Busy Busy

We have been busy this month in our household! I thought I would share our December in pictures! This sweet girl is sitting up all by herself! Only a few spills from time to time! (This is her daddy's favorite picture. I swear we have it as our screen saver, in our computer office, and on our fridge. He ♥'s it!)These sweet college girls were once highschoolers in my youth group. They are all grown up now but still mean so much to me. They came by to visit with Lucy Clare and have a little lunch. Come back anytime Jen, Rae, and Sam! We loved having you! Christmas Eve at our church is always a big time. I have played Mary many times in various church happenings, but this year, I got to carry my own baby as Jesus! It was such a big deal to me as a kid watching a family process down the aisle and I am glad I could do it this year! LC makes the cutest Jesus! And she hammed it up in her first acting debut! Christmas morning came with a baby who decided to sleep till 8 (which is fine with us!) and when she woke up Santa had come in the night. She got a Cabbage Patch baby doll, a play world, and push train for when she can crawl. You can kinda see in the background that Santa brought Mommy a coffee maker. I am so excited and will now have to learn how to make coffee! And finally, LC took her first very very long car trip. Daddy surprised us with a trip to DisneyWorld which is a 6 hour drive from Dothan! Here she is excited to be out of her seat while Daddy checked into the hotel. She was an amazing car baby!

(I will post pics of Disney in the next post! )

Overall, I cannot believe that a year ago I had not long found out I was pregnant and wondering what this Christmas would hold for us! It was all I could have imagined. God has blessed me with an amazing husband who loves me even when I am at my worst, and child who blesses me everyday with her smile and presence. I have a loving family who adores LC and spoils her rotten and a job that I love.

My life is good.

I will always praise the One who loves me!

"I will proclaim the name of the LORD. Oh, praise the greatness of our God!"

Deuteronomy 32:3

Merry Christmas!

She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins. All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophets, "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel" which means, "God with us."

Matthew 1:21-23

May God be with you this Christmas and this new year.

With love,

Scott, Nikki, and Lucy Clare

Five Months, One Christmas, and a Partridge in a Pear Tree....

Lucy Clare, you are five months now. Five short months that feel like an eternity. I look at you each day and am still filled with amazement at how much you have grown, how much you know, and all the things you can do. You make me smile, laugh, and cry all at one time! What are you up to this month?

• You weigh 15 pounds! Whoop-Whoop!



• You have started solids. So far we have tried peas (fail!), sweet potatoes, applesauce, bananas, peaches, pears, and carrots. You love them all and you know when I am pouring the cereal and getting the spoon out that something fun is going to happen! You are sitting in your high chair and you look so cute!



• You wear a size 2 diaper.



• You drink 6 oz every 3-4 hours. Sometimes a little less when you eat your solids, but you love your bottle.



• You can sit up without assistance now! Big girl.



• You are not sleeping in your bouncy seat anymore. We have graduated to the sleep positioner. You sleep on your side in a sleep sack. You are moving to your crib on Friday night (ahhh... mommy's a little nervous! I like having you in the same room with me in your pack-n-play. I can hear you breathe all night..this is a big step.)



• You are back to sleeping through the night. We had a bad time when you were 4 months where you would wake up every hour. This was hard for mom. I was used to you sleeping all night long. I am glad you are back to your old ways. Mommy needs her sleep for those crazy first graders!



• You have a funny crawl thing that you do. You smoosh your face to the ground and put your butt up in the air. Then you scream because you can't figure out how to get your face up!



• You enjoyed your first Thanksgiving this year!



• Everyone still thinks you are so wonderful.



• Your dad has taught you how to blow bubbles. You get to going spitting all over the place. It is so funny.



• You "talk" a lot more now...it's so funny!

Happy five months little wonder! We love you.

And... I am giving a sneak peak of my Christmas pictures. Lucy and I had a 30 minute photo shoot under the tree. I think she did great. My Christmas cards go out tomorrow, so I'll just share one picture until I know the cards are in hands! Merry Christmas to you all! Another exciting event will be mom and dad as Mary and Joseph and you as Baby Jesus at church for Christmas Eve service! It will be so cute!

