Baby Shower - CHECK CHECK

My two incredible girlfriends, whom I didn't even get a picture together with, threw me an awesome shower at La Madeline. Long time friends from our previous church and sweet, wonderful friends from Duluth came. My mom and my aunt Sheila enjoyed a table with who I would consider adoptive family - Mrs. Jennifer - who is Jeremy's assistant and Boo's former teacher in Sunday School and Mrs. Yvonne - our pastor's wife. The four of them together give off a total "grandma vibe", and my aunt should take that in the highest compliment, because one day she will rock as a grandma...not that she is old. :)

Here are a just the few shots I got:

The cake was made by a sweet friend, Tori. We worked in 2's together at the preschool - she's the best assistant ever...and because pregnancy is contagious (haven't you heard?) she got pregnant right towards the end of our teaching together...God is so funny and yet unpredictable...

Here's a traditional Me, Jae and Betsy picture...long time friends, bridesmaids, confidantes, et al.

And here's the family - My Aunt Sheila, My momma (i.e. GRANDMA) and ME! And for those of you who don't know me well, I NEVER wear dresses...and I wore a dress to the shower...props to me!

Just weeks to go...

New Nephew - Check Check

Our nephew, born to my brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Tim and Kate, arrived on Friday in the evening time. He weighed in at 7 lbs, 13 oz and his name is William Raymond, to be called Will. Boo is thrilled about his latest cousin and in a few weeks we hope to venture over there to visit him.

This is another item on my checklist that has to happen before I am supposed to deliever our baby. I go to the doctor twice this week, ugh, but none the less, it's good since I am uncomfortable and I have lots of questions after my last u/s appt. I will keep you posted.

Happy Weekend!

Ahhh, Memorial Day weekend...the unofficial start to summer "bacation" (as Boo would say) and we kicked it off right with a trip to the Zoo yesterday! Oh, gracious I have never been to the Atlanta Zoo, and Jeremy hadn't been in like 15 years, so we took Boo and enjoyed a few hours there. Panda bear was totally worth it and just experiencing so many animals in one place is totally awesome. Today hubby and I are taking in probably our only Braves game of the year. A sweet couple at church offered us their tickets, and let me tell you we were glad to take them off of their hands! Great seats and a parking pass! It's nice to visit Turner Field too...my favorite spot? The museum, for obvious reasons, it's just an opportunity to see my grandfather being honored in a wonderful place.

So, enjoy the weekend and I will post some pictures next week!

--Karen

First Year of Preschool Complete - CHECK

So, the official end of the preschool year has come. Whew...it seems like yesterday it all started and now it's finished! It's this overwhelming feeling of wow, it's completed, and then it's also this sad sentimental feeling of it's over. I am on to another countdown actually, so the ending of preschool was a precursor to oh my gracious, we are having another BABY! As you can see by my ticker to the right, we are just under 8 weeks away from having our second little boy. No c-section date set yet because they are monitoring me with the blood pressure and the growth of the little man, but I hope to have more info in the next few weeks.
Back to preschool...so, another year gone for my kids, who will enter threes, and another year down for our Boo, who will be in FOURS! He is getting so big and I can't wait to see all the cool things he does in the next year. He brought his two preschool books home that his teachers made and they are fabulous - really capturing him in class and all the fun things he did and friends he made. I have enjoyed looking at them.
Add it to the checklist - preschool is over, let the summer begin!

Choir Performance

Boo had his choir performance on Sunday night and it was worth posting...
So, gather around the computer and bring your tissues...your eyes might get teary.
Who wouldn't just want to be a sheep after viewing this??








Enjoy!

The Hospital Tour

Well I must say the hospital tour was delightful. You might be wondering why I am taking a hospital tour on my second go around with having a baby, but it's because we have never delivered at this hospital before. I am really looking forward to it now...
As I sat at dinner with Jeremy and Boo, I told Boo I had a secret to tell him and he said "Baby came and he's at the hospital..." I couldn't resist looking at Jeremy and saying "Yeah, and here I am sitting having dinner with you both!" The timeline for Boo is all jumbled up in his head, poor thing. I don't know what that kid is going to do when he finds out I have to actually stay in the hospital for more than a day.

