Lainey's First Christmas

We are so excited about Lainey's first Christmas! We know that even though she isn't old enough to tear into her presents or even slightly understand the excitement of Santa Claus, she LOVES the Christmas lights! It is amazing to watch her stare in amazement at all the colors on the Christmas tree. She's so wide-eyed and beautiful - we can't imagine her to be any more perfect.

Sam and I got the best Christmas gift of all this year - our sweet baby girl!

Buddies

Lainey and Hannah had their first play-day and they had a great time together! What else can you say about two little precious punkin-pies!

1 Month Old

Lainey celebrated her 1 month old birthday on Saturday! I am in disbelief that it has already been one month that she has been in my arms.

Things I will never forget about her first month:
Her first "real" smile and "coo"
The way she holds my finger so tight when she is eating
All her funny faces
The sweet smell of her breath
How small she feels in my arms
The way she laughs in her sleep
They way she sleeps so soundly on mine or Sam's chest
The soft whine she makes when she is eating or sleeping sometimes
They way her eyes dance when she sees colorful lights
The way she curls her toes when you are trying to wash between them
How much she loves to lay naked in front of the heater before her bath
And last but not least, the way she turns her head in my direction when she hears my voice from across the room

What a blessing Lainey is to our family! Happy 1 Month Birthday Little One! We love you!

Happy Turkey Day!

We really enjoyed Lainey's first Thanksgiving! We celebrated with Sam's family the weekend before and then with my family on Thanksgiving Day! We are so blessed and thankful for so many things this year, but here are just a few things that I feel especially thankful for:

The birth of my precious baby girl who stole my heart long before she was born

The strength and love that my husband gives me everyday

Lindsey who has taught me so many things and the special bond that she and I share

My wonderful parents and in-laws - what can I say - they are just all-the-way-around AMAZING!

My cherished friends

And our wonderful church family!

As I sit here and reflect on all that I am thankful for, there is just now way to include all those things in this post. I am especially thankful for all the little things that would take me forever to list. All of these things we shouldn't take for granted and be thankful for them only on special occasions or the holidays, but take time to be thankful for these things each day. Maybe I will make that a New Year's resolution - sometimes it's all about the little things.

Meeting Grandma & Grandpa Bernshausen

Grandpa Bernshausen always wanted to name me Wilhemenia after my great grandmother. As you can imagine, my mom didn't exactly go for that and decided that Wendy would suit me just fine. Whew - Thank you mom! However, that never stopped my grandpa from calling me that or Little Willy (geez - a great term of endearment coming from a grandparent, but definitely NOT something you want to be called out in public by someone other than grandpa!) :-) Anyway, after our first visit with Grandma and Grandpa Bernshausen, it is clear that Lainey will now carry the torch. She will come to realize that when they call her by Wilhemenia or Little Willy, that she holds a very very special place in their heart!

Super Baby!

Lainey often stretches like this and Sam refers to this as the "Super Baby" stretch. What kind of mom would I be if I didn't put daddy's favorite pose on the blog!

Look Who Came to Visit!

Uncle Denny and Aunt Diane made the trek from Sugar Land to Friendswood to visit with Lainey! She was a good girl and loved every minute of the visit! Sam and I enjoyed the visit as well!

As you can see, Lainey was quite comfy hanging out with Uncle Denny! ;-)

P.S. She loves the CD that you guys brought for her! It's her new bedtime favorite just like you said it would be!

2 Weeks Old Today

Today Lainey is 2 weeks old! She had her 2 week check-up today and all went really well. The jaundice has cleared and here are her stats:

8lbs 9oz - 75th percentile for weight
22 inches long - 90th percentile for height
14 inches for head circumference - 50th percentile

2 weeks old - I can hardly believe it!!! To think, I was just counting down the months, weeks and days until she got here and now time is lost to me. I have no idea where all the hours and minutes in the day go. I love every waking minute with my precious baby girl and now that she is here, I couldn't imagine my life without her. She's simply amazing...

Happy Halloween - One Monkey & An Oscar-Winning Actress

Halloween at our house was pure chaos! We had a barking dog, one hungry monkey, a hyper oscar winning actress, and a ringing doorbell every 5 seconds accompanied by "Trick-or-Treat!" What a night! Enjoy the pictures!

