the little things

So Long 1st Trimester!

Today starts Week 14, thus entering me into the ever-so wonderful 2nd trimester (or so everyone who has had babes says! ;))

SO THANKFUL for this time in my pregnancy!  

My belly (even tho it was already fluffy to begin with..ha!) is starting to harden a bit!  SO exciting!

Here's this weeks highlights:

 

How Far Along: 14 weeks!

Size of baby: we've reached lemon status! ;)

Total Weight Gain/Loss: still no clue. oops.

Maternity Clothes: the usual stuff :)

Gender: hurry up November!

Movement: I was laying on my side in bed last night watching tv & I felt what almost felt like "bubbles"...I think it was just my imagination! 

Sleep: pretty good, but I can always go for more!

What I miss: Dr. Maseelall. Oh, wait...about not being pregnant?  Not a thing!

What I'm Looking Forward to: getting the office (soon to be nursery) all cleaned out & starting on the nursery while I still have energy these next few months!

Cravings: sausage/green pepper pizza (this was a new one as of today!), baked potatoes & sauerkraut! HA!  

Symptoms: hard sayin' this week, because I've been down with a bad cold, thanks to Nate!

Best Moment this Week: talking with Nate about him being a daddy. It seriously made me tear up seeing how excited he is!

We've had a busy week even for being a bit under the weather.  Monday, we ran lots of errands (& snagged a cuuuute outfit on sale at Kohl's for the bean--I couldn't pass it up!) & in the evening we went to Mom & Phil's for our birthday dinner (instead of gifts, they give all the kids & their significant others the option of going out to eat anywhere they want OR cooking any meal we want!)  Nate & I always choose mom's homemade BBQ ribs, red-skinned  garlic mashed potatoes, salad & my very favorite...Red Velvet Cake (family recipe, seriously the best I've ever had!)...although this year it was "brown velvet" because mom held off on all the red coloring for me :)  It was grand!

We've also been catching up on our new Fall TV lineup.  So far, still loving Big Bang Theory & Biggest Loser, but a new favorite is Mike & Molly!  It's sooo cute!  If you haven't seen it, try to check it out sometime. 

Tuesday I worked at the PCC, then came home & we got busy cleaning/organizing & most importantly, purging our entire upstairs!  Holy cow did that feel great!  Went through lots of boxes & seriously, most of it either got pitched or donated to Goodwill!  We're just realizing how much STUFF we have accumulated in 4 short years of being married & it's insane!  The thought of adding our Bean's stuff to all we had made us both cringe, so purging it was!  We kept the important things/childhood things, along with holiday decorations & such...& that was it!

Yesterday I wasn't feeling well enough to work at Pioneer Club at church, so I had to "call in" sick.  A few hours later, I realized I had nothing for dinner (that sounded good anyways), so I drove the 2 minutes to our local grocery store, ventured in, grabbed a few things & as I was walking to my car, noticed I had a seriously FLAT tire!  I wasn't feeling well, I was exhausted, but I just kept thanking the Lord for keeping me safe & for not letting it happen on the road!

I called Phil (thank goodness for him & for him only being a few minutes up the road!) to come help me because I'm clueless with these things!  He managed to get my flat off & my spare off...only to find out my flat was caused because it had completely wore through!  God seriously protected me because the guys at the shop today said it could have blown out driving down the road or on the highway!  So grateful!

Here's a cell phone shot of it. Lovely, eh? ;)

Tonight, I'm starting a new Bible Study with the girls!  Can't wait!  Last study was kind of our "trial run" & we've come up with some new ideas to help us grow & learn about Jesus & our walk with Him.  We've also arranged for a different person to bring a snack each week instead of last time when we went by the seat of our pants & that was a recipe for disaster! haha.  I'm really looking forward to it! (the study...not the snack...well, the snack too! haha!)

Thanks so much for all your kind & encouraging words on last weeks post.  I appreciate your thoughts!

 

Week 13!

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: 13 weeks!

Size of baby: my book says it's the size of a shrimp! We still call it "Bean" :)

Total Weight Gain/Loss: no clue. oops.

Maternity Clothes: still wearing my usual clothes, but I have noticed my jeans are getting tighter!

Gender: Can't wait to find out!

Movement: not yet...but after our ultrasound today, it's clear this baby is all over the place!

Sleep: meh. it's a hit or a miss lately.

What I miss: nothing!

What I'm Looking Forward to: meeting my new doctor next month

Cravings: baked potatoes & orange juice..oh! & popsicles!

Symptoms: nausea from time to time, soreness & exhaustion

Best Moment this Week: today when we got to see the bean & boy was he/she cute!  it was unreal how much he/she has grown!

Here's the bean today:

Eeeep!  Melts my heart!  We just love this little blessing!  

SO, so thankful for another wonderful appointment today with Dr. M, even though it meant it was also my last appointment with her. :(  I asked if she could just deliver our baby for us! :)

Mom & Phil came along to this appointment & it was so magical!  There were tears & lots of "awww's" & sighs & ooohs! hehe!  They took us out for lunch at O'Charley's afterwards...YUM! :)  It was such a fun, fun day!  We are VERY blessed!

In the meantime I am praying for some friends who are having a rough time right now & my heart crumbles for each of their situations.  

Sometimes I feel so "bad" about posting about this pregnancy for fear of those still longing so much for a baby of their own to see our progress.  I know how that feels & I know how it's completely bittersweet; happy & overjoyed for that person, but sad & confused about "why can't it just be me?!"  If you happen to be going through a rough time (infertility or otherwise)  please know I've been there & am praying for you! Shoot, you can even email me nichole87220@aol.com if you ever want to chat or have a special prayer request! :)  This pregnancy has not gone a day without praising Him & thanking Him for this AMAZING gift that we are so fortunate to have been given.  

