Mural time!

Liz came in today and has been working on the mural for the nursery. It is going to be so cute. She is painting the animals from the bedding onto the walls....colors and all. Here are a few pics of the process. She still has to outline them and finish up the touches. Of course, I will be posting pics of the finished product but wanted to post these as well. Enjoy!

32 weeks! (WOAH MOMMA!)

Its that time again!! It has been four weeks and we are growing by the day! Here are a few pics....one silly pic with Baby Hume's "going home from the hospital" outfit on my belly.(which I must say is very cute...it is hard to see in this pic but it has pleats in the top of it down to the middle of it....beautiful fabric as well...the top with the ribbon goes over the jumper which also has a yellow duck on it-the only thing that would make it better would be monogramming which I may have done before his arrival) Brian thought it was very odd that I took this pic (lol) and I was taking him away from his TV time! (as you can tell from they way the crib looks like it is sliding down the room...he wasn't in a hurry-was he?)



Baby’s Development



The baby keeps maturing as weeks go by. The baby can change its position to a head down position at this time getting ready for the delivery. The baby’s length is around 16 inches and the weight about 4 ½ pounds. The skin is red and wrinkly with less of downy hair and more of vernix which is the protective layer covering your baby. The baby’s brain is developing well so be sure that you eat well at this stage. The baby will gain at least two pounds before the end of the eight month. The movements of the baby might reduce because of its increasing size and its tight fit in the uterus. The baby’s lungs are still developing though the rest of the body is pretty well formed by now. The eyes start functioning and are able to focus and blink by now. The umbilical cord is coated with a gelatinous substance so even if the baby turns and twists the cord is protected from kinks and knots. The baby’s skeleton is completely formed by now but the bones are soft and flexible and will harden later. The baby’s toenails and fingernails have formed and the baby might even scratch itself. Experts have found that the baby now develops sensitivity to temperature and you can a swift kick if you place a hot pad on your growing belly.





Changes with your body



You will feel the Braxton Hicks contractions quite regularly now but there is no reason to worry as the uterus muscles are exercising to get stronger for the actual delivery. The baby might have dropped into the pelvis in preparation for the birth. This could cause the pelvis to stretch and increase the pressure in the lower abdomen. The increasing size of the baby might be pushing it in your ribcage making you rather uncomfortable. Your estrogen levels keep rising making your uterus more sensitive to oxytocin which is the hormone needed by your body to cause contractions. The top of the uterus will be about 5 inches above the belly and this can cause difficulty in breathing due the pressure of the uterus on the diaphragm and can even create heartburn. The most common symptoms of pregnancy felt by women by this stage would be fatigue, breathlessness, backache, constipation, faintness, leg cramps, insomnia, and mood changes, swelling in breasts, leaking breasts, bleeding gums, contractions, vaginal discharge, nosebleeds, stretch marks, frequent urination, varicose veins, hemorrhoids, heartburn and indigestion. You will mostly be gaining about a pound per week and your blood volume must have increased by 40% to 50% by now to allow your body to accommodate your baby and you. This increased volume of blood is important at this stage considering the amount of blood you will be losing during delivery. You will also be concerned about the oncoming labor and start reading or finding out more about labor skills and the method of dealing with them.



What to expect



You can expect to find out more about the signs to look out for in case of true labor. Your body might already be going through periods of contractions that can be regular or irregular. These contractions can be mild or strong and some women might not even notice them. The major difference is that true labor contractions will not slow down or space out when you change activities and will in fact increase with a change in activity. In true labor the contractions will build in intensity and length and will become shorter in durations or frequency. There are some self tests which can be done by you to find out if you are experiencing true labor. Sometimes hunger or dehydration tends to increase the intensity of contractions so you can try drinking water or eating food to see if the symptoms reduce. Try to change your activities to see if there is a change in the intensity of the contractions. Try and watch the contraction pattern and if the patterns are not regular or getting closer then there is no reason to panic as yet. You can follow several techniques to keep you relaxed for the oncoming delivery. Meditation, breathing techniques, aromatherapy, basic gentle massage, pedicure and manicure can help you feel relaxed as well as give you the chance to pamper yourself before the due date arrive.

