Halfway Done!

20 weeks!  Halfway there!  I've got this pregnancy thing whooped! ...maybe.

My Favorite Thing

Have I mentioned that I love my marriage?  It helps that I'm so crazy about the guy I'm married to.  We had a funny moment last night that I had to write down because I want to remember it forever.  I was down because Lily has changed positions making my belly smaller and her kicking far less noticeable.  So, like a child, I punched Daniel's Chex cereal as he was pouring it so I could crunch up the pieces.  He jokingly snarled at me, which made me laugh.  Then, he grabs the front of my shirt and proceeds to pour cereal down my shirt.  Well, that did it, I was laughing so hard it hurt.  Well, then we "argued" about who made the mess and why the other person should bend down to pick up the cereal.  So, I "agreed" that is was my fault and started to pick it up, but Daniel was too sly for my scheming and knew what I was planning.  When I stood up, he was covering the cereal bowl so I wouldn't dump the bits from the floor into his bowl .  We both went into hysterics at this.  It was a special moment; one that our marriage is filled with and I'm so grateful. Neither of us is especially romantic, but we are always laughing together and it makes me especially happy knowing our daughter can hear it even now.  So what's my favorite thing?  Marriage with the man I couldn't imagine loving more.  He really is my best friend.

House Selling Waiting Game

Yesterday we got an offer on our house.  It was $14,000 less than our asking price; naturally, we countered. Then they countered, then we thought about countering, and right as we decided we could settle for a little less than we were hoping for, they chickened out!  But hey, we got an offer in less than a month of being on the market, and that is at very least encouraging.  I know I promised a home tour when I got everything clean, so here is most of the house.  

The Front.  You can't see the blue door, just trust me, it's cute. 

My wonderful little kitchen.  That oven is AMAZING!  I will cry when I leave it here.

The cozy family room.  It's really not dark in here, that window can be blinding.

The newly re-floored and repainted spare bath.  Gray and green :)

Again, I don't know why it's so dark, but I wish you could see those flowers better. 

My favorite room :)  It's huge and we love sitting in here chatting and snuggling the dogs on the couch.

You may have noticed, we like green :)

We have an office and a cute little guest room that my realtor didn't add photos of, so you get to see what the potential buyers see.  The one change from these photos is our bedroom.  It was a simple change that involved adding lime green pillow, one chevron patterned one, and a matching throw to the bed.  It worked wonders!  The rug doesn't work now, but the bed looks like grown ups sleep there, and that's so nice.  Oh, we also added a hemp rug under the table.  I thought I wouldn't like it, but it really helps separate the dining room and living rooms and breaks up the sea of brown.  Which is ironic, since the rug is brown.  I'm pretty bored with the ultra warm colors; I'm ready for something a little fresher. Soon.

Update on Lily: she's a kicker.  Thankfully, she does one day on and 3 days off on the really heavy kicks that threaten my bladder control, but I LOVE feeling her move.  I'm head over heals for this girl, and Daniel can tell you that I worry about every little thing.  Like how my tummy shrunk overnight, or how I often wake up flat on my back.  I'm so ready to be in the home she will come home to and start decorating her nursery.  Just wait 'til you see what I have up my sleeve :)

Overdue Baby News

I am 18 weeks and 4 days today! Here are some pictures of my growing tummy at 14 weeks, 16 weeks, and 18 weeks.  

Yesterday we had our 18 week check, everything looks fantastic so far.  My sweet doctor is looking closer just to be sure, but there were no red flags at all.  I was surprised and thrilled to find out that our little one is a girl!  She was so active all day yesterday.  We got some really sweet shots of her wiggling and her adorable little feet.  It's so hard to tell, but I think she's going to favor me.  She has a pretty flat little profile so far and some pretty long little legs.  Lily was such a lady yesterday.  She was keeping those long legs crossed and making it very hard for us to tell if she was a boy or girl.  The sono tech was not absolutely certain, but there was never any hint that she's a he.  Lily will be the perfect Christmas gift, and I'm all the more anxious to have her here with us soon.  

