6 More Weeks...

 

G-Vegas Party

Here are a couple pictures to make you smile!  We took these at a party one of our friends pulled together.  Enjoy!

 

Belly Pictures

Here are some of the pictures I have pulled together to show my ever changing tummy!

 Not really sure when these early pics were taken.

My mom took them with her camera and I just bet she could tell you exactly!

 Once again not sure how many weeks....I know...I have been awful at this belly picture thing!

 I wold guess somewhere around 17 or 18 weeks along....

 

This is over spring break with my preggo friend KT!

 This is at a baby shower for Lesa Addington and all the soon to be moms in order of when we are due.

I think I was about 24 weeks here.

This is over Memorial Day weekend when we were at the lake.

This is Ryan and I cutting our anniversary cake.....late....I must add.

I was 28 weeks here in this picture.  Sorry it isn't a good side view! You can just trust me when I say that baby Wyatt is growing and right on track.  My doctor says I am measuring perfectly!

Ocean Isle Beach Week 2011

I have an amazing extended family!  I am sure that many of you would argue that you do too, but I have to brag on my family and their commitment to getting together every year.  We have traditions on both sides of my family.  On my dad's side we a memorable Thanksgiving each year and on my mom's side we have a Christmas family reunion the second Saturday in December and a Beach week each June. 

We just got back from our week at the beach and I want to share some pictures from our time together.  Keep in mind that we require a house and a condo to accommodate all of our family members.  We like to say that we spend most of the time talking about food and eating food!  I just try to make sure and take a nice long walk on the beach everyday and stay out of the kitchen as much as possible.  It is so much fun and makes so many lasting memories that bring a smile to my face all throughout the year!  Enjoy the pictures!

 Me, Aunt Melanie, Mimi, and Mom in matching PJs

 Me with sweet Cindy

 Ms. Abigail with her delicious Ocean Isle Beach Cake

 This is half of the group as we are about to pray before dinner

 We had a few floats to enjoy at the pool.

 My handsome husband

 Mom and Gina who was able to come for part of the week

 My parents!  

 Group picture! 

One Year Anniversary!

For the last week or so Ryan and I have been talking about our plans for celebrating our first anniversary.  We looked into going to a Bed and Breakfast or travel somewhere for the weekend.  After looking online, we decided that we would have a "staycation" and do some things around town that we had never done before.  Our plans were not really set in stone but I knew we would have a great time.  We always have the best times when we do things spur of the moment. 

Friday was a great day until I went to take a tour of the kennel where we are going to be leaving our dog when we go to the beach.  I have been very nervous and sensitive about the thought of leaving our baby for the first time in a kennel.  He is quite spoiled and I know he believes he is a person.  Back to the tour...my mom was out shopping with me for maternity clothes when we decided to swing by and check out the kennel.  The kennel was fine and everything I expected but as the nice lady was showing us around I had the hardest time not breaking out in tears.  I just couldn't imagine leaving my four legged baby there for a whole week in one of those little runs.  I went ahead and did the only thing I could and upgraded him to a "luxury suite".  He is also going to get at least three trips to the pool during the week and possibly some other special "extras".  I think all these extra things will really make me feel better for leaving him.  After leaving, my mom and I got in the car and she asked me, "How do you feel about it?"  As soon as she said that the pregnant and hormonal flood gates opened and I burst out into tears.  All I could say was, "it is so awful" and "I'm just pregnant".....stuff like that. 

This side story about the kennel tour and my emotional meltdown do fit together with our anniversary!  Let me explain how the rest of our day went on Friday.  I sent a text to Ryan and told him about the experience at the kennel and I think it made an impression b/c he knows I rarely cry.  Before I knew it he was calling and asking if I would want to go to a cabin in Pigeon Forge for the weekend and....take Winston with us.  He was so sensitive to my new and overblown (not that I could control it...if you've been pregnant you understand these things) needs that he made sure to find a cabin that was pet friendly! 

Thank you Ryan for loving me so much and for this special trip to the mountains!  It was a beautiful weekend and the perfect way to celebrate our marriage and the many good gifts we have been given over the past year!  Winton, if you are reading this (hehe), you are the best dog ever!  Ryan, I love you!  Thank you for an amazing year together! 

Here are some pictures for you to enjoy!