Personalities!

I was reading another blog and she posted a link to a Myers-Briggs test. I thought it would be fun to take it and post the link for you to take. Brian and I are almost complete opposites with one letter only being the same. Take the test and enjoy! Here are my results... I am an ESFP.....What is funny is in the jobs I would be good at, I have tried like ten of those things...lol


PS After you take the test, leave a comment and let me know what you are.

http://www.personalitytest.net/cgi-bin/q.pl


ESFP's-Radiates attractive warmth and optimism. Smooth, witty, charming, clever. Fun to be with. Very generous. They make good performers, they like public relations, and they love the phone. 13% of the total population................


Careers

This lists represent careers and jobs people of your type tend to enjoy doing. The job requirements are similar to the personality tendencies of your personality type. It is important to remember that this is not a list of all the jobs possible. And it is very important to remember that people can, and frequently do, fill jobs that are dissimilar to their personality... this happens all the time...and sometimes works out quite well.

veterinarian
flight attendant
floral designer
real estate agent
child care provider
social worker
fundraiser
athletic coach
musician
secretary
receptionist
special events producer
teacher: preschool
teacher: elementary
emergency room nurse
occupational therapist
exercise physiologist
team trainer
travel sales
public relations specialist
waiter/waitress
labor relations mediator

Gratitude

I have been thinking a lot about this lately and felt I needed to write a post about the gratitude I feel. I feel so grateful to God for blessing us with the miracle of pregnancy/baby. When I really think about it, how long we have waited, the tears I have cried, the pain and loss I have felt over the years, the ways I tried to "fix" it, I think of the verse that "joy comes in the morning"

This feeling I have cannot even be put into words. Thank you Lord for being such a faithful father. Thank you for never letting me go when I chose to not walk in trust, when I rebelled against your plan, when I got lost in hopelessness. You held me that entire time in your love and faithfulness. That is what I love about you....who you are. ....your character-that NEVER changes....even when we do and so flippantly.

I can't wait to meet this baby. We have waited for him and we can't wait to see his face, touch his fingers and toes, and whisper in his ear. We love you baby. Thank you God for blessing us with this perfect gift. Thank you for your incredible love manifested in your provision for our family. .....for a wonderful husband who I am convinced is an angel sent into my life just to show me how deep your love really is, for a beautiful momma's boy, Tayler, who makes me smile everyday and makes me so proud, and for this beautiful baby who will be here soon...who has already brought such joy and restoration into our lives. We love you Jesus and are so thankful for our inheritance in you!

30 week ultrasound

Here are some pics of our beautiful boy! It was so awesome seeing him. He was all scrunched up down low as I suspected. I don't believe he ever turned! (still head down) His legs were straight out but right by his ears as were his arms...(see last pic-face in distance) In the 2nd pic, he is opening his eyes....We will post the video soon! This made us want to meet him now!!

PS Look at his cute lips! And, he has Tayler's nose!

Nursery Part I

So, we have been somewhat working on getting the nursery together. I say somewhat b/c it has been slow in the process. However, our crib arrived today and we (I mean Brian) set that up. I was there for moral support.:) The other day we also (again, I mean Brian) also began the process of painting the furniture black (the dresser, shelf, etc) Brian was so excited about the crib coming. He has been watching it online as it was shipped from city to city. Setting up the room reminded me of setting up for Tayler's room before he was born....aww! We still have a lot to do to get the nursery ready but we will be picking up the pace here shortly. Here are a few pics of our time spent. There is also a pic of a cute bib my sister had made for the baby. It says Little Humie...(they called Brian "Humie" in college)

To do list:

Finish painting edging in room
Paint shelf
Put hardware on dresser
Replace light fixture in room
Paint glider
Replace fabric on glider
Have mural painted
Paint changing table
Put up clothes/wash clothes
What am I missing?

