The last weekend...

It's been a great weekend!  I am already starting to get the feeling of dread that tomorrow is Monday.  Does my vacation really have to end?  :)
Friday, I had a meeting with my new boss, and then I was able to go visit Jennifer and Adalyn.  Unfortunately, I didn't get to stay as long as I wanted, but I was still glad to get to see the two of them (and Sara, too, of course!).  Addy has grown soooooo much, and I LOVED getting to hold her and love on her.  Jennifer, Justin, and Adalyn are moving to Nashville next weekend, so I am hoping to get to visit them at least one more time before they go.  We are going to miss them!!! I also spent some time Friday afternoon getting prepared for registering...there is so much we have to get, and it's all a little overwhelming.  On Friday night, David and I met up with the Turner family, and turned over the keys to the Xterra.  Kim and Tad bought our truck for their daugther, Larkin.  We are sad to see it go, but Larkin was so excited when she got it that she couldn't stop screaming!!!!  This means that, for at least the next few weeks, we are a one car family.  Thankfully, because of David's schedule, I don't think it will be that big of a deal.  Hopefully in the next month or so, though, we can get me a new car.  YAY!

David's mom and sister-in-law came in town on Saturday morning, so I spent some time before they came cleaning up the house for their arrival.  While I was cleaning, David started working on the nursery.  He painted the walls, so now we have to finish up the trim, and clean the carpet before we can move any furniture in.  I am excited to see it all come together in the next couple months.  When David's family arrived, we went to lunch, and then spent some time shopping.  They bought Grayson some really really really cute clothes, which we are incredibly grateful for.  David and I had picked out the furniture that we wanted to buy for Grayson's room, so while we were at Babies 'R Us, we decided to go ahead and order it.  Easier said than done, that's for sure.  We went to order it, and the guy told us the chaning table/dresser was discontinued.  Bummer.  So, we came home and and looked for it online.  The only place that sells it is Babies 'R Us, and it showed on their website that they had some in stock!  At this point, I was confused.  I went to order it, and saw that we would have had to pay $250 in shipping!  NO WAY!  David called the company, and they said that the store at Riverdale showed that they had one, so we called the store at Riverdale.  The lady we talked to said that their warehouse had 1 in stock.  YAY!  We couldn't order it over the phone, but she said that if we got there before they closed, we should have no problem getting it.  David, his family, and I jumped in the car to head to the store.  When we got there, the lady messed around on her computer for a few mintues, and then told us that, for some reason, the warehouse had the dresser/combo on hold.  In other words, we coudln't order it.  To make the rest of the long story short, we didn't get the furniture.  :(  We do have a few other options, so we are going to look around some more. 

Today has been a beautiful Easter Sunday, and David and I have enjoyed spending it as a quiet day around the house.  We had steaks on the grill this afternoon, and then said goodbye to his mom and sister.  I have papers to grade and work to do before tomorrow, so that's probably how the rest of the day will go.  It is so nice having the windows open, the house clean, and no plans!  I absolutely love days like this.  :)  We hople that you and your family have had a blessed Easter as well! 

Dear Grayson,
Daddy and I were so excited to get to see you yesterday!!  You have grown so much since we last saw you:  just 12 weeks ago, you were a tiny little bean, and now you are growing into a healthy and strong little baby boy!  I can feel you moving more and more, and you especially like when I eat fruit or ice cream.  The doctor said that you are perfect.  Daddy and I agree!

You have so many friends and family that are anxious to meet you, and so many people that love you already!  You are going to be a very lucky little boy, Grayson, to have all the amazing people in your life that you will.  We have told Cordi and Bailey that you will be arriving in a few months...they are excited to have someone to play with them.  Bailey is especially looking forward to you playing fetch with her in the backyard.  Grandma, PapPap, Gammie, Aunt Karen, Uncle Adam, Uncle Jason, Aunt Becky, and Ally are all counting down the days until they get to hold you and love on you (Not as much as Daddy and I are, though!)  :)

For now, just keep growing every day like you have been.   I am so happy that you get to go everywhere with me...I think Daddy is a little jealous that you and I get to hang out all the time!  :) 
We love you so much!!!!

