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!

Mini vs Cadi

Mini versus Cadi

When Chris went off to Ethiopia we both new that some sort of change would develop because of it. To be honest I was scared of what that change might bring about, what it would look like and what I would have to change to follow Christ's will for my life.

And I think that's just the THING... God wants me, He wants me to lay it down and let Him role the dice and make the plans. I know now that the first step to being "IN" God's will is to trust His WILL. His Will Power. So that sounds kinda easy... Not! Good grief, I've come to find out that I rarely put my confidence in His will, instead I try to

make sure I know what I'm getting myself into before I say, "ok, yes God, I will follow "that" plan". HA, Ya God's got humor. I love it though

because in the end He always knows what's best, no matter how ridiculous it seems at the time. So Chris and I have been struggling with what does God want for, our Lives, our Family, our Relationships, our Home, and even our Vehicles. So this is where the Mini versus the Cadi comes in. So of course after praying about it, we came to the heart felt conclusion that it would honor God to sell our Cadillac Escalade, and search for something with more seats to accommodate opportunities to serve. Along with more seats we also

had a laundry list of other must haves:

Low Miles

Excellent Miles per Gallon

Sun Roof

Leather

Tow Hitch

Comfortable Seats

We started looking at the cross overs... Buick Enclave,

MY FAV!

Gorgeous/ Expensive and a little on the gas hog side of things.

Oh wait!

Did I mention that our Cadi Sold QUICK

and that same day our Nissan Maxima's transmission died?

Yep, God had something up His sleeve, it's called fully surrendering my will for His, fully knowing that His will is perfect. But it was so much harder than just knowing that His will is perfect. I had to struggle with my own selfish desires before handing it over to the God of the universe. lol, funny how some of the little things in life are a huge break through! I know I struggle with this exact concept daily in a million different areas, well God wants that to change and this is how he got it started. Since I was younger I swore up and down I wouldn't be caught dead in a Mini Van or a Station Wagon... no offense mom and dad. :) Being pretty practical in some areas I couldn't skate around the truth! Mini Vans Make Since, the END! Well I still struggled with that fuddy duddy feeling every time I drove one. So this is what God did for Chris and I, He had some fool create a Mini Mini Van,

JUST FOR US, can you believe it! If ya'll know Chris you know he's huge on numbers and so he'd been researching obsessively for the "perfect" combination of all the things we needed in a vehicle and all the things we knew God wanted for our fam. God know's our hearts and our minds, and He wants to bless us in our efforts to follow him. What a Blessing to know how much he cares about the little things. LOL so when I saw the Mazda 5 for the first time I couldn't help but laugh my head off. It was everything we had been searching for on our own accord just mini. God knows best and so the laughing started to fade into the realization that God will provide, with humor of course. Not my kind of humor I might add, but none the less a little funny! I'm so Thankful and in awe that God has allowed us to have

two vehicles for the price of our Cadi. The struggle to let go and let God was more challenging than I had anticipated, but I made it through.

Now for the next challenge, in the pursuit of following God's will,

He always wants to improve us and bring us closer to him.

Our Little Birdie

Our Nest

What a precious gift family is,

God is so

Gracious

33 weeks and 3 days, 3rd Trimester and 46 days to go.

This new family you’ve originated in marriage is not simply a foundation building block of society. Your union and your children are a testimony to the living God, who continues to add and multiply His blessing on earthly families that will expand His heavenly family.

~ The Love Dare Day by Day Devotional for Couples

His eye is on the sparrow and He watches over me

~ Brotherly Love ~

Golden slumber kiss your eyes,

Smiles await you when you rise.

Sleep,

pretty baby,

Do not cry,

And I'll sing you a lullaby.

Care you know not,

Therefore sleep,

While I o'er you watch do keep.

Sleep,

pretty darling,

Do not cry,

And I will sing a lullaby.

Psalms 139:13


You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother's womb.

~NLV

Sleep, my child, and peace attend thee,
All through the night;
Guardian angels God will send thee,
All through the night;
Soft the drowsy hours are creeping,
Hill and vale in slumber sleeping,
I, my loving vigil keeping,
All through the night.

While the moon her watch is keeping,
All through the night;
While the weary world is sleeping,
All through the night;
O'er thy spirit gently stealing.
Visions of delight revealing,
Breathes a pure and holy feeling,
All through the night.

Love, to thee my thoughts are turning
All through the night,
All for thee my heart is yearning,
All through the night;
Though the night the light may sever,
Mother's love is thine forever,
There's a love that leaves thee never,
All through the night.

Married Love

Comes with built-in construction and expansion plans, initiated by the One who desires for us to give Him “godly-offspring” through our love for one another.

~ Anchor your ways in the Lord ~

Dawson,

The Cradle Daddy painted is waiting for your sleepy-head, your blankets,& clothes are all washed, folded and ready for your arrival. Mommy’s anticipation to meet you is sky high, along with Daddy’s and Big-Brother’s. What a hand God has had in your birth and timing! He has a plan for your little heart and a destination for your future! We can't wait to make silly faces with you. You're a precious part of the painted canvas of our lives. We love you Dearly.

Love Mommy