Happy Birthday to Emmy!

Our sweet chocolate lab, Emmy, celebrated her 7th birthday today! This dog is precious to us, and pretty much like our child. I really do think she believes she is human sometimes. Probably because we have spoiled her so much! We just love our little Emmy Lou! Happy 7th Birthday EMMY!!!

Thankful For...

So much can happen in a year's time. Last Thanksgiving we were at the beach with my family, and it was a hard day to be thankful because we had just received news that our situation regarding infertility was even worse. You can read that post by clicking here. As I watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade today, I am having to balance my computer on my sweet little baby bump! We truly have been blessed and have so much to be thankful for not only today but every day. All week long, I have been pondering upon all the Lord has blessed me with and I decided to make a list.

1. Salvation: a gift I do not deserve but the Lord has so graciously given to me. I am thankful for His sacrifice that was made on the cross so that my sins could be pardoned, and I could have a personal relationship with our Savior, Jesus Christ.

2. Family: Of course this always makes everyone's list, but I truly am so grateful for mine and Kyle's family. They are precious to me, and always go above and beyond for us. Over the past year, they were so supportive as we walked through the most difficult trial in our lives.

3. Campus Crusade: What an incredible ministry, and I have the privilege of working with them. I am so thankful for college students, and that I have the opportunity to share with them the best gift they could ever receive.

4. Our Staff Team: Simply put, they are amazing and like family to us. We are so extremely blessed to have these people as our co-workers! They love us so deeply, and we are thankful for them.

5. Friends: We have been blessed with so many amazing friendships, and I have seen that play out even more so as we walked through infertility. Many of our friends were so consistent in praying for us, and always letting us know they were there for us. When we announced our pregnancy, I believe some of our friends were just as excited as us!

6. Emmy: I cannot leave this sweet puppy out! Emmy is our chocolate lab that brings so much joy into our lives!

7. Our Supporters: Our ministry is 100% funded by others, and we are incredibly grateful for the sacrifice these friends and family make in order for us to be able to serve the Lord through Campus Crusade. They are the ones who make our ministry at Ole Miss possible! Thank you!

8. My Sister, Laura: I know I already mentioned family, but my sister is in a category of her own. I still believe that a sister is one of the greatest gifts that the Lord can give you. She is amazing, and I am thankful for the many ways she has sharpened my life! Love you!

9. My Precious Husband, Kyle: He is so dear to me, and honestly I do not know how I would have survived these past 18 months without him. He is a constant source of strength and encouragement. He is always so positive, and that is a quality which I am very grateful he possesses.

10. Last but certainly not least, BABY COLE: We are beyond grateful for this incredible gift the Lord has blessed us with! What a miracle! Our hearts are still in awe of this life the Lord has created!

I hope each of you has time today to reflect upon the many ways the Lord has blessed you! May you have a wonderful Thanksgiving with family and friends!

12 WEEKS

Pregnancy Highlights

How Far Along: 12 Weeks

Size of Baby: Baby C is the size of a lime

Total Weight Gain/Loss: Lost 2 lbs.

Maternity Clothes: Loving my maternity pants...

they are so much more comfortable!

Gender: 2 more weeks!

Movement: Not yet

Sleep: Not very good...middle of the

night bathroom trips are getting old.

What I Miss: Still missing that energy...I'm so tired!

Also, eating whatever I want...baby Cole

seems to be rather picky!

Cravings: It's more or less what can

I eat that will stay down.

Symptoms: Morning Sickness, Tiredness, & Dizziness

Best Moment of the Week: It is Fall Break at Ole Miss

so I get to sleep in every morning!

We May Not Win Every Game...

But we've never lost a party!! I have yet to post about the 2010 football season, because it's been a rather depressing season for the Rebels. I must say I was proud of them this weekend. They held their own against the #5 ranked LSU Tigers. If we could have just won! Although we have not won every game, I still have enjoyed the season and time in the Grove. It is always fun to visit with everyone, and catch up with those you have not seen in a while. There may be no bowl game this year, but we still had a good time! I'm just hoping for a W against those Bulldogs!!

Ole Miss vs. Jacksonville State:

Chelsea, Kay, Me, Christie, Emma

Kyle and Me

Ole Miss vs. Tulane: Kyle and Me

Ole Miss vs. Fresno State:

Mary Cannon, Kay, Christie, Me, Meg,

Kailey, Carmen Rae, and Caroline

Mary Cannon, Me, Kailey, Caroline

Kailey and Me

Christie and Me

Kyle and Me

Ole Miss vs. Auburn:

Carmen Rae, Christie, Me, Morgan

Morgan and Me

11 WEEKS

Pregnancy Highlights

How Far Along: 11 Weeks

Size of Baby: Baby C is the size of a fig

Total Weight Gain/Loss: Lost 1/2 lb.

(morning sickness is a good diet)

Maternity Clothes: I wear them occasionally, but thanks to

the belly band I am still wearing most of my clothes.

