Devastation.

Last Sunday night/early Monday morning I woke up to the sound of tornado sirens. Annoyed at not being able to sleep due to sirens, I turned on the television to see if any of these so-called tornadoes were heading anywhere near us. The television woke Matt up and we watched as the weatherman talked about a tornado that would be coming our way in the next 20 minutes. Our phones began to go off as we got calls and texts from concerned friends and family checking on us and reminding us to be aware that we may be in the path of the tornado. After a few minutes Matt and I began the "I guess we should get up and in our safe place" "uhhh....yeah I guess so". Little did we know just how close our home would be from getting hit and how lucky we were in the end.

We went to the hallway and hovered in the bottom or our linen closet. The power went off as the storm worsened and we listened to the news on Matt's phone. There is nothing more scary than hearing the weatherman get more anxious as he discusses the tornado which is coming straight down a path to your house and "wow just how serious the rotation in this tornado is!".  I was shaking, and our dog Max was too. I just kept praying to God to watch over us and protect us. After about 10-15 minutes in the closet the weatherman stated that the tornado had passed our area. We were so thankful that we were okay and could go back to bed. We still had no idea what and if the tornado had hit.

I woke up a few hours later to multiple calls and texts from more family and friends asking if we were okay. We turned on the television again and saw the damage as the sun was coming up. We had no idea how much devastation this tornado had caused and just how close it came to hitting our home. The tornado literally hit areas within a mile from our house on both sides (some were farther away, but some were very, very close). The 4 main roads that surround our home were blocked due to damage and we weren't able to go to work until hours later when 1 of those 4 roads opened up. 

Only 2 people died from the tornado that hit our area. If you drive around and see the extent of the devastation in Clay (the city that we live) and other nearby areas that were hit, you would have no doubt that God played a role in keeping our town safe. That God has watched over us and that he is to whom we should always trust and give our thanks to. It truly is a miracle more people did not lose their lives.

Though hundreds of families have lost their homes and belongings, the faith and positive messages I have heard from the survivors and those affected are amazing. Our community had thousands of volunteers just yesterday, including my awesome husband, who went out to the neighborhoods to help clean up. That's not even counting all the volunteers who have been helping all week. I am already amazed at the progress and seeing just how much has already been done to clean up our city. In church today, which by the way was overflowing with people there to give their thanks and praises to God, our pastor said we actually have an abundance of donations and are actually not taking any more at this time. I have never even heard of that happening! Though the tornadoes were horrible and devastating to us and our community, I believe that God always is in control and I have seen him firsthand this week through these survivors amazing stories, the selflessness of our community members in coming to the aid of the survivors, and the faith that I have heard being proclaimed from everyone I talk to.

Please continue to pray for our community as we continue to rebuild and cope with this tragedy.

Here are a few pictures of the devastation, some taken from my husband as he was in the neighborhoods cleaning up, some from friends, and some from our local newspaper. These do not do any justice to the extent of the damage this tornado has caused.



26

I gotta get a little bit better on these since today I am 27 weeks...but here's the review for the last week

How far along: 26 weeks 5 days at the time of this picture

Weight Gain: 18lbs

Sleep: has been still good until the last few nights when I have woken up with back pain. Gonna have to get myself a body pillow...and yes, I jinxed myself last week by bragging about not having or needing one

Best moment this week: I got a job promotion! This is perfect timing since our bills will be going up after Baylor arrives! Babies aren't cheap...so I hear!

Food Cravings: pizza, veggie sub sandwiches from Publix, and of course sweets

Movement: still all the time. I think I can feel fingers now! It's weird looking down and seeing my belly bounce and move.

What I miss: being able to tie my shoes easily

What I am most looking forward to: we have a doctors appointment coming up and I am eager to see how he is measuring

Milestones: I think seeing my belly move like a wave. It was the weirdest thing but amazing at the same time.

Workouts: Still maintaining my 4 workout average per week. I really think it helps give me energy throughout the day.

And belly button is still an partial innie. We we will see how long this lasts though!

25 weeks

It has taken me 25 weeks to realize I picked the worst area in my house to take these pictures! The yellow drains me and the lighting is terrible! Oh well!

So I am actually 26 weeks today,but this picture was taken when I was 25 weeks and I will just go ahead and update ya'll on this past week.

How far along: at the time of this pic, 25 weeks, 5 days

Weight Gain: gulp...17lbs. I think Baylor went through a growth spurt in the past couple weeks!

Sleep: I really can't complain, been sleeping just fine. I still haven't had to use any extra pillows or buy any maternity type pillows. I just jinxed myself on that, didn't I?!

Best moment this week: Baylor got the hiccups last night! It was so funny, it felt like he was kicking but it was an exact pattern that didn't stop for a good 5-10 minutes...poor thing! No one likes having the hiccups!

Food Cravings: This week I have been eating some popcorn like it's going out of style

Movement: lots and lots. I have read weeks 24-28 is when you feel baby moving the most and I am loving it!

What I miss: still nothing comes to mind, just enjoying this time

What I am most looking forward to: we have a doctors appointment on February 1st. Those are always fun...can't think of anything else right now

Milestones: I think the hiccups were a milestone for us--that I got to feel it! It was pretty neat!

Workouts: I worked out 5 days this week! Whoop whoop! I will say that I notice I am out of breath and tired easier than before when I walk, I am pretty sure it has something to do with carrying an extra 17lbs.

