Update

Well we had our appointment this morning and I'm very disappointed to report that I have still not progressed at all. The ultrasound was also a little disappointing because I couldn't tell anything from anything! He's so big and squished up in there that all I could tell was his head, but no little profile pics or anything to show. I was so confused the whole time. The good news is the ultrasound and nonstress test showed that Charlie is healthy and doing well. I just haven't progressed and so the doctor said it was still too early to even induce.

So I have another appointment scheduled for Monday April 7th. April 7th. I cried when the receptionist wrote out the appointment card for me. I am supposed to have had a baby by then!!!! Anyway, I'm hanging on to the fact that he will definitely be here within 2 weeks, as my doctor will not let me go past 42 weeks, even if I still haven't progressed. He is healthy, and I am trying to enjoy every minute of being pregnant with him. Thank you to those of you who have told me you are praying for me, I really really appreciate it. I'm trying to be patient, but sometimes feel a little like I am going crazy.

I am thankful that we didn't have to make a decision about inducing today because I just didn't know what I wanted to do... or what I should do. I really wanted the doctor to either tell me we had to induce or that we had to wait. So here we are... waiting.

Party Day

I went to a birthday party and a baby shower (not for me) yesterday. When I got both of the invitations a few weeks ago and saw they were for March 29th, I laughed a little, thinking, I'll get a present, but I probably won't be able to go! Well, I went alright. Big ol' belly and all, to both parties, then thinking to myself, maybe after all this excitement I'll go into labor. Nope, didn't happen, friends. Just lots of questions and comments of "When are you due?" "You're still around, huh?" "You still haven't popped that thing out?" "Wow, your feet are really swollen!" And my all time favorite "You look so miserable." Wow, really? Thank you so much!

At the baby shower for my friend Alisha who is about 35 weeks along.

And I will subject myself to it all again as I go to church this morning. I really do love our church and am soooo thankful for all the people that love us so much... but I asked Paul if I could go incognito today, just to go unnoticed and avoid all the comments/questioning. He suggested I get one of those pairs of eyeglasses with the big nose and mustache attached. Think that will work? ;)

*By the way... I have an ultrasound/nonstress test and dr.'s appointment tomorrow. Will update afterward... and hopefully, even if we don't actually get to hold our baby by tomorrow I'll at least have a new ultrasound picture of him!*

sort of tagged

Okay, so I wasn't officially tagged, but I stole this off of Robin's blog just for fun...

1. What is your occupation? School Psychologist
2. What color are your socks right now? not wearing socks
3. What are you listening to right now? What Not to Wear on tv
4. What was the last thing you had to eat? Yogurt and a Peanut Butter & Jelly sandwhich
5. Can you drive a stick shift? nope
6. What color would you be if you were a color? ummm yellow? I don't know.
7. Last person you spoke to on the phone? Paul
8. Do you like the person who sent this to you? I LOVE her!
9. How old are you today? 24
10. Favorite drink? Coke Zero
11. What is your favorite sport to watch? I don't like to watch any sport, but if I had to pick... golf because it makes for a really great nap.
12. Have you ever dyed your hair? yes... in fact, right now its "two-toned" because I highlighted it stupidly right before I got pregnant and then didn't want to subject baby boy to all the chemicals and fumes... one more reason I'm ready for him to get off his lazy head and come out!!! And I mean that in a nice way. ;)
13. Pets? Daisy the Dog
14. Favorite food? Pizza and any combination of peanut butter and chocolate
15. Last movie you watched at a movie theater? Vantage Point
16. What do you do to vent anger? sometimes keep my cool long enough to leave the room and take some deep breaths, and sometimes say things I later regret
17. What was your favorite toy as a child? Cricket, the big scary doll that you put a tape into her back and she talks and reads books to you.
18. Cherry or Blueberry? blueberry
19. What is your favorite fall or spring? spring
20. Do you want your friends to email you back? or post on their blog... yes!
21. Who is most likely to respond? to steal Robin's responses on these two...errrr….
22. Who is least likely to respond? ummmm…
23. When was the last time you cried? Last night when I went to bed again with not having had a baby.
26. Favorite smell? baking bread
27. Plain cheese or spicy hamburgers? cheese
28. Favorite cat breed? there are cat breeds?
29. Number of keys on your key ring? too many
30. How many years at your current job? one
31. Favorite day of the week? Saturday!
32. How many states have you lived in? seven... I'm an army bratt

I'm tagging anyone who's reading this and wants to do it!