28 weeks!

It's that time again! Boy is time flying by or what? We are doing well. We are hoping to schedule a 3D 30 week ultrasound for all to see. So stay tuned! On a nursery note, we will be making some changes soon. The book shelf you see in this pic will be black and we hope to soon have the room furnished. My sister in law is also going to paint a mural in July so we will make sure and post pics when it is all finished! Below is an update on Baby Hume's progress this week.

The countdown has begun.

By now, you are probably aware of just about every bathroom in your town. As your baby grows, you will continue to have the need to pee at what seems like every other minute. Just think -- when it comes time for potty training, you will be familiar with all the public bathrooms in your area!

Once you are 28 weeks pregnant, you will probably see your healthcare provider every two weeks. At each visit, you will go through the same routine tests and procedures so that your healthcare provider can monitor and track your pregnancy.

During week 28 of pregnancy, your baby now weighs about 2 to 3 pounds and measures about 10 inches from crown to rump, or a total length of 15 inches from head to toe. During this week, your baby will grow another one-half inch in size.


When you are 28 weeks pregnant, your baby is now sleeping and waking at normal intervals. Generally, your activity throughout the day will lull him or her to sleep, and being sedentary at night gives him or her a chance to wake up and be active!

Other fetal development that is occurring around week 28 of pregnancy includes the following:

Brain tissue continues to develop
The folds and grooves of your baby's brain continue to develop and expand
The baby begins to dream
The eyes open and close
Eyebrows and eyelashes are present
Your baby has about 2 to 3 percent body fat, and his or her muscle tone is increasing
Although lungs are still immature, they are capable of sustaining life in the event of a premature birth (with some medical help).

Hume's Lampoons......

We had the pleasure of taking a mini vacation to Gatlinburg this past weekend. My uncle was so kind to provide cabins in the mountains for our family. We went to visit Rachel and family in Knoxville then met up with my dad, little sister, step mom and some extended family in Gatlinburg. It all started out pretty uneventful.

Saturday, we set out for Splash Country....a waterpark in Dollywood. I was so excited for Tayler to get to go to the water park b/c that was one of my favorite things as a kid in the summer. (not in Dollywood but a place in Atlanta) However, in the first 45 minutes, he was crying very loudly and was unconsolable. He had hurt his foot in the wavepool. Being the nurturing mother I am, I told him to shake it off and to please stop crying so loudly...people were staring at us! After a while, he was okay and walked on his heel the rest of the day. He was able to ride some rides but spent most of the day in the Lazy River.

Later that night, we enjoyed a nice dinner at Gatlinburg's famous Alamo. Pretty uneventful. However, a little after midnight, Brian was doubled over in pain and sick...ALL.NIGHT. Being the supporting wife I am, I slept through it. After awaking, Tayler and I hurried out to breakfast with our family...or should I say, I hurried, Tayler hopped. My uncle is a Pediatrician and decided to look at Tayler's foot. I am thinking-oh if he only knew...it's fine...Tayler is just dramatic like his momma! But, much to my surprise, I hear-I think there is a good chance it is broken. He needs an X-ray.

Back to Brian. Did I mention we left him at the house doubled over in pain? Well, to my credit, I didn't know how bad it really was. I called to see where he was-why wasn't he at breakfast after all? I mean wasn't he hungry? I soon found out he needed me and NOW! He was ready for the E.R. but luckily Rachel was there to save the day. She examined him and determined that there was a high probability he has diverticulitis.

So, I run to the pharmacy with my dad to get prescriptions for Brian. That was a treat...waiting in line at the one grocery store in the East TN mountains. Can you say..interesting? At this point, it was check out time for our family so poor Brian was moving down to my dads cabin. Katie, my little sis, made Brian some really sweet cards and turned down the bed for him. At that point, Tayler is moaning...I tell him to please hold off, one crisis at a time! We get Brian medicated and load up to head back to Knoxville. My niece is crying, my nephew whining, and the car is packed to the brim.

