Parker's Story

March 18, 2012-  It was a normal Sunday or so we wanted to treat it that way knowing it would be our very last day as a family of three. Bryson, Violet and I headed to church with lots of questions from friends "what are you doing here?!" We could only answer, well we didn't want to just sit at home! The rest of the afternoon we lounged around the house and continued to prepared our hospital bags. I think I went over my bag about 100 times.  I felt more prepared with what I would need this time. We then went to dinner with my parents, bryson's parents, and our niece Ashtyn.  I knew I wouldn't be able to eat a hearty meal for about a week.  With a scheduled c-section you have to fast (no food or drink) before the surgery. So knowing this would be my "last meal" I wanted something good.  A Jerry Built Burgers  had just opened down the street so we decided to eat there. Its a really cool restaurant with a cool hand washer station, computerized soda machine and very kid friendly.  I enjoyed a cheeseburger, sweet potato fries and a BlueBell homemade Vanilla milk shake.  I was quite satisfied.  We hung out there for awhile and headed back home. Violet and Ashtyn played while I was trying to not think about the big day tomorrow. Eventually everyone left and Bryson and I had a sweet time putting Violet to sleep.  I was a little emotional thinking that I wouldn't have just us time anymore, but excited to welcome another child into our lives.



Looking Rough, but to my excuse it was 5am and I'm 39 weeks pregnant!
Ready to meet Baby Boy!

March 19, 2012-  My alarm went off at 4:30am.  Today was the day we were going to meet Parker!  Surprisingly I slept pretty well...as good as you can 39 weeks pregnant! I felt really calm and prepared for the day. I showered and straightened my hair. I know I know, Bryson asked why I was straightening it too. I just felt better having it straight and felt like it would be easier to manage straight than curly.  I was feeling pretty thirsty but couldn't even drink water due to fasting. My parents came over at 5:15am, my mom stayed here while Violet slept and my Dad took Bryson and I to St. Luke's.  We headed to Labor and Delivery for our 6am check-in time. I changed into a robe, had my vitals checked, was hooked up to a monitor and signed a ton of papers.

Almost time!

The monitor detected quite a bit of contractions I was having, but I didn't feel any of them! Nurse Audrey started my IV and was very chatty the entire morning! She was really sweet and I appreciated the talking.  The IV started to hydrate me and I had to pee like 3 times in an hour.  They didn't have a IV hook in the bathroom, so my sweet husband held it for me. Thanks B! haha! It was almost time to head to the operation room. We had met with the anesthesiologist, Dr. Parker (cool huh!?) and were being prepped as to what to happen next. All similar to what we did with Violet. Nurse Audrey had me drink a salty orange solution to help prevent if I threw up it would not burn my throat. Bryson changed into his hospital outfit, we had one last hug and kiss and Audrey walked me to the OR.  Walking in I started to get nervous. It was really cold and the shock of the sterile, not pretty at all room got my nerves ticking.  Dr. Parker and his assistant, Carey, were the only people in there. Carey was so nice and made me feel calm. He was talking about his daughter and I kept talking to try to not be nervous. They helped me up on the table, I just stared straight ahead, and they started my spinal block.  It felt like a sting in my back followed by a warm tingle sensation. Immediately I felt my butt and upper thighs start to "fall asleep". It is the strangest feeling. Then it moved down to my legs and pretty soon I couldn't feel anything.  Pretty cool!

They changed me to operating table and kept chatting with me. Nurse Audrey came in and started to get things ready for the surgery.  Everyone was talking and I started feeling nervous and nauseous, not a good combo. Dr. Parker started to help with adjusting the medicine, but I was said "I'm going to throw up!" Carey was there with a little bowl and I threw up the salty orange solution.  I actually felt better! My OBGY, Dr. Boswell and assisting her Dr. Bobo came in and started to get ready. And the Baby nurse came in also.  I was back to feeling calm and excited.  They got right to work and Bryson came in and sat next to me, holding me hand.  We were just talking and Dr. Boswell was narrating as she went a long. I felt the normal tugging and some movement on my tummy but couldn't feel anything.  Soon enough she said "okay here we go!" and Bryson stood up and watched her pull out Parker!! She held him up right away over the drape! He was screaming his head off!! And I just smiled!  The baby nurse stayed in the room and cleaned and checked Parker right away (we were never apart!) Parker Maxwell: 8.5lbs and 20 3/4 inches long! Bryson carried the bundled screaming baby over to me and placed him on my chest. I said "hi baby" and immediately he stopped crying. It was the sweetest thing! He just looked and looked at me. 

