Pre-Glamping

We are about to get on the road to go glamping and I cannot wait! I will sure miss these cute faces though.

I think this glamping girls weekend is just what I need to re-charge my batteries!!!

Bulletin Boards

I've wanted to get a couple of bulletin boards to get organized for a while now. When we put up the one with all of Bennett's art work he was so proud! He kept saying "Look Gammy" and would point to it. I only save things that I think he actually makes. I do not save anything that looks like an adult made it and wrote Bennett's name on it. Thank to Neil for getting my "projects" done!

We leave tomorrow for GLAMPING! Can't wait!

19 weeks!

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: 19 Weeks

Size of baby: 6 inches (from i-pregnancy app)

Total Weight Gain/Loss: Gained 5 pounds (and here comes the weight!)

Maternity Clothes: All regular clothes (I bought some new maternity jeans at JC Penney last night. I didn't even know they had maternity clothes!)

Gender: A beautiful boy! Henry William Lewis

Movement: I haven't felt anything lately. This is a source of stress for me right now especially since my last due date is tomorrow. I am really trying to stay calm and relax about it. (I ended up heading to the Dr. yesterday to hear the heartbeat just because I was worried. The heartbeat was 148! We did have a little issue with an echogenic focus on the heart. I go to the specialist some time next week for him to check further. They were not worried AT ALL. She said that is basically like a mole on the skin, but it is on the heart. She said that the femurs and head folds were measuring perfectly so that is what we are focusing on!! Not what we wanted to hear, but there is nothing really I can do about it right now! She said that even Dr. Tynes daughter had this same thing.)

Sleep: I sleep really well except for the bathroom breaks

What I miss: Sleeping on my back

Cravings: I have been loving cold fruit...it hits the spot!

Symptoms: tail bone pain...when I do too much it really hurts to walk

Best Moment this week: looking forward to my "glamping girls" weekend! Yippee!

Friends over for Dinner

We had a couple of friends over for dinner on Monday night. The Shirleys and Amy came over to eat. Neil grilled up a fantastic feast of bacon wrapped scallops, shrimp, and chicken. We had grilled corn and asparagus to go with it. I am so glad we finally broke down and got Neil a grill. He is the king o' the grill!

Brett and Anna (the couple on the left) are staying in Center, TX for a little while so Brett can finish up a rotation. Anna and Brett are both dentists and gave us some great tips for our teeth. Apparently we were totally messing up Bennett's teeth! We usually give him a vitamin after we brush his teeth as an incentive for brushing...BIG MISTAKE! Little did we know that there are like 3 grams of sugar in each one. And we usually give him his milk before bed which has a lot of sugar in it and just stays on his teeth. Gross. They were so nice to give us some helpful tips. We were so glad to see them. I hope we can do it again really soon!

The Learning Center

For the past few months, I have been feeling that God wanted me to get involved with the Crisis Pregnancy Center. I kept feeling constant urges and gentle nudges to do more for pregnant teens. I kept ignoring these nudges and was straight up being disobedient. I kept saying "I don't have time for this or I don't need one more thing added to my plate!" Well, God had a different plan in mind for me. One day I finally called the CPC and they were thrilled at the thought of having a new volunteer. It is not feeling like extra work, it just feels like this is what I am supposed to do. I will begin teaching "Life Skills" classes and planning special events for the center beginning in April. I am so excited to get involved with this new ministry! Why is it so hard to trust and obey sometimes?

Since it is a non-profit, donation funded ministry, I will need donations for my classes. I think it is great that they don't accept money from the government so that they can keep is a Christian values based ministry. I sent the following e-mail to my family and friends. If you would like to get involved...please contact me!

Dear Family and Friends,

I recently started getting involved with the Learning Center (a branch of the Ark-La-Tex Crisis Pregnancy Center). This is a wonderful faith-based ministry that allows pregnant teens and families to take classes and earn "merits for mom." The students are invited to "Earn while they Learn." If they take classes, read books, attend church, attend doctor appointments, etc they can earn items for their babies. The Learning Center has an in house boutique with maternity clothes, baby clothes, diapers, car seats, strollers, etc. As they earn merits, they can purchase items needed from the boutique. This is a wonderful ministry and I am excited to share it with you! One thing the staff at the Learning Center wants to teach is ways to have good, clean fun with your families. I have decided to plan an Easter celebration and a Mother's Day gathering for the center for this reason. I would love to have help with these if you are interested.

I will begin teaching "Life Skills" classes there on Thursday afternoons from 4:30-5:30 beginning in April. Some of the subjects include basic cooking, renting an apartment and selecting colors, meal planning, grocery shopping, memory keeping, time management, and house cleaning. In order to make my classes work, I am asking for donations. If you have anything you are not using, please consider donating! Here are some specifics that I am requesting:

• measuring cups and spoons
• George Foreman grills or similar
• microwaves
• craft paint
• paintbrushes
• colored cardstock or construction paper
• scrapbooking supplies
• old cookbooks
• folders with brads and pockets to create “Life Skills” handbook
• Any craft supplies (markers, colored pencils, scissors, etc.)
• Gently used or new baby items

Easter Celebration on April 23rd:

• Easter Baskets
• Easter grass
• candy filled plastic eggs
• Easter craft supplies
• Someone to dress up like Easter Bunny

If you would like to help this awesome ministry please e-mail me or leave a comment. Thanks so much!

Happy St. Patrick's Day from my Shamrocks!

My "lucky charms!" Happy Birthday Nana from your 2 favorite boys!

18 weeks

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: 18 Weeks

Size of baby: 5.6 inches (from i-pregnancy app)

Total Weight Gain/Loss: Lost 1 pound

Maternity Clothes: All regular clothes (I will be needing to make the switch soon...I am feeling squished in regular clothes!)

Gender: A beautiful boy! Henry William Lewis
Movement: I think I feel him move at night when I get in bed

Sleep: I sleep really well except for the bathroom breaks

What I miss: nothing

Cravings: I have been loving cold fruit...it hits the spot!

Symptoms: tail bone pain...when I do too much it really hurts to walk

Best Moment this week: making it to 18 weeks (I can't believe that I am so close to the 1/2 way mark!)