Gardens and Flower Beds

This milder weather we have been having has really gotten me in the mood to get some flowerbeds going in the yard.  For years I have put off doing too much with the yard because we had plans to either build or buy and I didn't want to put too much effort into it.  Now that we are settled and I know we won't be having any more major adjustments that will affect the landscape any time soon I plan to make my yard pretty.  I know the areas I want to start with.  Now I just have to figure out the flowers and color schemes I want to go with (and get Scott to get the ground ready).  My main focus will be in front of the house.  I think I will be safe doing in front of the porch and along the walkway.  I want to make a huge flowerbed between the walkway and the house.  For now, I'll just stick with going along the walkway since Scott plans to close the carport in his summer.  I would also like to have a vegetable garden, have flowers around our portable building, put some climbing plants along our camper shed, and have a few flowers towards the road.  I will do a little at a time.  Maybe I can get a good bit done this summer during Micah's naps if I'm not too exhausted.  Or if I'm lucky, maybe Scott will help me get a good bit done this Spring.  We've got 10 weeks, give or take a little, before he arrives to get started.

Beautiful Days

Yesterday was such a beautiful day.  I took off work to spend some much needed time with Scott and so that I could better track and measure my food to see what I needed to take with me each day.  I am so glad yesterday was the day I did that, because the weather was absolutely gorgeous.  After spending the morning at home together we decided to load up and take the four wheeler out to check for some good rabbit hunting spots for Scott.  It was wonderful just riding together in the nice warm sun taking in nature.  I couldn't have asked for a more beautiful day.  To me, the sights and sounds of nature are the best.  We were relaxing, enjoying our ride when we heard some frogs croaking.  We stopped for a bit to take in their sounds, then continued on our way.  We had a little adventure with a creek ditch and lots of pushing/pulling (Scott, not me) and shoving sticks under tires for traction before we were finally on our way again.  While Scott was struggling with the four wheeler I enjoyed my mandatory snack so we got stuck at a very opportune time.  I did feel bad not being able to do any more to help than I could.  I was basically left with the job of pushing the gas.  Had I not been pregnant I would have been pushing and pulling just as much as Scott was.  Getting stuck is a regular occurrence for us when we ride.  We get stuck in the mud...stuck on my leg...stuck on stumps...stuck in the ditch.  Hmmm, that might make for a good Dr. Seuss style nursery rhyme for Micah about Mom and Dad's adventures.

After we got unstuck we enjoyed a little more riding before loading up and heading back home.  All in all, it was a great day.  And I got the pictures below, which are very comical to me!

Couldn't pass up this reflection!  I think I need to retire this maternity shirt until next time!!!

Yikes!!!!  Preggo silhouettes are not flattering in the least!

Orange filled Valentine's Candy

Isn't it funny how sometimes we want something and go to great measures to find it, then when it is in abundant supply we can't have it?  During this pregnancy I have only had one true craving.  That craving was back several months ago and was for the orange filling of the Valentine's chocolate covered candies.  Obviously, I wasn't going to find any of those back before Christmas (way before Christmas) so we racked our brains trying to figure out what would give me the flavor I wanted.  I finally did find something to satisfy that craving, although I can't remember what it was for the life of me.  I'm thinking it may have been an orange creme savers candy but I honestly don't remember for sure.  I was just happy to finally have found the flavor I was looking for!  Now here we are just past Valentine's Day.  Chocolate covered candy with orange fillings are in abundant supply.  I even have a box of candy in my desk drawer, testing my will power.  So instead of gorging on candy like I normally would this time of year, I'm watching every little thing I put in my mouth and stressing over my glucose readings being too high or too low. It's funny how life works out.  I imagine I will make sacrifices on a daily basis for this little one.  In the end it will be worth watching every bite to have a healthy baby boy and a happy child.
Happy Belated Valentine's Day friends!

Growing up Micah: My Baby Registry

Growing up Micah: My Baby Registry: "Mommy has created a Baby Registry for me at Amazon. Since showers in my honor will be right around the corner I thought she should sha..."

