Week 10

I promise that I won't let every post on this blog from here on out be about baby, but I have been so exhausted and if you know anything about special education, you know that it's IEP time. That means that there is no time for anything fun!

Pregnancy Highlights

How far along: I am ten weeks today.

Size of baby: Baby Russell is the size of a kumquat.

Total weight gain/loss: I weighed in at my obgyn's last Tuesday and then

had a physical for life insurance this Monday and that lady said that I had gained 8 pounds!

I think someone's scale if off. That or baby Russell is going to a record setter!

Maternity Clothes: Heaven Yes! I have broken out several pairs of pants that friends have loaned me

and I am loving them. Why do you have to be pregnant to have such comfy clothes!

Gender: We won't know for a while but everyone is telling me they think its a girl.

Movement: I haven't felt the baby move yet (CAN NOT WAIT) but all the articles and books that

I have read say that baby is very active inside my belly.

What I miss: I miss cooking. I am so sleepy when I get home and then nothing sounds good that

I haven't cooked in a long time. I am ready to get back into the swing of things.

Cravings: This week it has been Steak Escape's Ragin' Cajun Chicken Sandwich!

Symptoms: Still nausiated! Yesterday I threw up in front of my class, in my husband's floor board, and beside our car. I won't complain when it goes away. Also, I have a terrible taste in my mouth that I cannot

get to go away!

Best moment this week: Sleeping well at night. I feel like I am blessed by getting good nights rest

because some women get insomnia when they are pregnant! I guess its all give and take!

So that it me at week 10! I am off to take a nap!

9 Weeks

I am 9 weeks today! I loved how Kelly from Kelly's Korner kept up with her pregnancy progress and I knew that I would use the same thing when we got pregnant. Pictures probably won't start until 10 or 11 weeks though. I just don't want to forget a thing about this miracle! 

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: 9 weeks

Size of baby: Baby Russell is the size of a large grape

Total Weight Gain/Loss: Lost 1 pound ( I can thank morning sickness for this)

Maternity Clothes: Not yet, but I am sure close! 

Gender: Too soon to tell! 

Movement: None yet. But absolutely can't wait. 

What I miss: Enjoying food. I have been so sick at my stomach that I haven't 

enjoyed a meal in a long time. 

Cravings: I haven't craved really anything constantly. Maybe chocolate-no...that always

been a craving for me:)

Symptoms: Terrible morning sickness and a few other things that aren't blog worthy. 

Best Moment this week: Having the ultrasound and seeing our sweet baby.

Hearing the heart beat was extravagant. 

Today we had our second OB appointment and it was probably the most meaningful thing that I have ever experienced. N and I got to see the baby and hear its heart beat for the 1st time. Baby's heart rate was a steady 156. Not only was hearing it cool, but seeing it...wow. Tears rushed my eyes as I stared at my child's heart pump blood through its tiny body. I am just in awe of how tedious God is, and how big of a miracle this is. How could anyone not believe after experiencing this! 

After the ultrasound the doctor saw me and N and calmed my nerves about a lot of things that I had concerns about. I just adore him-which makes this even better. Blood work was also scheduled for this appointment and I have to say that I was a champ. Blood work and me are bitter enemies (one in which I have no intentions of making amends with) but I showed that needle who was boss. Either that or I was still on cloud 9 from seeing my baby. Oh whats that? You want to see it too? ok! 

FIRST GO BACK AND LOOK AT BABY AT 5 WEEKS. IT WILL BE WORTH YOUR TIME!

 This one is my favorite! I know baby still has a lot of changing to do but oh, to get this 

glimpse at it's tiny face. My heart aches with love. 

This part is really cool. The ultrasound tech was adorably sweet and flipped the machine into 4D! 

As soon as she did we saw the leg kick! Oh my. 

In this picture the baby is on its side with its face curled down. The head is at the top and

the legs are at the bottom. Its arms are curled around itself. 

I think s/he is just preparing itself to be in this position in many a grandmother's arms!

(And maybe a mama's too!)

So thats our baby! We are blessed beyond words and are in awe of what the Lord is doing! 

Catch up

I feel like it has been ages since I have written and I will blame it all on the baby in my belly! The little one has been making me sicker than sick and has drained me of all my energy! Needless to say, I am counting down the days until I hit week 13. They say thats when relief comes! Here's to hoping!

On to the point...

This past week was spring break, N and I's one year wedding anniversary, and the definition of busy!

For our anniversary, N surprised me with a trip to music city, Nashville baby! We sped off for a night which was wonderful. Just to see different scenery and no one that we know is just what the doctor ordered! (We did meet up with a friend of ours, Chad-the Nashville native, who showed us around the city.) We drove all around and even found some homes of the stars! Martina McBride and Vince Gill...next time I am in town, I am calling one of you up to stay in your killer pads!

