Well, Christmas was pretty good, but still no baby. I've just decided I will be patient and she will be here when it's time. My office is closed till Jan. 5th and then my maternity leave starts so I'm off till the first of April - wow I haven't not working in that long since like high school. It's weird, but I wish Chris could be off with me. He gets a week whenever the baby comes so that will be nice. I guess I will update later, I hope to get pictures of the nursery and some other things up soon!

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Tis the Season and Fa La La La La

Prayers are needed for tomorrow's doctors appointment! Tomorrow we get an ultrasound to find out how our baby is positioned, last week we couldn't figure out where her head was, I know it's routine, but I'm still a little nervous (maybe more anxious). This last month has been hard, especially now when you don't know when the baby will come. I guess it's a reminder that I don't need to be in control, and I actually can't be in this case.

It feels so busy and I love Christmas time, I just want to take time to slow down and remember why we celebrate this holiday - sometimes it's easy to rush through it without really appreciating what it's about. I hate those years, I've had a few and it's like Christmas just comes and goes and no big deal. I love to make it a big deal, and yes I get into the decorations, and Christmas specials on T.V. and the movies, but I love to take time, especially on Christmas Eve, and just thank God for sending his Son for all of us. This year I think it will hit me harder, seeing as I will be a mom before or sometime close to Christmas... just that I will really feel how it is to love my own child and realize that God loved Jesus this much, but sacrificed Him for all of us that are so unworthy. I guess I just write today to remind myself to slow down and appreciate what we are really celebrating!!

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Last Night was Amazing!!!

Chris and I went downtown to Market Square to this place called The Square Room and first of all that place is amazing, they did an awesome job with it and Cafe 4 is adjoined to it (right next to Tomato Head), we didn't eat there but it looked awesome. Ok so now who we went to see - The are called Ten out of Tenn and this is their Christmas tour. It's ten musicians out of Nashville who are friends and get together and all take turns playing their songs while the rest join in as back up singers and musicians, it was awesome. Plus the fact that I love Christmas music. They are all so talented, I couldn't just be like this person really stood out cause I think they are all equally talented. Check out their tour page on myspace, they have a couple songs up, plus you can get the Christmas album on itunes!!

On another note, I went to the doctor yesterday and it was just routine except the doctor can't tell how the baby is turned so next Thursday I have to have an ultrasound to see if her head is down. The doctor did say that her head could just be really low and that's why she couldn't find it, I was a little freaked like what do you mean you can't find her head. Chris reassured me she had a head cause we saw it in the last ultrasound pictures. I just realized that God is in control of everything and I really don't have control of anything. I mean I've realized this before, it's just I need reminding every once in awhile.

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Wow, what is today?

Well it's already December 4th and I haven't gotten one Christmas present, I've never been this bad before at waiting till the last minute. I should be better this year because I may not have the last minute if the baby decides she wants to come early! We've just been so busy getting baby stuff together and we've been getting her room together (pictures will be coming soon) that Christmas has been on the back burner. I don't want this to happen cause it's my favorite holiday and I really like to think of why we celebrate it and take time to realize what God did for us - it should be a time to slow down and be grateful for what we have been given. Sometimes I just don't know how to slow down, but when I do get the chance to slow down every once in awhile it feels so good - I guess it's because I'm the type of person who always has something going on so it's rare when I get a break, but I enjoy it a lot more. Ok, so I just need to know that everything will get taken care of, I don't know why I'm not used to it, everything has always come together last minute for me. Poor Chris, he may not be used to this - but it's how my whole life has been, sorry, that may have been something that he wasn't grateful to have gotten when we got married. I'm listening to Christmas music right now and it always cheers me up and makes me happy - I can't wait till we put up our decorations, all the lights make me happy!! Maybe that will happen this weekend or early next week!

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Updates & Holidays

Ok, so tomorrow's Thanksgiving - yay! I'm pregnant so there's no limit to what I can eat. I know we have 4 days off but they will be very busy especially for Chris, since I have orders to make sure I rest. Tomorrow we will go to Chris' family for lunch and then mine for dinner. Oh, but tonight I'm going to see Four Christmas' with my girls!! Chris will be working on the room and then heading to Bobby's to hang out. But, tomorrow all we will do is eat cause at 3:30am Friday we will be getting set up to hand out free hot chocolate at the Oak Ridge Walmart and Sears (I'm still not sure if I will make this). But after that my lovely husband will come home and work on the room all day - Chris I love you for doing this for us!! I know he will be exhausted so whatever he wants to do that night he can - I'm thinking sleep? Then Saturday afternoon is the baby shower!! I have no idea where we are going to put all the stuff since the bonus room isn't done and the baby's room is full of stuff that goes upstairs, but I'm not stressing it may be a mess in our house for awhile, but who cares. Man, I'm tired just thinking about all this, but I love holidays, I get so excited for every one - Chris just laughs at me! Ok, here's the sentimental part, but I truly have a lot to be thankful for this year. We've been in our condo for a year now and it's great owning our own home and soon we will have our first child and I can't wait. We are starting The Ridge Community Church and though it hasn't launched yet things are going good. Chris and I have grown closer together this year and figured eachother out more, which is something you learn you have to do after getting married - so 2 and a half years in and we are starting to figure eachother out. Also, no great tragedies have hit my family this year, I'm very thankful for that, it seemed for awhile we were getting hit with stuff everytime we turned around. No matter what though, God has gotten me through it. Well everyone have a great turkey day and enjoy the time with family and friends!

