My Birthday

Steve came home one day before my birthday and for that I am so thankful!  I know that birthdays are really just like any other day of the year, but it is never fun to be alone on your big day (even though I know my friends wouldn't have let that happen).

Anyway, I had to work late (Back to School Night) so I didn't get home till 8:00.  I came home to several surprises!  I went to go change into comfy clothes and found beautiful flowers in our bedroom.  Steve even closed all the doors so that when I opened the door to our bedroom I could smell the fresh flowers.  He also wrapped up two of my absolute favorite things...Willow tree figurines.  One was called Cherish (the pregnant lady one) and the other was Hero (that is one of a lady holding a flag).  I LOVE these and they make me smile every time I see them.

But, the gifts didn't end there.  He then presented me with a blank white envelope.  In it was a menu for BREAKFAST IN BED!  I have never had that luxury!  And, I took work off today (don't worry, it was legit, we had 3 appointments with roofing companies today) so I was able to not worry about getting up and getting ready.  I checked off the things I wanted and he made me a wonderful breakfast, including my favorite drink from starbucks (decaf of course). I would have taken a picture of breakfast but it was so delicious I ate it too fast.

I have such an amazing husband!

The Baby Moved!

So, yesterday was my birthday and Steve must have had some secret conversation with BK that I didn't know about....He must have told that baby that it was my birthday and that baby should do something special for me.

I had to work, which is normal, but then it was back to school night at my school so I had to be there till roughly 8:00 pm.  I had fun with my team and it was great to see the parents again, so it wasn't that bad.  The school also provided pizza for dinner, so that was a nice perk.

Anyway, later on that night we were laying in bed and I was laying on my stomach.  My stomach felt kind of funny and I said, "My stomach feels funny, maybe it was the pizza for dinner."  I rolled over onto my back and put my hand on my stomach....and then, it HAPPENED!  I felt BK moving all around in there!  Steve did too!  It is like everyone explains it, kind of like butterflies or popcorn popping inside of you!

What a fun way to end my birthday!

Almost 15 weeks.

So, yesterday I got 4 comments about how I am "looking" pregnant and today another two.  I figured I should get a picture of what people are talking about...Because I still just feel bloated.

Yesterday, while talking on the phone at school (to another teacher, this was not a personal call) my teammates looked at me and said, "Wow, look at that stomach!" (or something to that effect).  One said that I should probably tell the parents soon because otherwise they might just think I ate a really big lunch!  hah!

Another teacher came in and took one look at me and said, "And, you haven't told your parents yet???" (school parents that is).

Apparently I am looking more preggo as the days go on, but these pictures don't seem to make me feel any more pregnant.  I can push out my stomach pretty far, but I think I will save that for another photo shoot.

Please don't pay attention to the messy hair and dark circles under my eyes...I took these pictures at 8:00pm on an Thursday night...I was tired.

14 weeks and 2 days

So, getting a picture on Friday is pretty tough, Sunday mornings are usually best.  Here I am at 14 weeks + 2 days.

Made My Day

Today I made some chicken salad for Holly's shower and the recipe called for a rotisserie chicken.  I love when this happens because then I can make chicken stock from the bones/skin of the chicken.  So, today I made her chicken salad, and then decided to make soup out of the rest of the chicken.

In the process of doing this, I looked in the garden and saw several things that were ready to pick: yellow squash, carrots, and parsley.  So, I added these in my soup and it was DELICIOUS!  (While in the garden I also picked and ate a cherry tomato, but there was only one ready....And, we have two cucumbers growing!  I thought we had killed all of them, but they survived!)

Here are some pictures of the soup:

So excited for the leftovers...

I think one of the reasons I love making chicken soup so much is because of my Grandma. Whenever we were "sick" (and I put that in quotations because often my brother and I (mainly Russ) would fake being sick so we could go spend the day with Grandma rather than going to school) she made us her homemade soup and the aroma filled the house.  So, whenever I can fill my house with that same smell, it makes me happy.

Thankful

I don't like it at all when Steve leaves...NOT AT ALL.  But, it has made me see just how amazing our friends are.  In just the past few days several things have happened to show me how much my group of friends cares about both Steve and I and how they would do anything for us.  Now, I know I could ask anything of my friends, anything I would need while Steve is gone and one of them would figure out how to do it.  But, this group of friends is pretty amazing in that they anticipate needs, and I don't even have to ask.  Here are some examples:

1. At church: I walk in late and the row moves down so that I don't have to awkwardly sit by one of my friends husbands.  They moved over so that I can sit between two of my girlfriends (thank you James)
2. On a regular day: Melissa told me how Ben asks how I am doing.  He knows that it would be a little odd if he came up to me one on one and said, "Now Carey, How are you handling all of this?"  But, he genuinely cares and asks his wife about me.
3. Going out to Eat: Jen and Kevin saw that I was going to have to walk back to my car by myself, at night (downtown) and offered to walk me to it to keep me safe even though it was the opposite direction of their car.
4. The girls in my group have determined that I need to make a list of all the things that need to be done in the house that Steve usually does, so they can pass the work onto their husbands (shoveling snow, mowing the lawn, shutting down the sprinkler system, etc.)
5. While celebrating Cathy's birthday, she insisted that we send a video to Steve to wish him a happy birthday even though it was her day.

Now, to the ordinary person, these seem like such simple silly things, but to me they mean the world.  I haven't had to ask, they just anticipate my need ands offer to take care of them.  I know I could ask anything of this group, but I haven't had to yet, and I love that.

Thank you K group.

*disclaimer: I cried through writing this entire post because I am so overwhelmed with how God has provided for us, so please excuse any mis-types or funky sentences..

13 weeks and 2 days

I went to Fort Carson yesterday with Ty and Dustin to get a tour of the hospital.  Feeling MUCH better about delivering on an Army base now!  It is beautiful there.  More to come later :)

My Mom is Retired

So, my mom is retired and you would think....Wow!  You have worked for 30+ years, now is the time for you to relax and be lazy.  Well, not my mom...She was saying that there are lots of things she wants to do in her retirement: work at the church, do crafts (and sell them), and start writing for the local newspaper.  Wow, start writing for the local newspaper, that is something I wasn't expecting.  Well, she did it and is already published!  Here are some pictures of her work:

She wrote an article about my cousins (the fidgets) who come to the cottage every year...If you have ever seen the old school Little Rascals you would know why we call them the fidgets.

Every year we take a fidget picture...This has always been one of my favorite ones.  I think it captures all of their personalities.

I am so proud of my mom!  

I love our Garden!

Thanks to our moms and the neighbor Jill we have beautiful flowers in our garden!

Preggo Pictures

I am not nearly as talented as Melissa, but here are some pictures documenting the baby's growth (or my growth)!

Week 11

Week 12

I am feeling SO much better now! I don't need naps everyday and I am eating on a more regular schedule  (for instance, I am just eating breakfast, lunch, and dinner NOT giant breakfast, brunch, lunch, afternoon dinner, dinner, bedtime snack, and midnight snack (that was the crackers beside the bed))

I wasn't horribly sick by any means...I just didn't feel like myself.  Now I am feeling rather normal again and am waiting to see what this baby has next for us.

Visiting Jennifer for Lunch

We got to visit Jennifer at lunch today (at Compassion)...We enjoyed seeing where she works and giving her a break from the day.  

Here is her "office"  We weren't allowed back there unless she was with us. 

And it Begins....

And a new season begins:

The only time you will ever see a gun case in the back of our car....

Love you babe.