Baby News

We found out June 3rd that we are expecting a baby next February! We are so excited about this and, even though it is so early, we are just so in love with our little dot and are hoping the next 8 months go well. I had a dr. appt. at 5 weeks- they did a pregnancy test and wanted me to come back in a week (yesterday) for an ultrasound, since I am leaving for a cruise on Saturday the dr. wanted to make sure the pregnancy wasn't ectopic. So we got to see our baby yesterday! Everything looks good, baby measured exactly 5 weeks 6 days. There was no heartbeat yet, so we go back for another ultrasound in two weeks.


I have been feeling a little sick lately, having trouble sleeping, etc. but nothing too bad. Hopefully it won't get worse on the cruise! I have been trying not to worry too much, but it seems nearly impossible. It was so reassuring to see him yesterday and I will be very glad when we hear the heartbeat.
In other news- we signed the lease on our new apartment in Winter Haven and will be moving in about a month. It is a two bedroom townhouse that is super cute- and has a patio which Fenway will LOVE. I am hoping to clear out some of the junk we have in the current apartment before we get to the new place. Then, in a few months, we will be able to start decorating baby's room. We also need to move our wedding gifts in (:
I went to Boston last Thursday and Friday for the Yankees/Red Sox game- Red Sox won! It was really exciting - just a little cold.
I had cousins from Kentucky and Tennesee come in on Saturday to visit. We got to see Amy at the wedding, but haven't seen Nicole and Kevin since last summer- and they had a little boy we got to meet! It was really nice to spend some time with them. And Fenway was SO good around their 9 1/2 month old, which was encouraging.
Traveling has been rough- anything moving (cars, planes, etc.) make me nauseaus- I will be glad when this passes.
We are so excited we are going to be parents and we appreciate all of your prayers and support.

Here's to a healthy baby...

Just an update.

I guess it's been about a month- doesn't seem that long since Easter.
We had a good Easter at my parents house- we went to church and then hung out with the family for lunch.
We haven't been going to Orlando quite so much, which has been nice.

I had a friend going to Puerto Rico for work, so she had a hotel room and I bought a plane ticket to go and hang out with her for a few days.They had an AMAZING taxi system- very organized, always knew how far you were going and how much it would be before you got into the cab- it was so nice. It was really beautiful- perfect weather and the resort had hammocks and beds on the beach, a beautiful infinity pool, a swim up bar- and a little tropical garden with peacocks. There were these enormous lizards that, luckily, didn't bother me at all. It was a nice couple of days, but weird to be away from Eric.

We went to an air show which was really cool- Eric and I really like going and it always seems like we don't know when they are, so it was nice to be able to plan on going and spending the day there.

I've been cooking- hopefully I'll be cooking better soon. I did make some curry that was really good, but other than that it's like I usually get something wrong. Live and Learn I suppose.

It's been quite an adjustment to be married- I am glad there are alot of laughs and good times with all the changes and getting situated.

We had two friends from Orlando come in over the past month, which was sooooooo wonderful! And my dad and Lou came over and we ate dinner at The Red Elephant.

Eric has been working alot, which isn't fun for me- but they have really appreciated all that he has done in Tampa. He's got so many talents and is so good at what he does- I am sure they will be sad when he has to go to Lakeland.

We are looking for a new place to live! I don't necessarily like this process, but it is nice to have a goal, ESPECIALLY when it means we will be back in Orlando soon!

Still waiting on the wedding video and the photo book- I took a while deciding on songs and specific pictures. Can't wait until they get in!

The In Between

"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5: 8

"It's the end of the most significant week in the history of the world. A week of final moments. Jesus and the apostles' last meal together. The last time Jesus prays in the garden. The conluding confrontation with the enemies. The final encounter with pain. And the last event... a daring display of unleashed divine power. The entombed Savior unbound by a Holy explosion. What was a sepulcher is now a symbol...landmarking the greatest vistory in the most crucial battle. A week of final moments. A week of endings. Or is it the beginning...?" Max Lucado
This was the day of sorrow- of pain and confusion and lost hope. The day when the faith they had was shaken, when their dreams seemed to be dead in a tomb. Grief has a way of making everything gray, and how much darker that day when the one who died was the one you placed all of your future in. Who was there to lead now? What were you supposed to do?

