Merry Christmas! (32/33 weeks)

I have really slacked on posting the past two weeks. Mainly because some of my favorite people were in town for 10 days and I couldn't get enough of them to take a break to write something! My mom, my sister, and my step-dad came to visit and we had such a good time! Scott even got off the whole week with us & he cooked a full breakfast for us every morning! Christmas is always special but this year it took on a whole new meaning for us. We didn't get caught up in the gift giving at all and just spent quality time with each other. It was so incredibly nice. I always cry the day they leave. It is just something we have grown to accept and it takes me a good week to recover from them leaving.

It is especially hard to leave my mom. She is my best friend and never in a million years did I think I would live 500 miles away from her. I have always appreciated her but each year I feel like I grow to appreciate her & love her more even though I always think I can't love her any more because I already love her so much! She is the most selfless person I know. I hope I can be half the mom to Copelyn that she has been to me. While she was here she washed every one of Copelyn's outfits for me, washed my clothes (which no matter what I can't ever do it like her), and cooked us our favorite foods. She always makes sure my sister and I are taken care of before herself. I love our relationship and how close we have always been. My favorite thing to do is lay in the bed with her & my sister and laugh! She loves to laugh and she can make any bad situation...good. I am so thankful God gave me her as my mom!

Copelyn and I are doing well! We got to see her this past week and she is so cute! She looks a lot like her daddy even though I don't want to admit it since I am the one who has been carrying her for 9 months!! She has the cutest cheeks and I can't wait to kiss them! We still have been exercising daily but sweet girl has made it kind of difficult. She still pushes as hard as she can against me and I have tried to tell her that she is pushing on my organs & it hurts!!...But she doesn't listen! I fall asleep at about 9pm every night due to the fact she gets me up now at least 5 times a night to pee! I guess she is breaking me in for motherhood which is just fine because then I will be used to it by the time she gets here in 6 weeks. My dilated vein gets bigger and bigger by the day it seems. I have found the longer I stand still without walking makes it worse but as long as I am moving it doesn't bother me. I think she has a thing for my right side because that is where she puts all her pressure. At our ultrasound this past week it looks as though she has turned breech again. ugh! So prayers would be appreciated that she turns head down before she decides to make her arrival. I think she probably just doesn't want to be upside down for that long so she is waiting to turn back around. I don't think I would like to hang upside down for 6 weeks either!

Copelyn was spoiled rotten for Christmas!! She got so many cute new outfits! (even though her closet is already full...I have tried to tell her Daddy that a girl never has enough clothes)! She also got two pairs of pink Toms which I just am in love with.

Well, that's about it for these past two weeks! We just can't wait for our little one to get here!

31 weeks!! (posting a little late)

Every time I have sat down to write this week I have literally started and fallen asleep. We had a pretty eventful week in our household....well as eventful as it gets in a pregnant lady's house. We have finished all of our Christmas shopping and all the presents are wrapped under the tree! I have tried my hardest to keep up with life but I am definitely feeling the tiredness now! My family is coming into town for 10 days starting Saturday and I had to start cleaning my house on Wednesday just to make sure I could get it all done by Saturday! haha

We had a doctor's appointment again yesterday! Copelyn's little heartbeat sounded so strong and wonderful! I get chills every time I hear it because it is the most beautiful sound in the world. Much to my surprise she has turned and sweet little girl is head down! Hooray! Like I have said before my doctor is amazing and even after she had a very long day she sat with me for 30 minutes to answer all my questions. So here is our plan! I refuse to write it down on paper or actually give it to anyone because I have heard the minute you do that it will all go NOT as planned. And in all honesty God knows how it is going to go down already, I can just dream about the birth of my little girl & imagine. My doctor said we will not be using any CYTOTEC! Yay! Then we talked about while I am in labor. I get to stay at home until my contractions are 2-5 minutes a part as long as my water doesn't break. If my water breaks well we will be headed to the hospital. Once I am at the hospital I get to walk around, get in the tub, and sit on the birthing ball if I would like. I am just keeping those options open. Once Copelyn is born, she will stay attached to the umbilical cord for 1-2 minutes & immediately placed in my arms! This plan is drug-free...no epidural...or anything else for that matter. Of course, I know sometimes things don't go as planned. In a perfect world what I wrote above is what I would like to happen BUT I am prepared for anything that might come our way. All the matters to me is we get our little girl here safely and that she is healthy!

I haven't complained once during pregnancy but I tell you what this week has gotten the best of me. Come to find out my hernia was misdiagnosed!! Such an answer to prayer because we were already stressed about when & how I would get it fixed. I ended up having what is known as a dilated vein. My doctor said she has seen them a lot recently & at first glance they seem like a hernia but they are not. I just have to watch for clotting and if it gets swollen. I have learned that she must be pressing down hard on my right side. This was evident last night when I woke up with the worst pain in my right leg. I stayed awake for 2 hours trying to shake the stiffness out of it. I would describe it as restless leg but whatever it was did not feel so good! Scott even said I tried to kick him a few times...haha...obviously that did not work!

