25 weeks

Well here we are in the final weeks of the 2nd trimester. I can't begin to tell you have fast it has gone! You know, besides the fact that this is our second pregnancy and they always seem to go faster, I think all that waiting we did in the adoption process has taught me patience. We had been on the waiting list for a year when they told us we had another 20 months to wait. Compared to that, 9 months is a piece of cake! And that goes to show there is a lesson to be learned in EVERY circumstance God puts us in....good or bad. God is great!

I feel great! Of course I am starting to have trouble getting around sometimes and there are days I feel as big as a house and that my belly is going to pop open at any moment...all the normal discomforts of pregnancy. And it's only going to get worse in that aspect but every discomfort is well worth the blessing that will come with it. I am so ready to meet our little one!

My last checkup was on Tuesday and everything seems to be fine. The doctor was trying to listen to the baby's heartbeat but he kept moving around and kicking her. Guess we have a feisty one on our hands. (Shane's child, feisty....nah!) I get to do the famous glucose test on the next visit and drink that 'yummy' sugar drink. My next visit is in 3 weeks and then every 2 weeks after that. Wow, I really need to get on the ball with decorating the nursery! We are doing pretty good on the diaper stash. Just hope I didn't buy too many size 1's. I opened a package of them to put them in the diaper stacker. They are so precious....and tiny! I've been watching for all the diaper sales at CVS and also getting $1 rebate for every package of Huggies that I buy. Yep, I have a great bargain teacher....right, Amy? : )

We are also trying to work out our finances to where I will be able to stay home beyond the maternity leave. As it stands the daycare expense for both Jeff and the baby will be more than 1/2 of my monthly take home pay. We have been praying for a job opportunity to come up for Shane and it may have been answered through our gracious neighbor, Kim. The company Kim works for is hiring part-time workers for some kind of accounting job and has offered to recommend Shane for the position. We are hoping that a part-time position could eventually turn to full time. Please keep us in your prayers!

I hope everyone is doing well. Thanks for following!

Misty

Cute baby clothes

First outfit and socks from Grandma and Grandpa. So cute!

One more thing to be thankful for

As you all know the economy has been unstable for some time and with it comes a possible financial nightmare for many families as companies are forced to cut their workforce. Unfortunately that happened (again!) last Friday for the company I work for. Out of about 400 employees 14 were let go which included 2 from the department I work in. Thankfully I was spared this time and feel very fortunate to still have a job which brings me to the post title of 'One more thing to be thankful for'. Thank you God for sparing me yet again and I pray that the families who were impacted by this find peace and are content with the direction in which you lead them.

Blessings to all who read this and I hope that none of you have to face this situation.

Misty

Taking time to appreciate life

It is not often that I am able to take some time out of my day to write down my thoughts and to appreciate all the blessings God has placed in my life. Right now as I sit at work, my cup of coffee in hand, I am taking that time.

I have so much to thank God for yet lately I have not done so. I could not imagine my life without God, Shane and Jeffrey; they are true blessings. And to also have family living close to us now. A few days ago I was talking to my mom about spending more time with her in the last few months than I have since I left home when I was 17. I didn't realize how important family is until just recently. Maybe it's the pregnancy hormones talking, or my old age (ha), but I want our children to grow up with them.. So many time we tried moving back to west Texas to live closer to everyone but God had different plans. Something always came up that kept us here. Wow, God does know what he is doing! : )

My most recent blessing, of course, is our newest family member, baby boy Richardson. We have waited many years for his arrival. Whether from Taiwan or a biological child, he was destined to be with us. I still feel that God lead us to adopt from Taiwan in order to test our obedience but whatever the case we will get to meet our baby in a few months. When Jeffrey was a baby I just couldn't wait for him to grow up and be more independent. I suffered from severe postpartum depression and in addition to that Jeffrey had colic and was allergic to milk products. It took months to find the right formula for him. Now this time around I hope to be able to enjoy the 'baby years' much more as my depression is under control and we also know how to handle a colicky baby.

I am also thankful for our friends that have been there many years for us. We have spiritually grown with many of them and they have become our second family. I hope to start spending more time with them and to show my appreciation to them.

I will close for now and I will end this post by saying 'Thank you' to God and our family and friends for always supporting us and being there no matter what.

Blessings,
Misty

Crib

Here are pics of the new crib and bedding. We all agreed on this one...including Jeffrey.

The giraffe is baby's first stuffed animal from Grandma & Grandpa. The white tiger is from Jeffrey.

Proud big brother:

We also put the curtains up but still need to add a few things before it is complete. I'll post a pic of them when we get everything.

Misty

Ultrasound pics

The 2nd one shows he is a boy...


These are the 3D pics of the face. Can you see the eyes, nose, mouth, and chin? He's smiling in the first one. :)

Yay... we get to shop for crib bedding this weekend! We bought the crib a few weeks ago. I will post a pic of it with the new bedding as soon as we get it.

Misty

21 week ultrasound

Just in case you are wondering God has blessed us with another little boy! He is healthy and developing normally, and very active I might add. I will post the ultrasound pics later today or tomorrow but I just wanted to let you all know about our wonderful news!

Misty