Kristen & B's wedding!

Gavin got to be the ring bearer for Kristen & Brandon's wedding last weekend. Since he was walking with his buddy Jacob, who is 4, we thought he might actually make it up the aisle. When they told him to go, he took off running and gave Daddy a big hug. Don't know that he really rang his jingle bells, but he was plenty entertaining for sure.

Gamaw bought him his new suit, so hopefully we will get some good Christmas pictures out of it as well....

Here's our first attempts....

 

          Gavin and his buddy Jacob.

 

 More attempts at a family picture...

 

Well, maybe we'll get that picture at Gamaw & papa's house.

Thanksgiving at the Smiths

 

We went to see Grandpa Tunney and the family for Thanksgiving. Gavin was excited to see his cousin, Ellie Kate, but she didn't really want anything to do with him.





Aunt Kissie

Apparently, he is a big cheese.

Gavin's First Haircut

Gavin got his first real haircut just in time for Kristen & Brandon's wedding and all of the Christmas pictures to follow. I had take the buzz clippers to him only once before, and he looked so bald because his hair is so light. I thought it better to let a professional do it this time. He sat still the entire time, and had plenty of Mickey mouse stuff to look at while he sat in the race car.

Checking out the car before they got started. Yes, we were definitely due for a haircut!!

Mickey Mouse Clubhouse

After the National Missionary Convention, we are able to take Gavin to see Playhouse Disney live in Concert. We didn't even know the show was coming to Peoria, but as we were packing up our booth on Sunday afternoon, we saw them setting up their kiosks. Gavin was so well-behaved all weekend, minus a few mealtime issues, we just had to take him.

He really didn't know what was going on, and thought he was just there to see all the toys for sale and the big pictures of Handy Manny and Mickey Mouse.

Here are some photos of the show.

Gavin checking out the Handy Manny tools, that may have to go on his Christmas list.

 

Gavin and Daddy before the show, only a brief nap, so it took him awhile to wake up.

 

 

 Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Goofy. Everytime one of the characters went off Gavin would point and laugh and say "Tigger hiding mommy." From the very first scene where you see Mickey, Gavin was saying that Goofy was hiding.

 

Gavin at intermission, he has finally decided he is excited.

 

The big Finale.

 

Hate to admit it, but as the lights came back on and we got ready to go, I started to tear up. He was really getting into it, and it was fun to watch him. He's growing up so fast, and I can't seem to pack enough fun surprises into the time we have. Glad we had this opportunity to rock his socks!

Baby on Board

So, today is the day we tell the world that Gavin is getting a baby sista or budder. He's been saying sista, but really has no idea what he's talking about. He thinks the baby is in his belly.
To read all the progress, you'll have to go back to the first post I made over a month ago when this blog was started.
We are so excited to be on this journey again, now to just get the house finished!!

The end of all the secrets

This is the last time I will blog secretly about my pregnancy, as we plan to anounce the news to everyone after our appt. this coming Monday. When I was pregnant with Gavin, we really enjoyed having a little secret to ourselves, but this time around, I am hating keeping it to myself. I think I just need the excitement of others to help me get revved up for this unexpected surprise and help me relax a little bit about all the things we have to get ready before he/she comes. It will help my controlling side to know exactly when the baby will come this time, but I'm really not looking forward to another C-section already. I think the worst part is having to wait so long to hold my baby, they wheel you up to recovery, after only a glimpse at the baby. My absolute worst fear is that something can go wrong in the first 90 min. that the baby is out, but I am not with him/her. Daddy gets to be there, at least.

I've been having a few weird symptoms lately, aside from the regular nausea and exhaustion...

I have had multiple dreams that Barry dies while I am pregnant with this baby, and (here's the weird part) the board at CSC sits around trying to come up with who will be my new husband to take care of me & the 2 kids, and will also take Barry's job. The worst part is they are always deciding this, while I sit behind one of those one-way mirrors like they have in the cry rooms at churches. I'm watching them discuss different men, as if this is Biblical days and they are deciding who my kinsman redeemer will be. I've had this dream 4-5 times, and it's always the same 2-3 boys that are up for the job. What a weird dream?? The stranger the dream, the more I will have it. I usually wake up crying or just really angry at the world.

