Glimpses of the Nursery

I'm still collecting pictures from last weekend's baby shower, so I thought I'd post a few other pictures to tide you over for another day or two. These are pictures we took probably 3-4 weeks ago. We've actually done a lot more to the nursery since then, but you can still get a preliminary glimpse.

We now have a mattress and bedding for the crib, which look AWESOME! I've got some great pics of the bedding, and I'll definitely post those in the near future.

Stephen relaxing in the nursery. This loveseat was our first big purchase as a married couple out in California. It fits pretty nicely in Caleb's room and as you can see, each seat reclines, which is great.

More to come!

Baby Shower Pics Coming Soon!

Hey All. So it has been a while since I've updated on here...if you can believe it, my belly is even bigger than in the last post and baby Caleb is getting very close to being here! We're just over a month from our due date - 5 weeks! I feel like that is about as long as a blink right now.

The last few weeks have been busy as usual, but a little more crazy than normal. We woke up a few Monday mornings ago to a flood in our basement, which created a frenzy of activity and after-effects that will continue for the next few months. Let's just say fully finished basement + flooding = floors being torn up, furniture/books/stuff relocated, a month of drying out and then floors having to be put back in. Oh, and the yard work that will soon commence to correct the drainage problems that resulted in said flooding. Have I mentioned on here that we're having a baby in about a month?!? Aside from the fact that the whole ordeal is a big pain in the rear and happened at one of the most inconvenient times possible........long pause for composure..........it's truly not the end of the world. There's actually lots to be thankful for - family that is taking care of things, friends who have helped out, a whole second floor that is fully liveable, etc. All that plus the fact that we're now a couple weeks removed from the initial shock means I'm ready to move forward.

And moving forward leads to a lovely and always too short visit from Uncle Lee that happened 2 weekends ago, a visit from my mom and sisters that happened this past weekend, and our first baby shower last weekend. So much to talk about! You better believe I will have at least one whole post (if not more!) all about last weekend. I need to download pictures to the computer and find a few more minutes to sit still and we'll get a full recount. To keep you in further suspense, I have to say that the cake at the shower was probably the most amazing and CUTE cake ever to make an appearance at a baby shower. AND IT WAS MADE BY MY OH-SO-TALENTED SISTER (in-law) JAYCI ADAMS!!! Seriously, you've got to see the pictures - it's unbelievable.

So more to come...hopefully before this baby comes!

30 Weeks

Quick picture update, cause Mom requested it. :-) Here we are at 30 weeks. Things are still going very smoothly. We got a little more work done around the house yesterday getting ready for Caleb to join us. I mostly stood there and made requests and Stephen did all the actual work, for which I'm VERY appreciative! He was pretty funny because he kept saying things like "don't fall down" when I would just be standing there watching him move things, and "hold onto the hand rail" when I'd be was walking down the stairs (which I walk multiple times every single day). I guess he is in protective mode, which is both funny and cute at the same time.

Next doctor's appointment is at the end of next week, so hopefully I'll have a picture update AND a doctor update for you. Exciting, I know. ;-)

We have a Crib!

Baby Prep Update: Yesterday Stephen picked up and put together the crib and changing table!!! I LOVE THEM! I realize it's kinda silly to get excited about a piece of furniture, but in my mind this is the beginnings of making Caleb's room into an actual nursery. We had already cleared the room out and moved a love seat into the room (it reclines and is easy to fall asleep in, which I'm thinking will come in very handy), but that was pretty much the extent of the nursery prep so far. Now that we have a crib and changing table, it's actually starting to look like a nursery!

I have to brag just a little bit about this crib (and sing some praises to God as He provides even in the little things) because we got such a great deal on it. You might have heard of Craigslist - the online site where you can post items you are wanting to sell/get rid of so that other people in your community can buy/have them. I've personally bought and sold a handful of pieces of furniture on Craigslist at some great prices. I've been scanning the baby section for a few weeks to see if I could find a good deal on some of the baby items we still need, and last week I came across a beautiful crib and changing table at a great price! Most of the other nice cribs I'd been seeing were at least a hundred dollars more than what we paid and they didn't include a separate changing table, so I was pretty excited when I saw this one. I went and checked out the crib last week and then yesterday Stephen picked them up. It was kinda late by the time we got home and got them in the room, so I didn't take any pictures but I'm hoping to tonight!** Hooray for being just a little closer to having things ready for our little man when he gets here.