Have a wonderful weekend from me and Lily!  

Baby and House Update

We had our 14 week "tummy check" yesterday.  Despite many unsettled nerves leading up to this appointment, we heard a healthy heartbeat and lots of wiggling from our little miracle.  In one month from today we will get to find out if baby Irvin is a boy or girl.  I can hardly wait! 

We watched Brave last night with my sister and her husband.  IT WAS FANTASTIC!  Daniel and I loved it and chuckled often.  We will be buying this one the second it hits the shelves. 

Our weekend consisted of lots of construction.  Daniel started demo-ing the crappy old fence, then the 105 degree temperatures broke his spirit and he called the fence contractor.  We got rid of the remains of a previous demo project (a truckload of broken ceramic tile) and all of our quarter round has been installed.  We have a few small projects left to do: touching up paint, repairing the trim on the back door, and some cleaning.  By Friday, we will have a sign in the yard!

Tonight, we meet with the lender to see what we can qualify for.  I'm hoping it's enough to purchase/build a house I've fallen in love with in the perfect area.  We'll also likely be moving in with my parents during the transition.  This wouldn't normally bother me, except that I'm only getting more pregnant, and don't love the idea of a newborn in a multi-family living situation.  It will provide us with the means to save up a LOT of money while we wait to settle in to the new house.  Keep us in your prayers!

On to New Adventures

Well, after 3 years of living in our first house, we're ready to sell.  It's been the perfect home for us, but we are ready for a change.

We currently live a minimum of 20 miles from our church, our friends, our family, and our jobs.  We don't even buy gas or groceries here, because the prices are so inflated.  We're spending $400/month in gas, and I'm estimating that when we move back to Arlington (our social sphere) we'll be saving $250/month on gas alone.  The best part of all: since we bought this house for such a steal, we'll be making quite a profit.  Enough to pay off all of our existing debt and have a tiny down payment on our new house.  How's that for fiscally responsible?!  I'm truly the most excited about this part.  I  L-O-V-E budgeting and finding wiggle room in the budget.  I estimate, that with the money we won't be spending on gas and monthly payments, we'll be saving close to $800/month, which is what my little part time job brings in each month.  Can I get a hallelujah?!  Not to mention the major cut-backs we'll be able to make in eating out, since we'll live in town and will be able to just drive home and grab lunch.

I plan to have the new home paid off in 10 years.  We'll also be in great shape for providing for our little squirt.  AND, we can finally afford to actually decorate our home with grown-up, non-hand-me-down furniture!  The plan is to stay in this house until it's paid off, so I'm going to be landscaping the crap out of our new house.  I've gone 5 years without a pretty yard, it's time.

I will post a "tour" or our current house when it's whipped back into shape and ready for the for sale sign.  Pray for guidance and provision during this time.  It feels like madness doing this with only 6 months (wahoo!) until the baby comes; during the holidays no less.  My hope is to be in the new home in early December.  We are trusting God to make it work for us, haha!

An Introduction....

We are expecting a miraculous Christmas this year!  I would like everyone to meet our 12 week old baby!  

This precious photo was taken at 10 weeks and 4 days.  The baby was about  2 1/2 inches long at the time, and I believe s/he is going on 3 inches now.  This is the longest I have carried with any of our babies, and I am due on Christmas Eve!  Daniel and I are obviously thrilled and taking it one day at a time.  God has been incredibly faithful to sustain the baby so far.  He has also been faithful to walk with me through this emotional hurricane.  I never expected to get pregnant so quickly after our 3rd miscarriage, especially since it took us 3 years to conceive that angel.  I must say, it was a complete shock, and I was more fearful than excited at first, but God is using this baby already to draw me closer to him.  So, ooh and aww over my cutie, and keep us in your prayers!