And if you haven't heard Casting Crowns Christmas song "While You Were Sleeping" I encourage you to listen. What we might have missed in the night if Christ came to earth today. Would we be sleeping? I pray we will all be ready for the day we meet our Lord! God bless!

"This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

-Luke 2:11

Four months!

Lucy Clare-- you are four months old today! You are growing so fast. We go to the doctor this week for your four month shots and check-up, so I'll have your exact weight and measurement soon!

• You are wearing a size 1/2 diaper.
• You are eating 6-8 ounces every 4 hours.
• You started eating cereal two to three times a week at night. You are starting to enjoy it!
• You are starting to be able to sit up better by yourself!
• You can roll from front to back and sometime back to front. Your arms get in the way sometimes.
• Josiee is still your favorite baby doll, but recently Gammy bought you a monkey you "picked" out. His name is Rudy. You adore him too.
• You just found your feet this week. It is quite funny.
• Football is your favorite thing to watch on tv. I assume you like the bright colors and the quick motions, but maybe you just like the cute boys! :)
• You can follow noises with your head. If daddy or I say your name you can usually find where we are.
• You still love your hands.
• You are much more vocal these days.
• You can grasp things and bring them to your mouth.
  

We praise God for you everyday, sweet sugar plum. I can't wait to see what the future holds for you. We love you so much! Happy four months!

Could you please?

I need to ask ya'll for a favor. You know, the 5 people that read this blog? Can you help a sister out? I am really struggling with something and I am a total believer in the power of prayer, so I am reaching out to you guys.

I received this wonderful gift via C-section on July 16th. I am thankful for this gift every single day!
I also received this "wonderful" gift via C-section---this gift, not so thankful for. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/mrsa/DS00735
This. MRSA. Staph Infection. A very scary infection that without treatment can kill you. I found out I had MRSA about a month ago when I found a lump in my armpit. I thought it was a infected lymph node, or an ingrown hair. Turns out, it was staph infection, and that is how staph shows itself. These annoying bumps show on different parts of your body. Mine chooses to show itself in my armpit. I had it lanced, took antibiotics, bathed in Clorox stuff and thought it was all better. I knew I would live with this for the rest of my life, but I didn't know it would be so...bad. A few weeks later, I found TWO more bumps and one more on its way. I headed straight back to the doctor and was put on two new antibiotics, a nose treatment, a ointment for my bumps and a hibiclens bath for 7 days. I really thought this time it was over.
But no. Just yesterday I found another lump, meaning I am going to have to start another round of antibiotics and cleaning. I am just discouraged. I really wanted this to be over, or at least done for now.
I get so worried about little LC. I don't want her to get my staff infection and have to live with this too. I also worry that someday it won't show itself in my armpit and not show itself anywhere except internally and I won't know about it.
So, I am asking for prayer. I am prayer specific and while I know this is an infection I will always live with, I am asking that it keep at bay for awhile. I also pray that I never spread it to LC or Scott. Please just pray it stays away so I can feel better again. Thank you in advance... it means so much to me to have friends in Christ!

Peanut Festival

This year added a new element for our household as we attended the Peanut Festival... carting around a baby! I enjoyed every second of the fun of the Nut Fest this year. Here are some of the crazy pictures from our adventure out. Hope everyone had their fill of all fair food. I know I loved my ear of corn, my elephant ear, boiled peanuts, Lady Antebellum, and all the interesting people who show up for the fair! Welcome to the South. Sisters! I do love this crazy girl!

Lucy having a ball at her first real concert. I hope there are many more to come.

Family shot in the tractor section of the fair. Check out LC's Ugg boots and adorable outfit. She was the trendiest person at the fair!

Prayer

Dear Lord,

I sit in awe at Your creation. I hurt for those who do not feel this joy and are begging you for the chance. You are all-knowing and all-powerful and You know all the plans and desires of our hearts. You are always faithful. I can always count on the fact that even in times of sadness, You will use it to Your glory.