Love,
Mommy

It's a...........

BOY!!!!!!


Grayson Emmit Bledsoe is growing healthy and strong, and will make his appearance in mid-August.  David and I couldn't be more thrilled.  We can't stop smiling!!!!  :)

I will write more later--I am too excited to type right now.  YAY!!!!

He's definitely a boy!!!!

Quick update on a big day...

David and I had a great, relaxing weekend, which I love.  I was able to get most of the upstairs of our house cleaned and organized, and then spent a lot of time doing absolutely nothing on the couch in front of the tv.  :)  It was perfect.  Today, I am going with my new boss to meet the clients that I will be working with for my new job.  I am excited but nervous at the same time.  I really want the clients to like me and feel comfortable with me...I feel like it's the first day at a new school!

David has a big meeting at work today, and then Wednesday is our doctor appointment.  I have been doing my best to get my mind on other things so I don't obsess over waiting to find out if we are having a son or a daughter.  I am sooooo excited, but thinking about it is going to make me go insane!  :)

That's it for here.  I hope to get the chance to visit Addy and Jennifer this week.  I didn't get to go see the Allens on Friday, but I do get to spend time with them tomorrow, so I am definitely looking forward to that!  And, I am so thankful to have gotten good reports this week from my friend, Brian, who is hiking the Appalachian trail.  He has hiked like crazy for the past week and a half, and I am soooooooo proud of him.  Way to go, Bowtie!  :)

Again, today, I am seeing just how blessed David and I are.  We love our life for sure!!!

19 weeks and Happy Birthday, Ally Bug!!

My week off of work has been nice...I don't think I would describe it as relaxing (although I have been able to do some of that), but it has been fun, for sure.  David and I have been able to clean out our garage and our storage unit, pick out paint for our house, play outside with our doggies, and spend some quality time together--which has been GREAT!  I met with my new boss this week.  Boy, am I going to be busy!  I got lots of my questions answered, and was able to learn lots more about exactly what I will be doing.  I start on April 6, but will go with him next week to meet my new clients.  This afternoon, while David is at a training class for work, I am going to go visit the Allens.  I miss them sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo much, and I haven't seen them in months.  They are the family that introduced David and I almost 2 years ago, and have been my second family for almost 5 years. I am VERY excited!!

I am just over 19 weeks preggo with Baby Bledsoe, and each day is so different than the day before.  I have started feeling Baby B move around A LOT more in the past couple days, and, last night, I even felt him/her kick my hand while it was on my tummy!  :)  David and I are counting down to our ultrasound on Wednesday morning...we can't wait to call our baby by his/her name, start shopping and decorating, and, of course, to spread the news!  I was thinking this week about how quickly the pregnancy has gone by so far.  It was just about 12 weeks ago that we were in the doctor's office getting to hear our baby's heartbeat, but it feels like it was the last visit!  I want to enjoy these next 21 weeks as much as possible, and, of course, can't wait until the little one is here!

Today is also my sweet Ally Bug's 7th birthday.  I can't believe that she is 7!  She was born when I was a junior in college.  I can remember so much about her being born--I can even remember where I was when my brother called to tell me that he was going to be a dad!  Anyway, Ally has grown into such an amazingly awesome little girl.  She is so smart and funny (she cracks me up all the time!), and she is so caring about others.  I know that her mommy and daddy are very proud of her, and so am I.  David and I are going to eat dinner with her tonight--she loves her Uncle David like crazy, and he feels the same way about her.  I can't wait to spend some of her birthday with her! :)

(I stole this picture from Becky.  :)  Thanks, Becky!)

Rain, Rain, Go away!!!

I have had a nagging feeling all weekend that I am forgetting something.  For the life of me, I can't (obviously) think of what it is...I have gone over and over and over things in my head, but I can't think of what it could be!  UGH!

