Time to Catch Up!

Well, things have been so crazy. We hit the 12 week mark on Sunday, Praise the Lord, and I started a new job yesterday. We are so happy that our baby has made it through the first trimester. When I think of this pregnancy so far it really hasn't been that bad! I feel so blessed to be experiencing this, to have the opportunity to have life within me! Hearing our little ones hearbeat has been amazing! Cole and I can't get over it!!! It is just so unreal and we love it. I really have had it pretty easy too. I know not every pregnancy will be like this, but I am thankful that God has made things a bit easier on me this time around. They say God only gives you what you can handle..I am glad He was able to recognize I could only handle a relatively easy pregnancy..haha;) I feel like the instant we found out about this baby Cole and I have grown even closer then how we were before (something that would have seemed impossible to me because we are already so close!) We both want to be the best people we can be for this child and have the best marriage to nurture our children as they grow. I love Cole and I love knowing that my child will have qualitites and characteristics that he has. It is one of the ways I knew I really wanted to spend the rest of my life with him. Early on I knew I would rather my children have more of him in them then even myself...which is obviously saying a lot about the person that I know him to be. Our children will be so lucky to have him as a father.

As I continue to contemplate the impact that having a child will have on us, as well as the kind of parent I want to be, I have spent a lot of time reflecting on the childhood and parenting that I had! I know it is easier to remember the bad over the good, but either way I will use my past to improve my future as well as the future of those in my life. I want to be there in every way for my children. I want them to be able to talk to me....I will always care and take interest in what is going on in their life. I will work everyday to sacrifice on their behalf! As for Cole, I actually find myself envious that my children have the opportunity to grow up with a father like him. He is going to be loving, have high expectations, but be the rock of this family and the rock of their lives as they grow up. He will never handicap their abilities just so he is able to feel needed or more important in their life. Instead, he will encourage and push them to be all they can be, be there if they need him, but give them the tools to conquer things on their own! I know we have high expectations for ourselves, and I know that life happens and it may be more difficult then we think, but we will try our hardest and be conscious of our weaknesses. This is what we will strive for everyday!

The new job has been fun so far. God is so good and it is amazing how He unfolds His plans for us. He really has blessed Cole and me...this job came at the EXACT moment we needed it. And it is the job I wanted and has turned out to be a great opportunity. I enjoy the women I work with, and even though I was nervous at first, I told them I was pregnant today and no one seemed upset! I like being on campus and I like working with the students. I feel much more productive! It is a very fun environment, and although I thought i would NEVER say this, it kind of makes me miss college. I think it understandable to miss it now, because much of the stress is off because I already got my degree! I still think I want to pursue taking Spanish classes sometime soon.

Sharing this pregnancy with Andrea has been amazing. We joked about always wanted to share all our important experiences together but we never would have truly purposefully planned our pregnancies around each other. I guess God agreed with us that it would be fun, and decided to bless us with children at the same time. I love thinking about the relationship our children will have with each other. I can't wait for Andrea to move back here. There is just so much I want to do with her! I want to go to church with her everyday with our little babies, I want to go to the pool and swim, and pack lunches, go to the park, bar-b-q with our hubbies, watch girly shows like the bachelor together each week, and go to sappy movies together when they come out. oh, and don't forget the shopping trips. I just miss her and would love for her and her family to get to live by us. I want our families to be so close!!!!

Well, I don't know how much that really caught you up, but it def. felt good to get it all out. We have some weddings coming up which will be fun, but I am mostly looking forward to Fall and having things settle down a bit. This pregnancy has already changed me so much. I long for Fall and for the cooler weather and for pumpkins and halloween and thanksgiving! I look forward to snuggling with Cole by the fire and watching our favorite shows at night (especially for Biggest Loser with Ames!). Life is good...and it looks like it is going to get even better:)