Last Call

On Satuarday, Jamie and I went on what we expect to be our last date, before I become a mother of two. We went to see the movie Gran Torino with Clint Eastwood. It was a GREAT movie! LOVED it! My mom and Wally watched Jadon, so we could go (THANK YOU!!!). It was so nice out that day...about 65, when we came out of the theater around 5pm, so we ran and got an order of sushi to split and sat outside and enjoyed the weather. Jamie, of course, also enjoyed a coffee from Starbucks...as always.

We laughed about how much more difficult our lives are about to become. We are SO EXCITED to meet Macy, yet so unsure of how to really prepare for all of the changes her birth will bring to everyone and everything we do...even little things, like going to the grocery store, will become ever-the-challenge. Two grocery carts? Every stinkin' time we shop? Yeah, that'll be a change for sure. We kind of have the art of packing Jadon and his things down to a science...FINALLY...and now we will have to coordinate two of everything (diaper bags, diapers, snacks/breastfeeding stuff, etc.). Two car seats! A double stroller! Oh my! Millions and millions of families do it everyday, so I'm sure we will adjust. I suppose we are just wondering about all of the things you can't really predict, like if Macy will cry in the car a lot or if Jadon will find something in the backseat to throw at her. Will he be jealous, etc.?

All in all, we are anxiously anticipating everything that will come along with having another baby. Especially now that we got a movie at the theaters in, we're more than ready. I will say that both Jamie and I shared an experience at the movie that neither of us expected. ***DO NOT READ, if you plan to see Gran Torino, as this next part may ruin some of the movie for you...okay? You've been warned!***

There is a part in the movie where the young girl who lives next door to Clint Eastwood is raped and beaten by a gang. HORRIBLE!!! I was an emotional mess inside for the remainder of the movie! I held back all of my tears because (1) I was in a public place...and it's a movie for goodness sake! and (2) I knew my Mama Bear instinct for Macy had finally arrived in a big way! The pregnancy hormones were getting the best of me, yes, but also it is an emotion that will never really leave, now that it has arrived...EXACTLY like the one I have for Jadon. That girl in the movie was Macy for me. I have NEVER connected to a girl in a movie like that...in a motherly way...EVER before. It sank in that I am having a daughter, and I will kill to protect her. Sounds a bit insane, I know, but not to anyone who has kids (and, I'm assuming, especially a daughter).

Of course, I've known for quite sometime that Macy is a girl, that I'm pregnant and set to give birth on or around January 31, 2009. I will become a mother of two, and Jadon will have a baby sister. I have been careful not to expose myself to bad things, during my pregnancy (no more than one cup of coffee/day, etc.). I have rested appropriately. I have not lifted anything too heavy (other than Jadon). I have responsibly taken my prenatal vitamin and DHA supplement everyday. You get the picture. I am and have been connected to this baby from day one. Something changed for me, during that scene of that movie though, and when I asked Jamie afterwards what he thought of during that part, he said he experienced the same thing.

There is no emotion like it...not even close. I would appear completely insane, if I were to go into any detail about it, but as I sat outside yesterday, enjoying the weather, sushi, and the company of my best friend and husband...as I looked out at the setting sun with the birds flying peacefully overhead...as I saw the calm waters of the pond in the park across the way...the Lord revealed His neverending love for his children (me included) once again. He loves and cares for me (and each of us) the same way that Jamie and I do for Macy...and Jadon...and Justin. What a tremendous responsibility we have as parents! What an awesome gift to be chosen by God to help raise these little miracles! I stand in awe of you, Father. I ask for your grace, peace, guidance, knowledge...your mercy on us, as we embark on this next phase of our lives. Without You, we would surely be lost. Thank you for trusting us. Amen.
Luke 15:1-10

Week 27: Hello, Macy!

Oh my, Macy! Mommy is surely getting ready to meet you! The third trimester immediately brought a growth spurt, apparently for you, and most definitely for your mommy!

Your daddy and I went to a wedding this week, so we finally had a reason to take a few pics, one together at the reception (a lot going on in this background, huh?):

...and a few outside our house, before we left:


We have our next doctor's appointment coming up this Friday. I'll have my glucose test for gestational diabetes this time, and after this we start going to the doctor every two weeks! Already??? The time for us to meet you is quickly approaching, even though there are many days it seems like it is taking forever. Gramma bought you a few new pink and purple dresses at Carters this week :) Your closet is getting full! We'd like to sell our old swing we had for Jadon, and get you a new one. I HAVE to make an effort to get that done this week because I REALLY like this swing a lot:
It's so not necessary for us to buy this, but we were VERY disappointed with Jadon's swing, when he was a tiny baby, and hope we can upgrade to this one for you. We definitely won't, unless we are able to sell the other one for at least $50. We paid $130 for it, but people only want deals on used baby items...guess we'll see if Craigslist can help us out.

