Getting Big!

So....I am basically getting huge! Haha! I was looking at the pictures that I want to post of my belly the past two weeks and realized I am really starting to stick out. It was funny to me to go back and look at pictures of me when I was only 17 weeks along or so. Now my bump looks so tiny in those pictures, but back then I thought I was huge...boy, so many changes!

{I thought I'd throw in this picture of Drew and I together...doesn't he look so happy that I am dragging him to another wedding?!}

I have still been having a great pregnancy and having fun with the growing belly and the little and sometimes strong kicks Grayson gives me throughout the day and especially the evening. However, I did have to call my doctor this week to check to make sure everything was ok because I was having a strong pain on my right side of my belly right under my ribs. I'm talking bad pain! I couldn't lay on my right side and sitting made me want to cry. I spent that whole Thursday in bed because I was just so uncomfortable. The doctor's office said that it is just growing pains. (uh, ouch!) They explained that everything is moving upward so the baby has more room to grow and the pain can be caused by the muscles and even intenstines in my body being moved around to make more room for the baby. They told me to take two extra strength Tylenol, drink lots of water, and to take it easy. I felt much better the next day as far as the ole stomach growing pains go, but then I started having some no-joking-around lower back pain. I feel like pregnancy makes you become like an old woman or something! Pretty soon I am going to need a cane to walk around, people! This is craziness!!

Ok, enough complaining...I know it will all be worth it and can't WAIT to hold this sweet boy of mine soon. Only 11 more weeks and 2 days until my due date! That is NOT LONG! I know those 11 weeks are going to fly by too. I am so thankful to have this time at home before Grayson comes so that I can have fun doing all the crafty things to set up the nursery, read books (currently reading Bringing Up Boys, Shepherding Your Child's Heart, Power of a Praying Wife, and The Happiest Baby on the Block), cooking, making lunches for my sweet husband to take to work, and practicing staying within this new budget of living off of one income!

In other news, I basically win wife of the year award for yesterday! It was pretty much "the day of Drew." I woke him up with waffles and maple syrup, his favorite. Then, he asked me if I would go with him to an empty culdesac behind our house to take pictures of him skateboarding on his "fun box."

For lunch, he requested his favorite Peruvian dish, lomo saltado. Alison and Justin introduced us to this dish when we visited them in Lima last summer and Drew cannot stop talking about it! He even changed the wallpaper on his computer to some nasty food picture of this dish!! I told him if he could find a good recipe, then I would try to make it. So, he hastily searched the internet, printed it out for me, and I got to work to attempt to make this for him (not me...I wasn't as big of a fan). It's basically a beef stir fry with bell peppers, onions, tomatoes, and FRENCH FRIES (weird, huh?!). It always comes with a side of rice and a fried egg (again, weird...right?!) So here it is folks...Tara's attempt at Drew's lomo saltado!

Then, Drew went to hit golf balls with his friend and cousin, Tony. Later that night, we watched Mixed Martial Arts fights together until LATE so we could see his current favorite fighter's match. See what I mean about the day of Drew?! Please tell me I win some kind of award for this!! Well, ok it was a fun day. I love my husband and love all the strange things about him! :) He definitely keeps life interesting!

What a blessing!

God is so good, isn't he?! I have been meaning to share this particular blessing for a long time on here, but haven't gotten around to it. However, this blessing is too sweet to go unmentioned.

