Soon You Can Call Me Mommy!

In less than 3 weeks I get to be a mommy! That is the most amazing and unbelievable thing I have ever heard :) God has protected me through this pregnancy, given me peace, joy and health. I have been so blessed not to have morning sickness or major aches and pains. Now I ask him to grant favor to have this child naturally with no medical intervention and without being induced. The number of women who have to be induced is amazing to me. Rarely do I meet a woman who went into labor on her own. It makes me wonder what causes that?

The nursery is almost done, we have almost everything put together (now we just need 35 thousand batteries for all the different swinging, rocking, vibrating and musical gadgets that are ALL over the house). When parents told us to buy stock in batteries they weren't kidding :)

We have wonderful friends who have offered so much help and meals after Kate arrives and I am very grateful for that. The hardest part about this entire pregnancy is not having any family around us to share in it or to help. I hate that I am missing time with my first nephew Jackson, and he will not be around to grow up with his cousin Kate, especially when they are so close in age. I don't love technology because I think it is mistreated and takes away from person to person interaction, but I am so thankful for Facetime to talk with my family and say hi to Jackson and watch him grow.

Not only is he growing, but it has been amazing to watch my sister grow. She has become more nurturing and patient, loving and has more of an ease about her. Amazing what a child can do to soften us and bring a new understanding of love and patience into our lives.

I am now just waiting for this child to show up, a walk in the morning before the heat, doctors appointments, cleaning the house top to bottom, ordering the last of the needed baby items, and waiting. At 37 1/2 weeks there is not much else to do, mobility is limited :) Most days I am just ready to meet her not worrying about the process in which she will enter the world, then there are other days when I get a tiny knot in my stomach as I think about what I will endure to meet her. I keep reminding myself that God has blessed this pregnancy, it was in his timing and women do this every day. The end result is a baby, a daughter to raise and love.

I can't wait to watch Steve with her, changing her diaper, feeding her, rocking her, and taking her on dates teaching her how a man should treat her. To raise up a fully devoted follower of Christ. To be challenged in who I am because now I am accountable to a little impressionable girl who will look at her parents and everything we do and say. Have I mentioned my WHOLE life will change in less than 3 weeks??? (Well....if she shows up on time).

Time for my walk, and as much productivity as I can before I need a nap :)

12 Weeks to Mommyhood

28 weeks and 12 to go to being a mommy! There is so much to do and so much to think about. What doctor to see, family doctor or pediatrician? Preparing for labor, taking classes, setting up the babies room, and getting the house in order. I am extremely excited and scared all at once, but just taking one item at a time and making decisions.

I have had two wonderful family baby showers and am feeling extremely blessed. God has put wonderful people around us that have really been there for us.

As for carrying a child, it has been a very enjoyable experience. Well, all but how much this child moves. I think she is using me as a punching bag, which I do not appreciate :) I know many women enjoy thee feeling of their baby moving around in their tummy, but when most of them feel well...painful... It takes a bit of the joy away. But, I know it's the good Lord's way of letting me know she's alive and well!

This week is my last 4 week appointment and glucose testing and then we are down two every two weeks. It is going by so fast (although I'm sure the hot summer days ahead and my growing tummy will make the time pass by a bit slower).

My sister Carolyn is due in 4 short weeks, which is also so amazing to me. My first nephew! I keep praying everyday for a safe delivery for her. What a wonderful thing to enjoy being mom's together.

For me 12 weeks until I meet Katherine "Kate" Hope Madison!

16-17 weeks and counting

I am somewhere around 16-17 weeks pregnant. It's hard to tell after the ultrasound when they measure and change things, but it's close enough :) They asked me at my doctors appointment yesterday if I have felt the baby move yet, but I can't way I am to sure. When they tell you it can feel alot like gas (something that I have more of these days) it is hard to tell (ha!) It was so good to hear the baby's heart beat and know that he or she is growing and healthy as far as anyone knows. Sometimes it doesn't feel real until I hear that heart beat again.

My sister has 12 weeks left, which is just insane. I am so glad that she is having a baby and I will not be far behind, and yet I won't be able to be there to meet the little guy when he comes into the world because I won't be able to travel.

We are starting to plan baby showers for her and myself (at least the ones I have to travel for). It is exciting, and yet overwhelming when I think about all of the things we need to register for. Research one day at a time to pick out so many items, that I may or may not know how to use :) I know things are returnable, but I am very slow to buy anything even for myself and now I have to pick out things for someone who is not here, and not know if they will use it or not. It's just pure craziness...

It's time to start taking the fun weekly belly pics, but there are so many creative ideas on Pinterest that I just know which one to choose.


I can't wait to be a mommy, I used to think that single and independent was the way to go, but I see the joy God has in creating families and I am excited and truly blessed!

Baby Product Comparison

16 weeks along, and took my first trip to Baby's R Us to start looking at all of the things we will soon need for Baby Madison. Tooooo many stinking options out there. It is crazy, but I choose not to let it be overwhelming. Just taking it one item at a time and starting the research.

I started with strollers/car seats/travel systems and have it narrowed down to 2 or 3, which I think is a good start considering all that is out there. Not only do I have to pick one out, but then find the best place to buy it. Whether I am buying it or someone else buys it for me, I still have to find the best price, it's just the way I am...

Breast Pumps can cost a ridiculous amount of money! I remember the manual one my mom had. They still make manual ones, but now there is electric, and kits and fancy travel bags and the list and price go on and on. But, I think I have at least picked a brand I like :)

Bottles have been my next tricky decision. I started wanting the Playtex bottles with the disposable bags that our parents used. But, now I am thinking of glass bottles, since plastic, even BPA free bottles are still plastic and not as healthy or safe for anything or anyone. But with the Playtex bags you can get the air out, with the glass it is not so easy.

