Weeks 24/25 (Blessings #36)

WOW! It has really been awhile since I posted - not good of me!! I am really enjoying this part of pregnancy - I have energy and am not so sickly. YEA! I went to the doctor last week and got measured for the first time. I am measuring 24cm which is perfect since the appt was the day before I was 24 weeks. Hayden's heartbeat was a strong 150 bpm. Healthy, perfect baby!

This past weekend I was blessed to get to go to Texas for not one, but two, showers thrown for us. I was beyond spoiled by all of my sweet family and friends. They were so good to us!

My Aunt Cindy, bestie Mary and sis in law Elesha threw the first shower at my mom's house. We had over 30 adults and 13 kids - it was perfect chaos and so nice to see everyone. My aunt and cousin drove 3 hours to be there and my bestie Kathy drove over 5! Now that is love! I have to get some pictures from some friends to post since I didn't take any - it was awesome! Mary made the most precious cookies with Hayden's initial on them and a super cute brown and green cake. Even the punch bowls were themed with little rubber duckies floating in them. Mary should so be a party planner! She does sell her sweet confections so if you need any, let me know and I will get you in contact with her. Elesha and my aunt made the food and YUMMO! So delish! Elesha even made white chocolate popcorn - SOOO GOOD! The games were fun - there was even one where there were plastic babies frozen in ice cubes and each person had one in their drink. The first one whose ice melted and the baby came out had to shout "my water broke." It ended up being my aunt's mom in law and she was so cute when she said it!

The second shower was at my cousin Darra's fabulous house. It was for the ladies in my LG. It was amazing to spend time with them and think about baby Hayden and how much we all prayed for him (and still do). These ladies are incredible and I miss them so much! I did have a case of food poisoning so I did have to excuse myself three times to get sick in Darra's bathroom - who else could I do that in front of and not feel mortified but with them? It really was a wonderful shower and the perfect way to end my visit. Darra decorated with the cutest banner, sign that said "thank heaven for little boys" and precious frame that she gave to me.

I am still overwhelmed by how awesome everyone was to us and how many people came to shower us with love. Thank you simply isn't enough - truly! Hayden is a loved baby already and I am excited for everyone to meet him in a few months. Our son - our baby - so prayed for and so loved.

In other Hayden related news, the glider and ottoman for his nursery got delivered. YEA! I am actually sitting in it right now. His crib and dressers came in and we will go pick them up today. WOO HOO! The plan is to start getting his nursery set up this week. The fabulous shower gifts are getting delivered (updated: 4 out of the 5 boxes just got delivered) thanks to my Kathy's dad - thank you Gary! You should definitely use Packaging Accessories in Southlake if you need anything shipped or if you are moving. He is the best!

I'm off to get ready to go get the nursery furniture and to go watch the Texas and Iowa games. YEA college football season is here!

Blessings

1. Being so showered in love
2. Seeing family and friends in Texas
3. Getting a promotion and raise at work
4. Feeling Hayden moving all over
5. Sweet husband and dogs

Week 22/23 (Blessings #35)

Chip and I have started an at home Friday date night tradition. For the past few weeks, we have done pizza and a movie. The fun twist to this (besides spending much needed quality time together) is that we are making our own pizzas. Chip is much more adventurous than I am - he has made all kinds of concoctions - including cheeseburger pizza. I make plain ole cheese pizza every week. UNTIL NOW! Last week I found two recipes on AllRecipes.com for us to try: Pepper, Onion and Feta Pizza for Chip and Taco Pizza for me.

Here are the results of our adventurous cooking:

Chip's Pizza - he added some Italian cheese blend to the tomato basil feta cheese. He said he would make it again, but with the steak they use on Philly Cheese steak sandwiches next time.

My pizza - I added more meat than the recipe called for and added crushed Baked! Tostitos, lettuce and tomato. I also used pre-made crust. It was definitely a "fork" pizza, but oh so yummy!

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This week also marks my 23rd week - it is amazing! I haven't gotten sick (knock on wood) in a couple of weeks and I am feeling more energized. The fun part is that Chip can REALLY feel Hayden kick now - he moves a lot! He does let me sleep so I am thankful for that. I am hoping that means he will sleep good when he is born - but we will see. :) My belly button is stretch, stretch, stretching - very odd to see the bottom scar of where my belly button ring used to be.