Goodbye January

I hate to see the year going by so fast already.  I have no clue where January went.  I swear it was just New Year's Day and then we were just returning to work!  I wonder why it seems like the older we get, the quicker time goes by.  I use to think it was because we got busier as we got older, but I have slowed down significantly the past several months.  Time is still ticking by so fast.  I don't mind it so much now because it brings me closer to many things, but I wish there was a way to slow it down come May.  So many wonderful things are happening this year (for me and friends).

Bunko girls are the best

This past Tuesday night was our January Bunko meeting.  I was surprised with a house warming shower before the games began.  It was a great surprise and I got lots of really pretty and useful things for my house.  Micah even got a sweet pair of pants.  I never in  a million years thought anyone would throw us a house warming.  My Bunko girls are the best!

New Blog

Since this blog has morphed into talking about Micah (and he isn't even here) I decided to create a blog dedicated especially to him.  Growing up Micah will share milestones and such for Micah.  Please feel free to follow his journey growing up.  It is sure to be an exciting one!  His estimated arrival is only 99 days away!

Pregnancy pictures

We've been having pregnancy pictures done with Kim Kelley Photography.  She's been doing a great job.  We started at 18 weeks and have been going for "progress" pictures every four weeks.  She is doing an amazing job.  A sample of her work is below.

Photo from 18 week session with Kim Kelley Photography.

Jamie and Cyrena

Hijacked image of Jamie and Cyrena before deployment

I just wanted to take a moment to say how great it is to have people who are willing to serve where they are needed in the military.  Our good friend, Jamie, was deployed this morning.  It is sad to have to see couples separated for long periods of time and my heart goes out to all couples, but especially to my friends in that situation.  We love you Jamie and Cyrena!

Sharing pregnancy with others

I've been doing a lot of thinking lately about how blessed Scott and I are.  We are blessed through our blessings and the blessings of others.  How?  Well, I always wanted to be able to have friends and family pregnant at the same time as me so that my child would be fortunate enough to grow up with lots of little friends and cousins around the same age.  As I continued to get older, losing hope of pregnancy and thinking more and more of adoption, I began to think my child would not have any friends his age until beginning school.  Lo and behold, Micah will have many little friends his age to play with.  I actually think more women are pregnant at the same time than I have ever known to be pregnant (not to mention the babies born right before God blessed us with pregnancy).  What is even more of a blessing for us is that two of the couples who are pregnant have struggled with infertility, much like Scott and I have.  Knowing that, how can anyone not believe in miracles?  I love being able to share pregnancy with others.  Praise the Lord for miracles and blessings!  I wouldn't want it any other way!

On a side note...I grew up around mostly little boys.  It's beginning to look like Micah might have just the opposite situation.  One of my best friends had a little girl three months ago and my next door neighbor is pregnant with a girl.  One of my other friends who is pregnant, I have a feeling will have a little girl (she will find out soon).  Either way, he will be blessed with friends.

Update:  I was wrong about my friend.  She is having a little boy!

Micah's Nursery

Scott and I spent several days of the Christmas break working on preparing Micah's room.  My only wish for Christmas was to get as much of the room completed as possible.

Scott worked diligently on painting Micah's room.

 After buying Micah's crib with Christmas money, Scott played the good Dad and put it together after working 32 hours (not to mention the 7 stitches in his hand).

Real men read directions!

Making sure everything is in place.

Making sure all screws are tight.

The finished product.

And the matching dresser

The tree wall decal put the nursery on halt.  I had an idea of where I wanted everything but I wasn't sure how much room the tree was going to take.  If finally came in 3 days after the latest it was suppose to get here.  That morning I put tape to mark where I wanted everything on the walls.  There are still a few touches that are missing from the nursery...dresser, changing pad, etc., etc.  We have a quote above the crib expressing how we feel about Micah.  Now I'm just waiting on Scott to hang things on the wall and build me a valance.  Once that is done we will have all we can do to the nursery at this point done.

Looking back and anticipating the future

2010 was an awesome year!  In 2009 I thought I would dread 2010 because I would turn 30, but as the new year rang in I didn't have the dread I had feared.  I never could have imagined how great the year would turn out to be.  We celebrated some very important milestones this year.  In May Scott graduated the Paramedic Program at ICC in Tupelo and was recognized for having the highest GPA in his class.  GO SCOTT!!!  I couldn't have been more proud of that man.  In June I celebrated my 30th birthday.  Turning 30 wasn't bad like I had anticipated.  I actually enjoy being 30, because I realize that the previous 29 years molded me into the person I am today.  I'm comfortable with myself and love my life.  It takes some people much longer than 30 years to get to that point.  September 23rd marked 10 years of marriage for Scott and me.  I am so blessed to call him husband.  God really blessed me when he put him (and his family) in my life.