 

Thankful

Lately, I have really been counting my blessings.  I like to think that I often acknowledge just how blessed I am, but truthfully...I sometimes take those blessings for granted.  I think we all do.  In an effort to pay attention more to all that God has done for me & my family, I feel lead to list some of the many things I am thankful for.

First, I am thankful for my salvation.  I was saved at age 10, but didn't necessarily "grow up in church." My mom tried so hard to get & keep Megan & I in church growing up, but we just couldn't find the right place to LEARN & GROW in our faith. I've always believed in God & have prayed for as long as I can remember, but I also remember going through a tough stage where I felt like I didn't have to go to a "building" to worship my God. 

Come to find out, it's just because I hadn't found the right church home.  In Spring, 2003 mom & Phil invited me to a church they had been attending for nearly a year, Canaan Free Will Baptist. I was hesitant, because I just KNEW it would be like all the others...boring, money hungry, etc.

After a few weeks of mom's invitations to go with, I gave in. And God showed up in a big way!  This church instantly filled the hole I had.  It was filled with oodles of different folks & had a younger Pastor that I enjoyed right from the start!  I attended nearly every Sunday for months & that following November I was baptized & became a member of the church.  It's just been home.

So, I am thankful for my salvation, my Pastor, AND my awesome church!  I am so happy that our church hasn't given into what the WORLD wants.  That we aren't just happy sitting still & letting people with unchristian beliefs try to rule over us, but taking a stand for God's word; the Bible.  

Yesterday we had what I'm sure most would consider a pretty "unconventional" church service. What we at Canaan like to call, "God & Country Day"  You know, where we STAND UP & SALUTE our God AND our troops & our FREEDOM.  Without those brave men & women who have, who are & who will FIGHT for OUR freedom, where would be?  It was a super amazing & super emotional service, complete with servicemen who we honored.  We even got little American flags as we entered church to show our support for our country!

God said it was okay to whip out my phone & snap a quick pic towards the end of service! ;) hehe!

It was not just about country.  God showed up in a BIG way!  Pastor Jim read scripture.  He preached an awesome message!  It was just a great day to be at Canaan! :)

Shew. That was a long one!

I'm also thankful for this little Baby Bean growing inside of me!  Thankful for the nausea. Thankful for the aches & pains. Thankful for the tiredness.  THANKFUL for this big BLESSING that we've waiting so long for!

I'm thankful that Nate has a job.  Even tho it cuts majorly into our schedule (the overtime, I mean) & Nate works so hard, he's often down right exhausted...we are thankful to have it.

I'm thankful that today I found out I will be an auntie to a little BOY!!!

Tana & Zeb had the big ultrasound today where they found out they'll be buying lots of blue! And that Baby Hall is growing & is healthy & strong!

I am thankful the weather here is getting gorgeous & the temps are getting just right.

I am thankful for a mom who calls just to say hello & see how we are. Even when she is super busy.

I am thankful for my closest friends & their stories, their lending shoulders, their laughs. Blessed!

I am thankful that my Tastefully Simple business is continuing to grow.

Lots & lots & lots more to be thankful for.

Life is busy, but it sure is good. :)

I'm Still Here!

The days have just gotten away from me lately.  Oy!  

Our county fair has been going on this week & let me tell you--it simply cannot be missed!  It's the best fair I've ever been to!  I've went every year since I can remember.  

Something about the food. The sights.  The smells. (good & bad!) The old friends you run into. The livestock. The CRAZY people! The lemonade. & caramel apples....;)

 

It's just really cool.  Nate & I went on Saturday before he had to work.  Then, I went again on Sunday with mom & Phil, then worked the Tastefully Simple booth.  I was back again on Monday so Nate & I could get our favorite BBQ Chicken Dinner (yum!) & to work the booth for the PCC with my buddy, Tricia!  

It's been a busy & exhausting few days. 

Baby Duenke seems to be hanging in. 12 weeks tomorrow!! 

I did manage to scrap some pages over the last couple of weeks. Here's the 2 latest:

 

Lots & lots to be thankful for these days.

My mom was offered a job today!  SO proud & excited for her!

Life. Is. GREAT!

Pioneer Club (it's like Awana's if you're familiar) at church is tonight...I'm helping assist with the 5th & 6th graders.  Last week was our first week. Oh boy!  This is a TOUGH age group!  I'm used to the little ones, so it's going to be a challenge, but I'm excited!  

I think that's about it for now. Hope all is great where you are!
  

Can I Just Say...

I LOVE this kid?!

You may remember Mr. Noah when I shared about his arrival last December. Well, my how has he grown & changed!  We got to hang out with him this past weekend at a cookout mom & Phil had & I loved every second of it!

He's precious. And so funny!  The happiest baby ever! He has such a great personality & rarely even fusses. Nate & I are hoping for a girl, so she can date Noah! :) hehe.

 

He loved my friend Mindy's sunglasses...

 
even if he did gag himself! ;)

Aren't they such a cute family?! Love them!

In other news from that day, there were FIVE preggo girls from our family at the cookout!

 

I know there's 6 girls here. Rachel on the far left isn't expecting just yet. Her & her hubby are waiting a bit longer, but we couldn't leave her out of our photo! :)

L to R after Rachel: Me-10 weeks :), Shelly- a brand new preggo, with #2-she's about 5 wks!, Tana-16 weeks, Stacey-20 weeks-due in January with baby girl #2!, April-22 weeks with a boy!

All kinds of babies! We are so grateful!

I'll be 11 weeks & have an appointment tomorrow!  Can't wait to see the bean, even though it's such a nerve-wracking time.  Trusting all will be just fine. :)