During our 19 week appointment, where we found out we are having a boy, we also were told by the doctor that our son had a cyst in his brain. He showed us on the sonogram how on the white skull you could see a decent sized black circle, which was the cyst. Dr. Snead told us that what that meant is that he would want to see me again in about a month to do another ultrasound to see if the cyst was still there, or if it would possibly disappear. It was explained to us that the percentage of us having a child with a chromosomal disorder was about 1 in 1000 for my age to be gin with, and this cyst just upped that percentage by 4. Still, a very small percentage. He comforted us by telling us that even his own daughter's sonogram showed her having two large cysts on either side of her brain and that she turned out perfectly healthy and he wasn't worried when he saw the cysts on her ultrasound but was more worried about his wife freaking out. Drew and I were still overcome with such joy that we are having a boy and that we were getting to see his sweet features on the ultrasound, that we really didn't flinch when we heard this news. Nothing could have stolen my joy at that moment; not even possibly concerning news such as a cyst on my baby's brain. God had blessed us with such peace. I was honestly just excited that this just meant that I would get to see my sweet boy again on another ultrasound in a month when I wasn't expecting to get to see him again until delivery! As always, Dr. Snead asked if he could pray with us after the ultrasound and he prayed specifically that God would heal the cyst in Grayson's brain. Before we left, Dr. Snead said that he would just keep setting up ultrasounds to check on the cyst until either Grayson was born or until the cyst would possibly disappear. We left as happy as can be that we are having a BOY and that God is so good to us, no matter what. We got in the car and said a prayer of thankfulness for the good news and asked God to help the cyst to disappear soon. On the way to meet family to tell them we are having a boy, Drew and I talked about how much peace we felt. Even if we ended up having a child with a chromosomal disorder, we knew God would never give us more than we could handle and that He would bless us with the strength and support we would need if that was what He called us to do. Drew sweetly told me that if that was the case, he wouldn't rather go through anything like that with anyone else but me. What a sweet and assuring husband! From that day until June 20th, Drew and I boldly prayed every night in our prayers that God would heal Grayson's cyst and would help it to be completely gone by the time we went in for the next ultrasound. Not once were Drew or I tempted to look up anything on chromosomal disorders or the chances that we might have a child with something like that on the internet. Afterall, you can find just about anything--good or bad--on that internet and I'm sure it would have only caused us worry, fear, and pain. Not once did I ever feel paralyzed by fear, curiosity, sadness. All I felt during this time was pure joy, peace, and contentment! I know that must have been the Holy Spirit protecting me giving me that overwhelming sense of peace. On June 20th, Drew and I went back in for the sonogram and immediately, Dr. Snead said, "It's gone! The cyst is gone!" Sure enough, we just saw Grayson's white skull/brain without a single trace of a black spot where the cyst was! I was so thankful God had so faithfully answered our prayers and the prayers of others on our behalf. And I was blessed with joy and reassurance, but I wasn't surprised. God is good ALL THE TIME. Even if the outcome had been different, God is good. It did bless Drew and I with peace and even more joy that we serve a God that listens and answers our prayers. We immediately said another prayer of thankfulness in the car together before getting in our separate cars to drive home. I asked Drew to call his parents to tell them the good news and told him that I would call my parents to tell them the good news as well. Drew later told me that his family was so happy to hear that Grayson's cyst was gone. When I called my mom, she was so thankful that God answered our prayers and told me to try to call my dad who was at a baseball tournament in Utah with some friends. I called him and left a message for him to call me back when he could. A few minutes later, Dad called me and I was able to tell him that the cyst was GONE! Dad told me that it brought a lump to his throat and asked if he could say a prayer with me over the phone. I haven't really seen or heard my dad cry but maybe a couple of times in my life, but he could barely choke out his sweet prayer because he was so moved by how God blessed us with this news...which of COURSE got this emotional-already-and-hormonal-pregnant-girl choked up as well!

All of this to say, that God is so good, his blessings are endless, and his faithfulness has no bounds. Thank you, God!

He's still a boy!

Sweet arm and profile, look at those pouty lips!, and incredible spine.

Another sweet Grayson profile, foot, and hand.

Prego Pics: Weeks 22-26

Week 22

Week 23

Week 24

Week 25

Week 26

California

We are recently back from a wonderful trip to California! My parents flew us out over the 4th of July weekend to spend Thursday-Tuesday there with them and my brother, Trey and sister-in-law, Katie. We had a blast!

Thursday night we got in pretty late to Santa Barbara. We stayed at a gorgeous hotel right in the heart of town and enjoyed strolling around the shops, piers, and skate park, and the courthouse where my parents bid on the land they now partially own and where the wells that my dad's company drills that morning. We ate at a wonderful creperie as well--I had my favorite from Paris: nutella with bananas crepe! We drove on to Arroyo Gouro where we stopped to have a fantastic lunch at a restaurant that faced the beach and ocean! Then, we headed on to Santa Maria where we stopped by my dad's company's office (and also where my brother, Trey is interning this summer and will work full-time after he finishes his masters degree this year). It was fun to see Trey in his new element! Dad took us to the new building where they will all be moving to after that. It is AMAZING! I don't know how anyone will get any work there because the bottom floor definitely has a bowling alley, nice cafe, and a full blown movie theater!! The top floor was nice as well, but mostly what you would actually think of when you would think of an office- cubicles and window offices. Oh yeah, and I think there is even a volleyball court behind the office...hmmm, maybe I need a job there too, Dad! We drove on to Pismo Beach to Trey and Katie's house to settle into our room for the rest of the trip. Thanks Trey and Katie for keeping us! You were awesome hosts!! We hopped back in the car together and drove to Avila where there was a Farmers' Market going on. We had roasted corn for dinner and kettle corn. Mmmm!

