This Week in Pictures

I've been MIA lately - I'm SO sorry! I know you have all been holding your breath waiting for me to update you on our crazy lives ;) Unfortunately, typing a meaningful blog post right now would require brain power that I most certainly do not have (Knox had an upset stomach last night, so we were up ALL NIGHT LONG). HOWEVER, the pictures we've taken over the past two weeks are way cuter than any words I can type; so I'll just let you enjoy our little blessing via photos instead! We've had lots and lots of wonderful visitors; we've cheered the Vols on to a victory; and we've even ventured out a few times to the pumpkin patch (which was closed when we got there) and to our Ballbuster softball game. We LOVE showing him off! Enjoy - more to come later, promise!

Quick picture

Once we get on a regular sleeping pattern, I will get back to regularly posting blog updates...don't hold your breath for that ;)

In the mean time, our sweet photographer friend stopped by yesterday to meet Knox. He was so well-behaved until it was time to snap a few pics. Then he screamed and screamed and screamed. He was just a little hungry! But being the fabulous professional she is, she STILL managed to capture a beautiful shot of my beautiful guy. (You're not supposed to call boys beautiful, huh?? Oh well - he's beautiful to me!) Thanks, AW, for coming by and for letting us share this sweet picture. More updates and pictures soon...I promise!

Our Boy is here. AQUI!!!!!!

He's Here. All the months, all the wondering, all the waiting and curiosity of what our son is going to look like, what he will do when he gets here, WHAT THE HECK WE WILL DO WHEN HE GETS HERE. Well, he's here, he's beautiful, healthy (so is mom) and he's a really well behaved boy.

It's true what our parents always said "you don't realize how much you can love someone until you have your own child". Well moms and dads everywhere, you are 1million percent correct. I'm not a blogger (daddy Kurt is writing this, not momma Jill who is presently nursing Knox), so i'll stop and let the world see the best boy God could have given anyone.

PS. Yes, we are officially calling him Knox, but Toliver Knox and Burrito will never be too far away.

Enjoy our awesome day and Knox.

Convicted

Last night, I met up with Team Elkins to go to Wednesday night church. I didn't sleep at all on Tuesday night, so by yesterday afternoon, I was sluggish and didn't want to do anything but lay on the couch. But I was excited to see Jordan and Eric, and I knew that if I went, I would undoubtedly get something out of it. And I most certainly did.

After about 45 minutes of worship and praise (which my heart needed!), Pastor Chris started talking about Isaiah 40...particularly verses 27-31. Here's what they say:

Why do you say, O Jacob,
and complain, O Israel,
"My way is hidden from the Lord;
my cause is disregarded by my God?"

Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.

He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.

Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;

but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.

Looking back on my past few posts on my blog and thinking about my conversations with people over the past few weeks, I have realized just how much I have complained - about not sleeping, about how swollen I am, about how fat I feel, about how miserably uncomfortable I've become. Complain, complain, complain...it's ALL I've done lately. But why? Why would I complain when God promises that if I HOPE in Him, He will renew my strength? He is the "everlasting God" - do you know what that means? That means He was here before me and He will be here long after I am gone and He has already walked this path before me. If I just put my hope in Him, I will not be weary or faint.

Church was packed - but that message was absolutely, undeniably, indisputably, unquestionably meant for me.

Today is a new day; I am putting my hope in the Lord. I will soar on wings like eagles!

Suggestions wanted!

Is this rain driving any one else mad?? The worst part is that there is NO. END. IN. SIGHT. Ugh! I'm trying to be optimistic...the more rain we get, the prettier the Fall and changing leaves will be, right?? :)

So, as I get closer and closer to "D-Day" (delivery day - yikes!), my mind has been occupied with getting every little last detail prepared - everything from washing the baby clothes so Burrito won't leave the hospital nekkid, to getting the nursery ready, to buying extra sheets for the pack n' play, to packing up our bag for the hospital, etc. etc. etc. My to-do list actually intimidates me.

One of the things we've learned throughout our childbirth classes is that it's good to have some of the comforts of home at the hospital with you - like your own pillow, some photos of family members, etc. (I already have my picture of Rosie picked out!) They say that it helps you to be distracted from the pain you'll undoubtedly be in. One of my all-time favorite distractions is music - I'm working on a play list on my computer and iPod specifically for the hospital. I prefer music I know the words to so I can focus on that rather than other things; but I also want lots of chill music and worship/praise music.

So....send me your suggestions! Any artist or song you think would be appropriate? Send it my way! They say labor can last as long as 24-48 hours, so the more suggestions you have, the better!

Here's the beautiful pic of Rosie that will be accompanying me to the hospital. Staring at her sweet face will totally help, don't you think?!

Any day now...

...I could be a real-live mother. Is that not the most frightening thing you have ever read in your life?! Today marks the beginning of my 37th week of pregnancy. And with this week comes many more lovely pregnancy side-effects and worries. I had my weekly checkup with Dr. Hoover yesterday, and the first thing she said was, "Oh, you've got the puffy face!" Well good to see you too! If I didn't like her so darn much, I would have been terribly offended. But, the fact of the matter is that "puffy face" can be a warning sign of pre-eclampsia. With my blood pressure slowly sneaking up on me, this is something we'll be keeping our eye on. But for now, there's no protein in my urine and my BP is still in a good range, so things are looking good. Oh and check this out! I'm already 1 cm dialted and 75% effaced...and, the craziest thing I've ever heard in my life was that she could actually feel the baby's head during my exam! If that doesn't scream, "I'm on my way, mom!", I don't know what does!!!

Unfortunately, as much as I'd love to get this whole labor and delivery thing over with, I could potentially stay 1cm dialated for another 4-5 weeks; or, I could go at any time. It's all in God's hands, so we're just going to sit back and wait on His perfect timing.

In other news, my sweet mom and sister (Jackie) came down this weekend to help get the house "baby ready". My mom steam cleaned ALL the carpets in the house, helped me organize the dining room and kitchen, worked with Kurt to put the crib together, and even bought us some new home decor. And Jackie, the talented little creative thing she is, helped me paint the stripes on the wall in the baby's nursery. We're getting closer and closer to having that room ready for Burrito's arrival!

I've been trying to document all of the hard work going on around the house, so enjoy the pictures!

Who is Jesus?

This has absolutely nothing to do with our new house, the baby, our jobs, or anything else right now...but it has EVERYTHING to do with our lives, our salvation, and our eternity. I was so moved by it that I just couldn't not share it with you. Kurt's uncle, Uncle David, sent it our way yesterday, and I absolutely loved it.

You may know Steve Harvey, the comedian, from such things like The Original Kings of Comedy and his WB sitcom, The Steve Harvey Show. But here is a side of the funny man that I have not known or seen before, but that I love. Here is how he would introduce Jesus Christ if he was ever graced with the opportunity to do so. Enjoy, and God Bless!