Sunday, May 19, 2013

Baby Makes Three

Ethan and I could not be more thrilled to welcome our sweet baby home in late November!

I just wanted to take a few minutes to write a little about what the last several weeks have looked like for us.



We found out on March 31st that we were expecting. I honestly cannot describe the moment to you. It was really sweet and special for Ethan and I to find out together. 

Telling family and friends was so much fun and everyone's excitement and encouragement was such a blessing to us.

I was 6 weeks pregnant when we found out and I felt totally normal at that point. It was until about 7.5 weeks that I began having a hard time wanting to eat anything. The thought of food just made me queasy. It was a huge battle for about 2 weeks until my doctor gave me something to help with being queasy. I never threw up, which I am thankful for, but I just couldn't stand the thought of eating. The medication that my doctor gave me has really helped me. I can pretty much eat like normal again and have gained the weight to prove it :)

I had my first appointment at 9 weeks. They did an ultrasound and we got to hear our baby's heartbeat for the first time. The heart beat was strong and in the 170's. I didn't think I would get emotional but hearing the heartbeat for the first time brought tears to my eyes. I've heard plenty of heartbeats before but this was different. This was my baby's heartbeat. Ethan was along for this appointment so we were able to share this sweet moment together.

I have been back to the doctor for my 12 week appointment were I got to hear the heartbeat again. Once it again it was in the 170's. Seriously, this is the sweetest sound. I love my doctor. She is really laid back and has a great bedside manor. She also doesn't make me feel silly for asking questions.

I have most defiantly been dealing with fatigue. I feel like I could sleep for a week some days. My motivation level has been about a 2 on a scale of 1-10. Ethan has been so sweet and helpful. He always helps around the house but the last few weeks he has really picked it up a notch. This is really a blessing. He is going to be such a great dad!

As I enjoy my first week in the 2nd trimester I can't help but think about what a blessing this sweet a baby already is to us. The miracle that the Lord is growing inside of my belly is absolutely a human 
life. It breaks my heart that anyone would or could possibly think differently. 


Psalm 139:13-18

 For you formed my inward parts;
you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.
 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works;
my soul knows it very well.
My frame was not hidden from you,
when I was being made in secret,
intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
in your book were written, every one of them,
the days that were formed for me,
when as yet there was none of them.
How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!
If I would count them, they are more than the sand.
I awake, and I am still with you





Monday, March 25, 2013

Freezer meals

Thanks to my friend Ashley I am now obsessed with freezer meals. I was actually nervous about it and it took me awhile to actually freeze things. However, the more I try it the more I realize how great it is!

It's simple really. Some people spend a whole day preparing meals to place into the freezer but that is a little more work than I care for. So here is what I do.

Every week when I make our meal plan for the next week I make sure to plan for one or two meals that are easy to freeze. Most of my recipes already make more than Ethan and I can eat at one meal so instead of having leftovers I just place it in the freezer. Now, we also eat a meal from our freezer each week that way we are always moving the meals in and out. Simple right?

So here are the meals that I have had success with freezing.

-Chicken Pot Pie
-French Onion Soup
-Taco Soup
-Beef Soup
-Pot Roast
-Pasta Shells
-Pasta Sauce
-Sloppy Joes
-Lasagna 

*I also freeze bread, cookie dough and cinnamon rolls. When we are ready for it I just place it in the fridge.

Right now in my freezer I have 13 meals. 


I hope this will motivate you to try freezer meals if you don't already. It's a great way to save time and money. I would love to hear if any of you have meals that you make that freeze well. I am always on the hunt for new meals to try!!

Saturday, February 23, 2013

Homemade Donuts

Oh so yummy!!



Today I made these bad boys! I was in heaven. I love donuts and I found this super easy recipe on pinterest. You will want to give them a try. They were simply too easy and yet oh so good. 

Here is the link to the recipe: 
http://www.littlebitfunky.com/2011/11/what-i-made-for-monday-naughty-donuts.html

Enjoy :)


Saturday, February 2, 2013

Snow Day!

I honestly love the snow! We woke up this morning to about two inches of snow on the ground. This is the most snow we have had since moving here! Ethan and geared up and headed to the seminary to enjoy the campus covered in white! It was beautiful! 





Ethan pulled out his ski gear. It was cold outside, but don't worry he didn't actually wear it :)




Friday, January 11, 2013

Recap: Christmas 2012

The Friday before Christmas Ethan and I woke up to find a dusting of snow outside! This happened to be the morning we were celebrating Christmas together! We had a "White" Christmas! Later that day we flew home to Florida for a week! We had a great time at home. We loved seeing our family and friends and it was nice being off work. We are really thankful for the time we had at home and can't wait to go back! Here are some pictures from Christmas. They got all out of order so I will try and explain them.


Our "White" Christmas :)

Lunch with some girls that are very special to me. Miss seeing them every week. Love you all!

Every time we go home my only request for home cooking is fried venison. This time my dad taught my how to cook it! Venison is one of my favorite foods!  

This was taken at the airport on the way home

I really wanted to go to Disney while we were home so we went with Ethan's family. We went to three parks in one day! Can you guess which three?

KJ loves her Ethan. She also loves her slide!

Epcot :)

Christmas at my grandparents

Some of my cousin from my dads side of the family!

Game night with the Crowder's!

Got to love on my cousins sweet little boy!

This was taken New years weekend. We we arrived back in the Ville there was snow!

This was taken in Disney :)

 My baby sister! I love Abby liz!

Amazing lights in Disney's Hollywood studios!

Love my nephew! Honestly, James and KJ mean the world to me!

Christmas with the Crowder's!

James loved Uncle Ethan's boots!

The snow on my car once we arrived home in the Ville.

All 14 of the cousin from my mom's side of the family were together at Christmas. It was really neat to be all together. 

Ethan and I are so thankful for our families. We are really blessed. Both of our families are truly amazing and we miss them terribly. We are so thankful for our time with all of them.

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and Happy New Year!

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

It's beginning to look at lot like Christmas!

I can't believe that Christmas is in 20 days! This is my absolute favorite time of year! Here are some pictures of the last two weeks!


The tree is up and Ethan put the star on top!

The tree is done!

Keith and Kristen Getty came to Southern for a Christmas concert. It was fabulous! Honestly, it was one of the most worshipful events I have been to. Celebrating the birth of our Savior with hundreds of fellow believers was truly a blessing!

If you have never heard the Getty's music stop right now and go look them up on iTunes!

It's kind of small but this is a picture of Southerns chapel! 

The most exciting thing that has happened over the past few days is that baby Levi was born this past Saturday! Our great friends Brian and Ashley welcomed him into the world at 1:38pm! Levi is healthy and so beautiful! If I don't get to see him every few days I start having withdrawals! We are so excited for Brian and Ashley! Their friendship has been priceless to Ethan and I are now the fantastic 4 is the fab 5!

Sweet baby Levi! 



Saturday, December 1, 2012

Surprise visit home for Thanksgiving!

Ethan and I drove home to surprise our families for Thanksgiving! It was so much fun to see all of their reactions and it was so good to be at home! I didn't take a lot pictures but here are a few!


4 generations!
Dede, Nana, Mom, and myself

Sitting with Ethan's great-grandma!
Thad, Shannon, Mama Doris, Ethan and myself 

Cousin Rebekah!

Shopping with Abby!

Hanging out with Apryl!

Cousin Jennifer, myself, Apryl and Abby!