Upon arriving in Knoxville, Rachel calls her brother in law who says he can see Tayler for the Xray. He is an Orthapedic Surgeon. So, Tayler goes into the hospital with Rachel and I and the ever cramping Brian wait in the car with the kiddos. After examination, we find out Tayler's foot is broken. Nice. David boots up Tayler and sends him off with crutches. He will be revaluated in four weeks. So, a broken foot-just in time for his summer vacation to TN.

We then after a few other stops, get on the road to head back to Indiana. I felt like I was in a fog-floating around. Brian was feeling better after being doped up on meds and was able to drive us home...even in pain, he prefers to drive! We arrived after midnight. Can you say exhausted? I know I am.... I am waiting on a few pics from Rachel and will post them soon. I have a few here. The one of Tayler and Jackson was pre-injury right before the water park.

We did really enjoy seeing family. I was so proud of Katie as she was so helpful and caring all weekend. She constantly rubbed my belly asking about the baby-wanting to feel him kick. Splash Country was relaxing and I enjoyed the Lazy River-hillbilly style with shorts and a t-shirt on! So all in all, it had good components.....I mean, what would a good vacation be anyway without a good story?

Heaven!

So the matresses came last night and yes king size IS all its cracked up to be. Brian was convinced I would still take up the bed and push him to the edge. But I was able to prove him wrong. Due to the fact that I don't sleep so well, I know this to be fact....lol Each time I woke up, I checked to see where I was compared to where he was. Here are the pics of the bed with the new matresses. And yes, I do have plans to either move the pic above the bed or add some things on the sides of it.......it is too small with the headboard.

A Sanctuary.....

So, this is Phase Six of my so called nesting. I am working on creating a Sanctuary for our room before Baby Hume arrives. I was so blessed to receive bedroom furniture for my birthday last week from Brian....we finally now have a king size bed! This is my first new bed -EVER!! I am so excited! I painted the room today. Our matresses won't be here until Wednesday, so we put the queen ones on there until then. We will also be shopping this weekend or this week for throw pillows, curtains, maybe some shelving, etc.....So, I am done now with all of this painting! I have painted all of the rooms in our home besides the bathrooms and hallway. (I started painting at 14 weeks) I am hoping Brian will paint the rest but if not, I will be doing it (if I can muster the energy up)

The pictures on the dresser are ones Rachel took a few weeks ago that Brian blew up for me and framed. He also got me the pregnant Willow Tree angel..when we were dealing with infertility, I would see the pregnant WTA and say, I will never get to get that one! So, this was special that he bought me this one for my birthday...I seem to be collecting them...

PS I should've taken pics of our dormitory style furniture from before.....just trust me, this is MUCH BETTER!!

24 weeks!

In an effort to stay consistent with the monthly pics, I am posting my 24 week pic. I started taking pics at 14 weeks and this pic on the side of Brian and I was taken around 8-10 weeks, and technically our Christmas pics would be the four week pic so we have done a decent job at capturing the pregnancy. Tayler has been my faithful photographer-so much love to the son! If you want to see the progress click here and here. As long as I can fit into this shirt, I am going to take the belly pics in this shirt in effort to really see the growth. I put my hand under my belly per instructions of Holly-so here ya go! Only 15 weeks to go!

PS Just got my hair done so it is a little "bouncy" for my taste but you I still wanted to take the pic

Fetal development in pregnancy week 24:Fetus in sixth month This is another big week for your magical growing baby! Just take a look at the checklist for this week: 1) ears: done; 2) fingernails: done; 3) (if you have a boy) testicles: taking their 3-4 day trip from the abdominal wall to the scrotum; and 4) lungs walls: secreting “surfactant”. What’s that? Well, surfactant is sort of what it sounds like: a surface-activated fat whose main purpose is to assist the your baby's little lungs during inflation (as in, filling with air, not getting more expensive). Just in case you’re curious, your submerged baby is still breathing in amniotic fluid, preparing and rehearsing the lungs an oxygen-filled life outside the womb. By the end of this week, your child will be weighing around 2 lbs and 14 inches long. Your cutie-patootie may even be a little more plump, but isn't anywhere near their full baby-fatted cute-self. Most of the “filling out” is coming up in that long awaited (and slightly dreaded?) third trimester. Woo-hoo! Get ready!