I've also felt bloated more than ever, as if a giant balloon (like one of those punch balls) is in my abdomen and crowding everything out. I am short of breath very easily, and having a harder & harder time with some of my clothes. No one can tell that I'm showing (not even Barry), but man I can feel it.

I've been super-emotional the last week or so. One day I cried 4 times, which is very unlike me, especially when nothing is wrong. 3 of those times were sappy commercials, which is really strange. Not feeling particularly sad or anything, my eyes just tear up all the time for some reason.

I'm really looking forward to my next post where I can make the big announcement!!

Gamaw & Papaw are coming!

So, the last 3-4 days, I've been prepping Gavin for my parents & grandparents visit this weekend. It'll probably be the last time we see any of my family until Christmas.
Everytime I would mention gamaw & papaw are coming Friday, he would say "No, Mommy, Abry Don (Avery John)." I would have to remind him that Cousin Avery John was not coming this time, and we would see him at Christmas. Apparently, Grandma & Papa are just not as exciting as his boy cousin Avery. We'll see what he thinks when they finally arrive tonight; one of these days he'll realize that he gets more attention when he's the only grandchild around.

Avery & Gavin at Avery's First Birthday Last Month. They will definitely be trouble in a few years.

October Fun!

Gavin ended up having 3 halloween costumes (which was a life-saver). We had bought him one (a garden gnome, it was histerical), he already had a cowboy getup from a garage sale, and someone gave us a Thomas the train outfit. On Wednesday night, after 4 changes, he decided to be a cowboy....the gnome beard was too itchy, and the Thomas too long on him. Barry made his own costume without my knowledge or approval.
So here are my cowboy (Gavin sometimes says Cowman, as if he is offended) and my big tool, I mean Hammer. Mommy had no costume, and whenever anyone asked I simply said "I'm a mom who spent over an hour getting the boy dressed, and has no time for her own costume."

The other night, we started raking up our leaves (or should I say our neighbors leaves, as we have no trees). The first time I threw Gavin on the pile, he got really upset, but after awhile he warmed up to it.

 

He mostly just kicked the pile around, and evertime I would re-rake it up for him. He would say "Dank you Mommy!"

 

 

Surprise from barry today. Almost 8 years later & still in love!!

Gavin's Birthday

 For Gavin's 2nd Birthday, we met my family in Springfield for lunch and then went to an Open House at a Children's Ranch that some friends of ours have started. At the recommendation of a friend from Springfield, we made a reservation at "The Pizza Machine," really unsure what to expect. It was kind of like a chuck e. cheese, with an arcade, but not as crowded or noisy, and fun for bigger kids too. Here are some pictures from our day...

 

 Gavin opening presents. Addie helped a lot.












The giant alligator that was across from our table; Gavin thought it was great!!











 Cousin Avery squashing the "spiders" with gamaw.

Gavin on the swirly slide.










  Addie feeding the goats at the ranch, she wouldn't stop talking long enough to smile. She was determined that the goat was trying to eat her jacket after he took a little nibble of it.

 Gavin petting the horses, and pointing out all the poop that was yucky.










The week after Gavin's Birthday, we decided to finally have his birthday cake. He helped make it, and then ate most of it. He got to use his new birthday plate for the first time. This was his first time helping cook, and he thought he was such a big boy!

Gavin in mommy's old pampered chef apron....

 Helping mommy stir the battter.

 Can't keep his fingers out of the icing...

  Gavin & Daddy

Gavin's Favorite

I have just learned that I am no longer Gavin's favorite person in the world. In a recent conversation, Gavin informed me that he would rather go see Jeff, Drew, Lizzy, and Nate than stay in and watch Nemo with mommy. I guess this is just the beginning, but the feelings of rejection are already there. He will blow me an air kiss, but doesn't like real kisses anymore. Daddy has always been more exciting than me, but now he is falling for CSC students (probably because they hang him upside down and wrestle with him more than I have the energy for. On a brighter note, he still likes me more than the daycare lady, although he did say she was "Koote" (Cute). 

Last Sunday, Gavin pulled a dresser over that had a TV on top of it, which just barely missed hitting his head. I think we've underestimated his strength.  Guess who was the favorite then???

