Random family pic....

Just to keep the fam on their toes....I'm going to do some random picture posts as well.

Ryan says "Cheese"

Tiny Updates....

We've been about a week without a real post and even longer since one with relevant pictures of anything going on at Baby Central so it seemed appropriate to update something even if we don't have pics or major announcements.

This week and last have proved a little more difficult for Kim but she still pushes through like a champ. From a Dad's perspective....I've put on some pounds in support of Kimmy and I've been a little busy with projects but outside of that, this thing has been a breeze. From a Mom's perspective...Kim has faced down 15 weeks of unending nausea, aches, pains, and other unmentionables. The pregnant female body is really a wonderful thing but while looking at blogs and reading about this whole experience in books, no one really dives into the really important details. I'm not leaning in any one direction but its just been an interesting experience for the both of us.

The nursery is almost done. I've gotten a little flack for no pics yet but its just detail stuff right now. I need to hang a few things and get some stuff decorated but really and truly the room is done. I think the biggest thing to do is hang blinds or shades so we can dark out the room but that is easy to handle.

And finally....Little Reese is just great. She is so active in the evenings and her movements are huge now! Kim's entire stomach just rolls sometimes and Reese seems love Kim's ribs. A random kick here and a stray punch there just to let Kim know where things stand. It really is something to know that our little girl is in Kim's stomach right now. Unbelievable.

Just keep praying! We're so close and both of my girls need prayers for a smooth last month and delivery. Pics of Kimmy, nursery, and other stuff will finally come this weekend. I promise.

New Header?

I've been toying around with a new header design. Kim and I pretty much made this out of nothing but I don't like the Adam and Kim Plus.... part. I don't like that font but I'm sort of having a brain block so nothing is looking right to me.

Let us know what you think. I don't want to change blog designs like every week but I'd like to keep it fresh. I figure her arrival would be cause for a new blog header. If you like it...great...if you don't, that's cool too. Let us know what you think.

35 weeks along and only 35 days left....

Today was a little dose of the worry that awaits I suppose....

Shortly after Kim came out of the shower this morning she began to complain that her stomach was just incredibly tight and that she was hurting across her upper stomach muscles. One thing that Kim has been able to avoid, for the most part, is general bouts with pain. She's felt the occasional ache and Reese will really poke hard and she'll jump but Kim has never complained that she just hurt.

While she was drying her hair getting ready for work she literally looked pale....now I begin to get spooked. She continues to complain that the pain is constant and pretty intense and so we decide that maybe a call to the Dr. is in order. I suppose that bedside manner isn't something they teach in nursing school or maybe its because they've heard it over and over so the concerns of the pregnant mother sound like blah, blah, blah. I didn't talk to the nurse and only hear Kim's side of the conversation but I could only imagine....Kim: Um yes, I'm 35 weeks along and my stomach is hurting terribly this morning...I'm a little concerned because I've never felt this way. Nurse: Mmm Hmm. Kim: Do you think something could be wrong? Nurse: Nuh uh. Kim: But this is really pretty severe pain. What do you think would cause this kind of pain. Nurse: When is the last time you've pooped? ----let me interject here....Anybody that knows me is uniquely aware that I have stomach issues that exceed the parental rating of our little blog. I'm not ashamed to let folks know what is up and will announce things that should probably be left a mystery. Having said that....I've never had a conversation with a practitioner about my bowel movements and I don't intend to start now so you can imagine Kim's fright at the question just posed to her by a complete stranger. Kim: Excuse me? Nurse: When was your last bowel movement? Kim: NUNYA! Besides, my stomach hurts up high....not down low. Nurse: Ma'am, please. When was your last....Kim: That's not the problem. Nurse: Ok....Have you eaten anything? Kim: A little. Nurse: Go to the store and get this, this, and this. If your pain hasn't subsided by noon call us back and we'll revisit your issue...mumble mumble grumble. Kim: Alright. (Ow my tummy)

So Kim went to the store and bought the necessary items. I guess fear drives you to worry about stuff that would normally not be an issue if we were a little better educated about our bodies. Turns out that the Nurse was suspecting trapped gas or other gastrointestinal processes. In the end....our fears subsided and Kim's pain went away. I leave the diagnosis a mystery but its so funny how something so small can seem like such a big deal. Kim was in tears and balled up with worry....I was too! She was really hurting...I mean she was in some big time pain but it turns out that we were up in arms over nothing. We're both so worried about getting Reese out of Kim's womb and into the world safely and in good health that its just consuming us right now. Everything is amplified so just do us a favor....Keep praying for both of my girls and pray for a smooth last month for both of them.