I am really enjoying this part of pregnancy. We have the nursery furniture all ordered (thanks Judy, Skip, Mom and Dad) and it should be arriving in a few weeks. We have the bedding (thank you Darra). It is all slowly coming together. I also received some sweet surprises in the mail this week - Jake & Kristy's wedding invitation, a pregnancy care package from my friend Kristy, and a surprise birthday gift from my brother and sister in law (and I am oh so thankful Elesha picks out my gifts - hehe). I also found out that one of my friends (she and her husband sang at our wedding) started a BOY'S clothing company that is awesome! Check it out at http://www.hesallboy.com/ - the adorable red head is their son, Jude.

I am heading to Texas next Friday for our baby showers. My sweet friend Mary, my Aunt Cindy and my sister in law are throwing one for me at my Mom's house. My LifeGroup is also throwing me one at my sweet cousin Darra's home. I found the most perfect hostess gifts for them that my LifeGroup leader made, but I will have to share that after the shower so they don't find out what they are getting. Sheila is amazing and so talented! Chip is staying home with our girls so I know I will get in lots of girly girl time - and that will include some Mexican food with virgin margaritas.

Everything else is our world is pretty awesome! Chip and I are enjoying time together to just relax and do things together before Hayden arrives. The weather in PA is gorgeous right now - lows in the 50s and it warms up to the high 70s or low 80s. Perfect weather for walks, keeping the windows open and just being outside basking in the blue skies. I do love Fall - the crisp air and change of season. Plus -it means I'm closer to Hayden's due date in December.

I do have to compliment my sweet husband for a minute. He has signed me up for monthly prenatal massages that are SO appreciated, taken complete care of the dogs (picking up dog poo is a no go for me right now) and has encouraged me to just relax. It is so appreciated and I am so blessed to be married to someone who loves his family so much. He is definitely a daddy and I can't wait to see him with Hayden - I expect there will be lots of father/son bonding with ESPN on in the background. I think Hayden's first sound will be the SportsCenter theme song.

I also want to say how grateful I am for a new friendship. My friend, Jamie, and her husband and kids are so wonderful! Jamie and I have really formed a connection and I know God placed us both here to help one another with the transitions that we face being in a new place. We went to church with their family last Sunday and really enjoyed it! I know there will not be a church just like 121 here, but South Hills Bible Chapel seems to fit the bill in what we are looking for.

I do so miss my Texas girls and some days I am just sad to not have them right here - it makes me appreciate them all the more - which I know I don't say enough. I love ya'll!!

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Blessings

1. God bringing the perfect people in my life at the perfect time
2. Have I said how amazing my husband is?
3. Incredible family and friends
4. Our son
5. Our sweet girls (because I do so love our dogs)

Week 20/21 (Blessings #34)

The last two weeks have flown by so quickly! My Mom flew in last Friday to help us pack and move. I honestly don't know what I would have done without her. She worked so hard and did so much. By the time she left on Tuesday, we had pretty much everything unpacked, put away, organized and decorated. The new house is pretty much done, we have one more trip to make on Saturday to get the drapes down and clean the carpets. We are beyond grateful for the wonderful friends we have that helped us move. It makes us realize how very blessed we are. I did take pictures of the new house, but I am waiting for the office computer to get put together and to use Chip wireless card (our Internet won't be installed for two more weeks).

I am excited to have more room for Hayden, the girls, guests and us. I love the charm of the house. It's perfect for us at this stage in our life.

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Being pregnant is really enjoyable now, so far I am down to hugging the toilet once a week or so. I have realized that this happens when I don't get enough sleep. I can really feel Hayden moving around now. Chip felt him kick for the first time last night - that was a pretty awesome moment to have together. Our son - growing inside me - it is definitely some kind of wonderful - the very best kind. Hayden has two or three really awake moments - normally after I eat or right before I eat. I like to think he is reminding me to eat and then thanking me for it. At night, right before bed, he really moves around. I love being able to feel him. He is our precious gift from God and I am beyond grateful.

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I promise I will write more later - off to finish my workday and then movie/pizza night with my sweet husband.

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Blessings

1. Awesome friends
2. Feeling Hayden move
3. Our dogs becoming more calm by the day
4. Being settled in
5. Carrying our baby

19 Weeks (Blessings #33)

This week has been so exciting! We found out the sex (for sure) and we are having a precious and perfect baby BOY! Hayden Henry Frohling is still set to arrive on December 29th. We can't wait to meet him in four months. We have picked a theme for his room - vintage sports (in earth tones). YEA!

