Another baby moment...

Today, being Sunday, we went to church. We taught our Sunday School class and proceeded to go into the sanctuary for worship and to be fed by God's word, through Pastor Rick.

Praise and worship was great and the Holy Spirit was definitely in that place, but that wasn't what made today different.

Baby David did.

This morning as Pastor Rick began his sermon I noticed those, now unmistakable, flutters and kicks that let me know that the Lord has definitely blessed me with a new life. The funny part is that David, kept moving. He flipped, and flopped, and kicked...and whatever he was doing in there the entire time Pastor Rick spoke. When Pastor Rick turned the service over to the worship team David settled back down.

This is very funny to me, because this is the second time that David has reacted to Pastor Rick's voice. Other people talk, and are miked too, but he reacts when he hears Pastor Rick's voice. At our valentine's dinner, people were talking around us and speaking to us, but when Pastor Rick took the mike to say the blessing over our meal and evening, David started moving around. This was the first time he had reacted to someone other than our family, so I thought it was funny and told Pastor Rick that the baby liked him, but I also thought it might be a coincidence.

Now I think, he actually recognizes Pastor Rick's voice and responds to it.

I told Pastor Rick, after the service that I need him to stop preaching out loud so I don't get seasick from all the movement in my belly. I suggested that maybe he could preach in sign language. Somehow, I don't think that's gonna work...but at least I know, I won't have to worry about being too tired on a Sunday morning to stay awake during the sermon, David will see to that...lol.

This is my 6 month picture.

New Beginnings

This week we finally began our family nights. I have wanted to have a family night for a long time now, but I just kept talking about it and doing nothing. Jeremy and I had a nice long talk Sunday night...you know those don't go to sleep until 3:30am kinda talks...about everything and anything. The result being that we both want to focus more on the quality of our family. We know we have been blessed to build some great memories with our children, but they've been more about big vacations. They are great, but we want to build great day to day, little moment, memories, too. I kept thinking that it was too late...Austin is 12yrs old...we should've started this stuff years ago. And I still wish we had.
But I finally realized that it's never too late.
So we talked and decided what we wanted from our family nights and what the "rules" would be.
We've agreed that Thursdays will be our family nights. One of my big "rules" was that I wanted to spend time together that matters...not just occupying the same space. So for me this meant no TV. We can sit in front of the TV for days and never connect at all. We do have certain shows we enjoy watching together and I don't think it's a bad thing to enjoy them, but that is not quality family time.
We also agreed that family nights should begin with a nice family dinner at the table.
(I know...we should be eating together at the table every night and we're gonna work on that. One thing at a time...lol)
Then we'll do whatever activity we chose together...they don't always have to be at home, but they have to be together.
This first one was fun. We still have a few bugs to work out...
Like this week we decided to have Digorno pizzas for dinner. No problem, except that we make two different kinds because I don't like the one the boys like. We sat down at the table and started playing a game while the 1st pizza was cooking. When it was ready the boys could eat, but mine still had to cook. So we didn't quite get the eating together thing. It was also kinda hard to play games with pizza fingers...lol.
So revision #1: We will have a dinner that we ALL like...together...Before we begin our game or activity.
We'll see how this week's family night goes and what new bugs arise.

Now with our 2nd date night and our 1st family night under our belts I think we're making progress.

Even with the bugs...I am very glad that we are taking these steps toward making our family stronger.