Oh, and thank God for Gas-X.

What an amazing trip....

We're getting close to one month until delivery! One month away from Reese's arrival. One month....separates us from a family of two...to a family of three. One month...separates ME from being on equal footing to being out numbered. One month is all that turns a husband and wife into Mommy and Daddy. That's pretty cool. Kim and I sit and talk alot about what life will be like once she is here and what 13 years of rollercoaster living has taught us. Has it taught us patience? Enough patience to allow the other enough slack in the midst of a screaming baby alarm at 3am? Enough patience to clean the twelfth consecutive diaper without knowing that it was the twelfth? Enough patience to put each other first despite this new life that needs everything first?

What about communication? We've grown in terms of communication like no other couple that we know. From me having to beg Kim to open up....to her pretty much opening up and me sort of looking for a way to plug the "opening up" spigot. (I mean that VERY much tongue in cheek sweetie!) It's sort of neat for us...we can have a conversation without saying so much as one word. We could be listening to someone go on about something and sort of glance at one another, crack a grin, and know that she pretty much thinks that this story is far fetched and she knows that I'm thinking the same thing. We can be in cramped quarters...say like the trains at Hartsfield and she could give me the large eyed-head twitch....which means...Do you smell that? I smirk meaning....Yes! Dear God it stinks!..she drops her brow...meaning WAS THAT YOU!!!!! I also drop my brow and and intensify my face as to say....Good Lord NO! We can do it for nearly everything...besides poopy smells. Of course that will be a vital conversation going forward but poor Reese won't be able to play along. She'll probably just grimace as if to say....Leave me alone, Please. I'm busy. But will we be able to maintain that understanding or even enhance it with the advent of Reese?

Will we be able to parent with common sense or will all common sense fly out of the windows in a tornado of sleep deprivation and busy-ness? Will paci's get the best of us and potty training turn us into blithering idiots? Will the debate of when to answer that cry be too much to handle initially? Is divide and conquor subliminally trained into children's psyche from birth? If I cry REALLY hard and loud....Maybe Mommy will fear that I'm going to pass out and come in to get me.....yeah...let me try that. Will we be able to instill values into this little life that will last forever? Values like treating others with respect....saying please and thank you...Not following the crowd and being influenced by kids that are less than desirable. Will she do as I say...and not as I do? Who am I to kid...I'm no role model for how to do it the right way. I've made more mistakes than I care to admit. I have a temper, an inability to control the string that opens my mouth, and a bad habit of thinking that folks what to hear what I have to say....can I tame that in Reese? But not to the point that she becomes a pushover. Even with us! She's welcome to her own opinion when she can form one....it may just be that Mom and Dad don't particularly care to engage her rights to have it heard when that time comes.

So many thoughts. So many fears. Do you believe that I've already (only slightly) thought about how sad it will be when she moves out for college?! Our neighbors sort of brought that on with them being empty nesters this summer. I can't imagine the weirdness that comes with that now. I was dying to get out from control of my folks...but now I see how hard that could be and she isn't even here yet! We haven't even gotten through the first three months...or weeks and the future is already on our minds. From the three month standpoint we've already been prepped by a number of parents about those ever important first months of life....from hell to even worse has been the standard expectancy. But we think that it is what you make of it. Its only three months. I may read this six months from now and want to choke this idealist that types tonight but it really is just three months. It isn't a death sentence....its just my baby girl needing a good start. My wife needing my support because her hormones are on Defcon 5. Its me just doing everything I know to do because that what I'm supposed to do. Is it really that much to ask of me? Kim? Our parents? (we'll need some help for sure) I can't tell what challenges lay ahead but Kim and I are parents of faith. We're a husband and wife of faith. We pray every day in some form or fashion for someone else or for each other...every day.

God has gotten us this far. So Patience? Got it. And a never ending supply of it from God. Communication? Kim simply winks and nods approvingly. I wink/nod back and knuckle bump her. Ability? More than we probably know. Enough love? My love tank runs over right now....I just hope I fill Kim's with enough to keep her running with the needles pinned. (that means fast)
Can we instill values in Reese? Over time, yes, I believe we will. With our family's help and with a hand from God. Will we make it?.....................you bet.