Next up was a day to to St. Louis. We got back from Nashville on Monday and on Wednesday we were off with N's youth for a day to the 'gateway to the west'. Once there we went to one of the coolest places I have seen in a long time. It was called the City Museum and it has an awesome story. It is a huge building made up of parts of old, abandoned buildings in St. Louis. Artist took all the parts and pieces and made them all into one huge jungle gym for kids and adults. Seriously. You can crawl in caves and spirals and whatnots galore. You have to go here to check it out.

Next we went to the arch. I have seen it before but this time we got to ride up to the top! I have to say that the ride was a tad scary but the top was beautiful!

After the arch, we made our way home-but not without a stop at Lambert's Cafe first! You know, where they throw the rolls! And the okra...don't get me started!

After our trip to St. Louis, I was wiped out. I decided that the piles of clothes, unswept floors, and dirty bathroom needed some TLC so I rested for a day and have spent the rest of my time tackling my heaping to-do list. Its so nice to have some things done around the homestead.

Lastly, there is another big announcement in our family! My brother is getting married!

He finally asked this little lady to be his bride and she said yes! We are smitten with her and the dynamic that she adds to our family. They are planning a little wedding for early October...just in time to get ready for baby's big arrival. Alison, we love you girl! Welcome to the family!

And that wraps it up here. I am so glad that spring is here! I am off to open my windows, clean another room and dream of my baby's face!

p.s. Is it normal to be dreaming that I am having twin boys? No? Drats...because that is a recurring nightly dream for me!

A Big Announcement!

 There has been a lot of activity around the Russell household lately and because of that I haven't blogged. I just couldn't write for fear of slipping a secret that we have been keeping.

Let me share with you the story that the Lord has been writing in our lives. Its a good, good, good one.

I have driven the same car since the summer before my senior year in high school. That car got me through lots of drama, trips to college, trips to see N, and lots more. She was so loyal. Until she quit. She just stopped running one day. And there was no fixing her. N's parents came weekend after weekend to try to fix her but she had found her demise. And I was sad. If you know anything about us, we are a teacher and a youth minister which means that we are rolling in the dough glad to make ends meet. So we decided that we would start saving for a "new to us" car. Thats when the unbelievable happened.

I am not going to go into details due to confidentiality purposes but in the same week that we had realized that we were most certainly going to have to buy a new car, someone donated us one. And not just any car, but a 2009 Nissan Altima. It took us quite a bit to pick ourselves up off our knees and faces accept this more than generous gift. We praised God for His goodness and began to think about how we could bless others. Thats when me and N decided that we would most definitely wait to have babies. We would focus all of our attention on serving others with our time and money. That was all on a Thursday.

The following Friday I got up with a strong will to take a pregnancy test. I knew it wouldn't be positive and I had no emotional attachment to being pregnant since we had just made this commitment to each other. I followed the instructions and then laid the test on the bathroom sink. Then I went to look at my haggard morning self in the mirror. Seconds later I glanced down at the test. I saw 2 grey vertical lines. Negative. It needed to have a horizontal line across the vertical one. So I picked up the instructions just to be sure. I was wrong! The stick in my right hand and the instructions in my left matched perfectly. It said Pregnant. And so I freaked.

Apparently the Lord knew that we needed that car more than we did. And I am so glad He did. After telling N and planning our ways of telling our families, the fun part began. We told my parents first.

I told my mom that I had found a frame that she just had to have and gave her a box. She opened it up with all the family watching. She opened it and above is what she saw. Her face was priceless. The best part was slowly watching everyone catch on to the big announcement. To say that her and my dad are excited to be grandparents is a slight understatement.

Next, we were off to tell N's folks. This one was a little more creative because I wanted to incorporate our niece, their first grandbaby. I whipped up this onesie and let her do all the talking. We announced that she had an announcement to make and then put her down to strut her stuff. Again, the best feeling was listening to everyone catch on to what "Big Cousin" meant. It has to be priceless.

Then we gave then the same frame that we gave our parents (which happens to be chalkboard paint so we can change the message as the years go by). Theirs included the ultrasound picture. 

And below is Baby Russell. We are already smitten! I know its early to be telling people but we have prayed for this child. Not necessarily that we would have a baby right now but that in God's time he would bless us with a baby. And in His time He has. And we couldn't be happier. 

 I am close to seven weeks now and we should be welcoming our tiny blessing October 25. I have a tiny tear in my eye as I close this just looking at the picture. I can't believe that the Lord has favored me to carry this child. What an honor and joy.