October 24, 2007

Things are rather hectic these days, as you can imagine, but I have been catching so much flack for not updating the blog, so I am going to have to post quickly for now! Lainey was born at 7:24 Wednesday morning, weighing at 8lbs and measuring 20 3/4 inches long. We were able to come home from the hospital on Friday, after having to stay an extra night because of her jaundice. We went to the doctor today and hopefully this is her peak day and the BR levels will start to go down. They were just above 14 today, not great, but not horrible either. We go back to the doctor on Wednesday and hopefully it will be gone!

On a sentimental note, I think she is the most beautiful thing I have ever laid my eyes upon. She is perfect in every way! We are more in love with her than we ever could have imagined - and the journey has just begun! Thank you all for your well wishes and thoughts and prayers! More to come later! Love to you all!

"Are we there yet?"

Ok, now we are really getting close! I keep thinking that Tuesday is not that far off and that this time next week, I will be home with Lainey. So much is running through my head at this point and it all has to do with my lack of sleep! I am so anxious now and when you couple that with how uncomfortable I am, my nights have been pretty bad. People keep telling me that I need to rest, but how can I? In a matter of days, my world will change in one of the most beautiful ways possible. So many wonderful things have happened in my life over the last couple of years. My husband, Lindsey, a new job, moving "home," family & friends, our awesome church home, the health of those I hold so dear to me...all of these blessings have been bestowed upon me and I am so thankful that next week, one more blessing will come my way. It's so cliche, but I suppose it is like they say, "all the good things in life are worth waiting for." Nothing left for me to do - just wait.

9 Days and Counting

Well everyone, we are in the single-digit countdown! 9 days & counting until Lainey gets here! Unless she decides to come on her own (which would be GREAT with me), they will put me in the hospital on evening of the 23rd and Lainey should be born sometime on the 24th. We tried to enjoy a typical family weekend. Mom came over yesterday and helped Lindsey carve a cool pumpkin - pics of the pumpkin to come! Some friends of Sam and I came over on Saturday for a fish fry and they brought their new one-month old son, Coen James. We got to whip out some of our goodies for Lainey, as Coen needed the bottle warmer to heat up his supper and of course he needed to nap in her pack-n-play! It was fun for Sam and I to "ooh&ahh" over him in preparation for our sweet girl. Lindsey of course got practice holding the baby, but quickly decided babies get kind of heavy! Sunday morning was church and as always a pleasure to see everyone there. It's really fun getting the reaction - "You're still here!" when they see us coming through the doors. We are blessed to have a great church family, as they are all praying for a happy and healthy arrival. Sam and I learned how to properly install the car seat, which now has claimed a spot in the Yukon and the pack-n-play is right beside our bed, complete with linens just waiting for a sweet bundle to snuggle into.

Now that that another day is done, there is nothing for us to do but sit here and wait for Lainey to come. You all know how hard waiting is for me, so please pray that God puts me at ease and helps me through the 9 days. As much as I do hate waiting, I know that she will be the best thing in this world that I have ever had to wait for!

2 Week Wait!!!

I had my 37 week check up this morning and the news is good! Last week I had no signs that Lainey was coming. Today the doctor said I am already 25% effaced and .5 cm dilated, so she is scheduling an induction on the evening of October 23rd and she said Lainey should be here sometime on the 24th! We are so excited! The doctor was pleased that I was already showing signs of progress and that enabled me to breath a big sigh of relief! Now I know I won't have to go PAST my due date - even though Sam sure wanted her to come on his birthday! Keep us in your thoughts as prayers as we endure this long two week wait! Love to you all!

The Nursery

The nursery is finally finished - well with the exception of a few picture frames I still have to hang on the wall as soon as I have pictures of our sweet baby girl to go in them! I would have never gotten Lainey's room finished if it hadn't been for my mom and dad - MUCHO THANKS MOM & DAD! I love you! Mom and dad painted the room, bought the dresser, made the window treatments (dad the woodwork/mom the curtains), made the letters above her bed and helped me hang the mirrors on the wall. Of course, my loving husband put all this furniture together! Not a fun task, but he got right on it and didn't complain once! LOL! Pat and Mike graciously bought us the "cadillac" as I call it - the extremely comfortable rocker and glider! This thing is a DREAM! Without our family, Sam and I just couldn't do it! They are always there for us and we can't wait to watch our parents be grandparents to Lainey Grace! Enjoy the pictures!