We have also experienced many firsts in life this year.  In February I officially started in my first official professional position.  About time I put that college degree to use :-).  So far I must say that I really enjoy my new position and hope to continue my career.  After receiving his Paramedic license in May, Scott began his first post as a paramedic.  I honestly believe he was born to do what he does.  He loves it and does a great job from what I can see.  He has a true love for helping people.  In June we celebrated the milestones of 2010 with an awesome cruise (our first) with some great friends.  It was our first but definitely won't be our last if we can help it.  We had such a wonderful time.  In August we began the process of buying our first home, which we closed on in October and moved into in November.  But many of our most cherished firsts this year are a result of the most important first we have ever experienced...our first pregnancy.  Little did we know that right after we started looking into our first home a little one was making himself at home.  We conceived our first child around the middle of August and discovered our miracle the first weekend of September.  Since our blessing was discovered we have experienced the first heartbeat, first ultrasound, first picture, first movement, first kick...I'm sure I've forgotten some of the important things that have happened to us in 2010, but none compare to knowing we have a son on the way.

As wonderful as 2010 has been, I wonder if 2011 can even compare.  But even as I wonder that, I know that it can be even better than 2010 ever thought of being.  2011 will also have many important milestones for the record book of our lives, as well as many firsts.  Many of those are unknown to us but we look forward to the most important one...welcoming Micah Aiden Dean home as part of our family.  I can't wait to see what the Lord has in store for us and to experience life with that precious little boy.

2011 RESOLUTIONS

I've never been big on New Year's resolutions.  While I have made some changes at the beginning of the new year in the past I consider them more life style changes and don't usually proclaim them to anyone besides myself and God.  This year, however, I think I will make a few resolutions.  In no particular order:

1. Rediscover things I have enjoyed in the past.  While sewing curtains for Micah's room I realized that I have so many hobbies and interests that I threw to the wayside years ago.  And I really do love to do some of those things.  I'm going to take time to enjoy activities of the past.
2. Take life as slow as I can.  There really is no need to rush or stress about getting things done.
3. Dedicate myself to family and friends.  The most important thing is family and friends.  I want to make time to let them know how much I care for them.
4. Enjoy every second of my pregnancy and steal every second away with my little man when he arrives. 
5. Date more.  Scott and I use to go on dates all the time.  Between our schedules in the past we have neglected that part of our life.  It's time to start dating again.
6. Make it a priority to spend time with the Lord each day.
7. And the old standbys - keep the house and finances in order.

Micah Aiden - The story behind the name

I've been meaning to post the meaning of Micah's name for a while now.  His name has special meaning.  It wasn't intended but is pretty cook that all of our names will begin with M and his initials will be the same as mine.

Micah Aiden Dean

Micah is a variation of Michael, which is Scott's first name.  It is a Hebrew name meaning "who is like God or gift from God".  We chose it because of the "gift from God" meaning.

Aiden is a Gaelic name meaning "little fire".  This name was chosen from a list of names I composed that I thought sounded good with Micah.  Of the list of names, this was our favorite.  We definitely didn't choose the middle name based on anything besides simply liking the name but after learning the meaning it fits.  In high school several people called Scott little dynamite in football and a few people called me firecracker.  And it appears Micah is already going to be a "little fire" all his own.  His little light won't be put out!

It was a Merry Christmas

After ten years together this was the first Christmas Scott and I weren't able to spend together.  It was inevitable that he would eventually have to work on Christmas Day and this year was that year.  We've known for a while how his schedule would fall.  We were okay with him having to work that day since we don't have children yet.  However, once Micah arrives he'll want to be home on Christmas Day.  We were actually blessed this year because Thanksgiving was on his rotation too, but Thanksgiving fell on his kelly day. Even still, I really missed having him with me that day and hated that he missed the festivities. 

