farewell, for now!

I've heard the third trimester is similar to the first with the way you feel. I believe it. I've been more nauseous lately. Haven't gotten sick, but I do feel nauseous. My head is so stuffy. I don't know if that's related at all to pregnancy, but ugh! It's made my day a lot slower than I'd like it to be. In fact, now that I'm feeling halfway decent (for the time being, I'm sure), I should really get to folding (yet another) load of laundry, and packing the rest of the room.

Since we are moving tomorrow (eek!), I don't know when the next time we will be able to access the internet will be. So, in case it is a while - I hope you all have safe holidays! I'd give you all my cell in case I'm needed, or if ya just wanna text, but uhh... for one thing, I don't know where it is anyway. Another, the charger doesn't belong to me, so it will probably be dead once I do find it. And lastly, it's being cut off next week.

Time to get busy!

Love,
Kkens

oh to fill those shoes!

oh Benjy, I can't wait to meet you!

edit;




Carl was telling a joke that I didn't think was too funny...


29 weeks today. :)
& the expression was caused by Carl acting goofy.

my thoughts, on different matters

Two more days. This countdown went by ultra fast, don't you think? I can hardly believe that on Friday we will finally, FINALLY be out of Winder. You never do expect to move back home after being away for nearly a year and being married... and then things happen and you have no other choice. It really hasn't been all that bad. It feels like we've been here about a year, but we've only been here since the end of June. About 4 1/2 months. It feels like time has gone by so slowly, and yet it's whizzed past.

At our last Dr. appointment (I know I didn't give a lot of detail when I updated that day), Dr. Lowe asked us to rate our marriage from 1-10. I wonder how many other couples he asks that question, and how many others unanimously rate theirs at a 10. Honestly, I mean. Why do I rate our marriage a 10? Well because we're perfect, of course! Not really. We're definitely not perfect. We definitely have a lot to learn still. A lot of growing to do. But I think what makes ours a 10 is the fact that we are willing to grow and willing to learn, and to be patient doing so. Sacrifice. Honesty. Unconditional love. And so much more - we're willing to put it all into it. Why? Because when we said our vows, we meant them. Because we know our responsibilities and roles, biblically, in this marriage. I'll say it for those who aren't married - it isn't easy! Don't expect it to be! Expect it to be the opposite, and then get ready to work at it!

And it's so worth it. Every minute of it.

I can't wait until Benjamin joins our family. Well, he already has joined it, because he's here already... just not out in the open yet for everyone to hold and see. I'm so excited. If tomorrow was January 14th, I would be THRILLED. It won't be too much longer! I feel ready for everything, and then again I feel so anxious. Can I be a good mother? I know I can, but will I? I know I will, but how? And how long will it take to get the hang of it?

I told my dad what I wanted to do for my birthday dinner (they're taking us out since we'll have moved by my birthday, which is Sunday), and he told me I was breaking tradition because I had suggested we'd eat, and come back home to play card games or Apples to Apples, and usually we just go out to eat and don't enjoy each other's company. I shrugged and told him, "It's what I do." And it certainly is. Married at 18, pregnant at 19, and when I'm 20, I'll be the mother to a sweet baby boy. There are people my age who would say "I have too much life to live yet and to learn to have a family". But that's just it for me. This is what I want for my life. I want to be a wife and a mother. So why get started so early? ... Why should I wait?

Anyway, I feel like going outside with the camera... probably for the last time being here. Oh! I'm 29 weeks today! 11 to go! Closing in on the finish line!

- Kkens

2pix

My shower cake. It was waaaay sugary.

Me and my mom.

I decided not to edit the last post, so if you're wanting a small explanation, scroll down a bit!


Love,
Kkens

just a little humdedum.

Yesterday was my first baby shower and Benjamin got a lot of really nice stuff! It was sooo much fun! Thanks to everyone who came. It was really special. I went home and... slept for two hours. How bout that, haha.

Friday we are moving to Fort Valley. I'm excited, and I'm also a bit bummed, only because we aren't moving to our own place. And because I'm going to miss all the friends we have here in this area. But, we'll make a visit later on, when Benjamin is born and everything has slowed down. From here on out it's going to be so busy. And... I'm ready!

This is also my last week as a teenager. I'll be 20 on Sunday. :)

Kay! I'll edit with some pics later maybe. Got things to do!!

Love,
Kristen

a quick one.

I was tagged, and so I will do this!

4 Things I Did Today:
Cried because I couldn't drink orange juice (because of my diabetes screening).
Went to the Dr and had my orange glucose drink.
Had blood drawn (and this time she didn't mess up my arm!).
Said, "Happy Anniversary!" to my parents before they left for Helen.

4 Things On My To Do List:
Eat lunch.
Get rabbit food for Davey.
Call mom and tell her about the low-lying placenta thing... ugh.
Continue packing some of the stuff in our room.

4 Guilty Pleasures:
Cheerwine (cherry soda) - guilty because it's caffeinated.
Castle Crashers.
Pumpkin Spice Frappes from Starbucks.
Ice cream with bananas.

