New Pictures...

in the photo album to the left of this! I finally got a second to get the pics into the album. More to come...

...and a little update...we had Timothy's 1st appt. and he is doing great! He was 4lbs.15oz. when we left the hospital and 24 hrs. later, he was already back up to 5lbs. 3oz. We are grateful that he is healthy and thriving!

Timothy Michael is Here!

Our sweet sweet boy is here!!! I can't promise much of a post tonight but just wanted to finally get some pictures of our precious little boy posted.

Timothy Michael was born on Friday at 1:28 pm weighing in at 5lbs. 6oz. and 18 inches long. He is so handsome with big bright eyes. We are falling more and more in love with him as each hour passes!

Everything went very well with his birth. We are now just adjusting to life at home with our 2 munchkins. As I have more time in the days to come, I will update the photo album with more pics and more about his birth and how little Ems is handling being a big sister. For now though, I have a hungry little boy downstairs so enjoy the pics below!

Leaving for the hospital...contractions 3 min. apart!

He's here!..A very proud mommy and daddy!

...and a very proud big sister!

Our handsome boy!!!!!

1st Date with Daddy!

As I mentioned in a few posts back, Emily had her first date with her sweet Daddy a couple of weekends ago. They went to a car meet (I guess that is what you would call it) with a bunch of guys Derek works with at Nissan. They meet up every couple of weeks on a Sat. morning for coffee and lots of the guys bring their kids. Derek commented later that it might not be the best place for a curious 2.5 yr. old (especially one that is so enamoured with cars!) But all in all, they had lots of fun and Em is still talking about it. As you can see from the pics below, she got to sit in a Ferrari...I don't think I have ever even done that. The problem was that Derek said she wanted to sit in and drive all of the cars. What a shocker! Almost every time we are in the car, she says, "I wanna drive one time" and puts her pointer finger in the air. It's cute but can be exhausting. I have never seen a 2 year old girl that loves all things cars so much. Even this morning on the way to the doctor (oh yeah...new post below w/ baby update:) she of course notices the car carrier on the interstate. It cracks me up!

On a side note...she says the funniest things. On her date with Derek, they were walking past a new black Infiniti and she says, "Hey Dad, that car's pretty cool!" This afternoon when we met D for lunch he asks if she wants to click the top of her car seat, she says, "It would be my pleasure!" And one of my all time favorites usualy comes when we the three of us are all together really engaged in quality time and she says, "Isn't this fun?" Seriously those are direct quotes. She is so hilarious!

...Here's looking forward to lots more dates with an awesome Daddy!!

Our newest car purchase...hahaha...Derek wishes (I wouldn't mind either:)!!

First time sitting in a Ferrari!

Changing a tire on a Nissan at the Discovery Center

Tightening up the bolts! She got VERY into this!

Dancing in the rain!

Broken Record...

that's what I sound like but if you want to hear the latest baby boy update, that's what you're gonna get!!

Not much to report here on the baby front. I still have 2 full weeks until my official due date and my doctor says everything looks great. I haven't progressed as far as numbers go, but she did say that there is progress...I'll skip the details:):) She seemed that she would be surprised if she saw me at my appt. next Mon. but who knows. I trust that he'll arrive right on time as God has already planned!

FYI!!!

I had a real one this morning....contraction that is! It reminded me of when I went into labor with Emily. It could mean nothing.......OR????:):)

We'll keep everyone posted! I'm sure this means it will be a good 2 weeks now...hahaha!!!

Also, I added some really cute pics to the photo gallery. I have some super cute stories to go with them when I get the time to post.

....And Nothing!

Yep! That's right folks...this little nameless Hercules is quite comfy just chillin' in his mommy's belly! We had our weekly check this morning and we are right where we were last week! Oh well! We'll just keep hanging out...I keep reminding myself that it is God's gift to me of having more and more days with just Em for a bit longer. I plan on trying to really enjoy them amidst the sleepless nights:):) Oh acid reflux how you pain me!!:(

We'll keep you posted!

No Progress Just Yet!

I just realized that I had said in my last post that I would post an update about my appt. this past Tues...oops! There wasn't any progress as of then and maybe that is why I forgot. My doc is estimating that he is right under 6.5 lbs. (already bigger than Em at 38 weeks) and I was still 50% and 1.5 cm. I am totally good with that...not as if I have a choice anyway!:) I still have things to get done and I am really trying to soak up my time with Emily as much as possible. I figure he'll get here when God determines and there isn't any point worrying about it...I just want a healthy boy!