Having said all of that....I want to wish a Happy Valentines Day to Kim. You deserve far better than I can give you, but you've made it perfectly clear that you love me despite my faults and my hiccups. I will do all I can to be the best father possible to our little girl and the best husband to you as well. I love both of my girls.

34 Weeks

Blog posts have been a little on the slow side this week as I have been out of town and Kim has been traveling alot this week as well. I figured we'd start off some posts with a veggie update....


34 Weeks
Your baby now weighs about 4 3/4 pounds (like your average cantaloupe) and is almost 18 inches long. Her fat layers — which will help regulate her body temperature once she's born — are filling her out, making her rounder. Her skin is also smoother than ever. Her central nervous system is maturing and her lungs are continuing to mature as well. If you've been nervous about preterm labor, you'll be happy to know that babies born between 34 and 37 weeks who have no other health problems generally do fine. They may need a short stay in the neonatal nursery and may have a few short-term health issues, but in the long run, they usually do as well as full-term babies.

More updates on the latest goings on this weekend!

Hospital Tour

Wow, time is flying as there are only 46 days remaining. Little miss Reese will be here very soon and we can't wait! Adam and I signed up to do a tour of Kennestone Hospital labor and delivery unit last Thursday so that we would know where to go and know what to expect when the time comes. Thank goodness we did....first of all we parked in the parking lot that seemed forever away and found out there is a much closer parking lot so that we are not touring the parking lot when Reese comes knocking. We got to view the labor and delivery room and then the mom and baby room where we will be staying for 24-48 hrs after Reese is born. During the tour Adam and I were both a bit nervous as we were realizing we were going to be there very soon, but afterwards felt a lot more comfortable because of all the information we received and just knowing where to go helped as well. :) The tour guide was very informative and helped us to know what to expect from arrival at the hospital to departure. We went home and had to add more items to our to do list such as: creating a birth plan, selecting ped provider to see Reese in the hospital and out, submit our pre-admission registration form, etc. They provided us a Q&A handout which has also answered many of our questions so needless to say I am very glad that we did this.

We also found out about another class "Joy of Parenthood" that we signed up for as well. This is scheduled for 3/5. This class is to assist in holding, dressing, diapering, giving a bath, and overall care of the baby. We are looking forward to this class as every lit bit helps. :)

Mom (Nana) and I went shopping yesterday and also did a drive by to the hospital as well. I wanted her to be sure she knew exactly where to instruct Dad to go (since he would be driving or should I say flying!) when the call is made. We found an adorable University of GA dress during our little shopping adventure. The dress was a bigger size, but we couldn't pass it up. We showed it to daddy when we got home and he loved it!

My next doctor appointment is scheduled for tomorrow. This is just another routine visit and during this visit I will have my iron level checked again. Even though it is winter time, I am planning on wearing shorts and a short sleeve shirt since the last time I wore a big HEAVY sweater and the scale said I had gained 4 1/2 pounds. It also could have been the piece of red velvet cake, carrot cake, and cupcake that I had eaten the day before during one of my showers! :)

Furniture arrives tomorrow....

My laziness catches me tomorrow. The furniture that we picked out so long ago arrives sometime in the afternoon but I still have stuff to do...albeit minor...its still stuff. Some sanding on the worlds worst window, some touch up paint, some edge cut in, some picking up....I'd better remove the thumb from my posterior and fast.

We still need letters and we still need to decorate....the list grows instead of shrinks but our motivation is simply whipped into submission. Poor Kim is just beat all the time. Her thermostat is sooooo messed up that private summers are pretty regular right now. She's aching, her feet swell when she is on them for a while, she has RLS (don't laugh....Restless Leg Syndrome....it does exist Margaret!) I think more than anything is that she just twitches alot but I'm calling it RLS because it trips her out. Reese no longer kicks or flutters but rolls or punches. Her movement is so pronounced now and poor Kimmy is just searching for a way to keep comfortable....but she never complains. She just trucks right along like this is the best thing ever.

I don't know what I thought it would be like for her but she has impressed me beyond my wildest thoughts. How strong is she really? How much is she just dealing with that I might complain about? How worried is she about the whole process? I'm lucky to have her.....I love my girls.

