Holiday Firsts

We had a wonderfully relaxing holiday season. We were able to spread our Christmas festivities over a three-day period which made for a very stress-free holiday. This will definitely be the annual plan for as long as possible.

This holiday season also brought along a few pregnancy firsts. On Christmas Day we reached the midway point! We’re on the downhill slope now. Also, my belly button decided to peak outside of its cave. The top half popped out a few days after Christmas so now I have a half-innie/half-outie. Ben is already really freaked out by it…this is going to be fun! I was also graced by the presence of my first encounter with heartburn. I don’t know how I have avoided it all these years, but I do believe I am now making up for all that lost time. Oh joy! And finally, the thing that completely shocked me was I experienced my first Braxton Hicks contractions. All of the books say many women don’t ever feel them and even if they do, they are completely painless. Ok, I will concede to the fact that they are not painful, but they are rather uncomfortable. To quote a frustrated Rachel from “Friends” when Ross told her Braxton Hicks contractions were completely painless: “No uterus; no opinion!” Well said Rachel, well said!

This wasn't a holiday first, but I just realized I forgot to mention it in my two-month break from blogging. I first felt the baby move (flutters) at 15 weeks. When we went to Mexico I could feel kicking, but every time I would call Ben over she would stop. But, Ben was able to finally feel her kick at 18 weeks.

Here are my 20 week belly pictures:

Mexico

Is anyone there? Yeah, I know—I’m a bad blogger! Hopefully, once the baby arrives I will feel like I have more to share.

Now to play catch up…

Ben and I took a wonderfully amazing trip to an all-inclusive resort and spa in Mexico in the beginning of December. It was my first time out of the country and my first flight on a commercial airline (says the daughter of a pilot)!

For the most part we had a wonderful time doing nothing! We sat on the beach under a cabana being waited on hand-and-foot for two whole days. Bonus: On our second day of lounging we had front row seats to two weddings! You can see one of the weddings taking place just beyond Ben's feet. Ben wasn’t really that impressed…I guess it’s a girl thing.

Later, we took a full-day guided tour of the ruins at Chichen Itza. I thought this was absolutely going to be the highlight of the trip, what with my obsession of history. However, after traveling for three hours and listening to our tour guide try to crack jokes for three hours straight we finally stopped at a little shop and that was when we learned that we would not be eating lunch until 4:30 in the afternoon. Um…what?! People, we ate breakfast at 8:30—you cannot expect a pregnant lady to abstain from eating for 8 hours. Needless to say I was a little panicky when we finally arrived at Chichen Itza. After listening to our tour guide talk about nothing for 20 minutes in the sweltering heat, Ben and I decided to live on the edge, break away from the tour and go EAT!!! After we ate we conducted our own tour, which was fabulous! At the end of the day, we decided we had a much better time exploring the ruins on our own and it was pretty fabulous!

Ben and I consider ourselves to be extremely blessed to have been given this opportunity (along with many others). We can't wait to go back--that is, if we can ever afford it!

Oh Baby!

We had our second ultrasound yesterday. There is actually a baby in there...not just a bubble! The purpose of the ultrasound was to measure the back of the neck as the first part of a series of tests that screen for Down Syndrome. When the technician was doing the test, she said what she was seeing was a textbook example of how to measure. She said babies rarely get in the perfect spot, but ours did! She even printed out an extra copy to turn in when she goes for her recertification. Yep, that is definitely my child...already trying to be a perfectionist!

It was so much fun to watch the baby move around! The only bad part was Ben wasn't able to make it because he had to out of town for work. I seriously wanted to film the screen on my phone so he could see the movement.

The heartbeat was 162 bpm and the technician said she *thinks* it is a GIRL!!! Yeah, I've been thinking this entire time that it was a boy. Anyway, the baby cooperated rather nicely by showing us her "good" side. It is still a little early to be 100% positive, but it looked pretty clear--by the way, now I'll feel really stupid when we find out in December that it really is a boy! But until then, I'll go on cautiously thinking it is a girl!

P.S. I promise I have a head!

10 Weeks

Not much of a belly change from last week, although I think it may be slightly smaller this week. But that could be due to the fact that I was wearing the only pair of pants that actually fit today! It is rather nice to be able to button your pants and actually breathe at the same time.

