It won't be like this for long!

Ok, where has the time gone? We are currently starting our seventh month. I have heard this new song on the radio by Darius Rucker (others might know him as Hootie!) called "It Won't Be Like This For Long". It is my new favorite song! I remember at the beginning of my pregnancy wishing away the time just to get to the next phase. Every time, I would know that this would be out of the danger zone. The only problem is that when you are pregnant... or maybe just me.... you worry about every little thing! Our little one is definitely a mover! I am glad though because I feel closer to her every day. She has even made her mark on her daddy a few times! I realize that with every passing day we are getting closer to meeting our little one! I live for the kicks inside me each day .... just to feel that little nudge....she has found a little nitch that is getting checked into tomorrow! The pain has been going on for about a week, and I just want Dr. Pete to tell me that it is normal.... that goes back to the worrier!
We are getting our second dvd made of her this weekend, and we are so excited!!! I encourage you to google the song or find it on your favorite country radio station.... the meaning of this song is so true! For me, I know that in two short months, this little one will be out in the world for all to see and meet!

The New Color in the Harris' House

Well, the news is in....... the new color in the Harris' house will be pink! Jamie and I are so excited!!! She (still odd to say) has moved all day today! I was afraid that she would be napping when we went in at 4:00 for our ultrasound! She wasn't, though! We got some really good pictures of her. They will probably be put on here tomorrow! She sucked her thumb, and it looked like she was sipping tea with one of her fingers in the air! She even emptied her bladder from the beginning of the ultrasound to the end of the ultrasound. The doctor says that everything looks good. We saw her heart, liver, both kidneys, the gall bladder, the bladder (and its usage), and brain development. She is in the 57% percental, and she weighs 1 pound and 7 ounces. The doctor seems to think that she will be between 7. 5 pounds and 8! My dear sister- in - law, Ashly, informed me that she was already heading to the store for hairbows!!! Oh my! I might need some help in this area! Jamie is making a different type of purchase! He has been calling and asking how his two girls are.... it is just so surreal! I still can't believe it myself! Well, if you all have any good ideas for names... we still are in the process of looking and thinking. Have a wonderful night, my dear friends! Thanks for reading this and caring about all three of us!!!

Bless the Broken Road

On July 28, 2005, I met your daddy. I wasn't looking for love as the old song goes, but guess what.... I found it! On July 29th, we had our first date. I remember exactly what he was wearing and how cute he was walking up to my house. He was driving the biggest red truck I had ever seen. (I later found out that it was a "dually".) We went to dinner and talked. Then, we decided to get a movie. We rented "Christmas Vacation". It is my favorite movie of all time, and your daddy said that he hadn't seen it. I was shocked because our family had seen it so many times. I must admit that I sometimes watch it when it isn't even Christmas! I am sure that I made a great first impression because I laughed hysterically through the whole movie! Well, the impression must have been ok because here we are three and a half years later with you on the way.
You see, life, for me, was full of a lot - sadness and heartache. I never understood why God put me on the road that He did. I questioned and prayed a lot, but I just didn't understand. It all came together though when I met your daddy. You see, he made me understand what all the heartache and brokenness were for...... they were to lead me to the most wonderful man I have ever known and your daddy.

Your daddy and I ended up going to a Rascal Flatts concert with some friends, and I heard the song that changed my outlook and made me appreciate the road so much more.

I set out on a narrow way

Many years ago

Hoping I would find true love

Along the broken road

But I got lost a time or two

Wiped my brow and kept

pushing through

I couldn't see how every sign

pointed straight to you.

That every long lost dream

led me to where you are

Others who broke my heart

they were like northern stars

Pointing me on my way

into your loving arms

This much I know is true

That God bless the broken road

that led me straight to you

So, when you want to question why you are on the road that you are on...remember that God has a plan for you. It all works out the way that He designs it. It may not be what you want or think you need at the time, but it does lead you to where you are created to be. Speaking from experience, I am so grateful for that broken road. It led me straight to your daddy and you!

Memories

Ok, my little one... we read "Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge" tonight. It was one of my favorite books as a young child. I don't know if it was because I had two older ladies who lived next door to me who taught me how to bake cookies and make dolls, or if it was because they were constantly telling me stories of when they were young. I loved going over to their house after school to talk and "play" with them. They were the most fascinating people to talk to each day. This book reminds me of them and of my childhood. I never lived next door to an "old folks home", but this book makes me think about how precious those memories and older people are. This book also makes me think of your Grandpa Harris. He, like Miss Nancy, has lost his memory. It makes me sad to think that you won't get to know him the way that we have. Your Grandpa Jim is one amazing guy. I remember the first time your daddy took me over to his house. Your daddy introduced us and ate his dinner. Then, your daddy went back to work, and I stayed to talk with your Grandpa. When your daddy called me at 10:00 (two hours later), I was still there, and he just laughed! (Your Grandpa sure likes to talk!) Now, each time we go see your Grandpa Jim at his "house" we remind him that you are coming! He gets excited each time we tell him. Sometimes, we have to chuckle at the "newnesss" of the news because if we didn't the tears would start to come. You see, your daddy and your Grandpa Jim are really close.... just like the two of you will be one day. You will be close to your daddy just the way he is close to his. Your Grandpa Jim will love you and cherish you, but you have to remember that there might be days that he doesn't remember you or your name. We will do what Wilfrid does in this book. We will put together a box of "memories" for you and your Grandpa Jim and maybe..... just maybe.... that will help him to remember. We love you little one... sleep tight tonight.... and just know that we will have many memories together soon!

Guess How Much I Love You!