Sunday Summary....Football, Pizza, Carpet, and Crashing

Can this week come to an end any quicker? We're simply toasted today and while I love my home time...I'm almost ready to go back to work so I can sit down for a spell. Kim has been pushing things a little more than she should and she's obviously tired and I've been moving everything that isn't screwed down upstairs once and now twice....We need a timeout. Aren't you supposed to chill out prior to baby arrival so you'll be all energetic and ready to stay up all night?! But we did all of this for CARPET...no more builder grade junk upstairs, no more squeaks, no more paths around the bed, no more stains. Its soft. Plush. Spongy. It has been so long since we've had nice carpet and my gosh what a difference it makes. I'll go on record in that it sure does make life horrible PRIOR to installation but man was it worth it.

So its Super Bowl Sunday and while millions of folks all across the country gather for a football cookout or gathering with the neighbors, Kim and I are keeping it close to home. We made home-made Pico de Gallo and Onion straws and then Fajitas for the main dish, mmmmmmm good.

I continued my youngster turned Thirtysomething rite of passage by playing a football game of my own this weekend (without injury) and then was witness to a true attempt of greatness....My friends Scott and Shaun declared some weeks ago that they could consume a pizza at a local shop in Kennesaw of which no other pair has successfully completed. The deal here is that if you and a friend eat this monster pizza in one hour, you earn $250 house cash. Easy as that....right? Thing is...more than 400 pairs have tried and no one has done it. My boys Scott and Shaun thought they could...here are some pics.
30" across, 11 pounds of meat, cheese, crust, and grease.....and still undefeated. Two other pairs tried Saturday and Scott and Shaun bested both by a mile. I really think Scott could have held up his end of this bargain but poor Shaun sort of tells the tale in the last pic. Erp......

I don't think I'd care for the house cash after eating that thing. Keep the $250, just pay for the hospital bill when I have a coronary later in the day.

Meanwhile back home:
Everything that could go in the master bath...went in the master bath. This is just a sample of the carnage from an entire floor being shoved into 2 1/2 rooms. The closet room was full, the master bath was full, and the other bath was as full as it could be since there was a little carpet going in there.




This is the Master bedroom....notice the odd looking stain on the left. So Adam nearly fell out because that looks alot like a water stain on the subfloor. After nearly sobbing uncontrollably fearing the worst, I was able to gain my composure and find that this must have been some sort of spill when the house was being built since the wood was dry. The other thing this pic hides is the 2000 screws that had to be put in the subfloor to stop the squeaks. Good times.

And finally, little man Baxter was sort of making a dirty spot in the floor because he lays in the same spot ALL THE TIME. Not that its a problem but the floor was a little icky. So after cleaning the spot real well....Bax has a new bed.
This joker won the lotto with Kim's change of heart but he has done so good inside. I'm pretty sure he'll be excited to meet Reese and she'll have a little buddy right out of the gate.

Alright folks....We'll post some Kimmy pics and Reese stuff later in the week. In the meantime keep praying for Kim and Reese and also keep Mom in prayers for a speedy recovery.

Worky work...Busy Bee...

Kim and I have been busy as all get out over the last several days. I've been prepping for carpet upstairs which would seem pretty nonchalant but nothing at this house is completely easy. Rip it up, rip up the pad, get out the staples, sweep and vacuum, pound down the nails, screw down the floor, do that little dancey thing on seams of the plywood to see if you still have squeaks, screw down some more, do the little dance again, try to stand up and go to the next room.

Well carpet is being laid today and this signifies that my projects are about to be furloughed until I can get UN-sore. I still have some touch up stuff to do in Reese's room but all in all I'm pretty good in there too.

In other news, Mom came through surgery ok but a little icky feeling from the drugs. They had her on the little knee movey thing when I went by last night and I think Kim mentioned today that she may get to come home on Sunday. Keep sending a prayer for a speedy recovery and I'm sure she'll be ok.

I'll have some decent pics of the house wreckage for the Sunday post, I should have some good pics of the Carnivore Challenge that Scott and Shaun will participate in on Saturday....queezy pics o'plenty, and then I'll put some pics of the Nursery online as well.

Done for now...enjoy the Weekend!

Under the knife...