We are planning to finish up his room this weekend and I have been washing, folding, and putting clothes away the last 2 days...oh how I have missed the smell of Dreft!!!:):) Derek and I are still tossing around name ideas and think we have a few that are probabilities. But, now I think we will just announce it when he arrives.

I hope everyone has a fabulous weekend. Derek is taking Em on their first date in the morning and she has talked about it constantly. I'll be sure to post on that later!

37 Weeks and a Visit With the Moore's

We had such a terrific weekend that began with hanging out with the rest of the youth leaders overnight on Friday. We did some training and a personality thing involving colors that was amazing. It was tons of fun and somewhat exhausitng in the heat! (at least for me:)

On Sat. we finally got to see our dear friends Kevin and Ginny! They have been here visiting from Cali where Kev is in Seminary and they got to the 'Boro on Sat. With all of the family they had to see, their visit was right around 24 hours, but Derek and I agreed that we'll take that! It was better than nothing...Kevin and Ginny thanks for making the major extra effort to get to Murfreesboro...we know it was taxing!! We love you guys and miss you ridiculously already!

Emily got another absolutely precious dress from my great aunt who is so gifted. She used to make clothes like this all the time and now it truly is a labor of love, but she continues to make them for the kiddos in our family. What a treasure and precious gift to have something from her very own hands. I thought Emily was so cute in this dress so I had to post these pics! And this is about as good as it will get for a 37 week pic. We have another appt. this morning and I will post on Junior's progress (if there is any:)


Heading out the door for church!

My Cutie Pie!

Emily reading with Emma (Em thinks Emma is just the greatest and Emma is so sweet to Emily).

Some of the girls that got to hang out with Ginny and Kevin on Sun. We had such a great time!!

Wrestling with Daddy

I'm thinking that she might be able to take him!

Stinky Stinky!

As you can see below, Emily is absolutley enamoured by her cousins Stella and Carrie. She loves them so incredibly much! It has been such an awesome time watching them bond over the last month while they have been here from Massachusetts. I know Emily is going to miss them like crazy. They spent the night last week at our house and Emily decided for some random reason that she was going to start smelling everyone's feet (gross, I know). But it was funny and actually pretty cute b/c even if they didn't stink, she, of course, totally played the whole thing up b/c we were laughing at her. It is just so fun seeing her play and laugh like this!

Moving Along...

...in more ways than one! As you can see below, Emily is all about any type of moving, riding vehicle/play-toy these days. I mentioned in a previous post that she is crazy about cars, just like another someone in our house. She constantly wants to drive the car, sit in the car, look at Daddy's car magazines (we had to put a stop to that as she almost ripped one in half last week!). Today we met Derek for lunch and he had mentioned to her that there were some cars in his lobby...yeah that was all she talked about until we got there. Once we had lunch with D and had to drop him off back off at his office, she cried for about 10 minutes on the way home b/c she wanted to see the cars again...sheesh! Can't she love anything girly like her mommy?

Had to crop this little gem of a picture...she was a bit on the indecent side:)

Upon D's recommendation, we took Em's tricycle to the playground where I literally had to run to catch up with her.

And onto the other "moving along" news of the day...we had our first baby check this morning and little junior is doing great. I was 50% effaced and 1.5 cm. dilated. And, while I would love to get excited about that, I know I could be walking around without anymore progress for weeks. So, I'll just be thrilled at this point that he is healthy and growing! Maybe we will keep moving along and decide on a name soon too! Hah! Now I am thinking that we have waited so long, we may just wait until he is born to announce it.

We'll keep updating on any progress!

Fun with Cousins!

Emily has been having a blast with her cousins that are visiting from Massachusetts. It had been way too long since we had seen my aunt and her sweet girls. They are here until August and I am already predicting that Em is going to melt down when they leave...she is getting very attached. We went to the zoo a week or so ago and the pics below are from that outing. It was so hot, but worth it. We all had a great time and even my other aunt and uncle came up for the visit. It was lots of fun to spend the time with family.

On other quick Baby#2 news, I begin my weekly appointments this coming Mon. I can't believe that he will be here soon. And of course, I know the lingering question...will he have a name? Hahaha!!! We really are working on it and I think we are getting close! We still have some things to get done around the house, but we are getting there. I am getting more and more anxious and more tired:):) So, on that note, I have way too much to be doing instead of updating this blog:)
(I finally updated the photo album with some new pics as well.)