24 Days?

The latest update we got from the doctor on Monday was that she plans to induce me around the 21st if my body has made any type of progress on its own. If I have not dilated at all and Lainey has not come on her own by my due date, then the doctor will induce on the 29th - per my request because Sam would love nothing more than for her to be born on his birthday! Hopefully my body will cooperate and we will have a baby in 3 short weeks! Lainey is still doing wonderfully and her heart rate at the last appointment was in the 130's, still nice and strong. She moves around in there as best as she can, but she is becoming less active because there is just no more room. She gets the hiccups often these days and it is funny because she gets very agitated with them. I just try to change positions in hopes that helps her get rid of them - poor baby!

As the time grows near, I still can't believe how quickly time has passed. My mind wanders back to February. At Grandmother's funeral, I will never forget Sam putting his arms around me - hand on my stomach - and I just knew. I had this feeling way down deep that I was pregnant. We even talked about it that dreary cold Monday afternoon. Then, a few days later on the 14th, we got the confirmation from the doctor's office that we were indeed pregnant. I will never forget how excited, nervous and scared I felt on that day. On one hand I was joyful that God was giving us another shot at this miraculous gift and on the other I was fearful to lose it again. I lifted it up to Him and He slowly put all my fears at ease. Before I knew it the hemorrhage was gone and I was into my 2nd trimester and awaiting the next milestone - finding out the sex. And now...here we are...weeks away from the arrival of our little girl. It is all still so surreal to me. I just don't think it will truly set in until she is right where she is supposed to be - in my arms.

On September 15th, a baby shower was given at my mom's house in honor of Lainey. The sweet hostesses were Amber Layton, Michelle Irving, Micah Newsom, Shari Baird, and Patti Kapalski. They did a fantastic job and everything was beautiful! It was such a lovely shower! Lainey got all kinds of goodies! It was such a wonderful day and I felt so blessed to be surrounded by my close family and friends on this special day. It will definitely be a day I never forget! Love to you all who made that day so special for Lainey and I!

Lainey Grace Update - 41 Days & Counting

Here is the verdict - Lainey Grace is weighing in already at a whopping 6lbs 8oz and is in the 79th percentile at this point. She is already head down and we are counting down the days to see her lovely face! Her heart rate was 125 this morning, healthy and strong, and everything looked beautiful! She has straight bones, healthy heart, and everything is exactly as it should be! Ladies and gentleman, she even has hair on her head - how much? - we are not sure, but definitely has hair as shown in the ear picture below. The white whispies they said is hair. She posed beautifully for us this morning. She had her hands clasped together in front of her chest as if she was praying - it was so sweet! She also might have been a little thirsty because we got to watch her take gulps of the amniotic fluid! What a beautiful blessing we saw on the screen! It was so amazing! Sam and I can't wait to hold her and kiss and tell her in person just how much we love her! Hope you enjoyed the pictures! Love to you all!

54 Days to Go!

For those of you who know me, patience has never been my greatest virtue. I have enough to get by! :-) I am not sure at this point it is even a matter of patience, but more about me being anxious to meet Lainey. I dream about her at night - what she will look like, how she will hold onto my finger, pinching on her and kissing her sweet cheeks and so on. I am anxious for those dreams to become a reality.

Next to Sam making me his wife, I know that nothing will compare to the day that she comes into this world. I am looking forward to a life-time of "firsts" with her and I can only hope to be half as good of a mom to her as my mom was to me. I often wonder how my mom and dad managed to get it so right. They would say they weren't perfect, but I would beg to differ. I am not sure how any two people could be more perfect parents than they were. I am so very, very lucky to have grown up in a house with loving examples of how a family is supposed to be. It has been an amazing experience to share this journey with with them both, especially my mom, and the thought of being able to share an experience like this with my daughter almost brings me to tears. (Lainey must know I am emotionally blubbering over here- she just woke up and didn't punch or kick, but tickled my ribs with a nice long roll from right to left). As much as I want to see her, I will definitely miss having her so close to my heart all the time.

I head back to the doctor on Monday, September 10th for another check up. Lainey is still measuring 7 days ahead. The doctor will determine when we are going to do the ultrasound to check her weight and position. I will keep you all posted on our progress and thank you for keeping us in your thoughts and prayers. Until then, I focus on acquiring some patience and keeping the anxiety at bay by staying busy with work and family for next 7 1/2 weeks. Love to you all!

Lindsey is a 5th Grader!

