Catching up...

I missed all last week because Christopher and I were gone with the Crossflame youth choir from our church on tour in Tennessee. I just read a fun and slightly different post from a close friend of mine, and decided that even though it hasn't been that long, you might be in need of some catching up on where we are in life. So, here it goes.

1) We are living in Hickory, and have been for a year. (I wouldn't think this necessary, except a close friend of mine just discovered today that we were no longer in Gastonia... lol)

2) Summer is here, and yet we're still busier than ever.

3) I am so glad to be done with testing for the year I could scream.

4) We are both getting quite excited about the fact that we're having a son.

5) Caleb, Cooper, Connor, Carson, and Coleman are all names that we're discussing at the moment... but we're still open.

6) Yes, we have decided to be one of "those" families that have names all starting with the same letter... mock us if you must.

7) I really think Chloe knows that I am pregnant, she responds to me differently than she used to. It's positive, really... she is extra gentle with me now.

8) For middle names we are thinking Andrew, Matthew, Christopher, and Joshua.

9) Yesterday, on Father's Day, I felt our son moving for the first time.

10) It kind of feels like a marble is rolling around inside of my stomach... it is the weirdest and coolest experience.

11) Being pregnant has really been a good experience for me. I feel the same as I did before I got pregnant.

12) Some people can't handle #11, and so they aren't as nice as they could be... as if them wishing pain upon me is supposed to make me feel loved. Like they want me to be in their gang. Listen up people, I am just as much a pregnant mama as you are, with or without morning sickness.

13) That said, I did have my first negative pregnancy symptom while on tour - swollen feet and ankles! Eek! I never thought I would be excited to see my ankles again once they went down... but all is well now. Apparently walking in 100 degree heat is not the right combo for someone who is with child.

14) We are using the summer to get everything in our house in order. In order to do this effectively, I would have to stop scheduling trips and social events during our free time. My love of people is getting in the way of my overall effectiveness.

15) We picked out and ordered our nursery bedding - and I LOVE IT. Google Tall Tales Bedding by Carter's if you are interested, and you can start loving it too!

16) We are working VBS every night this week. This has made me quite excited about the fact that when I do have a 1st grader, I will only have ONE and not the NINE that I am currently in charge of.

17) Emily is in town for the summer and I am excited about spending some free time swimming and hanging out with her. (See number 14).

18) I am not sure if it is a good or a bad thing that I am 21 weeks pregnant and still wearing pre-pregnancy jeans and people don't realize that I am having a baby.

19) I miss my friends that are spread out all over the place. I want them to be close again.

20) I do love the fact that we are living in a place where we have friends, and a church that has people our age in it that we can love on and share support with. It makes life happier.

21) Working for the school system is amazing, and I am really excited to be able to experience summers off and getting off at 4pm once I have a baby.

22) We are SO blessed by people that have already started showering our son with love and fun new things... Cathleen, Brandy, Emily, Melinda, Johnny, and Mamaw... just to name a few.

23) I want to be more diligent about being prayerful for those I love most.

24) I have found that when I am praying for those I love least, the relationships go considerably better. (I am aware this is a duh statement, but one I felt the need to make).

25) Included in our whirlwind summer are a week on Crossflame tour (that we just returned from), a week at Topsail Beach with my family, a week at Daytona with the youth group (for me, Chris has to work), 1/2 a week at dad's in July, and 2 weeks of band camp for Christopher.

26) Today is our 2 year wedding anniversary. It is insane to think that it has really been 2 years. It is also hard to think that I really love this guy more now than I did when I fell for him eight years ago... and even more than I did on my wedding day when I was pretty positive I couldn't love ANYONE any more than I loved him.

27) I am most excited about watching Christopher become our son's father and take on all of the role's that entails.

28) It is a weird feeling to think that you are carrying another human inside of you. Really really weird. Unbelievably cool, but weird, nonetheless.

I am sure I could write for days... but for now, this should keep you occupied. Enjoy it, laugh at it, shake your head and wonder why I would give you so much insight... whatever you do, know that as you read it, I am glad you care. :)