The difference a year can make

Tomorrow marks the anniversary of one of the saddest days in my and Jim's lives. I can still feel the pain of loss like it was yesterday, but the Lord has blessed us so much in this one year, way beyond what we could have imagined, that the pain becomes easier to bear. I cannot explain the depth our marriage has grown or the strength our friendships have taken, but these things are what I am thankful for each and every day. We have a precious baby boy on the way, a new house to put together and enjoy with our friends and family, so many baby nephews to love and hold born in the last 8 months, amazing, AMAZING friends and family... I am so thankful that even in the deepest heartache, God can reach down and grant us peace - that He makes His love for us known in so many other ways. True, it is hard not to get just what we want, right when we want it, exactly how we planned for it. But now I cannot argue that the Lord knew better than me - knew the person I would become, the things I would learn, the bonds that would grow stronger.

Thank you to all our family and friends, who have helped make this past year not one of suffering, but one of many joys and good memories. I am eternally grateful for the love and support that has helped put the smile on my face today. Thank you especially to my husband, who has shown me more love than I deserve and who sacrificed so much to keep me going. I love you all.

Uh oh

My appetite is increasing. The days of "I've worn the same pregnancy clothes throughout my whole pregnancy" are sure to be over soon. Ah well!

Does 10 weeks seem like it's not very far away to anyone else? AH!

So, I'm having to train multiple people at work in several different areas of my job. I would say that it is the most stressful thing I'm involved in right now - over preparing for a baby, selling a house, buying a house and Jim starting a new job. But the funny part to me is, I am getting so tired of talking! I know! Who has ever heard of such a thing? =) But seriously, I talk, talk, talk and explain things all day long, every day. I'm tired of hearing my own voice, and I didn't think I'd EVER say that. Huh. And how am I supposed to pass along all the info I just so happen to know after working here so long?? Ayaiyai. Too much.

And I'm hungry again...

Best news ever...

One more thing to be absolutely happy about!

New home

Hello everyone! Jim and I made an offer on a beautiful home last night and it was accepted! If everything moves forward according to plan, we will have the keys to our new house on June 12th. Yikes! Just enough time to put a baby room together - not to mention the rest of the house.

Here are some pics of the house, though I don't think they do it justice...

Bums, burgers and burns

I love how I've been saying, "Wow, this baby's got a sharp behind" when all along it's most likely been his foot. =D

Only 3 1/2 pounds gained this month! Woohoo! According to our doctor, I am perfect, my uterus is perfect and my baby is perfect. A man who knows how to treat a woman! After hearing all this "perfect" business, I felt totally justified in stuffing my face full of Wendy's right after my appointment. Mmmm. Jr. Bacon Cheeseburger, Fries and a Frosty...you warm my heart. A girl's got to indulge sometimes! Especially when she is "perfect."

On to other things... Do you ever wonder why you do certain things? Especially when you KNOW what the consequence will very likely be? Thanks to my pregnancy born clumsiness (ok - so I'm not the picture of grace when I'm not pregnant either), I burned my thumb on my curling iron a couple days ago because I wasn't paying attention. So I have this lovely mark that is starting to heal over. I get it real close to my face to have a good look. For some reason it strikes me it would be neat to pinch the skin in the middle with my nails and see what happens. DANG IT! WHY STEPHANIE? I KNOW what is going to happen! OW! Raw spot in the middle! Now it burns all over again.

Friends

Can I just say how blessed I felt yesterday? I got to watch as Mike and Eric slaved away at our house with Jim - finishing one chore and asking for another as I watched helplessly, unable to climb ladders, lift heavy objects...you get the picture. My favorite mental picture (should have taken a real one!) was watching the three of them pick weeds together in our front yard. They were chit-chatting away and laughing and filling paper bags to overflowing (which I suppose I should be embarrassed about). =/ Anyhow, I just feel so lucky that we know so many people who would offer their time and backs to help us with such icky housework. I know we often take for granted what a blessing it is to have such amazing friends. I have people tell me all the time that they wish they could say the same. You guys are awesome!! Thank you SO MUCH!

And we've got all your backs when the time comes for any of YOU to pick weeds and clean windows!

Good practice

Ohmygoodness. I cannot tell you how much fun it was to take Jim to have his wisdom teeth pulled! It only took about a 1/2 hour, which was fantastic for me, and the doctor was really nice. When they wheeled him out in the wheelchair with a mouth FULL of gauze, I could NOT contain myself. The poor boy! He was so funny! Funny looking with the gauze, but also as loopy as they come! I don't remember laughing so hard in a long time. The whole way home he would repeat himself over and over, asking the same questions, telling me he wanted to spit... And THEN he wanted to come into the grocery store with me while I filled his prescriptions!!! I had to tell him quite firmly, "NO. Stay in the car. I'll be right back." But he was so cute! So helpless! I loved it. =D

The practice part came into play when we got home and I got to change his narsty gauze many times, stick wet tea bags in the back of his mouth, remove them, more gauze, medicine. AND WHEN HE COULD START EATING! Oh boy, then it was really game time. I can't tell you how many times I heard, "Stephanie...I'm hungry!" =) I felt like I was constantly on the move to keep him comfortable, but I'll tell you what, I loved it! It's nice when you get to turn the coin and be the one "taking care" of someone else. He has proven himself a worthy caretaker of me many different times and deserved all of my attention.

I'll tell you what else... It was all worth it just to spend that one hour of total loopiness with him on Friday. I will never forget that precious hour when my husband, for once, was nowhere near being in control, saying the most odd things, stuffed full of cotton and totally dependent on me. =) Sweet boy.

PS Jim recovered very well, for the most part and is doing great.
PPS Oh yes...I took pictures.