Gatlinburg: Take 2

I'm back and feeling good! Doing lots of laundry and errands today to catch up on some stuff. Mondays are for that type of stuff. We had so much fun in Gatlinburg with my family. It was nice to do some different stuff than last time. Dollywood, Comedy Barn, Murder Mystery show, Ober rides and my birthday dinner at Harry Hapoon's Crab house! I definitely was a little nervous about having 5 kids going out to dinner, but to my surprise it was an amazing time and I got my favorite: SUSHI!! (It was cooked of course :) )

I will be 18 weeks on Wednesday and I'm feeling it for sure! I mean, it's that rough stage where people stare at you like...hmmmm she could be fat or pregnant. It's a 50/50 chance. haha This little girl has popped way faster than Micah. I expected that, but for some reason this time I feel a bit fatter. Last time it was all baby. This time I got some baby fat left on me and then more baby pushing it out. I wanted to shop for maternity clothes today, but my local mall didn't have a store. I was pretty sad about it. I need to start wearing tight clothes because everything I have is loose fitting and looks funny. I will post a baby bump photo soon.

Naps are a little easier now that we are home. That was the only struggle we had at the resort. Our TV didn't work in our room and it was so bright I don't think Micah could fall asleep. So a few days I had to bear hug him in the bed until he fell asleep. It was a struggle and he can be pretty strong. I won every time though don't worry. He fought me long and hard until he pooped out.

Lots of pics taken last week and I will share them all with you!!

These pictures are not in order, but you get the picture. haha
Dollywood was a ton of fun. Lots of little kid rides surprisingly and Micah was about half an inch too short for the other rides. He will be able to ride everything probably next month since he is growing so fast.
The day before my birthday we got a girls day out and had lunch and pedicures. Wow. I loved that. It was so nice and relaxing. Lunch without littles was amazing and the Pottery Cafe was perfect. So glad my mom found that place.

Our waitress took one photo of us all and I couldn't believe it actually turned out good. Also, I don't know why she only took ONE!! She took a ton of photos before we were ready and snapped one of us while we were smiling. I got lucky that everyone looks good and no one is making a crazy/sad face. Such a fun night.

Now I'm back in Atlanta and it's hot and humid and I'm not liking it at all. I feel like I want to sit in my house and wait till October. I'm so glad I'm only 18 weeks prego and I get to have the cool air while I'm big and fat. haha

Love you all!!

Support

Since I posted my story on my Facebook page I've had a ton of support and a few people reach out. I knew it would touch some people more than others. Many friends I have are in the same boat. In their 30's wanting babies, or having babies, or trying to have babies. We are definitely in that stage of life. Last week I had a long lost friend from elementary school contact me and tell me how much my story helped her as she was just in the process of finding out her HCG levels were dropping. She also has a son around the same age as Micah was when I had mine. Yesterday I got a new message from her saying she was in the hospital recovering from an ectopic pregnancy that ruptured. She lost her right tube and was hurting...emotionally. Wow. It hit me so hard. I wish I would have asked her more about her situation and what was happening. I wish I could have helped her before it happened. It's just crazy how much we connect now. Someone so far and so long ago can connect on such a personal and different level because of these types of situations. I realized how much it meant to me to have someone reach out and tell me the same thing happened to them. But it wasn't something that happened recently. I really hope I can be here for her and even give her daily hope. This little girl in my tummy is a miracle and I am so grateful, but also know it can happen for others too.
Please keep her in your prayers. As she navigates the next few months and the challenges that come with it.


Wanted to also talk about the weekend. Leslie's baby shower was too cute. The theme was called "Sprinkled with Love" and everything was very thought out and beautiful. I didn't take many photos, but she had a headband making station, block making station and you could write stuff on diapers for late night changes. They had yummy food and lots of desserts with sprinkles! I had a great time celebrating little Eliza Hope.

Today Micah is getting a haircut!! I'm so excited that Craig is finally agreeing. It has to be way too long before he agrees, but it's time! I can even put his hair in a ponytail like his uncle Marky.

Micah is such a little two year old now. He is also a performer. He likes to sing and dance for his stuffed animals. It's so sweet. I don't really know what he's saying, but when I play back the video it's like he knows exactly what he's saying...so that's all that matters. 

Craig was able to get Micah's sister's room painted this weekend. It's a very light grey and will look so perfect with the white crib and coral bedding. 

Micah loves to go in his sister's room. 

We are so excited to go on vacation this WEEKEND!! Woohoo.  We get to experience Gatlinburg all over again with new adventures. Can't wait to be with all my family for a week. 