**Pictures are now above!

28 Weeks

Once again the month has almost slipped by me and I'm behind on updates. We're moving right along with the pregnancy. I think it's pretty obvious that Caleb has been growing quite a bit lately. Comments I've been getting the last few weeks run along the lines of "You are definitely pregnant. There's no hiding it now." "That baby has popped out!" "All of a sudden you are showing." I've been thinking these thoughts for a few months now, but apparently we've reached the stage where everyone else thinks so too. :-)

I'm 28 weeks pregnant now, which means we're into the 3rd trimester, I have about 12 weeks left (give or take), and the calendar is showing less than 3 months until Caleb is here! I'm still feeling great and doctor's reports are all good. We're very thankful for these blessings! Caleb continues to kick and roll around a lot, and Stephen and I have been enjoying watching my tummy dance as he moves.
Stephen and I went on vacation last week and had an awesome time just relaxing and being together. We jokingly called it our second honeymoon/babymoon - the last big vacation before we are officially parents. It was such a great week of being with my best friend in the whole world and I can't really imagine it being much more perfect. We slept in everyday, ate at some great restaurants, took in some of the sights, and just enjoyed each other's company. Perfect.

I have been wanting to get some pictures of Stephen on here because I feel like they have all been me and my belly lately. My wonderful husband deserves some of the spotlight as well, so here he is with our newly purchased highchair. This was a present from my Grandparents. Since we were in Arkansas when we saw them last, they gave us a gift card to use for the highchair and I wanted to make sure I got a picture of it on here for Grandma Vicky to see. It's still in the box at the moment, but we'll be sure to put another picture up when there's a little boy sitting in that seat with baby food all over his face. I can't wait! :-)

Over Half-Way There!

24 Weeks:

22 Weeks:

Can you tell there's been some growth over the last month!?! :-) I figured I'd put the pictures up first cause I know that's what you really wanted to see. :-) It has definitely become obvious that I'm pregnant and Caleb is really starting to show. Over the last week I've had to move a good bit of my clothes to the back of the closet cause they don't fit anymore. Good thing Janet and Jayci showed up not too long ago with their arms full of maternity outfits for me to look through!

As I'm sitting here typing, I'm also watching my belly make little jumps. Caleb has gotten strong enough that his kicks can be seen on my belly! Stephen gets a kick out of watching him push my stomach around, and the other day I think Caleb decided to try his hand at jumping jacks because it felt like he was moving in 4 different directions at one time. It seems like he moves around the most right after I've eaten - definitely a boy in there!

For the 4th of July Stephen and I went to Arkansas to be part of the annual Johnson family lake week. We had a blast even though we were only able to be there a few days. It was great to see everyone and they surprised us and had a baby shower for us while we were there! We got a lot of great, super cute baby items that I can't wait to use on baby Caleb. My goal this week is to get a few of the baby shower pictures on here for you to see. Stephen will be in Atlanta this week taking some classes, so hopefully I'll have a chance one of these evenings to put those pictures up for ya'll. More to come soon!

Update Soon!

I promise to post an update on here over the weekend. I feel like the month of July has flown by! We actually took 22 week pics and I even uploaded them to the computer, but they haven't made it to the blog yet... Now we'll have to do 22 week and 24 week pics together.

Stephen and I are doing great. Just thinking about how busy things have been for me this month makes me exhausted, which is pretty much how I've been feeling every day by the time my head hits the pillow (if I wasn't already feeling it by about 3:00 in the afternoon). You know the feeling when you have been so wrapped up in projects that by the end of the day you literally can't think straight anymore? Yeah, that has been hitting around 4 pm the last few weeks. I'm not sure if it's more from the pregnancy or just from being so swamped at work. I'm expecting another week or two of the same, and then maybe work will slow down some. PLUS we're going on a little end of summer vacation in 2 weeks, so that's sure to help! I'm definitely needing one right now!

On another note, I got to hear Stephen speak to the youth on Wednesday night. He did a fantastic job and I was so encouraged and challenged by the message he gave. He taught on the supremacy of Christ from Hebrews 1:1-4. It was such a great reminder of the beautiful, mind-blowing act of Christ making atonement for our sins. Just hearing about our great God and the great price He paid to redeem mankind (sinful me) almost made me cry. And then to read in Hebrews 1:3, that "after He had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven" and took His rightful place on the throne, just makes me want to give Him the praise He is due even more. And I can't think of anything more precious than to hear that coming so lovingly, eloquently, and humbly out of the mouth of my husband. I have truly been blessed beyond measure.

Well, more to come this weekend but now I need to go get busy with the things of the day. I took a much needed half-day off work and slept in, so it's time to start moving in that direction. I hope you guys are all doing well!