My awesome Valentine's weekend

I had a wonderful weekend, thanks to my loving husband.
I cannot begin to express how blessed I am that my Lord gave me such a wonderful spouse. At a point in my life when I was living my life for me instead of my ever-faithful Savior, He was still there and His hand was still guiding my life. This aspect of God's love never ceases to amaze me. How no matter how far we try to run or how far we let ourselves slip, all we have to do is turn around and He is there, right where we left Him, waiting for us to come back.
When he brought Jeremy together was one of those times I had no idea He was there, but yet he was and He definitely blessed me. Much, much more than I have ever deserved. Thank you Lord.
Sometimes I take it for granted that Jeremy is so supportive of me...in everything. He stands by me no matter what. I tend to forget it when a "spark" ignites and sometimes even starts a "fire" at home, but the truth of the matter is he is my rock and I could not ask for a more wonderful, loving husband. He has worked hard to provide a good life and happy home for us. He has allowed me the freedom to stay home when I need to stay home and to go when I need to go. He is very good at sharing me with my many loves...friends, family, scrapbooking, etc. He always lets me go out to lunch or dinner with a friend... scrapbook for a weekend...talk to a friend or family member on the phone in the middle of whatever we might be doing (unless it's Lost...lol)...or whatever it may be. He loves my scrapbooks and even offers suggestions on layout and album choices. He supports me in everything I do.
Well, this weekend was no different.
Friday, even though he had the day off from work, he let me go to a weekend scrapbooking crop all afternoon and even followed me to Tewksbury to the store(about 25 minutes from our house) to help me unload my stuff.
Friday evening we went to the Valentine's dinner and movie at our church. This was my idea and even though Jeremy's picky eating habits left him hungry after dinner was served (something we were kind of expecting) he agreed to this and we had a great time.
Saturday he let me go back to the crop ALL day long...I left the house at 9:30am and didn't get home until after 10:30pm...he didn't complain about this being on Valentine's day or anything.
He also let me get a new toy for my Valentine's day present...I got a Cricut. (a die cutting machine for scrapbooking)
Sunday, after we taught Sunday School, he encouraged me to go back and have fun and was willing to come to the store at MIDNIGHT to help me bring my stuff back home (lucky for him I was wrong about the ending time, we actually were done at 4pm, and Marilyn's hubby helped me load the car. So he didn't have to come back, but that he was willing to was worth millions).
After our parenting class at church Sunday night, we went out to dinner for our "date night" and once again my wonderful husband, thinking about my happiness and social nature, invited our very good friends to join us for dinner...(I know this kinda seems counter productive to "date" night, but my theory on date night is that Jeremy and I do something together...without our child(ren)...that we enjoy... and that helps us relax, de-stress, and remember why we love each other. So by thinking about how much I love spending time with the people I love, Jeremy reminded me how much he knows me and loves me.)
So I am ending this post with a smile on my face, my heart overflowing with love for my wonderful husband, and filled with gratitude to my Lord for His never ending, unconditional love, and His never ending blessings.

Is baby David a Lost fan?

It is so much more fun to be pregnant now that I know he's in there. The last week or so I have really been able to feel David moving around.
The funniest moment, so far, has been this week. On Wed. night Jeremy and I were watching Lost and a few minutes after it started David "woke up" and he wiggled and squirmed through the whole show. Then went back to sleep. I told Jeremy we had another Lost fan coming and we laughed.
Where it really gets funny is the next afternoon (so, different time of day completely), I re-watched the episode with Austin and the same thing happened. A few minutes into the show David "woke up" and stayed awake until the show was over.
I can't wait till next weeks episode to see if this was a fluke or if he really is responding to Lost.

Take 2....

Well, my first attempt at creating a family blog did not go well, but I want to try again.
I think this will be an awesome way of sharing our day to day lives and special moments with the people who matter most. Instead of flooding everyone's email with pix and little notes, I can post it all here and let people come and see what's happening in our world whenever it works for them. So here goes...
Since Jan 1, 2009, We have...
1) thought about going to Disney World with our sons on the big move back to San Antonio this fall after Jeremy retires. (Disney has a military special again.)
2) put our house on the market.
3) found out we are having another son, who we have decided to name David Timothy.
4) had multiple interested parties inquire about our house and are waiting patiently for an offer.
5) celebrated the 12th birthday of our first son, Austin.
6) found out I will not be returning to work at Mt. Hope.
7) realized Jeremy is obsessed with Guitar Hero on the new PS2 that Austin bought with his birthday money.
8) custom ordered new living room furniture. I can't wait the 6-8 weeks until it is ready, the old stuff is really shot.
9) celebrated my 39th birthday...and yes I am feeling every year of my "advanced maternal age"...with a SuperBowl party.
10) decided to try and get this blog really up and running...I guess if you're reading this I must have gotten it partially started...lol.