Baby

As I looked back over some of my most recent blog posts, I realized that I have never posted a blog about my ultrasound, finding out the baby's sex, and what the baby's name is and all of the latest news about my baby. How terrible of me!! Although, I am quite certain that the ones who actually read this blog are already well aware of these details, I will not be satisfied until they are officially blogged. April 16, 2008 we had a routine ultrasound done. They have to check to make sure all of the organs are developing properly and that everything is on track and healthy. I was 20 weeks at the time and far enough along to determine the baby's sex if we so desired. Which we did. Let me first say that all the old wive's tales were pointing to me having a boy and I had pretty much convinced myself that I would really not find out differently. As the technician lady is looking at everything she asks if we want to know if its a boy or a girl. When we both nodded in agreement she scanned down to where the legs were and aimed for a good view between them. I was extremely disappointed b/c she did not spend a lot of time looking over that area nor pointed out anything to us to give us a clear indication of her final conclusion. Her statement was, "Well...I don't see anything hanging so I'm going to say it's a GIRL." And that was it. I began to cry. Not so much out of disappointment but in a little disappointment mixed with the emotion of my baby now has an identity...although not a name! We were just set on a boy and had that name secured and we couldn't agree on a girl name so we wanted to confirm the baby's sex first. If we needed a girl name instead, then we would diligently search after the fact. So, we walked away from our ultrasound appointment without a convinced confirmation that it was a girl. We felt like we could not confidently say, "It's a girl." We would add the tag line, "Well, at least that's what the technician says." My dilemma was that my insurance would only pay for 2 ultrasounds so I was done. If I were to have any more I would have to pay for it myself and we just didn't have the money to do that. A friend of mine mentioned a local technical college that trains ultrasound technicians and they do ultrasounds for free for training purposes. Was I ever quick to make that phone call! I would be happy if the baby was a girl but I just needed that peace of mind to know for sure. On April 24, 2008, Jordan and I went for the freebie ultrasound. The students definitely took more time b/c they were being graded on locating certain organs of the baby. We were there for 2 hours and got to watch our baby put on a show for everyone. We asked if they could confirm the sex for us and they said they would look but the teacher would have to come in and confirm what they saw. The students got a straight up view between the legs and pointed out 3 little lines for us and said that means a girl. The teacher came in and confirmed it and got another angle of the same shot and we could see 3 little humps which confirmed the girl status indefinitely. We walked out of that appointment with peace and a confident declaration, "It's a girl--for sure!" I called my mom and said, "Let the shopping for pink commence!" Jordan will have his little princess and she will have him wrapped around her finger. As for her name...I had loved this name for the longest time but Jordan just was not having it. After endless searching of baby names from A-Z I could not find anything else I loved more. Jordan could not give me a reason for not liking the name so I was really getting frustrated. He finally said to me one day, "Say it like you're talking to her." So I had to say her name as if I was literally talking to her. A couple days later he began calling her that. I asked him hopefully, "So, does this mean that is her name?" "No, I'm just trying it out." A week went by and still no definite name. Then, one afternoon, he says, "You can have that name if you want it." "Really?! You like it enough and we can call her that?" "Yes!" Hallelujah!!! So it is now official--*Ava Jordan* is her name (we'll just call her Ava). It just seems to fit now and her name means "a voice" in German and I know that she will be a voice for her creator and first love, Jesus Christ. Oh the plans that He has for her!! I can hardly wait to see them unfold! So anyway...once the girl status was confirmed the shopping began. God showed us favor at the huge indoor yard sale that we went to one Saturday morning. We were able to furnish her entire bedroom for $150! Huge changing table/dresser combo, crib, small dresser, bookcase, and a desk/shelf combo with a small chair. We have to do some touchup painting and replace knobs on everything but for $150 you couldn't have touched that anywhere else. We were so blessed and thankful! Over the course of several weekends at yard sales my mom and I have managed to fill her closet full of clothes. It's really quite ridiculous when you look at it and know that I haven't even had my first baby shower yet and she has more clothes than she will probably be able to wear! But we're always looking for a deal and a bargain and we've been blessed to find so many. We even found a bassinet that vibrates for $25! I'm loving it! I just walk in her room sometimes and get overwhelmed with picturing a real baby laying in the crib and knowing she will grow up and play in that same bedroom. It still blows my mind! But I am so looking forward to it. Just 3 months to go! Well, I know it was a long blog but I didn't realize I had so much catching up to do. I'm actually going to have another ultrasound done on June 5th just for the fun of it. We didn't get any pictures the last time we went so I plan on getting some this time. It will be amazing to see how much bigger she has gotten. She's just a roly poly lately; tumbling from one side to the other! It's an incredible experience and I am quite thankful God chose the woman to experience this. Hopefully I will stay on top of the postings....until next time!

