Thanks Giving

     On Thanksgiving this year, we were exactly 5 months pregnant- about half way there. Say whAAAAt? It seems like things have just flown by! We went to Enterprise to spend it with my family, and as I looked around the room Thursday afternoon and thought over our life together, I was struck by how much I really have to be thankful for. I have a wonderful husband, a great family, a cute little puppy, and a beautiful baby girl on the way. I'm truly so thankful for all that. You know how sometimes you know something for a really long time, but then somehow for some reason, all the sudden it seems new? Like you never really knew it or understood it before? I feel that way, especially about my sweet T.J.
     I know Teej looks really happy and handsome in these pictures, but the truth of the matter is...well...he hates taking pictures and there happened to be an Alabama football game coming on this afternoon. So he DIDN'T want to be outside in a sweater indulging all my goofy picture dreams. But he sure did. When I feel frumpy and round he always tells me that I am the most beautiful I have ever been. I can see it in his eyes that he means it too. He rubs my feet and lets me sleep and reads books to my belly. He's gentle and forgiving, and patient and protective. AND hot. He's been my hero and my comfort through all my crazy phases. We have the absolute best conversations- the deepest most meaningful talks. No one understands me or argues with me or makes me feel special like my sweet T.J. Today he said, " I know I'm not going to be a perfect parent, but I'm going to try...," and I thought, I like that. I'm going to try to do that too. lol. And if he's anywhere near as good a daddy as he is a husband (and I predict he is), he'll be the best father for Madelyn that I could ever imagine.

Nursery Ideas....

Maybe I seem uninventive and boring, but I like simple for the crib! For whatever reason, bedding has always been the hardest part for me, and my favorite part too. So this is what we like (and by "we" I mean me and T.J., but mostly me because he just says "yea that looks good" at almost EVERYTHING I show him. He's a good husband).

The walls are green and we have these awesome damask curtains up. Our big beautiful window makes the room really hot or really cold though, so we're gonna have to add some extra white curtains that are energy efficient.

All of our furniture is white wicker, so we want this crib. I think its "classic."

As far as actual bedding goes, I LOOOVE this dust ruffle! I just want a plain white bumper too. I like the little white polka dots on this one.

http://www.carters.com/null/Super-Soft-Dot-Crib-Bumper/789887501472,default,pd.html?cgid=carters-home-neutral-bedding-crib-bumpers-dust-ruffles

T.J. likes the initial above the crib, and I agree. I also want to add the cute ties on the bumper like they did. Maybe we'll do other things to spice it up too.

Madelyn Michelle Joy

     We are having ourselves a beautiful little baby girl and I hope she looks just like me-except I hope she's sweeter than I was as a kid. haha. About two weeks ago we went to see Dr. Ray, and I saw the most beautiful little wiggling skeleton I believe has ever existed. The ultrasound technician sad Madi was moving all over the place, so it took a few minutes for her to determine the sex. And after a few minutes that seemed to stretch on for DAYS, she told us the most incredible news.

Prom dresses. Fairy costumes. Pink blankets. Dance recitals. Fingernail polish.

 Stuffed animals. Princes and barbies. Fits. Pretty long hair and first boyfriends and

 first breakups and first breakouts. Stockings and high heels and makeup. Wedding dresses

 and baby showers of her own one day.

     Its awesome. And nesting has absolutely begun!  I put up curtains and freaked out about bugs on the wndow sill, and cleaned the inside and outside of EVERYTHING in that room. I sit in there and dream and rearrange and organize and seperate and mother. I love it. We went down to Enterprise this past weekend and my sister gave me my neice's stuff she'd outgrown (and theres alot of stuff) and my momma gave me her favorite clothes of mine when I growing up, and some clothes even she wore as a baby. And so I am washing and seperating sizes and using altogether way too many disinfectant wipes. And yet I never tire.

     And guess what?? Yesterday I needed a nap real bad. So I absolutely had to take one since everyone keeps telling me I should enjoy my sleep while I can. And I do. But anyways I took a nap. And when T.J. came home and woke me up, I felt something. A BIGGGG something. A Kick. An absolute kick. And I knowwww its real because T.J. felt her with his own hands. Our baby Madelyn. My baby book says she's developing myelin this week, which is the covering on nerves like the plastic on wires. It insulates the nerves so electrical impulses can get from her cute baby brain to her cute baby muscles. So I am convinced that that is why I am completely capable of feeling this precious miracle at 18 weeks and 4 days. If anyone is counting. Honestly she hasn't stopped moving since then. I feel her right now! And its marvelous.

     I kept telling people yesterday and no one was giving me the response I was hoping for. Trying to contain myself, I would casually mention it, hoping for jumping up and down and loud yelling, maybe. I got none of that. Luckily I called my momma today and she finally met my excitement expectation. I'm talking this is HUGE for me! I feel like I'm on an even more real level of understanding this pregnancy. And yesterday was the first time T.J. really got to be a part of it like that- literally feeling our baby's life in his hands.