Copelyn is quite the active little girl. She DEFINITELY has her daddy's personality haha. She is quiet and peaceful all day and then at night she is fired up and ready to go. One thing is for sure...she doesn't like exercising. Every time I am walking or on the elliptical she pushes as hard as she can on my stomach until I stop. It is almost like she is throwing a fit while I try to exercise. (Her daddy doesn't like to exercise much either haha)

All in all, we are thankful and blessed that our little girl is healthy! We can not wait to meet her in February and kiss her face.

So Many Things on My Heart Tonight...

After a full day off from work I had a lot of time to reflect by myself. I spent most of my time finishing up Copelyn's room. When I finally got finished I stood back in awe of the room we had created for our little girl. I went back to a barely started baby room that we had began working on this time last year. My goodness what a year this has been. I try my best to put what my heart feels in words but sometimes it is so hard. This time last year I was taking a pregnancy test unexpectedly only to confirm we were pregnant! I remember that day like it was yesterday. I also remember February 4, 2011 like it was yesterday...that became to be known as one of the hardest days of my life. The day we lost our first baby. Scott and I have spent so much time in the once empty baby room this past year. We spent a lot of time on our knees praying. We prayed to be able to get pregnant again, we prayed for God's timing, and now we can pray for our little girl that God has so graciously given to us. Scripture verses have been recited over that sweet little girls room. Now as I sit in her room and look around...I am at peace. This room is filled with so much love and prayer for our little girl.

Below is a family that was on my heart big time today & I felt led to share with you their story real quick:

Rebekah McGee and her husband Will. Rebekah and I went to school together at Auburn. She is such a sweet, Godly girl! After a 18 month wait on their child they got word last week that they will be parents to a beautiful boy from Ethiopia. They have an amazing story and I can not even begin to do it justice. You can find their blog below. I felt led to share it because it is a very expensive process to get their son home. If you feel led to help here are some ways she specifically says on their website:

Pray
- Pray for our son, Israel, who is being cared for by the special mothers at Hannah's Hope.
- Pray for the birth family, for God to give them grace and peace during their most difficult sacrifice.
-Pray for the special mothers who care for our son, so that they will have renewed joy each day as they do their jobs and give care to children.
-Pray for the court & embassy process ahead, that God would be glorified and that we would be able to move forward quickly to bring our son home.
- Pray that we would remain patient throughout this entire process.
- Pray that the Lord will shape us in our preparation to be great parents.
- Pray that this adoption will be a clear picture of the Gospel to those around us.

Spread the Word
Tell people about our blog. Get them in contact with us. We would not be considering adoption if it were not for our friends who have shown us how adoption is a picture of what God has done for us. We hope that others will be stirred to care for orphans through our own adoption.

Give Financially
We have saved and sacrificed over the last two year,s so we could afford to begin this process. It is indeed very expensive, but we are trusting in the Lord that he will provide the means to bring our child home. However, if you would like to help us fund this adoption there are a few ways that we have made that available.

For more information visit their blog!

http://yestoadoption.blogspot.com/

Come on People It is Christmas Time!

This is a real short post but I just felt the need to put it out there publicly what I witnessed today:

I went to Hobby Lobby to return some ornaments and get some stuff for Copelyn's scrapbook. After standing in line for 20 minutes I finally reached the register to only find out they had one return/exchange line & I had to go wait in it. For a pregnant girl who had to potty I was a little discouraged but rather than complain I made my way to the back of the long exchange line. As I was nearing the register I overheard the lady at the front of the line YELLING at the person ringing her up because they did not have enough of the wrapping paper she wanted. How this was the girls fault I still do not understand? The poor girl had tears strolling down her face. It took all of me to hold myself back and not cause a scene with this rude, mean lady. I am sure I could have taken her down with my hormonal self! haha

So let's remember when we are out in all the hustle and bustle of the holiday season what Christmas is really about. When you start to get frustrated please just think about all the wonderful things you have to be thankful for this holiday season rather than take it out on someone else!

Happy 30 weeks Copelyn!

Well, we have hit the 30's! Now it is all starting to get real and I am actually starting to get just a little stressed! I really realized this the other day when I began to pack her diaper bag. I honestly had no idea what I should and should not pack! My friend laughed at me lovingly when I told her I packed three diapers and some wipes. I guess I have a lot to learn these next 10 weeks.

Yesterday we celebrated Copelyn with all of our Georgia friends and family. My sister-in-laws & mother-in-law gave us the shower. It was absolutely beautiful & wonderful. I have to brag on them for a minute because I love them all dearly. It is so nice to have a "home away from my home" here in Georgia & to know if I ever need anything they will be there with open arms. Everyone that came to the shower was so fun & giving towards our little girl. I believe she is pretty much set for her first year of life! Her closet is full of clothes, mostly pink!! We are just so thankful for all the love & support our friends & family have provided for our family. We are very blessed!

I am feeling pretty good! My belly went through a growth spurt this past week! It was like over night...I woke up and just say WOAH! I think Scott thought that in a nice way as well! haha. I guess a big belly is a good thing because that means Copelyn is growing into a very healthy baby!

We have her nursery almost finished so hopefully by next week I will have the finished product to post. For now, Have a great week!!