Tonight I was Facebook stalking people from high school and I ran across a blog from an old friend. He and his adorable little wife are starting the adoption process soon. Having an adopted brother myself, I know what a challenge adoption can be and I just ask that you pray for the Brosh family daily. In their post, they talk about God's plan for their life together and what a journey they have been through thus far, trying to become parents.
The other day at church, a friend of mine told me something that totally made reevaluate my mentality about being pregnant... and Kayleigh & Matt's blog confirmed how selfish I have been about this whole situation. Rachel (the girl at church) jokingly was saying "I've been trying to get pregnant for a long time and you do it on ACCIDENT!" Another friend of mine, Tracy, also blogged about her struggles of getting pregnant... All of these things have helped me come to the realization recently...
No matter how often I say it was a surprise... It really WASN'T. Just because this wasn't MY timing for my life, doesn't mean it wasn't GOD'S timing for my life. God didn't just surprise Himself one day with me being pregnant. He has been thinking about it long before I even existed. He didn't wake up one day and say "OH NO! I THINK JESSICA'S PREGNANT!" God has a plan for each one of us. He always has.
My dad once told me that ignorant people think that God isn't answering our prayers. Wise people know that God is answering our prayers, but He is just telling us "not right now". Kayleigh (Matt's wife, whom I have never even met) is clearly one of those people who is wise. She sat back and realized that God has another plan for her. A BETTER plan. Just like God has a plan for me and Stephen... a perfect, exciting, wonderful plan.
Friday, September 24, 2010
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Precious little puppies
Something I have been very worried about since I found out about Baby G is our other children (Alabama and Jack) and how they will react to having a baby around the house. I have made a list of things our dogs do that I foresee being an issue once our little bundle of job arrives.
1. When Stephen and I are on the couch, there is always at least one 70 pound "puppy" laying across one of our laps. How are we going to hold an infant with dogs laying where the baby should be?
2. When a person is on the floor, our dogs like to pounce on them. The biggest problem with this is when Jack drops his toys under the table, and one of us has to get on all fours to find it, Jack goes straight for the head. I am not sure Baby G will appreciate being pounced on... especially when he/she is on all fours learning to crawl. Baby G's head will probably fit inside Jack's mouth.
3. Our dogs eat on the carpet... Let me rephrase. Our dogs take a mouthful of their food from their bowl (which is kept on the TILE floor) and find a comfy place on the carpet to eat that mouthful, all the while, leaving a trail of food from the bowl to wherever they decide to settle down to eat. There are three underlying problems with this. 1. They eat more that one mouthful. 2. They do not eat in the same spot on the carpet each time they get a different mouthful. 3. They don't clean up the trail of food they drop. These three problems combined lead to fifteen or so trails of food all over the kitchen and living room. Which brings me to my next foreseen problem... What if Baby G is crawling around and sticks a piece of food in his/her mouth?
4. Jack is a very jealous dog. He can't even let his daddy and me hug without whining. I just have a feeling he is going to HATE Baby G for taking up so much of our attention and time.
5. Alabama isn't so needy with our time, but she will come and get it when she is ready for it. She is very independent... and when she feels it necessary to be petted, she will come stick her head under your hand until she is finished with you petting her. If we have a baby in our hands, we won't have an extra one to pet her when she is ready to be petted.
6. They both have a tendency of jumping onto pieces of furniture without checking to see who or what is in their landing spot prior to jumping. Beds, couches, ottomans, there is no piece of furniture safe and no object safe. The hope of having more kids has been in jeopardy more than once with them flying onto the bed with Stephen still wrapped up (vulnerably) in the covers.
7. The dogs like to go in the car. We have been trying to train them to ride in the very back of the mom-car, but so far, Jack still likes to ride in the front seat, and Bama still likes to ride in the middle, sprawled out. No room for a car seat. Sorry Baby G, we might be strapping you on the top of the Jeep.
8. Dog Toys vs. Baby Toys... They are both colorful. They are both filled with stuffing. How do we teach the dogs the difference? Alabama and Jack both chew on our nephew's toys already... This won't be good.
