Dear pizza and chocolate,

Our love affair must come to an end. Yes, it's true- we did have a great run. But things just aren't the way they used to be. The burning you've been causing in my chest here lately just isn't worth it. You get the satisfaction of adding calories and fat to my diet with your hot, steamy cheese and your rich, creamy cocoa, and, while I do still enjoy your aroma and flavor, I always end up at the medicine cabinet searching desperately for anything to make the pain go away. This isn't healthy. I need to think about me right now. I really am sorry, and I hope you understand. If you can find it in your heart to forgive me, I'll call you after February 1.

Kristin

I find great joy

in listening to my son's conversations with his friends. Today, it went like this:

Carter: "Ok, so fall like this (falls dramatically on the ground) and be like 'Oh, I'm hit! I'm hit!' and then I'll come and I'll be like 'Oh my gosh, you got shot!' and I'll try to help you up and get you to safety but I won't be able to so I'll call for help like 'Mayday, mayday (sp?).' Ok?"

Friend: "Ok."

Friend then falls on the ground: "UGH! I'm hit! I'm hit!"

Carter runs up: "Oh my gosh, you got shot!"

Carter pretend-struggles to help friend up: "Mayday, mayday, I can't get him up! Man down!"

Just like he said, it was. Carter planned out this whole dialogue and his friend just went with it. I was laughing quietly on the other side of the wall. What if the friend said "No, I don't want to say that" or, "No, you be the one to get shot!"?? I was kind of wishing Carter gave his friend a little choice in this dramatic play, but if the friend is cool with it all, then great. I do love to see Carter be such a creative little being, and a leader, too. I pray he grows both of these qualities and uses them to be a bold, inspiring witness for Christ.


Since I'm on Carter and I feel like I haven't bragged on him in a while, a good story seems appropriate. Earlier this week I was in my bathroom getting dressed and Carter was in there for a moment doing something. I grabbed my toothbrush and paste and was preparing to brush my teeth, when Carter asked me a question. "Mommy, are you tired of cleaning your bathroom sink?" I had just done some deep-cleaning of the house the day prior so I assumed he was reflecting on my hard work. I responded, "Well, it's not exactly fun, but it's just something you have to do. Yah, I guess I'd rather not have to do it as much." Immediately he responded with "Then you should get the Touch and Brush! It uses all of your toothpaste and gives you just the right amount, every time!" When I realized what was happening I almost choked on my toothpaste. He was repeating an infomercial, word for word. Classic Carter- see/hear/read something once and it's memorized, ready for recitation. I love that kid :)

Here's me and baby girl Stevenson at 16 weeks (today). I actually got dressed today for church and my sweet little neice's christening afterwards.

The score is evened!

I have a GIRL on my team! Someone to run with me as we escape the terrible sounds and smells of the boys! Someone to sit and watch me do my hair and put on makeup, like Carter watches Sean shave, mow the lawn, read- and pretty much everything else.

Look :)

Her sweet baby profile. I can't believe her legs are already curled up... is it crowded? Am I really that pregnant?She gave us a little wave right in the middle of the ultrasound. Talk about shedding some tears- it made me bawl! It's like she has a little personality, or she knew we were all staring at her... Gosh, I love her so much already :)
The little princess had no problem showing us her, uhem, "parts." Immodest thing; she definitely gets that from her daddy. ;)

So there you have it! We're now in the process of choosing a name. (Yes, Dad, we will have something for you to tell your friends. Just don't get too antsy- this may take a while! haha, love you!) We didn't realize it until now, but we both find boy names so much easier to like. Haha, that doesn't sound right. I have about three boy names that I would name my son in an instant, as does Sean. But girl names are harder. I've thought I had "the name" for years, but now that the time has come- I'm not so sure about it anymore! Can't sound too baby-ish because they won't be a baby girl forever, can't be too exotic or they'll mistaken for a... uhm, dancer? Is it a name they can grow into (and it's hard to picture your infant who hasn't even arrived yet as an adult with this possible name you've come up with!)? These name books you can get that are supposed to help you with suggestions just give me a headache. My attention is always brought to the craziest names, like Zelda, that I'm probably passing right over anything I would actually consider. I told Sean that if we just ask every person we know for some suggestions, that maybe ONE name out of all of those would just jump out at us! We'll see.

I haven't had a week this busy in a long time. Summer was spent being pretty lazy, or atleast doing everything at my own pace, but those days are OVER! And I'm not going to lie- I kinda like it :) I'm a freak in that sense. Like my mom, who I always claimed had some sort of disease that wouldn't let her STOP for just a minute to sit down, I like to be busy. I'm dead tired at the end of the day, but I love the feeling of what all I've accomplished. Last week I decorated my classroom, but I'm still waiting on little things like, oh, the furnniture. Haha, seriously- but the walls are done, and that's the hard part! This week I started teacher in-service. These are some long days, especially to the girl who likes to move. I've spent the majority of the past week sitting in a chair listening to policies and procedures. It's made me realize I need maternity pants. I can't pull this off anymore. haha..

On Monday I had the opportunity to interview with the Head Chair of Math and Education for a college in our area. She needed an administrative assistant to help her with class scheduling, textbook decisions, among some other things. Well, the interview went well, and she likes me enough to work with my schedule. Since I'm teaching Mondays, Wednesdays, and Friday afternoons, she allowed my schedule with her to be Tuesdays, Thurdays, and Friday mornings as needed. I will be crazy busy now with two jobs, but it's great. My ultimate goal is to be a college professor in Early Education, and this is the perfect foot in the door opportunity that I would be a fool to pass up.

It's amazing how God opens (and shuts) doors in order to give you just what you need. The events in my life just over this summer have been incredible proof of that. The trusting can be hard sometimes (especially for a control freak like me), but man it's so good when you do. I stand in awe every day!

hot wheels :)

The first time Sean took Carter out to teach him how to ride a bike like a real man (that is, without training wheels), it didn't go too well. Carter was only half-trying and didn't make much progress. He just wasn't ready. Well it's been a few months now and Sean decided to take Carter out again for a second attempt. I didn't follow them outside immediately- I thought if it was anything like last time I'd just be sitting there watching Carter topple over constantly. But, to my surprise, after 3 minutes of being outside Carter ran in screaming at the top of his lungs "Mommy, come quick! You have to watch me ride my bike!" So I did :)

Yay for Carter and the beginning of some wild biking adventures!

I did my first weird pregnancy thing a couple nights ago. I woke up at 3am and HAD to have cereal. So I dined in the kitchen alone by under-cabinet lighting. Bonding time with baby :) We find out the sex on Tuesday. Everyone has this "feeling" that we'll be having a girl. I have no feeling either way, and I honestly don't care. I know God knows what's best for our family, and that's what He'll give us!