Happy Anniversary

Today, exactly 5 years ago, I was extremely nervous- getting my hair and makeup ready, making sure my dress and everything that goes with it was on correctly, hoping I didn't forget anything. Our wedding day was perfect. I loved the colors, the weather, the people that were there with us. It was even on a Sunday, so it makes it even more special today.

I'm thankful for what all Kyle has taught me: patience, love, persistence, strength, faith.

I'm thankful for what he is to me: best friend, confidant, provider, protector, encourager.

We are blessed to have gone on lots of trips together: Cancun, Jackson Hole Wyoming, Minneapolis, Las Vegas, ski trips to Colorado, and many short road trips to Branson, Dallas, Memphis, and most recently frequent trips to Oklahoma City.

Although our life now is not at all what I expected when we got married, I would not trade it for anything. Everything we have had thrown at us and tried to knock us off our path, we have had to endure together. I am so blessed to call him my husband. We spent this weekend at Petit Jean and the leaves were gorgeous. We had a nice time doing nothing. :)

Here are some surprises Kyle got this week:

Happy Anniversary, Dear. I love you to pieces.

A different note

I posted this picture (16 weeks) to facebook so some of you may have already seen it. I'm working on putting a book together with the embryo pictures, the ultrasound pics, and the belly pics on my macbook. Can't wait til it's done! We are 17 weeks today, I'm just a tad behind.

Kyle, on the other hand, decided to go camera crazy on me (I have to adjust the camera every time before he takes a picture or it is super blurry). He said, "Look, it's a photo shoot!" and just started taking pictures, turning the camera, turning his head...you name it. Our poor, poor child has one crazy daddy.

On a different note:

I have come to realize lately that money can separate families, destroy relationships, and create harsh feelings. Not necessarily money itself but the love of it and the greed that it manifests when present. Luckily I have not yet experienced this in my own life, but watching my parents do all they can to help someone in their "time of need" and to watch the selfishness that takes place with no appreciation given in return, not to mention physically paying back debt. It is so frustrating and angers me probably more than it does them. My dad just says, "It's ok." Well in the grand scheme of life of course it is ok. Life goes on and God provides. It's just the principle of the situation and the lack of respect for what has been given. I guess I just don't understand why some people can't just do the right thing anymore.

End Rant.

To Our Miracle Baby

To Our Sweet Miracle Baby-

You may not know it yet, but you are already a spoiled little thing. Mommy and daddy are crazy about you. Mommy and daddy's mommy and daddy are also so excited. Already baby beds going up, books being bought, and diapers being stocked by grandparents. As we sit here tonight watching The Voice, we long for you to be here to be able to play with you, to look at you, and to rock you to sleep. We will find out if you are a girl or a boy at the end of this month. (Mommy can NOT wait- daddy calls you "Junior" or "Judith" depending on what his mood is that day). The general consensus is that you are a boy. I have no feeling whatsoever- I just want you to be healthy! :)

You have already spent 16 little weeks growing. I cannot believe it. You are the size of an avocado (about 5 inches long), and you weigh about 4-5 ounces. You have been good to me in that I have not been sick at all. I just love to sleep! I have not had any cravings other than I prefer spicy food over sweets. I think I felt a little flutter the other night- maybe you were on the move? It was very short and I'm not positive that's what it was, but I'm believing it is! Lately on our doppler, your heartbeat has been very strong and I can pick it up almost immediately. Unless I am trying to catch it on the screen and take a picture- in that case you turn into a little acrobat and move all around and I have to chase you! It has been between 150-156 consistently.

I pray for you every day. For you to grow healthy in physical size. For your brain to develop and grow (that's the OT in me, I think!). For you to develop a beautiful personality. For you to love God above all else. And for us as your parents to make the best decisions for you while you are unable to make your own. I don't want to rush through the next few months, but we have waited and prayed for you for so long, and cannot wait for you to be here.

You truly are a miracle.

Love,
Mommy and Daddy

Oh, Baby, baby

The other night I decided to whip out the doppler, for the tenth time, to just see if it would pick up the baby's heartbeat. I had not been able to find it but I wasn't getting discouraged because I knew it would be hard to pick up that tiny heart. But Thursday it picked it up loud and clear! I yelled at Kyle who was on the phone. Thinking I was hurting, he ran in there and I said, LISTEN!! We got to hear it for as long as we wanted and not just a one or two minute ultrasound. So sweet.

We had our first appointment today with my regular doctor. She was so excited for us. She took her time and answered all of our questions and went over everything possible with us. I was mad at myself last time for not videoing the ultrasound, since Kyle wasn't with me. The baby was moving like crazy and he missed it. :( So this time we taped it! The baby wasn't as squirmy as it was last time but oh, how precious.