And so they stretch

My pants, that is.

I finally got fed up with my pre-pregnancy pants (the truth is, my butt and belly got big enough that I finally had to give up the ghost) and I decided to take the plunge and go all out maternity.

*Sigh*

Thank you, Motherhood Maternity! They had my size, with some extra room to grow. I was even able to find some shorts that look pretty good on me! Yeah! I finally have clothes that fit and that will go with me throughout the rest of the pregnancy.

I don't know why, but this is a pretty big deal for me. This signifies that my body really is changing, that I'm not the same size I was in January, and that my body is continuing to change. I'm not used to my body changing. It's been the same since I was 12. Yes, 12. Well, give or take a few pounds.

Now, everything has changed!
I swear my pinkie toe is pudgier!

All is well, though. I want to say that the Lord is shaping me into His image... but... I don't think God has ever been pregnant. Hmm.

Just arrived:

My shipment from Soft Cloth Bunz! Yeah! I just got my first batch of infant pre-fold diapers. Who knew I would get so excited over cloth diapers! (See if I'm still excited in October when I 've been washing them for a month while being tired, hormonal, and learning how to be a mom!)


If you are interested in cloth diapering I would highly recommend Soft Cloth Bunz to you! If you're able to make it to the store you won't regret it. The owner, Bryana Guckin, is extremely helpful. She walked Mom, Gracie and I through the process of cloth diapering. One of the most important things to me was explaining each process for each diaper, from all-in-ones to pre-folds and covers. I felt like I was in the candy store. And her business started online, so if you want to shop online only (like me!) then it's the perfect place to do so and support a local business.

So, if you're interested, please visit

online: http://www.softclothbunz.com/
locally: 5760 Northampton Blvd Unit 112
Virginia Beach, VA. 23455
by phone: Toll Free 877-791-8065
Local (757) 961-1400

By the way, this is my 100th post! I'm so excited! I feel like I'm still new on the block... :) Thanks for reading!

~ My husband rocks! ~ Fridays!

So, I found on this wonderful blog on marriage an encouragement to express why my husband rocks. The idea is to encourage marriage and support your spouse, especially when society speaks so harshly on marriage.

I'm going to try to do this! And I would encourage you to do the same. It's a written affirmation of your husband. Why does he rock? Why did God choose ______ to be your husband?

Yeah! I'm so excited! I really need this. To be honest, it's easy for me to not think about or to overlook the reasons for why I love Michael. Especially with him being away. I say "Good night" and then continue with my day. I need to remind myself of why I love my husband. What is it about him that gives me butterflies? Why did God bless me with Michael?

I'm hoping that this will help encourage me to be a better wife to Michael, a better housewife, and bring me closer to the Lord.

Living by myself, I find it easy to focus only on me. I need to change.

Michael

My Love,

If you're reading this, I just want you to know that I love you. And I miss you terribly. I wish you could be here to laugh with me, cry with me, just be here 'cause you're wonderful. I love you. I'm so thankful that God brought you into my life almost five years ago. Being married to you is such a great adventure that I'm glad we embarked on.

Aside from being the handsomest guy I know, and getting handsomer as the days go on, the smartest guy I know, and the wisest guy I know, you are exactly what I didn't know I needed in a husband. You search my heart motives, bringing me back to the cross, even states away. You laugh at me when I'm being too serious. You please my girly whims (I'm sorry Confessions of a Shopaholic was such a let down). You are 110% man, which I'm learning how to appreciate (how your truck can bring you such excitement, I will never know). The Lord knew I needed someone honest. You're my George Washington - "I cannot tell a lie." And even when we squabble you're the first to start working it out. You're my support system. My right-hand man. My Superman.

And when duty calls, you are Johnny on the spot. Not only concerning your duty to our nation, but to our family. I must say I was amazed at how you handled Kara's situation last Sunday. Something needed to be done and you where there and executed your plans with perfection. The night couldn't have gone smoother - besides Kara not crashing... :) There was no question that that random man called the right person to do what needed to be done. You were so efficient that we thought we were going to get air support at any second!

To sum it up:
I love you.
I miss you.
And you're awesome.

Yipee!

I can bowl!!!!! I am so excited. I've really missed bowling and was afraid that I wasn't able to due to the possible strain. You never know.

So tomorrow we're bowling... Yeah!

Happy Easter!

I couldn't resist this photo. :)

Happy Easter, Everybody! It is so wonderful to reflect on the Lord's goodness, every day, but especially today.

He is risen!

If you can, download Kirk Alexander's message from this morning at www.SGConline.org. It was wonderful!

It's late

12:15 am

Why am I not asleep yet?

Maybe 'cause I'm on this time-sucking machine.

Today's been rough. I cried, or felt like crying, pretty much all day long. I'm hormonal. I've never really had to deal with being this hormonal so it feels kinda weird.

Just life.

This too will pass.

A break through!

As some of you know, Michael and I have had a hard time meeting our neighbors here in Vegas. I take that back. They don't even wave back at us! People here just aren't very friendly. We actually get excited when someone drives by and smiles at us! A wave is even more impressive...

So you can imagine my shock this morning when I took the trash out and the guy next door initiated the "Good morning!" I hardly knew what to do with myself! So I stuttered a "Mornin'!" and went inside to share my surprise and joy with Michael (over a text).

But it gets better!

Shortly after text messaging Michael the door bell rings. Who on earth could that be? Our neighbor again! He was very friendly, told me about his wife and daughter, offered to help if we needed it, and gave me back the Tupperware I had sent over with cookies (never expected to get that back!). Holy cow! Two unbelievable happenings in just 15 minutes.

God is so good to me! I was kinda worried about the fact that I knew no one in the neighborhood that I could ask help from while Michael's gone. Now I do! And they're really nice! Yeah!

One victory in Vegas! Hopefully a lot more to come.

You know your life is pitiful when you start to tear up reading your old posts. Or you're hormonal.

I'm pathetic. The tears started when I read about Gracie giving me the coloring book while I was sick. Then I reread about the man whose life was just not going well, when I voted. I reflected on how blessed I am to have my husband. How the Lord has been so good to me through the whole process of this move.

I am not, thankfully, the same person I was one year ago. And that is totally and completely due to the grace of my Father in my life and the people that He has placed in my life.

Of all those people, Michael sticks out. A year ago, I married the man I was in love with. I did not, however, know fully why God had given me him. Michael reminds me to keep my tongue in check (which all too often doesn't happen), to be grace-filled, to love even when I don't feel like I'm being shown love, to take life one step at a time, that anxiety is not from the Lord, to bring my gaze back to the cross. Among many other things.

Ya'll, my hubby is AWESOME! I am honored to get to walk through this life with him by my side. Often figuratively. I'm excited to get to raise a family with him. I love going to squadron parties without him and person after person coming up to me and telling me how great my love is. He is great. And keeps on getting better. :)

I love you, Michael! Looking forward to spending the weekend with you!!

15 Weeks

Sorry the picture's kinda grainy. Baby and I at 15 weeks! The second trimester is so much better!