On another note, the emotional part of pregnancy has definitely kicked in. I spent 40 minutes sobbing today because my math test wouldn't print correctly. I fixed the problem after 5 minutes, but it upset me so much I cried the rest of my planning period. And I don't mean I had tears trickling down my cheek. Oh no, this was a full fledged sob fest! My friend was in my room trying to comfort me and another one of my friends from across the hall came to my room and closed the door because I was crying so loudly. I could have probably cried for a few more hours over that printing mishap, but I had to pick up my kids. Ridiculous, I know!

Finally, the exciting news for the day--we heard the heartbeat! 140 bpm!!

Hmm...

I think there is something in there! People at work are starting to give me the "are you pregnant or just fat" looks, but I can't officially make the announcement until our next faculty meeting in two weeks.


I know it doesn't look like much, but those of you who know me know that this is a pretty significant baby bump for me! Yay!!

One Baby On Board (Phew!)

Here is the first ultrasound picture of our little peanut! Right now I am 7 weeks 1 day and the baby measured 6 weeks 6 days, so slightly behind, but nothing to worry about. We saw the heart beating...amazing!!! 126 bpm!!

Sharing the News

Here are some pictures of the day Ben and I shared our news with my dad and bonus-mom. We gave each of them a bib that said "I love my grandpa" and "I love my grandma." Their reactions were hilarious!

By the Grace of God

A picture is worth a thousand words...


Or maybe just one word...

Thank You, Lord!

Waiting for our BFP

Wait
Russel Kelfer

Desperately, helplessly, longingly, I cried;
Quietly, patiently, lovingly, God replied.
I pled and I wept for a clue to my fate...
And the Messenger so gently said, "Wait."

"Wait? You say wait?" my indignant reply.
"Lord, I need answers, I need to know why!
Is your hand shortened? Or have you not heard?
By faith I have asked, and I'm claiming Your Word."

"My future and all to which I relate
Hangs in the balance, and you tell me to wait?
I'm needing a 'yes', a go-ahead sign,
Or even a 'no' to which I can resign."

"You promised, dear Lord, that if we believe,
We need but to ask, and we shall receive.
And Lord, I've been asking, and this is my cry:
I'm weary of asking! I need a reply."

Then quietly, softly, I learned of my fate,
As my Master replied again, "Wait."
So I slumped in my chair, defeated and taut,
And grumbled to God, "So, I'm waiting for what?"

He seemed then to kneel, and His eyes met with mine...
and he tenderly said, "I could give you a sign.
I could shake the heavens and darken the sun.
I could raise the dead and cause mountains to run."

"I could give all you seek and pleased you would be.
You'd have what you want, but you wouldn't know Me.
You'd not know the depth of my love for each saint.
You'd not know the power that I give to the faint."

"You'd not learn to see through clouds of despair;
You'd not learn to trust just by knowing I'm there.
You'd not know the joy of resting in Me
When darkness and silence are all you can see."

"You'd never experience the fullness of love
When the peace of My spirit descends like a dove.
You would know that I give, and I save, for a start,
But you'd not know the depth of the beat of My heart."

"The glow of my comfort late into the night,
The faith that I give when you walk without sight.
The depth that's beyond getting just what you ask
From an infinite God who makes what you have last."

"You'd never know, should your pain quickly flee,
What it means that My grace is sufficient for thee.
Yes, your dearest dreams overnight would come true,
But, oh, the loss if you missed what I'm doing in you."

"So, be silent, my child, and in time you will see
That the greatest of gifts is to truly know Me.
And though oft My answers seem terribly late,
My most precious answer of all is still...Wait."

One Year Later...

One year ago today, nine brave men lost their lives while fighting a horrendous fire that broke out at the Sofa Super Store--the worst firefighter disaster since September 11th. These men have since become known as The Charleston Nine. Today we honor those men.

• Captain William "Billy" Hutchinson--48 years old--30 years of service
• Captain Mike Benke--49 years old--29 years of service
• Captain Louis Mulkey--34 years old--11 1/2 years of service
• Engineer Mark Kelsey--40 years old--12 1/2 years of service
• Engineer Bradford "Brad" Baity--37 years old--9 years of service
• Assistant Engineer Michael French--27 years old--1 1/2 years of service
• Firefighter James "Earl" Drayton--56 years old--32 years of service
• Firefighter Brandon Thompson--27 years old--4 years of service
• Firefighter Melvin Champaign--46 years old--2 years of service

Words cannot express the utter despair I felt as I watched the fire. I ask you now to take ten minutes out of your day to watch this video honoring the bravery of the Charleston Nine, as well as every other man and woman who risked their life that horrible night. Please pray for the families of each of these men.

