I love my hubby!

I was just sitting here reading about the Nags Head family (post below) while Samuel naps. I was thinking about how blessed I am to be married to Jeremy and how much I miss having him around.

Here are some of the reasons that I love Jeremy so much:

-He loves me unconditionally.
-He has such beautiful blue eyes (superficial, I know).
-He makes me feel special.
-He tells me how pretty I am when I feel the furthest thing from pretty.
-He works hard to take care of our family even when that means sacrifice.
-He is a great father.
-He calls me a lot when we're apart.
-He makes it a habit to tell me how much he loves me.
-He is patient with me.
-He forgives me when I goof.
-He doesn't hold a grudge.
-He is so easy to please. (Ex. He would eat Spaghetti O's out of a can for dinner.)
-He is spontaneous.
-When I was pregnant with Samuel, he went to every OB appt. with me because he wanted to, and he would go to every appt. this time if he were in town.
-He loves to pamper me.
-He appreciates my upbringing.
-He keeps no secrets from me.
-He is respectful.
-He only has eyes for me.
-He tells me how glad he is that he married me.

I could go on, but Samuel just woke up.

Prayer for a Mother and Daughter

I was reading the Pioneer Woman Cooks. In the comments of a cookie recipe I found a link to a random woman's blog. When I arrived at her blog, I found a big prayer request. Here are the details: There is a family living in Nags Head, NC. The wife's name is Tricia (or Pattysue to her husband), and she's only 25 years old. She has cystic fibrosis and was awaiting a double lung transplant when she found out that she was pregnant. Yesterday at 24 weeks pregnant, they did a c-section due to some complications Tricia was having. They named the baby Gwyneth, and she weighed 1lb. 6 oz.. Tricia's husband is Nate, and he is a worship leader at their church (where his dad is the pastor). Nate has a blog called Confessions of a CF Husband, which has updates on Tricia and Gwyneth's progress. Visit his blog and please keep this mother and daughter in your prayers! Tricia also has a blog; there is a link on Nate's blog. I have read enough to be inspired by this couple's faith. I have a lot to learn from them! You WILL be encouraged! Thanks for praying for them!

Our growing boy and growing baby in the womb

Christmas 2006

Christmas 2007

When I look at pictures from last Christmas, I can't believe how much Samuel has grown. It's sad but exciting at the same time. I miss my little baby, but I love what he is becoming. Today I took him to the doctor with me, so he heard the baby's heartbeat. When I mentioned it to him later, he started imitating the noise he heard through the doppler. It is so cool how he listened carefully and now can make a similar noise. He has done it several times since then.

Speaking of the baby in the womb, all is well. Once again I forgot to get the heart rate, but we did hear a healthy one. The 16 week appt. is so easy since they only weigh me and listen with the doppler. I have my 20 week appt. and ultrasound scheduled for Feb. 5th. My doctor's office has a ultrasound machine and technician, so you have the ultrasound first and then meet with the doctor. I'm excited that it will be my turn to meet with the doctor who delivered Samuel. Jeremy will be here, and we will probably take Samuel with us. I want him to have a chance to see the baby. I know he probably won't understand, but I still want him to be there. One day we can tell him that he was there when we found out if we were having a girl or another boy.

Have a great day!!!

Top 100 Recipes of 2007

If you like to cook, you might want to take a look at this. Food Network has put together the Top 100 Recipes of 2007. Enjoy!!!

Chocolate Cake by Martha Stewart

On Friday, Jeremy and I watched Martha Stewart's show. Jeremy isn't a dessert person, but after seeing her make a chocolate cake, he was sending me off to the store to buy the ingredients. Would you believe that Wal-mart didn't have a single box of cake flour? We ended up going to Bi-lo later that day, and I made the cake on Saturday. That is the first cake I've made from scratch. Now I know why... It's very time consuming, and then the homemade icing was even more time consuming. I'm not complaining because it made Jeremy happy. I just won't be making another one next week.

I definitely recommend this cake and icing recipe. Just keep in mind that it is very rich... The cake is actually called Devil's food cake. I don't know the difference and couldn't taste the difference. Maybe someone could enlighten me. To me, it was chocolate cake.

I think the cake turned out well. Jeremy and my parents agree. (My Kitchen Aid mixer was a huge help. The paddle attachment worked wonderfully.) Tonight I took a piece to 4 neighbors, and I will be curious to see what they thought. I warned them that it's my first cake from scratch. I'm sure the next one will be better.

One suggestion- Despite what the recipe says, set your timer for 25 minutes and check the cakes with a knife or toothpick. ( I set my timer for 30 minutes but wish I had set it for 25.)

Moist Devil's Food Cake with Mrs. Milman's Chocolate Icing

Franklin update

I wanted to give you an update on the fundraiser for Franklin. Jeremy and I have been excited to see the money coming in for Franklin to continue living and studying in Tegucigalpa. You still have time to give if you are interested. We still need $1000 for monthly expenses and then money for medical expenses since Franklin doesn't have health insurance.

Oh, we received money for the sewing machine. :) I can't wait to call Franklin's foster parents with that news since I know it will be a huge surprise for Franklin. I never mentioned to his foster parents that we were trying to raise the money for one!

If you would like to help, please e-mail me ASAP. Jeremy will be taking the money to Atlanta in a week.

Thanks!!!

Lots to blog about...

We had a nice Christmas and are happy to be in 2008. I took a long break from blogging to spend time with Jeremy and Samuel. Jeremy has been home for 2 weeks, which has been so nice. All good things come to an end though. Jeremy will go back to Atlanta in the morning. I'm sure I'll shed a few tears since my pregnancy hormones seem to be in overdrive these days. I might cry, but I do know that the Lord has a plan for Jeremy, our family, and for our house.

Speaking of the house, we lowered the price again on Dec. 18. We had 2 showings on New Years Eve. We pray for more showings and an offer soon.

I will have baby news on Tuesday after I go for my 16 week check-up. I feel great. I'm definitely enjoying my 2nd trimester burst of energy. The new burst of energy made me start thinking... I am thinking that I don't like Kylie as much as I thought I did. I guess it's a good thing that I thought about this before the baby was born (if we're having a girl). So, Jeremy and I are discussing more names and probably won't decide on a girl's name until after the ultrasound since it might not be necessary anyway. I have 2 names that I like. We'll see if I convince Jeremy...

Samuel is doing well. He enjoyed Christmas and is getting over a cold/cough that he came down with after Christmas. I am the one to blame for this because I was sick for over a week with a cold/cough. It was hard to watch him suffer and not be able to give him any medication. Thank the Lord that he weathered the illness without losing any sleep. I prayed that his cough wouldn't keep him awake at night, and it didn't. It's strange to think that in 4 months he can have the cough syrup that he can't have now. I wonder what's so magical about 2?

I will post pictures from Christmas soon.

Happy New Year!!!