Jerry Turns One

Micah and I decorated this smash cake for Jerry's birthday. Decorating a cake with an 18 month old makes for some memories.

Adding to the Family

We are very excited to announce we will be adding a new member to the family in February 2013!  We've known now for 4 1/2 weeks but just recently (3 days ago) shared the news with family and friends.  I really can't believe we were able to keep this secret for 4 weeks.  There were several times I wanted to say something so badly but kept myself from telling. 

For anyone who would like to receive regular updates and thoughts on this pregnancy you can follow our blog Our Journey - Baby #2.  While I will occasionally post updates to Facebook, I won't be doing it as much as I did with Micah.  I just know too many people who have hoped and prayed to be able to experience what we have and will experience again.  I want to be sensitive to them.  They shouldn't have to see something pregnancy related every time they open FB.  I am not sure I was very sensitive to those friends' feelings when I was pregnant with Micah.

Happiness

This makes me happy.

Daycare Breaks My Heart

Micah has been in daycare now for just over a month.  It is getting so hard to drop him off.  He's really attached to me and is in a clingy stage.  He's always cried when we drop him off at day care but it seems to be getting worse.  When we pull up the drive he knows where he is and that I am about to "abandon" him all day.  He is fussing before I ever get parked.  I thought as time went by it would be easier to drop him off and he'd start being excited to see his friends for the day.  That is not the case at all.  This morning after I dropped him off I cried almost the entire way to work.  It was so hard seeing him through the window trying to be consoled by someone else (and it not working).  I feel the same way he does.  I feel like I am abandoning him.  But what other option do I have?  It's just getting harder and harder on both of us.

Work, work, work

How I wish this pretending to work part were true.

Test post

Testing mobile blogger. I am hoping I will update better using this app.

Micah and Day Care

I've really loved being able to work from home (or take Micah to work with me) on the days that Scott works.  I love that I have gotten to spend so much extra time with him, love that I didn't have to worry about waking or getting him out early, having the added stress of packing a bag daily, love that he hasn't had to be exposed to sickness after sickness, and just love the experience of having him with me.  But as he gets older and Scott's schedule changes, I have to admit that working like that is getting harder.  Micah demands more of my attention and if I turn my head for one minute he may be standing on the arm of his chair, out of the room (haven't put up the baby gate I bought because the floors still aren't complete and it requires installation), or any of a hundred different things.  I've been debating child care for the days Scott and I both work.  I honestly don't want to put him in child care because I want him with me, but at this point it would simplify my life.  I don't want him catching things from other kids, getting bit or biting, learning bad behaviors, or the added expense.  His nap time will also be messed up since he has napped at the same time for almost a year now and I know that nap time will not work with any day care he might go to.  I also don't want him to feel like I am neglecting him.  I've seen that he is entering the clingy stage and turning into more of a Mommy's boy.  But, I know time away from me and interactions with other kids will do him good.  He surely gets bored at home when Mommy can't play with him (although he does usually play well by himself) and shows a huge interest in playing with other kids.  I've checked into a couple of daycare centers I would be comfortable with.  One is a Christian center owned by a friend and the other we have several friends and family working at.  I'm still on the fence.  My head says he needs to go the days Scott works.  My heart says he needs to be with Mommy.

Baby Season

It's baby season!  Two out of three of my close friends who were trying to conceive have conceived!!!  Praying for healthy pregnancies for them and continuing to pray for good news for others trying (including myself).

Friends and Families

I haven't thought much about who all around me is trying to conceive until today.  I know I have several friends who are trying and have been praying for them.  But I never really considered that so many people around me are trying to conceive.  Three of my closest friends are in that mix of people.  I think of and pray for them often.  I sincerely hope they conceive quickly and do not have to endure the hardships Scott and I (as well as some of our other friends) have had to endure.  Trying to conceive can be so stressful and can consume you if you allow it to.  Even knowing the length of time it took me to conceive Micah, I still have hopes that we will conceive quicker this time around.  Knowing that I can conceive makes me more optimistic.  Of course, if it does take a long time again it might be harder on me because of that knowledge.  The heartache of disappointment month after month after month is one I would not wish on anyone.  For those of you praying for a pregnancy soon, keep your heads up, enjoy the journey, and never give up hope for your little miracle.  I love you guys!

Birthday Fun

We are having fun in the office today.  It's Tina's birthday and for the milestone birthdays of our office staff we always go BIG and have fun!  Last year we overlooked her milestone birthday so we made up for it this year.  We decided to pretend she's turning 40 this year.  :-)  Friday afternoon we decorated her office after she left to go home.  She came in to find her door decorated.  Not sure if she suspected the inside would be decorated also but she didn't let on if she did.

 The office door looks tame enough.  The tape says "Warning: 40th Birthday. Party Under Way"

 When she opened her office, this is what she found.  Streamers everywhere, things hanging from the ceiling (don't know why they aren't in this picture) and 69 balloons on the floor.

 Party crime scene.

The birthday girl in her office.  It is so "busy" I walked by and seriously didn't see her at her desk already this morning!

Longing for Another

It's no secret that I have always wanted children (plural).  When we became pregnant with Micah it was literally the biggest shock of my life.  I was thrilled at our unexpected surprise!  Scott and I would have been glad to become pregnant right after having Micah, although I wanted to wait a couple of months to give my body time to get back in decent shape and to enjoy Micah for a while.  Well, Micah is now 9 months old and we are on the road to trying.  I miss being pregnant and really want to add a second child to the family.  I realize this may not be in God's plans for us, but I sure hope it is.  Maybe it won't take us ten years this time around.  I long for a second child as much as I longed for the first.  Hopefully a great second pregnancy is in our near future.  Keep it in your prayers for us.

Life with a 9 Month Old

It is hard to believe Micah is already 9 months old!  Seems like we were just bringing him home.  We had his 9 month check-up today.  He is 20 lbs, 1 oz (50th percentile) and 29 inches (75th percentile). Looks like he is going to be tall and skinny.  Before we know it he will be towering over both of us.

I need to do a better job of recording our life in our blogs.  Micah changes so much from one second to the next.  One minute he's not crawling, the next we can barely keep up.  He is so inquisitive and seems to be smart.  Of course, all moms probably think their baby is smart.  :-)  I seriously think he observes things until he knows he can do them and then BAM, it is full force.  Or maybe he practices while we aren't watching.  I look for him to be walking soon.  He is always on go.  I'll try to keep y'all updated and maybe I will go back and post about things I have missed posting about before long.