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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