We recently converted his room to a "big boy" room, taking down all the animals and putting up Cars and Thomas things. This was a big deal for him, and he is still carrying on about everything on the walls. He knows most of the trains and the cars by name.

I have also had several "proud mama" moments for our CSC students recently. They have worked so long & hard to get CSC's name out there during all the homecoming events, and have represented CSC in a positive light in everything they do!! What a privilege to get to watch them grow as individuals and carry on the tradition of CSC and impacting WIU for Christ!

Hearing the heartbeat

Today, we went in for a 2nd sonogram to determine if we have a tiny lil' baby who likes to hide from us or if we have no baby at all. Prior to the sonogram, we spent a few minutes talking about what would follow if the baby was no more. Deciding how soon we would need to have the D&C performed, and whether or not we would need my mom to come up for a few days to help around the house with Barry gone next week. Funny, how every shred of confidence disappears when the moment of truth comes, and I instead turn to thinking the worst is happening.
When the sonogram was performed, we were amazed to not only see a dash, but a full-grown peanut with a heartbeat even. The nurse said we probably caught the little booger on the first or second day he/she had a heartbeat. What a change in one week; going from nothing visible to hearing & seeing the heart, and the baby that appears to be 3-4 days older than we had anticipated (at least based on size).
How funny, that this week's bible study was all about having joy no matter the circumstances, and I was dreading completing each lesson with the possibility of losing this baby hanging over us. I suppose I was reserving my joy until the anxiety was resolved, but then that's not how Paul & Silas approached it while singing praises from prison or Stephen when being attacked & stoned. Gosh, I have so much to learn about being filled with joy no matter the circumstances, but for now I have every reason to be joyful. It's a baby! A real, blood-bumping peanut baby!
My next hurdle is remaining joyful through the AM puking that has just started to rear it's ugly head, but man it feels to be feeling all of it again!!
I love you baby peanut!!

Oct. 5th Appt.

So, today was my first ultrasound, which is much earlier than most women have one, because I am still considered a "high-risk" pregnancy. I think the term "high-anxiety" would probably describe it better.
Barry was out of town at a Campus Minister's meeting that he really couldn't get out of without everyone knowing something serious was going on. Since we aren't really sure if this pregnancy will work out, we are very hesitant to share the news with anyone.

So, I went into the office & sat in that cold, dark sono-room for close to 20 minutes (felt like 3 hours)  a nervous wreck. It was in a room just like this, when I was all alone, that I found out we lost our first baby. Although time & God have healed that pain, I was amazed at how quickly the memories came back. When my Nurse Practitioner finally came in, she said "we are looking for a sac with a little dash in it." After a few minutes of  glancing around in there, she said, "well, the sac is there, but I don't see the dash (the baby)." She reassured me that it may be just too small to see at this point, and we will try again next week. So, now we sit and wait a week to see if there is or isn't a baby. While waiting makes me anxious, I am determined that God has destined this little "oops" baby to be. Either way, we will trust Him to continue to provide for the health and growth of our family.

Women's Bible Study & Grad. School

This semester Liz, Kristen and I are team-leading a Beth Moore Women's study on the Fruits of the Spirit. It includes watching a one-hour video of Beth, and then we split into three groups to discuss the week's homework and the video. Having never done a Beth Moore study before, I was unsure what to expect. Here are a few things I have come to appreciate....

• Her videos are not only keeping my attention, but she is a very moving speaker. Not sure that I've ever been moved to tears by watching a speaker on tape.
• I have an awesome group of young ladies, who are so different from one another, but we are slowly getting to know each other and I am LOVING getting to know them.
• As much as I was warned, I have to say that I haven't found any of her outfits to be that outrageous at all. If my 50 year old mother dressed like her, I wouldn't be embarrassed.
• I didn't realize how badly I needed to have a night away from Gavin & Barry to hang with some girls!! How did I ever survive without some me-time with God and other women?

On another note, I have been accepted into the RPTA Grad. program, and will start classes this spring. Not sure how I'll balance everything, but I am convinced that this is a great opportunity for me, and will pay off in the future.

To tell or not to Tell

I've been debating inside my own mind, when to start telling people that we are expecting. For many couples on their first pregnancy, the news is leaked the moment the stick turns pink, but somehow I am just too cautious for that. 