My prayers are overflowing. You know my thoughts and I am confident when I approach Your throne. Whether it be a praise, a promise, or a request, I know that You take them and hold them close to Your heart. For that, Lord, I am amazed and honored.

I feel so much closer to You since you placed Lucy Clare into my life. I feel an abundance of love, joy, worry, excitement and praise when I look at her. I try to think into the future and imagine her loving You. How I hope that I can be an example of Your love in her life. My biggest prayer is that she will come to know You with unfailing love. I pray that she is charismatic in her testimony to You and that she will never go a day without stopping to praise You.

Lord, bless her. Keep her close. Hold her forever in Your palm and comfort her in times of sadness and in joy. Make her life a witness to You. Let others see Your radiant love in her.

I pray for her future, her present, and her past. I pray that You will guide me as a mother. I pray that I can always make just decisions in her life and lead her in a path of righteousness. I pray for our family, for her daddy, who travels so much and misses her dearly. I pray that You will make our family a family for You and that we will always remember that You are the most important being in our lives.

You bless me more than I deserve. Please do not let me ever take You for granted. May I be a light in this world that will shine for You.

I pray Lord Jesus, for children who do not have a mother. I beg of You to wrap them in Your arms. I pray for my own mother, who instilled in me a love for You. I pray for other woman who had an influence in my life.

Lord, You are the lover of my soul, my Jehovah, my King, my Redeemer. You are mighty to save and You pulled me from the miry clay so that I could spend my life in love with You and forever worship You.

Thank You for all You are, and for what You will be. Without You I am nothing, but with You I am everything.

"To live is Christ, and to die is gain." Philippians 1:21

In Your most Holy and Precious Name,
Amen

Three Months!

Lucy Clare you are three months old! I cannot believe how fast time is flying by. You are an amazing, wonderful child of God who continues to make my life brighter. Happy Day, sweet Tootsie!

What are you doing these days?

• You are still sleeping through the night. In fact, we have kinda moved your bedtime back because you were falling asleep around 8.



• You are on new formula for your spit up--Enfamil AR. It has rice in it so it will fill your little tummy up!

• You are wearing size 1-2 diapers and size 0-3 months clothing. It's getting cold so I can't wait to put you in your winter clothes!



• You are drinking 5-6 oz every 3-4 hours.



• You look so cute in your footie pjs every night!



• You are trying your best to sit up all the time. You are so strong. You are even wanting to stand when you are in someone's lap!



• Those hands...... my, my how you love them. You will stare at your hands and play with them constantly.



• You are still in love with the lion in your bed. He really makes you smile.



• Speaking of smiling, you do that a lot. Especially when you first wake up. You are such a happy baby when you wake up.



• You love Josiee, your sweet baby doll. You will kiss her and hold her. No other doll compares to Josiee right now!



• You have a pretty consistent schedule all day. Eat, play, sleep. Works for me!



• You can grab things now and bring them to your mouth!



• You still hate tummy time, but I make you do it. You can hold your head up so well now!



• We went to the beach again and you liked the pool. It was too windy, so we didn't stay in for long. You did the best when we went shopping! :)



• You are such an easy baby to take out in public. You are so content and everyone thinks you are beautiful! (Even the Gap ladies!)



• You are more vocal and make such cute noises.

I love you Lucy Clare! You are a joy to my life. There is a Martina McBride song I have made "our song." She says...

"Everyone that sees you, always wants to know you. And everyone that knows you always always has a smile. Your'e the dream that I've been chasing, after years of waiting. Everyone calls you amazing. I just call you...mine."

To God be the Glory!

Love, Mom

WDE!!!

I love college football, but I especially love my team Auburn! There is nothing greater than watching the eagle fly across the field, the plains on gameday, or Toomer's corner after a win. I love the south and I love Auburn. I plan on taking LC to a gameday soon so I can take her pic in front of the Auburn sign and Toomer's corner. I want her to experience the things that make Auburn so wonderful. And yes, I will let her decide what team she will cheer for, considering my entire family are Alabama fans. But personally I think she looks beautiful in orange and blue!