And how's mom doing? Your little one is moving (spinning, kicking, pirouetting, shimmying, and maybe even doing a bit of the Can-Can) so much these days that if you invite your friends and/or family to touch your belly there’s a good chance they’ll get a milder sample of what you’ve been experiencing . You’ve may have experienced the oddity that is strangers who feel a protruding pregnant belly is public property and a silent invitation for belly touching. We recommend taking the belly-touching calmly and if it really offends you, just say something like: “I just fell in a large vat of anthrax.” Or perhaps something a little less aggressive, like, “Please, at the very least, ask me before touching my body.” Still, there are many women who enjoy sharing this touching ritual with others. Find your comfort zone and good luck with the rest.

Scary stuff you should be aware of: The danger of getting preeclampsia (a.k.a. Toxemia) during pregnancy is significantly higher and is characterized by significant swelling of the hands and face, excessive weight gain, blurry vision with severe headaches or abdominal pain. Obviously, swelling is common during pregnancy, but should be monitored closely, and sudden ongoing swelling to the hands and face could be a concern. Talk with your physician for more information. Preeclampsia can also be diagnosed by high blood pressure and the presence of certain proteins in your urine. Again, high blood pressure alone does not mean you are affected, but it might be something you and your physician will want to/need to monitor throughout your pregnancy. Preeclampsia can prevent the placenta from receiving enough blood, thus depriving your baby of essential nutrients and lower oxygen levels, possibly resulting in low birth weights and other problems. There are several websites dedicated to preeclampsia education such as: http://www.preeclampsia.org/.

23 weeks!

Well it has been four weeks since the last belly pic so here ya go! We go to the Dr. tomorrow for our four week check up. All is going well and I am feeling him move about all day everyday. It is the most awesome feeling!! Sleep is beginning to be very hard to get as I grow more and more. I am dreading the summer a bit as I don't know if I can bear getting much bigger! At the end of next week, Baby Humie will be around 2 pounds!! Enjoy the pic!

PS If you are following along, you should go back to old posts and see how much I have grown! Can you say WOW!

Where the Heart is.......

My sister, Rachel, and her family came up this weekend. Her family consists of my brother in law, Chris, Jackson (4), and Julia (1). They came up to watch Tayler play soccer. We went to Tay's game then the boys went to the Children's museum and the girls went baby shopping. It was a fun day! Sunday, we all just hung out and Brian relentlessly played Star Wars with Jackson...I think they equally had a ton of fun with that. It was so nice having family here. You just feel so at home with your family. Thanks you guys for making the trip! We love you!!

PS Rachel took some pics of Brian and I. We were just going for one pic but she took several in the moment when Brian was being silly. There is also one of him being silly with my belly but she hasn't emailed that one to me...I will post when she does.

The '167

How did I end up in the middle of a cornfield in the middle of nowhere? Were we really "hearing from God"? Or, were we just impulsive? I look at the reasons why we left Tennessee- the ministry was very intense, our marriage needed to be focused on and we wanted to provide a better life for Tayler. At the time we were a part of a growing ministry in the inner-city and foster parents to two beautiful girls that we had hoped to adopt. We knew that moving anywhere out of state would surely mean saying good-bye to them forever. But, since we didn't know how long they would be in foster care we could not base our lives around them. If we had we probably would not have stayed together long enough anyway.

To read the rest go here...
(WARNING: This is a longer post than usual and one that I could have continued much longer)

Devotional

I had to lead devotions today for our team meeting so I thought I would share. Enjoy!

Seeking God first in your everyday life



There are some practical ways/tools to seek God first in your life. They require action on our part but are far more rewarding than the sacrifice for us.