Christmas Eve I spent the morning and night fixing a Christmas meal for him to take to work with him.  I didn't want him to miss out on eating a traditional meal (although he doesn't seem to like many of what I consider traditional foods).  Between cooking, we went to our parents' houses for him to celebrate with them.  We ended up having a great Christmas.  Micah, although he isn't here, received several sweet gifts.

10 years of 2 stockings. This will be the last.  :-)

 Scott called and woke me Christmas morning to make sure I saw it was snowing.  Yay!  Snow on Christmas morning!  This is a first for this Mississippi girl!

The view from our back door.

The snow flakes were so big and fluffy.  Very pretty!

I was so excited that I didn't even think about the mud on my shoes!  I left a trail from the front door to the shower.  Oops!

Loaded up and ready to go.

Micah's first pack of diapers - a gift from Nanny.

This outfit was so cute that both Aunt Kristi and Nanny bought it for Micah's Christmas!

Mom bought Micah several outfits.  I think this might be Scott's favorite.

Micah has a great head start on onsies! Thanks Grandma!

My favorite!

Another gift from Aunt Kristi and family.  This sweet giraffe sings his ABCs.

Baby scrapbook from Mamaw!

Aunt Cyrena gave Micah this sweet little lamb.

Micah's first piggy bank from Mamaw and Granddaddy.  They even put the first deposit into the piggy bank!

Sweet baby fireman boots from Uncle Lacy and Aunt Pat.

Sweet baby shorts.

Things I want for Micah

When I was a child my parents didn't give me every little thing I wanted, but they always made sure I had what I needed.  I want that same thing for my son.  I want to give him things without having him expect to get every new thing that comes onto the market.  I want him to have a simple childhood.  I looked forward to Saturday morning cartoons.  Do children do that these days?  I'm not sure they do because they can have cartoons any time they want.  I want Micah to understand that you have to wait for some things, which is why I want him to be a Saturday morning cartoon child.  I want him to find ways to amuse himself other times.  I want him to try new foods, push his limits, find a mud hole to play in, play in the rain...I want him to have a childhood close to what I had.  The way I was raised made me the person I am today.  It taught me to appreciate everything, no matter how small.  I didn't get to do many of the things I wanted to growing up simply because my parents couldn't afford it.  I thought at the time that it was unfair and even pouted at times but what would I have learned if I did get everything I wanted?  I'm thinking not much.  Instead, I grew up knowing that I couldn't have and do every single thing I wanted.  But I also knew that my parents sacrificed so that Jeremy, Timothy, and I could have nice things.  When I got older I learned that they sacrificed even more than I realized so we could have some of the things we wanted.  But they never sacrificed time with us.  My parents were always there for us.  I was spoiled on love, not on things.  I want Micah to know that kind of love from Scott and me. 

I hope my parents know how much I love and appreciate them.  They were the best and still are pretty great!

"Project Nursery" - The Beginning

Project Nursery has begun! Tuesday and Wednesday Scott worked on getting Micah's nursery painted.  I am in love with the color!  It looks so good!

Wall color - Valspar's Fountain of Youth

 I got a few things in that I had ordered to be painted.  Now I just have to decide on the crib bedding so I can get the right color of green paint for those things.  I have to paint picture frames, letters for his name, shelves, and a piggy bank.  I also need to pic out some fabric to cover a cork board I ordered.  It is a little smaller than I thought it would be but I guess it will work.  I might end up buying a larger one and have two in there.

I am waiting on a tree mural that I ordered (see picture below).  I had thought about having a friend paint a mural for me but figured this would be less trouble for her and less paint fumes for Scott to be fussing at me about.  :-)  Win, win!  I plan to order a wall decal saying when I get the chance.  We had several we liked but have ultimately decided on one that says "Such a big miracle in such a little boy."

What's in a name?

Ever since I was a little girl dreaming of starting a family, I have had names picked out for my children.  They had changed over the years from one thing to another (sometimes because someone else used "my" name) but I always just knew what I would name a child if I were to have one.  Even after Scott and I married we discussed names and had names picked out for our children.  We actually had two boy names and two girl names.  I thought then that the hardest thing to do would be to decide which name to use first when we finally were blessed with a child.

