Monday, August 4, 2008

It's not from being bored...

We've had plenty going on, I just haven't been into blogging. I haven't even really been blog stalking. Really! Instead of giving a blow-by-blow, I'll have a few pictures to summarize our life the past month. The only thing I don't have a picture of is our anniversary. Can you believe I let it pass without blogging about it OR taking pictures??! We went to the Cheesecake Factory and shopping for the big day. It was nice to get away and spend quality time with each other. We have had a wonderful 5 years!! And as everyone likes to tell us, or lives will never be the same, so you better enjoy this "last one."

tubing with Mama & Leigh (not pictured: Justin, Daddy, Uncle Larry, Aunt Donna)
Kama (Justin's sister) came for a wonderful visit and brought her doggies.
"Cousin Camp": Lucy, Sage, Mongo
Bethany's wedding (Our friend from MS State)
At the wedding w/ Brad & Lindsay Abbott (she's my mod friend;)

Thursday, July 17, 2008

Updates

Baby update:



(1) My next appointment has been delayed one week, 7/28. It's really not a big deal since it is just a check up, no fact finding. The reason for the change is Justin and I decided to investigate a midwife. My OB/GYN is great and I have no doubt in his abilities, we decided that we prefer more personal interaction and time with the one who will deliver our baby. A few other factors include the birthing process. It's not rushed, the midwife coaches you and it's a bit more natural, but not sans the epidural. I'm not that tough or brave. I'm looking forward to meeting her!
(2) I had Justin make the first "craving" run last night, which he was very willing to participate in. I wanted a salad. At 9:30 p.m. Where did I want the salad from? Zaxby's, all the way across town. It was soooooo delicious and hit the spot. Justin got a Starbucks out of the deal.


Agriculture update:


(1) The garden is going great guns. We have had tons of rain, which hasn't proven to be the best thing for the garden. The tomatoes have been beautiful and absolutely divine! The plants reminisce of Jack and the Bean Stalk. Cucumbers and zucchini have been great too. The peas are probably rank up there with the tomatoes. They are so wonderful!!! Our okra is also producing and is tasty too! We have had a few unsuccessful products. The squash plants have given us one, count it, ONE squash. The corn took the dirt nap. Not sure what happened there, but we only got baby ears before the stalks began to die :( The garden hasn't produced as much as we anticipated, so there hasn't been giving away of veggies, in fact, Leigh has been supplementing our harvest with others. It could be that we are not fertilizing enough or it could be the organic fertilizing. Whatever the case may be, we are enjoying all our produce! It's actually looking pitiful right now. It's probably because of our multiple weekends in a row we were gone.

















(2) Have you ever been around really old pecan trees? Well, our yard consists of 8 really old pecan trees. Pecan trees are weak when they get old and tend to drop limbs when it becomes too much. Coming home from lunch today I didn't notice is right away, but one of our trees dropped an impressive branch. So big that it took down a limb from another tree. I called Justin and told him to bring a chain saw home, we'll be needing it.




Monday, July 14, 2008

GUESS WHAT???!!???

We're having a BABY!!!

Surprise, surprise!! Even more of a shock, our bundle of joy is due to arrive December 28th! I'm 16 weeks along.

We are excited and sometimes I can't believe it's real. Justin mentioned, the morning sickness and headache aren't enough for you?? Yes they are but still, a baby?!!

I had some suspicions in early May, but a home pregnancy test (hpt) came back negative. Then on Mother's Day walking into church I was all of a sudden sick to my stomach. I knew then, I had to take another test. I waited until the next day and it was positive! Justin didn't really believe the results, neither did Leigh when we told her later that night. Since this is our first rodeo with pregnancy, we were sure about the accuracy of the hpt. The next day I called my OB/GYN.

I told the nurse, "I think I'm pregnant."
The nurse said, "You think? Did you take a hpt?"

"Yes."

"Did it come back positive?"

"Yes."

"Well, you're pregnant. Congratulations!" (like duh...)

"Oh!"

My doc was booked for a month and then we was going on a mission trip to the Amazon for two weeks! We called our parents and Justin's sister and told them the news. Needless to say they were all very excited.

After our vacation to the beach, the next Tuesday was the big day. I assumed that we might be 8 weeks along. I told the doc all my info and he gave me the due date of 12-28. What? 12 weeks??? I told him that I didn't think so, so we scheduled an ultrasound.

As we went in for the ultrasound I told the tech that I thought the doc was wrong and that I was maybe 8 weeks. She said, "Well, it looks like the doctor knows what he's talking about."

Needless to say that was a shock. Most of the time when people go in they over estimate, so I thought I was 8 weeks and that I was probably over estimating...nope, not this time.

The ultrasound was amazing, especially since we were expecting a shrimp with heartbeat to show up. But instead we saw our baby, that actually looked like baby and had a great profile. The baby was flipping around, kicking it's arms and legs, arching it's back. It was amazing! Justin and I just looked at each other in shock and said, "It's real. We're pregnant." We also got to hear the heartbeat, which was unbelievable, once again we weren't expecting it.