1. Seeking God first on a daily basis: I know personally that when I set time apart first thing in the morning, I begin to become more aware of His presence throughout the day. A while back when I had more questions for God than answers and more anger than peace, I (only by God’s grace) began to get up just ten minutes early. I knew that this discipline was something that could help heal my heart and draw me closer to God. I would light a candle, turn on worship music, and begin to be silent before God. I would also have a time of prayer and reading. In turn, after a few days, I yearned for more time with God. Getting up became easier and I looked upon the day with anticipation. Ten minutes turned to fifteen and fifteen to twenty as I sensed the cobwebs falling off my heart and strongholds tearing down. There are several disciplines I am passionate about but ultimately they all come out of seeking God first on a daily basis. I wanted to share some tools that I use to help create an environment of deeper intimacy.

2. The candle: Each morning the candle represented Christ in the room with me. This helped me to visually recognize that He was right there-right then. Sometimes when we are having a quiet time, it is hard to really believe Christ is there in the room. We feel like our prayers are going nowhere and reading the Word is just dry. In fact, He is in us, but we don’t always “feel” like this is true. Having the candle lit, can help us to remember this truth first thing in the morning. I believe this will not only create a deeper level of intimacy during your quiet time but also affect the way you go throughout your day.

3. Worship/Praise music: I have found that having music on during my quiet time (is this an oxymoron?) helps to usher in the presence of God. I know for me, that when I am singing praise or meditating on the words of the song, I begin to remember not only that He is there with me but I also begin to remember His promises for me. Remembering God’s promises can be very powerful as we all face trying times and times of doubt and despair. In fact, the bible talks about worship being used to tear down strongholds and even defeating armies! I have experienced this to be true. I may start off in a bad mood, but after listening to praise music, my mood has changed, my spirit has lifted, and I begin to experience peace.

4. Being silent: I am sure you all know that being silent for me is no easy task. However, as I began to practice this discipline, I began to hear that small quiet voice more often. I believe this was the Holy Spirit speaking to me. In fact, this is how God revealed to me I was pregnant! It was during one of these times, on January 24th, that I was sitting in silence all ready to “listen” to God. I lit my candle, turned on the music, closed my eyes , and became silent. I sensed the Holy Spirit telling me to get out an extra pregnancy test I had and take it. I started to ignore the voice as I didn’t want to see yet another negative result…(after seven years, you take a lot of tests) So, I hushed that voice and began to pray….God, I want to hear your voice this morning…lead me in this time. After a few nudges, I heard clear as day, I AM SPEAKING TO YOU RIGHT NOW….CLOSE YOUR BIBLE AND GO TAKE THAT TEST! Fine, I thought, I will! Sure enough, that is the day, we found out we were indeed pregnant after seven years of trying.

5. The Word: The bible is a very powerful weapon used to defeat the enemy of our lives. I believe the bible not only reminds us of God’s character but also grows ours as well. There are so many benefits to reading the Word each day…first thing. As you begin to read just a little bit a day, you begin to hunger for more. The bible also reminds us of the power available to us to help us conquer those negative things in our lives. As you read more, you memorize more, and you will begin to notice the Word springing up out of your heart just when you need it. This will also help you to encourage others around you with a perfect word in due season.

6. Prayer: Prayer is something I am very passionate about but will talk about at a later time. However, I would allow time for prayer all throughout the quiet time. As the Holy Spirit brought people to mind to lift up, I would pray. Ultimately, this is Him praying through me. Prayer draws us closer to God and helps get our mind in line with His….said differently, our will in line with His. Prayer is a direct link to God for us. We can pray without ceasing simply by speaking to God like we would a friend…lifting up concerns and praises to Him throughout the day. While having times of uninterrupted prayer are important, praying throughout the day is also a great way to experience God.

Overall, these quiet times are used to glorify God in our lives. Yes, they give us peace and help us, but our motive should be to glorify God. I know for me, this can only be my motive, when HE makes it my motive. I encourage each of you to begin setting apart ten minutes at the start of your day to seek God first. I know that you will experience deeper intimacy with Christ and His transforming power when you do so. You will begin to walk in the joy that is available only IN HIM. You will begin to notice your attitude changing, your relationships healing, and your character growing. You will begin to practice the presence of God and become who God has ordained you to be.



