Pregnancy and John

I am now 8 1/2 weeks pregnant!  I almost didn't put that apostrophe there.  I enjoy the thought of having another kid but these first few months are rough.  I see the milestones (10-wk appt, start of 2nd trimester, 2nd appt, etc) ahead and I am thinking of better days.  To be honest, I think I am over the very worst of it (knock on wood).  Weeks 5, 6, and 7 were just plain shock as I remembered how debilitating morning sickness is, but since then I have adjusted my schedule to what I know is feasible for me to get done in a day without being too exhausted or sick by the end of the day.  Levi and John have adjusted to the pregnant me as well, and we are well on our way to accepting a new little one into our lives.  It is good for me to let John help with chores around the house.  I get to learn to relax and let him do things the way he wants them done, which is not always easy for me or most women, I think.  He volunteered to clean the bathroom yesterday (I mean who can pass that up?) but rearranged the items that go on the counter top in a different manner than I would have rearranged them.  I contemplated putting them back how I always have them but he did a really good job of rearranging them in a way I would have never thought of, so I left them.  I am just really thankful he cares enough to volunteer to clean the bathroom; I have a wonderful husband.   

Why, mom?

"Hey mom, I am about to take your camera if you don't get it out of my face!"  

"Why do you have to take so many pictures of me?"

Levi was not particularly happy about having his picture taken this day, but I was having fun.  I didn't get any shots of him smiling.  He is such a silly boy but I love him no matter what. 

Father and Son

John and Levi really like to play when John gets home from work!  They wrestle, tickle, play ball, listen to music, and do all the things that guys like to do.  I am really thankful for this because it gives me a break (not that I don't love playing with my son) and it gives them some bonding time.  Honestly it gives me time to make dinner without Levi wanting to see every little thing that I am doing on the stove top.  He really is interested in cooking and spends lots of time with my pots and pans making "food" of his own.  I think he just likes to mimic me. :)  

Baby News!

I know I haven't written on this in awhile but I have a reason: I am pregnant!  John and I are both very excited (I am sure Levi is too, he just doesn't know it yet).  We found out a couple of days before our anniversary, so happy anniversary to us.  :)  Well, I was feeling good for about 4 days, then the nausea and tiredness set in all too quickly, and I was reminded why I possibly didn't want to have any more kids.  I am really amazed that some women do this 12+ times (or three times for that matter).  Soon it will be over or that is what I keep telling myself.  With Levi the nausea lasted for 17 weeks; I have been praying that is not the case with this one.  We are seven weeks along so not too far but half way into the 1st trimester (I am looking for anything positive here).  Levi has been doing well considering I am on the couch most of the morning.  He brings me books to read to him and he comes and gives me kisses.  He is very well behaved and our house is small so he is contained in an area that I can see him at all times.  I think he does know that I am slow moving though because he has tested his boundaries a little bit more that usual lately.  Despite the nausea and tiredness, I am doing alright and very excited for an addition to our family.  We expect the baby early September.  

Since I am writing, I will give other updates in our lives.  I quit my job at Michael's; my last shift was on Wednesday.  I am too nauseous to work, especially if I start moving too fast.  They told me that if I want my job back, I can have it so that is nice to know.  

We have been having amazingly warm weather after having amazingly cold weather.  We had gotten down to -20 degrees last week and today we hit a high of 45 degrees.  I heard on the radio that we had higher temps than Alabama!  Alaska is the new south!  I am definitely not complaining!

John went on a youth retreat this weekend.  This was something that I was going to go on as well, but I am too nauseous to even try.  However, I am excited for the chance for John to connect even more with the youth.  He has been doing such a good job as a leader in the ministry; he has always had a heart for youth which is one thing I really admire about him.  

2009

It's 2009!  I am excited for the turn of the new year!  I am looking forward to spring as the last few days up here have been below zero.  I know that winter is far from over but I am dreaming of being on a beach somewhere, sipping something fruity, in my bikini!  Doesn't that sound nice?! 

John and I celebrated our 4th wedding anniversary yesterday!  4 years goes by really fast.  We dropped Levi off at the grandparents house and then caught a matinee at The Bear's Tooth (a restaurant, pub, and movie theater combined).  We ate our pizza and watched "Fireproof" which is a really good movie if you haven't seen it yet.  It was a relaxing, yet enjoyable day together, just the two of us.  We didn't buy each other gifts this year because we combined our Christmas and Anniversary gifts together, so we got bigger Christmas gift from each other.  

For Christmas, we got a few new fun things.  With some money that Levi got for Christmas, we bought him a rocking chair which he absolutely loves!  He can even get on it and off by himself which saves me a few trips into the living room.