Welcome Parker!

Parker just stayed on my chest as Dr. Boswell finished the surgery.  She noticed a cyst on my ovary and said we would check on it at my next appointment in a few weeks.  It was acutally really quiet and calm in the operation room.  Bryson and I looked at Parker and talked with Carey.  After Dr. Boswell was done I was moved to the recovery room and was able to start the first feeding with Parker.  He didnt latch on but we decided to try again later.  Bryson brought in our first little visitor, Big Sister Violet.  I think she was scared of me because I was all hooked up to an IV and holding a little baby. But it was still sweet for just the 4 of us to be together and for her to be the first one to meet Parker. Eventually my parents and Bryson's came into recovery to meet Parker.

After two hours in recovery they moved me up the 25th floor to my post-pardom room. I got a little sick after riding the elevator, but after drinking some water I felt a lot better.  My face was feeling really itchy and I was sweating off and on (the side effects to the medicine in the spinal) We were visited that night by Kim and Kimmy, The Espi's, my parents with Violet and Bryson's family.  We really had a 4 night stay in the hospital.  The next day the Eachos and Lindsey visited. That was really the extent of non-family visitors. With Violet we had a ton a visitors and realized this time we only wanted a few. Our 3 night stay at the hosptial was really low key and relaxing. Lots of cuddling with Parker, naps and re-learning the art of breast-feeding. Bryson was so helpful since I was unable to get up and down right away.  I stayed on top of taking my pain meds and recovered smoothly.  The most eventful event of the hopstial stay was my 28 staples.  All the nurses had never seen so many staples on a c-section! I felt proud :)  We were so ready on the 4th day to checkout and begin life at home as a family of 4. 

One week

It's been one week since we had Parker! And it has flown by! We had a really relaxing 3 night stay in the hospital. We were a lot less fearful and anxious with a second child. With Violet we had no idea what we were doing! But with Parker we felt so much more confident with infant care, breast-feeding and overall recovery.

I was so happy to be back at home starting life as a family of four. also We really missed Violet while we stayed in the hospital! We knew she was perfectly fine with my parents and in laws but only seeing her for 30 mins everyday was a tease. She is adjusting to her new role as a big sister.

My recovery has been really smooth compared to my first csection. The first day was rough and painful as expected. I had major drug withdrawals from the anatheseia. I had the sweats and my face itched like crazy! I was able to start standing and walking (slowly) 24 hrs after surgery. My incision is healing nicely after the 28 (yes 2-8) staples were removed. It still burns and is sore from time to time but ibuprofen and Vicodin have helped with that. It's hard because I can't lift anything more than 10lbs and have a busy 2 year old. But thankfully I have some help this week.

Parker has been such a sweet baby. He has been nursing every 3 hours and sleeps most of the time. His one week appt was today. At birth he weighed 8lb 5oz, when we left the hospital on Thursday he had lost some weight and was 7lb 10. Well today thanks to mommas milk he is 8lb 10oz! Thats a whole pound in 4 days! The doctor went ahead and completed his 2 week appointment as well since he is doing so well! They also said at night we no longer have to wake him up to nurse (amen) so everyone can have longer night time sleep!

We are thankful for all our friends and family praying, visiting, loving and feeding us well during this time!