Hospital policy is pretty strict on certain things and that happens to be the certain things that people like to disobey. I used to work in a hospital setting, which seems like many moons ago, but it still never ceases to amaze me that some people just, how do I say this nicely, don't care?. I am having a hard time dealing with the don't care part of it all, so although my husband hears the brunt of my complaint, I am having to learn to just dump the thoughts. I try to dump them at the foot of the cross, knowing the Lord has every precise detail in His hands already, but oh glory is it hard to not just want to lash out.
I know all that is pretty vague above, but none the less I feel better getting it off my chest.

Okay, so I am dawdling (sp?) and i need to get back to work on my projects...big day tomorrow with Choir performances tomorrow night...

Love,
Karen

Counting Down...

Whew...now that the accreditation people have come to the preschool and we have 2 weeks of school left, I feel the need to blog...I know, I know, I have been out of touch for my 2 fans that I have, so apologize. I would say that I'll be back with more, but when school ends, I plan to rest and play a lot with Boo before the next baby gets here...which will have to have a countdown too.
So, yeah, the accreditation people raved about what a wonderful preschool we have and how the teachers do a great job, etc. etc...it was a true blessing to be a part of it. They had few recommendations and lots of commendations, so I say that's a good thing.

Meanwhile, we celebrated Boo's birthday last weekend and that was all fun and dandy...think 14 kids ranging in age from 2-5 and then breathe a sigh of relief that it was not at your house or mine and that McDonald's did their job well. Publix, on the other hand, disappointed me, which NEVER happens....I have NEVER had a problem until this past Saturday. I ordered Boo's cake a week in advance and I get there about an hour AFTER I told them to have it ready and you guessed it, No cake. They said "we have made lots of Diego cakes" and you know what I said to that...GREAT, THEN FIND THE ONE WITH MY SON'S NAME ON IT!!!! I was on my way to the party already! So, we had to leave, Jeremy dropped Boo and I off at McDonald's to make sure they were doing their job (and they were) and he went back to the Publix to get the cake. They did give us a discount, which was nice, but oh glory, it was touch and go there for a few minutes.

Oh gracious alive, is that ticker on the right correct? I am 29 weeks today...holy wow. I did know that, but it still seems so far away, but really, it's not. I missed my appointment yesterday, which never happens, but I changed my day and time, and I should know better to do that, I am a creature of habit! Anywho, I go on Monday to my regular appointment and then I think I have 2 more weeks till the specialist again. After that it will be EVERY WEEK at the specialist, since they are predicting a high BP after that and then they want to view my baby and weigh him each week...fine by me...just give me those pretty ultrasounds of him.

Before you ask, yes, we have a name, and no we aren't telling. :) His middle name will be after my dad and grandfather. His first name we are not budging on. :) If you ask Boo, he'll tell you Peanut Tree and won't budge either...he's holding out for his "special prize" when he gets to the hospital...because he kept the secret! :)

So, there's the update...
Much love,
Karen

Happy Birthday Boo!

