Delivering Naturally

I love my son more than anyone could imagine and I haven't even met him yet. He wakes me up with his kicking and he always likes to show off his behind when I'm not paying attention to him. I think he's going to like my mom's game of "booty getter."

James and I have been kicking around the idea of delivering naturally for a while. It seems like the obvious choice, but leaves me with added anxiety about delivery day and what labor is going to be like. Laurel Krey (one of our friends from church) and her husband Tim talked to both of us about the good, the bad, and the ugly about delivering naturally. She did it with her son and says there is no other way! There are a few things she said that just really stick out in my head:

"Why would you spend your entire 9 months of pregnancy doing everything right: not drinking alcohol, caffeine, taking over the counter medications just to drug your child up in their last hours in your womb?"

And what really hit home was "This is the coolest thing I'm ever going to do in my life. I want to experience it."

God has created all women to be able to bear and deliver children. That is what I believe is our primary purpose on earth. And, as I have always said, God never throws anything at you that you can not handle. I am currently reading "The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth" by Henci Goer. So far, I have learned that cesareans are the most common major surgeries in America today. And, almost 95% of women who deliver in a hospital get an epidural. That is just crazy stuff...where as only twenty years ago, those numbers were at 5%. My mom delivered my sister and I without an epidural, but she did have a drip of medication to help relieve the pain a bit. Which I think is the better option rather than making all of your parts numb so you can't even feel when you need to push!!

I absolutely can not wait to meet our son and find out his personality. Little Connor James...hurry on up....we're ready for you!

Here in Your Presence

I love this song...you should look it up and listen...so amazingly true. We are ALWAYS in His presence. Nothing else matters but Him and His glory. Praise Jesus!

Found in Your hands, fullness of joy
Every fear suddenly wiped away here in Your Presence
All of my gains now fade away
Every crown no longer on display, here in Your Presence

Heaven is trembling in awe of Your wonder
Kings and their kingdoms are standing amazed

Here in Your Presence, we are undone
Here in Your Presence, Heaven and earth become one
Here in Your Presence, all things are new
Here in Your Presence, everything bows before You

Wonderful, beautiful, glorious, matchless in every way
Wonderful, beautiful, glorious, matchless in every way

Wonderful, beautiful, glorious, matchless in every way
Wonderful, beautiful, glorious,
matchless in every way

Pregnant Courtney

"Mom, I've gained almost 30 pounds!" says Courtney. "Courtney, I gained almost 80 with your sister...there's more to come," Leigh Ann replied.

Great...I have a hard time accepting weight gain, but at the same time have no remorse for eating Whataburger and ice cream. It's always been my favorite. So, here I am now seven months and thirty pounds into the pregnancy. Weight Watchers will become my friend again February 16, 2009. James wants me to be a "hot mom." It is definately going to take some time to lose baby weight and get back into my size 6's but it is going to be my goal and I will get there eventually!

The Zoo

Sammy the Great

Leo and Stewart: The brothers from another mother

How could you not love these animals? I just don't know...they love their mom though. I think they are all scared of James still becasue he stomps around them and gets mad at the silliest things with them. For instance, the other day, we left unfolded laundry in the baseket on top of the dryer. Perfect lounging spot for a cat if you ask me. So, what did Leo do? Laid in all of the fresh laundry and got his hair ALL over it. I thought it was cute. Who cares if we have to rewash it? I'm going to be the one doing it anyway...

I love how their personalities are all different. Leo is the lounger. He sits right next to my head when I am on the couch. He really likes to put his head against mine and cuddle. You can do ANYTHING to him. Pick him up, throw him over your shoulder (thanks Taylor and Lauren!)...I mean ANYTHING. He reminds me of the Suttons and I will NEVER get rid of him because I want to have a piece of the family wherever I go.

Stewart is different: he is the restless, independent cat. He likes to wander. The only time he really likes to cuddle is in bed (which we have to wait for James to go out of town and he climbs on in the bed with me!). Other than that, he is whining if he's inside. Seriously. Or scratching on the window. He just loves being outside.

Sammy, oh my Sammy. He's wonderful....I have had him for almost eight years and I can't get enough. He will always be my number one man: he has been there with me through thick and thin. Through high school, college, then he let me get married. He loves me! He also has a new trick with James...pretty funny...he will start growling anytime he sees James, seriously. Mom started with him early on and James has just carried it through. James won't admit it, but he does love Sammy.

I wouldn't know what to do without my zoo...I have always had tons of animals and couldn't imagine life without them. They are constant companions and I wouldn't trade them for anything in the world.

Nursery

So, I'm finally starting to get the nursery together. I found the perfect piece of furniture at my friend Colleen's house (she was getting rid of it) that will work great as a dresser and as a changing table.

I also found this amazing small rocking chair at a local antique store and couldn't resist. Connor is going to love his animal room! James will hate it of course, but I want Connor to learn to love animals...so...here are some pics!

The rocking chair

This is the window to the room

"He has called you by name. You are His" Isaiah 43:1

James' Crash

So, I'm always bugging James to be more active. It drives me crazy that boys these days like to sit and play video games (not that James does that all the time), but seriously. Let's go outside once in a while!! Anyway, so I forced James to go out while I was gone to Montgomery. He was very productive: he got a membership to the local shooting range and also found some trails to take his new mountain bike on. Only problem with the biking: he crashed. BIG crash.

So, he was about two-three miles away from his car and was getting pretty aggressive. He found a huge jump and went for it. He landed head first-not exactly the way you're supposed to. He scratched his back pretty bad, almost broke some fingers and also busted up his head pretty good. Thank goodness he got a good helmet! I'm so proud of my man...getting injured....I'm so proud as a matter of fact, that I had to post pictures of the damage.

This is the bike with the "broken" helmet...in the garage until James heals.

Check out his hand on the left: mind you, I took these Tuesday after the crash on Saturday...




James' road rash...I'm guessing he skidded pretty far!

Keeping Old Friendships Alive

The friendship of Courtney and Megan: resurrected!



A random trip back to Baylor to hang out with old friends and to meet some new ones.

This picture is from senior year: we were going to professors and school girls party...crazy stuff...

This is from Homecoming 2007 at the parade...after a night of fun catching up with old friends...

This is our finish to the Bearathon at Baylor in March 2008: we ran all 13.2 miles together!

The infamous Spring Break 2006 picture. We absolutely loved those huge jugs...filled with margaritas :)

Here is what I have discovered: No one ever stays the same. Life moves you and just like marriage, you have to keep friendships moving the same direction life is taking you. I went to visit my best friend Megan in Montgomery this past weekend and I discovered God is truly amazing. You know the old addage "make new friends, but keep the old, one is silver and the other's gold." It's totally true. God brings people into our lives for a reason-and sometimes he shows that to you in an obvious way and sometimes, it's not so obvious.

Megan and I met in Collins Dorms-we were in the penthouse: 6th floor! Through our four years at Baylor, we really grew to love and respect one another: i.e. we had a whole lot of fun! So, I want to post some old pics to add to the memory of our growing friendship. We spent our time eating at amazing restaurants, shopping in old town Montgomery, getting pedicures, and just catching up. I loved every minute of it and I wouldn't trade our time together for anything in the world.

I love it when you can see God moving through your friends and it makes me giddy to think how her life is going just the way she always wanted it. After living in Dallas working for Communities in Schools, she gave up the 8-5 job and found one working part time for Young Life. She is doing what she always dreamed of doing: working with kids for the glory of God. She has also met an amazing, godly man who I just can't wait to meet. I'm just so stinking happy for her!

Here's to Megan!