Gender: Hopefully in 3 weeks!

Movement: Not quite yet

Sleep: Seem to be tossing and turning a lot!

Still taking a bathroom break too!

What I Miss: Having more energy...I'm pretty zapped these days!

Cravings: Newk's Chicken Dumpling Soup...this soup is so good

to me that I have the days it is served memorized.

Symptoms: Morning Sickness and Tiredness

Best Moment of the Week: My mother coming to town

to take care of me...what a huge blessing!!

So, I realize my belly is poking quite a bit in this picture! Give me a little grace!!! I had just eaten Ajax...fried pickles, chicken dumplings, and butter beans!! That would make anyone's belly poke out! :) At least I have something to show!

What Will It Be?

Many friends have asked me recently, "Are you going to find out what it is?" OF COURSE!!! I am way too much of a planner (must have the room decorated), and I'm not real big on surprises. Therefore, we will definitely be finding out if Baby Cole is a BOY or GIRL! I am hoping that we will know sooner than later. My dearest friend Hayley is an ultrasound technician, and she is always up for scanning her friends and telling them. I am super excited about this because she will be the first to know! I have convinced her to scan me at 14 weeks to see if she can tell the sex. This is super early but she can normally see it at 15 weeks, and we would love to find out one week early so we can have our gender revealing party before the students leave town for Christmas break. A gender revealing party??? There is much to do about this these days, and it certainly gets mixed reviews on the Internet. However, we think it would be quite fun, and a good way to celebrate with friends and family. We along with many others have prayed over and waited for this child to be, so why not celebrate when we find out if it's a boy or girl.

So what is the picture above? I am having a pretty crummy day..morning sickness is not being very nice today. What do you do when you have a lot of time on your hands, but don't feel like moving off the couch? You make what you see pictured above! I wanted to have something for Hayley to fill out since we will be sealing it in an envelope, and taking it to the bakery for them to make a cake. When we cut into the cake is when we will find out the gender. Yes, Hayley is going to have to keep a secret for a little while! I also thought it would be fun to have something for Baby Cole's scrapbook. Well, this is about all my day has consisted of...making a gender revealing sheet! Hopefully, only 3 more weeks until we know!!!

P.S. What do you think it is?!?!

10 WEEKS

This past Monday I was 10 weeks pregnant! I cannot believe how quickly it is passing, but I look forward to entering the second trimester. I think that will give me some relief that everything is going to be just fine. Yes, I still often worry and continuously have to submit these fears to the Lord. All fears aside though, it has been an exciting ride thus far! Just to see the joy and excitement of so many others who have longed for this child with us truly warms my heart! I have not been feeling the best over the past three weeks, but it gives me much reassurance that this little one is a moving and a shaking! I hope to update you each week so that you can continue on with us in this journey! Thank you for all your prayers for Baby C!

Pregnancy Highlights

How Far Along: 10 Weeks

Size of Baby: Baby C is barely the size of a kumquat

Total Weight Gain/Loss: Gained 2 lbs. thus far

(guess I can count the sickness as a blessing)

Maternity Clothes: Mom and I just went shopping last week! So much fun!

The brown shirt above was my first article of maternity clothing to wear!

Gender: Cannot wait to find out!

Movement: Not quite yet

Sleep: It's ok...considering purchasing a full body pillow. Lots of dreams

and middle of the night bathroom trips too!

What I Miss: ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!!!

Cravings: Anything Salty--especially Lays Potato Chips

Symptoms: That little thing called "morning sickness" except mine

seems to hit any time of the day! Very tired too!

Best Moment of the Week: My sister let us borrow a fetal doppler,

and we got to hear the heart beat for the first time!

A New Found Obsession

Wow! I did not realize how long I have been absent from blogging! Since the morning sickness set it, I have spent much of my time sitting in front of the big screen. While I know this is not very healthy for me, it's about all I have had energy for most days! On Friday, I made a trip to Blockbuster in search of something to do over the weekend. Being that there was not one single movie in the entire store that peaked my interest, I decided to take a friend's advice and rent the first season of GLEE! This show is spectacular! It combines two of my favorite things: singing and dancing! I became so obsessed in the first few episodes that I could not peel myself away from the T.V. all weekend. I have a to-do-list a mile long, but I just could not quit watching this show! Yes, it is Sunday and I am about to watch the Season Finale! Some may say what a waste of time, but I have thoroughly enjoyed myself! I would die to be a part of this show, but those who know me well know that is just a dream, because I have absolutely no coordination and I cannot carry a tune in a bucket! Guess I will just have to live vicariously through my new found friends! Any other fans out there of this amazing show?!?

The Power of Words

Check out this amazing video of students involved with Campus Crusade! What a powerful message! There is so much truth in words, and this video is a testament to the power of God in changing lives! Praise the Lord for the work He is doing at Ole Miss, and in college student's lives around the world!