Sunday, June 22, 2008
33 weeks
Just a couple of pics. Sorry about all the cords in the background...we were still getting things situated. Not sure why these pictures are posting the way they are.
Visit from Kari
Our good friend Kari Nieman flew from Memphis to see us in Austin. We didn't even make it three weeks! Jason's brother is also here with us. We had a great time. I haven't laughed in a long time like I laughed this weekend. Nothing like friends with whom you can completely unwind with.
We pretty much just hung out together. Tried to go to Lake Travis - only to make it all the way there and be rained out. We played games and as I said, laughed a whole lot. My poor daughter probably wondered what was going on!
Trying to catch our breath . . .
Thanks for coming, Nieman! Can't wait to have Aunt Kari back soon!
Last day in the office
May 23rd was my last day working in the Memphis office of Carlson Wagonlit Travel. My new office is the sofa, or the kitchen table or wherever I find myself. It is such a blessing to be able to work from home.
My boss gave me a laptop computer as a gift. We are both Mac users - but she gave me a PC which is much easier to use with our reservations system. Her gift has eliminated a GREAT deal of stress. Thank you Barbara!
I sure do miss the girls in the office. It was a good five plus years working in this office. And for those needing travel: air, cruise, car, hotel, all inclusives . . . give me a call.
Friday, June 20, 2008
When you visit someone in labor and delivery . . .
A word of advice: If you are pregnant and go to a hospital to visit someone in the labor and delivery ward, you might want to make it very clear that you are NOT there to deliver your baby!
Completely forgetting the belly, I walked up to the admissions desk and asked 'Where is the labor and delivery ward?' I thought the volunteer looked at me a little strangely. Perhaps she was thinking 'what an awfully calm laboring young woman . . . '
She finally asked me 'are you here to have your baby?' It didn't register at first but then I started laughing. This lady made a perfectly reasonable assumption . . . but it totally caught me off guard. I'm just glad she was calm about it and didn't holler for a wheelchair or anything else.
Good times.
The reason for our visit: our new friends Robin and Daniel Reed welcomed their first child, Adam, last night. I got to hold him for about 20 minutes - so sweet. Hopefully he won't remember being kicked by baby girl Whaley while I held him.
Completely forgetting the belly, I walked up to the admissions desk and asked 'Where is the labor and delivery ward?' I thought the volunteer looked at me a little strangely. Perhaps she was thinking 'what an awfully calm laboring young woman . . . '
She finally asked me 'are you here to have your baby?' It didn't register at first but then I started laughing. This lady made a perfectly reasonable assumption . . . but it totally caught me off guard. I'm just glad she was calm about it and didn't holler for a wheelchair or anything else.
Good times.
The reason for our visit: our new friends Robin and Daniel Reed welcomed their first child, Adam, last night. I got to hold him for about 20 minutes - so sweet. Hopefully he won't remember being kicked by baby girl Whaley while I held him.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Thoughts from a pregnant chic due in August
We purchased a new digital camera but are awaiting our old smart media card in the mail. Long story. But pictures to come soon.
We're making connections and new friends. And thanks to email, blogs and facebook we are able to do a pretty good job of keeping in touch with the old.
Last week was Champs Camp. All week I kept thinking it was VBS, but it was really a sport themed day camp. For a spiritual emphasis, there was a daily chapel time, and one of the stations the kids rotated through each day was a Bible lesson. I was in the craft building so all the kids passed through during the day to make a sport themed craft. We had about 130-140 kids - most of these being from the community and about 85 volunteers from the congregation. The children's and youth minister at Round Rock put together an awesome week for the kids and it ran like clockwork thanks to their hard work.
We found a Vietnamese restaurant right around the corner - we love it. Could become a favorite date night spot.
We're keeping on keeping on. It is HOT down here. Since I am obviously rather pregnant these days, it is quite a conversation starter. For the most part the attention is welcome. I am served often with a smile, by random strangers. I asked a man at H.E.B where the carts were. He looked right at the belly and said 'stay here!' He put on his sombrero and ran out in the heat to bring me back a cart. Very sweet.
When people ask me when the baby is due, I get some interesting responses to my answer of 'August 10th'. Most people groan, or roll their eyes. Others tell me how hot and unbearable the last couple of months are going to be for me. I try to act thankful for such enlightenment. Tongue in cheek. Another interesting response is one such as 'oh my great grandmother was born on August 30th'. I mean, how do you respond to that!?! 'Oh, well I sure do hope I get to be pregnant for an extra TWENTY of those HOT, UNBEARBALE DAYS you are predicting so they can share a birthday'. I am sure they're just searching for a connection to my baby . . . August 10th and August 30th are in the same month, after all. I say all this in good (pregnant) humor.
I hope you readers out there don't think I'm crazy but on a slightly more serious note (for me), I have received an overwhelming number of labor and delivery stories. All from very well meaning people, I know. However, remember, I am a first time momma! And I don't even like going to the dentist!!! (although I have made great strides there thanks to our wonderful dentist in Memphis). But it just doesn't do my mind well to know too much information. I know where I can get it, and know who I can ask if I really, really, really need to know something! And I probably WON'T be sharing a whole lot of information with people about our delivery/birth experience! That is just not me. I do anticipate sharing the peace that God granted during this time though.
So go easy on me!!!
Seriously, all is well. I feel great physically, I am even able to enjoy incline walks right now as a 'work out' and just love to see and watch my daugther thriving within me. She is getting so big and is so strong.
We're making connections and new friends. And thanks to email, blogs and facebook we are able to do a pretty good job of keeping in touch with the old.
