a.nation

37 weeks

2011-09-15T18:52:00.000-07:00

This week I am 37 weeks! I went to the Dr. on Monday in hopes of progress! :) As she was checking me, I was looking at her face to see a reaction before there were any words! Then she said.."you are a GOOD 3.5cm dilated and about 80% effaced." My mouth dropped! I could not believe that I had progressed one whole cm in one week. WOW! But the tough news is that she is going out of town for 5 days...sept 23rd-27th, and not just out of town but OUT OF STATE!!!! Gosh, I'm so nervous about that! I have another appointment on Monday and we're going to see if my body has progressed even more. If I've progressed to 4/5cm then she wants to put me in the hospital and see if we can get labor "really" started.
My prayer is that I will have peace about whatever decision is made on Monday, whether it be for me to go into the hospital or to wait a week. And I pray that if it doesn't happen this week, my body will wait for "the time" to be when my Dr is back in town!

35/36 weeks

2011-09-06T13:04:00.000-07:00

Last week I was 35 weeks pregnant. I went to see my doctor, for I have started going once a weeks now. She checked me and I was 2cm dilated and 70% effaced. I was soooo excited and I really felt like that 2 mile walk I took 2 days before my appointment really made a difference.

This week I am 36 weeks pregnant. Today I went to the doctor and she checked me again. This time I am at 2.5cm and still 70% effaced. I was a little disappointed, but I know that I still have a few weeks yet. I was just wanting to have made more progress than that. I guess I'm just going to have to get out and make myself walk more than once a week. I was in so much more shape with Capri than I am this time. My doctor mentioned inducing me on the 29th of this month, but I really don't want to be induced! I told her that we would wait til next week to see if my body had made anymore progress. So I guess I need to "get to work!" :)

Please pray that everything will work out and that I will have my doctor when the time is right!

Baby Camel

2011-08-17T18:42:00.000-07:00

Gosh, it has been soooooo long since I have posted anything! My last post was in December and then here we are in August...8 months have passed. Now for the updates:
Capri is now 20 months old, which is just so hard to believe how much she is growing into a little girl and isn't a little baby anymore. Don got a different position at the police department as the housing officer. I have started working twice a week with Ben Finch. And the biggest news; we are expecting again! This time it is a little boy and I am now 8 months pregnant! My due date is September 30th, which is just 44 days away! Whew, we've been busy!
We've decided on a name for this little boy; Campbell Nolan Boyd Nation. Campbell is my grandmothers maiden name, Nolan is just a name that Don and I both like, and then Boyd is Don's grandmother's maiden name. We have talked about just calling him Cam for short, but Capri has started saying Camel, so I'm thinking that will be what we call him for a while...."Little Baby Camel!" :)

MORE = MOOOO or MOOOO = MORE

2010-12-23T19:11:00.000-08:00

Capri is sooooo much fun right now! She is 12 months going to be 13 months very soon! Her little personality has just started to shine through. And buddy let me tell you, she is a red head! lol She makes me laugh every single day and I am constantly amazed at how much she is learning. I've been teaching her animal noises and she LOVES to learn them. So far she knows: Lion, Elephant, Dog, Penguin, Chicken, Cow, Car and Santa. We've been working on: Fish and Zebra. I know, these animal nosies seem a little out of the ordinary to learn first thing, but we've been looking through a couple of her favorite books that contain these animals. She also knows the words Mama (which has now turned into Mommy without the M...for whatever reason I'm not sure), Dada, Pop, Papaw, Kitty, Light, Ball and Drink. She can identify these items: Flower, Tree, Eye, Foot, Amos (out cat), Ho Ho Ho Santa, and Passy. It is absolutely crazy how much a child grows and learns within a year! And I LOVE IT!!! :)
I have to tell you a funny story that just happened tonight. Don is in bed sleeping, getting ready to go into work and I had to tell someone. So I called my Mom first thing!
Capri and I have been working on the sign language for the word MORE. We work on this while she eats. She has done it a few times while she tries to say the word More...which just kinda comes out mmmmmm. Like I said above, we've also been working on animal noises and she has learned the noise for a cow. Tonight I introduced a new book that was full of different items to learn. We were going over a few.....tiger, butterfly, boy, girl...and I notice Capri is doing the sign for MORE and is making that mmmmm noise. I look over the pictures that we were looking at and at the bottom was a big black and white cow. She was staring right at it, putting her little hands and fingers together, nocking them back and forth! I was so proud that she was doing the sign just right! But why was she looking at the cow and saying more?...and that's when it hit me! She thinks the sign language sign for MORE means MOOOO for a cow!!! lol I cracked up! The word MORE and MOOOO in Capri's world sounds the same. So I guess our little one has come up with her own version of signing! WOW! And then I think, what a smart little girl to put those sounds together along with a picture of a cow and think of the sign for more! Gosh, it's just amazing to me what her little brain thinks!