So many people get rid of their animals when they have kids. I personally think that is HORRIBLE! How can you just dispose of an animal like that? If you bought animals prior to having kids... and KNEW at some point you wanted to have kids... I think you have no right to get rid of your animals. We will just have to figure out a way to make Jack and Bama that they are not people. MUCH easier said than done!
1. When Stephen and I are on the couch, there is always at least one 70 pound "puppy" laying across one of our laps. How are we going to hold an infant with dogs laying where the baby should be?
2. When a person is on the floor, our dogs like to pounce on them. The biggest problem with this is when Jack drops his toys under the table, and one of us has to get on all fours to find it, Jack goes straight for the head. I am not sure Baby G will appreciate being pounced on... especially when he/she is on all fours learning to crawl. Baby G's head will probably fit inside Jack's mouth.
3. Our dogs eat on the carpet... Let me rephrase. Our dogs take a mouthful of their food from their bowl (which is kept on the TILE floor) and find a comfy place on the carpet to eat that mouthful, all the while, leaving a trail of food from the bowl to wherever they decide to settle down to eat. There are three underlying problems with this. 1. They eat more that one mouthful. 2. They do not eat in the same spot on the carpet each time they get a different mouthful. 3. They don't clean up the trail of food they drop. These three problems combined lead to fifteen or so trails of food all over the kitchen and living room. Which brings me to my next foreseen problem... What if Baby G is crawling around and sticks a piece of food in his/her mouth?
4. Jack is a very jealous dog. He can't even let his daddy and me hug without whining. I just have a feeling he is going to HATE Baby G for taking up so much of our attention and time.
5. Alabama isn't so needy with our time, but she will come and get it when she is ready for it. She is very independent... and when she feels it necessary to be petted, she will come stick her head under your hand until she is finished with you petting her. If we have a baby in our hands, we won't have an extra one to pet her when she is ready to be petted.
6. They both have a tendency of jumping onto pieces of furniture without checking to see who or what is in their landing spot prior to jumping. Beds, couches, ottomans, there is no piece of furniture safe and no object safe. The hope of having more kids has been in jeopardy more than once with them flying onto the bed with Stephen still wrapped up (vulnerably) in the covers.
7. The dogs like to go in the car. We have been trying to train them to ride in the very back of the mom-car, but so far, Jack still likes to ride in the front seat, and Bama still likes to ride in the middle, sprawled out. No room for a car seat. Sorry Baby G, we might be strapping you on the top of the Jeep.
8. Dog Toys vs. Baby Toys... They are both colorful. They are both filled with stuffing. How do we teach the dogs the difference? Alabama and Jack both chew on our nephew's toys already... This won't be good.
So many people get rid of their animals when they have kids. I personally think that is HORRIBLE! How can you just dispose of an animal like that? If you bought animals prior to having kids... and KNEW at some point you wanted to have kids... I think you have no right to get rid of your animals. We will just have to figure out a way to make Jack and Bama that they are not people. MUCH easier said than done!
Monday, September 6, 2010
Half Way There!
When we lost Baby #1, it made me paranoid that we would also lose #2. BUT after lots of prayer and blessings... we've made the halfway mark!
We went to the doctor last week with the proud grandparents so they could see the ultrasound. It was really neat to see how far Baby G has come in only 10 weeks.
To recap on the highlights of the past few weeks... here is a short list!
1. We are now over halfway to the due date.
2. The due date has been confirmed for January 20, 2011.
3. I had to go to the Emergency Room and/or dad's office several times for fluids because I was so dehydrated from throwing up, but that has improved tremendously!
4. We bought furniture, a lampshade, bedding, picked out paint, and bought a few pieces of unisex onesies for Baby G!
5. We have decided on names: Girl- Harper Jane and Boy- Brooks (but no middle name... possibly Brooks Ryan)
6. We've bought several baby toys.
7. Our ultrasound technician was able to see, without a doubt, the gender. She wrote it down on a piece of paper and stuck it in an envelope. Stephen decided we should auction the envelope off to the highest bidder (with a promise whoever wins won't tell a single soul). I LOVE this idea, but Stephen has been going back and forth about opening the envelope himself. So I'm thinking Stephen will open it and just not tell anyone.
