A few baby shower pics :)

Last Saturday our good friends Anne Biggs and Becky Weiss threw me a baby shower!  It was so much fun.  Thankfully I've had two showers and I haven't had to play a single baby game yet :)  These two women are so creative and thoughtful, Micah and I are blessed to have them in our lives- especially being so far away from family and other friends.

The food was delicious and the decorations were cute and wonderful.

Baby socks are so sweet!

A blanket from my grandma...this is her first great-grandchild!

Micah's mom has been busy sewing.  These are a few burp clothes which are soft and wonderful :)

And she made our little guy his first dress shirt!

This box from my mom held lots of fun surprises!  She went a little crazy shopping but our little guy will be so handsome :)

I love this hoodie!

And baby jeans...just about the cutest thing ever!

And to top it all off...his very own cardigan!  Now he's set :)

What a fun day! 

33 weeks (just 1 week late!)

We didn't take our official pictures this week.  I know I said spring break was a stressful and tiring week...well this week was stressful and tiring for Micah because every week of teaching is!  So I took a few pictures myself before I went running a few times so Micah could keep on working. 
I am still running every single day!  And I honestly feel great EXCEPT for the feeling that a huge weight is crushing my bladder with every step :)  I am loving the 70+ degrees it's been everyday.  I actually can't wait to get home from work to run and then walk.  I can feel my skin soaking up the warm sun!

33 weeks:

I am running out of running clothes to wear.  Especially when it's hot out.  This is the only running tank that fits!  And I'm not going to freak people out by running in just a sports bra- that would be a sight :)  Also, these black shorts are Micah's...shhh, he doesn't know I wore them!  Sometimes mine feel a little snug!

I do wear a belly support wrap now everyday on my runs (thanks Andrea! it's been great to have).  It doesn't help with the pelvic pressure but I feel that it at least provides support to all the ligaments and muscles surrounding my stomach so they don't stretch too far.

We'll see how much longer I can keep all this up.  I'm just SO thankful that everything has gone well so far, which allows me to keep exercising.  I wonder what our little baby thinks of all this running?! 

32 weeks (a few weeks late!)

These pictures are from two weeks ago.  This was also our Spring Break week.  I think our spring break was more stressful and tiring than a normal week!  House hunting has been a bugger and an emotional roller coaster! 
First, though, here are the pictures:

We began our house hunt at the beginning of February.  We can't even estimate how many houses we've seen.  We have found 2 houses out of all of those that we REALLY liked, and 2 others that we liked well enough- but each time we go to make an offer it's gone!  After last Sunday, and only seeing one dismal house (because we had honestly seen every house in our price range in all of the areas we are looking) we started to re-evaluate what we are looking for.
We have a new plan for this weekend- which involves a little bit more expensive homes- but they should still work with our budget.  These seem like homes that we will actually like a lot which would make buying a house even better!
Please pray that we don't give up hope and that we make wise decisions and that our realtor doesn't give up on us :)  Oh yeah, and that if we put in an offer, that the house is still available and they accept!

When snow falls in Texas...

it doesn't stay around for long!

Here is a picture from the BIG storm in February.  Snow had fallen all day and it actually wound up being a surprising amount.  I think we received over 8 inches and areas further south had more than a foot.  We had school this day because the temperature was above freezing.  By this time at night we had both heard from our schools that we were having a snow day the next day!

Here it was the next day- already melting!  It sounded like it was raining as the snow fell out of the trees and ran off the roof into the gutters.

And then in just one more day...

it was all gone!

Snow in Texas is great :)

More Baby Stuff

Did anyone watch The Office last week?  It was great!
Jim and Pam had their baby.  I think Micah now feels prepared for the childbirthing experience after watching it, which is good since he doesn't have time to read any books.  Jk :)  The male lactation consultant was hilarious! 
We actually started our Prepared Natural Childbirth class last week.  It was an experience!  Sometimes I forgot how people, in general, can be so different and then am quickly reminded when we are forced to get out and meet people.  It doesn't really matter what class it is (even in college you can find them) it seems like there are always the stereotypical personalities...the funny guy, the overly prepared and ready to answer every question girl, the girl that looks entirely bored and mad to be there, a few seemingly clueless people, and then the couple who can't stop asking questions, even if the questions have nothing to do with what we're talking about.
We had to split up and "mingle" with another couple to get the class started.  Unfortunately it was the most ackward conversation ever, this is a little taste of it...