Saturday morning we woke up bright and early to go with the family on a whale watching tour! The wind was whipping and the swells were high. It took about an hour of sailing out before we saw anything, but then, yes!!!, we saw 4 humpback whales!! It was so fun to see their dorsal fins and tails come out of the water. However, this whole time I have been so proud that I haven't had any morning sickness or anything...but the sea-sickness got me! :( I wasn't the only one though- there were at least 3 others on the boat (not family) that got sick too! It was definitely worth it though to see WHALES! After we returned to land, sweet land....we ate lunch at another cute restaurant facing the ocean. Then, we were off to our next wildlife spotting- elephant seals. These things are massive and so fun to watch. They fight each other for no apparent reason but get pooped out after just about 3 seconds of fighting because they are so big. It was fun to see them all sun-bathing. We stopped at the famous Madonna Hotel on the way home-the way it is decorated is over the top!

Sunday we got to sleep in a little and then headed out to my parents' trailer on the land where the drilling takes place. Trey and Katie went to pick up barbeque while Mom and Dad drove us around the land. So beautiful! When Trey and Katie returned we had church together in the trailer. Dad read from the Bible and gave us words of wisdom and Trey and Drew led the prayers for the bread and juice. We sang together my Dad's favorite song, "The Steadfast Love of the Lord." It was touching to be surrounded by the family I love so much, praising the God I love even more. After lunch, the boys headed out on 4 wheelers to play on the land. Dad took his usual Sunday nap and Katie, Mom, and I enjoyed visiting together. It was such a nice afternoon! Later that evening, we went to a Melodrama called Butch Cassidy and the Sunburnt Kid. It was really funny and very entertaining! They had such great voices and it was the feel-good-moment-of-the-summer. Haha! (Drew always thinks it's funny when they say that about movies).

Monday we slept in a little again. Well, I did, but Drew went out to get coffee and explore the nearby sand dunes. Mom and Dad came over to Trey and Katie's and Dad, Trey, Katie, and Drew played Settlers of Catan while Mom and I went shopping. My mom bought me some really cute outfits for Grayson at a Carter's store in the outlet mall we went to. She got a beautiful Coach purse too! I was really eyeing them myself. We went back to get Katie and Drew to do some more shopping and my mom bought me and Katie new Coach purses too!! We were getting kind of hungry at that point, so we stopped and ate at an awesome hamburger joint on main street. When we got back we piddled around the house until it was time for fireworks! Trey and Katie have access to their flat roof by way of inside stairs in their house. We all went up there to see the fireworks and got a GREAT show all around us for almost 2 hours straight! Trey felt Grayson kick for the first time and Dad got to feel a good strong punch as well. That night we said bye to Trey as he was returning to work early the next morning.

Tuesday morning we had brunch with my parents and Katie before heading to the Santa Maria airport to fly home. I was fine until we were walking the ramp to board our plane and just started bawling!! I kept trying to wipe tears away all the way to my seat, but they kept coming and coming. Poor Drew didn't know what to do. I just realized how much I loved my family and really miss them. I look forward to the next time we get to see them soon. Don't worry, I pulled myself together before we took off and had our new dinosaur pillow pet my Dad bought for Grayson while we were there to keep me comforted. All in all, it was a fabulous trip and we are so thankful to my parents for letting us have that last vacation before the baby arrives!

School Baby Shower

So, I have a lot of blogging catching up to do and they may come sporatically and out of order as I have currently wrapped up my final days at Whitley Road Elementary School, yet am beginning my last trek to mommyhood through Summer School.

My school threw me an amazing shower that was held the Tuesday after the Monday we found out we are having a boy. My mom and Diane were sweet to come to the shower as well! I cannot say thank you enough to my incredible friends/co-workers on the Kindergarten Team that were the perfect hostesses! I hope you enjoyed these fantastic pictures by Stephanie Lucero, one of my Kindergarten team-mates!!