Music to my ears

Pregnant. That's a statement all by itself, isn't it? I mean along with pregnancy comes emotions, changes, different sizes (and oh can they get ugly!), love one food yet hate another, that you actually loved weeks ago. It's all just a very small price to pay, to end up with the joy you get in 9 months. Unexplainable joy, I might add. I'm 11 weeks 5 days into this pregnancy today. It's been a slow start, a queasy start, but a start none the less. Everything, everyone has to start somewhere, right?

I don't know why but this pregnancy I've been more hesitant about things. I guess maybe I know to much, and we all know that can be a bad thing. Anywho, I had my first ultrasound at 6weeks 4 days, which is very early. We saw the heartbeat, but to say we saw the baby well, if you can tell that's a baby from the ultrasound more power to you! Regardless, I've had the sickness, I've had the food aversions, the nose of a blood hound all the things that kicked in with Carter well they are here now too. I've had the normal "mommy" worries of whether everything is going as it should, is the heartbeat steady and strong, will this be a successful pregnancy. Gloomy thoughts I know, but anyone that has ever been pregnant I'm sure can say they've had similar thoughts.

By this point with Carter, I had heard his heartbeat numerous times, had an ultrasound and since I worked in the OB office I could pretty much hear the little thump thump whenever I pleased. This go around I don't have that luxury. I had the ultrasound, but since that was at 6 weeks, to hear it from the outside was impossible. At my 9 week appointment, we tried but no luck. So, I've patiently awaited todays appointment and wondered, would today be the day? There is just something about hearing that little thump that gives an expecting mother a peace, and a joy. Carter was with me as we waited for the doctor and when she came in, it was time. To hear the little one or not? That was the question. Carter watched very closely to see what this doctor was doing to his mommy. He's very protective for a three year old. It didn't take but just a few seconds to locate that little beat, that precious noise. As I smiled, and sighed with relief, Carter jumped down out of his chair and ran behind the table I was on and covered his ears saying, "I don't like it, I don't like it!" He doesn't like loud noises and it was a little loud on the doppler. What a special, special moment. To have one miracle, standing beside me and know that another is growing inside me filled me with complete joy & contentment.

I could listen to the little beat of my baby everyday and each time it would still bring a smile to my face. It is a peace, it is a comfort, it is forever etched in my mind. I am so grateful for this pregnancy, this child, this moment in my life and the many, many memories that lie ahead for me and my precious little family. Thank you Lord for your many, many blessings in my life. Today will definitely be a day I'll remember!!!

~Jen~

Goodbye Fay, nice knowing ya!

Tropical storm Fay that had her drenching way with so many Floridians is passed over Jacksonville now, and headed out into the panhandle. God Bless you all! :) The storm wasn't the worse we've seen as far as wind, but my goodness at the rain! It's heartbreaking to see so many homes being overtaken by the water. We knew we were to expect a lot of rain but even with 4 back to back hurricanes that blew through a few years back, we didn't get this much flooding. We were so stir crazy by Friday morning, that regardless of the storm just 'getting to us', we had to get out of the house.

We went to check on our new house that we are building. Water, it was EVERYWHERE! Yeah, sure I knew it would be but to drive up and see that we have a second pond, whoa! As we got farther down the road, we noticed that midway down the driveway it was a little wet. Wet enough to wash out the road. Bad thing was, the rain wasn't letting up the worst was yet to come. We drove around the hole that was starting and went to check on the inside of the house. The wind had blown the wrap on the outside of the house away and the backdoor was thrown open and rain & wind was steady pouring in. We jumped out to check the damage, and the walls were wet, and the ceiling was wet in a few places. The kitchen was probably the worst hit. Not terribly bad, but enough that it will have to be fixed.


The rain continues to pour. We've been without power for 12-13 hours by this point. To say that we have cabin fever, or that we are stir crazy doesn't even begin to explain our current mind set. Thankfully we weren't impacted as bad as some. We just have a very, very wet yard but the water isn't really standing but in the lowest part on the back. People down the road, not even 5 miles are scurrying to get their belongings up off the ground as the water is headed into their homes. People with livestock can't even get their animals to safety. There were cows & sheep just standing on what looked like an island in the middle of the yard. To see all of this made me think back to Hurricane Katrina. We weren't by any means affected like the people of New Orleans were and it breaks my heart just to see the destruction here, I can only imagine the shock they were in.