That's pretty much the update for the past few months on our little human. Here are some pictures from the last ultrasound.
We went to the doctor last week with the proud grandparents so they could see the ultrasound. It was really neat to see how far Baby G has come in only 10 weeks.
To recap on the highlights of the past few weeks... here is a short list!
1. We are now over halfway to the due date.
2. The due date has been confirmed for January 20, 2011.
3. I had to go to the Emergency Room and/or dad's office several times for fluids because I was so dehydrated from throwing up, but that has improved tremendously!
4. We bought furniture, a lampshade, bedding, picked out paint, and bought a few pieces of unisex onesies for Baby G!
5. We have decided on names: Girl- Harper Jane and Boy- Brooks (but no middle name... possibly Brooks Ryan)
6. We've bought several baby toys.
7. Our ultrasound technician was able to see, without a doubt, the gender. She wrote it down on a piece of paper and stuck it in an envelope. Stephen decided we should auction the envelope off to the highest bidder (with a promise whoever wins won't tell a single soul). I LOVE this idea, but Stephen has been going back and forth about opening the envelope himself. So I'm thinking Stephen will open it and just not tell anyone.
That's pretty much the update for the past few months on our little human. Here are some pictures from the last ultrasound.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Practice at Parenting
Last weekend, Stephen and I had the pleasure of babysitting our nephew Baylem (AKA: BayWatch)! Me... the girl who doesn't do diapers, bottles, or screaming babies... successfully carried out the responsibility of BayWatch four whole hours WITHOUT killing anyone, pulling out my hair, crying, or puking.
Now, when I say "I" successfully carried this out... what I REALLY mean is Stephen was the responsible one. He fed Baylem, played with Baylem, and when Bay was screaming his head off, I tried picking him up and he reached for STEPHEN! REALLY BAY?!?! We are BLOOD for cryin' out loud.
So the main reason for the post is to brag on myself. I changed my first ever poopie diaper. Yes! I realize I am 24 years old, and YES! I realize I am about 5 months from having a poopie-one of my own... and that's why I finally decided it was time for me to grow up and grab life by the horns (or grab the diapers by the little sticky tabs). And by that, I mean Stephen and I played rock, paper, scissors... and I lost and had to change the dang thing. I tried to play the whole "Stephen, I've been feeling really sick today from being pregnant and I just think I might puke at the smell" card... mission unaccomplished. JERK.
Basically, I am awesome at being an aunt/mom because I can change a poopie diaper (and although I gaged repetitively) I did NOT puke. I have come to a new point in my life... I am a baby butt wiping, bottle makin', bath givin', all around amazing aunt!
Now, when I say "I" successfully carried this out... what I REALLY mean is Stephen was the responsible one. He fed Baylem, played with Baylem, and when Bay was screaming his head off, I tried picking him up and he reached for STEPHEN! REALLY BAY?!?! We are BLOOD for cryin' out loud.
So the main reason for the post is to brag on myself. I changed my first ever poopie diaper. Yes! I realize I am 24 years old, and YES! I realize I am about 5 months from having a poopie-one of my own... and that's why I finally decided it was time for me to grow up and grab life by the horns (or grab the diapers by the little sticky tabs). And by that, I mean Stephen and I played rock, paper, scissors... and I lost and had to change the dang thing. I tried to play the whole "Stephen, I've been feeling really sick today from being pregnant and I just think I might puke at the smell" card... mission unaccomplished. JERK.
Basically, I am awesome at being an aunt/mom because I can change a poopie diaper (and although I gaged repetitively) I did NOT puke. I have come to a new point in my life... I am a baby butt wiping, bottle makin', bath givin', all around amazing aunt!
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Stephen's "Furture"
Two REALLY funny things that I wanted to blog about today.
1. When I was 12, I wrote a letter to my unknown husband. On the outside of it, it was titled "To the Father of my Furture Children"... Yes, That's right. I put FURTURE. And yes, That's right... That's not really a word. So on our wedding day, my dad handed over that letter that he had kept in he and my mom's safe all those years. Stephen read it, and it was pretty corny.
