Stretched Thin

Optimism

being optimistic isn't my strength. But I'll try. It's hard to watch so many other mommies have their babies early, or even on time. I can't help but think about just two weeks ago I would have had less stretch marks, less weight, less water weight, and less DOUBLE chin! OH AND LESS PAIN & DISCOMFORT. Less trips to the bathroom at night, I'm down to every hour now. So after being a little discouraged and confused as to WHY my body just doesn't want to relieve itself, I had to thank God that He has it under control and no amount of complaining on my part is going to change His mind. :( So I had to come up with some positives. Since the little guy hasn't gotten here, I have NO idea if he is actually a healthy baby or not. We'll see how his little kidney's are doing once he gets out and moving around. With noticeable swelling on both, we've been praying that the healing takes place in the belly and no surgeries or other complications arise. Of course the Dr. is positive and encouraging and has told us not to worry. Since I hate wasting my time I've not worried about it just prayed, that God's will would be done and that the little life inside me would bring Glory to God. So 1) God's in Control and in His perfect time this little one will be brought into the world. 2) I have the opportunity to have a VBAC, something I don't want to compromise which means waiting this out as long as possible. 3) I am perfectly healthy and as far as we know so is the baby. 4) I have a chance to work on being patient on God's Will for my life instead of trying to orchestrate it myself. 5) I get a chance to hang out with my parents more. :) 6) I get to experience first hand God working in my body, hoping in the end that my body will go into labor on it's own. Aside from that I can't help but think about Bryce, he was stubborn too, just loved it in his mommy's belly and didn't want to come out. He's been one of the healthiest little boys I know. Rarely gets sick and seems to be allergic to nothing, (well he farts A LOT, so maybe) and breast feeding was a breeze. I know so many mommies who have struggled, with having preemies, colic, gassy infants, or troubles breastfeeding whether it's lack of milk or the little ones sucking ability. So a positive for me is that my experience with Bryce was wonderful, I got nice and plump but he was healthy and knit together well before coming out. Although I just remembered that he had that Projectile vomit thing where his little valve in his esophagus wasn't fully developed but that was more humorous than anything else, many boys are born with that and it corrects itself over time. lol, boy did we have some laughs over that though. :) So I've been thanking the Heavenly Father for taking so much time knitting together the little being in my belly, making him perfect in His image. So from Cars 2, I'll be thankful for my dents and marks, they're the Memories of Creation, the Creation of my Son.

Therefore, I urge you, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will. ~Romans 12

Big Brother Bryce

POOLE TIME!!!

Bryce Roman Poole

is going to be a BIG Brother! I'm SO excited, to be honest though he already is a wonderful Brother. He rubs my belly and kisses it often and already plays with the little guy, by blowing raspberries, and poking him to wake him up to play. It's fun to see his love for him.

Thanks to Lindsey and Bryan Terry Bryce was able to pick out this Awesome POOl, he searched the whole store for the perfect item to purchase with his Target Gift card. Thank you guys, you really made his day. He loves it and has had many hours of fun in the last two days of SUN. He felt so special to be able to go shopping and he even got a Slushy, of course he put ALL the colors in it to make it that much more awesome!

I love him!

Neighborhood friends enjoy the slip & slide pool.

Bryce can't help but do tricks! He's always trying something new.

Emily gave me a pretty smile while Bryce hides under his towel.

They just loved the sun and the water, it took Emily a while to warm up to the pool, cause the water was cold, but Bryce jumped right in.

He even got dunked while doing tricks. I'm so proud of him.

Emily all smiles

Thank You again Lindsey and Bryan, we miss you both and are so Thankful for the gift.

Dawson's Due Date!

July 20th, 2011...

Came and went without our little Dawson. What a gorgeous view I got to enjoy though, despite the disappointment of not holding my little one. Discovery Park made it all better, a place for Military housing and all around gorgeous views. I loved seeing the water, sand and rolling grassy hills. Picture perfect houses with picture perfect views.

Group shot, I love getting everyone in a pic, it's so fun to put a whole bunch of them together and see how people have changed over time or the silly expressions we all might have. Just fun.

I could enjoy this view every day of my life, I just can't get enough of stuff like this.

My family! I love the guys in my life!! Bryce and Chris love to throw rocks, it's fun to watch them enjoy themselves. Bryce doesn't like sand in his shoes... who does. :) He's such a little sweetie when it comes to his mommy, likes to find me little treasures when we're out and about.

Bryce found some wonderful shells for me to keep, such precious little treasures. I love the beach and the memories it creates.

Emily Rose picked her mommy a pretty flower, there still in my window sill, ,being enjoyed by all of us. She even gave me a pretty smile for the camera.

