update

The appointment went well....I heard the heartbeat and tomorrow we go for an ultrasound at 1 p.m. Dr. Abate said we may even get to find out the sex depending on how far along I am and of course if baby cooperates!

1st Dr. appointment tomorrow!

Tomorrow morning I will have my first O.B. appointment.....I think I am 16.5 weeks along...so it will be interesting to find out if I am right. You ask, "Why so late with the appointment?".....well, I have been going crazy here b/c my pregnancy insurance wasn't effective until August 1 and my doctor's office wouldn't even let me make an appointment until they knew I had insurance. I know it seems silly but it has been tough to wait so long. For me, pregnancy just doesn't seem that real until you hear baby's heartbeat, see the baby on the sono, and feel the baby move. At least I have felt this little one move but he/she still doesn't move too much. I am hoping they will want to schedule an appointment right away to date the pregnancy like they did at my 1st appointment when I was pregnant with Israel....last time they tried to get one the same day but ended up being the following day. So, there is a possibility I could see baby tomorrow or the next and possibly find out the sex.....YAY!

On another FUN AND CRAZY to think about note, I haven't been able to get the idea out of my head that there could be two in my belly. I know I am not that big and it is more than likely NOT the case but.....there have been too many mentions of twins from random people throughout this whole pregnancy to make me wonder. That coupled with the fact that I read a random fact that you are 9 times more likely to conceive twins if you are breastfeeding at conception AND my grandma told me that her grandma was a twin but her twin died at birth (twins can run in the mother's side of the family), AND I prayed for twins when I was pregnant with Israel...yikes! I am not really hoping for twins this time unless it is God's will;)...actually the thought frightens me but I just thought I would record my thoughts on this BEFORE the ultrasound......just in case...haha!

Well, I will update tomorrow and tell how it all goes!

Just wanted to share.....

an awesome site.....it is a 24 week "curriculum" to do with your toddler from 13-24 months. It is nothing real intense but just some ideas of learning activities to do with your toddler. I won't be doing all of them....like the second language part but there are some good ideas nonetheless! http://www.letteroftheweek.com/nursery_age_1.html

Talking and reader request

Israel is starting to say more words....it is so cute to hear him try and say things. He can say mommy now instead of mama. He also has complete conversations with me using his hands in complete baby lingo....it is so funny! He acts like he knows exactly what he is talking about....who knows maybe he does...lol!

Israel is fascinated with the mower....the other day Jer was mowing and I kept saying "Daddy is mowing"....he started saying mowing.....he got it out very clearly quite a few times, but sometimes he says "boween". This morning Jer was gone for work before Israel got up and he kept talking about his dada and pointing outside then he said "dada moween" as he pointed outside.....I was pretty impressed that he put two words together like that. I am so amazed at how smart little kids are....God sure knows what he is doing when he creates us.

Now to change the subject......I am trying to be better about spending our money on groceries and I was wondering if you mommas out there have any good and healthy meals that are easy on the pocketbook?! If you do I would love for you to share. I am using the e-mealz thing right now which has been great but I would still like to get some more ideas when I get tired of using that. I wish they would give lessons on this sort of thing before you get married.

Pregnancy update: I believe I am 11.5 weeks along but I am not sure b/c I have not been to the doctor yet....I will be soon tho...just waiting to clear up some insurance issues. I can't wait to see this lil one on ultrasound....I have been a little concerned because I feel so great.....just hoping I have been blessed with another easy pregnancy. I will feel so much better once I hear that lil heartbeat tho....one of the best sounds in the world.

God is doing a work

We just got back from youth camp on Friday and we had a really great time with the youth of Calvary Chapel....we had 11 from our church that went. I spent a lot of time in my room with Israel so I didn't get as much time as I would have liked with the kids but one night in particular stands out. I had put Israel down and went and sat outside my room to read....Jeremiah texted me to say there was a move of the Holy Spirit. There were over 200 youth from different area churches and the majority of them were crying, repenting, rededicating their lives, or accepting Jesus as their Savior for the first time. I wasn't in the church service but afterward we all met together just outside my room and Jeremiah encouraged them and a lot of them shared what was going on in their hearts. It was so evident to me that the Lord had touched their hearts as I listened to them say with repentant hearts that they realized their lives are not their own and that they had been living them as though they were. Young men and women crying tears of repentance over the realization that their lives have not been pleasing to the Lord. It was obvious that this was a work of the Lord b/c teenagers, let alone grown adults just don't talk that way unless they have been touched by the hand of God. The next morning as we walked to breakfast it was evident to me that not only was it our 11 that God had spoken to but also most of the kids at camp......their were groups of kids already up and about praising God with music and song.....something that wasn't happening the mornings prior. It was a beautiful sound!!

My prayer is that the Lord would continue to speak to the youth and change them more and more into His image....that these kids would go back to their homes and churches and revivals and awakenings would break out all over as a result of people seeing the love of Jesus pour out of their lives. It is so encouraging to see young people that love Jesus! I want to love Him more and live out my life as a bondservant of Jesus Christ! What a blessing it is to be called a child of God.

busy June

We have had a lot going on and June has been and will continue to be crazy packed with things we are committed to. First off, we found out May 26 that we are expecting baby #2...I think everyone that reads this already knows but I'll write it anyway. I think I am around 9 weeks along that makes me due sometime around January 20. With the exception of a few queasy moments here and there and being more tired than usual I haven't really felt like I am pregnant. I guess I will count my blessings and hope it stays that way:) The morning I found out, Jeremiah had the day off work so when he was still in bed Israel and I made an early morning trip to the store and I also picked up a test. I took it when I got home and 2 lines appeared right away. I was so shocked...I don't know why but I was.....I went in to tell Jeremiah, he was still half asleep when I told him Israel was going to be a big brother......he didn't understand for awhile....later he said he was trying to figure out who was pregnant in order for Israel to be a brother....lol....he was definitely still asleep. We are both very excited!

Then we had Israel's dedication and a birthday party all on his birthday...June 6th. It was a great 1st birthday for a little guy. We had a cookout with our family and watched him open presents and dig into his very own basketball cake.

We just got back from a 3 night-4 day vacation at Brown Co State Park. It was a great time. We stayed in a family cabin that sleeps 8 and has a kitchen, bathroom, and AC. We went with Jeremiah's parents, his brother Caleb, sister Claudia, and a niece and a nephew. We went hiking, swimming, and shopping in Nashville. It was so beautiful there....and you don't really feel like you are in Indiana anymore! The cabin rates are really reasonable if you are splitting the price with other families...I would recommend it to anyone.

This Saturday and the next we have weddings to go to. And, next week we are going with our church youth group to youth camp at the Higher grounds conference center. I think this will be a memorable June but it sure does make me tired just looking at the calendar:)

I hope everyone is enjoying their summer!!

Emealz to the rescue

One of my least favorite things is meal planning. I have the hardest time planning good, healthy, and economical meals. I wish you rec'd a manual on this when you get married. A couple of years ago I found out about Emealz....it is a web-site where you pay $5 a month and they send you a weekly dinner meal plan with recipes and grocery list. It is customizable to the store you shop at and they use recipes for that week that go along with the stores discounts. I also chose a meal plan that serves 2-3 people so you save money by not having too many leftovers which is great b/c my husband is not big on leftovers. Thought some of you mommies out there might want to check this out ....i LOVE this and to me it is totally worth the $5 a month b/c of the money I save grocery shopping. We like almost all of the meals too AND there is variety....I find when I do my own meal planning that I tend to make the same things week to week and it just gets old! So, if you are interested, go to e-mealz.com and check it out!