2. Stephen has decided he has THIS to look forward to (Please go to this link and watch this video.) It is hysterical. http://vimeo.com/12714406
1. When I was 12, I wrote a letter to my unknown husband. On the outside of it, it was titled "To the Father of my Furture Children"... Yes, That's right. I put FURTURE. And yes, That's right... That's not really a word. So on our wedding day, my dad handed over that letter that he had kept in he and my mom's safe all those years. Stephen read it, and it was pretty corny.
2. Stephen has decided he has THIS to look forward to (Please go to this link and watch this video.) It is hysterical. http://vimeo.com/12714406
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Dressing Like a Man
Alright here it goes... I, Jessica Lauren Garvin, like to dress like a man. Cross-dressing?? Don't mind if I do... Count me in!
I wear my husband's clothes every chance I get. There is nothing better than sitting around in Stephen's oversize t-shirts and gym shorts (with no bra on, but I will leave that out to protect my reputation). I actually have been doing it my whole life... there are pictures of me when I'm a youngster with my daddy's t-shirts on. And then once I left home, I would steal my boyfriends' shirts so that I could wear those as much as possible. I actually have to admit, I have one or two (or three or four) ex boyfriends wondering around somewhere missing a few pairs of gym shorts, t-shirts, and several pairs of sweatpants... and I have NO plans of returning any of these items... ever.
Now, the reason for the post. Stephen Shane Garvin has been wearing my stinkin' socks. He says "they fit better" because he likes his socks to fit REALLY tight. The problem is... once he wears them... 1. they are no longer tight and 2. they no longer fit me. See, when I wear his clothes, I don't stretch them out. It makes me soooo dang mad. No matter how much I complain to him about wearing them, HE WON'T STOP!
Ok, I've said my peace.
I wear my husband's clothes every chance I get. There is nothing better than sitting around in Stephen's oversize t-shirts and gym shorts (with no bra on, but I will leave that out to protect my reputation). I actually have been doing it my whole life... there are pictures of me when I'm a youngster with my daddy's t-shirts on. And then once I left home, I would steal my boyfriends' shirts so that I could wear those as much as possible. I actually have to admit, I have one or two (or three or four) ex boyfriends wondering around somewhere missing a few pairs of gym shorts, t-shirts, and several pairs of sweatpants... and I have NO plans of returning any of these items... ever.
Now, the reason for the post. Stephen Shane Garvin has been wearing my stinkin' socks. He says "they fit better" because he likes his socks to fit REALLY tight. The problem is... once he wears them... 1. they are no longer tight and 2. they no longer fit me. See, when I wear his clothes, I don't stretch them out. It makes me soooo dang mad. No matter how much I complain to him about wearing them, HE WON'T STOP!
Ok, I've said my peace.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Crib... Check
Stephen and I went crib shopping on Saturday. We spent a whole two hours in Pottery Barn Kids, and ended up purchasing the one we went into buy in the first place.
Last weekend Aunt Kari and Aunt Siiister have helped pick out baby bedding, a lamp shade, and paint colors. So now all that's left is picking up the furniture, putting it all together, painting the room, picking out a rocker, finding accessories... and OH! growing a baby.
I have to admit, when I first found out about Baby Garvin, I was a little upset. I felt like my whole life was being put on hold for this... but now, I am starting to realize that God has a plan... and that MAYBE I won't be as terrible as a mom as I think. I know Stephen's gonna be a fantastic daddy. I just cant WAIT til he/she gets here so I can make HIM do all the hard work! :)
Last weekend Aunt Kari and Aunt Siiister have helped pick out baby bedding, a lamp shade, and paint colors. So now all that's left is picking up the furniture, putting it all together, painting the room, picking out a rocker, finding accessories... and OH! growing a baby.
I have to admit, when I first found out about Baby Garvin, I was a little upset. I felt like my whole life was being put on hold for this... but now, I am starting to realize that God has a plan... and that MAYBE I won't be as terrible as a mom as I think. I know Stephen's gonna be a fantastic daddy. I just cant WAIT til he/she gets here so I can make HIM do all the hard work! :)
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