4 Random Facts About Me:
I cry for no reason sometimes (yay pregnancy).
I love football, college and pro.
If I were to get a job on the side somehow (which is doubtful), I'd like to be a photographer, or a writer.
I have very, very strange dreams.

--

Went to the doctor today. Had my orange glucose drink, which tasted like highly concentrated orange soda. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, but it was still nasty. Sat in the room for a long time before Dr. Lowe came in, and he informed me that my last ultrasound (at 24 weeks) showed that I have (had?) a low-lying placenta. The reason I guess we're just now finding this out is because their computers were down last time. Anyway, if it hasn't corrected itself (which Dr. Lowe is confident it has), it could result in bleeding and/or pre-term labor. So we're gonna have to watch out for that. I need a repeat ultrasound in a few weeks to check on that.

The thing is, I have to call and make an appointment with the doctors down near Fort Valley, because we can't possibly drive two and a half hours for a dr. visit.

Everything else looked good, and I had my blood drawn. Now I'm just hungry and feeling groggy-headed.

There's a small update on the job stuff but right now I need to eat. I'll tell you later.

Kristen

don't leave the smallest part

Not a whole lot to say today; it's been pretty eventless around here. However, it's one of those days where I don't really mind it. It's a gorgeous fall day. And the weather is actually chilly. Oh I love it. I spent some time outside with dad and Carl and Bailey. I don't mind getting chilly feet... it's a million times better than my norm - hot and puffy.

Took some pictures today. I'm officially 28 weeks. So basically the only reason I'm making an update is to show you pictures. :)

it's actually been a while since I've seen my feet.

I hate those glasses. Anyway, yay, 28 weeks.

pokin' out :)

a candid from Carl

my husband does not always cooperate.

Dad.

backside of the house.

Yeah, that's all for now. :)

- Kristen

rambling on...

Stomach, back, and ribs are currently aching. I'm thinking this is a welcome gift from the third trimester. Benjamin's not giving me a lot of room to expand my lungs... well, at least he's not hanging out with them under my ribcage (hopefully he will never get up that high!). So far, he's been hanging out pretty low and when he does stretch out, it's usually from side to side. And yeah, he hits that one spot that he has found a liking to kick, which hurts like crazy! I say he must take after his daddy because he seems to like to get me there a whole lot. And I'll go "oowwww Ben!!" and he'll just kick again. Carl suggested that perhaps he likes my reaction. Maybe if I made a silent "ow", he'd lay off? Who knows...

I hate to seem like the only thing I can do is complain. Really, it's not that bad. After long days, it can be a bit tiring, but all-in-all, I know that the end result will surpass all of this by miles and miles. 12 weeks doesn't seem like it's too far off... can you believe that, if Benjamin doesn't come early and doesn't come late, we will have a brand new baby boy so soon??! Carl has predicted that he will come early. I think he'll come more around the due date. Or maybe I'm just hoping so.

I need to go on a walk. The doctor said it was very good for me to go walking in the evening, and we haven't had the chance to go lately because we've been so busy. Hopefully this evening we'll get out and hit the pavement. Hopefully by then it won't hurt to move so much.

The apartment search... it's actually not so bad. We're waiting to get in touch with the folks down at Fort Valley to see if we can't get an advance in pay (and if I'm repeating myself from previous posts, I apologize... my memory really isn't what it used to be, and it never was exceptional to begin with). If we can get an advance, then there's a pretty good chance that we'll be able to be in our own apartment to begin with! I am so excited about the prospect, but I'm trying not to get my hopes up because I know things happen and sometimes they don't work out the way we prefer. Gotta just go with the flow, and that's what I plan to do.

I'm getting hot just sitting here (the sun is beating down on me and dinner is cooking), and I'm starting to drool from the smell of dinner... mmmm can't wait... good thing about pregnancy: you can be a pig and nobody cares to stop you, or has the guts to do it anyway! Haha! The other night at a youth devo I made Carl go get me a piece of cake because I didn't want to seem like a fat pig going in for a second piece. In the words of Popeye the Sailor: "I yam what I yam!"

Love,
Kristen

a weekend of unexpectancy

So I guess things don't always go how you plan... the family we thought we would be staying with until we save up enough for deposit and rent and all that good stuff... well, the husband offered it up without telling his wife. So we are no longer staying with them. That puts a bit of a damper on things. I guess if we can't find anything else, we will have to stay with the lady with the cats (which stay outside - but we weren't wanting to risk anything, ya know?).

I'm not getting stressed. Or, I'm not going to allow myself to get stressed. It wouldn't be good for me or for Benjamin, so I'm just going to take it easy. Today I figure I'd start packing up the stuff we brought over here to mom and dad's. I still haven't started doing that actually, but I plan to, probably after I eat.

It's finally cooling down here. I love the colder weather. It's perfect pregnancy weather, if you ask me!

By the way - I'm not good at keeping up with Trimester stuff, or months. I've been going week by week. But, apparently I'm in my Third Trimester. Ummm. Weird! Did not know this!