Micah:  Hi, my name's Micah and (cut off by Bored/mad girl)
Bored/mad girl:  How old are you?  You both look REALLY young?
Amanda:  Uh...We're not super young, um...how old are you.
Bored/mad girl:  (pointing to husband with long beard) we're 24
Micah:  Me too, and she (pointing to me) is 26
Bored/mad girl:  So is everyone, like, trying to freak you out about it?  Like, do they give you a hard time?
Micah:  uh, no, not really.....so... what do you guys do?
Beard guy:  we just moved from California
Me:  Oh, we just moved from Wisconsin in August!
Bored/mad girl:  Do you like it here?
Micah and I: yeah, we really do
Bored/mad girl:  We don't. (With a look of disgust) 
Micah and I:  sounds great!

Anyway, that may not be our conversation word for word but it was so weird!  We came to find out that they are both the oldest of 8 kids in their families so they said they're REALLY prepared and know what they're doing.  Good to know! 
I think we'll look for a different couple to mingle with next time :)

We had our first baby shower two weeks ago.  It was a double shower for us and another teacher and his wife who are expecting their 2nd baby, a little girl, any day now.  The faculty at Prince of Peace showered us with a basketful of cute clothes and other supplies.  Our baby even has a pair of swim trunks for this summer! 

It was so nice of everyone to think of us and to give our baby such cute things!

Micah is very thankful to work with wonderful people everyday :)

31 Weeks! 65 days or so to go...ahh!!

Everyone keeps asking if we're ready.  Um...I hate to say it, but not quite yet!

We don't have a bassinett or crib, or carseat, or pediatrician, or house, or nursery!  But if this little guy shows up before the next 2 months are over we will be okay.  I'm glad that, in all honesty, babies just don't need a whole lot to make them happy.  He'll have food, Micah could make a quick trip to the store to buy a carseat to get him home safely, and our little apartment will feel all the more cozy with him here with us.  But I would love to have everything really ready, so we'll pray that we have these next 2 months to prepare!

I think these last 9 weeks will fly by.  This week was crazy and stressful and tiring but we made it through.  Last Sunday we found an amazing house that we loved..and it overlooked a lake...and a running path!  So we were set to put in an offer, then they took it off the market, then they put it back on the market but we were in a bidding war- and then we didn't get it.  So we took a day to mourn our loss but we were back out again, looking at more houses, the next day.  If our offer would have been accepted we would have had to close in April, which is earlier than we were planning, find a subletter for our apt., and not have all the down payment we would have liked so I guess it might be a blessing that we missed out...but it was such a great house :)

Our little trusty Ford Focus also started having issues this week.  We found out that the repairs will cost about 1/2 the price of what the car is probably worth so we are figuring out what to do.  It wouldn't be so bad but it is our only car and I have to drive quite a ways to work everyday so we're hoping to get it fixed soon.  We think our cheapest and best option would actually be to fly my dad out here so he can fix it!  It would at least be a good excuse to get him down here :)  So dad, what do you say?!

We are looking forward to a new week ahead, but really we can't wait until next week = SPRING BREAK!  This is our first break/holiday that we are not going to travel anywhere.  It would be fun to go visit family but I think we need time to relax and get things done.

I believe this is the first time that I will actually post the belly picture on the correct day...I'm so on top of things, ha! 
Too bad the picture can't show his little feet and legs making my stomach move all over the place.  I've been trying to capture it on video but he seems to stop only for the few minutes that I try to get it on camera.

Micah's stomach at 31 weeks!  No sympathy weight from him

I realized during the middle of last week that I didn't have a 30 week picture so I took this one in the mirror after I got back from running.  I guess I should have written the letters on the card backward!

We went to the doctor on Thursday and things are going well.  She thinks he is head down but it doesn't really matter until about 34 weeks, then hopefully he will be head down and stay that way.  We have check-ups every 2 weeks now until closer to the end, then it's every week!  We also look forward to our last sonogram at 36 weeks to check how big he is.