My Mom goes under the knife for knee surgery on Thursday/Friday. Mom is a pretty tough cookie but I know she's worried about the surgery so if everyone would say a prayer for her, I know she would appreciate it. I think the pain of surgery will be better than the pain of bone on bone knee issues so while I know she's worried....I'm sure she'll fair pretty well.

Friday is also carpet day so I'm taking off to remove carpet, move furniture (as best I can by myself), and help the installer do stuff. BIG FUN! At least it will be done this week so that will be another step toward getting the world ready for Reese. Her room is very close and quite honestly only needs about an hour or so of dedicated attention to seal the deal.

On the baby stuff front, we used some gift cards and cash to buy our Mini-Van Ginsu stroller tonight and the play yard. Using coupons and discount deals and every gift card that would apply, we made out pretty good. We still have plenty to buy but all in all I'm feeling slightly prepared right now.

On the Mommy front, Kim is aching a little more just from stomach pain (stretching) and back aches. Sleep is getting a little more elusive for her as well. Reese is all over the place now. Up under her ribs, down on her bladder, kicking, stretching, poking. It's so cool to see and feel her move. I'm trying to store that feeling in my memory so I can tell her one day what its like. Alright...back up stairs to pull out carpet.

Happy Birthday Grams!

Happy Birthday Grams!!

How old are you? How old ARE you? HOW OOOLLLDDD ARE YOUUUUUUU? Happy Birthday to you.

God's blessings on you. God's blessing ON you. GOD'S BLESSINGS ON YOUUUUUUUUU. Happy Birthday to you.

(for those that don't know...the Happy Birthday song has about 40 different versions when sung with the Goller clan. It can go on for hours like this.)

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you.....

We simply can't say it enough. Thank you to everyone that attended the second shower for Kim today. We have really been blessed with beautiful family members and friends and we are very, very grateful for anything and everything that has been heaped upon us. From gifts, to prayers, to well wishes for Kim and Reese....we're simply blessed.

Everything from the first shower last weekend is still in our dining room since the nursery isn't done yet and then we piled in everything from this shower today and we sat back and looked at the goodness and nearly came to tears tonight. Kim just stood there and and looked at it all and was overwhelmed. So many people love us and care about us and it makes it difficult to measure what we've done to deserve such kindness.

I'll mix a little humor with the humility tonight in that I was surrounded by blissful estrogen in quantities seldom seen by the male species at the Baby shower today. This was my first start to finish Baby shower where I was the Lone Ranger. I've sat in on a few at work but I've had back up at those events. A few guys to joke around with, some cutting up with typical crude guy humor but this event required that I man the post by myself. Being that this shower was for my little girl, I was more than happy to be there the whole time and I enjoyed seeing old friends and spending time with the family. I will admit to getting a little choked up when I saw the gift that Celeste's sister, Crystal bought us.
The frame says Daddy's Girl. We picked this out a couple weeks back and figured that if no one got it for us, we would get it ourselves but when I saw that today I couldn't help but tear up. I think Nicole actually noticed it and said something which sort of blew my tough guy plan but I couldn't help it. She's obviously Mommy's girl as well and words on a picture frame don't make it so...but this was for me. That's my frame and it says Daddy....It fits.

We haven't made pics of alot of stuff mainly because there was just so much. We got diapers, wipes, onesies, cool outfits, bathtubs, a humidifier, a bouncy seat, a boppie, blankets, hand-made stuff, Monogramed stuff, bedding, wall art, hangers, books, gift cards, cash, dresses, booties, socks, boggins, sheets, toys, and on, and on, and on. See why we say Thank you, thank you, thank you?

Here are some pics from the day:
Again, we're very Thankful for everything. It was good to be able to have all of Kim's family and her friends from the Dr. office as well. The hostesses were awesome and a big thank you go out to Nina, Brenda, Erin, Nora, Ginger, Charlotte, Nadonna, Martha, and Nan for hosting the shower. Special thank yous to our special guests Nadine, Ash, Raquel, and Brianne for making the trek from Miami for Gram's Party and the shower. Thank you to everyone else that came from far off or right around the corner to little ol' Calhoun for Kim and I. Thank you all.

60 Days!

Two months....only two more months until we meet the love of our lives. A baby girl that has literally been 17 years in the making. From a chance meeting at City Hall when we were sort of passing through, to dating 4 years, married 13 years, and now bringing a life into this world. She is the most perfect thing that we've ever been involved with.