I'm glad to see Fay gone from here. She is quite the mess maker. I hope that we get a break from the rain, soon! And I pray for all the families that are still out of power, and are facing the water at their front doors.

Happy Birthday Carter!

As the day comes to an end, and I think back to three years ago I'm once again filled with every emotion possible. The greatest gift God has sent into my life is 3 today. Today he wanted to go to school rather then spend the day with momma. How could I help but smile that he is wanting to spread his own little wings?! When he came home from school, there were more presents waiting for him, and is still asking where are the other presents? :) We had his favorite dinner, burritos & tacos from our local Mexican resteraunt and then it was off to see the cows at our new place. He's had a day filled with fun, as each and every day is for him!

The time has flown, and it feels like just yesterday that we were bringing him home & starting this big new journey. From each little milestone he never ceases to amaze me. Each day is a new adventure, a new memory, a new reason to smile, and most of all a reminder of how truly blessed that I am. I'm so grateful that I have a child that is healthy, smart, funny, loving, caring, & so completely perfect. He has shown me the true meaning of life and how precious each and every moment is and how it should be cherished. I pray God continues to bless him, and watch over him as he grows. I hope that in someway this will be a day he remembers!




To my little cowboy,

I thank God for each day I get to wake up to your smiling face. Your inquisitive little mind, your forgiving spirit, and your loving arms. You are the greatest little three year old I could have ever asked for. I hope and pray that you continue to grow strong, and remember how very much I love you. You hold a very special place in my heart. Happy Birthday cowboy! Yee-haw! :)

All my love,
momma.

Who needs a pool?

So, on Wednesday it was so stinking hot here that being outside for just a minute would make you sweat like a pig! I was on kitchen duty after dinner, while Travis & Carter man headed outside to play. Since I was actually feeling well, and not so completely nauseous that I couldn't move I did some extra cleaning while the house was quiet. About 30 minutes had passed and it was time for me to join my boys outside in the lovely Florida heat. As I headed out the backdoor, I look out and this is what I see.



My son was swimming in a water trough! I couldn't believe it, all I could do was just smile and shake my head. Carter was having the best time. It's funny how kids are so carefree, and are up for anything. Of course, Tater Porter & Cowboy (our two pups) were up for the adventure as well! I couldn't help but think as I watched him play in that water trough, how it's the little simple moments like these that we must cherish as memories! Then there is also the thought of how many other people let their kids swim in a water trough?!




Hmmm...let's just stick with the fun thought of a day I'll remember!

And then there were FOUR!

So, I'm late at posting this. I've not been feeling my best lately. We found out on July 1, that we, well I, am expecting our 2nd child! I am due March 11, 2009. We have had our first ultrasound at 7 weeks and everything seem to be going as planned. We saw a healthy heartbeat, and can't wait for another ultrasound to see the baby growing bigger. Carter is excited, he doesn't understand why he can't see the baby. He tries shinning a light into my belly button to see if he can see the baby. It's too cute.

I have mixed emotions about all of this. Yes, it was planned but I'm just anxious, more scared then I was last time for some reason. I can't wait to find out if the little one is a boy or girl. What bedding will I pick out, what will the name be, how will I handle two...I can barely handle one?! :) As God has taught me in the last year, be patient and He will see me through.

So, not only do we have a new member to the family which is great news. We are also building our new home. It was scheduled to be ready in December but things seem to be coming along a little quicker then expected. We haven't been given an exact move in date, but we are hoping maybe late October?! How exciting, new house, new baby?! That leads me to this, God is so good to me and my family. He pours out His blessings each and everyday to us. If you stop and listen, or even look around His blessings are there waiting for us to see. I am so grateful for each and every aspect of my life. I am blessed to have such a loving, supportive, hardworking husband. I have a healthy, almost, three year old, and another precious life growing inside of me. I can't wait to share this little one with the world, and for us to be a family of FOUR!!!

~jen~

Sick little boy...

It all started Saturday morning around 6 a.m. Carter woke up with a fever which was 102. He climbed into bed with me and fell back asleep until about 8:30. When he got out of bed, he seemed to be fine for a few hours. Around 11:00 I noticed that he had climbed up on the couch and laid down. This is so unlike him. He never just sits still, or lays down for that matter without much begging. When I looked into his little eyes, they weren't gleaming as normal they looked tired and sad. I checked his fever it was now to 103.5. Bring on the Motrin & Tylenol. I was hoping that this would only last 24 hours, maybe it was just a bug.