Other than that, the only thing we would like to buy, before you arrive is a double stroller, so mommy can start taking you and your big brother for walks, soon after we get you home. This too is not truly necessary, but would be a great convenience for us, since Jadon is still so little and tends to run off quickly...not like he's going to walk alongside me, while I push you in the stroller. Yeah right! Ha! Ah the joys and challenges that will soon come, as I become the mother of TWO!

Oh yeah, and Mommy got a little worried this week about your lack of any real jolting movements. I was looking back through Jadon's pregnancy book and thought, from what I had written, that he seemed to be moving more frequently and with harder, more intense movements than you do at this point. I called the doctor just to be sure about it. The nurse said, as long as I am feeling 10 movements (no matter how intense they are) within a two hour period that you are fine. She said I should start feeling more intense movements in the next few weeks. Funny because I made that call on Friday morning, and that night you kicked me so hard, I could see my belly moving under the blanket that I had on me :) Thanks for the confirmation and reassurance ;)

Mommy's Growing

Jamie and I had a date night this past week. We went to a wedding for a girl who was in the small group I led last year. Can I just say I was a bit envious (mostly excited for her and her new husband) that they were leaving the next morning for a 10 day honeymoon to Hawaii? Ahhhh...how nice would THAT be??? Okay, back to reality! Jamie and I had a WONDERFUL honeymoon five years ago...all-inclusive at the Spa Palace in the Riviera Maya, Mexico. We're at a different place in life right now, but can I just say how ready I am to have two kids who are an appropriate age to travel on a plane (possibly to Hawaii)?

I desperately need to adjust my attitude toward my burgeoning belly! I will get back to my "old self"...one day...but then again, my "old self" won't really be that person any more. I'm going to be a mommy of two :) I'd just prefer our daughter be on the outside of this ever-growing oven:
Thanks to Gramma and Grandpa for watching Jadon ALL DAY, while we enjoyed some time together. They picked him up at 11am, and we didn't get back from the wedding until almost 8pm! It's so funny how life changes. Even though we rarely are without you, Jadon, and you are now 17+ months old, when we are away from you (even when you are sleeping), we miss you desperately. Both Daddy and I both agreed (at least five times) that we wished you could be at the reception with us...especially when we saw other babies there :/ We love you, buddy :)

P.S. I could have done without one of your "firsts" that happened this week though. While we were home by ourselves (no Daddy here), you decided to put your hand in the back of your poopie diaper. Even though you were right in front of me, when you did it, I had NO CLUE what you had just done...until I carried you to the changing table and started changing you, that is. That's when I found the poo all over your hand...and my hand...and your neck??? and your lip...EWWW! Like I said, I could've done without this "first." You could have at least waited for Daddy to be home for this one...geez!

I Heart Mike Seaver

Yesterday, Jamie and I had our FOURTH date, since Jadon was born. Our first date was in February/March, when we went to the House of Blues to see Third Day perform. Our second date was to see the movie "Baby Mama" with Tina Fey way back in April/May, when I was weaning Jadon from nursing. Our third date was just a few weeks ago, when we went to see Steve Fee at our church. And yesterday, we finally made it to see the movie "Fireproof" with Kirk Cameron. You remember Kirk Cameron, right? Mike Seaver from the late 80s/early 90s TV show "Growing Pains?"

Well anyway, I HIGHLY recommend this movie to (1) anyone who is newly married, (2) anyone who has been married for many years, and (3) anyone who plans to one day marry. Yep, that should cover it ;) Go see it! Though I was somehow able to keep my tears in my eyes (they welled up a million times), you could hear people sniffling all around the theater. It's a fairly low-budget film (under $1 million to make), but you will certainly appreciate the message and the acting (especially good old Mike Seaver). (*NOTE: The writers/producers/directors of this movie also made one of our other favorite movies "Facing the Giants." RENT IT!)

If you don't know, Kirk Cameron became a Christian at the age of 17, during his last few seasons on Growing Pains. Jamie and I have been huge fans of his show "The Way of the Master," (a show where he takes to the streets in large cities, mostly in CA to help spread the Good News about Jesus)for years now. We couldn't believe Mike Seaver was a Christian...and such a faithful one at that! So we're fans of Kirk and the new movie...and the two following songs in the videos below that are on the movie's soundrack :)


Love, love, love Warren Barfield...we've met him before in Beckley, WV (Tiff and Tara's old stompin' grounds) :)

And let me say that this is only the SECOND movie that Jamie and I have been to, since December 2006, when we were in CA visiting for Christmas and I was pregnant with Jadon...sad, but true. I suppose we'll be back into the movie theater thing in approximately...oh, 2011, when this baby is 3 years old?!? At that point, we'll be watching Disney movies in the theaters, and well...who really cares? Parenthood is so worth the sacrifice :) Though we can't thank Gramma and Grandpa enough for giving us a few hours after church yesterday to spend some time together at the movies!!! Somehow we even managed to spend a few hours together on Saturday evening at Books-A-Million too! Whoo-hoo! We didn't know what to do with ourselves with all of that time together. We MUST get a few more dates in, before the arrival of our little Princess in a few months...hint, hint ;)