Something new about being pregnant

Before I was pregnant, I was a single sneezer. Now, every time I sneeze it's a double sneeze. Someone explain this quirk to me?!?

PROM 2012!

 Last night was our sweet Brit's Prom. She is our Pastor's daughter (her mom is above). Brit is the greatest example of what Prom doesn't have to be. But, her experience made me so thankful for everything my mom did to make my Prom special.

Brit borrowed a dress from me, shout out to Brooks Witter's bridesmaid dress. We bought her earrings for $9. I did her hair and makeup. She wore the same shoes I wore in Brooks' wedding to complete her $9 Prom! We grabbed the chalkboard out of my kitchen. Tisha, her sister painted beautiful flowers on Brit's toes. I gave her a manicure. And then we were off for pictures.

Brit and her best gal pals decided they weren't going to go with their bigger group of friends because the friends were going to be drinking! Way to stand out girls! So, they went to dinner together at a Japanese steak house and to my knowledge went bowling after. We took pictures on the playground and around a lake. It was so much fun to watch these girls have a great and safe and affordable prom! One dress was from the Prom Closet, a room at school where past donated dresses can be rented for free! How amazing!

Working Titles for Books I'm Going to Write

Here is a list of working book titles on pregnancy that someday I am going to write:

• You are Far Away from Mom and have a Million Questions
• Everything the Pregnancy Books Say is Just Not Me
• My Doctor Said I was Pregnant and That Was It!: Waiting on the 8th week Ultrasound
• The Not-So-Morning-Sickness-But-ALL-Day-Sickness For the Working Woman
• Animal Smells and Pregnancy
• All the Advice I SHOULD NOT Have Heard!
• How to Explain to Your Husband Your Unexpected Crying Jags
• So You Need a Break from Reading About Pregnancy: Ideas for expectant mommy dates
• I'm the Person Who Started Showing Immediately! HELP!
• My Husband Learned to Cook Fried Chicken because I'm Pregnant: Stories of the amazing men who brave pregnancy with you.
• Funny Expressions Parents Will Make When You Tell Them You Are Pregnant!
• The Most Humbling Experience In Life: How God Broke My Selfishness.
• How Many Tests Should You Take Before You  Believe You Are Pregnant.

Okay, these are just the ones that I have come up with thus far. More to Come! 

6 Weeks/4 Days

Deep breaths...I am six weeks pregnant and 4 days. That means that this week we have a heart that is beating more than 100 times a minute. My body has increased it's blood volume by 25%! And morning sickness has a new name in our home. Its now known as everyday-all-day-noon-and-night sickness. My constant companion! No matter what a book or someone's "experience", the act of going through the first trimester yourself is beyond words. You realize the fullness and magnitude of having a baby when you physically carry it, when your body begins bonding now in growing and supporting the baby. Oh man!

I'm hoping to share here the moments of hilarity in pregnancy....like having a normal conversation with someone and then almost up-chucking in their face! Or sharing the conversations with our parents when we told them we were expecting. Bursting into tears when the doctor confirmed the pregnancy or watching Derek research pregnancy and different birth methods. Trying really hard to work at a dog/cat adoption center while pregnant keeps my face GREEN! But through all of this we are excited and looking forward to meeting this little part of us. Now the size of a sweet pea, baby Fekkes is making his/her presence known!

On a side note, Derek is experiencing "pregnancy pains" alongside me! How sweet of him!!!!

Lastly, we made the decision that we will not post anything about Baby Fekkes on facebook for the time being. So get your updates here!

First sonogram April 30th!

Pray for Baby Fekkes' health!

Easter is Resurrection Day. On this day we remember the awesomeness of new life. We stand in awe of God's limitless power and his life-giving intervention in humanity's redemption. As we are freed from our mourning at the death of Jesus, we give thanks for his life and ascension into heaven. Because he was given life anew, we are given it also.

And this Easter, Derek and I truly experienced God's life-giving intervention in our lives. Not only did we celebrate the risen Christ and the gift of our salvation, but the gift of a baby. Kneeling at the alter on Easter morning, while Derek was playing the piano, Anlee had perfect peace in submitting to God's will and a niggling intuition that we should take a pregnancy test. On the way home we bought a test. After a positive response, we went back to the store and bought three more. ALL POSITIVE!

The emotions and lack of emotion that you go through when you realize the gift you are given is not articulated well. We both hope to remember the day as a day when we were given the blessing of being parents, an active part of God's creation. Celebrating Easter, joining our Midland friends for dinner, crying on the couch and standing speechless at all of this awesomeness...

Anlee will never forget...seeing the immediate plus sign and thinking, "nooooooo, really???" I remember coming out with a huge smile on my face and telling Derek we needed to go and get another test. He hugged me and said, "okay." Later, I remember crying so hard thinking, "I don't know how to be pregnant!!" Derek just held me close, slightly laughed, slightly unnerved. I couldn't sleep all night, anxious to go have someone in scrubs confirm this new thing for us! I'll remember the peace at the alter.

Derek will never forget...shock and disbelief. I will remember Anlee wanting to take more pregnancy tests. Then, calling Ashleigh to see if 4 tests were enough. Trying to hold in "news" while we were celebrating Easter with our friends.

Happy Easter Everyone!

Baby Fekkes is due to arrive this December!

Pray for health for the little one!

Lent: Maundy Thursday

Maundy Thursday, also known as Holy Thursday, Covenant Thursday, Great and Holy Thursday, Sheer Thursday and Thursday of Mysteries, is the Christian feast or holy day falling on the Thursday before Easter that commemorates the Maundy and Last Supper of Jesus Christ with the Apostles as described in the Canonical gospels. It is the fifth day of Holy Week, and is preceded by Spy Wednesday and followed by Good Friday. (Wikipedia)

Welcome to the near end of Holy Week. I'm learning so much about the Lent Season this year! I'm thankful I am able to share what I'm learning with you guys. Tonight, we have a special Thursday service at our church. I'm honestly not sure what is going on tonight, only that the tables have been set out so maybe food will be involved. I haven't been petitioned to make anything so not sure. But, we are excited to participate in the events leading up to Easter, Resurrection Day!

Tomorrow night we will remember Good Friday with another special service. Friday is normally date day for us so Derek was crafty in how he portioned out the day so we could spend time together. He asked me to lead worship with him...so, we get to spend rehearsal time together and sing together for the service. (Crafty). Sunday morning, we are gearing up for the youth Easter breakfast. Yes, I am responsible for making pancakes with the help of our youth (starting at 7:30AM) for our church. Speaking of our youth...

Derek has been appointed by our Elders to be the new Youth Director for OSLC. I'm excited to see him take on this new role and responsibility. Watching him prepare to minister to the heart's of our youth only excites me more about watching him someday be a Dad. God blows my mind in the opportunities he gives us as training ground. I'm now leading the girl's breakout session by myself! Pray for me!

Lastly, we are continuing to settle into our new lives here in the dessert. We've had a glimpse of 97 degrees thus far. Next week we are exploring new parts of our new state. We are traveling to a ranch to camp with the dogs, then to Fredricksburg, Texas, to meet our sweet friend, Amanda (Anlee's roommate in Korea). Hill  country here we come!

Happy Easter!