39 weeks

Well this is it...2 days until the csection! I'm nervous and excited at the same time. Nervous because I know recovery is hard, but I'm more prepared this time. Excited to finally meet this little boy thats has growing and moving inside me! Here are some updates:

-Size of baby: a mini watermelon! He's been super low the past couple of weeks, so I absolutely feel like I'm carrying a watermelon!
-By the end of the day all I want to do is lay on my side. The extra weight makes my back sore and my upper stomach ache.
-We finished and hung up the mobile this week. I love how it turned out! It wad a lot fun for both of us to work on it together! The little side of Violets's current room is the nursery is sorta "travel" themed. Bryson is working on a couple of drawings to hang up in there.
-Wedding rings came off this week. They were itching really bad and getting hard to take off.
-I've been a cleaning machine this week. I really enjoy cleaning and the feeling of my home being clean. So getting one last good clean in felt great and productive.
-This week has been really relaxing. We've had a few plans with friends I the evenings, but mostly our days have been chill. Violet and I have been soaking in our last days just the two of us. She has been so sweet helping be set up baby things. She even "holds" baby boys hand when we pray.
-Speaking of Violet, she definitely knows her brother is on his way soon. She has been waking up a lot this week in the middle of the night wandering into our room. She eventually goes back to sleep in her own bed, but still out of her character. She has been chewing a lot on toys and her hands so maybe her two year molars are coming in...
-Today my sister is 39 weeks pregnant too! I can't wait to meet my new niece/nephew soon!
-I went through/ate a whole bottle of Tums this past week. My heart burn/acid reflux has been awful, especially at night.
-I finally treated myself to a pedicure today! It was AMAZING! and all the ladies were so sweet asking about my belly/baby! They said this is a good luck year to have a baby boy :)

Well we are so excited and appreciate all the prayers from friends and family!

Day Seven: 36 week update

I did it! A week of blogging! It really wasn't too hard, mostly just recapped my days. It made me want to blog more and more with a purpose, or with at least some theme, instead of a daily recap.  So we'll see if I continue blogging more frequently...

Today I am 36 weeks and 5 days pregnant. And oh goodness, do I feel it! 

• Doctor appointment today went by as normal. The nurse scheduled my C-section at the hospital, which made me excited and nervous at the same time!! I start going weekly to the doctor.
• I'm in my 8th wedding as a bridesmaid this weekend and the 3rd wedding I've been pregnant in! So I'm happy to report there should be no baby popping out on the dance floor...hopefully!
• As I described in Day Five how uncomfortable I have been feeling, my doctor didn't seem too concerned. She said it's normal at the end of pregnancy and I'm probably having braxton hicks. 
• My wedding rings still fit!! hooray! Dont get me wrong, they are snug, but most days I can slide them off. When I was pregnant with V, they stopped fitting at like 7 months, so I'm glad I can still wear them. 
• Exercise: I haven't gone on as many walks as I would like too.  Mostly feeling crampy a lot doesn't help either.  We'll still go out and about to run errands, but by the afternoon I'm pooped!  I'm still stretching a lot which helps my back feel a lot better.
• Organization is my middle name. I feel like "nesting" has sunk it and I'm in "organized mode" in most areas of our house. We still need to figure out some things in our bedroom since baby boy will be in with us for a little while.
• Cravings: milk, sweets, water, protein
• Sleep: I usually try to squeeze a nap in the afternoon when Violet is napping. But at night it takes me forever to find a comfortable positon.
• Weight Gain: 40 lbs! This amazes me every time I get on the scale at the doctors office. By amaze, I really am shocked! With Violet I gained 50lb, that was amazing as well! I definitely think I have been a lot more healthy (food choices and exercise) with this pregnancy. Still 40 lbs baffles me, how it is actually on my body. I know I can lose the weight like I did last time.  I'm not ashamed at all by how much I have gained.  As I've seen with other friends pregnant, every single pregnancy is different and every woman pregnant is different.
• Dreaming: I cannot wait to sleep on my back or stomach!!! Also I really want a margarita or an ice cold Heineken with some pizza.  I've been having urges to run...and I dont normally run. So we'll see if this one actually comes true after pregnancy.
• You know you are at the end of your pregnancy when strangers start asking when you are due or are commenting on the size of your belly.
• I know I am pregnant. But when I'm in a store and catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror, with a huge protruding belly, I think "woah, I really am pregnant!" 

