Monthly News: May 2008

May 2008: Endings, Middles, and Beginnings
Monthly News time again! How quickly this month has gone by, I guess it feels that way because May was completely packed for us. When it rains it pours, and this month showered us with one exciting event after another. From the big reveal of our baby's gender (a girl - Anabelle!) to Neal and Molly's wedding, May 2008 was a really special month to say the least, and one I doubt we will ever forget. Among all the crazy fun, we even managed to squeeze in an Orlando vacation (during which we met baby Owen). This month was met with much anticipation as we waited a year and a half for the wedding, 4 months for the ultrasound, 8 months for the vacation, and 1 month to meet the sweet nephew/cousin. So it is with a little sadness that we bid farewell to May. Ben: It's Almost Over
Yes, Paramedic school is in it's final month, and I speak for all 3 and a half of us when I say "WHOOPIE". With the end in sight, Ben is showing his first major signs of total exasperation and fatigue, what a long...loooong road this has been for him. With only three classes left, I think Ben would be the first to admit that this experience has been anything but fun. I just want to say... "Yay for you Ben!" I've watched him toy with the idea of quiting several times, but he just kept going, and I think that is great! I'll be so happy to see my best friend relaxed and happy again once school is over.
Our vacation was a much needed break for Ben, he let his guard down for a whole week. It was refreshing to watch him play hard and enjoy himself. We spent three nights in St. Augustine beach and two nights in Orlando, during which Ben says he slept better than he has in a whole year. He seemed so reluctant to come home from the trip. I think if I had suggested that we build a thatch hut and become permanent beach bums, he'd have gone for it. Too bad he's married to a girl who gets home sick and was ready to sleep in her own bed.
In "Baby Daddy" news, Ben has felt Anabelle kick twice in the last week. Tonight I asked him if he ever gets jealous that he can't have a baby in his tummy (the way Evie thinks he does), he made a face, blew a raspberry, shook his head, and said, "That's your thing" - I guess that means no :) In addition to making me laugh regularly, Ben has been totally indispensable in many other ways during this pregnancy (it's like Ben's mom says - "there's a reason it takes two people to have a baby" - and I totally agree). From being there for Evie, to rubbing my back, to nagging me to drink water, to giving me my weekly injections, to just plain being a best friend - I know I'd be lost without my Ben. Evie and Anabelle, in case you ever forget, God gave you a sweet daddy! And to myself, in case I ever forget, God gave me a sweet husband!Megan: It's halfway over (or maybe more?)
I just celebrated the halfway point of my pregnancy, that is halfway if I make it all the way to my due date. The second trimester has been smooth sailing compared to the first, and I am so thankful! In regards to the turmoil of emotions that I shared in my post last month (pregnancy anxiety, etc.) , God has blessed me with an overwhelming wave of peace. Lately I'm feeling content and calm. Many of the same questions and uncertainties linger, even a couple of new ones, but God is enabling me to tune myself out and to just be quiet. That feels so much better. I'm praying that where ever I am in a few months, on bed rest, the OR, the NICU, or home with a healthy full term baby, that I would be content to sit in the center of God's will and praise Him. (Later when I am grumbling, crying , and complaining - will someone please remind me of this post?)
In addition to feeling at peace with the future, excitement is starting to bloom. Since the wedding and vacation have ended, I've had the time to day dream and plan for my new baby girl. I've done a little shopping and I've started to design a nursery "update for two"! My second trimester burst of energy is helping a great deal when it comes to planning, and I'm trying to accomplish as much as I can while I feel good. I've really enjoyed being able to get back to designing and monogramming, I even recently completed my first project for Anabelle (with my mom's help).
In news outside our home, I'm very heavily involved in our upcoming Vacation Bible School as the PreK Co-Director. I'm really looking forward to it, but I'm beginning to think that the work load was a bit much for me to take on this year. God keeps reminding me of a favorite VBS verse, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" Philippians 4:13. I should probably try applying that verse to more aspects of my life other than just VBS preparation :)Evie: It's Only Just Begun
"Fresh" and "new" continue to be the best adjectives to describe Evie's world. Daily discovery and growth are astounding when it comes to observing the life of a two year old. When it comes to the things shes says, Ben and I routinely ask each other, "Where does she get this stuff?" She scribbled a picture today and told Ben that it was a "giant mermaid". In Target earlier she shouted "Arrr, I a pirate". This morning she told us that her "puppy" wanted to "watch Little Einsteins". And not five minutes ago, she told me she was a "chicken princess!" Sometimes even funnier than what she says, is her pronunciation. Trust me, don't ask her to say "Fox and the Hound". On that topic, we realized earlier this month that she had learned her first four letter word, we were both forced to evaluate and change our own language. Classy - right? I can't believe I'm admitting this, I just know she'll let it slip in nursery some time and then I'll really be busted ("she learned it from her dad!"). She is such a little sponge who repeats nearly everything she hears.
In news that is sad for Mommy, Evie moves to the 2 year old room at church this weekend which is located in the PreK wing. "She ain't no tiny baby no more"... sniff, sniff. I anticipate Sunday morning going a bit like this; she will squeal, run into her new room, and she won't even look back. Then I will sit through the service and sob. The truth is, it physically hurts my heart to watch her get older. Just the thought of her one day leaving home and separating from me, stings like no sting I've ever physically felt. Here I am being so, so silly about this exciting event in Evie's life, because all I can do is mourn for my own feelings. As I'm typing with a huge (HUGE) lump in my throat, I can't even begin to imagine the pain that God (THE perfect father) must have felt to be separated from Jesus. Separated so that Jesus could die for a silly, selfish, four letter word spouting, mommy like me. It's just one more truth that God has allowed me to understand more fully through Evie and motherhood. I wonder what He plans to teach me through Anabelle. Anabelle: Where it all Begins
Anabelle's biggest news this month is that... she's a girl! And that's good news because "Anabelle" happens to be a terrible name for a boy. She currently weighs about 12 ounces and is the size of "a large banana" (the web site I've been reading has been taking us through the entire produce section). Anabelle seems to be a very calm baby in comparison to her sister. She makes gentle movements as though she is just making herself comfortable, it's a far cry from the "in-utero gymnastics" I remember with Baby Ev.
It's so strange that I already completely love her without knowing her at all. I was thinking the other day about her being "fearfully and wonderfully made"; God knows and loves her a million, bagillion, infinity times more than I could ever dream. That's precious. I pray that she will never know a day in her life when she does not know Him. With God's promises and perfect plans in mind, our family looks forward to meeting Baby Anabelle later this year!

...And that was May Folks!