The Quest

This has been an exhausting week. The quest has begun. Now that N has settle into the outside world (and seems quite content), it is time for me to reclaim my body. There doesn't seem to be a need for it being big enough for 2 anymore, which means the exercise has begun. The 4 of us (B, N, Maggie the dog, and I) have been embarking on 2 quite intense walks each day this week. They don't call our neighborhood "The Hill" without good reason. Eventually the morning walk will turn into me running by myself, but we are working up to that and enjoying family time as that happens. B and I (N and Maggie didn't have much interest) are also doing multiple sets of crunches and eventually will add in push ups. It's quite tiring, but I am more than ready for my pre-pregnancy body (or as close as I can come to it) to return. We're even trying to work in at least one round of golf each day (on the playstation, of course).

Graduated!!!! Yea!!!!

We are officially done with Seminary!!! This past Friday B participated in both the theological and academic graduation services. (yep - sem makes it take 2 services to be done) My parents, my little sis, her boyfriend, and B's parents all came for the occasion. We were glad to have everyone here and to also have a few more hands to help take care of N. Between services on Friday we headed down the the Arch and then to the Botanical Gardens. We also went to the zoo on Saturday and of course ate a few meals on The Hill. Next weekend we head to Kansas City for B's ordination and N's baptism and will get to see lots of family again.

Auntie T had fun accesorizing Nate.

The flowers at the Botanical Gardens were in full bloom. This was Nathan's and B's Mom's first trip to go down to the Arch.

It's hard to believe that it's been nearly a month since I last posted, but there seems to be fewer hours in the day now that N is here. The night definitely isn't long enough. We seem to get about 4 hours regularly, but anything beyond that is a bonus. Try surviving 5 weeks of about 4 hours of sleep a night - it makes for one cranky couple. N is doing really well and is growing all the time. He's become a noisy little guy with all his sound effects, but it's quite entertaining.

We spent the past weekend in O getting acquainted with K of K and the city. We had a great time meeting everyone at the church and seeing how things happen around there. B has a wonderful Student Edge staff to work with and some great kids in the youth group.

We also were able to find and buy a house. We were thrilled that it was easy to find and didn't take our entire weekend. We even were able to pick out the carpet, countertop, vinyl flooring, and ceramic tile colors. In the picture the house has not been painted yet, only primer. We close June 13th and should move in a week later! We are so excited to be settling down finally.

Graduation for B is Friday, and he is more than thrilled to be done. We're looking forward to having family from both sides in town for that. If only someone wanted to let N spend one night at their hotel room . . . :)

It's official - it's King of Kings. We are thrilled and will let you know more as we find out more.

Ask and you shall receive. . . a picture of B changing his first diaper EVER while still at the hospital. It couldn't have been more perfect - 3 in the morning and poopy! He's a pro now. You'd never know he was a rookie. He's only been peed at once since coming home. It's hard to believe that N will be 2 weeks old tomorrow.

As for B and I we are getting along just fine. N gave us 2 four-hour-long stretches of sleep last night. (We're not complaining.) I'm learning the reason that you get at least 6 weeks off work after having a baby. I always assumed it was so that you could just spend time with your newborn, but I'm learning that you don't just bounce right back from having an 8lb 9oz baby!!!!

Call day is tomorrow!! We'll let you know what happens. You can listen online at 7 or look at the list after 9 to see where we're headed. www.csl.edu

It's been a while but not without reason. We are happy to be at home with N B. He was born Tuesday, April 11th at 7:43 pm. He was a BIG boy at 8lbs. 9oz. and 21 inches long. He is both happy and healthy and not too much of a crier. B and I are both adjusting and have been blessed to have had B's mom here for the past week. We will miss her today but are glad she'll be back for a couple of days next week.

Our next been event is coming on Tuesday. We have Call Day service at 7pm and should find out where B will be assigned for his first pastoring job. Time is flying!