Baby is ON board!

Day Five

I would describe most of today as uncomfortable. It started out well and we made our way to church and to our Sunday school class. We stayed to help with a service project and I started cramping real bad on my side. It has happened before, but this was a new spot. We got home and I drank lots of water (dehydration can cause cramping and/or Braxton hicks contraptions) and took a nap. Felt much better but then got a different tightness in my belly twice in 2 hours. (one of these happens while I was at the grocery store!). I don't think there is any worry needed, because this cramping or contractions or whatever they my be are inconsistent. And baby is moving around normally.

Thankfully I started to feel better and was able to share a "classic Sunday Dinner" with some friends.

Crazy 8

That's it people, 8 more weeks to go! And it's going to be a crazy busy, but good (I'm an optimist).  This is more or less a list for myself too! In no particular order here is what we have to look forward to:

• Baby Boy's Baby Shower
• My sister's baby shower
• Many more prenatal appointments
• Choose baby name
• Nest for baby boy!
• Violet's 2nd Birthday
• Getting fitted for bridesmaid dress/find shoes
• Nikki's Bachelorette Party
• Nikki and Derek's wedding!!
• Spring Motherwise ending March 6
• Small Group starting
• Organizing InsideOut's Super Bowl Party
• Confirming a place/date for 10 year high school reunion
• Our Apartment Lease ending...
• Pack/Unpack
• Find a place to live/rent/buy...
• Have a baby!!!

Yikes!!

30 weeks

Only nine more weeks until the "belly birth" aka c-section to meet little man! My recent email update from baby center said something to the effect that the size of my belly is now equal to a watermelon! Which is exactly how I feel!

-We still have yet to name baby boy! We are down to two choices, but still deciding! Stay tuned!
-I'm feeling much more uncomfortable in general. It's hard to get comfy at night. I'm sleeping propped up (like you do when you have a stuffy nose) which helps, but annoying when I have to keep switching sides to sleep.
-Violet finally kept her hands still enough to feel baby boy move! He had the hiccups the other night while we were putting her to bed and she got to feel them. She had a huge smile on her face! And now will place her hands on my belly and say "move!"
-I'm feeling out of breath more often which is normal this time I pregnancy, due to pressure in my lungs. It's just funny to need stop to take deep breaths while talking!
-I'm still taking walks throughout the week. But stopped doing weights though. I was just getting so tired mid-afternoon that I couldn't keep up with Violet. But I'm still stretching a lot which feels amazing for my back and legs!
-I've noticed Ive been drinking a lot more milk. It just taste so good! And I recently read the label and a half cup of 1% milk has 8 grams of protein! Awesome!

Second Third Tri

We have reached the home stretch!  This is my second time in the third trimester! I forgot how uncomfortable it can be!  I feel great, just my body is carrying a basketball that makes it difficult to do many things!

You know you are in your Third Trimester when:

•  you have to pee every 15 minutes
• it feels like you have to pee a gallon and only a few drops come out (TMI? oops)
• it takes forever to fall asleep because you can not get comfortable
• you sleep with 4 pillows
• everything you eat gives you heartburn/acid reflux
• all you want to do is clean and organize
• Bryson wanted to add "when there is no room on the bed for your husband"
• the second you come home from being out you change in to comfy pants
• you wear your husbands workout shorts and tshirts because they are so much more comfortable than your own
• it is difficult to tie your own shoes, shave your legs and paint your toe nails
• taking daily naps

Reasons

This is my second time to be pregnant during this season of the year. (I had Violet in February and I'll have this one in March) And I have to admit, it's probably the best because:

1. Cooler weather
2. Halloween candy
3. Thanksgiving food
4. Christmas
5. Warmer weather when the baby is born so we can go outside
6. Not having to get in a bathing suit
7. Leggings!!!
8. Sales on summer/fall maternity clothes that still work bc it's not freezing in Texas
9. Seeing family and friends during the holiday season while pregnant
10. Less sweat!

