Maternity Pics

Here lately, I have seen many couples take 'Maternity Pics' and I have loved them all! When I found out I was pregnant, this was something that I knew I wanted to do. But timing has a big part in it - I learned! You want to be 'big' enough to look pregnant, but not too big (where you are swollen all over and uncomfortable looking). I was trying to decide when to take these pics when, last week, I realized Nik's schedule would only allow him to take pics this past weekend. So I called my friend on Friday night and asked if she had any free time Saturday to take pics of us. She did! So the following are our official 'Maternity Pics'. Enjoy - I thought they turned out pretty well. Oh, by the way - there are only 10 shown out of 120 +. It was hard to narrow down our favorites, but I understand that not everyone wants to look at pics of me and Nik for 20 minutes... so I picked a few out:

Mother's Day

Today is Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day to our mom's and all the mom's out there. I know that Nik and I both feel so blessed to have the mothers that we have. We love you so much and thank you both for being the great moms that you were / are still to us!

I guess it is technically my first Mother's Day. However, it does not really feel like Mother's Day. I think it will feel more like it when I have a little one to hug and kiss on. But this morning, I woke up really early and laid in bed, 'playing' with Jaxen. He was moving around so much. So I laid there rubbing my belly and taking in every wonderful moment of his movement. I do love this part of being pregnant. It is pretty special.

Nik gave me a sweet card and had purchased a new bag/tote and necklace for me last week (as an early Mother's Day gift). For lunch we went through the drive-thru of our favorite chicken place in town - they were giving a free meal to all mothers (including those that are pregnant). So we took our cheap yummy fried chicken lunch to a friends house and had a wonderful lunch hanging out with them!

It was a good day and I look forward to celebrating being a mom for many more years!

Pregnancy - Week 33 & Doctor's Appointment

Everything checked out well for baby and me at our doctors appointment! Jax is currently head down, bum up - which is good. I am measuring well and blood pressure is good. I have gained 14 pounds so far.

Dr. G and I talked about contractions and if I was having any yet. I am. They are mild and not often. Everything seems to be fine with them.

We also talked about the possibility of being induced. Dr. G's stance on inducing a patient is not to do it unless medically necessary and only if/when it is the best case scenario for baby and/or I. I appreciate her stance. So - unless things take a turn for the worse, or I am a week overdue - baby will come when baby is ready!

She checked over my swollen feet and everything is fine there. I have blood work scheduled for my next visit. And the only other thing she told me was to get plenty of rest and relax. That is what I plan on doing. Rest, relax and get ready for baby!

Starting Saturday, I am officially on (what I call) Pregnancy Leave. Meaning - I have no big obligations from now until baby is born. I am still working through June 15 but even at work, I have begun training people to take over while I am out. I am slowly transitioning myself out of a job (summer only). But other than that - I am not commited to any major events of Nik's or at the Church; and I have stopped (for the summer) cleaning other people's homes. So my time is more free! I plan to possibly read a book, finish getting the nursery ready, finish some house projects and get ready for the birth of our baby!

Nik, however, is pretty busy beginning next week...summer starts and we know it is such a busy time for a Youth Pastor. He will take some time off after baby is born - but other than that, he is in full swing summer mode. I will do my best to help him on the home-front.

And that's my week 33 update. No pic of me in the bathroom. Instead, I have a treat for you. Nik and I took some maternity pics this week - look for the post coming soon!

Ordination Week

I mentioned earlier that this past week was a little crazy. It was. And it was awesome and special and full of memories that we will cherish forever. This was Nik's Ordination Week. We left Temple on Wednesday and traveled to Houston to attend the South Texas District Assembly. We attend every year, but this year would be a bit different because Nik would be ordained during the Assembly.

Basically, Wednesday evening through Thursday afternoon we sat through the 'conference' part of Assembly. Thursday afternoon our family started coming in! By Thursday night at the Ordination Service we had my mom, my grandma, my aunt, uncle and cousin, Nik's parents, and different families from our church at the service (not that you care to know what families were there - but I'm going to list them for my memories: James, Boesels, Moore, Montalbo, Flacks, Palmers, Johnsons, Lentz).

It was a very special service. Dr. Stan Toler (one of our General Superintendents) gave the message to the Ordinands. After the message, all those being ordained (plus spouses) had to go on the stage and kneel at the altar.

The pic above is of Nik & I and Joe & Ashley.

Behind us is a legacy of pastors from our current church:

James, Boesel, Williams

This is the moment when hands were laid on Nik and he was

ordained. His pastor growing up, Harlie Patterson, said a

prayer over Nik and I after he was ordained.

We stayed kneeling at the altar while all the others became ordained.

After the ordination we were able to take some pictures. We did not get pictures with everyone that we wanted to... but we did our best. Here are a few:

Nik and Joe Bob - a very special mentor to Nik.

