Happy New Year!

What a year it's already been and will continue to be! David and I have so much to look forward to this year. We're so excited about the new little bundle of joy we'll be welcoming into our lives in just 5 short weeks. I look forward to meeting this little guy who's been kicking around and has recently started making his presence known with sharp jabs! He's already changed our lives so much and I know it will continue to change more and more after he's here.

The past couple of months have been so busy. We enjoyed Thanksgiving in Nashville with my Dad and Karen. My Aunt Karen was there and I always enjoy seeing her. We missed Cheryl this year. She always adds so much to the group, but I'm hoping to make a trip to VA to see both of them a few weeks after Xander's born. There were many people in Nashville and it was nice to catch up with everyone and enjoy the time there.

We also went to Johnson City to see David's family. We were only there for one night, but it was great to see everyone. We returned to Johnson City the week before Christmas for a joint celebration of Karen's 50th birthday, a baby shower for David and I, and to celebrate Christmas with the fam. It was a wonderful weekend!

There were so many parties, engagements and activities in the month of December that I don't even remember everything that happened! Erin and Nathan moved into their new house and we helped them out one weekend. Nathan's birthday celebration fell on his actual birthday this year and was fun to celebrate. David's office had a Christmas party that turned out to be pretty exciting! They had a game that all the employees participated in and kept everyone extremely occupied. My office had a potluck lunch together which was nice. I always enjoy getting together with my department in a social environment - they're so much fun! We also had a Christmas party with our small group from church. It was so nice to fellowship and exchange gifts with such great friends.

And of course we had Christmas with our families. I think my favorite part was actually being at home with David on Christmas Eve, baking goodies, watching Christmas movies together and getting ready for the next day. Then we were able to spend all morning and most of the afternoon together at home, just the two of us. He made french toast for me and I made sausage balls for him. We "opened" our stockings together, watched more Christmas movies and enjoyed each other's company. It was so great! I will value that time we had together, just the two of us, knowing that next year will be completely different!

I also enjoy spending time with our families over the Christmas holidays. We've really enjoyed the traditions that we've made as a couple with our families. We celebrate with each family separately and then everyone gets together to celebrate jointly. I really love this! We also got to visit Gran, celebrate with the Howell's and go to church on Sunday with everyone. It was great!

For New Year's Eve David and I decided we needed to do something that we may not have a chance to do again for awhile after the baby's born, so we bought tickets to the Avett Brothers concert and had a wonderful time! We had a relaxed supper at Jason's Deli and then walked over to the Belk Theatre. It was something else that I'll value for a long time to come. I'm excited about having a baby, but I do realize that it will change our lives forever! The good thing is that we've had so much time, four years now, to spend just the two of us. I wouldn't change that for anything.

So, as the new year is just getting started I like to reflect back on what happened last year, but even more exciting to me is the prospect of what is yet to come. God has blessed us so much and I am so thankful to Him for all the good things in my life. And even through the bad times, He was the one who saw me through. My prayer is that this year will be one that reflects His love and commitment and that everyone who sees me and my family will see the Lord.

Yikes!

It's been 2 months since my last post! Well, let me tell you that plenty of things have been happening in the Little household.

This baby of ours that we have so proudly and excitedly named Alexander David (we're going to call him Xander) is growing so much! I had my last doctor's appointment on Nov. 17 and all is going well. Xander seems healthy with a heartbeat of 140, my blood pressure is good, there's no protein in my urine, and I feel fine! Xander moves so much now. He seems to have always been a mover; I felt his first movements at about 16 weeks and David was able to feel his first movement just one week later. But nothing compares to what he does now. You can see my tummy jump every once in a while and I feel him so often. This is such a blessing to me and helps me know that all is going well with my little son. I'm two weeks into my third trimester and I'm looking forward to every moment of it!