So, Wednesday was my last day at RISE.  I only went in for half of the day--I had to finish some work and finish packing up my desk.  David came by, and we loaded up my truck with all my stuff.  By 11:15am, it was time to leave.  It definitely was a bittersweet moment.  I was sad to be leaving, but glad to be moving on at the same time.  David took me to Belmont Grill to celebrate, and then I came home and made a trip to Target.  Oh, we live such an exciting life!  :)

The rest of last week wasn't as relaxing as I had hoped it to be, but it was still fun.  We babysat Ally on Thursday, which is always a blast.  She loves hanging out with Uncle David, and they are too cute together!  She and I went and had manis/pedis, and then a quick shopping trip to Hallmark.  I had to teach class that night (since one of my professors was out of town).  When I called David to tell him I was on my way home from school, I could hear Ally singing happily in the background.  David said she was dancing, too.  It was really cute...and it totally made me excited to have Baby Bledsoe grow up!  :)  On Friday, I took Ally back home, and then had to go to orientation with the State for my new job.  Whoa--I have a lot of learning to do before this job starts.  I am excited for the challenge, but a little nervous, too.  I guess I should probably spend some of this time off learning what I need to learn!

I was able to get some cleaning and organizing done this weekend, which I am very relieved about.  There is still a lot more to be done, but it is nice to have made some progress.  David and I went and looked at some baby furniture on Friday, so we are starting to plan more seriously about the nursery.  We still are waiting until we know if Baby is a boy or a girl to finalize things, but it is fun to start thinking of all the cute things we are going to get!

Baby has been growing a lot these last couple of weeks, I think...mostly just because I have been feeling a lot more stretching and aching than I have before.  He/She has continued to be moving around quite a bit, and especially loved David taking us to Baskin Robbins for a double scoop!  :)  I can't put into words how excited I am for next Wednesday's ultrasound.  I am excited to see Baby again (and how much he/she has grown!), and to start some serious shopping and decorating.  :)

Endings and Beginnings

Well, it's finally come: Today is my last full day at RISE, and, honestly, I have very mixed emotions.  I am thrilled beyond words to be moving on to the next big step in my life.  And, I am so excited to have the opportunity to do something that I LOVE every day.  BUT, at the same time, I am sad.  I have worked with some really good people the last 2 years, and I have learned so much from them.  My boss, Katie, came in to the office today and tossed a card at me.  It was the sweetest card, and when I read it, we both teared up.  Katie has become such a good friend to me--we have shared so much, and I am really going to miss her...especially her telling me to stop saying I'm sorry!  :)  My official last day is tomorrow, but I am only coming in for a few hours so I can turn all my things in and clean out my little area.  Then, my 2 and a half week vacation begins--I am SO excited about that!  David is working weekends this month, and I haven't gotten to see him very much lately.  Now that I will be home during the week, though, that will all change.  We hope to get a lot of things done around the house, and, of course, take a vacation to Gulf Shores.  No matter if we don't do anything, however, I will be happy to just have a chance to breathe!

I went to visit Baby Riley on Sunday.  Sara and I drove to Jackson and picked up some food and cupcakes (for Clint's birthday!), and then we headed on down to Chester County to hang out with the Murleys.  Let me tell you...I am LOVING that my friends have babies!  I love to love on them and talk to them and hold them and tell them all the things that I have to teach them.  It is going to be so much fun watching them grow up.  They change so quickly!  I am heading out to visit Baby Addy later this week, and I am very excited about that.  :)

There isn't too much else going on.  The office is taking me to lunch today, and then I am teaching class for one of my friends tonight.  This time change has me all messed up, so I hope to get home and actually get to have some rest tonight!  I have been waking up in the middle of the night EVERY night lately, and not falling back asleep for almost 2 hours.  Last night, I was up from 2:00am until 4:00am.  It is not fun at all.  I am looking on the bright side, though--God is shaping me for the late nights that will definitely happen once Baby B gets here!

Happiness

We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have. -- Fredrick Koeing

Spring Break!!!