Boo Bear-
It's your birthday weekend! You love birthdays...you are much like mommy in that way. Today is your party and right now I am watching you play Candy Land with all 4 pieces all by yourself. You blow my mind. You crack yourself up with silly phrases and knock-knock jokes and I think you grow 2 inches each night! Yesterday you had another hit off the pitcher at Tee-Ball and you were so thrilled with yourself. Your timing is getting better and I am so proud of you. You didn't realize this, but another little boy on your team was there with his Pepa and he was calling out his name while waiting to bat...it reminded me that your Pepa would probably be so proud of you too...he's probably got a front row seat from Heaven.
This is an exciting year for you, as you are getting a little brother in about 2 1/2 months. You keep asking me when he's going to get here, but most days you just want to feel him kicking in my belly. You tell me how much help you are going to be when baby comes. You say you want to dress and feed him and that you will rock him in the rocking chair...I love your willingness and attitude about it. :)
You love preschool and your teachers love you. You are very smart and doing things well beyond your age already. Daddy and I are impressed. You are enjoying playing outside in our backyard with all your sports balls, particularly while Daddy cooks on the grill and you are absolutely in love with the new umbrella that sits on your picnic table! It's awesome. Most days you just want to eat outside now...which cracks us up.
Last weekend you and Grandma planted flowers together and you have been diligent about watering them each day. You enjoy getting the mail and you totally love Tuesdays, because that's when the garbage man comes. You are strong enough to carry the recycle bin down to the street and you enjoy your "chore" of taking the cans and plastics to the bin. You are an enormous help to me.
I can't even begin to explain what a joy you are to me. You are strong-willed and want your way most days, so I stay on my toes for new ways to keep you grounded and engaged. Your food choices are getting better and with a little coaxing still you have pretty much learned I ain't the short order cook. The other night after dinner you and I sat at the breakfast nook and just talked...I have asked the Lord to write that memory on my heart forever. It was a joy.
I love you more than I will even begin to comprehend or write down! But always know there is someone who loves you more and deeper than Daddy or I ever can and that's the Lord! You know this fact already, becuase we talk about it often and I hope that one day when the Lord knocks on your heart you will be ready to accept Him.
I love you!

--Mommy

March 2008

I have been meaning to post these, and I thought since we are leaving for vacation tomorrow, I would clean my camera disk off...so here goes...

Here is grandma and Boo in his new TENT! That would be the one his Aunt She-She MADE him! Cool huh???

Here are Boo and Daddy and the Chick-Fil-A COW! We were at the Easter Egg Hunt at our church and the cow was nice enough to come too. :)

Here is Boo on Easter Sunday...playing with the eggs, which is the norm...he made Grandma and I hide the eggs about 8 times and even Grandma got to help find them! :)

And here we are at church on Sunday...Last year with just three of us!!!
Enjoy!

Off to the beach for a little R&R!

--Karen

Completely His?

Has anyone out there read Shannon Etheridge's Completely His? I purchased it a while back and while I was sick a few weeks back I decided to pick it up. I gotta be honest...I couldn't get through the first chapter!!! Her words were jumping off the page at me, but I couldn't swallow them at all. I think, at first, it shocked me...if you have read the first chapter then you will know what I am talking about. It brought me to recognize more fully my "burning bush" experience, but in my heart and mind this is what I was thinking...
God, normally when you lead me to something you are (obviously) teaching me something through it, and honestly, (as if I couldn't be more honest with HIM!), I am not ready for what you want to teach me through this.
Have you ever thought that? Have you ever said that - I am not ready for what you have to teach me through this??? I explained it to my husband, because I was really shaken up by the things my mind was trying to wrap around. Here's what I said to my husband...
As a mom, and like most parents, I am in a protection mode when it comes to our son. "Don't run toward the street!" (a car could hit him), "NO, you can't go into the boy's bathroom, because mommy can't go in there and you have to go into the girl's bathroom, even though you desperately want to prove to me how big you are" (there could be someone waiting in there to snatch him and well, let's just stop our minds there!). I KNOW! I KNOW!
If you are one of my best girl friends reading this, or even remotely know me, you are saying exactly what I have already said to myself...I am OFTEN motivated by, dare I say it, FEAR! It's the fear of the unknown, like what or who might be lurking in that bathroom (but gracious alive, he's not even 4 yet!), and then it's the instinct to want to protect your child.
I can reason it in my mind like the best of them, okay. I can argue with the Lord all I want, but ultimately my protection won't be enough. God, the ultimate protector, will prevail. And gracious, if you just stumbled on me and my life, you will know that I know that sometimes things, not so great things, happen to very good people - friends and family - people we love and care about. THIS IS NOT A NEW CONCEPT TO ME! I guess, right now, I am learning to turn over even more of myself. My control freak grip gets tighter and tighter and my mind spins in circles and yet I hear the Lord's comforting words and I have to be intentional about accepting them. It's about turning off Satan's words in my head too...the constant bad thoughts that something could happen, and going back to the book, would I be like that family and trust and forgive so easily. I want to be that person, that family, but then I say..."Don't test me on it, Lord!"
If anyone out there has read the book, I would be interested in knowing your thoughts.