FINALLY! No, the baby isn't here yet. I am officially done with the school year though, and that is a great feeling. I woke up this morning not wondering how I was going to keep student X away from student Y, who I was going to bug to watch my class while I run to the restroom 17 different times, and how many times is student Z going to run out of the room today.
The new challenge is keeping myself occupied. With so much to look forward to, time sure can slow down when you're home alone. It's like waiting to go on vacation as a kid! Maggie is making her best attempt at entertaining me between her napping schedule. This morning she put on a show for me as she tried a grape for the first time. It had fallen on the floor, and I figured it couldn't hurt her. It took her several minutes of putting it in and out of her mouth before she finally decided to bite it. She just wasn't sure about the new texture and shape of it.
So when is the baby going to decide to come on out? What do you think? Tomorrow the doctor is going to set up inducement for the 11th, but B and I wouldn't mind him coming a bit earlier. We'll see what happens!

So Spring Break is over and school is back in session. Yesterday was a long and difficult day after being able to completely relax and do things at a slower pace during Spring Break. Being so close to the end of the pregnancy means that things are a bit harder. I went to work this morning but decided it was too much. I've had a sharp pain that gets agitated when I or the baby moves and when I get tense. We'll see if I go back tomorrow or not. It's hard to know what is best for the baby and I. I would love for the baby to decide he wants to just go ahead and come a couple of weeks early.

Other than that not too much is going on. B and I are excited to have Dan and Kenya (Dan's dog) visiting for a couple of days. Hopefully Maggie and Kenya will be tired by tonight when B and Dan have a thing at seminary.

That's about it for now. We'll let you know if we successfully persuade the baby to be born!

Welcome to the Family

Let me introduce you to Hobbes. We met him one night while wandering around Babies'R'Us and instantly loved him. He gladly said good-bye to his friends on the shelf and came home with us. He was given his name hoping that the baby will find as much love and fun in him as Calvin found in his Hobbes. Since Hobbes is getting just as antsy about the baby almost being here, he wanted to try out all of the baby's stuff (just 2.5 weeks and you'll know his name!). He hopes you enjoy his pictures as he knows he will soon lose the camera spotlight to his soon-arriving best friend.

Ready for a car ride
A nap in the pack'n'play
Enjoying a nice massage in the vibrating seat
Diaper time - oh wait, no diaper to change
With all of his friends who joined him after the baby shower

Hobbes is now anxiously awaiting the trip to the hospital as he sits inside the baby's bag ready to go. Brad and I are also ready to go; we got our bags packed yesterday night. Now we just have to wait for baby to say it's time! Have a great weekend.

No one can accuse me of not having tried. I have been trying to get a new post with pictures up, but it kept not letting the pictures download.

This first set of pictures is of the surprise baby shower I was thrown on March 12th. My current school, and my former school, co-conspired to throw a joint shower for me. B knew about it for weeks and didn't even hint at the possibility. I thought he and I were just going out for lunch with one of my former co-workers. Guess I'm a bit naive. It was a lot of fun, and the baby was given a lot of adorable stuff which we are very thankful for.

Some Hope teachers.
Me opening some gifts.

Okay, so that'll be all the shower pictures for now since it's being a pain about downloading them again. I was going to do some other pictures too, but I'm a bit frustrated with the whole process right now.

Other than the shower, here's what's been going on. I survived the final week before Spring Break and also got through parent/teacher conferences. I went to the doctor, and she said things are progressing well. We had company from Decatur, where B vicared (interned), over the weekend which was a lot of fun. Yesterday I was in full spring break mode and did nothing except watch tv and sleep. Today has been a bit more adventurous including a trip to the mall and in a bit it's back to the doctor.

I'll attempt to put up some other pictures later. Hopefully it'll decide to be more cooperative. We'll see. . .

Well, I was told by the elderly folk (my parents) that the yellow was too hard to read. Although I personally enjoyed the yellow, I guess I can sacrifice for the sake of the older ones out there.

This week was much slower than the last few. I guess that's what I get for commenting about time flying. It's still amazing to be one week closer to the baby being here. At the doctor on Tuesday we got to be hooked up to the monitor for a while. He hadn't been quite as active lately, and the doctor just wanted to check on him. Of course he performed beautifully for the doctor and moved around a ton. It was so neat to listen to and watch the printout of his heartbeat for 20 minutes. It's amazing that 140 bpm is completely normal!