Amazing Testimony

Has anyone been watching the "Mistaken Identity: A Twist of Fate" piece on the Today show this week? Matt Lauer is also doing a Dateline piece on the story tonight if you haven't seen it. Two college-aged girls were in a car accident a few years ago, and one family was told their daughter was dead, while the other family was told their daughter was in critical condition. The first family mourned the loss of the daughter and held her funeral, while the other family sat by their daughter's side in the hospital watching her recover for 5 weeks. After 5 weeks, they started to realize that it was not their daughter, but the other family's daughter.

These families have been on the Today show for the past two mornings and they are all Christians, and have just been giving the most amazing testimony about Jesus and the sovreignty of God. Matt keeps asking them, where is the anger? Where is the anger toward God? Where is the 'why would God do this to us?' attitude? And they just all have the strongest answers that they want to use their story to bring glory to the Lord and that they know bad things happen and that we live in a fallen world, but that one day they will be reunited with the daughter that died and they can grieve with hope!!!

Matt Lauer spent quite a while with these people since he did a Dateline story about them and I'm interested to watch it and see the story more in detail. I don't know what Matt Lauer believes, but these families are witnessing to him and the rest of America on morning television!! Its so great to hear the name of Jesus on television in the morning, and I pray that people are hearing and that God is using their story for His glory!

Watch the Dateline tonight if you can!!!

Maybe I'll watch it... or maybe I'll be having a baby, you never know! ;)

Waiting and waiting

Well the waiting has begun. I am five days away from my due date and according to my doctor yesterday, I have not really progressed much. I have another appointment scheduled for Monday (my due date is Sunday) and he will do an ultrasound and another exam to determine where we go from there and possibly talk about inducing. Hopefully Charlie will make his appearance before then and we won't have to worry about that! But we'll see...

I'm really trying to meditate on 1st Thessalonians 5:16-18 this week:

"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

Just trying to enjoy everything and not complain too much...

Oh and funny story- my ankles literally swelled to the size of my calves at work today! One of the girls I work with was like "You have Shrek ankles!" Ha, they went down after I drank some water and elevated my feet for a while. Will NOT be posting pictures of that though. ;) Just another part of this glorious miracle taking place!!!

Also, thought I'd share a few pics of some things I had embroidered today... so cute! The onesie looks so small to me- I hope it fits!!!

Soaking it all in...

I'm feeling the need just to soak in every moment right now and just enjoy everything, as our world is about to change big time! Today was so great... one last free spring break day before work on Monday. I don't have to work tomorrow, but Paul and I will be singing/playing for THREE Easter services in the morning... so today was our last day to really sleep in and then get things done.

First, Paul put up the ceiling fan in our guest room! We've had the fan in a box for about three months now but I knew I wanted it up before the baby comes... that room just gets so hot and its where my mom is going to stay when he comes.

Then, I got all kinds of laundry done, including bathroom rugs and door mats, which hardly EVER get washed around here. And I did the impossible today! You're not going to believe this, but I opened the dryer (while it was running), threw in a wet sock I had forgotten, and closed the dryer, all the while, it stayed running. I know, I know, you're thinking wow, can this day get any better??

Oh yes it can!!! Aside from all of that, we also got some much needed grocery shopping done, making a little date out of it by stopping to get Icees from the gas station first. Also, the bathrooms are now spotless, and I cleaned out our closets. I even snuck in a nap while Paul watched some golf!!! Its rare that we have days like this, and its been so nice just to be the two of us. To end it all, we took Daisy (our black lab) out to a park by the lake in our neighborhood to throw the ball for a while. It was just a great day.

Four Years Ago

March 20, 2004

March 2005- First Anniversary in Galveston

March 2006- 2nd Anniversary in Austin
March 2007 - 3rd Anniversary in Houston

March 2008-4th Anniversary in The Woodlands

(Thanks, Carly, for loaning me a dress that actually fits!!!)

Four years ago today around 7 pm I walked down the aisle and said "I do" to a man I was so in love with. Now I am so much more in love and we are soooo close to having our first child, that honestly, it could happen today, on this day that we remember our commitment we made on this day four years ago! I love you Paul!!!! (probably won't happen today though- I think I'm just going to be pregnant for forever, really) ;)

American Idol Run Down

Anybody else into American Idol as much as I am this season?? Just thought I'd do my own little review of the singers this year...