Good Friday
"His final prayer was about you. His final pain was for you. His final passion was you...He couldn't (walk away). He couldn't because he saw you. Right there in the middle of a world which isn't fair. He saw you cast into a river of life which you didn't request. He saw you betrayed by those you love. He saw a body which gets sick and a heart that grows weak. He saw you in you own garden of gnarled trees and sleeping friends. He saw you staring into the pit of your own failures and the mouth of your own grave. He saw you in you Garden of Gethsemane-and He didn't want you to be alone. He wanted you to know that he has been there, too. He knows what it's like to be plotted against. He knows what it's like to be confused. He knows what it's like to be torn between two desires." Max Lucado
Full of sorrow and agony and desperation. Loss and abandonment and death. Words we don't like- Words that mean something, words that were acts that we don't like to think about. That I don't like to think about. Choices that were made because there was no other way. Because love made a way. He embodied everything good that ever existed and then He took on everything bad- so we could know Him. I, like most everyone, hate death. I hate the permanence of it, the overwhelming sadness that seems to stay around for so long afterwards. I hate the seperation and the missing. I hate the questions it causes and the fear that lingers and the bitterness that can seep in. I hate that it is the end of the story that we can see, that we can understand- but, this death was different. It was the beginning of the greatest story...

Even as they celebrated Passover- even as He told them He would rebuild His temple and served them and prepared them for the giving of His body- they didn't understand (even as we have the whole story and have a hard time understanding that death is not an end...). Though their expectations weren't the same, none expected what He knew would happen. His humanity was so apparent that day- sorrow and pleading and praying, a body broken. Did they wonder if they were wrong to believe in His words? To leave behind their own lives to learn from this teacher?

"He is not here... for He has risen, just as He said." This is Easter. This is the beginning of all things being made new, of love conqeuring hate, of promises kept, the most blessed invitation, power and grace and hope and peace and joy and all the words we love are alive and living and coming again. It was an offering- it is an offering- a sacrament, a gift from God- the gift from God. The miracle of a person, it is personal. Faith and Wonder overwhelming. I love that the acts themselves are the meaning, and yet there was so much symbolism and fulfiment. That the levels on which we are taught grow and expand as our understanding does. That it's so simple- We are sinners seperated from God, Jesus was born and remained sinless to die for our sin- then is raised from the dead and will return. We believe, accept, obey- we love and give and learn. We have eternity with Him. That he had a choice and we have a choice. That the simplicity of it doesn't make it easy.
Remembering the Lord's Supper- the giving freely of His body and His blood Sacrifice and Redemption. We are left in awe, with immense gratitude and - humility and unworthiness. Justification. Sanctification. Renewal. Freedom. Repentance and Frogiveness. Atonement. Reconciliation.

Psalm 51
Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash away all my iniquity
and cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is always before me.
4 Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you are proved right when you speak
and justified when you judge.
5 Surely I was sinful at birth,
sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
6 Surely you desire truth in the inner parts [a] ;
you teach [b] me wisdom in the inmost place.
7 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
8 Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
9 Hide your face from my sins
and blot out all my iniquity.
10 Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11 Do not cast me from your presence
or take your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
and sinners will turn back to you.
14 Save me from bloodguilt, O God,
the God who saves me,
and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.
15 O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth will declare your praise.
16 You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;
you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart,
O God, you will not despise.
18 In your good pleasure make Zion prosper;
build up the walls of Jerusalem.
19 Then there will be righteous sacrifices,
whole burnt offerings to delight you;
then bulls will be offered on your altar.

Happy One Month to Us!!