24 weeks

Time is flying by: 6 months down, 3 more to go! And since I'm having a c-section again we have only 15 more weeks! yikes!  This pregnancy is really going by so much faster than my first. Here a a few updates:

• Since we found out we are having a boy we still have no decided on a name.  We have thrown some out there and have an on going list, but playing it cool as to not making any commitments yet on a name.
• Physically I've been feeling pretty good. I feel pregnant, big and little more uncomfortable than usual.  I dont remember feeling this way my first pregnancy, but since I now have a bump, I'm just feeling it more. I think because I was pregnant before, lost the weight and now am pregnant again, it's been harder to accept my physical appearance.  
• Violet points to my belly when we say "brother" and of course she says "loooook looook" and then we look at my belly.  When I feel him move, I try to get Violet too feel it too, but she won't leave her hand still long enough. She is going to be a great big sister. 
• Baby boy is a mover!! Usually around 7am I feel him a lot, through out the day randomly and then a lot between 9-10pm. 
• Now that it's finally winter here in Houston, I need to buy a maternity jacket. Like a casual zip-up hoodie type thing. But I'm pretty set with most my wardrobe
• Violet and I are still walking regularly. Though I miss running! But during my walks I've been getting sorta crampy in my lower belly.  My doctor said this is pretty normal for a second pregnancy since my muscles have already been stretched before, they are just weaker than the first time. She recommend a maternity support band....so we'll see how that works.
• My sister in law is going to make the baby bedding!! I'm super excited to pick out fabric this weekend!

24 weeks (sorry the shadows in the picture annoy me!)

Bread and Boys



Irish Soad Bread

I made my first ever homemade loaf of bread! I have been wanting to make bread for awhile now, but always was intimidated with the recipes.  Also I was concerned at how much time (and how messy) it actually took to knead the bread since I dont have a Kitchen Aid to do my dirty work.  Last week I was making a crock pot pulled pork and sauerkraut dinner. (Bryson LOVES sauerkraut and it actually turned out really tasty)  I was remember my friend Kim's Irish Soda bread she made for St. Patrick's day this past year and how yummy it was.  She passed on the recipe and it looked really easy to make AND it was!!

Baby Boy

Also last week we found out we are having a BOY!!!  Our ultrasound was awesome and he was moving A LOT!! (I should of known I was pregnant with a boy by all the movement I have felt) We are so excited to meet this little guy! Now all the cousins have a little brother!  (and that means we welcome all hand-me-downs! :) 

18 weeks

I seriously can't believe I'm already this far along!  It's has definitely gone by a lot quicker then when I was pregnant with Violet.  Mostly because a) we are busy with a bubbly busy girl b) it's not as stressful c) we honestly forget/don't talk about it as much as the first pregnancy.

So to get down to some questions...

How are you feeling?
Pretty good!! I'm so glad we are over the first trimester narcolepsy! But I'm so thankful for afternoon naps when Violet naps. I caught a cold/allergies this weekend, but am feeling better. Sometimes I'm in shock that we are expecting again! It's a whole new routine/learning process having 2 kids, 2 years apart.  But we are also very excited that the Lord is adding to our family.

How's the baby?
So far so good. Currently 5 1/2 inches, about the length of a bell pepper. We had the first ultrasound at 7 weeks, which was amazing to see the tiny little heartbeat beating!  And have heard the heartbeat the 3 times.  Next appointment is the gender ultrasound...and yes we are finding out! 

Exercise:
I usually walk about 2 miles everyday with Violet.  And twice a week attend a workout class at the fitness center at church.  Though I can't/it's not comfortable to lay flat on my stomach for certian excercise moves, I'm still keeping pretty active.  I currently in LOVE with the spin class, it's so much fun!

Maternity Clothes:
Yes, please! I busted out the box around 10 weeks and was much more comfortable in my shorts.  Now wit anything worn on the waist is completely maternity.  I'm still in search of: workout pants, one more pair of jeans, and a few dresses. 

