We are SO blessed!

We are so blessed with amazing friends and family.  This week our closest friends answered a huge prayer request for us.  They got us a dresser, baby swing, and bebe' pod seat for Little G.  Finances have been tight the past few months and with having to give back most of the baby stuff we had with Morganne we were left wondering what we were going to have to acomodate baby in the next few months.  We definitely had faith that things would work out, and know that baby's have survived and done well with less, but these are very appreciated gifts that will make life easier.  We also have other friends that are giving us a double stroller, how awesome is that.  Again, God is good, and we are so blessed.  Thank you G & L, B & B, and N & K.  We love you all!!!!

We also had the blessing this weekend to spend time with some close friends that we haven't seen in a while.  It was a great weekend.  Thursday night Lisa called and mentioned that she, Jason, and Shannon were in town.  Luckily things worked out and we got to have dinner with Lisa and Shannon that night.  It was great spending time with them and Shannon and Morganne had so much fun playing together.  I'm glad that we are close enough with them that they know they can call and come over to visit any time, even if not planned. 

We then had the blessing to be able to have Wes and Melanie over for the weekend.  They crashed on our couches Friday and Saturday and we were able to stay up and talk both nights and have lunch with them on Sunday before they headed back to Knoxville.  Both Lisa and Jason, and Wes and Melanie are the type of friends that I don't stress about the house being in perfect shape or schedules planned.  It was a fun relaxing weekend.  We miss both of these families so much.  We are thankful for technology so that we can at least stay connected, however it's not the same as being with them regularly.  They are truly great friends.  We are so excited for God to be bringing a baby to Wes and Melanie.  Yet another reason we wished we lived so much closer.  

 

Another great thing about this past weekend was that we got to have dinner with Nana and Grandad two nights.  On Friday they stopped by to say hi to Morganne since they were in town and ended up staying for dinner.  While here Nana and Morganne, (and Grandad helped too!) made very yummy banana bread.  Morganne truly enjoyed it and really followed directions very well.  I was impressed.  She tasted her work occasionally, but we just figure that only added sweetness! :cP  It was a fun moment.  Nana and Grandad love their Morganne time.

Update on "Little G":  I had another Dr.s appt. on Friday. I'm now 2cm dilated, so we'll see if I make it to the 11th, although I've not had any "regular" contractions yet, so I'm expecting she won't come early.  We are getting very excited and nervous.  Very eager to tell everyone her name.  We've almost slipped who knows how many times.  We will be sure to keep everyone updated when the big day comes. 

Hope everyone has a good week!  God is good!!!!

Pregger photos- warning wide load ahead!

So, I've had a few people bugging me about posting pictures of my "baby bump" on here.  I assure you it's more like a "baby mountain".  For those of you that saw me at the end of Morganne's pregnancy, I've grown the exact same.  Even to the point that I've grown out of most of my maternity clothes again too, since I'm carrying so low again.  So here are a few shots that Justin took today of Morganne and I after church. 

I had my 37 week check up on Friday.  Everything looks good.  I'm still only 1cm dialated and 50% effaced.  I'm scheduled to be induced on March 11th, if I haven't had her before then.  So, we'll see....  We are getting excited to meet her.  I'm wondering if "little G" will look more like me this time, seeing as how we have people question if I am truly Morganne's mother!  She definitely takes after her Daddy and great-grandpa with that blond hair and those pretty blue eyes!  I honestly never thought I'd have a blue eye'd child.

I have some video I'd like to upload, but for the life of me I can't figure out how with this new format.  I will look into it and try next time. Wow, 2 blog posts in 2 days.  That's a lot for me!

