The three of us

We were at my grandparents yesterday for Sunday dinner because they just got back from Florida. This is my cousin Emily and my sister in law Wendi. Wendi is due August 28th, and Emily is due September 10, a day after me! I would like to point out that Wendi is almost two weeks ahead of us and there is nothing there!! Makes me sick...:) Love ya Wen.

16 weeks

Well here it is. My 16 week photo. I didnt think I would look so big so fast!

Pray

I recently learned of a couple who lives in our subdivison who is in much need of prayer. Although I have never met the Wiersma's, only passed them and waved a few times, my heart aches for them and asks God for development on thier extreme premie twin boys and strength for Mark and Kate to get through the long journey they have ahead of them. Even though I dont know them, I know they love God and need prayer. Please pray for them and thier twin boys Max and Wesley. Thier blog where Mark frequently posts updates is www.mkwiersma.blogspot.com

It amazes me still everyday how God speaks to us, and uses strangers, to get His message across and remind me...God is ever present, all knowing, all loving. Even in the worst times and in the best times. That even when we face the unknown of life, God is still there. He is the same. Yesterday, today and forever. Sometimes it is hard to grasp the truth of that. That even when life throws you curve balls, God is still there, still God. Again, I am going to bring up the Wiersma family. The story of the delivery of thier twins astounded me, amazed me, and made me remember to quiet myself, and remmber He is God, the creator and lover of my soul. I encourage you to read thier last post. It will give you an idea of what I am talking about. Mark was talking about his wife after delivery, having no recollection of what was going on, but peacfully singing. "Be still and know that I am God." I was reminded of the Steven Curtis Chapman version.
Be still and know that He is God
Be still and know that He is holy
Be still oh restless soul of mine
Bow before the prince of Peace
Let the noise and clamor cease

Be still and know that He is God
Be still and know that He is faithful
Consider all that He has done
Stand in awe and be amazed
And know that He will never change
Be still

Be still and know that He is God
Be still and know that He is God
Be still and know that He is God
Be still
Be speechless

Be still and know that He is God
Be still and know He is our Father
Come rest your head upon His breast
Listen to the rhythm of
His unfailing heart of love
Beating for His little ones
Calling each of us to come
Be still
Be still

Life is so uncertain right now for a lot of people. What is going to happen with jobs, housing, education...even life of newborn babies. Once again my momentary life issues have been put into perspective, and I have been reminded once again to Be Still and remmber who is in control, and regardless of any outcome, whether good or bad, He loves us.

As "the Body" we are called to pray for our fellow believers. The Wiersma's need prayer, and I ask today at some point you lift them up in prayer.

Cabelas, Splash Universe, IKEA

What a fun but busy weekend...well, begining of the week I guess. We left Sunday with Ryan's family to Cabela's to stay until Tuesday. Ryan could hardly contain his excitment for all the good hunting deals. He is already overly excited about hunting season which doesnt start until October. I think he forgot that his 2nd child is coming in September. Anyways...Cabelas was fun, Evan loved looking at all the animals and fish. Ryan got his trail camera that he wanted for a great deal, and we all got our pair of Crocs. Evan was so funny when we put them on his feet. He kept looking at them and pointing at his new "gooos".

Monday we all headed to Splash Universe which was right across the street. Evan had a great time playing in the kiddy area and going down the slide with daddy and grandma. He wasnt quite sure what to think of it all at first but after a while he got used to it and had fun. There also was a lazy river there that we all floated on. I think that was Evan's favorite. He could have fallen asleep on Grandma. Ryan went down the huge slides, but i guess you could say I was a little nervous about that, so I stayed with Evan and let Ryan go with his mom, Corey and the kids.

Tuesday on our way home we decided to stop at IKEA which is only about 35 minutes away from Cabelas. There was a lot to see and thankfully with thier cheap prices, I only spent $30 and got a ton of stuff. I definatly like Chicago's IKEA better, but this one was still huge and fun to see.