Sleep:
Really well! With usually 1-2 potty breaks in the night.

Movement:
I started to feel a few flutters two weeks ago, and now they are a little stronger. (my first pregnancy I didn't feel anything until about 20 weeks, but doctors say you notice movement earlier after you've been preggers before)   Last night we had a Jamaican themed potluck with friends, Derek made a delicious spicy jerk chicken recipe and once we got home baby was moving a lot!!

Food cravings:
Lemonade, Sprite, and cold textures

What I miss:
Sushi! Not that we ate it all the time, but knowing I can't have certain kinds is sad. (Though I'll probably sneak a few, don't tell my doctor)  And I miss my old clothes! I had just bought a few new items before we found out we were pregnant that I only got to wear once! haha

What I'm looking forward to:
Finding out the gender, having Bryson feel the baby move, and baby decorating!

Weekly wisdom:
I'm not fat, I'm pregnant.

Oh yeah....

One more change I didn't mention in the last post is.....



We're expecting Baby #2 is due at the end of March!

Violet Paige Owen

She is here!!! We love her so much already and she is only 6 days old!! She was born Feb. 11, 2010 at 2:43pm in Austin, Tx weighing 7lbs 10oz and 20 inches. I had her c-section because she was 42 weeks and my body was not changing to have her the "other" way...My recovery is going really well. Violet is so sweet and well behaved, her Nana Judy cannot believe how good she has been! I would love to write more but sleep is calling my name! :) Thanks to all our friends and family visiting and making us delicious food!
Today she smiled!!

Exciting Times

#1- I borrowed a book from my mom and started it Saturday and have not been able to put it down. Seriously I've forced myself to stay up late to read it. And Monday I woke up and it was rainy and cold...so I ate breakfast and then curled back into bed to read for a few hours! I have about 60 pages left!

#2- Last night my friend/neighbor Kristie came over to watch Indiana Jones. I had bought the DVD in China when I was there in 2006....anyways it ended up being really messed up at the end so we turned it off and were chatting it up. Suddenly we heard a dog barking and a male voice yelling in the distance. Last week on her street there was and "incident" with a pit bull, so I was thinking it was something to do with that. But I said "I'll look out the window" and I peek out the front window and there are two police cars at the corner with the lights flashing. The Kristie pops her head out the front door and all of a sudden 2 cops, a K9 police dog, and a guy in handcuffs are literally walking down my driveway!! Immediately she calls her roommates down the street and I call Bryson. I look out again and the cops have their flashlights looking through my yard and work their way to the back of our house and are looking through the trash cans! Kristie pops her head out one more time as they go down the drive way again and asks if everything is okay and one police replies "yeah just someone was running from us, but we got him". I look at Kristie and say "well I'm spending the night at your house!" I'm so thankful she was here and that nothing happened to us while we were hanging out!

#3- Today was my usual doctor appointment and the "day of decision" Because tomorrow I'll be 42 weeks pregnant we either had to decide induce or c-section. Well no changes in my body and inducing wouldn't really do much, so we decided on a c-section...tomorrow!!! It's unreal to think at this time tomorrow Violet will be here!! I mean its kind of like I felt the day before our wedding, I know in my head what is going to happen tomorrow, but I still can't comprehend it! We are soooo excited but I'm nervous about the actual surgery and recovery part. This may be my last post for a while...

Sad Sunday

This week is the start of Bryson's third week of work!! He is loving his new job and enjoying learning all the new things that come with a new job! But...for me it means he leaves for the week :( And well I just get sad on Sundays. I have great friends taking care of me during the week. And the fact that our TV connection is broken and he takes the laptop, I've had to be very creative to entertain myself. I'm very thankful for DVDs and books!! But its hard not to have my husband home, especially while I'm this far along in pregnancy. He can home at any given time if I go into labor. But at the same time I'm thankful this is just temporary. I admire those wives who have husbands have to be gone for long periods. Yall are strong! This weekend was especially sweet though, I feel like we both know it probably is going to be our last weekend of just us. I mean we couldn't be more excited to meet Violet! We had so much fun hanging out, taking each other on dates, laughing, catching up on our shows, cooking together, and just being together! I really enjoy my husband so much!! Hopefully we can get to Houston asap after Violet is born so we can all be together...