Amanda Overmeyer

The rocker...okay I like that she's different and definitely not cheesy, but she's starting to sound the same from week to week! Not my favorite.

Brooke White

Definitely IS my favorite!!! Now she didn't do so well tonight admittedly, but she did something a little different and knew it didn't work. Usually I absolutely love her performances and think they are so fresh and different, not "karaoke-like" as Simon might say.

Carly Smithson

In my opinion, she has the best voice of everyone in the group. But for some reason I'm just not head over heels for her- maybe its her performances? Maybe she just doesn't pick the right songs, like Simon has said? I don't know what it is.

Chikezie

Didn't he start out with a last name? What happened to it? Anyway, I think he's just "okay." He's got a good voice, but can be really cheesy in his performances. I don't think he'll win it.

David Archuleta

He has a nice voice, but he seems sooooo young! And last week it really showed through his performance. The judges seemed to just love him and gush over him at first, but I think after last week, he may be gone sooner rather than later.

David Cook

LOVE him!!! He is so original to me and has a really great voice. Really talented... could win it all I think.

Jason Castro

He totally wins me over every time with those blue eyes and that smile! But could someone please give him some voice lessons??? He always sounds like he's running out of breath at the end of his phrases.

Kristy Lee Cook

I think her "eight days a week" said it all last week... Even though tonight was better, I have a feeling she'll be the one voted off tomorrow night.

Michael Johns

He is really great... very talented, great voice, though sometimes inconsistent and doesn't sound so good as he could... we'll see what happens with him.

Ramiele Malubay

I think she is so cute and has a great voice, but she doesn't always show it with the songs she chooses!

Syesha Mercado

Did y'all see her tonight with "Yesterday"???? It was fantastic!!!! I haven't been a big fan of hers until tonight and she blew me away!

So what do you think? Who will be the big winner? Is it too soon to tell? I never vote until it gets down to like the last three or four. But my favorites are definitely David Cook and Brooke White right now.

Welcome to our Newest Addition!

No, not Charlie... yet! But we did welcome into our family this week our new Mazda CX-7! So exciting and one more step to check off our list in preparation for this baby. I'm having so much fun driving it around and can't wait to be buckling a little boy into the backseat!!!

Palm Sunday

I mentioned before that Easter is probably my favorite holiday. Well, today is Palm Sunday. I remember loving this day as a kid because all the kids in the Protestant army chapel we went to got real palm leaves to wave pretty much during the whole service. Now I love it in a different way, for a different reason...its the beginning of the Passion week, Christ entering Jerusalem triumphantly. Everyone cheering. But He knew why He was there and that this was another step in His obedience that would lead to death, a horrible death on a cross. The onlookers cheered and worshipped, but a week later they would be urging that death.

"For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, and as a root out of dry ground. He has no form or comeliness; and when we see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him. He is despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised and we did not esteem Him. Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all."
Isaiah 53:2-6

Thank you, Lord.

Goodbye to the Goat

Today we might be buying a new car... exciting! But a little bittersweet because we'll be trading in my old 2000 Dodge Neon. It was the car my parents bought for me when I turned 16, which was actually in 1999. I got the car the summer of 1999 and was soooo proud of it because it was a 2000, bright shiny red beautiful car for a 16 year old girl.

That car has been with me for a while!

Last year when I worked in Humble ISD and was driving over an hour one way to work everyday, Paul and I traded cars so I could have the more reliable car with the heater and air conditioner that actually worked. Since then my old Dodge Neon has become Paul's car and he continues to drive it every day even though I now only work about 20 minutes from home (thanks baby!). Anyway, to him it has become "The Goat." Don't really know why, but that's what he so lovingly refers to it as and I guess its fitting? I tried so many times to explain to him the glamour and awe that that car held back in 1999 when it was a 2000! He doesn't really get it. But I know he holds a special fondness now for his little goat.

Anyway, today we may be saying goodbye to The Goat, my first car, and saying hello to a safer, bigger, more reliable, family vehicle (you know, something that at least has electric windows and locks, ha!). Don't get me wrong, we are totally blessed to be able to be buying a new car, but it will be bittersweet!!!