War Damn Eagle!

Two Months!

Lucy Clare--- you are two months old! I can hardly believe that time has gone by so fast. I clearly remember that intense day and all the crazy emotions I had waiting for you to arrive! Now, time is going by so quickly and I am trying my best to savor every moment with you and not take anything for granted!

What are you doing at two months old?

• You weigh 11 pounds and 11 ounces!



• You are currently in the 55th percentile.



• You are 23 inches long.



• You have begun to laugh--and laugh hard when something tickles you.



• You are sleeping through the night. I put you down around 10 and you usually sleep until I wake you up at 6 for Gammy's house.



• You love your mobile. I call the lion your "boyfriend" because when you get him in your line of vision, you start to smile and coo. It doesn't matter what you are doing, when you see him, you melt.



• You are drinking 5- 6 ounces ever 3-4 hours.



• We took our first trip to the beach and you loved it! You had a great time in the pool.



• I took you to Auburn also. You did well on your car ride there and back.



• You are in a size 1-2 diaper.



• You are DONE with newborn clothes. Can't even squeeze you in them! 3 months are fitting you just about right.



• You have a "lovey" that you like to feel when you are tired. I noticed you would rub the fabric of my shirts when I held you so I started giving you the softest little bunny blanket to rub. Now I have dubbed it your "lovey."



• Pacifiers. You LOVE your passy. You will suck it like crazy and have figured out how to keep it in your mouth.



• You make me so happy.



• You are now staying at Gammy's during the day while I work. Maizie loves to play with her little sister. I can't wait to see what you do with those chihuahuas when you can walk or crawl!

As I said my prayers the other night, I told God that if He created you for the sole purpose of me praising His Name more, He achieved that goal. I praise Him constantly for you. I can't believe I deserve something so wonderful in my life and He made you for His joy and pleasure! He is an awesome God!

I look forward to your other exciting adventures for the next month! I can't wait for the pumpkin patch, Halloween, and Christmas with you! I love you baby girl, Daddy's sugar plum, and the Lord's sweetest child!

Fun in the Sun!

This past weekend the Burns' family celebrated Labor day at the beach with some good friends and family. This was LC's first big trip and first pool dip. We all had a blast and she was a great traveling baby (of course!) We will definitely be taking more trips!

And on a sad note, my maternity leave ends today. I must return to the land of first graders tomorrow. I am excited, nervous, sad, and emotional. I wish I could stay at home with my sweet one! I know she will be in good hands with her Gammy, but it doesn't make it any easier!

Take me to the water....

This weekend we celebrated a joyous occasion... Lucy Clare's baptism. I have dreamed of this day since I knew I wanted to be a mommy and it was just as a pictured it! She was baptized after the 10 o'clock mass and then came back to our house for a wonderful cookout. It was a fabulous day with good friends, family, and the waters of our Lord! Praise be to God!

This is my beloved with whom I am well pleased!

Godparents Sam and Brandi.. I know they will help us raise her in the Lord!

One month!

Lucy Clare--- You are one month old today! My, how you have grown!

What are you up to these days?

(This wonderful idea was taken from Kelly at kellyskornerblog. She is an amazing Christian mother! I love reading about both her and her sweet baby girl!)

• You are sleeping 4 hours at a time at night, sometimes more!


• You have begun to focus on things.


• You do not like to sleep on your back. You like your side (like your momma!) or you will only sleep in your bouncy seat.


• You are drinking 4 oz of formula every 3 to 4 hours.


• At our last appointment, you weighed 9.7 pounds!


• You wear a size 1 diaper.


• You are slowly growing out of your newborn clothes, but size 3 months are still too big on you!


• We had a problem with you spitting up too much and it coming out of your nose, but we have found bottles that are stopping that!


• You love to take a bath! Daddy and I have a great routine for bathtime! Daddy gets it ready while I get you ready. We both bathe you and talk to you! Then, mommy takes you to get dressed and Daddy fixes your bottle. You love it!


• Mommy feeds you after bathtime. I have made a CD of songs and I sing to you while I feed you.