Less than a full week with the kids before Spring Break! Praise God! (truly)

It's going to be a full weekend between grading and report cards. Have a great one!

Picture Time

I did it. I finally let B take a pregnant picture of me. I don't like it, but it's done. Tomorrow we will hit the 5 weeks left mark! We also start going to the doctor every week after tomorrow's appointment. The big question for the doctor tomorrow is going to be about all the swelling. Ugh! I'm almost to the point of not being able to wear my shoes. I had to take the wedding and engagement ring off a couple of weeks ago.

Mom sent the finished bumper pads for the crib, and I can finally take a picture of it all put together. She and I picked out all of the fabrics. She made everything, and I was able to help with making the fitted sheets and also doing the quilting on the quilt. (Which I am still in the process of finishing.) The baby will have to wait until we move this summer for walls that match his bedding since we are in a rental house for now.

Brad's parents also brought us the babies dresser/changing table a couple weekends ago We decided since we'll be moving so soon, there was no reason to go to the trouble of lugging it upstairs. Baby will also have to wait on having all his furniture in one room. Luckily he'll be too young to complain.

Other than a horrible (to the point I ended up in my boss's office in tears) day at work, that's about it for now. I guess I should get to work on some of the stuff I brought home. More later though.

Finally Friday

Okay, so I guess that I will have to get B to pull out the camera. I don't like the idea of a picture showing off how big I've gotten but whatever. Maybe by next time I post, I'll have something.

Another week of teaching has passed! I can't believe that the weeks actually seem to be going faster lately rather than slower. Only 9 more days of teaching before spring break!

This weekend we are planning to install the carseat; apparently it's a complicated process! We're also going to get our hospital bag together so that we're ready "just in case". I'm looking forward to the idea being that one step closer!

2.5!!!!

Two steps forward, one and a half backwards. That seems to be the motto of my class this year. Thursday and Friday went relatively well, but today was another story. I can see the end coming closer and closer though.

B is still enjoying his two week break. Although he is "working" in the weightroom almost everyday, he is finding time to relax and recharge for his final quarter. Today he was sitting and playing the guitar when I got home. It's nice to know one of us had a relaxing day.

As for a recent pregnancy picture, there aren't any. Although Corrie and most websites recommend taking a picture each month as a keepsake, I don't like the idea of looking back and remembering getting bigger and bigger. I could see myself as much more likely to take pictures as I lose the weight. We'll see what we can do though.

I must take a moment to brag before ending this. B and I just got back from what he guess-timates to be a 2.5 mile walk! I have to say that makes a girl who's just over 6 weeks from her due date feel pretty good about herself. (And I actually was walking at a better pace than most of my recent walks.)

Fast Fleeting Saturday

Saturday finally gets here, and it's already half over! Luckily there are only 3 more weeks until Spring Break! B's parents are coming to St. Louis today and bringing the baby's dresser/changing table with them. Unfortunately they're making the 6.5 hour trip here today and heading back tomorrow. That doesn't leave much time to do much together. Although, we will definitely make time to eat out on The Hill ("the" Italian neighborhood that we live in).

Also, here's a picture of the baby back in October. This was from the first ultrasound when we still didn't know it was a boy. He and I are both feeling a bit more cramped now as our shared space seems to be getting more and more crowded.

Getting Started

All I meant to do was make myself able to comment on Matt and Lindsay's blog, and I ended up having to make my own. The way I see it though is that this is like a year-long Christmas letter and should save some hassle come next December, right?!?

So here's where the expanding K family stands (I'll be glad when "expanding" no longer refers to me). . . there are 47 days left until the baby's expected arrival (April 12th). B and I couldn't be more excited.

Next week B starts his final quarter at the seminary! There is a light at the end of the tunnel that get's brighter every day. Less than 2 weeks after the baby's due date is call day when we will find out where we are being sent. What an exciting April!

I continue to survive teaching. Things have gotten a bit better. It's hard when you continually have students dropping and enrolling in class. I've lost at least 4 students since Christmas break and gained at least 6 new ones. (It gets hard to keep up with after a while.) My newest student is truly a gift from God and keeps me encouraged to keep going.