Community

We have been meeting with our home group since August and this past Sunday we hit a point that I have prayed for for so long. It is amazing to see true community amongst fellow followers of Jesus: loving one another, serving one another and truly caring for one another. We have been incredibly blessed by 5 couples that are now family to us.

I cant say enough about the importance of being in community with others. God created relationships for the very purpose that we arent supposed to be going through this life alone. As we love, encourage and share our lives with each other we continue to be molded to become more like Him. It is such a beautiful picture of what the “church” is supposed to be.

Cant say enough about these people and how much I LOVE seeing their lives changed for Jesus!

Instagram Update

I’m often using instagram for my pictures these days but I have to remember to blog them too! Here is Carter boy practicing his big brother skills in nursery. He was very sweet and wanted to “hold the baby.”

Speaking of little big brother, can you believe he will be 2 in 10 days?!? Whew party planning mode in full force and this boy is in full stinker mode too!

 

Griffin has taken up the new love of dressing himself lately. His favorite are “comfortable clothes,” but today was EXTRA special. Cowboy boots AND shades on just to go run errands. He’s so cool.

Cool in more ways than that too. His teacher tells me that all the girls are fighting over who gets to sit by him in class. And this little girl was the one he chose to be his, “best buddy.” At playtime they are running around holding hands and then almost instantly he decides he is done and runs as far from her as he can (while she chases after him.) Oh that boy is already a heartbreaker!

Both of these silly boys are very into hide and seek. Tonight this was the special hiding spot they chose

Happy birthday, Daddy!

JR’s 31st birthday happened to also be the icestorm of 2013 in Knoxville. It wasn’t too terrible, but bad enough to where we didn’t go anywhere. He enjoyed the boys waking him up with a birthday waffle and singing to him. The rest of the day was just spent relaxing.

We originally had a date night planned but of course were stuck home so I cooked instead and made a cookie cake!

We did get to reschedule for Saturday though and it was a very much needed alone time with my stud! So incredibly thankful for his 31 years of life; he is one heck of a hubby and the best dad I have EVER seen. I love you sweetie!

22 weeks

At 22 weeks, Lexi Grace is 11 inches (the length of a spaghetti squash) and almost 1 pound. She  is starting to look like a miniature newborn. Her lips, eyelids, and eyebrows are becoming more distinct, and she's even developing tiny tooth buds beneath her gums. Her eyes have formed, but her irises (the colored part of the eye) still lack pigment

Total Weight Gain: 7 lbs

Gender: IT’S A GIRL!!!!!

Movement: All the time!

What I miss: Being able to sit down and not have sciatic problems when getting back up.

Sleep: Sleeping well and finally gaining some energy back! Thank goodness because I’m busy cleaning out closets and making room for our sweet girl!

Symptoms: Now that nausea has subsided, heartburn and indigestion has kicked in.

Notes: Her big brothers are so sweet and often ask when Lexi will be here. Griffin now also kisses my belly goodnight

Cravings: anything fruity

What we are looking forward to: Getting the nursery ready! Mommy has been dreaming of a pink nursery for awhile so let the DIY projects begin!

8th annual Phi Mu girls weekend

Every year for MLK, my Phi Mu sorority sisters get together for a little reunion. This is our 8th year and this time the location was back to our old stomping grounds… Knoxville!

10 of us enjoyed catching up and feeling old as we headed back to some of the hot spots we used to frequent in college. I’m so thankful for our tradition to get together!!

Miss Doss was recently engaged so we had her a candlelight!

And they all were VERY sweet to bless Miss Lexi with diapers and wipes!!

 

Love my Phi Mu girls!

My first "I just couldn't resist" purchase!

Hot pink socks and headband with matching flower bows :) only $5 so it could have been way worse ha!

Gender Reveal Photo Shoot

I knew with all the hype of gender reveals these days that I definitely wanted to do something special for our 3rd baby. I not only wanted to be able to have a moment with the boys so they could really understand instead of just laying on the ultrasound bed. but I also wanted to get JR’s reaction if in fact we did see PINK! I am SO lucky to have such a sweet friend who is also an amazing photographer and she made the idea come to life!

