happy birthday, my love

I love this picture of Wes and me. I think it has to be my absolute favorite :) its a perfect depiction of Wes's personality, and of course, he hates it!

This post is for my husband, my love, father of my children. Happy Birthday to you! 25 years have come and gone since the Lord blessed your mother with your presence and now I have the pleasure of being blessed by you everyday.

You've been my biggest cheerleader over the passed few years and I only hope I can return the favor!!

Once again, Happy Birthday to you! I hope you enjoy the events of our celebration Monday - Hannah and I have worked hard to make it perfect ♥

-whitney

are you sure it's a girl?

23 weeks today means that I'm 6 months pregnant. 23 weeks today means I have 16-17 weeks left. that means 4 months... 4 MONTHS people.

as some of you know we found out the gender very early on at 16 weeks. another sweet little girl.
Needless to say, everyone was surprised! There wasn't any disappointment on my part..  but my husband's reaction was another story.

I think Wes struggled a little bit with the news at first. His heart was set on having a boy just so he could have someone to carry on the family name. I don't want to say that I struggled with any misgivings, but I did feel like I let him down a little bit at first.

So how did I finally let go of my disappointment?

With God's help.

Two Sundays ago, my minister presented a sermon that I definitely needed to hear. One God knew I needed to hear. The sermon was entitled "When God Says No". There are several different reasons God tells you no. Sometimes it's because it's not what God has planned for your life, and other times it's because when God tells you no it's because you're asking selfishly.

When Hannah turned three Wes and I started talking about expanding our family and from then on we prayed for a boy.. So when we were given the glorious news of having another girl I was slightly confused. I prayed to God and asked why? I thought we had this one in the bag. We had an amazing God fearing little girl, we had prayed for a boy for the longest time so why bless us with another girl? I couldn't understand.

All throughout this sermon I began to ask myself these questions.. What was my reason for God telling me no? Did Wes and I selfishly ask for a boy? Did God have a better plan for us and our family?

 Then it hit me. Only a girl could bless Wes and me with grandchildren. Yes, a boy can as well but it's not the same. If that be the reason God chose another little girl for us to raise then I say BRING IT. Bring on all the little girls we can handle. Hair bows, dresses, and bloomers oh my!

Since then I've owned this pregnancy! I've accepted it with open arms. I've not complained tried not to complain about too many things. Every kick to the bladder, every braxton hicks, every hunger pain has almost gone unnoticed by my husband.. at least hopefully it has because I hope I haven't turned into one of those people that complains so much that I don't even notice it anymore.

List of Symptoms
pretty painful braxton hicks daily
ligament stretching
extreme hungry/hearty appetite
colostrum has definitely come in
strange, vivid dreams
headaches
dry nose
intermittent changes of nesting and exhaustion


Next appointment is next Thursday and I'm very excited to see how much progression we've made :)

Pic of Baby Girl at 23 weeks

I can definitely see progression in growth, but only from week to week

pictures... I look a lot smaller than this in person

In my opinion, of course ;)

this is what i'm thankful for

I'm behind on my blogging and even taking belly pics, but this is my belly at 18w3d.

I am now 21 weeks.
at 20 weeks SHE was 13 oz
baby blog about that later. It's a long one and I don't have time right now to finish it.

Happy Thanksgiving to each and every one of you I know I have so much to be thankful for :)

U.S. troops in Afghanistan recite the Auburn Creed

In recent light of the devastating allegations of Cam Newton I am showing my support to him, the team, and the amazing staff at The Auburn University. 


1 Peter 5:10 states that:  And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.


I believe in Auburn and LOVE IT! War CAM eagle YAWL! :)





Also, please continue to keep this university in your prayers, not only is the university having to deal with this, a professor of mathematics was killed in a car accident this week.

Cat in the Hat

As Hannah awoke me this morning at her "late" 6:45am calling I turned on her cartoons to find Cat in the Hat cartoons on PBS! what a joy! I knew they played in the afternoons, but I didn't know they played this early on a Saturday morning :)

This week has been pretty difficult and joyous all at the same time (in terms of the miracle growing inside me). Monday, I just was NOT hungry around dinner time so i nibbled. Tuesday morning, I still wasn't hungry.... strange bc I could always eat. Even if I wasn't pregnant, I would think about food all the time. It's just who I am. So I had a cup of coffee, my one caffeinated beverage of the day, and went off to work.  (but before I left, I felt her kick/punch me! ouch, did it ever hurt) My cooperating teacher asked me to take the students on an unscheduled bathroom break while she taught a small group math lesson. I was standing in the hall, watching my girls and I started feeling icky... and I know that feeling. I started feeling really hot, and my ears starting ringing very loudly. I headed back into the  classroom and got a diet sprite out of the frig because I knew my blood sugar was about to bottom out. I never fell over, but I blacked out twice on the way to the teacher's restroom. I knew those kids thought I was crazy or something. For the rest of the day I felt hungeover and I felt like I was passing a kidney stone :( strange if you ask me.