Dear friends of ours (who also were ordained)

Joe & Ashley; Nik & I.

Pastor Don and us.

Nik's parents and us.

My mom and us.

Mamaw and us.

After the service we went out to dinner and then called it a night. It has been a very long day by then. Nik and I had to be at the Assembly at 7 that morning. I was definitely tired - but Jax and I held up well through the day! Jax is a trooper!

Friday we had more business stuff to attend to so we did not spend time with our family until that evening. We had dinner at Steak and Shake (yum) and then went to the hotel where we gathered together and celebrated my cousin, Savannah's birthday and Nik's ordination. We had such a great time hanging out with our families that night.

Side Note: I love, love, love that our families get along. It meant so much to us to have everyone a part of this day. And it went so well. To our families: we love you and are so glad we can all come together and celebrate special occasions!

Saturday we gathered for lunch and a little last minute shopping/looking before everyone had to leave town. It was sad to say good-bye but we will see them all again real soon.

Nik and I made a stop at Ikea before heading home to pick up a piece of furniture (plus other things - because it's Ikea and we can't help ourselves!) for the nursery.

Soon (I know I've been a little behind on blogging) I will show you some nursery updates. 

Baby Pics

I recently found some old pics of Nik and I.
I thought they would be fun to share.

I wonder who Jaxen will look like!

First, pics of Carla:

Here are pics of Nik:

I think Jax has a big chance of being the CUTEST kid ever - don't you!?

These were fun to look at....can't wait to see who Jax takes after the most!

Pregnancy - Week 32

Week 32 was a little crazy (more on our week in another post). But I still want to recap it, because some new things happened - and I want to document these memories.

Last Sunday, while I was sitting in Church, Jax was moving so much (not unusual). But at one point, I looked down at my belly and it was moving! I heard this would happen, but I have not really seen my belly move yet. Until then. It was hard to concentrate because all I wanted to do was have everyone stop church and focus on my belly! Ha! I cannot stop looking at my belly everytime I feel Jax move. It is so cool. I know these last weeks are going to be such a special time.

My feet have swollen to double their size. I may be exaggerating some, but not much. It's really pretty - my new puffy feet. Let me tell you... (I am so kidding). It started on Monday. I had swollen some before then (like when I was on my feet a lot, or at the end of the day) but nothing like what I woke up to on Monday (and what has continued everyday since). I elevate my feet and it helps a little, but not much. Someone this past weekend told me to soak my feet in cold water. I do want to try it. I have a doctor appointment this next week and I'm going to mention this to her and see what she says. I know swelling is normal...but I also know that swelling (combined with other things) may not be good. So, I will get it checked out and see.

I think that is all of the memories of my pregnancy I want to recap this week. I did take a belly pic...and it was not in my bathroom! Be glad.

Weekend Update

This past weekend was a crazy whirl-wind.

Thursday afternoon I took off work about 3pm, just as Jessica (my sister) was arriving in town. We gave her the grand tour of our home and our church and then cooked dinner at the house. After dinner we got ready for the Baby Shower and headed off.

Friday, I had taken off work, and Nik decided to hang out with us that day as well. So guess where we went for lunch? Greek food! (I'm sure you all guessed correctly - because where else do we go when someone new is in town...?).

Jessica, enjoying her first Greek Food experience!

Friday night, Nik put Jessica and I to work on the Rummage Sale. We cleaned, sorted, priced and setup items for the next days sale. It was a late night, for sure. However, we did manage to have some good quality time together and get in a few laughs at these fellows:

You can't have a rummage sale without these men

modeling all the stuff for us!

Yup, that's my cutie husband - in a sequined girls top

showing off his moves!

Two more of our favorite goof balls!

Saturday at the Rummage Sale we had a great time! It was a super early morning, but we made some good money for the Mission Trip and had lots of fun. Around 2:30 PM, Nik ordered me to leave (not help with cleanup) and stop by another Church Garage Sale that was happening. I could not say no - so I took off. At the other Garage Sale, I arrived just in time to 'Fill a bag for a buck'. Super! I filled a plastic bag full of all the baby boy clothes I could get my hands on before they boxed them up. I got some great stuff. They are all washed and ready to be worn!

That evening was RELAX time. We were both worn out. My body was definitely telling me to do nothing but lay down and rest. So I did. And we ate pizza.

Sunday we went to Church, as normal... but during the service they called us to the front of the church. They wanted to recognize us in front of the congregation and congratulate us on Nik's Ordination (that will be held later this week). The pastor said some real nice things about Nik and handed him this gift:

Then, the Pastor's wife said some nice things about me and gave me this gift:

It was a real special time for us, to be honored by our church family. That evening, they held a reception in our honor:

As much as I love cake, between this reception and the Baby Shower - I think I've had all the cake I want!