Critter is So Cute.

Today was our 4 month check up and boy was it a good one. We got to have an ultrasound of Critter and what a CUTIE. We successfully kept it a secret so we are still going to be surprised on the day he/she is born. All of Critter’s “parts” look good…arms, legs, head, spine, feet, ears, etc. I just smiled the whole time thinking about how much I love this little baby already.

I’ve attached my 4 month belly shot taken a week and a half ago (some photographer’s turn around time is slow – hehe). I've gained 5 lbs (gulp) so I need to be a little more careful this month. Although I think I gained 3 of those lbs this past week in Dallas...we ate way too much.

Critter’s little back. See the ribs and spine and shoulder and ear?? He wouldn’t turn around so we could get a good profile picture, even with lots of jabbing and wiggling. He looks a little squished in there but I guess he’s happy. Here are some 4 month stats from my doctor’s webpage:
-Baby weighs about 3 ounces and is 5 1/2 to 6 inches long (although they told me Critter was 8 oz today which is normal).
-Baby can blink and swallow.
-Baby can move eyes.
-Ears have moved from neck to head.
-Baby has his preliminary toenails.
-Baby empties bladder every 40-45 minutes.
-Limb movements are becoming more coordinated.
-Baby's legs are longer than arms.


And here’s a picture of Siler just so he doesn’t get left out. His world of attention is about to change….

Valentine’s Dud, Destin and the Highest Point in Florida

Well, as you all know, Valentine’s Day was last week. I had a horrible week at work working well into the wee hours many nights. I certainly did not enjoy it. Come Valentine’s Day I was still working and was not able to get home until 11 (and that was early compared to the other nights). I had told Jacob I would be home in time to do something but that didn’t happen. So I officially earned the award for “Worst Wife on V-day.” Jacob did his job though and brought me flowers to work for our lunch date to visit a daycare. We didn’t even have time to eat together because I had to get back. I sure am glad last week is over!!

Thankfully, since I worked so hard early in the week, I was able to leave at noon on Friday for our romantic get away to Destin. Jacob had this planned for our weekend so that we could get the highest point in Florida and enjoy a nice weekend away. It was wonderful. We went for one of those time share deals so we got two nights stay in a hotel and $100 in food gift certificates. They scheduled us for our 90 minute presentation on Saturday morning but after a really late arrival we moved it to the afternoon. So after we got going and ate a nice breakfast at the Embassy Suites, we took a walk on the beach. It was gorgeous but the wind was pretty chilly. We made our way to the presentation and sat through their rambling and kindly told them we weren’t interested, collected our gift certificates and room vouchers and headed away thinking, “man…what a deal.” After that all ended we went shopping at the outlet stores. I bought my first little presents for Critter. They had tons of children’s stores (Little Me, Children’s Place, Carters, etc.) I could have bought so many cute things. Jacob picked out a Christmas outfit for Critter that was only $3. It has a little reindeer on it and it’s just adorable. I went into the Motherhood Maternity store but just wasn’t into buying any of the frumpy, maternity clothes yet. Give me a couple more weeks and I will have no choice! That evening Jacob and I gorged ourselves at this nice restaurant because we had $75 (of our $100) that we had to spend that weekend at that restaurant. We were adding soup and salad and shrimp cocktail and dessert. The dessert was the best. We were close to being gluttons and our bill came to $77 so we only had to pay $2 plus her tip. We then went back to the hotel and hung out.

Ball of Fire.
These boys were crazy. It was nowhere near warm enough to be in that water.
Destin Strip
Happy Seagulls. The water is so gorgeous at the gulf. Totally different color than our east coast beaches.

Sunday we slept in and eventually hit the road around 11. We snagged the highest point in Florida a whopping 345ft (the lowest of all highs).

The Solemates Reach #27 (only 23 more)!!

Views from the Highpoint.

The Highest Point in Florida. 345'

After that we continued our drive home and stopped in Montgomery, AL where we were able to spend a few hours with Tim and Becky. Tim and Becky are very special to me. He was my youth minister from 6th grade all the way to 12th grade and then they moved. Tim is also the one who married me and Jacob. We eventually had to leave them and continue home but it was a very nice weekend and I enjoyed it greatly. Thank you Jacob for my mini-vacation :).

Little Luke (he's 2), Becky and Me

Tim, Luke, Becky, Me and Jacob

Bittersweet Day

Today is a bittersweet day. It's hard to believe but today is the day that our first little one was due had it not ended in miscarriage. I am so thankful though for God's grace and mercy and the joy that I have a perfectly healthy baby growing inside of me. God knows what is best for me and I know that the next few months of preparation for mommyhood are exactly perfect for me. Thank you God for your love!!!

On a side note...I will blog about valentine's day (or lack there of thanks to me), our trip to Destin and my 4 month belly later. Wow...already 4 months along. Crazy.

Grizzlies vs. Jars of Clay

Friday night Jacob and I went to a Memphis Grizzlies NBA game with our friends Hunter and Emily and Stewart and Laurie. After the game was a free concert by Jars of Clay. Can you believe these guys are still around? In fact, their latest cd "The Good Monsters" is one of my favs right now. The game was fun (fortunately the Grizzlies actually one a game) but my favorite part was definitely the concert. I would have been much happier with an hour of basketball and 3 hours of concert...but you know how that is. Or better yet...it would have been great had Jars of Clay taken on the Grizzlies. I bet Jars would have won for sure. Anyway, it was fun. I can't remember the last concert I went to prior to this. I think Critter was dancing in my tummy :) Only it's still too early to feel.

Critter will have 2 Grandmas!!!

Well, my blog is nothing but good news these days. I am so excited to announce that my daddy and Martha are getting married! That means Critter will have 2 full sets of grandparents and daddy will have a wife and Brad and I will have a step-mother and Jacob will have a mother-in-law.

I have prayed and prayed for the past 10 years that if it were God’s will for daddy to remarry then God would send a sweet, caring woman his way…and He did just that! I can tell that he is truly happy and that makes me happy. They have not yet set a date but they will be married sometime before Critter arrives so not tooooo long away!

Yippeeeeeee.

I’m attaching pictures of the bling bling that he got her. Way to go dad…and a cute picture of them from skiing in Whistler.

Sally's Sinus Surgery

(Say That 10x Fast)

Sally had sinus surgery today to help get rid of some of the yukky, terrible, no good headaches that she gets. Pray that she has a quick and healthy recovery.

Here is the funny card that I sent her. Poem credit goes to my Shakespeare.