Wednesday was a better day, but Thursday I was a ball of nerves. We had an appt that afternoon for my quad testing and for an early gender ultrasound.. My husband and I (along with countless others) were convinced that we were having a boy.... mommy and daddy's intuitions turned out to be wrong... again.. IT'S A GIRL! I can't wait to see how much like Hannah this little one will look like. Only 6 more months to go.

I tell you what though. There's a lot more painful ligament stretching and braxton hicks than I remember the first go around. Yes, I said it, braxton hicks. At only 16 weeks. I guess that's one more reason I need to be "taking it easy" at home ;)

Just like every Saturday, I can't leave you without saying one thing...  Auburn is playing LSU today in AUBURN. Both teams are undefeated  and it's going to be a blood bath, all out war.. the very essence of football. my poor hubby is at work, but you better believe sweet Hannah and I are going to be cheering loud enough for all four of us!

WarR Cam EAGLE!!

Living Like A LaVecchia

As I checked my facebook this morning, I noticed my friend Christen FINALLY updated her blog after the birth of her first daughter, Emery Lynn on October 1. Little Emery Lynn was born 7 weeks premature and only weighed 4 lbs 14 oz!  I was extremely humbled and blessed by Christen's entry this morning, because I know God is using that little girl to already change lives. Because of our small little two-bedroom house, Wes and I are not able to give our little bumble a nursery... AND IM COMPLAINING about that. I've got a healthy family, a healthy baby growing inside me and I'm complaining about not being able to give him/her a nursery?! Little Emery Lynn is now 2 almost 3 weeks old now and still hasn't been able to go home with her mommy and daddy and I'm complaining about a nursery?!

I just wanted to give Christen and her husband, Mitch reassurance that your little fighter is getting bigger and stronger everyday, and that no matter how frustratingly slow her progress is, God truly is using her for good. Especially in my life :)

If you are interested in keeping up with Little Emery Lynn here is a link to Christen's blog:  http://christenandmitchell.blogspot.com/

Continue to keep Emery Lynn in your prayers for a quick recovery and a safe trip home :)

cravings.

today I am 13 weeks and 3 days. I told myself I wasn't going to update about my pregnancy all the time, but I really wanted to talk about this today.

I will try and set the background for you. it's been a tough semester. internship has been a huge struggle for me. From trying to take care of my family responsibilities, developing lesson plans, trying to get enough sleep in order to function, and trying to have a smile on my face and not be cranky was really starting to take a toll on my nerves. Every morning I woke up feeling like today would finally be the day I would break.

On my lowest day, I fell to my knees and prayed to God to fight these demons for me and to give me peace. I was in so much physical pain from the cramping I am still having, no sleep, and extreme hunger that I couldn't take it anymore. I was tired of dealing with it on my own so I gave it all to God. The God of all Mercies and Comfort. 

I went to bed that night and slept better than I have in months. I didn't wake up with hunger pains at 1:30 that morning. I actually slept through the entire night. I gave it all to God and He blessed me. I said, "God, I trust you. I give it all to you" and He gave me peace. The weekend was even productive. I got some lesson plans written, cleaned the house, and even got to spend the afternoon with my family. 

and then the beginning of the week was here. I decided to stay late at school on Monday to grade papers and organize some things for the next day. I think about 4:30 my husband called to let me know that our house had been broken into and that all of our electronics had been taken. our tv, my husband's PS3, my professional camera, my computer, my back up computer, everything. since all these things were taken from us, I do not know when I will have good belly pictures for you. :(

Blessing Number 1 - we got a new front door.

Blessing Number 2 - who needs those things anyways? God revealed to me, once again, that nothing of this world is promised. Let me repeat that.NOTHING of this world is promised. 

Blessing Number 3 - We have no idea when this person broke in so my question is... did I really choose to stay at school late?

Blessing 4 - Even though I didn't have a computer for a few days, my husband surprised me with an upgraded version of the one that was stolen. 

I was so miserable before this happened. I never considered myself a materialistic person, but after this event, I realized how much I truly relied on our possessions. 

I was restless. I was thirsty. I hungered, I craved. I became complacent and allowed things of this world to control me. God heard my cry and calmed me.

Needless to say, its been an overwhelming week.

Starting tonight is the beginning of a crazy week.

Tonight is my sissy in laws bachelorette party.

it's my last week of my first placement.

14 week appointment on Tuesday.

Sissy in law is getting married Friday.

My niece is getting married Saturday. 

I know His love is never ending, but I wonder how this week is going to go for us.

Random Statement: My belly button is starting to poke out at 13 WEEKS!!!!! 
gaining more energy because I'm getting more sleep
still have a nasty dry nose and sometimes it's hurts to breath :(
I am already feeling the baby kicking/punching. 
I know the difference between gas pains and movement 
and it's definitely NOT gas pains.
I have now had 3 people tell me they think we are having a boy :)
My chest looks like a road map.

3 weeks til we find out the sex of the baby.

What do you think it will be? Boy or Girl?