20.5 weeks

Sunday, we decided to take a few pictures outside to mark the half-way point.  I can't believe we are half-way there!!

20.5 weeks

This is ONE lucky kid to be in THIS family!!  Bet he can't wait! :)

Rogue Runner 2012

Last weekend, Mike participated in the Rogue Runner Race.  It was a 10K race with obstacles along the way which included:

Their team of 7 people included Mike's brother, Marshall, and sister-in-law, Jaime.  Baby boy and I were able to walk around and take pictures along the way.  Unfortunately, about a mile in, Jaime turned her ankle pretty bad and was taken out of the race by the medical team.  Thankfully, it was just a bad sprain so she hung out with me until the end.  It was a beautiful fall day and took place at a farm about an hour from where we live.  

Getting ready to start

And, they're off...

Hay Bale obstacle

Peg Board obstacle

Here they come!

Stopping for a short picture break and to tell me about Jaime, not too dirty...YET!

Balance Beam action

After a lot of time passes...here they come again...MUCH more dirty!

Really Mike?!  What color are those legs??

Nothing an 'ol Slip-n-Slide can't help!

One...

Two...

Three...

Four...

A little cleaner!

Final obstacle...

With a little help...

Almost there...

FINISH LINE!!!

Group shot at the end...WAY TO GO!!

20 weeks

20 weeks...4 1/2 months...a lot to process...

20 weeks ago, I had no idea that God had someone ready to be formed inside of me.  Mike was just arriving home from 7 months in Afghanistan and we were "open" to the possibility of starting our family, you know...thinking it might take a little while.  But, God had us on the accelerated program!

• Around 15 weeks ago (week 5), I discovered that I was pregnant and told Mike that weekend when we were together.
• Around 13 weeks ago (week 7), I started having the "wonderful" symptoms of pregnancy.
• Just 12 weeks ago (week 8), we got our first glimpse of this baby!  Barely more than a little heartbeat, but we got to hear that too!  Wonderful sounds to nervous but excited first-time parents.

• Finally around 8 weeks ago (week 12), I started liking food again and not having to take naps EVERY day at 2pm.  And, we got to hear that wonderful heartbeat again!
• Around 3 weeks ago (week 17), we had another appointment - this time with our new doctor in Virginia who had wonderful news of a strong heartbeat again and that we would be able to have another ultrasound/sonogram in the next week or so.
• Finally, 1 week ago (week 19), we finally got another peak inside.  Instead of just a little "bean" of a heartbeat, we got to see the heart with all 4 chambers, a face, arms, legs, kidneys and other internal organs...and well, the knowledge that we are having a baby BOY!  It was amazing to see his features already and that he had his hands in his mouth at times and was MOVING like crazy (but this may be attributed to a little Cherry Coke that I had for lunch before the appointment)!

And now, 20 weeks into this, we now know we are having a boy and have named him and know he was created to be in our family at this time.  And, that God has known him before he was even formed (Jeremiah 1:5).  What an amazing thought!

The next 20 weeks will, I'm sure, be much different from the first 20 weeks.  BUT, how amazing to know that in 20 weeks (give or take!) we will get to see this baby boy in real life...no ultrasound pictures needed!

Happy Birthday Mom!

Today is Mom's birthday!!

And, although it is a little different from her celebration last year when we were all together in Gatlinburg and had a couple of extra "guests",

I hear that where she is celebrating today has been full of fireworks and parades this week.  Those Guatemalans know how to make you feel right at home.  Who else would be privileged to be the Mom to this crazy bunch?!

So, Happy Birthday Mom!  The closer I get to this "mom thing", the more I appreciate you and what you have done (and are doing!).