This week my mom and I went to the store Crib and Carriage and picked out Alyssa's nursery furniture. My mom is buying the baby bed and changing table, it was my birthday present and shower present. Since it's such an awesome present it deserves to be for two things. But who am I kidding... my mom has bought so much stuff for this baby already. I'm so thankful because it's a huge help and a huge weight lifted off of my shoulders. Otherwise I would be so worried about where we would get all the stuff and how we would ever be able to afford it.  I have posted pictures of the furniture in my album. It's black and it's the Emily collection. I love it!!! And the bed will change in to a toddler bed then to a full size bed. That's so great for us. I have also picked out her bedding. It's the Lady Bug Collection by kidsline. It is so cute! I also posted pictures of it, but the pictures don't do it justice. In person it's the cutest thing that they had in the store. I will keep the lady bug theme even when we change to a toddler bed. Luckily lady bugs can be for all ages. I can't wait to set up the nursery. But first thing's first we need to buy a house. We have a spare bedroom in the condo we rent right now, but I don't want to set up everything just to move it in a few months. We have been looking so hard for a house. I have to admit that it is really stressful for me. I just hope we make the right decision. We really wanted to get something that we could fix up and sale later to make some money on, but a part of me just wants to move in to a house that already looks nice, that we won't have to be in the middle of construction projects all around the house when Alyssa first comes. I guess I'm just nesting because I really want to make my environment that I live in clean, orderly, and child friendly. I really hope we find a house soon. Because we will need to get started before I get too big to do any packing and unpacking.

Well that's all for now. I have a doctor appointment coming up in about two weeks. So I'll keep you all posted.

 Yesterday I went to Babys R Us and registerred. It was so fun to pick out all of the stuff we will use once she comes. You know my favorite was the bedding for the nursery! But I also loved all of the other things like baby  bottles, and bath stuff, and well everything. I did try to keep it basic and register for things we really need, not just stuff I want. I still have to go back and finish, but it's mostly done now.

I am so blessed, I'm going to have 4 showers (well 5 because I had one a while back that my XAE sisters gave me as a surprise). My aunt Angie is hosting a shower for me and it's March 29th, we'll invite my extended family and my girlfriends to that one. Then the next Saturday (first weekend in April) I'm having another hosted by Tamie and Sherrie. That one will be for Nick's extended family and my church friends that are not in my ABF. And I will soon know the dates for my other two. One is going to be hosted by Kristy and it will be with my ABF from church. And the other will be sometime in February hosted by Megan and it will be a Carson-Newman girls shower. So I am so very excited about all of these showers. I have SO MUCH to look forward to. And hopefully all of this will help the time pass quickly in my final trimester (which I will be in my 3rd trimester in 2 weeks, I can't believe it).

Thank you so so so much to all the ladies that are hosting me showers. It really means a lot to me, and I know it's something I'll forever remember. I'm just so thankful. And thank you to everyone that will be coming because it will help Nick and I out so much.

We already have a few things. Some small things from my surprise shower with XAE. They bought very practical things like bottles, blankets, diapers, and that sort of stuff that I will definitely use. Nick and I bought a pink stroller and carseat that was on sale from Target. It was such a good deal I would've hated for anyone to by one full price. And my mom has already got so much stuff for us. She is so good to me! I don't know how I would handle having my first child without her (not just to buy stuff, but to guide me and give me advice which is what I really need). She has already got a bouncer, a rounder, a bath tub, and even a cradle, lots of cute clothes, and she's buying our nursery furniture. (I say she.... my dad is too, but my mom's doing the shopping while my dad does the working, you know how that is).

It's wonderful! The only problem we have right now is not having the place to put this stuff. So it's scatterred around. Some is lined on the wall of our living room, and other stuff is in my parent's garage. Nick and I are trying to wait to get a house before we clear out the spare bedroom where we are at and start setting up for the baby. We don't really see a need to do it all twice. So hopefully we will get a place soon. If not I'll have to get to work consolidating all of out junk that we keep stored in the spare right now. That will be quite a task, so I'm really hoping we move soon.