Just a couple of weeks ago I returned from an amazing trip to New York City with my "girls". My mom, Ame, Erin, Becky and I all ventured to the Big Apple for shows and excitement. We definitely had both! We walked until we thought our feet would fall off and we laughed until we saw stars. Speaking of stars, Becky and I are sure that we saw Salma Hayek in FAO Schwartz! We went to see Wicked, my all-time favorite musical, and Hairspray. We were able to see George Wendt's (you know Norm from Cheers?) last performance as the mom in Hairspray. It was great! We also went to Radio City Music Hall to see Radio City's Christmas Spectacular...and they're right! It was truly spectacular! We went to Ground Zero and saw all of the construction that they're doing there now. We shopped and ate and ate some more. We went to Grand Central Station and to a Street Fair. We saw the New York Public Library and the Chrystler Building. We rode the Subway to the Museum of Natural History. We walked around the museum for a few hours and saw so many great things! Mom, Ame and Becky were even on the Today Show! What a great time we had! I am so thankful for the time I had with all of them. It was so special to take a trip with such wonderful women. I'm reminded each time I see or talk to any of them how blessed I am to have such a wonderful family - natural and in-laws.

I definitely have the most wonderful husband. When I returned home (around 11pm - much later than we anticipated due to a late flight) he was there waiting for me. He'd made dessert for me, a yummy chocolate lava cake with vanilla ice cream. He had bought flowers and set them up on the coffee table so that they were the first thing I saw when I walked into the house. He had cleaned the house and touched up the paint in our bathroom, a project that he had so selflessly taken on since I'm not allowed to help paint anymore. And on top of all of that he had bought a TV for me that he had hung on the wall and set up perfectly. This was his anniversary gift to me. We were married four years on November 27, Thanksgiving day this year. I am so proud to be his wife! He takes care of me tirelessly and loves me endlessly. Just one more reason that I feel so blessed!

Guess what!?!?

It's a boy!!! David and I went to the doctor yesterday to have our mid-pregnancy ultrasound and 20 week check-up. David missed our first ultrasound experience, so I was so thankful to have him there to experience it live and see our baby actually move around inside. And our baby is a mover! The technician taking the ultrasound called him a "wiggly worm" and had to chase after him to get some good shots. But she sure got some good ones! She had asked us beforehand if we wanted to know the baby's sex and we both said we did. Once she was in the process of looking at the baby she said, "Are you sure you want to know the sex?" And David and I both kind of looked at each other and said, "I think we already do!" It was very obvious...our little boy is not shy! It was such a great moment. She continued to look around and show us different things. His heart is beating well (150 bpm) and we saw his chest cavity. His skull is forming nicely and his spine looks good, they said. I think my favorite picture is when he pressed his foot against my tummy. You can see his little foot and his teeny tiny toes. It's so great!

I have to say that David was convinced this baby was going to be a girl, but was so pleasantly surprised to find out he's a boy. David doesn't really show his excitement about a lot of things, but he is ecstatic about having a son. I'm so happy that he's getting his wish to have a boy first!

My feelings were much more confused than David's. I was happy to know we're having a boy, especially for David, and was so excited to see our baby again. I feel so much closer to him (can I get any closer? LOL) when I can actually see him move and see his parts formed together. But I was a little nervous, and have to admit that I still am. I was praying that God would help me get used to the idea of having a boy. I've wanted a boy and I'm glad we're having one, but I don't know boys as well as I know girls. I definitely know how to relate to girls better. I have nephews and dads and brothers and a husband, but I'm not a boy. So when I prayed and said to God, "Help me be excited to have a son," it was only because I'm a little scared. But it took only seconds for me to know that this is exactly the way God wants it. God immediately reminded me of Psalm 139:13-14. "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well."
Those were the words that God gave me to assure me that this is what he orchestrated. And his "works are wonderful." I certainly can't argue with that! And then he reminded me that, like Mary, I get to experience what it's like to have a son. There's no bond like that between mother and son. I don't know that bond yet, but I will. And I'm so glad. So very glad!

So, cheers! All is well in our Little family!

So blessed!