If formula is necessary, I also have many decisions there. All baby formulas contain vegetable oil, and it's usually a top ingredient. Vegetable oil is terrible for anyone, I can't imagine it's good to feed so much to a baby. Yes I know people have been using formula for years, but the health of people has also decreased over the years because of our poor foods. I want to make my own formula, but there sure is alot of controversy out there.

But on a fun note I think I felt the baby for the first time last week. The fluttering, that I have never felt before. It was quick and I don't think I realized it at first, but it is just crazy that there is life growing in my belly, forming into a little person who I will be responsible for. Can't Wait!

Before it's here it changes your life

I am so excited to be prego! I tell you what, it has changed my life already and baby Madison isn't even here yet. (Every time I say baby Madison I think people are going to think we are naming the baby Madison, but then it would be Madison Madison and we are just not that crazy). He or she is due at the end of June or beginning of July, which seems so far away and yet so close. I think until I develop a belly the reality of what is happening has not set in yet. I am 11 weeks and going in for my first ultrasound next Tuesday. That will be an amazing moment to finally see a baby in my belly.

BUT, I am definitely having those lovely prego symptoms:
- Sick
- Tired
- Forgetful
- Clumsy ( I am telling you this child has already taken my brain)
- Did I mention TIRED
- Headaches

I am sure I am forgetting something, but you get the gist. As much as those things might be an inconvenience I am still so excited to be pregnant. It changes your life instantly. I have to take more vitamins, be careful of how I exercise, getting rest, what I eat. I am already responsible for another life before they are even actually here.

It is quite amazing to think that I am as we speak forming a new life. God is knitting together a child in His image for Steve and I to care for and raise up as a fully devoted follower of Christ. An independent, kind and compassionate person who contributes to society and to others (well that is of course what I pray). It really is amazing, that God has blessed us with this child. I can say that I did not know when He would allow this in our lives. I knew He promised it to us, I knew we were meant to be parents, but you just never know when God will unveil His promises.

That has been the greatest miracle to me. Go told us that a child was in our future. He spoke this to me in my prayers and in the moments I watched other become parents and rejoiced with them while inside wishing for that in my own life. What I do know about God is that He knows when we are ready when we may not. We are ready now (as ready as you can be to be a parent), and he has placed each step needed in front of us by His grace. I still feel undeserving.

On another note...I would say my best prego moment so far is dumping a can of beans in the blender (including the lid) and turning it on. Ah, the sound of blended metal :) I thought in my head I may have dropped the lid in and the normal Laura would have looked, yet prego Laura just let it slide... And knives, just take them away, I have the motor skills of a 2 year old :)

The second best part about being pregnant is being 8 weeks behind my sister. It is her first child and I am excited to share the experience with her!
- Cravings (Luckily this doesn't happen to often, but when it does, watch out!)

Right about now is about that time

So I am moving back to part-time in my job starting in September ( possibly no time, but we will see) and I am really excited! The hours I have been working are getting overwhelming and the limited time I have for my health and home have started to wear on me. You could say I am wanting to nest (except I'm not pregnant). I know nesting is supposed to happen when you are pregnant, but maybe it's because I am hoping to be pregnant this year and I am just getting a head start!

It has been fun to watch my friends have kids, to walk with friends that are trying and some that are pregnant now. There is joy in all of it and some sorrow, but mostly joy. A baby is such a blessing from God and I can't wait to be a part of the prego community one day! (Whenever God thinks we are ready)

It's fun to dream about and talk about with Steve, every time we get in the car for more that 10 minutes we are always talking about names. Good names, bad names, names that mean something to us. He is going to be a great daddy one day. I really can't wait to see him with our kids, he's so much fun to watch with everyone else's kids I can't imagine when it is ours.

Anyway...enough on that, time to get back to work, lunch is over :)

10 years, what has changed????

Our 10 year high school reunion is being planned, and I can't believe it has been 10 years to be honest. I sat looking at my senior yearbook and reminiscing about who I was, the choices I made and where I am now.

I still remember so many of the little things, being a gym assistant during my study hall, which if you didn't do this you missed out, chocolate milk and mac n cheese ( all the things they are taking out of schools now), the sound system in the HUGE guys locker room while female athelets got a much smaller pitful locker room with a portable boombox ( if we brought one), all of the dances and the fear of finding a date :)

I smiled at how we all looked, dressed, and at the though of who was "popular" and the kids who could do nothing but be mean and obnoxious to most for whatever reason. Maybe they were acting out because of their home, maybe it's because they didn't know how else to act, maybe it's because they were not taught how to treat people or maybe they just wanted to fit in... I realize how that could be intimidating at times, but now I just look back and am sad that I never stood up for myself or others watching the already fragile confidence of any high school student torn down a bit more.

I tried to fit in or at least blend in, but always felt out until I eventually found Christ the summer before my junior year. At that point I wasn't scared, and I didn't care because I knew that they could not affect my life unless I let them. I had my friends, my sports, my activites and my family and beyond that it just didn't matter. I made alot of mistakes during high scool, but I guess that is how we learn and grow.

It is sad now to see people commenting on our reunion with the same bitterness and sadness now, feeling that they are not liked and not appreciated as a person. I'm sure there are still a few that will bring on the jokes and the put downs, (though I would love to be wrong on this assumption), but it's only because they still don't know how to communicate and just get to know people. I hope that whoever does go to the reunion has fun and can put high school issues to rest. It's supposed to be a time to see how far we've come and to reconnect with old friends and maybe make some new ones :)

I think about all of the drama that was high school and that for me it is gone. I love keeping in touch with the few AW grad's that I appreciate and I love the life in Atlanta and the wonderful husband I now have. I can look at high school and smile about it, which is the way it should be...