Belly Shots (as promised:)...

He is just growing and growing...

Derek making me laugh so hard!...

I can't wait to meet this little guy that is morphing my body into unrecognizable proportions! I seriously could not be more thankful that God has allowed me to bring this munchkin into the world...just weeks away! (I hope:)

The Many Faces of Emily Paige!

33 Weeks and Counting!

Sorry no pics with this one...but just wanted to update about the little unnamed guy growing away in my big ole' belly!

We had an appt. this morning and it went great...praise God! His little heartbeat is strong and is measuring right on track. He is growing and thriving as evidenced by the size of his current habitat:):) I will have to get Derek to take a pic of me tonight and I will post later for those of you that want a good laugh. Really though, I feel pretty good. Being prego in the summer is so so different from the winter...I'm sure many of you can give me an amen on that one! Besides some issues with acid reflux and occasionally feeling swollen, I really can't complain.

There is progress being made on little Hercules' (as his Daddy refers to him due to his crazy strong movements) room. Not only did Derek give me some Emily-free time this past Sat., he also surprised me when I got home by having his room completely cleaned out with the crib up and furniture moved. I was so excited that I actually cried...I know, I know it's ridiculous. Sat. was Derek's only day with no commitments and I would have loved for him to just get some rest, but instead he worked his booty off. That is why it meant even more to me, not to mention that the thought of dealing with the baby's room was sort of overwhelming me as it really was a total disaster. Thanks for the surprise D...it was so sweet!!

I got the curtains for little boy's room today and that means we can paint soon...I'm very excited about that. I have been waiting to order his bedding b/c I really wanted to monogram it, but seeing as how we haven't chosen a name, that may not happen!:) I will post pics when we get more done in there. Besides other projects going on around here that are keeping us busy, we are just looking so forward to seeing this sweet boy's face. I can't wait to kiss him and see what he looks like!

I hope everyone had a wonderful 4th of July weekend...will keep you posted on the little guy's progress. (And I'll try to get that belly shot posted so that you will know exactly how to pray for me...haha...just kidding!)

Happy 4th and Sunny Days!

Not much to say today. I have just really been thinking about how very thankful I am that we live in the country we do. Often, when I am out enjoying things with my family and friends, I think about the sacrifices of SO many others that make it possible to do those daily things that I too frequently take for granted. Freedom is definitely not free and I am grateful on this eve of our Independence Day for all of those that serve so sacrificially. I wish I could thank everyone of our servicemen and women personally! And on a side note...there is a place in the 'Boro called Goin' Postal on Thompson Lane and they are doing some really awesome things for ou military. If you have time, stop in and check out what they are doing. I have the care package list on my fridge and have begun picking things up already. And they are also a great postal place as well. Unlike UPS, they don't charge extra for stamps and they put out coffee and cookies for their customers! The sweet lady even has popsicles for kids that she gives to take home and freeze...yea! I know great customer service!! Like I said, they are doing some really cool things for our soldiers so the next time you are over by Aldi's and Frida's Mexican Grill, check them out!

The pics below are from a day that we went with our Karen (no not like my name...more like "Ku-rin") friends from Burma to the splash pad. I got a great group shot, but am hesitant to post it because I don't have their permission. I was blessed to be able to spend time teaching English and enjoying these dear friends over the past few months. They are amazing to say the least and a wonderful reminder of just how thankful we should be to live in our country!!

Emily is a hoot as you can see from the pics below. We have been going through some difficulties over the last few days...I was in the bathroom today at the pool praying for wisdom on how best to discipline my sweet girl's strong will. Wow!...this parenting thing is tough! Nevertheless she is so sweet and such a little lovebug with a very hilarious personality. As I am finishing this post, she has woken up from her nap and is playing with old mail pretending they are letters from her Uncle Sean. She is sitting in front of me "reading" them saying things like "Emily I love you and I miss you. Love Uncle Sean. The end." and "Dear Daddy, have a good trip...love Uncle Sean. The end." As she is into letters these days, she is now looking at our last bank statement picking out letters on the page while telling me words that start with those letters. She cracks me up. Sometimes I wish I could run video 24/7 so that I could win some money off of her antics!

Hope you all enjoy your 4th!