• My song to you is " Make you feel my Love" by Bob Dylan (but we like the Adele version).


• Daddy calls you his little "sugar plum" and you love it!


• You are such a good girl when we go out in public! You are such a happy baby!


• Everyone thinks you are so gorgeous! (and you are!)


• We bought you an exercise mat and you like to lay there and talk to the lion and the bear. You hit them with your fists and get so excited!


• You have your Papa wrapped around your finger. He is a changed man!


• Your hair is growing longer everyday. It is still a little red to me, but sometimes it looks dark brown.


• You like to suck on your passy when you get tired.


• Mommy has a special way to hold you to make you stop crying. Works every time!
• You have rolled over from your belly to your back two times! I can't catch you doing it though!
• You have stayed with your Gammy and Big D so Mommy and Daddy can go eat or shopping. The dogs love you when you come over.

Daddy and I love you very much and we thank God everyday for His blessing! We are so complete with you in our lives! Happy one month birthday, baby!

and these are the days of our lives...

4 weeks ago I welcomed someone incredibly amazing into my life. I wanted to share her birth story so that one day, she can look back on this post and see how she changed two peoples lives for the better. Scott and I could not love anything more!

On Tuesday July 14th, I was scheduled to be induced. Scott and I had dinner with all our friends in Tuesday Night Dinner bunch at Old Mill. Surprisingly, we were both very calm considering we were soon to be holding a baby! We got to Flowers Hospital and met our great nurse Whitney. (Really...she was so fabulous!) Dr. Nichols came in after we got settled and explained how Cervadil works and inserted it so that I could begin to dilate. Mom, Heather, Debbie and Lee J came up to keep me company and make me laugh and Brandi B was on her way from Gainesville to be here for the birth. Everyone left when I got to have my Ambien to sleep.... and everyone was so excited because the next day would be a birth... or so we thought!

Wednesday morning Dr. Mullins came in early and broke my water and I was not dilated. Oh... and this is when contractions started. I (for some reason) would not get the epidural right away, even though Scott was begging me to get it and promising me we would never have another child! As soon as Mom got there she convinced me to get the epi and good lord, I am so glad I did! I went from pain city to "feeling like I was at the beach!" By mid morning, all my good friends and family had come to be there for the birth of LC. Everyone was taking bets on when she would get here. I labored with no pain all day long. Yes. all. day. long. I think I finally dilated to 3 cm at midnight that night. The best part was, all my friends and family stayed. I think the waiting room was full of my friends and family. It was great knowing they were all there to support us!

Finally, around 11:30 pm, Dr. Mullins said it was time to do a c-section because LC was not moving into position, I was not dilating, and by this point, I was running a low fever and LC's heart rate was slowing down. We said good-bye to all our friends, said a prayer, cried some tears and they wheeled me to L&D.

I had watched enough "Deliver Me's" on Discovery so I knew exactly what was going to happen. At 1:03am, Lucy Clare made her entrance into the world. She and Scott went to the nursery while they finished with me. I think this is when my husband became a mushball and fell in total love with his baby! :) All that waiting for my friends and family was now over as everyone stared into the nursery window at sweet baby Lucy! After they finished with me, they moved me back to the room and I was able to hold and nurse LC. It was such an amazing feeling! By this time, it was close to 3 in the morning. I had labored for 17 hours and been up for almost 24. I was exhausted. By the time we got to our real room it was almost 4 am. We loved on Lucy and I fed her and I crashed!

A few days later I became anemic and Lucy started losing too much weight due to my not producing enough milk. While I was very scared, I had a wonderful nurse named Angie who was my angel. She took such good care of me and was so patient as I learned to breastfeed, and later when she brought the news that I needed to give LC some formula, she was there to teach me to pump and help me emotionally through all the scary stuff. She was definitely a life saver and was my sweet angel! I am forever grateful to her!

Lucy and I were finally discharged on Monday, July 20th. She is the most laid back wonderful baby! She loves to be held, loves to hear me sing, and eats and sleeps like a champ. I am so in love.