My how things change when you are actually expecting!  I always thought I would just know what to name my child but it isn't that easy. We haven't really even considered the names we previously had chosen as an option for this child.  Scott and I apparently have very different tastes in names so it has been hard to agree on anything.  After finding out we are expecting a boy we have finally started focusing on boy names.  We discussed a first name which would have a couple of special meanings a couple of days ago.  Yesterday we discussed names that go along with that name.  We are pretty sure about the first name because of how special it is and because we both agree that we like it.  That is not a small feat with me and Scott when it comes to a name for this child!  We aren't ready to disclose that name yet though because we don't want negative comments to influence our decision.  It has been hard enough without taking everyone's criticism.  Once we decide on a middle name (or think we have decided) we will reveal the name we have chosen to family and friends.  For now we are keeping it our little secret.  It is kind of nice to have that secret between us.  :-)  We do have a middle name we've been kicking around since yesterday.  Hopefully we'll be able to sit down (we've haven't had face to face time with the full name) soon and decide if this is the name for our little one.  I know we can change it and with us we may very well end up doing that.  But I want to at least have a good deal of certainty before telling our name.   

Time flies when you're happy

Wow, where has the time gone?  We're going to be 19 weeks tomorrow!  That means next week we'll be halfway through this pregnancy.  5 months!  Seriously?!?  We better get busy on BB's name!

Big and loving it!

18 week visit

Thought I would share the ultrasound pictures from our 18 week visit. 

4D of BB's behind.  This is the only view he would give us with 4D on!

A different angle of BB's 4D little booty.  :-)  He's all curled up, head buried, and feet crossed.

Hello Baby Boy (BB)!

The arrow shows BB is a boy.  :-)

Measurements for week 18, day 4.  BB weighs 10 oz!

Measuring BB's femur.

BB's head measurement.  He's got a big head, measuring a whole week early!  But it is a healthy, normal large head.

The black where the arrow is are the four chambers of BB's heart.  Awe!

Measuring his heartbeat.  The black space in his chest (where the dotted line goes through) is BB's heart again.

The best facial picture we could get.  Too bad it was 2D and not 4D.  If you look closely you can see his profile...forehead, nose, lips, chin.  For those of you with difficulty seeing it, he is head down.  The roundish black space is his eye socket. And the lines right above his lips are sweet little fingers.

Another measurement of his head. Not sure the difference between this and the other one but measurements are different.

The white area where the arrow is pointing is BB's back bone.  You can also see his ribs if you look closely.

Baby Dean's progress

At 5 weeks I finally listened to my body and we discovered we were pregnant. Seeing a positive pregnancy test was the most exciting thing to ever happen to us. You could not have knocked the smiles off of our faces that night.

At 6 weeks we confirmed the pregnancy at the doctor's office. Such a relief to hear that everything appeared to be going as it should for a healthy pregnancy.

At 10 weeks we heard our baby's heartbeat for the very first time. Oh what a sweet, sweet sound! I had heard heartbeats of other babys in the womb, but there is nothing like hearing your own baby's heartbeat. A heartbeat we prayed many years to hear. The only thing better than hearing the heartbeat was actually seeing our baby for the first time. Seeing that he really is there, growing and moving.  And we saw the sweetest little foot!

At 14 weeks not only were we able to hear our baby's heartbeat at the doctor's office again, we were able to record it at home to share with our family and friends. That sounds was still so very sweet! I also started feeling the baby move at 14 weeks. I wasn't 100% sure of what I was feeling at first but as the pregnancy has progressed, I know that is exactly what I felt at 14 weeks.

At 18 weeks we hit a huge milestone in the pregnancy. One I had been waiting and hoping for from the beginning. Scott was able to feel the baby move while talking to him. Today we had our 18 week checkup. We are at 18 weeks, 4 days. We had our first 4D ultrasound but baby made it hard to get any good pictures.  Actually, during the 2D ultrasounds he was making things difficult for the doctor.  He is very, very active and moves constantly.  We were able to see that everything is progressing well, the placenta just did miss blocking the cervix, all systems are functioning as should be, and that we are having a little BOY!

Our next ultrasound will be at 30 weeks unless we need one for some reason before then.  We will be taking a disc to that appointment so we will have video to share with everyone!