This year was definatly differnt from past years having a one year old. He keeps us always moving, but it was a lot of fun too. Our only problem was Evan was so off schedule and didnt get his naps, so of course he is going to be a handful. But he is napping right now, and after today should be back on track, and hopefully back to his normal self. It was funny to listen to him today tho. At one point he looked at me and goes, "Kenzie? Kenzie?" Kenzie is our almost 3 year old niece who definatly buddies up with Evan. I knew he would be lost without those crazy little girls today.

Not too much is new this week. Ryan is still layed off and probably will be for a while. I dont think I can even put a number on how many weeks because first they said 5 weeks...then they said 9 weeks...but it still isnt looking good. I am just thankful for the insurance coverage, but who knows how long that will last with him being off so long...

Anyways...I am SO excited for the weekend. It couldnt come soon enough. Every year Ryan's family takes us kids somewhere. One year we went to Chicago, last year we went to Traverse City, and this year, we are going to the famous Dundee, Michigan to Cabelas. I know I know, most women would not understand why I am excited about this, but Cabelas can be really fun! Expecially when you stay over a few nights. I am just so looking forward to getting away and relaxing a little. There is also a indoor waterpark across the street we will be going to for half a day or so, so that will be fun for the kiddos. Possibly a trip to Ikea if we have time on the way home. Hopefully I can do some convincing. ;) But really tho, I am so excited. I just hope everyone's health is ok. So far my niece Brooke has the flu. I am hoping everyone is healthy and feeling good by then. Evan also has had a little bug in him the last couple days. Runny nose and coughing, so hopefully that will clear up. My throat is starting to feel sore tho, I am praying it stops at that.

Ryan has been actually staying really busy while he is off. He is still doing some side jobs for people and possibly doing another one for my sister. The basement he has been plugging away at little by little. The drywall is pretty much all hung, plumbing and electrical is all done, it just needs to be finished now. Exciting!

Evan like I said has been battling a cold the last few days, and also I am thinking teething. The last two weeks he has be SO grumpy and Mr. Attitude. I feel like I am constantly changing dirty diapers, only everytime I do, he screams in pain from his aweful diaper rash. This sounds like teething right? It just doesnt seem like the other times he was teething. He was grumpy and everything, but not like this, and I never changed so many diapers! Crazy! I hope he feels better soon. I want my happy little man back!

Not much else new with the baby. I am growing daily and feel like I am in the middle as far as clothing goes. My pants are all getting tight, and my regular shirts, you can definatly see a bump. It makes me kinda sad cuz I am only 15 weeks. Should I really be showing so soon? Uggh. I have felt little tiny flutters here and there which is definatly cool. Only once and a while and only if I am sitting a certain way. It is definatly feeling more real.

I think that is about all for the day. Hope everyone has a great rest of the week!

Happy Birthday Jonas

We had my nephew's birthday party last night. It is hard to believe Jonas is one now. It seems like yesterday my sister Amy and I were huge and preggo and now here we are with both our boys over one! Crazy! Evan had a great time last night too. Amy had a blow up bouncy thing for the kids to play in (although we had Evan stear clear of that, just because he would have gotten trampled) Amy had a pinata and bags for the kiddies to put all thier goodies in. (thanks to grandma, evan got mom and dad a lot of good treats!) And we even got to be entertained with my sister Lisa's interpretation of "My Sharona" on Rock Band. It was a good time, and everyone had fun.

First Hair Cut

As you can clearly see in the last pictures I posted of Evan, his crazy wild mullet like hair do. I thought it was time to give him his first hair cut. After looking at those pictures of him by the vaccum, I realized, wow...it really was getting outa hand. So Tuesday while Ryan and his dad were plumbing the bathroom in the basement, I decided to get my clippers and scissors out and went to town. I think I did a pretty good job. I am sure a hair stylist would beg to differ, but oh well. He looks like such a little man now and no longer my little baby. Its kinda sad but it was time. I saved his clippings in a plastic baggy for his book. I didnt take any pictures of me actually cutting it, obviously...but I did take one of him afterwards. I will post it soon.