I have slowly been recovering from the c-section. I have really good days and days I am really sore. All in all, it has been really good.

And it was so worth the long labor and the pain for my sweet little girl!
Much love to all these people who stuck in out at the hospital:

Mom, Dad, Heather, Lee J, Brandi B, Debbie, Amy, Grant, Alicia P, Caroline G, Brandy R, Grant M

Love all of you!

This.

Lucy Clare was born on July 16th at 1:03 am. I want to make an entire post dedicated to our birth story, but right now, I am too enamored with the little bundle of love sitting on the couch next to me. I never knew you could love something this much. I say a prayer of thanks every time I look at her. Amazing love. This was 9 months of waiting.

And it was worth every second.

Babies are a great way to start people.

So...tonight is my last night at home as just me and Scott. Tomorrow night Scott and I will walk into Flowers Hospital to bring Lucy Clare into the world. I am teary eyed as I write this because I am a bundle of emotions. From scared, excited, worried, nervous, joyful, and should I say scared again... I am sitting here feeling LC roll around in my belly just praying everything goes well. Everything is ready for her homecoming. Her room looks amazing, clothes are washed, house is picked up and cleaned. Looks like on the outside we are ready, internally I am not sure how ready we are! (no turning back now though!)

I look forward to hearing her first cry, to counting her toes and fingers, holding her, and seeing a transformation in our little family. What a blessing it is that God lets childbirth happen!
I sit here in the quiet, knowing that this time by myself is short, that my days of being selfish are over, and that my life will never be the same.


And that is so ok with me.

A little bit of hodgepodge...

3 more weeks until I meet Lucy Clare. W.H.O.A. I am getting pretty nervous! I have a feeling my prayer warriors in Heaven are tired of the same prayer everyday! I have watched more birth stories, baby stories, and bringing baby homes than I want to share with you. I have screamed at the husbands on TV and laughed at the wives who were going "all natural." I have seriously enjoyed my summer! At any rate, I am taking on the mantra of a little yellow friend of mine and saying.... "I'm ready, I'm ready!"

On a totally different topic, I am fed up with some TV personalities these days. Don't get me started on Jon and Kate + eight. I am so disgusted with how all of that drama went down. No... the persons I would like to comment on are Heidi and Spencer. Better known as "Speidi" from the Hills and now from I'm a Celebrity, Get me Out of Here. I could not have been more excited to see these two leave the show. I cannot stand their attitudes. And I think what makes it worse is that they threw Jesus up in the mix. Watch out now. When the going gets tough, the tough find Jesus? And get baptized by a BALDWIN brother in a river? Ok. I get you want some ratings, but don't make that sacred act something so trivial. So the two reformed souls act like fools and Heidi makes a big deal about wanting to be like Mother Teresa and prays with Patti Blagovich. Nice. Then she gets back to the states, and what does she do???? She poses for PLAYBOY. Yes, Jesus is so proud of you now! You have set the bar so high! You, my dear, may have a spectacular body, but come on... ooh. Totally fires me up!

I also want to tell you about a smoothie I made last night. I really should have taken pics of it. I cut up two mango's, two kiwis, added orange juice and ice and blended it. OMG. It was fabulous. If you have a problem with things being too textured, this is not for you, because the seeds in the kiwi give it a little crunch. I loved it... and was happy knowing how healthy it was for me and my little one!

Well, that about sums up my feelings for the day. I've got my swollen feet up. I'm feeling a baby roll around in my belly, and I am on my way to go swimming. I love summer, but honestly, I am missing teaching too. I love this time of year because it so rejuvenates me as a teacher. I have ideas brewing over for next years theme... "hopping around the world" and can't wait to take LC up to school and get busy decorating. Praying for a good class so Mom has an easy time doing my maternity leave!