still the same

Our "due date" came and passed...and now I sit on our couch writing this officially full term plus 8!! It's really amazing though, cause I thought I was going to be early! It's a little strange to think she will be a February Baby, after 9 months preparing and imagining birthdays in January. But I'm feeling great and couldn't be more thankful about that!! And I'm also thankful because being a week past due, my doc had me do a Biophysical profile, we had a 20 min heart monitor testing and a 30 min ultrasound and Baby V is healthy! so we just need her to come out! We are just waiting for that or until my doc appointment Wednesday to schedule a induction or a c-section....so we'll see what happens. Its exciting to know we will most likely meet our daughter (wow, OUR daughter)in the next week!

Changes

Well today has come and is almost gone. We've been anticipating V-day, 1-28-2010, since May when we found out we were pregnant. I seriously cannot believe I've been pregnant for 280 days!! That's a loooong time! But the doctor said we'll wait one more week and see if "mother nature takes its course", and if not make further decisions about inducing next week. I've looked up a natural labor induction techniques...some of them are kinda of weird, but I think I'll try a few :) Bryson and I are so anxious to meet our little girl!! I want to see what she is like, what her smile looks like, if she has hair yet, cuddle with her. I told her today durning breakfast it's okay to come out now :) We've set up the pack 'n play (what she will sleep in the first couple of weeks) next to our bed and I wake up trying to picture a little baby in there... we'll just have to be patient for a few more days.
Along with the big change of about to become parents, we have another change happening...Bryson has taken a job in Houston as a project manager a commerical building property restoration company!! We are sooo soo excited about this opportunity! We've been praying for about 6 months for a job for Bryson, and specifically for one before Violet is born. After his interview we were just so happy it went well, and I told him I felt like God is taking care of us. And this past Monday was his first day! It is very bittersweet to move away from Austin, our community in the Eastside, our friends, Juan in a Million, Townlake, Austin Stone Community Church, our first home, and so much more!! Even as we began to finish the baby room in our house a few weeks ago, I just had this feeling that it wouldn't be set up for long...So after Violet is born we will be packing our things and making the move to Houston. It's a little strange to move back to a town I grew up in, but kinda of cool I get to experience it now as an adult. We are really thankful to have family and friends in Houston, so we wont be alone in this new change in our life!

Painting Party

This past weekend Bryson and I hosted a Painting Party at our house. The point of it was that we wanted to have our friends create/paint a canvas for Violet's room. We have so many friends that are like family to us and have been such a blessing in our lives. God has totally given us this community of friends here!! We wish even our friends and family out of town could of made it, but we will still be accepting paintings, if you still want to paint one :) Here are a few pics:
Just getting started

Artists

Bryson made this bird house last week and painted it at the party

The finished products


We also did a "birthday pool" to see when Violet will be born! So funny!! We'll see who wins :) Thanks to everyone who came!

Early Bird

Waking up early is something I have always enjoyed. There is just a peace, calmness to being up before any one else, the quietness at home and the outside streets. I feel accomplished when I can finish errands or "to do" lists or workouts early in the day, so then I have the whole rest of the day to play. (I still enjoy a good sleeping in, nothing to do kind of day too!)

But more in pregnancy than any other time has this waking up early thing has occurred! Mostly I'll get up to go to the bathroom and then can't fall asleep and then realize I'm hungry. I've fought this a few times and have actually fallen back asleep but most of the time I'll get up and just start my day. Luckily most of the time this has happened I haven't had to work that day, so I'll get a good nap in. Anyways this is why I post on this lovely Saturday morning at 6:28 am...I probably been up for a good hour already and have had a bowl of cereal. Thats the main reason I got up...hunger. Anyways and am thinking about attempting to fight the Arctic blast outside to get a few groceries....oh saturday.