Scripture:

Seeking God:

Matthew 6:33
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Matthew 7:8
For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

The candle/presence of God:

Psalm 16:11
You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

Psalm 89:15
Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, O LORD.

Worship/Praise music:

Joshua 6:5
When you hear them sound a long blast on the trumpets, have all the people give a loud shout; then the wall of the city will collapse and the people will go up, every man straight in."

Exodus 15:2
The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father's God, and I will exalt him.

The Word of God:

Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

Matthew 13:23
But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown."

Prayer:

1 Kings 8:28
Yet give attention to your servant's prayer and his plea for mercy, O LORD my God. Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is praying in your presence this day.

2 Chronicles 7:15
Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place.

Happy Mother's Day

I was wondering how this day would unfold. I've had a sense of dread as it approached. But, here goes...

Mom, I love you and I miss you. I know we didn't talk the last several years you were here but I thought about you often. As parents we often hope our children will understand and appreciate the sacrifices and decisions we made while they were kids. I think of the traditions you instilled in us and a sense of belief in ourselves. I'm sure my life has been more influenced by you than even I realize.

For the rest go here...

To Karin:
I always believed you were a good mom. I saw how you loved Tayler and it was one of the qualities that drew me to you. Some people wonder if their wives will be good moms but I had a chance to see you in action before we were married. Tayler is who he is today mostly because of you and your love for him.

Now, after seven years, we stand on the brink of having our first child together. I have seen you grow over the years into a more confident person. I have watched you come alive thinking of Baby Hume and wanting to make our house a home for him. I know that he is loved and will grow up in a home with a mom and dad who will help him believe in himself. I am so proud to call you "my wife". You have given me so much and I know our children will call you blessed. Thank you for loving me, supporting me and always believing in me. You are the love of my life and I can't wait to see what the next year holds for us.

Phase Five of my nesting!

So, of course, Friday, I painted once again. I did the Family room. There is still some things to be done as far as decorating go, but I wanted to go ahead and post pics. The last pic is of all three rooms downstairs. Enjoy the pics!

Ultrasound III

Well we had the most perfect ultrasound today. The tech was able to see all four chambers of the heart along with the brain anatomy. Everything looked great! The tech was fabulous and explained each thing she was looking at. She also got excited when we got excited. It was just so refreshing and relieving. I am posting two pics here but we are also going to post the DVD. Take your time (if you have it) and watch it all the way through. It has several pauses but if you watch it all, you will see some really cool 3D images (she gave us these for free...normal cost-$150!) as well as the chambers of his heart at the end. The top pic above is him about to rub his eyes (you can also see his umbilical cord) and the bottom pic is him punching! He weighs about a pound right now!

PS At the end of the ultrasound, the tech was going to take several more pics for us in 3D but he rolled over and put his head down in the placenta. She tried for about five minutes to get him to move his head but he refused! Too funny! It was very cute!

Ultrasound tomorrow!

Please keep us in prayer as we go tomorrow for our follow up ultrasound. Hopefully, Baby boy Hume will have his head "out of my pelvis" and the tech can see all the parts of his brain that she needs to see. She also has to see the heart b/c they couldn't see all four chambers before. I get nervous before any appt so please keep us in your prayers. We will post pics tomorrow afternoon! I can't wait to see him tomorrow!!

Four rooms down, two to Go!

Okay, so its Friday and you know what that means! I am painting yet again. Today was the kitchen. I am posting pics before, midway, and after. I am so glad to finally have some color in this house. On another note (but not really) our curtains come in tomorrow for our recently converted dining room. I will post pics when we get them all hung up. Any ideas on curtain colors to go with the new red kitchen? If so, let us know!

PS After we hang the new curtains tomorrow for both rooms, I will post pics of both rooms.