Hopefully next time I write I'll be holding a sweet little baby in my arms! :)

~Nikki

I love Lucy

I am so in love with this fat cheeked little wonder. Since seeing her yesterday, I have been so enamored with my belly. I can't believe something so wonderfully perfect could be growing inside me! Scott and I have slowly begun putting her room together and hours don't pass before I just walk in there and stand. I try to imagaine what my life is going to be like in 6 more weeks. How I know that everything I thought I knew about babies is going to change. How my nights and days will be confused and how I will never know love like I am going to know love then.
So we wait for the next 6 weeks, enjoying the time that it is just Nikki and Scott. And watching every kick and roll on my belly, thinking about that fat cheeked little wonder.

Love!

Happy Mother's Day to a fabulous woman I am lucky to call my mother and my friend. Being a mother will be easier knowing you will be around to guide me. Lucy Clare will have the honor of you being her grandmother and experience all the joys I have experienced with having you as my mother. I love you!

A list of prayers

I have a few prayer requests for you. I believe in the miracles of my Lord and I know He will prevail over any evil or pain. I also believe He does not give us things that we cannot handle and that He will walk us through any valley. I know these things because I believe in the Word and the promises I read. I also know that situations may not always have the outcome we want or like, but the growth we receive in our walk may be just the thing we need.
Please please please pray for these people!

1. Lilly--- Lilly is a former student of mine. She is 7 years old and an amazing kid. She drew the cover for my wedding program and helped pass them out at the wedding if you were there. She has been diagnosed with a rare disease called "histiocytosis" and it is a really scary illness for such a little kid. She is undergoing chemo once a week and it is taking a toll on her little body. Please pray that the chemo will work to keep the weird tumor-things off her body. A full recovery from this illness would be a true miracle.

2. Caroline---Caroline is a teacher friend of mine. She is one of my best friends and she is also pregnant with her 2nd child. She is having a girl too! She received news today that there is a possibility that her unborn child could have something called "trisomy 18". She is very worried and scared (as would anyone be) but she has hope in our Lord! She goes next week to Birmingham for further tests. Our prayer is that the tests were just wrong and that nothing is wrong with sweet Baby G!

3. Lisa--- Lisa is my cousin Brian's wife. We got to meet her when their family came to Grandma's funeral last month. She has become very ill and is the hospital. Her illness is called "cytomegalovirus." Please pray for a quick recovery and healing. She has a very adorable little girl to take care of!

4. Lyndsey---Lynz had her baby way too early. She was due to deliver on May 29ish and Sam decided to show up last month! He is doing great and growing well, but I still think Lynz needs prayer. She is also a teacher and has had to be gone from her kids during the craziest time of year. My prayer for her is that she finds a peace and a stillness in her crazy schedule with Sam and that God will give her the strength for her so tiny baby! You can read up on their blog at www.samuelgodhears.blogspot.com

God is good... all the time! Lift these people up whenever you think about it!

Homesick.

I love Christian music. It moves me in the most prayerful way. It is my perfect prayer to my Jesus and Lord. I find scripture verses I have not heard before in music, my heart finds beats it has never made before and I love to imagine I am sitting at the throne of God pouring my song prayer to Him. This being said, when things are up, down, or normal in my life, I can always find some song to fit my life. I love to share them with others with the hope they will help them one day.

My Grandma went home to the Lord yesterday. It was expected, wanted, needed.... but still hurts. In my daily journal to Lucy Clare, I let her know that I was sad, but rejoicing! The earthly me is crying, but the heavenly side of me is well, jealous. I am not saying I want to die, but to meet my Lord, my Savior, my Redeemer face to face would be the greatest honor. So, I find a song, something to get me through this and a way to speak to my God. Mercyme is an awesome Christian band and they have a great song that explains just this... "I've never been more homesick than now..." I search and wait for my heavenly home. This is the reason we are here, to make it to our real Home.

I hope my Grandma is enjoying her new Home. There are many that have been waiting patiently for her to get there. I try to imagine her new body and new mind. And I wonder if she got all those questions in when she got there!


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This is a sweet video of Lola I found today while playing on the computer. Lola has been in doggy heaven for about 5 months, and the pain has gotten much easier, but I still miss her prissy self dearly. So to you Lolita Bonita Chiquita...

And try hard not to laugh at my voice. I guess that's my doggy voice, especially the "I don't want you nasty" that I repeat over and over at the end. I laughed so hard I cried! And the reason she is scooting on her belly is because I put a sock around her belly.