Favorite New Song

Okay maybe I'm waaaaay behind the times because as soon as I heard of her, I started hearing her all over the radio, but have you guys heard of Sara Bareilles??? Her song "Love Song" is one of my new favorite songs. I bought the whole album but haven't really had a chance to get into all of it yet. We don't have any blank cd's so I have yet to burn it and take it with me everywhere, which is how I usually get connected to a new album. But Love Song is just such a fun, catchy song. I first heard her on the Today Show and didn't realize how mainstream she was becoming already. I'm pretty sure she writes everything herself and she plays piano and guitar too... true talent that I can respect!

Just can't get enough...

I look in this closet at least once a day but usually more. I just can't get enough of these sweet little baby things that I will soon be dressing my baby up in! They look so tiny, but I know some of them will even be too big at first. I have to admit, over half of this stuff I bought myself... I think I'm having a bit of a shopping withdrawal, because I used to shop for myself quite a bit. But my how things have changed... here I am, about two weeks away from my due date and I have approximately four shirts that fit and three pairs of pants. A far cry from my previous wardrobe, but as much as I want to go shopping, it just doesn't make sense to buy anything for myself right now! So I buy clothes for Charlie. :) I'm glad he won't mind what I put on him to wear at least for a few years. Then if he's anything like me, he'll have his own independent way of doing things and won't let me pick anything out for him! I better enjoy the sweet little overalls and hats that I pick out while I can!

Baby Shower Weekend!

Wow am I sleepy! What a fantastic whirlwind weekend of baby showers this has been! It started with one on Saturday hosted by the "lunch bunch ladies," four sweet women who are friends of Paul's family that they have known forever. Then Sunday, I had one hosted by one of my Sunday school girls (I teach junior high girls at church), followed by a double shower for my friend Alisha and I hosted by the ladies in our church choir! So fun and we are soooo blessed!!!! I now feel like I have everything I need (plus a bunch of really really adorable stuff that is just so fun to get!) This boy is going to have some rockin' outfits (is that okay to say about boy clothes??) and I'm going to have some really cute bags and burp cloths to tote around!!!

Now all I need is the baby... come on Charlie, now's your cue!

My Man

Who is your man? Paul Dufilho
How long have you been together? Together since July 2001, married since March 2004

How long dated? Almost 3 years
How old is your man? 27
Who eats more? Probably me since I've been pregnant!

Who said "I love you" first? He did... after we had been dating for a year and a half!!!
Who is taller? Paul is by about three inches

Who sings better? Have to say me, but any other musical talent and its definitely him!
Who is smarter? He is- I call him my human calculator. ;)
Whose temper is worse? Mine
Who does the laundry? Me- that's a "pink" issue in our house.

Who takes out the garbage? Him- its a "blue" issue
Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? He does

Who pays the bills? Both of us

Who is better with the computer? Definitely him.
Who mows the lawn? Blue issue!!!
Who cooks dinner? Paul

Who drives when you are together? Usually him

Who pays when you go out? Usually him, but sometimes me
Who is most stubborn? Me
Who is the first to admit when they are wrong? He is
Whose spends more time in front of the mirror? Me
Who kissed who first? He would argue with you on this but I say it was he kissed me!!!

Who asked who out? He asked me out.
Who proposed? He did... he wrote me a song!!!

Who is more sensitive? me

Who has more friends? Both
Who has more siblings? Me
Who prays at the dinner table? Usually him, but sometimes me.
Who wears the pants in the family? I sometimes like to think I do, but when it comes down to it, its him. ;)

The Nursery

In response to Lindsey and Carly's comments I'm posting pics of Charlie's nursery. I've put a ton up on my facebook so I guess I felt like everyone was tired of seeing it. But my new blog buddies have yet to see it! So here you go... pictures kind of make the walls look like they are yellow, but they're actually a pale green with blue accents... Crib & Dresser- I now have all the blankets in a basket between them. The blanket with the stripes and polka dots is the one from the crib bedding.
Stripes over the closet
Tree over the crib- Paul painted this using a picture from Pottery Barn and an overhead projector! I love it!!!
Glider from Robin- recovered by Teri (my mother in law) and painted white.

Finished!

Yesterday I finished the rest of the basket liners- they definitely went a LOT faster than the first one. Definitely not perfect, especially the little one- it was a lot harder. But filled with little baby things and diapers, they look great! I am so proud! :) Now I've just gotta find something else to occupy my mind and time for the next 3 and a half weeks, hmmmm...