My parents came up to visit us on Sunday the 17th, planning on staying a week for the coming of the baby. Well plans have changed since the little guy is all to content in the womb. He just loves it in there. So my Dad had to head home today Sunday the 24th and plans on coming back up on the 1st of August, while my Mom and sis stay here and wait patiently for him to make his debut. So the day my little bundle of boy was due we headed to Seattle for some sightseeing. We went straight to the Needle and then headed over to the Old Spaghetti Factory for some dinner. Then we made our way to the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory for a Candy Apple, then to Pikes Market so I could pick up some Gorgeous Flowers. Last but certainly not least we went out to Discovery Park, Beautiful views. The day was absolutely perfect, exactly how I had hoped it would be. I really enjoyed myself.

Seattle's Space Needle

Yep, that's us in the mini mini van, Lovin life and all together.

My parents first time to the needle with Emily, it was her second time though, lucky little thing went last summer with us. She really enjoyed it both times.

Bryce couldn't get enough of the lookout stations, he loves binoculars. He's always so curious. This was his fist time to the Needle, he had been waiting patiently for Poppy & Poppie and Emily to visit so he could enjoy it with them.

LOL!! Side view of that BABY BELLY! Bryce doing some awesome tricks on the BIG concrete ball.

!Nesting!

Our home has been improved.

Chris has been working like a mad man the last three weeks. We've been preparing for the little joy that will enter our lives within the next week or two. Chris has been the most unbelievable handy man, I'm so proud of him. He's been so productive and helpful with things that I just wouldn't be any good at.

He painted the Entertainment hole, it used to be a horrid orange carrot color. We added a mirror to the dinning room to give it a more finished look. We love it!

Chris painted the bathroom yesterday and I LOVE IT!! It was also a horrible orange color. We put in a new mirror and hung up the skipper's ship, Coast Guard Cutter Dorado.

We hung up some things in Bryce's room, a picture holder for loose photos and some photos from our professional photo session with Jenny Marsh. Bryce's quilt was sent off to his Giwi's (grandma) for quilting. I'll post pics when it returns. =D I'm excited to see the finished product, it's taken me sooo long.

~THE CRADLE ~

Dawson's first sleeps will be nuzzled in this cradle given to me by my Auntie Jamie and painted and sanded with love by Daddy. I'm so excited to lay his sleepy little head in it.

~ The ROOM ~

~ Dawson's Nest ~

Daddy, painted his room a celery green and we are in love, it feels so peaceful.

I made the nest and we had the netting already, the photo was done by Jenny Marsh and the blankets were Bryce's when he was a little guy.

My mommy bought Dawson the nest of blue eggs and the memory book, she also bought the adorable little birdies in the wooden shelf. Lindsey and Bryan Terry gave a gift of the hand print picture, we're looking forward to placing his little tiny prints on there as soon as we get him home. I made a shutterfly photo book, with our photos by Jenny Marsh and I just love each page. I had so much fun making the book for our little fam.

Chris painted these adorable little shelves that we bought at Good Will for a total of only $2.25. The little elephant was hand made by Brittany Stacey, so sad to see her and her family move to Texas with her Army Man.

We've had fun and now it's time to rest, as much as possible, and relax knowing that we've prepared a place for him. Just like God in Heaven has prepared a place for us.

Don't forget though, to store up your treasures in Heaven.

~Really all this stuff is, is a bunch of junk. But for now I'll call it an amazing blessing from our Heavenly Father who loves and cares for us! He is the provider of ALL things, he gives and takes away.

~ Anyone wanta go FOUR-WHEELING!!

Let's have a BABY!

Life is Short

As we grow up, we learn that even the one person that wasn't supposed to never let us down, probably will. You'll have your heart broken and you'll break others' hearts. You'll fight with your best friend or maybe even, fall in love with them, and you'll cry because time is flying by. So take too many pictures, laugh too much, forgive freely, and love like you've never been hurt. Life comes with no guarantees, no time outs, no second chances. You just have to live life to the fullest, tell someone what they mean to you and tell someone off, speak out, dance in the pouring rain, hold someone's hand, comfort a friend, fall asleep watching the sun come up, stay up late, be a flirt, and smile until your face hurts. Don't be afraid to take chances or fall in love and most of all, live in the moment because every second you spend angry or upset is a second of happiness you can never get back.

- Unknown

Thanks to Christy a neighbor and friend, for posting this in her Facebook Notes. I like the last sentence the best, “live in the moment because every second you spend angry or upset is a second of happiness you can never get back”. Isn’t that true!

Yesterday July 13^th, a week before my due date I was experiencing some contractions and wondering if I would make it through the day without meeting my little bundle. But I took a nap and felt much better, and was able to make it to a Change of Command Ceremony at the hubby’s work. He was in charge of most of the event and I didn’t want to miss it. He did an amazing job! I was very proud! I just wanted to point out too; God answers prayers, even the little ones. The weather was perfect for the occasion and no 0ne tripped or fumbled their words, a rarity!