Hasta La Vista 1st Trimester!!!

Yes, I have made it through week 13 of the prgnancy and have officially started week 14!! Just knowing this eases some anxiety! I have not really been sick at all (just have to eat every 2 hours still...darn! Heehee), and sleep fairly well still during the night. Of course I am extremely tired by 8pm and my bedtime appears to get earlier and earlier! Here is what the BabyCenter says that Baby Hall did this week!

"Fingerprints have formed on your baby's tiny fingertips, her veins and organs are clearly visible through her still-thin skin, and her body is starting to catch up with her head — which makes up just a third of her body size now. If you're having a girl, she now has more than 2 million eggs in her ovaries. Your baby is almost 3 inches long (the size of a medium shrimp) and weighs nearly an ounce. As you start your second trimester, most of your baby's critical development will be completed and your odds of miscarriage drop considerably."

Now, to celebrate this jubilous (that word's for my sweetie) occassion, we made a cake (complete with our own decorating) and shared the excitement with Charles' family. AND to our surprise, we even got some of our 1st gifts!!! I got jewelry (blue AND pink), 8 Lullaby CD's, and our stroller system! Can you tell Grandma and Grandpa were excited too?! See all the pics below, it was truly an amzing celebration, and one I will always cherish!! This Baby is going to be SO WELL LOVED...maybe spoiled is the right word??

Friends...there's nothing better!

So what do you do when you need girl time and everyone can get time away from kids/hubbies??? YOU HAVE A SLUMBER PARTY!! Ha! We decided to slumber like old times...complete with staying up till almost 4am, eating, drinking wine (Laura brought me sparkling grape juice!), laughing, playing games and of course the Wii. It was a blast just to get away and then we got even got to sleep in till 10am!! WHOO HOO! For breakfast, we did it right with Panera Bagels and fresh fruit. I just can't begin to say how much fun it was, and of course I can't post ALL the pics...but here is group pic and some favorite food items we enjoyed!

OK, so we signed up for weekly updates to see what occurs each week during pregnancy at www.babycenter.com!! So, each week I will post what has happened during the week so we can all watch Baby Hall grow together. The entire thing is truly just a miracle and I do not know how ANYONE can say God is not real after reading this! :)

Here was what kept Baby Hall busy all week! We are now the SIZE OF A LIME!!

"The most dramatic development this week: Reflexes. Your baby's fingers will soon begin to open and close, his toes will curl, his eye muscles will clench, and his mouth will make sucking movements. In fact, if you prod your abdomen, your baby will squirm in response, although you won't be able to feel it. His intestines, which have grown so fast that they protrude into the umbilical cord, will start to move into his abdominal cavity about now, and his kidneys will begin excreting urine into his bladder. From crown to rump, your baby-to-be is just over two inches long (about the size of a lime) and weighs half an ounce."

My Sweet Husband

So, you know how we all just have THAT DAY every now and then...the one where we wish it would be 5pm and yet somehow the clock says 9am...WELL...I had that day a few days ago. I called Charles throughout the day just to get through and on my way home gave thanks to God that it was over. I was just happy to get home and hug my hubby and be in his arms. Well, my hubby, the sweetest ever...decided that he would buy the Pat Green CD that just got released and have it playing when I got home with a little note. We had fun just dancing and listening to the CD and I am continued to be amazed at how perfect he is. Charles,

You are my rock, my strength and my life. Thanks for always being my best friend and never failing to make me smile in the dark momments (even when I say stop...but you know I don't mean it!). My life is so blessed and forever changed since the day you entered it. Nothing could ever take your place and I cherish every momment with you. SHMILY!!

Stacy

Way to go!!

I just found these pics on my camera and realized I never posted about the Houston Marathon on January 18, 2009!! Anywho, no way did I run in it!! BUT, Charles' Dad, Fred, ran it for the 14th year in a row...you heard me...14 YEARS!!! We are continually amazed by his dedication and endurance! In fact, this year, I think was his best ever as he looked SO GOOD afterward. Way to go Fred, we are so proud of you and your HUGE accomplishment!

One BIG SECRET!!

Here's our SECRET!!! We are now 11 weeks pregnant! God is so good and faithful! Although the road to get here was not easy, we would not trade it for anything. Along our journey to start a family we have learned many things. Some of which include: God's blessings are all around us, the prayer of friends and family is powerful, how to love and depend on each other deeper than we thought possible, and most importantly what the true meaning of total abandonment is. Words cannot express the feeling between our heavenly father and us when we fall on our face and realize only HE (not us...nor any of our bargaining strategies...heehee) is in control and knows what timing is best in our lives.
So...where are we now? WELL, we went in for our first sonogram on Monday the 19th and found out we have one beautiful healthy baby inside! So, below is Baby Hall's first picture to the world. I think it is beautiful and we stare at it daily. Of course others have to proclaim it looks like an elephant or a seal! So, let me help you out by saying that Baby Hall is upside down in this picture! You can even see the sac around the baby and the doctor was VERY pleased that it was so healthy! So, continue to pray for us as we count down the weeks!

"So we have not stopped praying for you since we heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your life will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better."

~Colossians 1:9-10

My Friend Katie

Ok, I know it has been almost a month since I last posted...but with the holidays, I have been a LITTLE BIT BUSY to say the least. I am working on all the Christmas Pictures and amazing things that happened over the holidays...but as a preview, I wanted to post about my friend Katie.

Katie and I were best friends in High School and were able to get together on January 2nd while she was in town from New York with her Boyfriend. It was so nice to see her and it was like no time had even passed. I am convinced that is the sign of a true friend...