We love you Reese. Get here safe and sound. We can't wait to meet you.

Reese and Daddy's Trike

More of a want versus a need for us...mainly me....was a semi-cool and functional stroller for Reese. We've got the mack-daddy all in one Ginsu stroller picked out for everyday use but we wanted something that would be easy to walk with or super maneuverable or....just cooler than the Ginsu stroller. The Ginsu (Chicco stroller) sort of feels like a mini-van versus a sports car.


Meet the sports car turned stroller....the B.O.B. Functionality, ease of use, joggable (because we jog so much) and a cool factor of about 15 on a scale of 10. This thing weaves through the house like a hot knife through butter. I test drive it every morning just to make sure that it still handles like its on rails. I love it. I don't know that Kim is as up in arms about it as I am but I'm pretty stinking happy about it. It has brakes and a tether so the mom or dad that runs with their kid in this thing don't have to worry about it getting away from them. (That'll so be us.) My parents got the B.O.B. for us this weekend and I put it together the other night and I'll have to say...It's pretty sweet. I think Reese is going to love being strolled around in her little hot rod and I think Dad isn't going to worry about what she's in...the Ginsu or the Sportstroller, I'm just ready for her to get here.

True to her mother...Reese is getting a little 'tude in the tummy. Kim was pressing on her stomach yesterday and Reese would push back almost in defiance like "get off me!". It seems like she knows when I want her to move because I can put my hand on Kim's stomach and she'll just stop. No matter how soft I am or how light I touch her....Reese puts the karate class on hold. But last night, I pressed and she basically let me know I was in her bubble. It was the coolest thing that she's done for me. The movements are getting larger and more pronounced on Kim's stomach so our little bundle of baby is starting to spread out in there.

As an update...It appears that things are getting better daily for the Stamps family (Kelly's Korner) and the power of prayer is being revealed in this family's life. Please continue to think of them and as always, keep Reese and Kim in your thoughts as the due date is approaching! Just about two months from this week we should have our "plus one" here!

Sunday summary on Monday

Normally I would be at work right now but today is a holiday at my office so Baxter and I are kicking back and taking it easy today while Mom goes out and earns the bacon. (I could get used to this....so long as its on my terms and not because work told me I have nothing to do now.) Anyway, as I mentioned in the post last night Kim and I had a busy weekend that was capped off with a Baby shower for Kim and Reese.

Keith and Don came up from Florida to help the cause and then Lance and I piled in on Saturday morning to hang a little sheetrock.....just to prove that we didn't goof off all weekend here is a little glimpse of our handiwork.

Fun times at 4 degrees and with a Father in-law that has private summers the whole time. I didn't have to suffer through a night at the lake like Don and Keith did. It was probably colder inside the house than it was outside and Chuck was likely sweating bullets. Lance and I didn't partake for the whole thing but this is a pretty big change from what it looked like the other day. This is just one room but you get the idea. I'm glad hanging sheetrock isn't my day job....I'll bet everyone else is thinking that as well.

Sheetrock took up Saturday and 1/2 of Sunday for me...Kim and Celeste shopped around for carpet Saturday and let me veer off subject for a second to gripe about carpet salesmen. I'm thinking that with new construction down, people pinching every penny and holding off on things, and then the fact that we're coming in looking to spend money with these guys....you'd think salesmen would be all over us and wanting every sale they can get.....SO not the case. I'm telling you, I could have sold 5 houses of carpet by now just from calling folks back and answering emails. These jokers wouldn't last a week at Yamaha. They just don't seem to want our money. Problem is....we sort of have to give it to someone soon because Reese is on the move and our backs are up against a schedule.....oh well.

SUNDAY was our first Baby shower put on by my Aunt Judith, my mom, and Melissa Boyd for City Hall and my family. My aunt and mother in-law have worked at the Calhoun City Hall basically all of our lives and they have all known Kim and I well before we were an item. We had an awesome turn out and this first dose of generosity was overwhelming. We're certainly not picking favorite gifts by posting pics and I'm almost hesitant to post individual gifts so please know that if your gift isn't posted....it by no means signifies that Kim and I don't appreciate it. We are very grateful for everything that we received including the gift cards, cash, and other items that we're obviously not posting. So....after that gift/pic disclaimer here are some of the pics of the gifts (I don't have pics of the actual shower since Kimmy was busy opening goodies but once other pics are shared...I'll pull the best and post as well)

Her first monogramed anything

Reese's first teddy bear courtesy of her biggest fan...Robbie.


