I am head over heels in love

I am head over heels in love with our baby. I have felt it moving this past week and seen some amazing images through a 4D ultrasound. What an amazing miracle. Praise God!

Enjoying the beach

This summers theme would be "thankful" if it had a theme. Allen and I have been able to go on numerous free beach trips and trips to the North Carolina Mountains. God has definitely blessed us with "us" time since knowing that a little one will be arriving in the new year. I have really enjoyed this summer thoroughly and I am so thankful for all the moments of travel and rest that God has provided.

School starts back up again this coming Thursday ( i know isn't that TOO early?) so we are spending the last days of summer down on the Georgia Coast at various locations. I have already had one amazing pina colada this trip, a delicious southern cooked dinner and a relaxing evening on the beach! Three Cheers for summertime!

Ready for this?

*** disclaimer: I do not look like this now. I am well on my way, but do not have a belly like this!

So when Allen and I first found out we were going to be parents we stared at the test in shock. We laughed. We kept asking each other "really? is this real?" It was a really cool moment. It was like we were the only people in the world. This baby was a great surprise and we couldn't be more thankful. For most of my life I played out this moment in a specific way, like telling my husband by buying little baby shoes or cooking him a nice meal and putting baby food jars out etc. Not calling him in the bathroom and saying "look! look!" at a little test. However, I would change a thing about it. It was amazing and so real.

Soon I realized that even though I was not very far along I could no longer hold in my tummy. Loose shirts became my friend at work so that I could feel more comfortable and many trips to the bathroom soon became the norm the last month of school. A few weeks later Allen and I went to the mall on Saturday afternoon and for fun I wanted to try on some materiney jeans. Lo and behold they have a fake strap on belly in the dressing room. Cue the picture above. It was a very real and emotional moment to see that reflection in the mirror.

So baby is growing and growing as well as my experience with pregnancy. It is a blessing to be this far along and I am so thankful that God has allowed us to be a part of this plan thus far. We are looking forward to our last beach trip of the summer and a 3d ultrasound. Many more pictures to come soon to document our experience!

The one and only Eli

This is a video of Eli at the doctors office for a check up. The vet gave him some water and Eli just couldn't refuse!

A romance

I have really fallen in love with this man. He is so amazing.

Autum

I am very ready for fall to get here.

I have had a great, fun, relaxing, exciting summer. I have been on more than one beach trip, more than one mountain trip, seen family and friends from California and Alabama. I have visited with friends in Atlanta that I hadn't seen in months.

However, I am ready for fall. Fall is my absolute most favorite time of the year ever. I love getting the cooler weather. I love feeling the change in the air. I love getting pumpkin spice lattes with whip cream and seeing the colors of leaves change on the way home from work. I love taking trips to North Carolina because fall is much more magical in the mountains than here in the city.

I am looking forward to being pregnant during the fall. I am so ready for fall. This weekend husband and I are heading to the mountains and the high is predicted to be 70. I am sleeping with windows open. I am getting a hot chocolate at the local coffee shop early in the morning when its 55 outside. I am going to take it slow and take in the gorgeous scenery.

I am really looking forward to this trip. I just wish it were promised to be longer.

times changing

I know I am in my 2nd trimester when...

I can eat my leftovers from lunch for dinner without gagging.

A July 4th past...

The first July 4th Allen and I spent together at the beach. We stayed a week in Hilton Head with his family and watched the show from Harbor town. It was magical. Allen's dad took this shot while we were totally unaware and I love it.

Happy 4th of July!! I hope its filled with fun, freedom and fireworks!