I am enjoying being pregnant, but struggling slightly with my changing body. Every other woman (but me) looks adorable. I know it is just the enemy trying to turn this blessing into something else. Our baby is a perfect gift from God and my body has been perfectly made to carry our child. I am beyond grateful for this!

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This weekend we had a girl's trip to the Rockvale Outlets in Lancaster, PA. A four and a half hour drive (one way) that was 100% worth it - not just for the shopping (which was amazing), but more for the girl bonding time that I SO needed! I am grateful for a sweet and loving husband who encourages me to have that time. Next time, it may have to be a weekend trip as there is also a Tanger Outlet right up the road and we were near Amish country. We shopped all day and loaded up the car. Seriously, picture an Armada with a Yakima (luggage thingy) on top full of bags and the inside of the car completely weighed down with our finds. The car was so loaded down that the tire light even came on. Now that is a successful shopping trip. Jamie was a trooper and drove both ways! As someone who cannot drive long distances very successfully, I was beyond impressed. I think I speak for Jamie and Katherine when I say that we all had a wonderful time and enjoyed really getting to know each other.

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Blessings

1. A much needed girls trip & incredible girl friends
2. An encouraging and supportive husband
3. Wonderful doctor
4. Finding out we are having a perfect baby boy
5. My Mom coming on Friday
6. Not freaking out about turning 29 tomorrow...

17 and 18 Weeks (Blessings #32)

The picture above is of Chip with our nephew, Nathan, at a fish hatchery in Sitka, Alaska. Chip is so patient with kids - seeing him with Nathan just shows what an incredible Daddy he will be. It melts my heart and makes me so thankful to God for the incredible husband I have. He is truly amazing and I am beyond blessed to be married to him. I am so excited for our baby to get here in December - I can picture the evenings and days to come. The jellybean asleep with Chip on the couch, playing with the dogs, playing in the yard, just enjoying life as a family.

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The last two weeks of pregnancy have been so great! Chip encouraged me to get a membership at Massage Envy for a monthly prenatal massage and I had that last week and goodness - it was amazing!! My morning sickness has gotten better - I am only friends with the toilet a few times a week now. I still have to get up at night to go to the bathroom, but we got a window unit for our upstairs (for some reason - our upstairs is 10 degrees hotter than downstairs, even with the AC set at 72) and it has helped me sleep about five hours before I have to get up. I think my body is preparing me for when the jellybean gets here. :) We had a doctor's appointmnet this past Monday and everything is great! I still only feel fluttering sometimes, but I know I will start to feel the jellybean more in the weeks to come. The heartbeat was strong and I don't have to do back for another month (my placenta previa is not acting up). YEA!

We started registering (for non gender specific stuff) at Babies R Us and Target. I did buy a stroller today that I found on MamaBargains.com and I think it will be perfect! It is an Easy Walker SKY (in brown) and i got it for over 60% off!! It will work until the baby is 70 pounds and we got the carrycot so it will work when the baby is tiny too.

In other exciting news, we found a house to rent. We weighed buying a house versus renting and decided renting would be best for now. When we move in a few weeks, I will post pictures. It has stained glass windows, a huge porch, a deck with seating (think fraternity house style deck), a yard, jacuzzi tub, an enormous kitchen and hardwood floors. It has tons of charm and I am so excited! It is in a great area and we are down the road from some friends. It's perfect for us - more room for guests and room for our jellybean, girls and us. My sweet Mom is coming to help us pack - I miss her and can't wait for her to get here. I'm not allowed to move stuff still so she is a huge lifesaver (plus she is OCD about organizing like me so I totally trust her).

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I babysat for two of our friends Tuesday night. They have a three year old and a 15 month old. We had a blast - we made baseball cookies, played with cars and dinosaurs and cuddled. When we were sitting in the kitchen watching the cookies "have a party in the oven," the three year old (who is the sweetest little boy) decided to talk to the jellybean through my belly button. He told the jellybean all about baseball and dinosaurs. It was about the most precious thing ever! It melted my heart and made me think about when our jellybean is three and (if things go like we hope) talks to the next baby through my belly button. Seeing how sweet and gentle the little boy was with his little sister just made me think about our future kids and how they will be with each other. It's a pretty awesome thought! The couple I babysat for are just so nice and Godly - I think we will grow to be awesome friends and that they will be great mentors for us.