Also, update on the belly button, which is still in, but is starting to emerge a bit. Half of it is starting to pop and the bottom half is still an innie.We will see how long that lasts!



Blogging for the lazy

                                               Here's how to blog if you are lazy. Like me.

This is what I did last Wednesday. 

See? Wasn't that easy.

Okay, okay, I guess I can steal a few of Amanda's pics.

And tell you what has been going on.

As aforementioned, last Wednesday night we celebrated one of my best friend Meredith's (aka Mere or Merenara) birthday. We had a girls night and kicked off the celebration at a Mexican restaurant for dinner and then went to Sips N Strokes, a painting class where people get drunk as they paint. I mean, genius, right!? This time I was sipping H2O, but don't worry, some of the girls drank one (or two) for me. It was a fun night, and I think Mere really had a great time celebrating her birthday with us crazy girls.

 The girls at dinner from left to right: Megan, Merenara, Bethany, Era (not sure I spelled that right?!), Erica, Phoenix, Melanie, Amanda, and moi

 So here is what we were supposed to be painting:

 And here is my interpretation:

Ummm....so not quite like the original....don't worry, I won't quit my day job

Bethany and I getting ready

The group with Mere's pic...she is super creative and artsy so hers looked great!

 Thursday, Matt and I practiced our parenting/babysitting skills and babysat Mattox for a couple hours while Matt and Angela were at work

The boys chillin

'What you lookin' at!?'

I got all confident and cocky about my babysitting skills when I was able to rock him to sleep and laid him in his nap nanny....until he woke up crying 30 mins later.

Seriously, look at those cute chunky cheeks!

 We had a lot of fun watching Mattox and realized how difficult and tiring it is to watch a baby. Perhaps I should have done this prior to being 6 months pregnant??

I'm sure it will be fine though once Baylor gets here, guess I better start resting up until then....

Oh, and we did get to register this weekend. Did we know what we were doing? Absolutely not. But I think we may have gotten a few things we will actually need. Nipple covers are good, right? If it's baby Einstein product our baby will be a genius, right?

6 months!!

Can you believe 6 months is already here?! I know we can't!

I am just getting more and more excited to meet my little man!

How Far Along: 24 weeks, 5 days

Weight Gain: ?? haven't weighed myself this week

Sleep: is hit or miss, some nights I sleep great, others....not so much

Best Moment this week: I got to practice being a mommy (or substitute mom) by watching/babysitting Ang's baby Mattox yesterday for a few hours, Matt even came for a bit to help. It was fun and made us more aware of just how busy we will be in a few months when he gets here! But also, completely thrilled we will have our own baby here soon!

Food Cravings: always sweets, always sweets.

Movement: I woke up in the middle of the night a few nights ago to find out he was having a party in my belly at 4am, the craziest feeling was when I felt him move at the same time on BOTH sides of my belly. He is getting big!

What I miss: Nothing

What I am looking forward to: registering this weekend!

Milestones: We're 6 months in! That's a milestone!

Workouts: I worked out 4 days this week, walking a lot and did my prenatal video several times.

Thank you all soo much for the sweet comments each week. It means so much, and you are completely boosting my ego, I'm not gonna lie. (ha!)

Nursery: Early Sneak Peak

We have recently begun working on Baylor's nursery and I am loving how it is starting out. I thought we were starting really early but now that we have gotten started I realize just how much there is to do and with so little time.

Cribs, bedding, shelves, changing tables, gliders, oh my! And that's just the basics.

Matt has been working really hard on the walls (notice the wainscoting he did) and painting the dresser over the past couple weeks. I think he did great and I love that he cares so much about making our baby's room so perfect! Now I can't wait to get started with the details and decorations. We are still missing some large pieces of furniture that we will get as we go.

Here is a sneak peek into this project very early on. Please note the pictures were taken with my iphone so they are not the best quality (who said the 4s had a good camera?! Mine must have gotten skipped over in that department..).

Bedding with the beautiful Crib the grandparents surprised us with

Gracie wanted to be like Vanna White but ended up looking like the devil. She's still mad at me that I cut part of her out of the pic. Don't worry, she'll get over it.

A terrible picture of the drapes

Blue dresser Matt painted (it was black!) and a cute frame my friend Amanda bought us

When the nursery is all done I will post pictures of the room. Don't hold your breath though, because it may be a few months!

23 Weeks

How far along: 23 weeks, 4 days...Doctor said today I'm measuring a little ahead at 24-25 weeks

Weight Gain: 12.5lbs

Maternity Clothes: Not really sure what I could say about this every single week...but yeah, still wearing them, lol

Sleep: Been sleeping pretty good, I wake often during the night but it's no biggie...found out I am anemic today so that may have to do with me being really tired lately

Best Moment this week: passing my glucose test! No Gestational Diabetes for this girl! Wohoo!

Food Cravings: we ate a hand rolled bagel in NY and since then I can't get enough...so bagels and cream cheese (of course none add up to the deliciousness of the one we had in NY)

Movement: Still lots! I think I am starting to feel him turn and move more, not only just feeling the kicks

What I miss: nothing! Trying to enjoy every moment!

What I am looking forward to: 3 more weeks and I'm in the 3rd trimester!

Milestones: nothing that I can think of, everything is just going great, and we couldn't be happier!

Also, I have been working out a lot lately and so I am going to add a category to hold myself accountable, so...

Workouts: 4 times already this week! I have been walking and doing my prenatal video. I can't get enough, I just feel so good afterwards! Let's hope I keep it up!