On Monday night Micah and I went over Maggie's house to hang out for a little bit. Micah loves playing with little Isabella and they are so cute together. It's still hard for Maggie to do anything. She went to the grocery store and everything reminded her of her husband. I would think being at home all the time would be worse. She hasn't really left her house since it happened so being at home is comfort for her. Please keep her in your prayers. I think since the shock is going away the reality is setting in and is even harder to contemplate. 

We are celebrating her birthday tonight and hoping that we can make her laugh and let her know we are here for her. 

Love you all

Long week

It's been a long week. Up and down. A friend is grieving the loss of her husband and I am celebrating new life growing. It's tough. Today I attended my neighbors husband's funeral. Lots of tears, laughs and love from everyone. I got to find out alot about a man I hadn't really known well. I heard about him being an amazing friend...husband and ultimately a devoted father. I can't imagine talking at my husbands funeral but I give Maggie so much credit for giving the eulogy today. I think I would do the same thing. I wouldn't want anything left out. Most of us neighborhood girls sat together and cried. We cried because we all have kids. Most of us have adored husbands and fathers and this could be possibly be the worst thing that could happen.
Today I am kissing and loving my husband. Making sure every second counts and that neither of us say goodbye without love for each other.
I was so happy to hear Maggie tell her kids to turn to God and he will comfort you. To know that this was in his plan and that he will still guide you. I'm sure it will be hard for the kids to understand why their father was taken from them. I had talked to Maggie about this. How she needs to be strong in her faith for her kids. This is a critical point where they can turn from him or towards him. You want them to have hope and faith that they will see their dad again.  That's the great thing about believing in God. We will all be together for eternity. But we have to believe. Believe he came to save us from death. Christ saves us from death because we have everlasting life in him. How can we go wrong?
This world is filled with hate, power, money, things, but this will soon dissolve and mean absolutely nothing. What really matters is what we believe. Who we believe loves us and wants to be with us forever. Making a place for us as we speak. This is what gives us hope.

People are dying all around us. Senseless acts from hate in the heart and not being accepted and loved. I'm so scared for my children.  But again I have to trust in the Lord and that he will guide them and their lives. Worrying will only make life harder. I will do my part and lead them toward God. Love them with all my heart and pray for them.

And tonight I'm praying for unity. Social media is ripping us all apart. Everyone is putting their opinions out there and it's tough to read. I want to have conversations and talk about the problems but seems like FB just makes everything worse. We can sit at a computer all day and type words but doesn't seem to be put into action. I pray that we can change our hearts and realize we are all children of God. Doesn't matter our skin color, age, looks, opinions or lifestyles. God loves us all the same and we should be loving one another. It says over and over in the bible to love others like yourself...must be why it's so hard to do.

All I know is I will love those around me and show love to those I don't know on the street. Show my son how to treat others with respect and love even if it's hard to do. This is how I can instill unity..starting at home.

Praying for Dallas and the men who lost their lives by police. Praying for our country and our president and all of the love we show to our neighbors daily.
God bless you all.

Have a great weekend.

Happy 4th!

Happy 4th of July! Hope everyone got to enjoy the day with family and friends and remember those who gave it all for our freedom.

What a long crazy weekend. My sister stayed with us since Thursday night and left on Monday afternoon. It worked out really well since we decided to move the guest bedroom in the basement. Rachel and the boys had their own little apartment down there. Of course Micah loved every minute of having live in brothers at his house. Every morning he was excited to go see them.
Friday night both Craig and Rachel got home early so we had frozen pizza and went out for ice cream and then headed to the park.

Saturday we had a neighborhood 4th of july pool party. Tons of food and fun. We were all thinking of Maggie and were concerned for her. The funeral for her husband is this Friday.  Which has proven difficult to find a babysitter for. Right now I would really love my parents or in law to live close by. This is the tough part of living far. 
Sunday Micah, Craig and I went to church and caleb was a little under the weather so they stayed back. Also we tired something new on the grill. Hotdogs shaped cheeseburgers. Wrap ground meat around a stick of cheese and seal it up. I saw it on Pinterest and it was fun to eat and the boys liked it!!
That night we rode the 4 wheelers down the neighborhood and on the way home got caught in a rain storm. We ended up just letting the kids jump around in the puddles since they were already soaked from the rain. I think they loved it.

Monday we took it easy and made French toast in the morning and then went out to lunch before the boys left.

We finally took Micah to see his first fireworks. We realized it was his 3rd 4th of July and thought he was a good age to see them. We went to Marietta square and found a spot and even though M didn't go to bed till 11pm he was still super happy and singing and loving every minute of our family time. Sometimes you have to break the sleep rules to have a little fun!!

Love you all