Trusting God

As many of you know from pervious posts, I have been contemplating leaving my current place of employment.  As this was not an easy decision, since I love my co-workers, like what I do, and really enjoy my clients, I felt that it was now or never due to my upcoming maternity leave and both my employer and I preparing for my absence for 2 months anyhow.  Well, it's official.  As of Thursday I handed in my 2 week notice.  I immediately felt a sigh of relief and was really quite optomistic the rest of the day.  It felt right, like this is what God is wanting with me right now. 
Did I mention that I don't have anything lined up yet, and that every day you hear more and more about the unemployment rate and under-employement rates getting higher?!?!?  Needless to say, my faith waivered yesterday and I questioned if this is really what God was telling me to do.  No, more like paniced over finances and such.  We have been hit hard this pregnancy with unforseen expenses, and have not had the chance to save like we did with Morganne.  Plus, we've had to "give back" all of our borrowed baby items due to everyone else being pregnant too!  (To no fault of their own of course!!!)  I had to keep reminding myself we would be in this financial situation regardless of my job situation because of my upcoming maternity leave.  Luckily, God has given me such a supporting husband, otherwise I think I would have gone crazy long ago.  So, it was a day full of prayer, pleading that God would give me some sign as to what I'm supposed to do next.  On top of everything, I'm not feeling the greatest with a head cold and being 37 weeks pregnant, so lack of sleep has fueled my emotions I believe.  Well, about 7:30pm last night I got a phone call from one of the 3 places I sent a resume too last week.  I've worked for her before, and she said she was so excited to hear I was job searching and she really wanted to talk to me.  They don't have the space for a full time person, but since I'm looking for part-time it might be a perfect fit.  It was the boost that I needed.  I really like this doctor and highly respect her and she completely values family time.  Even if it doesn't work out with her clinic, the phone call gave me the encouragement that God will provide, and I just need to have faith.  I covet your prayers next Friday afternoon when I go in to meet with her and her staff.  This has the potential to be a good move.     

Fun in the Snow

As promised, a few recent picures from the last week.  The first one is of Morganne, pretending she is leaving, grabbed her sweatshirt (jacket), put on her hat, and grabbed her purse and continued to the door saying "bye bye Mommy, see ya later!".  She enjoys pretending filling her purse with things she "needs" to take with her.  I thought the outfit was hilarious and couldn't resist a picture.  Notice, she really doesn't care for shoes that much.

Then, it was time for fun in the snow with Daddy.  Mommy, of course, was armed with the camera. 

Yes, Daddy is throwing a snowball at Mommy and Morganne thought it was great.

Daddy's attempt to show Morganne about snow angels.  She had no desire to lie down and copy him however. 

First taste of snow.  Pretty much, not thrilled with it.

The dogs had a blast.  I love the look on Roz's face if you can see it.  It's basically Ripken saying "eat my snow" and Roz getting a face full.

Yes, that's Daddy throwing yet another snowball at me.  He's lucky none of them hit the camera!

Morganne, determined to ride her tricycle in the 8 inches of snow.  Daddy was helping make that idea come true.

Snow time play has been fun and Morganne really seems to enjoy it.  Unfortunately, we are now treating URI infections within our house, hoping that it doesn't spread to Daddy or I, and it will be gone before Little G arrives.  Oh winter.

I have my first weekly OB appt. this Friday. I can't believe Little G will be here in less than 5 weeks.

Meeting the newest Harvest kids

First off, just wanted to say thanks to all for the positive comments and emails I received after my last post.  I honestly didn't have a clue how many people read our blog.  Could've possibly gotten me in trouble a bit if the wrong person had read it, but alas it was from the heart and like I said it was more of a venting place for me rather than for anyone to see.  I am officially sending out resumes this week and will turn in my resignation notice a little before my scheduled leave date for the birth of "Little G".  Again, I absolutely love my co-workers and my clients and am already having a hard time thinking about leaving them.  But, even more things have happened this last week, none to me personally, but just reminders that I've got to trust my gut, and my feeling that this is God saying "Go".  So, I will. 

Anyhow, I just wanted to mention that we were so blessed to meet our new Haitian brothers and sisters that arrived about a two weeks ago.  3 of the 4 children were blessed with Humanitarian Parole and allowed to finish out the adoption process here with their adoptive families vs. staying in Haiti.  They are adorable!!!  Totally true toddlers and they already seem to be adjusting very well.  Sorry, I don't have pictures to share, hopefully that will come soon.  Justin's week was made when he sat down and played trucks wih Joshua and Jeffry.  They climbed on him and laughed and were just so much fun to be around.  Justin's really just a big kid anyhow, so they hit it off very well, even though they speak totally different languages! 

Ok, so next post will contain more pictures I promise.  We haven't been doing much recently and none of us have felt great really.  I've got 5 weeks to go, and boy am I ready.  Last weekend I passed 3 kidney stones.  I'm thrilled about them coming out, but worried about after delievery if I will have the same issues as last time.  If they are coming out- hopefully not....  Anyhow, yet another prayer request I guess.  We are so excited to meet "Little G" someday soon.  Hope everyone else is doing well!!!!