We had planned to do the photos at the park, but it poured rain all day, very much like our wedding day actually ha! So without further ado…

 

Pure shock from Daddy

Haha look at your face, Daddy! (he was in a fog)

Hugs and tears from Mommy!

Oh my gosh is that REALLY pink?!?!

Boys what do you think?

We are SO excited!

Daddy’s little sweatheart

I told you so, Daddy!

We were right…. HAHA!

Oh Mommy, I’m so happy!

There are really no words!

Can this really be true?

Needless to say we were OVERJOYED! Our family has truly been blessed by God’s goodness to us and this sweet girl is really like the cherry on top! I honestly have dreamed of having a little girl since I was a young girl. I even have had her named since I was in the 4th grade. It is still very surreal that SHE is actually on her way and I think it will continue to hit us all along the way.

The boys weren't surprised at all because of course they’ve said it’s a girl the whole time. Daddy and Mommy on the other hand, our guess was all boy! JR really was the sweetest though and said, “It is all worth it to see you this happy, but this is really gonna rock my world!” He knows he is already wrapped around her finger ha!

Thank you so much to everyone who has shared in our excitement. We were overwhelmed by your love, support, and even those guys who are loving being able to kid JR know

 

thanks a million to eye am sam photography! She is amazing and if you need pictures you definitely need to check her out!

20-21 weeks!

With all of the gender excitement I have forgotten to post for 20 weeks so since I’ll be 21 weeks in 2 days this will serve for both!

At 20 weeks, our baby is about 10 1/2 ounces now. He's also around 6 1/2 inches long from head to bottom and about 10 inches from head to heel — the length of a banana.

Total Weight Gain: 7 lbs

Gender: IT’S A GIRL!!!!!

Movement: All the time!

What I miss: Not really missing anything right now. Too much excitement with the thought of adding pink to our family!

Sleep: Sleeping just fine and could sleep often!

Symptoms: Nausea is continuing to hold on even though it’s the 2nd trimester. Also pretty bad headaches the last week and of course the lovely sciatic nerve pain. Now I know that girl and boy pregnancies treat me differently for sure!

Notes: We are all still trying to recover from the whirlwind and shock of receiving the new it’s a girl but oh so excited!

Cravings: Mexican, pickles, sweets

What we are looking forward to: Making preparations for our sweet daughter! It is going to be a lot going from ALL blue to now pink but we know God will take care of it!

I would like to introduce….

Our DAUGHTER!!!!!

Much anticipation!

Today is our big day to find out the gender of baby #3! I honestly feel like we’ve been waiting FOREVER and in fact it is 3 weeks longer than I’ve had to wait for the other two. I am always eager to know boy or girl, not because it really matters which one, but instead it makes your pregnancy more personal and I LOVE calling my babies by name!

This time seems to present even more anticipation for some reason! The fact that we will REALLY be an all boy team from here on or if there is a small chance we will add in some pink… I don’t know! Its been so fun to prepare Griffin for today as well. Last night on the drive home I said, “Griffin, did you know the doctors are going to tell us girl or boy tomorrow?” And he without hesitation says, “But Mommy, I’ve already told you it’s a BABY GIRL!” Very funny for me because I would have never guessed he would say he wanted a sister or was even thinking that way, however, he has not waivered for the last few months on his guess.

Carter also chimed in with girl last night just before bed. As I was putting them to bed I asked, “Carter, do you think baby girl or baby boy?” And sure enough he said girl.

Both of the boys responses just make me laugh because the whole time I see JR in the background just sweating! He told our small group last night that come 3:00 tomorrow his whole world could change haha! He is definitely excited at the possibility but I know once the reality sets in if its true then he will feel his shoulders weighed down with worry!

And of course all of this is to say nothing at all because it could very well be our Hudson Judah we’ve been praying for too! In all honesty, if this momma had to guess I’d say 10% chance of a girl (only because this pregnancy has been SO different) and about 90% that I’ll always be a momma to boys! Which I am of course perfectly fine with

Either way check back later tonight and we will have the big reveal!

Weekend with the Whiteheads

JR was invited to preach in Hohenwald by his buddy Marcus this weekend so we packed up the gang and made the 4 hour trip west. The boys had a blast playing with their 3 kids and we enjoyed a relaxing weekend with exceptional hospitality! Thank you Julie and Mark... we enjoyed our time together!