We have told Gavin, but of course he doesn't understand anything about it. Barry swears he will leak the news by pointing to my stomach and saying "mommy baby," but he still thinks he has a baby in his belly button too. 

We are anxious for the pregnancy to seem real, which doesn't happen until you get that first sonogram and everyone knows the news. I have a sonogram next week, which is earlier than most as a precaution due to my previous miscarriage, but still can't decide if once that appt. has past if we should feel at ease with sharing our news or go ahead and wait the entire first 12 weeks. It feels like forever to wait this time around. With Gavin, I LOVED having the secret just between the two of us, but can't stand it this time!!!

If I can convince Barry to let me spill it, we will probably start with my parents in a few weeks. But may still wait to let all of CSC know, and announce it to the world of facebook.

Also, I bought Gavin a package of goldfish crackers last week, and they expire on June 6, 2010, which got me really excited as that is our suspected due date.

My first Blog Post!!

So, here it is the long-awaited inaugural post on my new blog. 

To begin, I feel an update on the happenings of the last month is in order...

Barry bought me a cricut in early September, so I have had a renewed excitement for scrapbooking! Next project to complete is the book of Gavin's first year of life (he turns 2 this weekend).

Barry turned 30 this month, and I surprised (or should I say didn't surprise him) with a little party with some of our family and friends. Because his laptop has been on the fritz, we bought him a new on the week before his birthday, and then were also able to buy him a motorized scooter, which he has been wanting ever since we moved back to Macomb. It was in great condition, and pretty sharp looking for a scooter, that is until I drove it into the garage on my first ride. Needless to say, I have decided that I won't be driving it to work, at least not until I can learn how to squeeze a handlebar to make the brakes work. (In my defense, I had not ridden a bicycle in almost 3 years). Apparently, you can forget how to ride a bike. I am determined to at the very least stay of the scooter until the golf-ball sized bruise on my shin is gone. 

Gavin is getting so big, and although he is not climbing out of his crib yet (very surprising) I am thinking it's time for a big-boy bed because mommy is straining to pick him up out of his crib. 

He turns 2 this saturday, and we will be taking him to Springfield for a Pim Family pizza party, and a trip to see some horses at our friends' children's ranch. He has no idea how excited he should be to get to see Gamma (Nancy), Papa (Randy), Nahnah (Renee), Uncle Mack (Matt), Daddie (Addie), Baby Abry (Avery), Missa (Melissa), Doron (yah, go figure that's the only one he can say right!) as well as a ton of kids and horses!

It has been so fun to see our family grow, and we always love getting together so the kids can play.

Baby #2 in the Oven

Well, it's official, although no one but Barry will be reading this until close to Thanksgiving. We are pregnant again!! We confirmed our suspicions on Sept. 24th, and again (just for backup) on Sept. 27.  So, for now I am right about 5 weeks. Just did some initial blood work, and hormone levels are right on, so our fears of miscarriage are somewhat eased, although not fully until we have another blood test this weekend, ultrasound, and the first full exam (Oct. 19). 

I've been trying to decide if there is any super-creative way to announce this pregnancy to my family. I believe they will be more surprised this time around than last, because they knew we had been trying after we lost Theresa. It will probably take place over Thanksgiving break, unless we have another chance to see everyone at the beginning/middle of Nov. It's kinda fun to have the secret for now, but at the same time not a reality until the world knows and I start pouching. 

So, for now, the only major changes are...

• I have now sworn of soda. The only way to get more water in me is to stop drinking other things I love. Barry is such a gentle reminder of when I slip up. HA!
• I am a little achy & queasy, but nothing like I was with Gavin. Can't remember if I was sick right away or if it kicked in a little later in the first trimester, but it lasted forever. If I go through that again, we should all buy stock in jello as that was the only thing I could eat until afternoon.
• I am really second-guessing any thoughts I had had about pursuing a transfer that would mean a full-year, full-time job. Part-time this summer, sounds good now that I know the baby will be due around June 6.

The only other thing on my mind lately is that this pregnancy is lining up just about a week later than Theresa's was. Sept. 26, 2006 was the day we found out we had lost her, and while I'm trying not to dwell on the connection between the two, I can't help but worry. We aren't yet passed the point that we were when we lost her, so until that week passes, I will be on edge.