In a week, we find out the sex! YEA!! I can't wait...

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Blessings

1. Supportive husband
2. Amazing family
3. Awesome coworkers
4. Finding a house
5. Our jellybean

16 Weeks (Blessings #31)

Time is going by so fast and yet so slow...I can't believe that we are already 16 weeks. I am almost five months pregnant - our jellybean will be here in 24 (or less) weeks. WOW!



This past week has been interesting with the symptoms I've had. I broke my face. Yes - you read that right. Actually, I broke a bunch of blood vessels in my face due to being violently ill after taking my prenatal one night. I went to work thinking I had a rash and a couple of my coworkers "diagnosed" me and saved me a trip to the doctor. Luckily, it's getting less red. So - if you get violently sick and break out in red freckles - rest assured it is most likely broken blood vessels and not a weird rash...



We also had another doctor's appointment this week and heard jellybean's heartbeat again. What a wonderful sound! We go back in two weeks and then (if everything looks good), I could get off pelvic rest after the anatomy ultrasound on August 7th. YIPPEE!!



In other news, my sweet best friend, aunt and sister in law are throwing us a shower in Texas in September. It touches my heart and is so sweet of them! My lifegroup is also throwing me a shower the Monday after (so I will have a long weekend stay) - I can't wait to see these sweet ladies again and show them the growing belly! Our precious miracle has been so prayed for and is already a very loved & blessed baby! I plan to start registering at Target and Babies R Us soon - at least for the basic stuff, I will register for the sex specific stuff once the anatomy ultrasound confirms the boy bits we have seen so far.

We are also looking for a rent house with a backyard for the girls. We weighed buying versus renting, but since we are not sure how long we will be here and with the housing market being so much more expensive here, we opted to rent. We will see how it goes and have faith that God will lead us to where we need to be.

Life is good here and we feel so very lucky. I am adjusting to living in the Northeast and am so thankful that I can be pregnant in Pennsylvania summer weather and not be suffering like some of my sweet friends in the Texas sweltering heat!! Texas had had record highs and we have been blessed here with some lower than normal temps. Seriously - Texas had a high 97 today and our high was in the low 80's and it's already in the low 70's at 7 o'clock at night. Texas friends - come visit!

Blessings

1. PA weather in the summer
2. More energy
3. Being able to feel little flutters of our jellybean in my tummy
4. Amazing friends & family
5. Our awesome God

15 Weeks (Blessings #30)

Wow - I can't believe it. We're fifteen weeks pregnant and the jellybean is the size of a naval orange/apple/tomato - depending on what book/blog you read. I have felt flutters and can tell (I think) were the jellybean is when I am lying down. I am excited to start feeling more movement soon and especially excited for when Chip will be able to feel our baby. He can tell where the jellybean is too by pressing on my abdomen. Our baby - wow! Our baby is growing and is perfect!

We go back to the doctor on Monday to hear the heartbeat again. We scheduled the anatomy ultrasound and it will be on August 7th. At that appointment I will be a bit over 19 weeks and we will be better able to see jellybeans parts - although we are both pretty certain from our previous ultrasounds that our jellybean is a boy. We are thrilled either way - if it turns out the jellybean is a girl we will be just as happy.

It's really starting to truly sink in - there is a baby growing inside me who will be here in five months. My belly is more baby belly than beer gut looking. We've made it - over three years of trying, the doctor visits, the treatments, the scares and nervousness and prayers upon prayers. It has all been worth it because it has led to this baby - this baby that we are supposed to have - the one that God has intended to be our first child. WOW!

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Chip and I both had to work for a PR event this past Saturday. The event was amazing and we got to watch fireworks from the top of a submarine. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity for which we are grateful. As a result of working Saturday, I get to work a half day tomorrow. YEA! I am taking the chance to treat myself. I am getting my hair done, running some errands and getting some new undergarments as I have outgrown mine. I am looking forward to it and so grateful that Chip wants me to take time for myself. Keep your fingers crossed that the hair turns out good.

Blessings:

1. Meeting new friends
2. Fireworks - so magical
3. Incredible husband
4. Healthy baby
5. Being able to be pregnant and carry our child