Today was Lindsey's first day as a 5th grader! Her teacher's name is Mrs. Correll and Lindsey says she is super nice. She seems to really be excited about her class - as her "best friend" is in her class! ;-) She was up and at 'em this morning and had her favorite outfit picked out and ready to go! She was happy to strike some poses this morning for me - so enjoy! I am so thankful for such a loving child who is looking forward to school! We love you Lindsey and are so proud of our 5th grade girl!

Lainey Grace Update

Well, we have only 74 more days to go until Lainey's official due date. However, it appears that Lainey is doing really well in my tummy and the doctor is worried that she is going to be a really big baby - the doctor said she thought our height had a lot to do with things. I go back to the doctor on the 27th of this month and they will determine if we need to do an ultrasound and check things out. If so, they will do the ultrasound in about 4 weeks and by then I will be about 34 weeks. If it appears that Lainey truly is getting to big in my belly, then they will go ahead and induce early. She could come a full 4 weeks early, depending on her estimated size. Right now, it is all up in the air and her growth could slow down a bit and she would then come right on time. I am just so thankful she is healthy and I am healthy. I tested negative for gestational diabetes, so all is well there. Lainey is just really happy in there I suppose and is making the most of everything I eat - which I have tried to keep a healthy diet this whole pregnancy. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy treats, but within reason. Anyway, I will keep you all posted, but at the end of the day, God has blessed us with a healthy baby in my belly and we are so thankful!

Last "Hoo-Rah" Before Baby Woolard Gets Here!

Sam and I enjoyed a great vacation to the Eastern Carribean for 8 wonderful days! My mom, dad and brother came along and we have a great time! Our favorite island was St. Thomas, but Tortola ran a close 2nd. Sam was able to dive that day - touring the Rhone, an 1867 steamer that sank during a hurricane. Me and the family went to The Baths at Virgin Gorda - a small island just off the big island of Tortola. We climbed through caves and swam and snorkeled in pristine water! Going on vacation is always fun, but it is good to come home. Enjoy the pictures from our vacation! Please note we spent a lot of time relaxing and didn't take that many pictures, but I hope you enjoy what we did take. The scenerary was breathtaking and now all I have to do is convince Sam to move to St. Thomas!

Happenings this Week

Well, the week couldn't have started any better because Sam and I got to spend time with Lindsey this past weekend! It was wonderful to see her, as she has been away from us since June 11th - her mom has her for the summer. Sam and I have missed her immensely and we can't wait for her to come home. She is a joy and a blessing and has made such great strides over the last year - we are definitely the proud parents of a beautiful 10 year old girl! With God's grace and guidance, we continue to take joy in her happiness and well-being as we grow as a family!

Philippians 2:3: “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves.”

Monday was equally wonderful! I had my check-up for Lainey. She is doing beautifully and my stomach is measure 26 inches - doc says that is right on target. My blood pressure is great and Lainey's heart beat is as strong as ever at just over 150 beats/minute. I will never forget that wonderful sound of hearing her precious little heart beating strongly on the doppler! And boy is she a mover and a shaker. She LOVES to kick her mommy! I tell you, she has the strongest little legs ever! She is also still in the cradle position in my belly, which explains why I have to use the bathroom ALL THE TIME! The bladder must make a comfortable pillow.

Wednesday was my baby shower from all my co-workers. Denny & Diane and Michelle & Kevin, hosted a great lunch at The Cheesecake Factory in Lainey's honor! The food was great and the company was even better! But more than that, I was completely touched by the generosity and kindness of my fellow co-workers - those in Houston and Hastings, MN. I was overwhelmed by the gifts and words of kindness in the cards and words will never be enough to express my thanks. It is such a pleasure to work with people who are family oriented and so supportive. I am certain that God puts people in our lives for a reason and I am blessed to have them as my work family! Here are some pictures from the special day!



The rest of this week will be spent waiting for Saturday morning to get here! Sam and I are taking our "last hoorah" if you will and going on a 8 day Eastern Carribean cruise with my mom, dad and brother! Stay tuned for vacation pictures!

The Newest Addition

Tribute to Daddy

On this Father's Day, I am by myself, but for good reason. Sam is gearing up to start work tomorrow morning in Savannah, Georgia. His work doesn't just include fixing houses or team-leading the kids, sure that's part of it, but his main job this week is to show how much people care, in doing so, show how much God cares. I know he will make God very happy this week, and it is my hope that he will show our Father's love to those who need it most!