Our house hunting is going pretty well. We have one that we like okay, but we want to keep looking for a while. And we're still getting some things settled with the bank to find out exactly what type of loan we're doing. It's really a scary process to go through, but I know God will guide us through it and give us wisdom to make good decisions. And He will put us where He wants us, whether that's a house or right where we are. I just need to settle down and trust Him. But do keep us in your prayers about this. We are on a little time crunch if we want to move before she comes.

I'm so excited about the showers though. And if you want to look at my baby registry just go to Babys R Us online and look me up, you can see pictures and details of everythign I registerred for.

Love you all!

I have been trying to get all of my ducks in a row here recently. It's so strange because I feel like I'm so busy right now, and it scares me because I try to picture myself also having a baby and trying to accomplish all of my duties for each day. First of all I never knew that working and being a good housewife would be so hard. I'm one of those people that has to have the house looking pretty organized otherwise I feel like my life is falling apart. And this scares me becaue people keep saying "don't plan on being able to keep your house like this with a baby". I don't know what I think. A part of me says once my child is old enough to make a mess, they will also be old enough to learn right and wrong and get spanked when they step out of line.  I know that sounds a little heartless, but it's not... dicipline is the most loving thing a parent can do for their child. So anyway, it's been a stuggle lately to keep my house clean, keep up with landry, grocery shop, cook dinner, work out at the gym (which is neccessary for my sanity), and on top of all that working my two jobs and getting ready for the baby and looking for a house. It's just a lot, and it's a giant roller coaster right now. Some days I feel in control and like I'm on my game, getting everything done that needs to be, and others I feel like I could never possibly get it all accomplished.  I get so angry at myself if I sleep in, or watch tv too long and don't get something done. Again I think what stresses me most is thinking about how I'm going to throw being a good mother in to the mix with all of this. I know life is not always fun and playtime, but I don't want it to always be work work work, nonstop.  I know I shouldn't stress about this right now. I mean after all some of these things will be taken off of my plate when I have the baby. I won't be working for a few months, and I won't be having to do preparations for the baby (such as setting up the nursery and taking birthing classes), and hopefully by then we will also be moved in to our new house so I won't have to worry about that. I just know that I've only got a few months to go, and to get all of this done. Wow, it's just stressful. But I know I will feel so good as it all comes together. And I know deep down that everything always does one way or another. Life will go on whether or not the house is clean or dinner is on the table. These things didn't use to be so hard, and maybe they are now just because I am getting further along in my pregnancy, but I don't want to slow down.... I can't right now. We've got too much to do. 

But what comforts me is laying down each night, nomatter how exhausted I am, and feeling Alyssa kick and play inside my tummy. It just gives me so much joy! It just reminds me that everything I sacrifice (that can't get done, or that won't get done when she gets here) is all worth it.

Also everyone keep Nick and I in your prayers, we are trying to dig in to God's word and prepare spiritually for parenthood as well. I know that the most most most important responsibilty we have is to bring this child up in a Christ centerred home. And to teach her about God and what His word says, and for Nick and I to demonstrate that in our own lives as examples for her. So that is a huge responsibility and I know this is what God has called us as His followers to do. So just pray for us as we grow in to our mommy and daddy roles, and that we put God's will first in all of it.

Thanks. And have an awesome day everyone!

This morning Nick told me over a bowl of cereal that he had a dream that the baby was born. He said I had it in the house, and she was so small she fit in the palm of his hand. Then he said that I told him "she wasn't safe out here and put her back in my belly". haha

I have also had lots of crazy dreams about  the baby over the past few months. Some dreams are scary labor dreams where we don't make it to the hospital or they won't give me an epeidural or they medicate me so much that I don't know what happened and named her something that I hate; and others are very happy dreams about cuddling her, giving her a bath, and pushing her in her stroller at the mall or the park. It's funny how even when we are sleeping we are thinking about her. It's interesting to see how this little baby that God created through us is becoming such an important piece of our hearts. I love her so much already! I just get so much joy out of laying in bed or on the couch and feeling her move and jump around. I am so thankful that God would bless us by putting her in our lives.