We got married! It's a month today... I can't believe I haven't written on here in so long, I haven't written much at all the past two months- but hoping to start again. Anyways, the wedding was amazing- everything we could have asked for- and we had such a great time with all the friends and family who were able to come in for it- so thank you!
After the wedding, we went to the beach for a week, which was amazing. The weather was perfect and it was so nice for Eric to have so much time off of work for us to just be together. We came back to the apartment in Tampa for a night and then were in Jacksonville for two weeks while Eric was working on opening the new restaurant there. I am back in Tampa now, but he is still there during the week. I have been in Orlando some, since being alone in Tampa with no friends is really not fun at all.
I got the apartment all set up and my name changed on everything- so that's good. We also went to Atlanta for a propane convention this past weekend and had a lot of fun.
It still feels a little like playing house, but it's nice to have my best friend around all the time- although I am not sure he knew just how much I talked before living together (: We worked out the closet kinks- it's so tiny! and are looking forward to Eric being back in Tampa for good.
Also, Punkin (cat) and Fenway (dog) have met and are living together. At this point, they don't hang out- but they also don't fight, so that's good. I hope they become best friends soon, though- just because that would be so cute. They are both trying to adjust to the new apartment- and I actually think Punkin is doing better than Fenway. She seems to be liking it and hanging out with us and eating better than in previous moves. Fenway isn't used to so much quite- so I think she is confused and is needing a lot of extra attention. She's been so flexible with me dragging her around everywhere, so I'm proud of her.
We are very excited about Easter- neither of the pets will be dressed up or getting Easter baskets this year... because, apparantly, they don't care about those things. But, we'll be going to church and having family dinner with my parents, etc.
All of the wedding pictures I have gotten from those who were there are in an album and I love looking at them- I do it all the time- and we are waiting on the ones from the photographer, which I am SO excited about. Also, our wedding is going to be in Central Florida Bride, which I can't wait to see! (it comes out in July)
AND, all the thank you cards are done! I did them the week after the wedding and I am very very happy about that.

Here's hoping we get ont he newlywed gameshow. and that I can be a little more patient...

Happy love day!

I know it was yesterday, oh well.

It's been a busy couple of weeks here... Eric and I spent two days in Tampa looking for a apartment- and found one! It's the one I wrote about last time (even though we spent an ENTIRE day looking at other apartments...) and it is amazing! It's in a great area and close to the restaurant, gated, has a washer and dryer!, a fireplace, an alarm and a large living room- the bedroom and closet are pretty full with all our stuff, but the rest of the apartment has some space. We moved in last week- Eric worked all week and then stayed up all night packing the uhaul with all of his stuff to move down last Tuesday. We also got our marriage license while we were there! It was really odd... I couldn't stop laughing. This really is all so crazy....

    Eric was working and in Tallahassee for Valentine's day, so we didn't really celebrate- but my dad sent me roses and my sister made me heart shaped pancakes- then we went to see confessions of a shopaholic with Jessica Ashley, it was a very cute movie. 

   Back at the house, I am getting used to living in between- all my furniture and most of my clothes are gone. I am really trying to get out the last of the wedding event invitations and get everything else packed to go into storage or to tampa...

   Ok I have to go run errands...

Here's to not getting overwhelmed in a bad way...

New New New!

So... it's not new yet, but all the getting ready for the new is getting so exciting. I teeter back and forth between excitement and being terrified, so I thought I should blog while we were on the upswing... Why are we on the upswing?

1. I got into a fight with my sister this morning (more like me just being a baby and yelling...) but, when I apologized, we were able to have a good talk about all the changes coming up and how I was feeling about them and how different everything is about to be. So, it turned out really good.

2. We are going to look at an apartment in Tampa next week!!!!!! I am so excited about this... it looks great, from the pictures and layout, so now it's just a matter of if we actually like it and if it's in a good location! It's a sublease for 6 months, which is just beyond perfect. I don't know if this one will work out, but it seems like a good step- that even if this one doesn't we will be able to find what we need. Also, if we can get the apartment soon, we can start to move in before the wedding- which will clear alot of the boxes that are piling up in my house.

3. Justin and Julie sent me chocolate covered mint oreos! Now, these will definitely not help me to fit into my wedding dress any better, but, oh well- I love them!