We decided that since we were so close to the 4th of July we would just wait to share the news and tell my grandparents in person. We hadn't been able to tell any family face-to-face and I'm so glad we waited. (Sorry everybody else) Telling Geems and Papa was so fun. We even took a video of it.

Sickness wise, it hasn't been too bad. I have had some morning sickness, most of which is gone now. I do have terrible headaches. And if I get too hungry or too hot, I'll toss my cookies. Speaking of cookies, don't give me anything sweet. I'm not into it, at all. Give me cheese, cottage cheese, peanut butter, nuts, potatoes, meat, bread. I'm sick of crackers though. I haven't gained any weight yet, I've actually lost 2 pounds...I'm sure that' going to change quickly. I'm not showing hardly at all. Which I'll be excited when I "pop!"

My next appointment is the 21st and the second week of August we'll find out the baby's gender. Justin, of course, wants a boy. I'll be great either way. Once we find out the sex, I'll get a poll together to guess all the other stats.



VIDEO OF US TELLING GRANDMA & PAPA...They thought the box that contained a picture of the ultrasound was something that would jump out at them...you'll see what I mean.

Friday, June 20, 2008

Jekyll Island, Georgia

Justin and I enjoyed last week relaxing on the beach with my family. It truly was ultimate relaxation. A typical day went as follows: sleep as late as you would like, eat when you would like, snack when you would like, head down to the beach when you would like, stay as long as you would like, cool off in the pool as long as you would like, sit under the beautiful oaks overlooking the ocean as long as you would like, eat dinner when you would like, play game as late into the night as you would like, fish around the clock as much as Justin & Daddy would like. Are you relaxed? I am finally coming round to being back in reality. Monday I think I still had a dreamy look on my face.



Jekyll Island is, of course, on the Atlantic Ocean. I had not visited the Atlantic since I was in middle school (we have favored the beautiful Gulf Coast). Jekyll Island is mostly a wildlife preserve and not commercial or over developed. Most of the hotels are older and many have been redone. There are no high rises and only a few restaurants. Mom and Dad had a kitchen in their room, so we ate in. Which is awesome. I loved not having to get gussied up every night and you can stay out on the beach until the sun goes down. No time constraints.





Our hotel was in a beautiful setting, on the beach separated only by aged live oak trees. It was ideal. If you were too hot on the beach you could cool off under the trees in an Adirondack chair or head to the pool and choose a shady or sunny spot. Our room was on the very end closest to the beach. It had a big window, so we could sit in our bed and view the ocean. It was great!




Justin and Daddy fished and fished and fished and fish and fished some more. They would fish all day and head back out again at night. Justin even got in some early morning fishing (my family prefers sleeping in). Once they realized that the waters surrounding Jekyll were shark spawning grounds, the fishing was a lot more successful. Both caught sharks!! Needless to say, I never got above knee deep...I'm not really a big fan of the "big blue."




If you are not into commercialism or all the bells and whistles that come with "the strip," then Jekyll is a place you would enjoy. We certainly did. It was good especially for Justin to get away and rest. He needed it.

Thursday, June 19, 2008

Baby Dash

We were so lucky that we were able to make a quick trip down to Jacksonville while on vacay to see Jenny and her PRECIOUS baby! Dasher Everett is beautiful and I'm in love. I wish I could see him every day. And see Jenny every day. She looked fabulous and Dash was only 3 weeks!

I love the history behind Dash's name. Dasher comes from Derek's family who settled Dasher, GA. Not only did these Scots settle the land, they also established the church there. Derek and Jenny felt that this was heritage that should be honored (amen). Everette is after Jenny's dearest "Uncle" Ted. Uncle Ted suddenly passed away while we were in college. Everette was his middle name and also means "strength." I love names that have family and sentimental connections! Good job JD.

Okay on to the pictures...I'm warning you Dash is super yumminess!!!


First Harvest

We made our first harvest before we left for vacation last week. Leigh picked a bell pepper to take with us on our trip. It was monumental! All pictures are from June 5th. There has been A LOT of change since.
When we returned we hardly recognized the garden it had grown!!! We were able to harvest 3 tomatoes, which we feasted upon straightway (like that KJV?). They were small, but DELICIOUS!


This weekend we are planning on some garden maintenance, so I'll probably have more pictures later. (see the baby cukes?)

Monday, June 2, 2008

How does your garden grow?

Quite well, thank you. Our garden has taken off this past week. Our tomato plants a laden with fruit, a baby zucchini has been spotted, bell peppers are close to pickin' and the corn has tassels! We are thrilled!!! Last weekend we put up netting to keep the birds and squirrels out. Birds love to peck the tomatoes and squirrels love to steal the fruit. So we are keeping them out! Although, Monday we actually caught a bird, thankfully it did no damage. It was busy trying to get out and we had to help it. We also put up a web for the peas to grow up. I saw the idea on a craft blog and it turned out so neat! We love it. It adds interest to our beautiful garden. See for yourself...