Our baby girl

We had our ultrasound today & found out that we are having a beautiful little girl! She was moving all around during the entire ultrasound & even appeared to be "talking" at one point. The funiest part was when our little girl put her foot in her mouth & started to suck on her toes. She was extremely beautiful & I absolutely can't wait to meet her & put her into my arms. 

We are absolutely extatic about this little girl. We actually didn't care what we were having at all so there was no disappointment one way or the other, however the general consciensus was that we were having a boy. There were few people that guessed a girl. We are pleasently surprised & let's just say she's about ready to be spoiled. Sara's side of the family has no girl grandchildren. 5 boys & no girls, so we will be introducing a girl to them. My family has 3 boys & 1 girl for grandchildren so our little one will have at least one girl to have some fun with.  

Sara & I have decided to keep our options open regarding our little girls name until we see her. We have 3 complete names all picked out, but want to see the baby before we decide. 

24 weeks down - 16 to go...not that I'm counting or anything! =)

Busy Week

This Thursday we get to find out what sex the baby is. We are extremely excited to see our little one & to get an update on how it is doing & growing. Sara is feeling the little one kick & move often. In fact some nights it is so active, I jokingly wonder if we're destined for an ADD child. My dad always said "I hope your kid turns out just like you so you know how it felt." I laugh at the thought. I turned out all right, but I know I was more than a handle at some points. You know what they say...boys will be boys!

This is a picture from our first ultrasound. Our little one was only 10 weeks at this point. We are now 24 weeks & are counting down the days until August comes. 24 down-16 to go!

This is a picture of a flower in our flower box outside on our deck. It is flourishing & loving the sun it has been getting. I look at this perticular flower daily & admire its shape & color. I love uniquness in nature.

This beautiful tree is right outside of our house. It hit full bloom last week & has been amazing to watch it flower. Yesterday I sat under it for a while & enjoyed its shade why I read some paper work. Spring is in the air...the birds are singing...the flowers are blooming...the sun is shining...& I'm extremely happy with how things are going. It is a "new" & "fresh" season of life. 

Painting

My task for this weekend is going to be painting our "to-be" nursery. Up to this point it has been our storage room/workout room, but hopefully in the next two weeks between painting, re- carpeting, & buying/setting up the crib it will begin to look like our baby's room.  The bad news about painting this weekend is it is supposed to be 75-80 degree's all weekend. So why you are all out in the sun enjoying the weather, I will be holed up in a room painting. 

I'm really not complaining though because I am extremely excited to get the nursery ready for the baby. I think I will feel much better once we have spent the money on everything & have it all set-up. Then we will just have to wait for the big arrival date. Our Aunt & Uncle from Sisters will be coming up to help with the painting festivities so I won't be left to my own demise in a fuming room. They are also bringing one of their dogs so it should be fun for Promise to have a buddy here for the weekend. She is such a good dog, but sometimes I think we rob her of dog to dog interaction. So it should be fun to run around with another Labradoodle. 

Hopefully my next post shows progress if not completion of the room!

The Masters

One of the greatest sporting events of all time started today...The Masters. The chase to wear the green jacket & become apart of one of the most prestigious clubs of all time. I think I might sit back & enjoy some good golf after the whirlwind of the past few days!

Perspective

So much has gone on over the past few months. It has been a winter & spring that has left me content, anxious, flattered & incredibly happy. I have began to love my job. It has it's stressful/annoying moments, but I feel fulfilled & I love being around the kids & school. For instance, yesterday after a busy day at work, Sara & I relaxed & wound down by watching our baseball & softball teams play in our "backyard".

The picture is of a baby at 22 weeks, which we are as of yesterday. Sara & I are enjoying every moment of this pregnancy & making sure we cherish every moment. The 2nd trimester has been a breeze compared to the 1st. It has been fun seeing Sara's belly grow & to see her get that pregnancy glow. Everyday I wake up & roll over to wake her up I realize I am the luckiest man in the world. She truly is a fantastic woman who follows after God, takes incredible care of me, is my best friend, & the woman I fall in love with over & over again. I am so excited to start a family with her & August 11th can not come soon enough. You know, sometimes you get so focused on what you don't have or what is going wrong. However, when I really stop & think of my life & where I am...I wouldn't trade it for the world. I truly am blessed & can see God's guidance & favor throughout all of my life. If I could do everything all over again, I'm not really sure I would change a thing. 

I couldn't sleep a night last month & I was laying in bed thinking about work, things I need to do to get the nursery ready, but most of all I was thinking about people & how I react to them. It made me think of my dog, Promise. She has these big ol' brown eyes that she just stares at your with. You can honestly get lost in her eyes. The thing with her is she doesn't care who I am. She doesn't care what I did today. She doesn't care if I'm stressed & tired. She doesn't care if I had a great day. All she knows is I'm her master & she loves me. No matter the day, she comes "bounding" into the house & lays her head on my lap...looking at me with those eyes asking for some cuddle time. She's oblivious to my problems. She simply wants to love on me. 

It made me think...isn't that how we should be with the people we come into contact with everyday? Shouldn't we be loving everyone? Shouldn't we have that smile on our face as we enter the grocery store & greet people with joy? If God's joy is our strength & we are the light of the world then shouldn't we choose to "rejoice & be glad in it"? It only makes sence doesn't it? I'm learning that it is my choice to make things a big deal & it is my choice to be happy in all things. I am enjoying my wife, enjoying my job, enjoying life, & people are enjoying being around me since I began to realize this. It is so much better to focus on the good & not the bad. The line I've come to use as Sara & I's mission statement is: "It ain't nothing but a thing". No matter how bad or how disheartning, it ain't nothing but a thing. It isn't a big deal. It will seem like something so small very soon. 

Perspective is a wonderful & amazing tool to have. I pose the question...who is control of your life? You? or is your life controlling you? Just food for thought.