                                                    outside our cabin "Wildflower Vista"

                                                   Cades Cove, Smoky Mtn. National Park                                                               mama bear and her cub

                                               enjoying our road tour with the windows down

                                              Inside the Historic Baptist Church along the way

                                                     Family pic with the beautiful meadow view

                                                                       deer sighting

                                             Winston loves to stick his head out the window!
                                                This picture was taken in the rear view mirror!

                                                               A beautiful overlook

                                                                    Two happy boys!

My Latest Reads....

I have been reading more this year since I haven't been teaching full time.  Here are two books that I highly recommend!

Book #1

I read this book after a few people had suggested I read it.  I really learned a lot about how to start the process of feeding/sleeping from the very first week.  I am sure that it will be much harder than the book makes it seem but I am definitely going to take the things that I learned and try to use them with my little one.  If you are thinking of reading this book I would suggest buying your own copy.  I underlined and wrote in it a good bit.  I knew I would forget between now and September so I figured I better highlight the important parts.  Plus, I am going to try and have Ryan read it and the underlining will help him as he skims reads through the pages.  ***Good book and I will definitely be reading the rest of the series!

Book #2

I am still in the process of reading this GREAT book!  Ryan and I took a one day class at church about preparing for parenthood and this is the one book that they said was a must read.  It really points out how our culture is so wrapped up in appearances and how that affects our approach to discipline as parents.  We don't like our child's behavior so we get scold them in hopes to change their behavior to what we want.  This may work for a short time but it won't for long.  Instead, this book makes the point that we need to focus on our child's heart.  When our child's heart changes than their actions will change.  Remember they are sinners like  you and me and they need to be taught their need for Jesus!  I'm excited about reading the rest of the book!

 

Extra! Extra! Read All About It!

I know...go ahead and say it!  I am the best and most consistent blogger there is.  We can look at the posts I have written and see that isn't true!  What is the fun in blogging if you have to do it on a schedule?  For me it is like a recipe....I have to have some key essential ingredients.

1.  Time
2.  The desire
3.  a good reason to write

So I can definitely say that I have all the ingredients to write a new post!  I have been very busy since my last visit to the blog world.  I have been going through my daily life and enjoying my pregnancy.  I have a lot more energy now and a much better appetite!  Except for the occasional backache, I have to say that I like this point of pregnancy.  We are getting more and more excited about the arrival of Tidbit in September.  I am 21 weeks now which is amazing.  Time is really going quickly.  So far we haven 't done much to get ready for this little one except read books, visit the doctor for regular checkups, and purchase my new MOM MOBILE!  Don't worry, it isn't a mini-van.  Ryan would never let that happen and I wouldn't be too excited about it either.  My old faithful Volkswagen, Lena, was making some really weird noises and has lots and lots of miles on it.  We thought that it was a good time to make the switch to something safer for our growing family.  Ryan and I knew we were interested in the Ford Edge. So, after a little research and emailing on Ryan's part, we ended up making our most expensive purchase as a married couple.  I love my new car and I am looking forward to having my sweet baby as a passenger.  Oh, I can't forget to tell you that we named the car "Edge-Elina".  This is what it looks like!  I love driving in my sporty and cute new vehicle.

 Last Friday, May 13th, we had our much anticipated 20 week ultrasound.  Everything went so well!  I had been looking forward to seeing our baby since the last ultrasound and it did not disappoint!   Ryan had planned to take the day off and go with me to the appointment.  Finding out the gender was on the top of our list but, we really wanted to know that everything was growing and developing the way it needed to be.  It was music to our ears to see our little one and find out that everything was normal and as it should be.  It was also thrilling to find out that we are having a BOY!!!!!  I had the feeling that it was a boy since the 12 week ultrasound.  I saw those long legs and just knew it was a little Ryan!  We went to lunch with "Onna" and "Papa" to tell them before they left for their trip to Charleston.  They were thrilled!!!!!!  Then we had a little gender reveal party that night to announce it to my parents, "Grancy" and "Pop", and Uncle Alex and Aunt Katie!

I loved seeing the hands, feet, and especially the heart. 

We were able to see all four chambers of the heart!

His heartbeat sounded so good!

Here is Tidbit at 20 weeks!  14 ounces and growing strong!