Oh, I love Spring.  AND, I love it even more when the University decided to give all the employees the day off today for Spring Break!  The rain that was here this morning is clearing up, the sun is starting to shine, and the sky is turning blue.  Hopefully, it will be a beautiful day!  :)  This morning, I got up bright and early to have breakfast with my friend, Brian.  He is leaving on Wednesday to hike the Appalachian Trail (from Georgia to Maine), and will be gone until September.  I am so so so proud of him, but nervous at the same time!  He is hiking over 2100 miles!!!!!!!  It was so great to be able to spend some quality time with him (although it was a very quick visit), and I can't wait to see him when he returns!

Wednesday is my last day at RISE (and it's only a half day), so I have been busy tying up the loose ends that I need to get done before I go.  I won't start my new job until April 6, so I am definitely looking forward to some time off.  David came up with the idea that we go on an extended weekend get-away while we could both take the time off--I couldn't be more excited!!  We are still trying to plan things, but it looks like we will be renting a house for a few days in Gulf Shores.  We plan on taking the doggies, relaxing, playing on the beach, grilling out, and just spending some time together.  I love that he came up with this idea, and already started the process of getting the schedule set!  He is such a sweet hubby.  :)

I am one step closer to graduation after this week: I sent in a paper that I wrote to an academic journal, which is one of the requirements to be able to start working on my dissertation.  The next step is sitting for the comprehensive exams (a test over EVERYTHING I have learned in school), and I plan on taking those in the next couple of weeks.  It looks like I am on track to graduate August 15, 2009...just 4 days before Baby Bledsoe is due to arrive!

There hasn't been much else really going on around here.  David has been working REALLY hard on the house: front door is painted, new mailbox, new storm door, new floor in the kitchen, living room painted...wow!  We plan on FINALLY cleaning out the attic and lots of other junk, as well as our garage and storage unit to free up some space.  I guess you could say that we are in the middle of Spring cleaning (not my favorite part of Spring)!

I am feeling very blessed today.  Lately, I have become very aware of all that is around David and I in our life together that is amazing.  Additionally, I am trying my hardest to rid my life of unnecessary stress, worry, and negative feelings...which has led me to see all that there is to be thankful for.  With all that is going on with David and I right now: our jobs, my new job, graduation, crazy schedules, fixing up the house, etc, and especially Baby Bledsoe, I just don't have time to think about or deal with things that are only going to be more work.  It is time to focus on my husband and our marriage, the child that God has blessed us with, my family, and those that love us.  :)

It has been another hectic, but pretty uneventful week in the Bledsoe house.  We got a good report on Baby Bledsoe on Wednesday, and then got the downstairs of our house painted on Thursday.  We also got a chance to go visit the Bakers, take them dinner, and love on Adalyn on Thursday night.  It was a great visit, and it really made David and I realize how much we have to look forward to in the next couple of months.  On Friday, Sara and I drove to Jackson to meet and love on Riley Thomas Murley.  He is absolutely precious...it has been so much fun getting to know these new babies! And today, David and I took care of another precious little one, Whitney.  Whitney's mom and dad are good friends of ours, and they asked us to watch her while they attended a family member's funeral.  Whitney is 8 months old....she is so sweet!  I especially loved the huge smile, wave, and cuddle that greeted me when I walked in her door.  We had lots of fun just hanging out today.  :)  And then, just tonight, was Parent's Night Out at The ABA Place (www.socialskillsforasd.com).  We had 12 kids come hang out with us for 4 hours, giving their moms and dads a much needed chance for some peace and quiet or even a date night!  David stopped by and hung out with the kiddies for awhile, and, it was an absolute blast.  Of course, I think we are all exhausted, but it was a fun time for sure.

On the baby front (as I am sure their are many family members who want to hear as many updates as possible), Baby Bledsoe has really been moving around a lot lately.  It's been fun to feel he/she being active, and it's especially been fun to see the times that I feel it the most.  And, I have definitely seen this week that Baby B is going to have such wonderful friends right from birth.  :)

Tomorrow looks to be a beautiful day, and I hope to get a head start on some Spring Cleaning before things get to wild and crazy around here.  I am very much looking forward to the warmer weather, and taking the doggies on walks at Shelby Farms.  Ah....Spring in Tennessee is definitely one of my favorite times of the year!