Quick update

2010-12-13T10:49:00.000-08:00

Gosh! I just realized that I haven't posted anything on my blog since September! I am falling way behind!
Capri turned 1 in November and I LOVE the age that she is at. She is soooo much fun at this point and I already dread her growing up into such a big girl. She is just so precious right now!
Christmas is approaching us so quickly. Here we are just the week before Christmas and I still can't believe that it's almost here. Then comes New Years and then Valentines Day. Then I personally start to feel like winter is over and "bring on the warm days and flowers!" :) But until then I love to see snow on the ground, drink hot coco, eat warm dinners and spend evenings full of friends, family and laughter! Winter is upon us folks!
Well I hope you all enjoy the new picture I placed at the top of my blog. It is one of new favorites of our Little Miss!

My School

2010-09-08T10:09:00.001-07:00

Clearwater Baptist Church, here in Athens, offers something for pre-schoolers called "My School". For 9 months - 3 years is basically a mothers day out program. Due to things going on in our lives, Don and I have thought about putting little miss into a program like this. That way I can get some work done with my graphic design job and then also get some work done around the house and not have to overload anyone in the family. We came across My School because we attend church at Clearwater. This program is twice a week, Monday and Wednesday, from 9am to 2pm, which gives me five hours to get some work done. :) And today was Capri's first day at school! This morning we got up bright and early, had our morning bottle, breakfast and then out the door we went at 8:30am. I truely feel Capri will have a great time playing with all the kids and will also give her some time outside of our "home". I really don't want her to get too attached to me and not be able to go with other people. So I'm hoping this program with help her with that.
Today, I did not have to get any work done, so it's been pretty empty here at the house. :( It's crazy how all I can think about is my nasty home and all the other things I need to be doing but I can not because Capri takes up so much of my time. And then on a day that I don't have to be sitting in front of the computer working, or washing dishes, clothes, floors, or toilets....all I can think about is wonder what Capri is doing?! I'm assuming this is totally normal for a mother. I kinda feel guilty because I put my little girl in a "day care" so mommy can relax. But as my husband said..."it is called mother's day out for a reason." So I guess I need to think about it that way, and just know that she is having fun! Please let me know if this is a totally normal conversation to be having in my head!!!!!
Well, it is 1:21pm and I guess I need to be getting up and off to pick up my little one. Back to a noisy house.

Here she is, in the car and ready to get off to school for the first time!

9 months

2010-09-02T11:05:00.000-07:00

Our baby girl is now 9 months old. Wow as time flown by! Here is our latest picture of our precious doll!