I can't wait until Lindsey and Lainey are old enough to know just how special their Daddy is and do something to tribute him. My husband is strong and courageous and is the kind of man I had always hoped as a little girl I would marry. He gives unconditionally to our family and it doesn't take very much for me to know exactly how much he loves Lindsey and I, and now Lainey. He is my comfort and he is Lindsey's comfort - her safe place. I know he will be that for Lainey too and for that, I am so thankful.

You see, I came to these expectations of a husband and father through watching my own Dad. He set the bar really high!!! That should tell you just how wonderful Sam is! My Dad taught me to set my expectations high and to never waiver on them. When I think of my dad, of course, I have tons of wonderful memories, but there are those moments in particular that will never leave you. He was my defender, protector, and always the best Daddy on earth! I'll share with you a few moments in particular that made him my hero:

1. Kindergarten days - he would help me get dressed in the morning. I specifically remember him leaning over to help me put on my culottes and I thought it would be cute to jump into them. When I did so, I busted his lip. Needless to say, he wasn't happy, but still loved me me anyway! ;-)
2. Deer hunting with my Daddy and him teasing me that a ring-tailed cat was outside the stand and then making me whine further when he started making cat noises. Guess he was more interested in making me squeal than getting a deer that morning.
3. When I was little (before seat belt laws), my favorite thing to do was to ride in the truck with my dad. He had "Ole Green" back then and I would stand up in the seat next to him (most of the time with my arm around his neck) when he was driving. No matter where we were going, I assumed the position. I eventually got too tall to do that and then was required to buckle in.
4. I remember him cleaning up my bloody knee after the dogs on our street would chase me and make me fall. He would pick the little rocks out and then tell me it would be alright because he had "worse places on his eye."
5. I remember the pride in his eyes when he walked me out on the field when I was nominated for Homecoming Queen.
6. I also remember the pride in my dad's eyes (tears actually) when I graduated from college. I think that was his biggest dream come true for his baby girl.
7. And most recently, when I told him that I was having a girl, he said he needed to pull over and wipe the tears from his eyes. I can picture the love and pride in my daddy's face at that moment and the feeling of joy is indescribable.

I can't wait to watch him create new special moments with Lainey as her Pops. Somehow I think it will allow me to relive all those very special times I had with my Daddy. I love you Daddy!

Happy Birthday Lindsey!!!

How Special is a Name?

To Sam and I, choosing Baby Woolard's name was very important. We want our child to have a name that is special - a name that has special meaning to our family.

We have chosen to name our sweet girl Lainey Grace. I have been set on Grace as a middle name for my daughter for many years now, but Lainey came to us in a much more special way. This name, in our family, envelops the character traits that we hope our child inherits. We are naming her after Sam's cousin, Elaine Callan-Nayman. She has always been special to Sam and as I have been welcomed into the family, she has become a favorite of mine as well. It is rare to meet someone who is as special as she is. Her kindness is immeasurable and there aren't enough words to describe how wonderful of a person Sam and I think she is. We are blessed to have her as the inspiration for our baby's name.

We can 't wait to welcome our new baby girl, Lainey Grace, to the family in October!

Baby Woolard is a....

You know what they say...Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice!

What a WONDERFUL DAY! As I looked through teary eyes at my baby girl on the screen, I can't even begin to tell all the thoughts that were running through my head. Mostly I think I was thanking God for how beautiful and perfect she is! The doctor said everything looks fantastic with her and she kept commenting on how cute her profile is. She was not ready to get up for the ultrasound and had to poked an prodded to get her up and then when she finally was ready to move, she gave us a little yawn...it was precious!

The first picture, well, you know what that is a picture of! ;-) It wasn't a close-up, so I went ahead and posted to reassure you guys, it is a GIRL! ;-) The second picture was just so cool that I asked the tech to please print it! She has long legs! :-) And I know you can't see very well, but on the Face Profile picture, she is looking at us and it's amazing how much better you can see her in person on the screen than on the printed pictures. So if you look closely, you will see her spine and her face is on the right. You can see her eyes, her nose and mouth. She weighs approximately 12 ounces (in the 69th percentile for weights) and the doc said she is a little chunk right now.

Lindsey is pretty excited, but not all that shocked by the news. She "knew" it was a girl all along. Mi-Mi, Pops and Jared all predicted a girl, but they were just so excited to hear to the final word that they were right! I think Mommick and Grandpa were predicting boy, but now Mommick will have to keep the play-clothes around. The Woolard "curse" is broken and Lindsey will not be the only girl in this generation! We are all just so excited!