One Down... (and four to go)

Okay I am completely amazed that I was able to actually make this thing!!! I just finished the first basket liner and I actually think it looks good! Now if you pull it out and look at all the corners and edges, its clearly home-made, but on the basket itself full of diapers, it actually looks great!!!!

I have to admit, yesterday, I thought this would be pretty easy. But when I got the comment from Robin that it wasn't an easy first project, and later got an e-mail from my loving mother-in-law offering to help, I started to lose my confidence! Now it did take me SEVERAL hours tonight, but I'm thinking the rest will be a little quicker. I'll have to work on those another night though... my back and neck are aching!!! This project involved a lot of sitting on the floor to pin and hunching over the sewing machine... a little difficult with this little boy in my belly!!! :) Anyway, here are a few pics of the first attempt...

This Week's Project

In order to keep my sanity this week, my next project is to make basket liners for the changing table baskets! I did as much as I could on the scrapbook for now... more will come later after the baby is here (I know, I know, probably won't happen for a while, but that's my plan!).

We got a great changing table from Robin (can you tell I learned how to do links today??), but the liners match the bedding she used, not Charlie's. So, I am being very ambitious and attempting my very FIRST sewing project ever! I got a sewing machine for Christmas last year (yes over a year ago) but have yet to make anything at all! So I pulled it out tonight and started taking apart one of the old basket liners to figure out how this is going to work.

I haven't bought fabric yet because I figured I should see if I was even going to be able to work the sewing machine, haha. But after about three hours of playing around with it, I think I've got at least a basic stitch down! So tomorrow, I'll head to the fabric store and then begin my first project. I'm feeling very domestic and motherly. My mom used to make me clothes! Now I don't know if I'll ever be to that point, but at least this is a start! I'll post more pics as the basket liners develop...

Oh March...

...you could not have come too soon. So many things to look forward to! I've always loved the beginning of spring, its my favorite time of year. Also, our four year wedding anniversary is coming up on the 20th. Easter falls in March this year too, and I really consider Easter my favorite holiday. Plus its possible (hopefully) that our first baby will be born this March! My due date is the 30th, so it could be April, but clearly, I'm hoping for March.

I've been Tagged!

My first time to be tagged since starting my blog. :)

The directions - Share five random and/or weird facts about yourself, and then share the five top places on your “want to see or want to see again” list, and finally tag five people.

Randomness:
1. I would be REALLY excited to have Charlie born on my birthday, April 4th. I know, that would mean he was a few days late, and that would mean my birthday would forever take a backseat to whatever celebration we were having for him. But I just think it would be so awesome to share that with him and wouldn't that just be the BEST birthday present ever???

2. I am really scared of flying. Its kind of crazy, but I'm working really hard to get over it. As a psychologist, I know in my head that this fear is irrational and that flying is statistically safer than driving. But my emotions and my body cannot be convinced of this as I am floating in the air in a large metal vehicle!! And it hasn't been my entire life... only the last few years. I mean, my dad's in the army, so I used to live in Germany and even flew to the other side of the world- Kazakhstan- when I was in college!!! The night before our wedding, I called Paul to see if there was any way we could DRIVE to Cancun for our honeymoon. Haha, there was not, unfortunately. While there was a time that I thought I could never fly again, I have made great improvements and have flown several times successfully. But still when I think about flying... I'm scared!

3. I LOVE coffee and it used to be one of my best friends before I got pregnant. Decaf just doesn't do it for me the way regular used to! I can't wait to get back to you, old friend!

4. When I quit caffeine over the summer, just before I was pregnant, I was soooo addicted that I had horrible headaches and sciatic nerve pains in my legs for a week!!!!

5. My first dog's name was B.J.- he was a shetland sheepdog. I was six or seven and just looked at him and said we should call him B.J. Later, when my mom was completing the paperwork to keep him registered with AKC, she had to come up with what the initials stood for... Bethany's Jewel. :)

Places to go:

1. Australia. Robin- I would loooove to go there too!!! I've just got to psych myself up (or knock myself out) for the 30-something hour plane ride! :)
2. Hawaii definitely- I just love beachy vacations!
3. Back to NYC
4. Alaska- I've always thought one of those Alaskan cruises would be amazing.
5. France- I've been all over Europe, but never to France.

Tagged Friends:
I'm new to this and don't have a ton of blog friends... soooo, if you're reading this, consider yourself tagged!!