Almost Labor Day

Well, I am glad to report that we are getting close to Labor Day! Due to the gestational diabetes my doctor really wants me to deliver early. In fact, my doctor would be more than happy if I delivered after 37 weeks. Even though I am definitely ready to have this baby, I want to try to have her as naturally as possible. We decided to try out an acupuncture induction to see if we can get things moving. My doctor says that this type of induction is both gentle and very effective. She told us that there is about an 80 percent chance that it will work within three days. Originally, I was going to have this done on August 28th, but we ended up doing the memorial service (see entry below) on this day instead. My new acupuncture induction date is September 2nd. Then if that doesn't do the trick then I have a regular induction scheduled at the hospital on Saturday, September 6th.

So... pray that our little one decides to make an appearance on her own with out help. Above all we ask for a safe delivery and healthy baby.

On a side note, Cecily has a favorite book called Alaska's ABC bears. I have noticed that she was paying special attention to "F," "Fat Bear." And sure enough one day while we were having a morning snuggle she started pointing at me and saying "fat." She now refers to her little book as "fat." I'm not even safe from the remarks from my NOT QUITE year and a half year old! But, we do have to admit that the bear looks pretty pregnant...either that or I resemble the "fat bear."

Mini Jenni and the Professor

Here is Cecily wearing her "broken glasses." These are her sunglasses that the lenses have fallen out of. And let's be honest all of her sunglasses are "broken glasses" in some way or another.

These pictures of her reminded us sooo much of me when I was little. I started wearing glasses at 10 months, so in all the pictures of me at this age I am wearing glasses. While there is no question that she is her father's daughter... here is a little proof that she looks like her mother just a bit as well!

Rory also took a turn wearing the glasses... check out the video for that entertaining moment.

Latest Sermon and Church Update

Well, we have some great news! We finally have our building permit. As you may remember, we had a ground breaking ceremony last June when we received our site development permit. We were supposed to get the building permit on June 18th.... but didn't. BUT we are glad to report that we have the permit in our hands and that construction will begin on the building after Labor Day-- next week! Yeah! Thanks for all of you who have prayed along with us!

Here is Rory's latest sermon. This sermon was given the day that we found out about Peter's death, and after he had to announce his death to the church. Needless to say... it was a very hard day. God definitely gave him strength... to God be the glory.

We hope you enjoy hearing it!

"Run to get the Prize"- August 17th, 2008

Remembering Peter

In the early morning on August 17th we heard the tragic news that a boy from our church had been hit by a car and killed. Peter had been visiting relatives in Florida, and the rest of his family was back here on the Peninsula at the time. Needless to say this news came as a shock, and his family is devastated. Our church has felt the loss of Peter very deeply, and most of the kids in Rory's youth group have been greatly affected.

Rory had the honor of performing the memorial service that took place this last Thursday. Around 300 people came to remember Pete.

Even after the memorial it still doesn't seem real that we won't be seeing him again.

If you think about it, please pray for this family as they grieve the loss of their 15 year old son.

The picture below is of Peter with his sister Lauren, who is very special to us.

Potty Party

Here is a funny little video of Cecily hanging out on her potty. This is still just a fun activity that she likes to do... read on the toilet. She doesn't usually take care of much business -if you know what I mean. I still would not say that she's 'ready' to potty train, but she will go in the potty occasionally. And she did let us know that she had a 'yucky diaper' the other day.

Western Round Up

You may remember me mentioning Sprouts before. It is a playgroup for newborns through kindergartners and their parents that I lead through the church. It has been running for one full year, and parents and kids a like have seemed to enjoy it. There is a big mix in the people who attend, lots of churches from the area are represented, and there are several families who we have made friends with from our neighborhood. Everyone helps out and each month we have such a great time!

Rory and I got a hair brained idea to make our August Sprouts event into a fun family BBQ... but we couldn't stop there... Why not invite the whole housing community where Sprouts is held each month. Well, praise the Lord... people from the church thought it was a great idea and a whole host of people got involved. This became an even greater blessing as I got more and more pregnant.

God did amazing things! It turned out so well! Everyone had a great time and many people from the community joined in the fun!

As you can see from the pictures we had three electric horses for the kids to ride. These were a hit! A big thanks to our friend Warren Lubben who donated them for the day!

We also had several booths: Two craft tables- one to make sheriff stars and the other to make leather bracelets. There was a duck pond, panning for gold, toss the ring on the cactus, knock the duck and a picture booth. At each booth kids got a prize which added to their western costume.

Hope you enjoy the pictures and videos!

Preparing for Sister, Big Sister Boot Camp

One question that we often hear is... "Does Cecily have any idea that there is a new baby coming?"
The answer to that is.... not really! She is almost 18 months old, and she is just too young to really grasp what is coming.
We have done our best to try and prepare her. We bought three books off amazon.com and they are great! Two of them are board books and just have pictures, the other is a story about a little girl who becomes a big sister. Cecily really likes to read these books. However, she associates the baby in the books with her "baby" aka "honey" her doll.