God is GOOD! Thank you Lord for all our blessings!

Anxious thoughts...

Well, as most of you know, we are going to find out the sex of the baby on Friday morning. I have been getting mixed reviews lately. My mom has recently changed her vote to girl - b/c she said I am carrying the same way she was carrying me. My dad votes girl, along with Jared and Lindsey. Sam and his family are still voting boy. So that leaves me somewhere in between. At this point, I don't care, I really don't. I just want to hold my precious sweet angel in my arms, boy or girl, and have him/her know how loved he/she is.

I have to say, with all that we have been through the last year, with the miscarriages, I still have fear in me that something could go wrong. I have to remind myself that God has gotten us this far and he is ensuring that this child growing inside me is blessed in every way. I have a dear friend who found out she is pregnant this past week. She had her HCG done again today and it dropped from 314 on Monday down to 251 today. For those of you who never had to worry about these kinds of numbers during your pregnancy, feel blessed - very blessed. She and I, we know all too well that falling HCG is NEVER a good sign. HCG is supposed to double every 48 hours and rarely does a falling HCG rebound to where it needs to be. But I almost hesitate to use the term NEVER because as we all know, all things are possible through Christ. This is a dear friend of mine, so if you are reading this, please take the time to say a prayer for her. God brought us together as friends so that we could support each other through our tragedies, I have no doubt. I only wish now for her that she was experiencing the same blessing that I am experiencing right now. I pray for God to bring her a miracle and if that isn't meant to be, then to give her peace in her heart to know that God will choose what is right for her.

Again, I will never take for granted how lucky I am to have my special angel on the way! I will keep you all posted on our ultrasound we are having on Friday. Hopefully Baby Woolard will be cooperative! Love to you all!

Coming up on Week 17!

We took our first belly picture last night. Baby Woolard is growing like crazy in there these days and my belly is starting to reflect that. I will be 17 weeks on Sunday and we just had another doctor visit this past Monday. The heart rate was just over 150 this time. We are getting anxious to find out what the baby will be - boy or girl! We will find out on June 8th and Lindsey is so excited to be going with us! She and Jared are the only ones that think the baby is a girl! The rest are voting boy! Guess we'll see...

Ok, for those of you who like a little humor...this is a picture of Sam's creation! For those of you who don't know, Sam is going on a mission trip to Savannah Georgia with the youth in our church. They will spend a week out there repairing homes of those in need, elderly, etc. Sam is the ONLY male chaperon going on the trip (please say a prayer for him). To distinguish themselves from the other youth groups that will be there, they are taking a cross to put at their meeting site (where they will gather each morning before starting work). Since our church is Good Shepherd, the kids decided they wanted to make & tie sheep to the cross. Yes, even Sam was tasked with making a sheep of his very own. He designed and made this sheep all by himself. Now granted I did go with him to Hobby Lobby for the supplies, but he picked everything out. I was merely there for moral support! In making this sheep, we laughed harder than I have laughed in a long time! Even if no one else likes the sheep, he and I will always have the memory of making this poor sock sheep! It is endearing to know that Sam cares about these kids and wants to take this journey with them! He leaves June 16th and will return on June 23rd. Please pray pray that God fills Sam and these kids with His holy spirit as they witness God's love and tenderness to the people of Georgia.

Daddy's Little Girl

Lindsey and Sam went to a father-daughter luau sponsored by the Girl Scouts this past Friday night. They had dinner and danced and took this fabulous picture! Yes, I said that Sam danced! LOL! He came home and told me that he had taught Lindsey "The Twist," when in reality after his demonstration of "The Twist," it was more like "The Carlton" or you could call it "The Swirl." My dear husband doesn't have a dancing bone in his body, but for one night he sure tried. Even better was that Lindsey didn't know the difference. All she knew is that her dad took time to spend an evening with her and only her and her dad was one of the best dancers out there - well maybe not best, but definitely she thought he was the most entertaining!

There is this moment when a father realizes that his little girl is growing up and he tries to hang on with everything he has and yet is letting go all at the same time. As Lindsey gets older, I want her to remember how much her daddy loves her. He loves his little girl as only a daddy can! He has big hopes for her and his happiness hinges upon her happiness. He is the kind of father all men should strive to be. He may not have the right words all the time, but he always has the best intentions in his heart. I hope Lindsey never takes for granted just how much her daddy loves her and realizes that even when she is my age, she will always be "daddy's little girl."