Last week was Champs Camp. All week I kept thinking it was VBS, but it was really a sport themed day camp. For a spiritual emphasis, there was a daily chapel time, and one of the stations the kids rotated through each day was a Bible lesson. I was in the craft building so all the kids passed through during the day to make a sport themed craft. We had about 130-140 kids - most of these being from the community and about 85 volunteers from the congregation. The children's and youth minister at Round Rock put together an awesome week for the kids and it ran like clockwork thanks to their hard work.
We found a Vietnamese restaurant right around the corner - we love it. Could become a favorite date night spot.
We're keeping on keeping on. It is HOT down here. Since I am obviously rather pregnant these days, it is quite a conversation starter. For the most part the attention is welcome. I am served often with a smile, by random strangers. I asked a man at H.E.B where the carts were. He looked right at the belly and said 'stay here!' He put on his sombrero and ran out in the heat to bring me back a cart. Very sweet.
When people ask me when the baby is due, I get some interesting responses to my answer of 'August 10th'. Most people groan, or roll their eyes. Others tell me how hot and unbearable the last couple of months are going to be for me. I try to act thankful for such enlightenment. Tongue in cheek. Another interesting response is one such as 'oh my great grandmother was born on August 30th'. I mean, how do you respond to that!?! 'Oh, well I sure do hope I get to be pregnant for an extra TWENTY of those HOT, UNBEARBALE DAYS you are predicting so they can share a birthday'. I am sure they're just searching for a connection to my baby . . . August 10th and August 30th are in the same month, after all. I say all this in good (pregnant) humor.
I hope you readers out there don't think I'm crazy but on a slightly more serious note (for me), I have received an overwhelming number of labor and delivery stories. All from very well meaning people, I know. However, remember, I am a first time momma! And I don't even like going to the dentist!!! (although I have made great strides there thanks to our wonderful dentist in Memphis). But it just doesn't do my mind well to know too much information. I know where I can get it, and know who I can ask if I really, really, really need to know something! And I probably WON'T be sharing a whole lot of information with people about our delivery/birth experience! That is just not me. I do anticipate sharing the peace that God granted during this time though.
So go easy on me!!!
Seriously, all is well. I feel great physically, I am even able to enjoy incline walks right now as a 'work out' and just love to see and watch my daugther thriving within me. She is getting so big and is so strong.
Sunday, June 08, 2008
Texa-fied
Well folks . . . we did it. We crossed that Mississippi, traveled through Arkansas and down into Texas. "Home" is now the lovely Limestone Ranch of Austin, Texas.
We were greeted warmly upon our arrival - by warm, helping hands, and yes, 95 degree weather. A great moving crew had the truck unloaded and into our new apartment in about one hour. We were so thankful for their help. In the past week we have been putting some things in their place and well, just stepping over and around other things.
We are overwhelmed by the love shown to us by our new church home, the Round Rock church of Christ. We have experienced a lot of love in the past week. Today we received a "pounding". For the Aussie readers out there . . . fear not for our lives. A "pounding" is simply a showering of goods. In this case non perishable food items. We are well supplied and extremely thankful. We have already been guests in people's homes here. Nothing sweeter than Christian fellowship. Jason's family has also traveled to see us already. They are enjoying a four hour drive to see us much more than the 12 hour drive to Memphis.
We continue to adjust to our new surroundings, new relationships, roles and so on. This week both Jason and I get to participate in Champs Camp - a summer outreach program for the Round Rock community. Jason is a team counselor/leader for about 12 fifth graders. I'm designated to crafts. We are really excited about the opportunites that have already presented themselves, and those that we don't know about yet.
Without a doubt we greatly miss life in Memphis. Ironically we are back in the place we tried to start our life in the US almost six years ago. It is humbling to see how in a way, God has brought us full circle. We remember who were were six years ago. We thank God for who and what we have become in the past six years. But we also ask Him to do much more in and through us now and in the future.
We have a new address - you can find it on facebook, or email me and ask for it: firstnamedotlastname@gmail.com :)
And here is baby Girl at 31 weeks . . .
We were greeted warmly upon our arrival - by warm, helping hands, and yes, 95 degree weather. A great moving crew had the truck unloaded and into our new apartment in about one hour. We were so thankful for their help. In the past week we have been putting some things in their place and well, just stepping over and around other things.
We are overwhelmed by the love shown to us by our new church home, the Round Rock church of Christ. We have experienced a lot of love in the past week. Today we received a "pounding". For the Aussie readers out there . . . fear not for our lives. A "pounding" is simply a showering of goods. In this case non perishable food items. We are well supplied and extremely thankful. We have already been guests in people's homes here. Nothing sweeter than Christian fellowship. Jason's family has also traveled to see us already. They are enjoying a four hour drive to see us much more than the 12 hour drive to Memphis.
We continue to adjust to our new surroundings, new relationships, roles and so on. This week both Jason and I get to participate in Champs Camp - a summer outreach program for the Round Rock community. Jason is a team counselor/leader for about 12 fifth graders. I'm designated to crafts. We are really excited about the opportunites that have already presented themselves, and those that we don't know about yet.
Without a doubt we greatly miss life in Memphis. Ironically we are back in the place we tried to start our life in the US almost six years ago. It is humbling to see how in a way, God has brought us full circle. We remember who were were six years ago. We thank God for who and what we have become in the past six years. But we also ask Him to do much more in and through us now and in the future.
We have a new address - you can find it on facebook, or email me and ask for it: firstnamedotlastname@gmail.com :)
And here is baby Girl at 31 weeks . . .
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