Capri's 1st Vacation

2010-08-28T07:18:00.000-07:00

Don, Capri and I went on vacation for the first time as a family this year. Capri is 8.5 months old and we really wanted her to enjoy the ocean for the first time! We went to the Outer Banks, NC and stayed with a couple that live in Kill Devil Hills, NC. They had a little boy that is 6 weeks older than Capri. When we left TN Capri was "army crawling" but by the end of the week, seeing Jared crawl, Capri was crawling like a big girl! She had a BLAST playing with the "big" kids, swimming in the pool, playing on the beach in the sand, and taking a dip in the ocean. We were so thankful that God allowed us to have this time as a family! Here we are on the banks of the Atlantic Ocean in NC playing in the sand with Capri! What an awesome memory!!!

photo taken by: j.lillard

Update

2010-08-07T11:00:00.000-07:00

Capri went back to the doctor to have her ears checked again. The doctor gave her an exam and then a certain test that would check her ears for fluid. She looked much better but the test revealed that she had some fluid still behind her ear drum. We are to keep a eye on it to make sure that it gets better at her next well check.

Still Sick but getting better!

2010-07-29T13:47:00.000-07:00

So as I posted before, Capri has had an ear infections. I noticed after her round of antibiotics that she was still pulling on her ear. We ended up going to the doctor again because I just knew she wasn't over it. The first round of meds helped clear up one of her ears but not totally on the other. So now we are on another round of 10 day antibiotics. I think this set is helping because I haven't noticed any pulling...just playing with the "other" ear that wasn't infected anymore. I'm just wondering if she is just now discovering her ears? Either way, I'm just glad that she's not up crying half the night because her ears are hurting.
On a happier note...Capri is saying Mama! She has been saying mama and dada for a while now. (Dada was actually first!) But she never really seemed to relate me to mama and Don to dada. But the other day I had to go out to work for a couple of hours and when I left she was sitting at the glass door crying. When I got home, Don said that she was saying Mama as I left. Then I started noticing that she will say mama when she fussy and wanting me to pick her up. So, I guess she realizes that I am Mama now! YEAH! That makes me smile everytime, even if she is crying!
Here is my new faviorte picture of Capri. Don and I got some new porch furniture and here Capri is playing with her duck on the swing. (I think by this time the duck had fallen on the floor) I was saying "uh-o-spaghetti-o" as the duck was falling to the ground and little miss thought that was sooo funny!!! So here she is laughing away!

photo by: a.nation

Sick Baby

2010-07-10T18:00:00.000-07:00

Last week....Wednesday, June 30th, I kept Avery, my brother's little boy, so Austin (my brother) and his girlfriend, Kala, could go see a movie. This was the very first time that Avery had ever stayed with me alone, not to mention that Kala is a stay at home mom and only her and Granny (my mom) are the two that he is comfortable staying with. That morning Avery woke up with a cough. Austin called me to make sure it was still okay for me to watch him. At that time I asked if he had a runny nose...and the answer was no. So, sure, I decided that he could still come over. By that afternoon when Avery go here, he had a rough sounding cough, not that often though, and a runny nose. I thought...everything will be fine. Capri will take her naps like she usually does and they won't be around each other for longer than 2 hours. Every time Avery sneezed, I washed his hand with sanitizer, cleaned his nose, then washed my hands before touching Capri. She took her naps like usual and they were not around each other too long.
Avery did NOT have a good time!!! Lets just say he cried and slept! The poor guys was fine for 30 minutes after his mommy and daddy left. Then he realized they weren't there and stood at the door crying. I finally got him calmed down after 15 minutes, then he played for a little while until he realized they were gone again. After this I had him lay down on the couch, watch cartoons, drink some juice..and off to sleep he went.
Saturday, July 3rd...Mom brought Austin, Kala, Avery, and Destiny to Athens so we could all go swimming at Don's parents house. We stayed for an hour and a half and then back to our house we went. The crew stayed for a little while and then I decided to go back to Birchwood and spend the night since Don had to work.
Sunday, July 4th, I went to church with Mom and Dad...spent most of the day in Birchwood with the rest of the family for our 4th of July cookout. I started to notice then that Capri was very whinny and only wanted me. I just thought this was something new that she had started. After lunch at Nonnie and Pops, we headed back home so my old roomie Lori could come and spend the evening with me so I wouldn't be alone. We rented a girly movie and talked "girl talk". Right before I put Capri down for bed, I noticed she was a little warmer than usual, but she wasn't running a fever.
Monday, July 5th...Don and I got up early and headed to Birchwood again. That was the day Mom was have dinner at her house for the 4th. I spent the morning helping her get ready for Dinner...hotdogs, chips, potato salad, slaw, apple pie, homemade icecream, and watermellon...All American! Don had to leave early so he could get home in time for work, so Mom offered to take me home later. (This would be the 3rd day in a row that Capri was with Avery)
Tuesday and Wednesday Capri was very fussy all day long...by this time she had developed a little cough, a lot of sneezing, and a stuffy nose. Wednesday night she woke up at 5am crying. I ended up having to get her out of bed to come lay with Me and Don. Even then she would cry but we were not sure what was going on.
Thursday night, Capri woke up at 1am crying...but I got her back to sleep. Then she woke up again at 3am. This time Don went in to calm her down, but nothing worked. I got up and we both just held her, rocked her, cleaned out her nose...we did everything we knew to do and still nothing helped. We finally decided to give her some tylenol and after an hour of crying she finally went back to sleep. Once I started thinking about it, I noticed that when we would lay her down, she would scream. So I pulled on one of her ears and terrible crying she did. So, Capri slept on my belly the rest of the night.
Friday, July 9th, I called and made an appointment early with her doctor, and yep, the little girl has a double ear infection. :( So they have put her on antibiotics and tylenol. So hopefully she is on the right track to feeling better!

