and I know He has so much more to give me. Only 13 more days, til we find out if we’re having a boy or girl. I bought my first thing for the baby the other day. It was a onesie that says “Totally Cuter than Daddy”. It was too cute to pass up. It’s gray with blue & lime green letters. It was in the boys section, but I figured it’s neutral enough that if we have a girl, I can just put a lime green bow in her hair and it will be fine. Until next time……

I went to my second dr appt yesterday. All seems to be going well. I am 14 weeks along, and starting to show. I got to hear the heartbeat for the first time. It was 153. Dr said that was good. I haven’t had any morning sickness at all. The only time I get the least bit nauseous is right before I eat breakfast or lunch. Not sure why I’m not affected before dinner, but I’m not complaining. Haven’t felt any movement inside yet, but it’s still a little early. My sonogram is scheduled for April 14th and I’m very excited. I want to find out what I’m having, so I can start planning stuff. My husband and I went to the mall the other day to get me a pair of maternity pants, because my regular jeans are a little snug & uncomfortable around the waist. We bought them at the Motherhood store, and since it was my first time to buy anything in there, I got a free gift. In the package, was a playtex nurser bottle. It has a blue lid and I told Josh it was a sign that we’re getting our boy. He laughed. I really do want my little boy. Josh feels like God gave him the name Jacob Haynes because we are having a son. But we’ll find out for sure in just a little over a month. I certainly won’t be disappointed if a little girl blesses our lives, of course.  My next appointment is on March 30th.

Today is a pretty good day for a Monday. The plumbers are almost done on the work at the house. They started this morning, and are close to finishing already. Now, of course, they were supposed to start this work 2 weeks ago, but I suppose now is better than never.  We also received the check for my rent deposit back today, and we got the invoice we needed for Josh to be refunded by his insurance for some roof work he had done. All of these funds were necessary for our baby doctor fund. Our next payment is due on March 9th, so it’s good to have them in.

Things seem to be falling into place for us to get a bigger house as well. We have a friend that is willing to owner-finance her house to us, providing she is able to buy another house. She found one this weekend that she is going to talk to her bank about. I pray that she is able to get the financing she needs, so that we can start making plans to move into her house.  I really like the house, and with the baby on the way, desparately need more room.

Well, that is about all for now. More updates to come.

It’s been a while since I last posted, but not because there’s been nothing to report. I have been super busy. I got moved from New Boston finally. We are currently praying about where to attend church.  We have a possibility of getting into a larger house, which is going to be necessary in a few months, as I am pregnant.

I went to my first doctor’s appointment yesterday, and I am 10 weeks along. Josh and I are very excited, as well as everyone else. We are hoping for a boy since he has 2 girls already. The baby is due around the 10th of September, and we think it would be really fun for his birthday to be 09/09/09. If it is a boy, we will name him Jacob Haynes Young. Haynes is Josh’s middle name and has been passed down since sometime in the 1800’s. We don’t have any prospects for a girl’s name yet. The baby wiggled his little arms yesterday in the sonogram, like he was waving to us. It was very special. I can’t wait to hold the little one in my arms, but I am determined to enjoy every moment of pregnacy. I have had virtually no morning sickness, which has been a great blessing. I won’t know if we’re having a boy or girl until April 14th (if the baby cooperates). This is the day after Josh’s birthday, so that will make a nice present for him. Right now, the baby looks like a tadpole.

So, for now, life is quite hectic. But I love it! Maybe very soon I’ll be able to report that we are moving into a bigger house. That is my prayer.

Just as last year was simply amazing, so far this year has proven no different. I was married on Jan 17th and so far simply love married life! Josh is the best! He is more than I ever dreamed for. I am truly blessed.

We are currently working feverishly to finish moving all my junk from New Boston to Texarkana. This week is the last week. We are fortunate enough that we will not have to pay my rent for the month of February, as my landlord sold the house. This is good because it will save us some money, but the bad thing is that my landlord did not give me much time to get my stuff moved and the house cleaned. I am trying not to stress out, but that is difficult when I know how much junk there is to get moved.

We are looking around and praying about getting a new house. We have been driving around town in different neighborhoods, seeing what’s for sale, and where we’d like to move. We are going to write down everything that we want, and start believing by faith that God will grant us our desires. This is so much fun! I just love the new adventure God has me on.

This year has been remarkable! So many changes have taken place in my life this year, internally and externally. Today is the 1 year anniversary of the greatest job ever. God has moved in and through my life, touching every aspect, this year. I feel closer to Him than I ever have in my entire life, and without all the struggle and fuss. It’s finally an easy relationship; I hear His voice and respond. I feel His love, and am changed. I met the greatest man ever, and will be marrying him in just 2 weeks and will gain two beautiful daughters as well. I finished a semester of college and managed A’s in English and my computer class and a C in Algebra. Not bad for not having taken any math classes in 17 years. I got a new car and my finances are somewhat in order. Of course, more money would be better, but at least I’m making it from one payday to the next without much struggle. I’ve lost 35 pounds and still working to lose more. I have started an exercise program and I am continuing to modify my diet to a workable, healthy plan.  So many things are finally going my way.

I have waited and prayed for many years to reach a point in my life where I truly felt happy, and I really believe that I’m there. There’s a nagging voice in the back of my mind that keeps telling me that this is only a dream and I’m going to wake up soon and find it all gone. But I recognize that voice, and it’s not the voice of my Father. My Father tells me that I have been faithful, so this is my reward and it’s not going away. He loves me, and has blessed me. I used to listen to that other voice, and I stayed in bondage to what it said. But this year I have learned the truth, and it has truly set me free!

I am so excited about everything that 2009 has in store for me! I know that each year, for the rest of my life, will be better than the one before. Not to say that there won’t be struggles, but I have the heart and mind now to overcome. And I have the support system I have always desired. I can make it through anything. With God and Josh by my side, there is nothing that will keep me down. I pray that everyone that I know and love finds all the joy and happiness that they have longed for in 2009. Have a happy new year!