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We weren't scared?

So, I go to the doctor today to see how the little one is progressing. It hit me a couple of days ago that in 3 weeks she will be full term and in 6 she is due. Just an excited panic moment! We have alot to do.

Ok so I had this conversation with my 4 year old nephew, Elijah, the other day. These are always great. He asked if the new baby would be scared of stuff - he asks questions about her all the time - but I was like what do you mean? He said will she be scared if something is to high, or what about fire, or several other things. I told him that she wouldn't know what scared was, she knows nothing about life and that's why we have to protect her from some things. Then I told him something that seemed to blow his mind, I said Elijah you weren't scared of anything when you were a baby either. I just thought of this cause I was reading Chris' blog about child-like faith and how we lose some of our faith when we become aware of our surroundings. Even at 4, that had already started to happen - though this was a good thing that Elijah knows that fire will burn you and not to touch it. But he couldn't fathom a time when he wasn't scared of it. I bet looking back on things I would be like that too. I also read Steven Furtick's blog which was on the same wave length as Chris and he was saying that earlier in life we would give whatever God asked, but now that we are aware of our surroundings it gets harder. That is definately true... in the next few months we are going to decide if I will be a stay at home mom or come back to work. The first thing I think about is our bills and our lifestyle and how it would all change. Which is smart, but other things are important to - like our child's well-being and the time I would get to spend with her when she actually wants to spend time with me. Both Chris and Steven's blogs really hit home with me so be sure to check them out!!

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Holidays, Thoughts, & Pictures

Well, there is lots going on right now. 6 weeks from this Thursday our baby is due and we will be busy until then! Chris and Rex have been working on our bonus room and tonite they are bringing up the dry wall, supposedly we will be painting the room by Thanksgiving!! But we have to get carpet up there which won't take very long to do but we have to find it somewhere and right now I can't tell them exactly what day we need it installed - so that's kind of on hold, but we can't move anything upstairs until the carpet is done, so we have to wait on that before we can start the baby's room. It will all work out, it always does. Plus I love putting up Christmas stuff the day after Thanksgiving but it may be a little longer before we can do that - I know with the baby I shouldn't get into that, but I have to decorate for Christmas - it's my favorite!! I'm starting to slow down on my extra work, I just have one wedding album left to design and that's all I will take until after the baby, I have to have time to relax. I do love this time of year though!! Chris laughs at me because I just see holiday stuff in the store and get excited, but whatever at least I'm happy!

So last night I had to leave church before it started cause I was so achy and it lasted all night, but I woke up this morning and felt better just really, really tired, I'm over being pregnant, well some parts of it!! I like to feel her move and I want her to be in there until she is fully formed, but it's not that long - she will be considered full term Dec. 10th, I would like to have her on Dec. 20th, we will be home for Christmas, but I don't have any control over that and because of that she'll be like 10 days late!! It will be weird and exciting to have her around and to see what she looks like. On another note, Chris and I were talking last night about the difference between excellence and perfection. We can never be perfect, but we should always try to do our absolute best in whatever we are doing. Ok, so this is where it gets hard for me - the balance, Chris and I are similiar in that fact that we focus on one thing and put all our energy into that and other things get less then what we can give. Chris has heard this balance thing from me for like the past month, cause I'm really needy right now and I want his time, even if we're justing sitting doing nothing, which is hard cause then you think about all the things you need to be doing. But, really right now that is my prayer for balance, I wonder if that's something anyone ever figures out completely?

Ok. So also below I've posted pictures from my photo shoot with Sophia and Aubrey Jane. Sophia is 2 and Aubrey Jane is 6mths. They were fun to shoot, kids just are real and when you can capture that you get the best pictures. So enjoy the pictures!!

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Ok, Time to Catch Up

So the past month I've shot a few photo shoots and I guess it's about time I shared some of the photos. A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of doing Emily's senior pictures - she was so much fun to shoot cause she was up for anything. I love when people aren't afraid to try things. So here is a few of my favorites. . .