Top Five

I have been mentally making a list of all the thing I love about being pregnant in my head for awhile. So here it is... my top five favorite things about being Prego.

5. Seeing other pregnant women on the street gives you a real reason to stare at their belly. First for a little moment of "whooo.... I'm glad I'm not that big" to "I wonder how far long she is." I do love this. It's my license to stare card. And she in return doesn't look at me like a stalker. She's probably thinking the same dang thing about me.

4. Stretchy pants. Good God. How have I lived my whole life not wearing stretchy pants? I can bend over without a button cutting into my navel. I can breath when I sit down (except on the days my undies roll down with the belly.) I just think these stretchy belly pants are a fab way to feel pretty!

3. My 20 pound weight loss. I know. I break the rules with this. But when that stick said "pregnant" I vowed to change my eating habits. I figured my baby needed to be smart (you know with a teacher mom and all) so I started eating fresh fruits and veggies. Now losing that glass of wine can't hurt either, and you won't see me eating nothing but good stuff, but I did change alot about how I ate. I still crave hot wings and strawberry milkshakes, but for the most part, I will take real strawberries over the milkshake any day.

2. The cutest dang clothes for her. I am glad I am teaching after school tutorial. That money has come in handy. I have done really well with just cheap stuff. And people that say"you will not want to spend on yourself anymore" don't know me. I buy for her, I buy for me. We both have to look good, right? Poor Scott.

1. And the last reason I like being prego... no, its not all the attention, or the free pass to be gassy, or the excuse to be really lazy, it's just the fact at how it has changed Scott and I already. Before, it wouldn't bother me to go out without him or spend time with my friends when he was home, but now... I look forward to the time we have by ourselves. I know it is going by fast, this time it is just Nikki and Scott, and I want to savor it all I can. I want Lucy Clare in the most loving environment. I want her to feel the love between the two of us.

So, this was no David Letterman countdown, but I do love being pregnant. I can't wait to hold sweet Lucy Clare in my arms for the first time. She is going to be one spoiled girl, just like her momma.

HONK!

I was driving down the road the other day, as I do each day, when I was forced to use my horn. This happens on a daily occurrence. I love to use the horn. I feel the power when I use my horn. I really, really love to honk my horn. I could be blaring my Praise and Worship music, just loving the Lord, when bam.... some lovely person pulls out and I have to use my horn. You see, some of my family members do not believe in the "power of the horn" so when I am in the car with them, I am forced to do the reach over and honk for them. This really makes my husband mad. A lot. He usually slaps my arm away and now says, "Ugh. You are pregnant. That's probably not a good thing for you to do." This in turn causes me to give him a very valid argument. And everyone knows a pregnant woman is going to win her argument!

You are in charge of a massive amount of steel, iron, whatever a car is made of when you drive. Someone has said you are competent enough to get a license and drive on the road. This is a big responsibility. And if you are somewhat young, you were made to take driver's ed. (don't even get me started on people that need to go back to that course again!) So you know that driving is a big responsibility. Now, if you are not paying attention and you come over into my lane, or pull out in front of me, or try to back out on me, you are telling me that you don't care about your wonderful piece of steel you are driving or about your life. Which in turn, makes you not care about my life, or the life I am carrying, or the life of my family member. This is where you need to be told. This is where I HONK. I will honk for five minutes if it was serious enough for me to be scared. Then, oh forbid, we pull up next to each other. I will stare you down. Get a good look at me, fool. You.could.have.killed.me. Thank you. My mother swears I am going to put someone into road rage. "People have guns you know!" I just feel like driving is a pretty serious thing and I would rather not be hit by you if I can help it. And then, maybe the next time you are thinking of changing lanes without looking, you'll worry if the girl in the Black Pilot is gonna honk at you.

And I will apologize to my family for the reach over. I'm not going to stop doing it, but I love you!

Now... the four letter words I spew at you are for another post. Yes, I am guilty of that too. Usually when I am laying on the horn.