18 Weeks

• Feeling better in general - not as sick, a lot less tired. I really didn't feel like myself for the first three months but I am mostly back to being me (except I am soo hungry all the time and a little more moody).



• Still eating healthier - I have milk, OJ, yogurt, and oatmeal almost every day. Am working on being more disciplined with fruits and veggies. I drink soda on Fridays and typically have tea once or twice a week.



• I love naps - take them as often as I can. Got in a few good ones the other day when I went on a few deliveries with Brad. I learned that some people apparently just think I am fat. I hauled some furniture for a man who said, "I guess you do this as your morning workout, huh?". Then when we were leaving he gave us a tip - told us it was beer money. I guess my baby belly does look a bit like a beer belly these days. Kinda rough. But it was nice having a free lunch ;)



• Still discussing names for Turtle. Every name I come up with Brad says, "Oh, it's alright but not *the name*". We have a few that we both like but I'm not sure if we have any that we both strongly love. What a huge job! At least baby won't be named "Superman" or "4 Real"!!! :)



• Growing out of all my t-shirts. Hate to wear t-shirts in general because I don't look pregnant, just fat. Am loving all the new maternity clothes I bought with Amanda, Vicki, and Brad a few weeks ago.



• Celebrated another birthday a few weeks ago - am officially 24 years old now...sigh...sounds old to me. Will have an even harder time with 25.



• Am loving the new makeup Amanda and Dave got me from Everyday Minerals for my birthday. (If you go to their blog they sometimes have specials.) I was using liquid foundation before that and would have to reapply early every afternoon because my skin is so bad (and the stuff basically just came off really easily). If you have problem skin I definitely recommend you try mineral makeup. The only part I really have trouble with so far is making sure I cover up all my green concealer with fair concealer. It doesn't clog your pores like liquid makeup - it lets your face breathe.



• We are working on selling our college textbooks to make some extra money for baby and make room for all the baby stuff. Happy to get rid of them! Am planning on registering at Target and Babies R Us soon with my friend Breann (who had a baby last November and knows all about baby stuff - and is expecting again, yay!). Can't wait! :)



• Got a yearbook from UMHB in the mail last week and was totally thinking Brad and I wouldn't be in it (we only took yearbook pictures once a few semesters ago). It turns out there is a picture of us from graduation - not sure who knew who we are but I am really happy to be in it! That's the kind of thing I'll show our kids and grand kids! :)



• Felt the baby move for the first time a few weeks ago - pretty awesome feeling!! Next doctor's appointment is September 5th (with my doctor). I am eager to see how much weight I gained. The next day Brad and I are going to a doctor in Austin for a 2D ultrasound and hopefully find out if we are having a boy or a girl (if baby cooperates)!!!!!! :)



• Am taking a trip to Fort Worth/Dallas with this girl to visit this girl and this girl. Love them. Can't wait. Wish this girl would be joining us too (miss you, Mel!!). I figure it might be my last chance to have a girls weekend without a baby. (Though I do feel kinda bad for taking off on a Saturday - I am working on Friday instead - and Labor Day. But if I can't take off in August - our slowest time - then when can I???).



• Still hoping to take a trip to Port Aransas with Brad on a babymoon next month. Totally miss that place. Went there every summer since I was a baby (except for one year when we went to Colorado instead) and haven't been back in about 4 years. Love that place. Yucky ocean water and all. Plan to take our little family on yearly vacations every year...I have so many plans for our family...I soooo look forward to having a family with multiple kiddos and going on picnics, doing scavenger hunts, playing in forts in the living room, going on vacation, camping trips, sleepovers, Disneyland, movie nights, cooking parties, and lots & lots of Christmas traditions. Yay! :)



• Sunday is promotion Sunday at church - and incidentally I will be missing it. Promotion Sunday means that Vicki and I will have to say goodbye to some of our favorite kiddos. So sad! We're back to diapers and hard core transitions with lots of crying...I remember when our kids couldn't pay attention through a short lesson and now they are troopers. Very bittersweet. How am I going to handle our babies getting older?! (Not well, I can assure you!).



• CBS started back up on Monday...so I have been very busy with lessons, binders, registration cards, etc. It is so time consuming in the beginning of the year. Luckily, MAM is my helper and can help me come January when Turtle makes his/her grand entrance. Lord knows I will need help then. Our verse for the year is Isaiah 45:22 “Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other.” I am looking forward to a new year. I always miss it over the summer.



• Can't wait for Fall. I love cooler weather...and decorating the house with pumpkins...and seeing kiddos dressed up in Halloween costumes...and cooler weather...did I mention I love the cooler weather?! :)



• Got to meet sweet baby boy Blake Davis a couple of weeks ago. Loved this picture of Dave with Blake so I thought I would share. Too cute! Beth, Gerald, and Bailey (who need to start a blog ::cough, cough::) are lucky to have this little guy in their lives now.

• Oh, and I totally forgot to write about Corn Fest that was back in June. remember this post from 6/17/2006? Well, I thought it would only be fair to post this picture this year...enjoy!! :)

Isn't she cute?!?!? :)

BVOTD: I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. Isaiah 61:10