Rest in Peace, Heroes.

We will never forget.

100 Things to Do In My Lifetime (Part 1)

At school, I always tell my students to set goals for themselves so they have some idea of where they are heading. Their goals serve as a guiding light for their decisions and actions. Since I do like to practice what I preach, I have devised a list of goals I have for my lifetime. This is the first installment of my list of 100 Things to Do Before You Die. I have a list of more than 25 things, but since I believe that our goals should change as we engage in more life experiences, I will only publish the first 25 goals. You may never see my complete list because I hope to make this something that does indeed span my entire lifetime. That being said, here is the first part of my list, enjoy!

********

1. Write a book.
2. Get a piece of writing published.
3. Be in a play not affiliated with any type of school.
4. Go to New York City.
5. See a Broadway play.
6. Go to the theatre once a year.
7. Experience unconditional love.
8. Marry my best friend.
9. Have children.
10. Watch a space shuttle lift off…in person.
11. Be an extra in a film.
12. Send a message in a bottle.
13. Befriend my neighbors.
14. Learn how to ballroom dance.
15. Learn to play a musical instrument with some degree of skill.
16. Spend New Year’s Eve in Time Square.
17. See a lunar eclipse.
18. See a solar eclipse.
19. Sing onstage in front of an audience.
20. Learn to juggle.
21. Find a job I love.
22. Buy a house.
23. Grow a vegetable garden.
24. Complete the Cooper River Bridge Run.
25. Read 12 books in one year.

********

The highlighted items are goals that I feel I have already sufficiently accomplished.

During the summer I dabbled in writing a children's book that encompasses social reproduction and tracking in our current school system. I hope to finalize that book this summer.

I am also currently working on #25 (Read 12 books in one year). I know that sounds simple, but now that I am out of college and not required to read several books each semester, I feel that I need to impose that goal upon myself. Obviously to meet my goal I would need to read one book each month (sounds easy enough, right?). However, here we are in the fifth month of the year and I have only read two books cover-to-cover (as a teacher, I feel hypocritical saying that). The two that I have read this year to completion are Nicholas Sparks's At First Sight and Dave Pelzer's A Child Called "It." I have been searching for the next books that I will read, but I can't make up my mind. I want my book selection to be more deliberate than just going to a store and picking a book out of the minimal collection. I would also like to read a variety of genres and a variety of topics. Any suggestions? What book(s) could you not live without? I have several books that I could not live without, but I am not going to count repeat reads as part of my 12 books for the year.

********

Shoot for the moon; even if you miss you'll land among the stars.
~Les Brown

Update

After nearly a month of anticipation, I found out today that all of the blood tests and ultrasounds came back normal...perfect, some might say. Now that we know my body has the potential to function normally, my doctor has started me on a a medication called Met.formin. This should help my cycles become regular and the doc said that hopefully I will be pregnant within six months. After all of the waiting, Hubby and I are so excited to finally receive some answers! The only bad part is that this medicine has the potential to make me very sick. We will continue to pray that everything works!

Rookie Teacher of the Year

After observations from the previous 5 Teachers of the Year and 2 administrators, I was named my school's Rookie Teacher of the Year. It is a great honor to hold this title and I am so excited! The ceremony/celebration was after school on Wednesday. When my principle called my name my family came around the corner to congratulate me. I had no idea!!

This is a picture that my dad took on his cell phone--my family forgot to bring their cameras--so I apologize for the poor quality! I received two plaques (one for home and one that is now hanging by my classroom door), a paper weight, roses, and a book dedicated to the library in my honor called The Brand New Kid.

BLAH

As a result of my long awaited doctor's appointment yesterday I am now about to start a 10 day cycle of Pro.metrium. If you know me, then you know why I'm taking it. If you don't know me, or you haven't been paying enough attention to know why I would need to take it...go look it up. I'm too tired to explain....

The Ring of Fire

So what happens when the Carrington Crew comes together for the monthly cookout with accompanying camp fire, but gets so distracted by ladder golf and good food that they forget to watch the fire? THE RING OF FIRE!

Yep! We were all having a grand time around the food table when Ben just happened to turn around to find a large ring of fire around the fire pit. Needless to say, we don't have any pictures of our backyard burning--but here is a lovely picture of the aftermath. Thankfully the patch directly beneath the fire pit is the only area that may have been burned beyond repair!


Besides the fire fiasco we all had an excellent time. We are so blessed to have such wonderful neighbors!