But anyway, that means three months to go! WOW! And with everything going on - I know this is going to go by so fast.

Oh, that reminds me... http://andbenmakes3.shutterfly.com/ That's the new site for Benjamin. It'll have all the pictures from here on out, plus journals, all dedicated to Benjamin. I'm going to try to show everyone pictures of Benjamin once he's born, but to be honest the best place to look for all that would probably be that site I just linked, or facebook.

Anyway you can become a member of the site and make comments or get updates and everything. Go for it! It's free and all that.

Kay, I'm running out of things to say! I'll update you later if anything comes up.

Kristen

so it goes...

(27 Weeks.)

I'm feeling more and more exhausted... perhaps it's just been a busy week. But, I have a feeling this is only the beginning, because November is right around the corner. There's a lot to do between now and then, and I haven't even begun... but today, and tomorrow, we should have a few more things checked out and finalized in Fort Valley. We should be leaving later today and going to stay in a hotel again. I like the weekend trips with Carl; it's nice to have some time with him that isn't interrupted by other family members. Not that I don't enjoy being around family...

I can't wait until we find our own place to rent. Hopefully it won't be too long before we can afford a place and get in there. Hopefully sometime before mid December, preferably before then. But we'll see. I'm just really tired of relying on other people. I mean, I really do appreciate my parents being willing to let us stay as long as we needed. But sometimes I feel like the welcome is running out. Or maybe I'm just getting frustrated. Anyway, as we can't afford to move in anywhere in Fort Valley as of yet, we are going to have to live with another couple. More relying on others. But I have to hand it to them - it's a real Christian thing to do. To offer your home to people who don't exactly know what's coming up in their future.

Time is running low, anyway! January isn't too far off and Benjamin will soon be here with us - I can't wait.

Anyway, I need to eat some lunch and get stuff ready to go down to Fort Valley. I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

an over-due update!

I'm so neglectful. I'm so sorry! But I have good reasons, or so I think anyway! Just bear with me!

Ohkay so you know that job I was talking about? Well, we finally got a contract! It didn't have everything we needed, so Carl submitted some of his input and hopefully by this weekend they will have everything sorted out so we can put pen to paper and get this show on the road! This weekend we are traveling down to Fort Valley, and maybe we'll have time to look around at houses or apartments to rent. They want us to start November 1st, so! Things really are moving along!

Last Thursday was my last Doctor's appointment. Dr. Lowe said that everything looked good, my blood pressure is up (THANKFULLY!), and he could tell I have been getting enough water. Good thing, too, seeing as I should be considered a fish from all the water I consume. Anyway, we go back next Thursday for the gestational diabetes test. There was a girl in the office last time we were there who was having hers done, and she seemed to enjoy the orange glucose drink. That's good! I was afraid it'd taste like... Motrin or whatever that orange medicine my mom always gave me is called.

Benjamin has found a favorite place on my side where he likes to kick. And yeah, it hurts. It also makes it hard for me to breathe sometimes if I'm sitting. So the other night I tried to push him over in hopes that he would move away, and he must take after his daddy, because he just kicked my hand like, "Um, I'm here, and I ain't moving!" He's getting so big, and remains VERY active, especially at the end of the day when Carl reads to him. He gets really excited, I guess?

Here are a few recent photos:

Our little family! :)

26 weeks!

26 weeks, 5 days

my handsome husband, who is so proud of his facial hair, haha!

Can't take him anywhere and have him behave! ;)

And that's all for now. I still haven't gotten totally used to uploading these pictures. If I find anything else to share, I'll upload it tomorrow! Oh, we get a bunch of stuff from Julie for Benjamin tomorrow, that's being stored at Truth for the World! I am so excited!

Time for me to start getting ready for the gospel meeting tonight!

Hope everyone's having a great week! Love you all!

- Kristen

edit// CAN YOU BELIEVE IT!? Less than 100 days till Benjamin is supposed to get here! 91 days! WOW! I knew it was 3 months, but.... I mean... WOW!

On Old Wives' Tales

I just wanted to pop on and make a short post for those who JUST MIGHT be expecting, and wondering what the gender of their unborn child is. It's a question that frequently haunts the minds of us mommies-to-be. But before you get online and start looking up the old wives' tales gender predictors... STOP.

They don't have a leg to stand on. They aren't always very accurate at all. 90% of the wives tales told me that I was going to be having a girl - even the heart rate one. The chinese gender predictor chart told me I was having a girl as well. Guess what? Boy. Here I had been calling my SON a her for at least three months... the poor child! Just because I had let these tales convince me. And the heart rate? 157. And he's a boy.

They are fun to look into, but don't bank on them. We weren't disappointed or anything with the outcome of our baby - but I do feel terribly rotten for calling him a her all that time. I know a lot of people get it stuck in their head and when they find out and it isn't what they expected, they feel sad. Don't let this add to it. Take it from someone who thought they had a leg to stand on.


- Kristen