Sunday, Father's Day, our little guy was not any better. If anything he was worse. We were still battling a fever. He was very disappointed when Daddy left to go visit Papa without him. I asked if he would like to help me bake Daddy a cake, and he agreed. He climbed up in the chair and for about 20 minutes I thought he was going to be on his way to feeling better. As I prepared lunch, and baked the cake I noticed that he was quiet again. I looked and once again the little guy was on the couch, asleep. Bless his heart. It was pitiful. It really stinks when your little one is so sick and all you can do is offer love. As a mother we want nothing more then to take the hurt away.





Monday morning, I made sure to be up and ready to go at 8:00. The pediatricians office would open then, and if they wanted me there in 30 minutes, I would be there. I just knew it would take forever to get through on the line, but thankfully it didn't this time. I got right through, and they said they could see him at 9:45. Off we went. On the way there I tried to encourage him about going. He had a really bad experience a couple months back and has since hated going to the doctors office. As we pulled in the parking lot, he said, "I better momma, I don't see the doctor!" Ugh, it just made me want to hug and kiss him because he is so sweet and innocent. I was hoping they would tell me it was just a cold and it would have to run it's course. I was wrong, I wasn't expecting the diagnosis I got. My little munchkin was diagnosed with strep throat! So, we walked away with a prescription for Amoxicillin and were told he should be feeling much better by today.



Today he is no better. I called the doctor back and they wanted to see him again. He has now had a fever for five days. The doctor that we saw today said that he has an upper respiratory infection, an ear infection, and the strep. Poor little guy. Talk about feeling helpless. He's being such a trooper though. Taking his medicine without to much of a fight, asking for water, and the occasional tear falling down his cheek. I pray that the new antibiotic they gave him will kick in soon and my cheerful, smiling little toddler will be running around here!

Lovely Florida Weather...

Living in Florida most people think warm weather, all the time. This is not the case, well not for this Floridian. Yesterday was a beautiful sunny day around 72 degrees. Yes, I must admit this is lovely weather but when your 2 year old decides that he is going to go swimming in his new swimming pool it's pretty cold.

We had a few errands to run yesterday and while we were out I bribed my son. I told him if he would be good while we were shopping I would get him a small little plastic pool. He didn't not let me forget that I promised a pool. The entire time we were in Wal-Mart he kept saying, "Carter gets a pool if he is good?" I tried to change that to a matchbox car, a ball, nothing was going to take the place of that pool. So, once I was finished getting all the little things I needed it was off to check out in the garden department. He spotted the pools, and how could I say no to a little boy that was saying, "Carter's pool momma? Wow! Thank You!" So, here I went lugging my cart, and this fairly large pool to the truck. You should have seen me trying to shove it in the back of my truck. The entire ride home, he kept saying, "Carter's pool momma? I swim?" I was thinking, he can't get in that pool today he'll freeze to death. When we got home, I unloaded it and his little face and pleas were just heartbreaking. So I filled the pool and told him to let it sit in the sun for an hour, in hopes that the water would warm up.

The struggle to go inside for an hour was just that, a struggle. He had to sit by the window closest to the pool and watch it. After that hour passed we went out and with no hesitation he jumped right in. His first response, "Oooh, momma this is cold!" I tried to tell him. He stayed in it for about an hour. His Daddy arrived home from work and just laughed at my great decision of the day. When it came time to go inside the little guy was shivering but saying, "I'm not cold!" Yeah right!!! It's 9:03 a.m. now, and he's already asked if he can get in his pool. They forget nothing!

I am certain that this little pool that cost me a whopping $11.88 will be one of my best investments of our summer. Now, if our Florida weather will just warm up and stay that way for awhile. We are ready for some SUN! :)

We added a new four legged member to our family about a month ago. His name is, Tater Porter. Yes, I know, very country, but it's what Carter insisted on. Tater Porter, for those that don't know, is a professional bull rider. We had taken Carter to the PBR when it came to town back in February and every since he has pretended to be "Tater Porter". All dressed up in his wranglers, boots, and cowboy hat that Mr. Porter himself signed. When we picked up our new little friend, Tater, I suggested to Carter that we name him, Porter. No way, he wasn't having it. Every time I would call the puppy Porter, Carter would say in a very stern voice, "No Momma! That's Tater Porter!" So my two year old named his very first furry four legged friend. Tater is quite the pup. He is into everything, chewing, barking, chasing Carter, you name it. We've even caught him relaxing in the back of Carter's toy Tonka dump truck. Now that's when I should have had my camera. These two seem to hit it off right from the start. Watching them together is hilarious sometimes. The years ahead should be full of great times with two wild boys, Carter & Tater!

