Pictures to come...

I know you all are anxiously awaiting Mardi Gras/Carnival parade pictures...they will be up as soon as I can find the camera cord. And I might add some new "belly pictures" too. :)

10 Things about Emma/Pregnancy

I was tagged by Amy to tell ten things about Emma/being pregnant (since she's still in the oven). So, here you are...

1. Emma loves to kick every two-three hours, but her most active time is between 9-11 pm.
2. Matt and I were touching my belly yesterday and felt Emma's hand move!!!
3. I am 22 weeks, 4 days and loving this time in my pregnancy!
4. My belly has gotten HUGE in the past two weeks.
5. Matt and I like to read and sing to Emma before we go to sleep every night.
6. We have been reading Emma a different children's book every night.
7. I absolutely cannot wait to put some big bows in my little girls hair!
8. Emma was very secretive in her ultrasound and it took the doctor quite a lot of poking and prodding to get her to show off for us.
9. We are convinced that Emma will have dark hair and big brown eyes like her mommy.
10. Only 116 days until Emma's due date!

Okay, I'm tagging Courtney for this one...I want to hear all about how Noah is growing up!

oh joy.

It is cold and raining hard and I am sitting outside on our front porch because they are painting the inside of our house and the fumes are AWFUL! What fun.

Strength On Us

²⁹ He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.

³⁰ Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;

³¹ but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
Isaiah 40:29-31

Thank you, Lord, for giving me a new strength today.

Macbook Air

Have you guys heard about the new Macbook Air? Oh man, my technology loving self is drooling over this! I want one. But I'll keep loving on my Macbook Pro for a while longer. :)

Belly pictures!

Many of you have been patiently waiting to see some "belly pictures". I am now 22 weeks and can't fit into any of my regular pants anymore. I am so glad that Target has cute maternity clothes (I bought an entire outfit on clearance for $9 yesterday)!

The never-ending story (of sickness)

Yes, Matt and I are still sick. Matt gets a little more grief than I do though, because his doctor told him today that he still has severe bronchitis, an upper respiratory infection, and a sinus infection. What does that mean? My poor little hubby got more penicillin shots in his butt and another antibiotic. And the doctor said if this doesn't work he has to go to the hospital and get a shot in his spinal cord! Ouch! Let's hope that doesn't have to happen.

And me, well, I just have a sinus infection. Doesn't seem too bad compared to my husband, but I'm a wimp. And I can't take antibiotics, so I'm stuck with Claritin and nasal spray. Let's hope that does the trick.

So, we'll just lay in bed and hack up our lungs for a while longer.

Babies, work, and Mardi Gras!

It's been a while since I've done a real update on our lives...

First, our sweet little Emma. She has been kicking a lot lately. I first felt her kick on December 27th (the same day as the ultrasound) but this past week she has been kicking every 2-3 hours. Right now it is such a fun, wonderful feeling to know that she is kicking inside of me. I know the uncomfortable jabbing is coming though. :) I went to my OB on Wednesday and all is going well. I measured at 21 1/2 weeks, which is good since I was 21 weeks 1 day. Matt & I love hearing her heart beat. And Matt has felt her kick a few times and loves it. Right now it all seems so wonderful and surreal. I can't imagine that in 4 1/2 more months, I will be a mother. How crazy is that?!

Work is going well. I think things really do get better after the six month mark (we are at seven months now). We are just chugging along day by day but enjoying the fun moments we have with the girls (which have seemed to be more lately). Sure we will have our bad days, but the good ones now outweigh the bad ones.

Matt is still getting over his "holiday illnesses". He is now having a really hard time sleeping at night. He has not been able to get a good nights rest at all the past couple weeks. And then he is just so exhausted during the day that he crashes. Hopefully he will get better soon and if not I'm going to force him to go back to the doctor.

Hope you all are recovering from the holidays and getting back into the routine of things. Here in New Orleans, we are getting geared up for Mardi Gras. People take down their Christmas decorations and immediately put up Mardi Gras decorations. Parades have already started and Mardi Gras isn't until February 5th. Matt and I are extremely excited to be "locals" during this Mardi Gras season and be experiencing all the fun things that go on. Most of the world doesn't realize that Mardi Gras is more than beads and boobs on Bourbon Street. Most locals don't even head down in that area for Mardi Gras. All the real fun is Uptown (where we live)! I will be sure to post pictures and update when we begin to experience all the excitement.

Cutesy baby stuff

I have just discovered some great websites with the cutest baby stuff...yes, I'm fully in baby mode and it's not going to stop! Check these websites out.

Tender Cargo
Bambini Bliss
Bazzle Baby
Trendy and Little

Nursery bedding!

Matt & I caved in and bought the nursery bedding for Emma. I found this set (Tropical Punch by Cocalo) online last week and fell in love with it (partly because it is pink and orange and partly because it has cute animals), but the only downfall was that Target and Babies R Us only carried it online. Well, Matt and I stopped in Burlington Coat Factory yesterday to see what baby stuff they had and guess what we saw?! The bedding! It was just as beautiful as I imagined it to be! We were excited but left Burlington and continued on our day. Well, last night Matt & I ate at Applebee's and I was paying and found a coupon in my wallet for 20% off at Burlington! And the coupon expired January 6th! So what did Matt and I do? We went right over to Burlington and bought the bedding set and saved about $35. Holla! Don't be too disappointed though, there are still plenty of accessories that you all can add to Emma's nursery! :) Right now I'm registered at Target and Babies R Us, but plan to register at Burlington soon. Here is what the bedding set looks like. Isn't it just precious?!

A New Year

It is hard to believe that it is 2008. 2007 held many changes for Matt and I. 2007 is the year that Matt and I picked up and left every ounce of security we had behind. We left our comfortable lives, our family, our friends, and moved to New Orleans. We have moved to a new country--a new culture, new food, new ways of speaking, new ways of dealing with life. While 2007 was a very difficult year for Matt and I, I am thankful that through the fire and trials, I know that God has been molding us into the people He created us to be.

I am looking forward to 2008. Mostly I am looking forward to our family growing and sharing in the joys and trials of parenthood. May 2008 cannot come soon enough! I am also looking forward to reading more this year. I have so many books sitting on my shelf that I would love to read but just don't take the time to. This morning I picked up Desiring God (John Piper) and began to read it. This is a book that I have been wanting to read for a long time, but never got around to. I have only read the preface and the first chapter, but am so glad to have begun this book. One of the main themes in this book is finding joy in God. This is something that I want to pursue this year. The past six months have been so rough that I have forgotten to find that true joy in God and His sovereignty. I thirst for that joy.

While I am looking forward to this year, I am also fearful. Matt and I honestly do not know what our future holds. Will we continue on in this stressful job? Will I go to seminary? Should we move back to the Carolinas? If not, how can we afford to live in New Orleans? There are many, many questions that I would love to know the answers to. Right now, only God knows the answer to these questions. And we have to trust in Him that He will continue to hold us in His hand and protect us and guide us. Please Lord, continue to watch over us and guide us in Your ways.

2008, here I come!