Meet Ada

Okay, so it's a long time coming, but I finally have sonogram pictures to show. I haven't posted any because we have a cheepo scanner, and I haven't wanted to show the ones I have scanned.

On Monday, we had a sonogram scheduled, Jon's mom and nephew came along with us. I can't believe how good he was! He just sat with Jon the entire time, just taking everything in. I thought it was going to be a routine sonogram, but then the tech said, "I am going to try and get some 4D images." When she pulled up those pictures, I could not believe it! The were so clear. Obviously more clear then what you can see here.

When my mom saw them, she immediately scanned them with their scanner, and emailed them to all of us. Like I said it is still not the quality I wanted, but they are better than nothing.

I am currently 33 weeks, and Ada is about 4lbs. Everything is normal with her as far as development, and she seems to be right on track. I had my first Braxton Hicks contraction on Monday night. I was sitting at my desk on the computer, and all the sudden felt really uncomfortable. So I stood up, and could not believe how hard my tummy was. It lasted about 30 seconds, but it was the weirdest thing I have ever felt.

Ada and I are getting consistently more uncomfortable. For some reason, she thinks she can only stay on the right side of my abdomen, either all straight up and down tickling my ribs, (which can be painful) or rolled up in a ball on the right bottom side of my belly. So sitting for long periods of time is not very comfortable. But it is really fun to lay down while Jon and I watch my belly dance. It is CRAZY!!!

We got the paperwork for checking into labor and delivery. Jon and I looked at it and were thinking the same thing, "This is really happening." We are going to take a tour of labor and delivery on Tuesday, which happens to be his birthday! I didn't want to do it that day because it's his birthday, but he really wants to go, so the birthday boy gets.

I haven't posted in a while because we have been really busy. My family has been going through a lot lately as far as their health. Keep us all in prayer as we going through the trials of life. God is good and is really teaching us to rely on him and him alone! Ada, and I are (thankfully) healthy and am trying to be as helpful to my family as possible. He is stretching me (in a good way) and I am amazed at the strength he is giving all of us.

I will be done with work in about a week and am looking forward to a couple extra hours during the week to prepare for Ada's arrival. We are really excited to see her, and to meet her!

Day 22 With No Cable

In my absence of blogging I have been doing my best at slimming down our expenditures in expectation of our baby in April. Way before we even got pregnant, I always had a healthy fear of the cost of a baby. So when it happened, that was in the forefront of my brain. So, I decided to make my new years resolution to look at out monthly expenses and cut back what we don't need or use.

I started with eating out, and am now making a calendar of what to make throughout the week. I think this one is the hardest because it is not only cutting out something, but obviously it is more work to not only cook the meal, but plan it. I have a magnetic dry erase board on my refrigerator, and I have been writing out everyday of the week, what we are having, and the recipe, so I have no excuses. I do leave at least one night of the week that we can go out. But it needs to corresponds with the budget I set out for the month.

I have also been getting out the extra cash out for our "extras" that we like to get, such as Starbucks, and any other outings that may be unplanned. The idea is that we get the money out when we get paid, and then when it's gone it's gone.

The last adjustment that we are going though is getting rid of our cable TV. Like I said, it has been 22 days with no TV at all. That was not the initial plan, but we don't have an antenna yet for our house yet, so we get nothing. It has been so different without TV, but it has been a nice adjustment. I am going to be honest, I could sit in front of the TV for hours, and I have, especially with TiVo. My morning routine was to get up turn on the TV, get my coffee, and breakfast and just sit in front of the TV. My Mom's quote when we first got rid of it was, "I just feel so bad that you don't have cable because I know how much you use it."

Being that the biggest sacrifice has been the TV thing, I have to say that it has freed up so much time for me to get things done that need to get done. Instead of getting up and sitting in front of the TV, I get my breakfast, grab my bible and do my devotion first thing, which is the way it should be. Jon is liking it too, because in the evening we sit and read together instead of watching junk.

Last night I got 6 loads of laundry done and cleaned our bedroom. This was not a nesting thing, it really just needed to be done, and I didn't have the TV tempting me to sit and spend an evening doing nothing.

I am not saying that we will never have cable again, in a year I could think that I want it because of all the kids shows that are on, but right now I really feel like the Lord is blessing us with this decision. Plus the $50 a month that we save is nice too!

This whole taking control of our money is so empowering. I use to just go by how much our bills were, save a little bit, and then the rest was ours to spend, and the whole ideal that I didn't really know where the money was going would always have me on pins and needles. As I look in the previous months the spending was so destructive in so many ways but most of all destructive to our marriage, because it was stress that was not needed.

My prayer in my devotion is that we are wise stewards of our money, and spend it in a pleasing way to the Lord. It is really making me be so aware of what goes out, and how we may be "throwing away" our money. The biggest thing is not getting lazy about the work that goes into it, because it is work. But thankfully the Lord is giving me such a desire to spend our money right!

Chocolate Night

 A blogging friend of mine showed a picture of her recent chocolate dipping get to gather, and at that very moment, I had such a craving for chocolate. Unfortunately, with me being the kind not to buy snacks, and candy, couldn't find any. Sooooo I did the next best thing, remembered chocolate night on a cruise we took Thanksgiving of 07. 

 I was AMAZING!!! You waited in a long line of people, and the beginning of the line was all of the chocolate creations they had come up with, and the second part of the line was all kinds of bakery things and all the chocolate you wanted, buffet style, and the third was an assortment of crackers and cheese and fruit. It was all so good. I specifically remember Jon grabbing some kind of truffle, popping it into his mouth only to realize It was a VERY strong rum ball. His face was priceless!

This was the Eiffel tower made out of white chocolate

This vase, also made from chocolate

I honestly think Jon could eat this whole thing by himself!

Jon couldn't help himself.

 IT was all so good, and something we will all remember about this cruise. I was saddened to hear the Royal Caribbean no longer does this due to the economy. It was all so memorable. 

 Oh, and did I mention it was at midnight?