I have to say thank you to my husband. He is such a wonderful man and definitely the perfect man for me. He is so patient, loyal and wise. I have not been the easiest to live with lately, yet he takes it in stride. His love and commitment to me have shown through over the last few weeks. He constantly makes sure I'm comfortable and well cared for. He's been cleaning the house and taking care of tasks that typically I would take care of...and he does it all without complaint.

I cannot wait to have his child. I want to have a son just like him - even though he probably doesn't believe that because sometimes he does exasperate me. But just because David's not like me, I respect him all the more for it and would likewise love our child that much more. And if we have a daughter, well she can be just like him, too :)

Thank you, David, and I love you so much. Today and always.

Emotions and Hormones

Everyone keeps asking David how I'm doing with my emotions since becoming pregnant. His response is typically, "She's no more emotional than usual." If you know me, really at all, then you know that if strong emotions are a key indicator of pregnancy then I've been pregnant many, many times, mostly for my whole life. I'm just an emotional being. I really believe that God made me that way, but I also know I have to keep it tightly under control lest it get the best of me (and everyone around me). Of course I need God's help to do that. And I'm not always the best at asking for help...

So I've had a couple of strange outbursts. And I admit, I know when they're irrational and completely out of the blue. Like when I told David I would need my mom around after the birth because she would know how to care for me. (I had just read all of the oh-so-unpleasant things that you have to heal from after birth.) And in the process of this normal request and conversation I just burst into tears. Or when I started crying about my new cell phone because I just knew I wasn't going to have enough minutes to talk (even though I have more than I ever had on the other phone!).

First, you have to understand that it is not unlike me to have strange outbursts. I guess in these instances I've just realized they're strange. :)

But last night was the worst yet. And it's lasted into today. I realize I'm being irrational, but I can't seem to take control over my emotions. I've just felt weepy and sad ever since I woke up. And I cried until I fell asleep last night, too. I woke up in the middle of the night because I was thirsty. I honestly believe I had depleted my fluids because of so much crying! So, pray for me, folks. I really need it today.

NYC in the fall

I'm soooo excited!!! I received a wonderful surprise last weekend from my mom and Ame. They're taking me, Becky and Erin to New York City this fall!! I cannot wait! It's going to be an awesome girls' weekend with some of my favorite people. And considering I'll be 26 weeks pregnant at the time, it will probably be one of the last girls' weekends I'll have for awhile!

We're planning on going to some broadway shows while we're there. Hopefully Wicked, Hairspray and Godspell.


The details are still being worked out, but it will be so great!

As for our other activities, I'm not sure what we'll be doing. We've all been to NYC before, so there's really no need to hit all the tourist attractions. I certainly could see them again because they truly are amazing, but we'll just have to wait and see. Honestly, it doesn't matter too much to me what we do as long as we're doing it together.

We leave on November 8th and return on the 11th. I've never been to NYC in the fall. I definitely think I'll like it :)

Is that really kicking?

So yesterday I was standing and talking to two of my friends and co-workers. I'm listening to one of them tell a story (I work in the library with storytellers, of course it was a good one) and all of a sudden I feel this movement in my lower abdomen. Have you ever been really hungry and been able to feel your heartbeat in your stomach? Maybe this is some weird phenomenon for me because David says that's never happened to him. Anyway, that's what it felt like, only it was way down low...where the baby would be. It was this repetitive movement that lasted maybe 4 or 5 seconds. I've heard that sometimes first-time moms will mistake gas for the baby moving. Believe me, people, I've had gas and it's never felt like that before! I don't know if it really was the baby moving, but I choose to believe it was. I haven't been able to feel anything since, but I'm just so happy that there's another life inside me. I can't wait to feel it kick even more and continue this bonding time with my child! Soon after I feel it more consistently I'll be so excited to share those movements with David and the rest of my family and friends. If this baby's anything like me, we'll have a gymnast on our hands and there will be no problems with other people being able to feel the movements, too. :)