Happy 1 Year Anniversary

Yesterday, April 22nd, Sam and I celebrated our 1 year wedding anniversary. We decided to enjoy a nice weekend at home. Our anniversary celebration included a trip to Babies R'Us to purchase a crib, lunch at Taco Cabana (of course) and Sam's dream come true - going to watch AquaTeen - The Movie. We celebrated that evening with a yummy steak dinner - just me, Sam and Lindsey. Sunday, the actual anniversary day, was a typical day as well. Sam helped the youth at church with their breakfast taco sale and Lindsey and I met up with him for Sunday morning services. We did miscellaneous things around the house afterward, took a nap and had some dinner. All this was very ordinary, but we are an ordinary family, but we never take for granted our extraordinary love for each other.

At 7 o'clock we sat down as a family and watched the wedding DVD. Sam and I realized something very important. As special as that day was one year ago because we were committing our lives to each other, the fact that we are so lucky to have such special family and friends made us feel truly blessed. It wasn't the day itself or the beautiful place where it all happened, it was special because of the people that were there loving us and supporting us. For us, this anniversary was about the love, the kindness and the support of our family and friends. In the ceremony, Rev. Bob Hanson, asked those present to commit to supporting Sam and I in our commitment to each other and those of you there, responded that you would. I am here to say, that we feel your presence and commitment everyday, whether it be through prayer or just your unconditional love that we know exists. Thank you for that - we love you all so dearly! Also know that Sam and I continue to grow together through our love and commitment for one another and our commitment to Christ in our lives. First and foremost, without our Heavenly Father, the last year's challenges and sorrows could have really taken their toll on our marriage, but they allowed us to emerge stronger in our faith in each other and in Christ. I thank God for Sam everyday because he is my foundation, my heart & soul, a wonderful father, and more importantly, he is a man in Christ that loves his family & his Savior with everything he has.
Here is to a wonderful first year and many more to come!

Happy Easter!

Today is Good Friday and it truly is a GOOD Friday! It is amazing how in the last couple of days my tummy has popped out! On Monday, you couldn't tell Mommy was pregnant and today Mommy is finally starting to show a little bit. You are making yourself visible for the Easter Bunny! :-) Just think, next year you will be right there with all the other kids hunting Easter eggs! I am so excited for all your "first" holidays! Too bad you won't be old enough to enjoy Gran and Mi-Mi's excellent Thanksgiving feast, open your presents with all the other kids at Great-Grandma & Grandpa Bernshausen's house, taste your Mommick's famous sausage roll she makes for Christmas morning, or enjoy Grandpa's famous birthday cake (stuffed jalapenos) - but then I am sure you won't enjoy that for many years to come - I'll eat your share! ;-) But, trust me, you will have plenty of people "oohing & awing" over you that's for sure! As we celebrate the true meaning of Easter, the resurrection of Jesus Christ our Savior, I can't help but fully realize the miracle that you are. This is the season of life and we are so thankful for your "living and growing" presence in our lives. We know as a family that you are a true representation of Christ's "living" love for us! Happy Easter Little One!

GOD IS SO GOOD!

What a wonderful day today! I couldn't have been a more proud mom! You gave me, Mi-Mi and Gran a show that's for sure! You were kicking around and waiving your arms around and just having the best time. When you tried to lay still, I would poke around on my tummy and get ya going again. I could just hear you saying, "Hey mom! Quit that would ya!" We also got to see your precious little fingers and watch you move your arms and hands around! Your heart was beating at 175 beats a minute today and you are about 1 1/2 inches long or so.

The other great news is that all the prayers for us have been answered!!! The hemorrhage is completely GONE! The doctor has released me from house arrest/bed rest and I can have a little bit of my "freedom" back! The doctor said I still have to take it easy for the remainder of the pregnancy and I asked her if I could get that in writing to show daddy! ;-) Speaking of daddy, he couldn't be there to see you today, but he loves and misses you so much! He called several times today to check on us! Believe me, we couldn't have gotten through the last several weeks without your wonderful dad taking care of us! He is the best husband and father I could have ever asked for! We are such a blessed family! I love you!

So much for our usual post!