Ok, little one! I know that you are an independent little one! You just don't move as much as I want you to! I worry about it, but everyone tells me that it is normal! The only time that you really do what I want you to is when we are finally calm and relaxed at night. I normally read to you and do my nightly routine, and you normally will move then. Last night, I read to you "Guess How Much I Love You". It made me tear up because even though you aren't that big, I love you as much as Big Nutbrown Hare does. I love reading to you and feeling you move inside me. It is the craziest feeling, but the best feeling. I am definitely ready, though, for your daddy to feel you move. I think it will just make him feel closer to you. I also cannot wait for you to be held by your daddy. I am so looking forward to him holding you for the first time. I have seen how he is with other little ones, and he is going to make the most amazing dad! I am so grateful that you will have him to look up to and be close to him every step of your life. I hope that you won't ever forget how special he is and how special you are to both of us. (I will eventually get him to read to you as well.) So, my little one... we will know in less than two weeks what you are.. and I will be sure to call you the right pronoun! We already love you more than you know. We don't care whether you are a boy or a girl. We just want you healthy and with us! So, for now... "We love you right up to the moon -- and back."

October 6th, 2008
After three pregnancy tests, I realized that we were going to have a baby. There were a variety of emotions that spread over me. After just a miscarriage 6 weeks before and the loss and loneliness that comes with it, I was so scared. I wanted to be optimistic, but the thoughts came into my mind more than I ever wanted or needed. I remember praying for the strength and faith to help those thoughts fade away.

October 7th.....
I started spotting... scary and in a panic... I called the doctor. He said to come in for a blood check and hormone level check. I had been down this road before, and I was so afraid of the possible outcome. I went to my principal and asked if I could take an early lunch, and my dear friend, Leesa, would watch my kids. With tears in my eyes, I asked him to pray and told him not to ask why. (That is one great thing about having a Christian principal! ) I went to the doctor, and they told me that they would know by the end of the day. So, I waited, and I called. The levels were good for being 4 weeks and 3 days along, but they wanted to test again on Thursday.

October 8th.....
My principal called me into his office. (I was grateful later that it wasn't for a pink slip.) He said, Michelle, I remembered what you asked me for yesterday, and I did it. I opened my Bible last night, and this was what it opened to....
Luke 1:39 - 42

"And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda; And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth. And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost: And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou amoung women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb."

He said, "I just wanted to share that with you. I know that you never told me what to pray for, but this is what I found when I prayed for you."

October 9th.....
The second round of tests came and turned out well. My hormone levels were rising and my progesterone was rising as well. I was so relieved, but yet, so fearful of what could happen.

Jamie and I talked about it, and we decided that we were going to stay quiet about this blessing until we thought we were "out of the woods". We continued our life as normal as we could. I was grateful to only feel sick at the sight of certain foods or smells..... I never actually got sick.

November 11th...
A month had passed... we were around 9 weeks. I started spotting again. I went in for blood and hormone checks, and everything was fine. The doctor said that we could do an early ultrasound if we wanted. At first, I said no. But to relieve my fears, I wanted to see the little one. We scheduled one for the next day.

November 12th...
I remember sitting with Jamie in the waiting room. I was nervous and anxious and everything you can imagine. What were we going to see on the screen? Would the technician answer our questions? They called our name, and the panic set into me. The lady put me on the bed, and then.....we heard it... the "swooshing" sound and the heartbeat (164 beats) and tears came to both of our eyes. We were amazed to see our little blessing on the screen. The baby was only an inch long, but it was the cutest inch we had ever seen! The technician told us that everything was right were it was suppose to be. Everything looked great!

November 23rd...
Our beautiful niece, Josey, shared the news in the most wonderful way. She made the family raise their hands to ask what announcement she had. She only excepted answers from those family members that raised their hands!

December 24th....
Jamie and I opened our gifts as normal. We realized that this was the last Christmas that it would just be us. We are so excited to see the sparkle in the eyes of the little one next year. My friend (Lynde) was over with her young daughter, Alexa, and seeing the sparkle in her eyes...makes me so excited for the holidays next year.

January 5th....
I returned to school (at 17 weeks). I was so excited to tell my students! I just knew they would be so excited. I was sitting at our morning meeting, and I said, "I have so news to share with you!" I proceeded to tell them..... after silence and a bit of awkwardness.... I said, "Ok. Let's go to the bathroom!" What else do you say when twenty-one 8 year olds look at you in silence!!!! ;)

January 7th....
My nightly routine consists of massaging my belly with cream to avoid getting the "stretch marks". I leaned over the bed, and I grabbed the lotion. I felt the strangest feeling in my stomach area. I thought for sure... I have done something! Oh my goodness! I have hurt the baby!

January 8th....
I explain to my friend, Lynde, what happened. I showed her where I hit, and it happens again. She said, Michelle, that is the baby moving! It was the best feeling ever! I try to explain it to my girlfriends, who are also pregnant, and I want to feel it all day long! I explain to Jamie that it is like a cell phone on vibrate.... very faint. That is the best that I can do! I cannot wait for him to feel it kick though!

January 14th... I read "The Kissing Hand" to the little one for the first time!

January 29th...
That leads us to today. We go for our 23 week ultrasound on February 16th to find out the sex and see it again. It feels like it has been forever! We will keep you posted!

Ok... I get an email from my dear sister-in-law Ashly. It shows an awesome "blog" page that she has created. I think to myself... what a great idea! This will allow everyone the opportunity to see what is actually going on inside this head of mine! I am new to all of this, but excited for the opportunity to share the "little blessing" that Jamie and I have received! I hope that you enjoy our journey, as much as we have!