The coolest wearable blanket.

This is just a glimpse of everything that we were given yesterday and we have another shower next Sunday that will be for Kim's family, the Dr. office that she worked for in Calhoun for years, and other family friends and friends of ours. It should be another big turn out.

Thank you to everyone that came yesterday and thank you very much for your generosity. We absolutely appreciate everyone and everything that you've done for us. Please continue to give a moment of your day for Kim and Reese in prayer that everything will be alright and that our little girl will arrive safely in March! Thank you again and we love all of you.

Pending posts....

We have had a big weekend and both of us are just gassed. I've helped hang sheetrock at Lake Casa de Richards (Chuck and Nan's place at the lake) and Kim shopped for carpet with Celeste and the best part was our first baby shower for Reese!

I'm off on Monday so I'll put in a post during the day with pics and updates because we're both about two good minutes on the couch from Slobberville and Sleepytown. Baxter is already there.

If you haven't checked her blog, Kelly Stamps (aka Kelly's Korner) is still in need of prayers for her little girl. This complete stranger has put our minds in fast forward toward Reese's birth and the fact that while it happens every day....Child birth is still a miracle and complications can happen at any point. Keep a moment of your day for her child and others of course....and keep Kim and Reese in your prayers as well. We want Mom and baby here, well, safe, and healthy. More on Monday....

Do us a favor...

We have never met Scott and Kelly Stamps but she has been inspirational in her blog and has impacted us in just trying to be better individuals. Kelly writes the blog site Kelly's Corner and she went in for delivery this morning. Based on her blog...her little girl was born this evening but she has very serious complications. She is being flown to a major hospital in Arkansas as she apparently cannot breathe. This young family is in need of prayers that exceed the bandwidth that we can muster. It seems almost strange to pray for someone that you don't really know outside of a website but they need them and have asked to be uplifted. Please keep this young couple and their new child in your thoughts as it doesn't read well tonight. We'll be needing the very same prayers for Reese as nothing is done and in the bag just because you make it to delivery. Thank you for taking a minute to ask God for his hand in thier lives.

The weekly updates...

We've been a little lax on the veggie updates so here they come.....

28 Weeks:
By this week, your baby weighs two and a quarter pounds (like a Chinese cabbage) and measures 14.8 inches from the top of her head to her heels. She can blink her eyes, which now sport lashes. With her eyesight developing, she may be able to see the light that filters in through your womb. She's also developing billions of neurons in her brain and adding more body fat in preparation for life in the outside world.





29 Weeks:
Your baby now weighs about 2 1/2 pounds (like a butternut squash) and is a tad over 15 inches long from head to heel. His muscles and lungs are continuing to mature, and his head is growing bigger to make room for his developing brain. To meet his increasing nutritional demands, you'll need plenty of protein, vitamins C, folic acid, and iron. And because his bones are soaking up lots of calcium, be sure to drink your milk (or find another good source of calcium, such as cheese, yogurt, or enriched orange juice). This trimester, about 250 milligrams of calcium are deposited in your baby's hardening skeleton each day.



Here is a little more practical look at what Reese should look like in Kimmy's belly.



Everything is going pretty well right now. We went looking for carpet Saturday and spent some time with my Mom and Dad and then today, I worked in Reese's room most of the afternoon. I think I'll be able to post some pics in the next day or so because I want ALLLLLL of the painting done prior to any carpet being laid and before any baby furniture hits the floor. Other than that, Reese just kicks away after eating and Kim is doing fine. Her belly button is just about ready to pop...if you know her, she's a little sensitive about that for some reason. Kim and Lance and their weird deal with their buttons. Eh well. Keep praying for our little girl and for Kim as well!

The first Papa

Incidentally, MY Papa passed 3 years ago today on January 10th, 2006.

With the recent loss of my Great Aunt Mary (Papa's sister) the Hall family elders are shrinking in number here but growing in heaven. I'd like to think that Papa is resting in heaven but I'll bet he's helping to pave streets of gold. He was an awesome man and I miss him everyday. He was a fine example of how to lead a family.