Normally, today I would have been to the doctor this morning and seen you there on the screen growing and getting bigger! Not today though! I am not going back to the doctor until Monday. Daddy will be out of town for a big trip to Albuquerque, so Mi-Mi and maybe Gran will be coming with me to see you. We are hoping that the doctor will release me to my regular doctor and we won't have to see the specialist for the remainder of your stay. I know you are getting bigger in there and doing well because Mommy has still been feeling pretty sick. You must have been growing something important on Tuesday because I think I had a huge hormone surge and that is what made me so sick. I felt much better yesterday and today though! You do what you need to do little one to be healthy! Mommy will be fine...I hate to puke, but I will be fine! ;-) Only 2 more weeks until I am out of my first trimester! We are very excited about that and can't wait until you start making yourself visable - enough to where people can see you growing in there from the outside! Mommy is hoping to skip the "has she just gained a lot of weight?" phase and go straight to the "it's OK, she is pregnant" phase! LOL! We love you and can't wait to see you on Monday! Sweet dreams in there!

Good news...

OK, with the way you are turned in this picture, it might be kind of hard for those looking at you to figure this out, so I am going to help a little! ;-) To the very left, just above your head is what is left of the yolk sac, which is feeding you until the umbilical cord takes over completely. Just below the yolk sac that is your head. The small protrusions in the middle are your arms and you can see your legs kind of scrunched up at the far right. You were facing dad and I today instead of giving us your lovely profile! :-)

I am getting so used to seeing you every week! I don't know what I am going to do when I have to go weeks without getting to see how much you are growing! Today we got some good news that all the rest I have been getting has helped a little. The hemorrhage has only grown 1 mm at this point! That is significant improvement from last week, when it had increased in size along with you! Dad and I have come to realize that I am just going to have to take it easy this entire pregnancy to make sure you have a healthy home! It was so neat to see you "twitching" around in there today! The ultrasound tech said that on our next appointment, on April 2nd, we would be able to count all your fingers and toes and see you bouncing around in there - how exciting! Your heart was beating at 183 beats a minute today and they said that is EXCELLENT! You are continuing to impress us with your strength and determination. Today you measured at 9 wks/3 days which is a little bit ahead of schedule, so you must like your home alright! Just know that you have so many people praying that you are healthy and October 28th can't come soon enough!

Look at You!

You are just growing and doing so well the doctor said! Your heart beat today was 173 beats per minute! I inquired what that might mean - boy or girl - and I was told that I wouldn't be able to tell that way for sure because your little heart rate would fluctuate so much over the next nine months. We are just going to have to wait several more weeks before we can see what you will be! Mommy is very impatient! Daddy and I both are predicting that you are a boy, but we could be wrong! We could see your legs and arms sprouting today and my how smart you are going to be with that big brain of yours!

Momick and Grandpa are coming to visit this weekend! Lindsey is coming home from her spring break trip too! You will be surrounded by those who love you this weekend! The hemorrhage that is next to you in there is still not gone, but we are praying everyday that it will keep its distance from you and it will all OK. Mommy will do what she has to do to keep you safe in there! We love you and know that God is taking care of us! You alone are a beautiful example of his presence in our lives! Dad and I love you so much already!

Strong Little Heart

When Dad and I went in to see you on the screen yesterday, we were so nervous! I knew you wouldn't disappoint us though! Your little heart is SO STRONG! You measured right on target and your heart was beating at 136.4 beats/minute! WOW! We could tell you were growing just fine and getting used to your home for the next nine months! We are so excited about watching you grow! They are making Mommy stay off her feet for a week until the next ultrasound to make sure everything is looking as it should! Guess who also came with us yesterday to see you? Your Mi-Mi!!! She is so excited about you coming as well! Your Pops was convinced that you might have another sibling in there with you, but nope, just you taking up all that room! He said he was going to get you your first fishing pole! You will learn a lot about fishing from your Pops, Uncle Jared and Papa! As Papa used to say, "You gotta be 'tuff' to live on the Gulf!"

My heart beats for you...

Well my little one, tomorrow is the day! After finding out you were making a home in mommy's tummy on Valentine's Day (best V-day present EVER), we have been praying everyday that God would allow you to continue to grow and keep you safe as you gear up to make your debut on Daddy's birthday - we hope! Tomorrow we are hoping to see your little heart beating strongly! Even though you are only the size of a small lentil bean, I know you have the courage and strength of a giant to continue on this journey with me!