14 months

I cant believe where this last year has gone. Evan is already 14 months today. He is walking, talking and learning so much more everyday! The last 14 months of having him has been such a blessing and joy. We love our little man to pieces. His walking has actually turned into running, and it is now to the point that if he crawls somewhere, it somehow looks strange. He almost never crawls, instead if he knows where he wants to go he is running there. He is so funny. His vocabulary is crazy. Sometimes I wonder how he knew how to say something. Of course he still has his baby talk jabbering, but some of the words he can say, it sounds so funny in his small little voice.

I have learned a very silly way of calming him down if he is upset. It is kinda funny and I probably look ridiculous, but by belting out every children's bible song I know, he instantly starts laughing and singing along. I think he can say "Jesus" but his idea of singing is saying "Jesus, Jesus, Jesus.." over and over. Thats ok tho! If he were to sing, I am glad he is singing that! So people, if you ever pass me in the car and see me belting out in song...know my 14 month child is in the backseat and I am trying to entertain him. :)

I love all of his little quirks, because that is what makes him, him. Even tho there are days were he can drive me crazy with his disobediance, I love him more than anything and all the little quirkiness too. God has given us the greatest gift in the whole world of being parents, and exspecially intrusting us with His little man Evan.

Evan's Obession

I dont know what it is about this vaccum, but Evan is completly OBSESSED! It is absolutly nuts. He even can say vaccum. My mom has a similar one only it is red, and it is the same story. Anyone who knows anything about my mom, knows that she is a clean freak and usually when you go there, her vaccumm is out. I dont know if it started there or what, but that is all he ever wants to play with. He knows exactly what closet it is kept in and everything. Now, if only he knew how to use it, that would save me a lot of time when getting ready for showings. :) I guess he has a little bit of Sandy in him. ;)

Baby Update

I just thought I would update everyone on our little peanut. We went to the doctor and everything looks and sounds great! We got to hear the heartbeat which was awesome. It is such a reasuring sound, but it sounded loud and strong with a heartbeat of 165. Evan started off high and with every visit kept dropping, so we will see if it stays high or drops. For some reason I feel like I have a little girl on my hands, but who knows. I could be way off. I guess we will just have to wait and see in September!

Weekend

It always seems like the weekends jut fly by. Exspecially this past weekend. We had a lot of fun and stayed really busy. Friday night we headed out to the Curragh with a few friends to celebrate a birthday. I love the food there. Unfortunatly tho when I got home I wasnt feeling well and Ryan had to entertain our friends while I hid out in our room all night. It was still fun tho before I got sick!

Saturday I worked all day, but thankfully the day went really fast thanks to the books I am totally obsessed with lately. My friend Denise recommended the Twilight series, I of course am hooked. Ryan must be so frustrated with his lack of clean clothes and clean house because my nose is stuck in my book when I am not taking care of Evan. Saturday night we picked up pizza and a movie and hung out all night. It was nice to hang out with just Ryan again. Evan goes to bed between 7 and 8 usually so we almost always have our nights together which is so nice! I feel like I am just starting to get a little freedom and come September we will start all over again. Oh well. It will be worth it! :)

Sunday we went to church, however we spent the whole time in the parent room. Evan is so attatched lately and when I try and leave him he just screams bloody murder. I would be totally fine with walking away knowing he could calm down after about 10 minutes, but he wouldnt...he would scream and scream the whole time until one of us came and got him. He is such a stinker lately about that. After church we had to run to a friend from work to have Ryan look at a side job of laying some flooring for her. It is nice to get some kind of work even if it a small job. Sunday night we dropped Evan off at my parents and headed to our first life group meeting. We had such a great time and are really excited about our group. Finally we took the plunge and decided to join one. I know we will have a lot of fun and it will be a great opportunity to worship together and get to know more people.

That about covers it...nothing too exciting but a great weekend. Today I am off to get bloodwork done for my next doctors appointment on Wednesday. I cant believe it has been 4 weeks already since our first one. Crazy how fast this pregnancy is already going compared to Evan. It will be september before I know it!