I have a couple other photos shoots that I will be posting soon. In other news, the baby is moving like crazy and last night it hit me that I have like maybe 7 more weeks, I am excited and nervous. I really can't wait to see what she looks like...I don't really think she'll look like the routan baby in my last post!! Also, The Ridge was awesome Sunday night. Chris did great with the lights, it's the best they've ever looked and the band sounded really good and Pastor Bob's message really hit me, and that isn't just token praise!! (inside joke for those of us who attended!) Well I guess that's it for now.

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Just had to share...

I decided to use the Routon baby maker that Deena showed me to predict what Chris and I's baby would look like...so drum roll please

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Happenings of the Week

Ok, so we had a little scare this week. I was standing in line to vote Tuesday and I felt a little leaking and my back was killing me. I called my doctor and they sent me straight to labor and delivery.... as soon as I heard those words I freaked out and called Chris who met me at the hospital right away. I'm good, no fluid leaking that shouldn't but there were contractions, but after a few hours I was sent home with orders to lay down and rest. The next day I went to the doctor and she cleared me to work cause I sit down, but limit my standing, get lots of rest and drink lots of fluids. This is hard for me cause those of you who know me well know that I'm constantly going... it's like what do I cut out. This is for my daughter though so I will do whatever it takes, if she can just stay in there for 5 more weeks that will be great - I will be 37 weeks by then and that's considered full term. I just want her to be fine. I don't worry all the time, but things go through my head every once in awhile. I know God is protecting me and my family and whatever happens I trust is his plan. I will try not to let my humaness get in the way. Well in good news we've started finishing our upstairs bonus room which is great cause that needs to be done so we can get all the stuff out of the baby's room. I have loved the weather this week, just a little cooler and it would be perfect. The leaves are awesome and holidays are coming it's just a good time of year!

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A day like any other. . .

Well today I'm doing much better then yesterday. When things in life don't turn out how they should it's hard, especially when you want to help someone so badly but they don't seem to want it. It's really hard to understand some of the life threatening struggles that happen in this life - how do you keep yourself sain, when you realize there is nothing you can do? I'm trying my best to stay stress-free for the baby's sake if not my own. I did start today off praying and it really did make me feel better, like maybe there is a plan and things that happen will seem minimal one day. Anyway I have been working like crazy, but hopefully for a good cause - to be my own boss one day. I have had 3 photo shoots in the past week and two wedding albums to do, one ended up being over 60 pages. I have a lot to do before next week with revisions, editing pictures and starting a new album! After November I think I will need to slow down a bit cause I'm like due Jan. 1st and I don't want to take on more then I can handle. Oh, did I mention all the stuff above was on top of working my normal job! I am excited that Halloween is tomorrow, I always get so excited but I don't know why. Chris and I are having some friends over to hang out and pass out candy to the trick or treators!! Plus, my nephew, Elijah is coming over to trick or treat - he is 4 and he is definately Batman this year! Don't call him Elijah while he is in costume he won't answer you. Well for those of you who read this please keep my sister in your prayers, her life has been one hard road and we are trying to pick up the pieces.

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Weekend Plans!!

Well, first of all this weekend is going to be great because the weather is going to be awesome!! Sunny, high of maybe 80, but cool in the mornings and evenings! Tonight we are going to see Nick and Nora's Infinate Playlist, it's the only movie that I've really wanted to see in quite a while. Tomorrow we are taking Elijah to the Children's Discovery Museum in Chattanooga, I think he will have fun, it's all interactive, I just hope I don't get too tired. I can't believe next week I will be 7mths. pregnant! It's going by pretty fast now, and sometimes I panic because we really haven't done anything yet to get prepared. But, I'm sure it will all work out. Well I guess that's all for now!

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Baby Update!

Well, I went to the doctor's yesterday to do my glucose test, where they see if I have diabetes. This was no fun, though the stuff that you drink wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, it was the nausea I had for the hour I had to wait before they took my blood. But, so far everything is good, her heart rate is 145 and she was kicking the doctor like crazy, I think she will be hyper, she is always moving! Also this is kind of funny, we thought I might have been leaking fluid so I had to have an exam and everything was fine the doctor said that the baby must have kicked my bladder and I peed on myself a little bit, glad everything was ok, but now I'm gonn be peeing on myself...good to know! Everytime we get to hear her heartbeat I get so excited and think wow this is real plus I love feeling her move around in my stomach it is so cool!

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New Pictures!

So a couple of weeks ago I got to shoot my good friends Stephanie and Mike's baby girl Delia's 9 month pictures. She is so funny, it may take a lot to get a smile out of her, but her expressions are priceless. Not to mention that she loves to eat leaves, dirt, sticks or whatever is laying around. I could hardly take the pictures because I was laughing so hard. Oh and miss Delia is a trooper, some of the photos she is in a sweater and a hat and it's like 80 or 85 degrees outside. We tried to shoot early but it got hot fast. Steph and Mike she so cute...everyone else enjoy the pictures!

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