SURPRISED...

is exactly what we were on Saturday night. As I made my way (yes I was alone at this point) through the front door of our "small group cookout" I was pleasantly surprised! Our sweet friends in our small group had planned a baby shower for us. It was truly a blessing to spend some good time together outside of small group on Thursday night and right along with that, get to celebrate the coming of Tucker.

Matthew and I are so thankful for each one that we get to grow closer to in our small group setting. It has been such a wonderful thing for us as a couple. We really have never done anything together in a small group setting because we are typically separated leading different youth small groups, bible studies, etc. It has been much needed adult interaction with other couples our age, which we have always lacked in our marriage. We have been able to enjoy and share in conversation with this group in deeper ways about living to the standard the Bible sets for us as believers. Matthew and I could not ask for anything better in a relationship with others!

We did still have our cookout and the food was delicious as always. It was a perfect evening to spend outside eating, chatting, boccee-ing, and watching all the kids play together. Greg and Ashley were gracious to host us. Greg is such a wonderful photographer so I am putting up some really great pictures he took during the evening.

Annabelle

Adam

Lila (Annabelle's sister)

Abby, Chris, Michael, and Matthew playing boccee ball...not sure where Greg and Sean are

Brooke

Grey

Krista (sister to Adam and Abby)

Present time! The kids sure did enjoy opening all the gifts :)

Yard Productivity

What a productive Saturday! I mostly watched and that's why we have some pictures from the day. Barry and Cheryl drove up Saturday morning to help us in the back yard. (I wish I had a taken a before picture) We decided to put up a privacy fence in the back for now. All there is is a big patch of woods and it needed some major cleaning out. (I mean it was filled with liquor bottles, tires, trash, leaves, lots of junk!) I'm pretty sure that's where the people that live behind us have been throwing all of their trash for years before our house was built. Thank goodness for Barry and Cheryl's willingness to come help Matthew! (this belly is quite large these days and when I bend over or down, it's not so easy to jump right back up) They cleaned out so much of the back yard and it actually looks like a YARD! We can hopefully put our hammock up and a sandbox back there for Grey and Tucker.

The three workers in progress.

Then we moved to the front yard because the chainsaw quit working. In Barry's expertise, we planned out some beds and moved lots of plants around. Grey jumped in on ALL the action. He's actually a pretty good helper. (so it seemed from the hammock on the front porch) I wish I could have captured some of the funny things he was saying while helping.

"Here ya 'dough' daddy"

the three men with their shovels...too bad i cut off the shovel part

Helping GiGi rake the mulch

I was trying to capture how dirty he was but you can't quite get the picture...

This was one of my before Grey's birthday/Tucker is born tasks that I can see lots of progress on. It makes me so excited to see it all!

Before We Know It...

I've had a list of things I want to get done before Tucker gets here for about a month or so. Getting his nursery ready has not been at the very top of that list until recently. I realized at our last doctor appointment that I was really 32 weeks pregnant and Tucker is going to be living in our house before we know it. So this realization brought upon an anxiousness (is that a word?) to get moving and that we have! Matthew painted the furniture white and we have a few more things to complete the room itself. At least I can get all of the baby clothes out of our room and in their perspective drawers. I don't have pictures of the room all the way done because well, it's not yet. It's been fun to put it all together with the three of us.

Not so much working on anything in particular except honking his nose Good thing Grey has lots of the tools Matthew has except they're plastic :)

classic "Grey look"

Our usual conversation about when Tucker is going to join us.

33 weeks of Tucker in my belly

"Ta Da!" (not quite sure what he's presenting)

Night Night

Easter

We had a great Easter Sunday rejoicing in the life that Jesus provides to us through His death and resurrection! Easter morning, we got dressed and this is the little man in his easter outfit Marmie made him. Probably the last time he dresses like this. (notice the Elmo bandaid on Grey's knee. It stayed on through the night and there was no taking off in the morning)

We had a delicious easter lunch after church. Here's a picture of the yummy strawberry shortcake I made. It was picture worthy.

We ended up doing another egg hunt after Grey's nap. He thoroughly enjoyed finding the eggs and the few surprises inside.

We had a great weekend with Marmie and Poppie!

Spring!

In the event to keep the Easter Bunny and Egg Hunts separate from what Easter is actually about, our great friends Ashley and Greg gave us the idea to "celebrate spring" the Saturday before Easter. That's what they do with their daughter Brooke and we thought it was a great one. So we too this year celebrated spring on Saturday! Grey woke up and got an Easter basket with a new Jesus Storybook Bible, a starburst jellybean egg, and a lollipop! Marmie and Poppie came up for the weekend so he also got a super cool easter train!

After naptime, Grey took off full force into the egg hunt. Upon finding each egg he said "I see one!" It was fun to help him get the egg out of the tree and watch him find the rest on his own.

Big Ol' Baby

At 32 weeks, this is about how big they suspect a growing baby is supposed to be in the womb.

At 35 weeks, this is how big they suspect a growing baby is supposed to be. I had a doctor appointment this morning. Two weeks ago I was measuring a little big so they wanted to do an ultrasound this time to check size and fluids. We were really excited about getting to see little (not so much) Tucker today. We only got to see Grey once and didn't even get to see him all the way because we (I, rather) didn't want to know if he was a boy or girl. This was BONUS! The ultrasound tech showed us his sweet little face, his lips and nose. We made sure he was a boy and it was fairly evident. I got to see exactly the way he is all cuddled up in there and make better distinctions in his neverending movement.

After she measured everything that needed measuring, she then proceeded to tell us that although I am only 32 weeks and 1 day, Tucker is measuring 35 1/2 weeks! (reference the above pictures) He already weighs 5 lbs. 9 oz.! I know I feel really big but now I know it's because the Lord is growing up another really big baby in there!

We then went to meet with Dr. Robinson who was really encouraging. He said everything looked really really good. We just had another BIG baby. All fluids looked great. He knew Grey was 9 lbs at birth and I was a week overdue at that point. He obviously would not jump on me being induced until a little bit closer to June 1st. I would love for nature to run it's course (as they say) but I would love to not have to have a c-section due to Tucker being so big. I guess we'll see how things go. He said they may do another US closer to the due date and be able to tell more at that point. I know I can have a 9 pounder so I don't mind doing that again but I'm not sure about too much bigger than that! He told me to take it easy and not to lift Grey too much. I've been trying to cut a lot of that out anyhow. I have only gained 20 lbs. and he said that was really good and to keep doing what I'm doing. I guess I've only gained 20 lbs. due to already having such an active little boy to keep up with because I sure have been eating a lot!

We hope to get the nursery together this weekend. My sweet husband is patiently working on painting the furniture. It's been a ridiculously long process but is looking really good. I just can't believe we are going to be blessed with two boys that God has chosen to give to us. Most of all we are praying for the soul of Tucker and cannot wait to meet him!

Beautiful Day

We had a fun-filled Saturday with a trip to the Zoo and a family party in honor of Tucker! It was really a beautiful day and spending time with family made it better. Chad and Reagan had a get together in honor of Tucker at their house. It was so nice just to spend time with people you love and don't get to see too often. Here are some pictures of the day.

Grey and Maddie cheesin' away

Maddie, Gigi, and Grey taking a break from looking at the monkeys

Watching the crazy monkey spin on a rope

Garrett, Grey, and Greer. The are more and more fun everytime we get together!

Tongues out

more silly faces

Marmie chasing Grey and Maddie

another cheese moment

Greer was making room for another brick on the patio. sheesh she's so cute!