4. I have a meeting with an organization to volunteer in Tampa and am waiting to hear back about a (very) part time job... so, with any luck, I can have some things to do before moving and not have to sit at home and wait for Eric.

5. I just got back from a wonderful shopping trip to Atlanta and got to spend some time with my mom, just me and her, and to see the flower girl in her dress- she looks so cute!

6. I have been writing! This is so nice... I haven't had much time to write and when I do I just haven't been, so it has been nice to get some writing done. 

7. Marriage counseling went well. We also met with the pastor who is marrying us and went over the ceremony.

8. We are going to get our marriage license next week! I am hoping this happens- when Eric was in Orlando, neither one of us had our birth certificates and when I went to Tallahassee, I didn't have our marriage course certificate- so I am hoping to remember everything in Tampa so we can get our license.

9. We don't know when we will be able to go to Phoenix for our honeymoon. I really hope we go sometime soon, but directly after the wedding Eric still has a week off of work, so we will be able to spend a week at the beach.

So, obviously we are moving to Tampa. While I don't respond particularly positive to change when it is initially presented to me (although I am trying...) I am SO very excited about being in Tampa!

Here's hoping to dog and cat don't fight like cats and dogs...

Hello, New Year!

Ok, I haven't exactly talked to Eric about this, but I don't think either of us are making resolutions this year. I think they are a fine idea, but I usually make the same ones everyone else makes, and I usually only succeed in reading more. I think we will be too busy this year... on the agenda:

January/Feburary- planning for the wedding, hunting with my dad, marriage counseling

March- Wedding!, move to Tallahassee, mom and my sister's birthday

April- Eric's birthday, honeymoon in Arizona

June- my cousin's HS graduation

July-  my parent's 30th wedding anniversary, Dad's state convention, hopefully we'll be moved out a Tallahassee by now

August- dad's birthday, my other cousin's Sweet 16

October- my birthday!

and then the Holidays again!

I looked over an email I sent to Eric at the beginning of this year about what was going on- all the trips, etc. and it's so funny to look at that now, at what I had planned, and then to know that there was an engagement and all the other craziness that happened this year. All the things you can't plan for but seem to manage. The list above might serve as a great- hey look at all the things we had no idea were going to happen this year- as we look back in the next.

So, since I haven't done one in a while and I LOVE surveys- here's one I got from a friend's blog.

Where did you begin 2008?

Paris!

What was your status at Valentine's day?

Single... how quickly things change...

Were you in school?

I went to Propane safety school in May

Did you have to go to the hospital?

Nope

Where did you go on vacation?

San Diego, San Francisco, Chicago, NYC, Boston, Houston, S.C, Paris

What did you purchase that was over $500?

I don't know

Did you get married or Divorced?

Nope

Did you know anyone who got married?

I do!

Did you know anyone who passed away?

Unfortunately.

Did you move anywhere?

No, Still at Sector 7

What sporting events did you attend?

Lots of baseball games, including game 2 of the world series! And I managed to NOT attend even one football game!

What concerts did you go to?

Big 10-4

Where do you live now?

Orlando 

What did you do in 2008 that you thought you'd never do?

Fall in love.

What has been your favorite moment?

When Eric and I decided to get engaged

What's something you learned about yourself?

Apparently, I'm not perfect...

Any new additions to your family?

My almost in-laws, Eric's brother and his wife, had a little boy, two of my cousins also had little boys.

What has been your best month?

July

What music will you remember 2008 by?

Chicken Fried

Any regrets?

Not really

What do you want to change in 2009?

Not being married

Overall, how do you rate this year?

8.5

Other than home, where did you spend most of your time?

Tallahassee

Did you change your hairstyle?

Growing it out for the wedding

Get a new job?

Nope

Have a New Year's resolution?

See introduction

Do anything embarrassing?

Yes

What was your favorite purchase?

Probably books

Did you start a new hobby?

Nope

Go snowboarding?

Nope

Are you happy to see 2008 go?

I;m happy to have 2009 here

Drink Starbucks in 2008?

Probably

What are you wishing for in 2009?

It's a secret. 

We have marriage counseling next weekend- here's to that going well.