Jordan

There's at least one time in everyone's life when someone will walk into your life and completely change your course in life...hopefully for the better. Such a moment happened for me almost seven years ago when I met the man I now call my husband. God placed him in my life at a time when I had settled in my heart to be single and live overseas on the mission field for the rest of my life. I had come to a place of peace in "knowing" marriage was not for me. God was testing my spirit to see if I would just surrender MY WILL for HIS. When He saw the sincerity of my soul, in walked the man of all my hopes, dreams, wishes and fears. Yes! I said fears. Relationships scared me-heartache and heartbreak were too comfortable in my life; trust was something earned yet seemed so unattainable. Marriage frightened me. Every young girl dreams of her wedding day, right? Well...not EVERY one. It was a far fetched dream that could never be a reality in my life. Or so I thought. Sunday, May 11th, I will celebrate the day that God brought my miracle to Earth. Twenty seven years ago when he took his first breath God betrothed him to me. It would take 23 years of my life to meet him but I would wait another 23 years if I had to just to be with this amazing man. May is a special month, not only b/c its his birthday. It's also the month he proposed and the month we married in. Five years ago on May 17th we committed ourselves to the Lord and to each other. In one moment, every dream was fulfilled and a new flood of hopes and dreams were conceived. I give God the glory b/c this relationship has been one that has surpassed anything I ever could have imagined. I want to recognize His divine hand and plan in everything that we are, everything that we do and everything that we have. Without Him, none of this would be. So, one man changed the course of my life, my plans, my thoughts, my dreams, my everything. Would I go back in time to change it? Not for anything this world has to offer. In honor of the most wonderful man to walk into my life, I want to share 27 things I love most about him for his 27 years here! These are in no particular order. Jordy:

1. I love your heart for the Lord.
2. I love your desire to serve Him in all you do.
3. I love your passion to please Him in word and deed.
4. I love your compassion--not just for souls but for humanity in general. Your heart is bigger than this world and that blows my mind.
5. I love how you love me and you're not too proud to tell me a hundred times a day.
6. I love how you tell me you think about me all day and it still gives you butterflies. And how you tell me how beautiful I am even when I'm wearing no makeup and my hair is in a ponytail.
7. I love when you make up silly songs at random times when we're together. *yes, I really do.*
8. I love when you make that annoying screech sound in the garage that deafens my ears even though I swat at you EVERY time you do it. It's just a part of you and that's why I love it.
9. I love that you will make time to study, pray and seek God's face on what's best for our family. And you will work diligently to put His plans into practice no matter how uncommon or unpopular it may be.
10. I love that you're not afraid to work hard, sweat or get blisters and calluses on your hands b/c you're not a lazy man.
11. I love the wisdom that pours out of you. I really am amazed at all you know.
12. I love when you help around the house when you know I've had a busy week or I'm not feeling well.
13. I really love when you cook dinner! :o) But I love it when we cook together even more!
14. I love how our nieces and nephews adore you b/c you're not ashamed to just be a kid with them.
15. I love how you encourage me and lift me up when I've had a bad day or going through a difficult situation.
16. I still love it when you kiss me on the top of the head and hold my hand in the car.
17. I love your excitement about becoming a daddy and having a Super Princess. And how you can hardly wait to be wrapped around her tiny finger...and her heart!
18. I love that you will be the daddy to her that I always wish I'd had.
19. I love your spirit!
20. I love how you always celebrate my birthday with the Week of Christy even though I don't return that favor to you!
21. I love how quickly you can make a decision...You ALWAYS help me make decisions when I'm shopping for myself...you ease my frustration!
22. I love that you are willing to go grocery shopping with me even though there's always something else you could and would rather be doing.
23. I love when you fill my car up with gas for me and will even make a special trip just to do it!
24. I love how you see the best in me when I can't.
25. I love knowing that you pray for me and that you sacrifice so much for me. You really do.
26. I love the security and stability that you are in my life. Knowing you will always come home to me brings more peace in my life than you realize.
27. I love you b/c you are YOU. You were knit together in your mother's womb just for me. Even though that is just a fraction of your purpose, you light me up inside.

Happy Birthday and Happy Anniversary! I look forward to all that lays ahead. I love you more today than a thousand yesterdays combined!

*iloveyousomuch*