Welcome to the family, Tater Porter!

Days I Remember...

My first time at blogging.  As I sat and thought of a title, I thought of how fast the days since having my son, Carter, have flown by.  Prior to having him I was sure that I had the perfect life.  Was I ever wrong!  The moment I held him, I was over come by a love that was and is stronger then I ever dreamed possible.  The days of us cuddling him, and jumping to his every whimper turned in to days of making sure he wasn't climbing on chairs, or pulling on things that could hurt him.  He has yet to slow down, actually, I think he has kicked into high gear!  Those 'cautious' days, turned into the days of first steps, then running.  Now each day is filled with that never ending question, "Why?".   He is so inquisitive and learning something new lights up his face, as does mine!  Each day he shows me something new, tries me a little more then the day before, asks "why" 5 more times then the day before, but at the end of the day when he crawls into my lap and wraps his arms around me, I think about how quickly the day passed.  I have to remind myself that even on the days that I thought couldn't get any harder, that this is my life and I must enjoy every second because all to quickly he will grow up.  The writing on the walls, the scribbling on his feet, hand prints on the door, cookies in the couch, these are all the things that make the days I'll remember.

"Enjoy the little things, for one day you will look back and they will be the big things." -unknown.

~Word to live by~

We can all use a little encouragement sometimes. Friends are great, but sometimes we just need a good reminder from God's word that all is well. God wants us to lay our burdens at His feet, and give Him the glory for everything in our lives. Troubling times, times of praise, it's all there in His word. We just have to be dedicated, and set aside the time God deserves. If we do, we're bound to receive His many blessings! These are just a few of the words I try my best to live by. May they bring you strength, peace, or encouragement!

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Jesus said, "What goes into a man's mouth does not make him 'unclean,' but what comes out of his mouth, that is what makes him 'unclean...But things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man 'unclean'" (Matthew 15:11,18 NIV)

How often do we let our thoughts, and our tongue make us unclean? As Christians we are to act like God, love like God. What is in our heart, will come out of our mouth. May we strive harder each and every day to be more like God with a pure, clean, loving heart.

Proverbs 4:23 says "Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life."

Proverbs 12:25 "An anxious heart weights a man down, but a kind word cheers him up."

Proverbs 27:18 "As the water reflects a face, so one's life reflects the heart."

What does your heart say about you?

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"I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD" (Psalm 40:2-3 NIV)

Have you ever found yourself so confused, and lost that you didn't even feel you could turn to God? He is there, always. He never leaves us nor forsakes us. When we are broken and need to be restored, He will do just that!!! What a blessing to know we have a friend that is ALWAYS there!!!! We do have to be patient sometimes, but God's timing is always perfect!

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Jeremiah 1:5 "Before I made you in your mother's womb, I chose you"

How amazing to know that before we were ever conceived... God knew us! When I became pregnant for the first time, this verse really spoke to me. Although I had just become pregnant, God had already knew the exact date I would find out, what the sex of my child would be, and the date and time he would arrive. Our God is so amazing. No child is a mistake, God has a plan for everything. He knows our next breath, He knows everything about us. Even the things we wish we could hide from him!

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"You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart" (Jeremiah 29:13 NIV).

God wants us to have a dedicated time with him. Not just five minutes when we are already rushed. For us to really seek God, we have to be patient and allow time for God to speak to us through reading our Bible, and reading His word. May His word be a lamp unto our feet, and a light unto our path. May we hide it's words in our hearts that we may not sin against God. Sometimes it's hard for us to hear God because we are too busy, but if we will be still we're sure to hear what He's telling us.

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Ephesians 4:26 "In your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry" (NIV).

All to often it's so easy for us to just stay angry and pout. Anger is something we all have to learn to control. As a mother, and a wife I know how difficult it can be to control your anger sometimes. Some days you've worked all day cleaning, taking care of the kids, and you feel like no one notices all the work you've done and it makes us angry. Or someone wrongs us, cuts us off in traffic, miscommunication within your marriage. It's okay to get angry but do not sin when you do become angry. Communication is key, be sure to talk things out. Don't let it carry over into the next day, it'll start that day out just as stinky!

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