My First Professional Pictures

We had the wonderful opportunity to get Dane's baby pictures made last week! Lindsey Whitty, of Mustard Seed Photography, came to our house (how wonderful!) to photograph Dane. That meant that we had to be ready at 10:00 for the photo shoot! It was a rather large undertaking because I have not gotten used to our morning routine yet! We are still working out our schedule because Dane eats every 3-4 hours. Sometimes it is 3, sometimes 4. Thus, we never know when the little man will be ready to eat! So, I have not figured out how to get myself and Dane ready at the same time. I can't hop in the shower while he is wide awake, now can I? Anyway, Lindsey came to our house and began working right away. Dane had to be in just a diaper, which he loves because he spent the entire first three weeks of his life in nothing but his undies due to the jaundice! Lindsey took pictures of Dane and Mommy, Dane and Daddy, and Dane is a beautiful wooden bowl. He was asleep until I put him in the bowl, and then he woke up - little rascal! He must have decided that the would rather be in Mommy's arms than that uncomfortable wooden bowl! (He is a smartie. Can you tell?) Even though he was a bit fussy, Lindsey took some beautiful pictures of Dane in the bowl. I literally could eat him up! I was amazed! Her camera must be 100 times faster than mine to get those shots! Here are some "sneak peeks" of our photography session! Thank you Lindsey Whitty of Mustard Seed Photography!

Fearfully and Wonderfully Made

Dane, Daddy, and VeeBee

Dane and Aunt Meggie
Dane, Aunt Lindsey, and Uncle Wesley

Dane and Aunt Lindsey

Why hello, Doc! How do you do?

Nice to meet you, Papa and VeeBee!



Dane, meet Lissa and Doc!

Doc again!

Uncle Wesley got a haircut!

Yes. I realize that it has been an eternity since I have updated the blog...even longer than an eternity; so I apologize for the millions of you following our lives! The past four weeks have been a whirlwind of emotion, excitement, and LOVE! I cannot tell you how much I love this little person. He amazes me! The Lord has blessed our family with second most precious gift we could ever receive! (Number one being the birth of His Son!) Every time I look at him, I am utterly amazed. How can anyone deny the presence and power of the Lord after looking at a brand-new baby? To think that Daniel and I were allowed to create something so entirely unique and precious is outstanding! Thank you Lord for this perfect gift! Psalm 139:13 says it more perfectly than I ever could:

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. - Psalm 139:13

Dane is a loved little boy, for sure! As proof of how incredibly blessed he is to have parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends that love him, here are some pictures of Dane and the visitors who have come to ogle at him over the past four weeks! Enjoy!

29 Weeks!

It is hard to believe that Little Dane will be making his grand debut in only 11 short weeks! Unfortunately, I was diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes this week. This was unexpected for sure - I realize that I have gained some weight, but I didn't think it would be near enough for me to have GD, especially since I have been exercising throughout my pregnancy. My doctor said that some women just have higher blood sugars during pregnancy, and that I shouldn't worry about the weight gain. (Not worry! She obviously does not know me very well! I'm the one with stress-related stomach ulcers!) Nonetheless, I have to meet with a diabetes educator on Thursday to discuss a meal plan that suits me and to learn how to use my glucose monitor to check my blood-glucose levels. Get ready for this - I have to prick myself 4 TIMES A DAY! Again, my doctor does not know me very well. I am the brat who hid underneath her father's desk at his office in hopes of not having to get my finger pricked! How will I do this for 11 more weeks?

Daniel and Gracie have been very supportive and sweet this week. Daniel surprised me at the doctor's office while I was waiting to find out if I would indeed be diagnosed with GD! When they told me that my final glucose level was too high, I started to cry! But of course, Daniel assured and reassured me that everything would be fine and that he would prick me if I couldn't. He is always there (even when I don't expect him) and is always my rock. He even went low-carb grocery shopping with me tonight! (We went to Wal-Mart at 9:00! That is LOVE!) By the same token, Gracie always seems to know when something is wrong. She is the little lamb and I am Mary. Everywhere I have gone today, she comes right behind me. Even as I walked to and from the laundry room while putting up laundry, she pranced behind me. I kept trying to tell her that nothing exciting was happening, but she just kept following me from room to room. She is the best medicine, indeed!

Please pray that I would be able to control the GD with carb counting and exercizing. As of right now, I do not have to have insulin shots! Praise the Lord! I have to admit that I am feeling a little sorry for myself...I can't have Dobb's strawberry shortcake at Compass Lake or Creme Brulee (my favorite)! I have to keep telling myself that this is for my health, and more importantly, Dane's health! (I sure do not want Dane to be a 10 pound baby!) With that in mind, I believe I can stick to this for 11 weeks. However, all prayers are greatly needed and appreciated!

God Bless and War Eagle!

Andrea

More Pictures!

Our New House

Daniel and I moved into our house on May 1st! Here are some pictures of the house prior to moving in! I will upload more pictures (of the furnished house) once I take them! The house is still a work in progress, but I LOVE IT! She (the house) is precious! I hope you enjoy the pictures!

Did I say blogs were silly?

Before deciding to start a blog, I had to ask myself one very important question: Did I really say that blogs were silly? The answer...YES! Whoops! I mostly thought (notice the past tense) blogs were silly because I thought that they take up so much precious time, which I know it going to become even more slim as I prepare and welcome "Sweet Baby Dane" into my life. However, I am considering this blog a "Not-So-New Year's Resolution." I am going to dedicate just a small amount of time each week to blogging because I want so badly for my family, who lives seven hours away, to feel closer to me, Daniel, and Dane. They are such an important part of my life; thus, it is my goal to make them feel that way! So, I apologize to my fellow bloggers for being critical! Happy blogging!