January 2013

Current Weather: 56 degrees and sunny
Current Gas Price:  $3.27 per gallon
Total Cockroach Count:  8 (first sighting of the 2013 year...in our bedroom...gross!)

Greetings dearest family! It feels like such a long time since we have seen y'all but really its just been a few short weeks.  We've had a busy start to the new year and we're so excited for what this year has in store for us.  Not much has changed in our daily routines...Wes is on PEDS (but will switch to TMED this Thursday) and I'm just working as usual.  Not too much to report on that side of things.

We were really excited to have Brent come and stay with us for a few days! We always say that we are so blessed in the siblings that God has given us! We have truly wonderful brothers and sisters! We miss seeing you all more often and think of you very often!

We took a stroll in Sumter National Forest (the only place to go hiking near Greenwood) while Brent was here! The guys were very patient with me as I can't walk as fast anymore (I keep getting slower and slower) and had to pee really bad! 

The most exciting thing happening now is, of course, the baby! As y'all know we did find out that we are having a GIRL!  That was certainly a huge thing to find out and we're now feeling as though we can begin moving forward with "baby preparations."  We feel so blessed to be having a sweet little girl.  We have officially decided to name her June and we've already settled in to calling her that! We have a few ideas for a middle name but have not settled on a favorite yet! Haha, in the craziness of these last several weeks we have honestly not discussed it very much.

We took this picture at 17 weeks.  We were on our way to have Wes do an ultrasound and try and figure out the gender of our baby.  Shortly after, Dr. Amaya did a freebie ultrasound for us and both she and Wes left suspecting that we were having a BOY! So our ultrasound at 19.5 weeks was rather shocking when the suspected "boy parts" were nowhere to be found!  Instead we saw our lovely little girl! 

I am currently at 21 weeks...so we're half way there! I have been feeling great and Juney is kicking up a storm already! I've really enjoyed getting to feel her move and we're anxious for the day when Wes can feel her as well! It certainly makes me feel closer to her and I want to feel her too! I think it won't be too much longer!  I have been going to physical therapy to help strengthen the muscles around my SI joint that were giving so much trouble in early January.  For those of you who haven't heard about it...I had a muscle (literally in my right butt cheek) that was strained and I was having trouble walking after a while because the pain was so bad.  PT has helped tremendously and I am almost completely back to normal though I think I'll need to keep up with the exercises as my belly grows.  But thank God for physical therapists! Haha, this is the second time they've really helped me!

We also spent some time looking into furniture for the nursery and were slightly overwhelmed by all of the options out there! We're going to be taking a trip to Greenville this coming weekend and hope to get a better idea of what we want.  We're also going to start a registry and in general just do something! Haha, slow and steady wins the race, right?

Ok, time for pictures! I'm trying to not be that girl who sends weekly pictures of myself but y'all should tell me if you want to see more pictures! I know its a bummer that we're so far away and we want everyone to feel like they are in the loop! So please let me know if you want to see more pictures!

Me and "Juney Balloony" at 20 weeks.  That's what we've nicknamed my belly...it seems to change shape every week, looking rounder this week and more pointed the next.  I suppose its due to the baby's position and I certainly don't mind :) 

Check out her eye! I really hope that she has Wes' puppy dog eyes because I think they are so cute! I guess we'll find out in a few months! 

IT'S A GIRL! 

Profile shot.  Wes and Dr. Amaya said they saw her sucking her thumb and despite several efforts at seeing it myself I just couldn't tell what they were talking about...haha, oh well! 

Shortly after finding out that we were having a girl, we attended a "Gender Reveal" Party for our friends Lauren and Gavin Pinkston.  Their baby is due two days after ours so its been fun to go through this with them! We were even more delighted to find out they are also having a girl! 

Us with the Pinkston's at their Gender Reveal Party! 

Wow! Looks like we're all four having girls! 

Our month was wrapped up with a visit from Lynn's parents, Gerry and Myrtle! We really appreciated them wanting to stop by and they took us out the Mill House for pizza! They were on their way up from Florida and it was so great to see familiar Ohio faces! Great way to end the month! 

Well...that's about all folks! Overall, we're doing great! God is already teaching us more and more about His character through this journey into parenthood and we're excited (and humbled) to think of what he will teach us once June is born.  We're thankful for this opportunity and the closeness that it will give us to Him as we experience firsthand the unconditional love that parents have for their children and see that reflected in His love for us! 

We miss you like crazy and think of our family often.  We can't wait to introduce little June to you! Haha, but we'll see you before then in April! Until then, we love you!