Since we started reading the books she has gotten much more into taking care of her baby. She has to change a lot of "yucky diapers"-- all by herself of course.

Also, when I was washing all the clothes for the NewB Cecily wanted to put them on herself. I told her that they were for the new baby and she was too big to fit them. She nodded in understanding and went to get her doll. So we had fun dressing up her little doll in the NewB's clothes.

When you ask her if she is going to be a big sister she gives you an emphatic "yes!"

But we know that until the baby arrives, she will not really know what that means!

Nursery Edition

Here is a closer look at the nursery. As always it is a work in process. We don't have much up on the walls, but my mom is sewing a quilt-wall hanging for us to put up. I am also hoping to add a the wall art from Target that goes with the set.

This beautiful crib is on loan to us from Rory's sister Rebekah. This was Austin's crib. We love it! However, it is missing a few key pieces that the manufacturer does not make any more. Without these pieces we can't attach the side of the crib. So unless we find the pieces we will have to go back to Cecily's old crib (not the best) until Cecily goes into a toddler bed.

The dresser/changing table is on loan from my parents. This previously held linens in the dinning room. It's a beautiful piece and definitely will work well for us.

This other dresser was originally in my sister Cara's and my room. Eventually I ended up taking it to college. It has been passed back and forth between my house and my parent's house over the years. My parents kindly repainted it for us and then I got to decorate it. Here is a picture of Cecily "helping" my mom put the handles back on the dresser.

Rory's mom. Lillian, found these decals that matched the colors of the bed set perfectly. I found these wood cut outs and painted them to match the decals. It was a fun project. I also painted the lampshade and this shelf to match. (I have been meaning to paint this shelf for about 4 years now... I am glad that it is finally painted and has a home.)

Lillian had given me the decals and hoped that I might find a use for them. Little did I know that she was up to another project that used paper that matched the same decals. We were both delighted to see it all come together.

It has been really fund to decorate the NewB's little room. Now we just need our little bundle to go in it!

Before and After- Extreme Room Makeover!

Here is some documentation of the fact that we FINALLY conquered the office. It has been a mess for sooo long. When Rory got some much needed time off we turned our attention to the extreme office/nursery make over. We got some much needed shelf and storage units so we actually had a place to put things away. We also took a large pile of stuff to the local thrift shop.

We set the room up to be one part nursery and one part office. Which is an interesting marriage between Rory's black bear decorations and the NewB's ladybug motif. We are sure that ladybugs and black bears coexist in the wild...so why not in our house too?

I feel like this room can finally participate as a functional part of the house. It is also fun to see it come together as a great place to welcome our little NewB home to.

Family Photos!

Here are some fabulous photos taken by our Doula and Friend Sarah. We think she did an awesome job! If you are curious as to what a Doula is check out the link. Sarah helped us with Cecily's birth and she really helped to make it a wonderful experience. We have nothing but good things to say about Sarah and working with a Doula.

These pictures were taken at 34 weeks and Cecily is 17 months old. And Rory is over 10,000 days old. Hope you enjoy them!

Earning my Pillows

Our Doula Sarah says that she thinks that for every month of pregnancy you get to add a pillow- And that these pillows are cumulative... so that with every pregnancy you get more and more pillows.

One night I walked into the room to find that Rory had stacked all my pillows and was hiding behind them. As you can see I ONLY have six in this picture! And I really only sleep with 5 of them... mostly.
Now it would be nice to think that when I have the NewB, Rory will get his bed back. However, the more children we have... the less room there seems to be in our bed. Cecily sleeps in her own bed most of the time... then there are those OTHER times when she doesn't.

Just being cute!

Here are a few pictures that I just had to share. I love this little Strawberry Shortcake Cheerleader outfit. Cecily has been acquiring more Strawberry Shortcake things. We sometimes call her our little Strawberry Shortcake because she loves to eat strawberries so much. She also likes to color in her little Strawberry Shortcake coloring book-- it has all her favorite things-- kitties, butterflies, puppies and Strawberries!

In fact the other day daddy came home with Strawberry Shortcake birthday party things-- he found them on sale. So I guess her 2nd Birthday will be a Strawberry Party!

Our little cheerleader. She does have it in her blood. Her Grandma Bear and Aunties Genesis and Rebekah were all cheerleaders. I was in drill team in 9th grade... not sure if that counts. But anyway it wouldn't be surprising if she continued on in the family tradition.

Rory and I both had "little slugger" hats when we were little.

I found one just like mine for Cecily. (Rory had a blue one)

First Tea Party

Cecily's Grammie (her great Grandma Johnson) sent her a little dish set. This has been the greatest toy for her. She LOVES to play with her dishes! Here is the first day that she had them. She walked up to me and handed me a cup and said, "Hot Tea." (Hot Tea is Mommy's choice beverage so of course this is what she would give mommy to drink!) After our first little tea party we soon set up her table and stool in her room. This was so much fun! She definitely thought the table was a good idea! Whenever some one comes over she goes and gets them some "hot tea." What a good little hostess!