A desire to change

2010-06-14T17:46:00.000-07:00

Lately I've been desiring to be the best that I can possible be! I want to be the best Christian that I can be, the best Wife that I need to be, the best Mother that I can be, best Daughter, Grand-daughter, Sister, Friend, In-Law, and Artist that I can possible be! I want to live my life 100% and I want to show LOVE!!! I know that I can NOT do all of that to the fullest without Gods help! I've asked him to give me the encouragement and strength to do all that I do to the fullest.

Wayne has been preaching on "Sawdust". He says that as Christians, we can sometimes eat more sawdust than oats. This means that we get used to the things of the world and place them above God and learning his word. Man, did I feel like he was talking to ME! Before Capri was born I went to God for everything. I studied my Bible to deepen my relationship with him. The more I read and learned, the more I wanted to read and learn. My relationship with God was growing! Once Capri got here, I put her above my relationship with God. I put my role as a Wife and as a Mother before everything and everyone. Now I have to change! I want my love for God to be as before. I want to desire to study his word again. I want to desire to worship again. I want to desire to love everyone and to show Gods love to everyone again. But most of all, I desire to be the best that I can be through God! My prayer is that anyone who knows me or anyone that I may come in contact with will see Gods love in me!

photo by: a.nation

Half of a YEAR!!!

2010-05-30T11:45:00.000-07:00

photo taken by: a.nation

Our little one is 6 months old today! I can not believe it!!!! And to just think that in 6 more months she will be 1 years old...WOW!! This is our latest pic of little Miss...turning half a year!

Our Anniversary

2010-05-21T13:38:00.000-07:00

photo taken by: a.nation

Don and I got married on May 20, 2007, three years ago. Man how time flies, but then if I stop and think about everywhere we have lived...lol...it seems like a long time.
We got married at Patton Chapel, which is the beautiful brick chapel on UTC Campus. I was not a student there, but when I was a teenager I went to a wedding there and I always said from that moment on that I was gonna get married in that church...and we did! We then had the reception at the Chattanoogan Hotel downtown. My wedding was the dream wedding I had been wanting since I was a small girl!
After Don and I got married, I was still in school at Austin Peay in Clarksville, we lived with my grandparents for the summer while I worked at Drs. Dearmond and Jones and Don went through the Police Academy at Cleveland State. Once school started back for me, I lived with a friend in Clarksville for a couple of weeks until Don was finished with the Academy. We then got an apartment together with my college roomate and lived there for 8/9 months. And I must say, these apartments were great! We will never find another just like those! While I was going to school Don found a sercurity guard job and worked there until April. In April of 2008, Don moved back home so he could start his job at the Police Department in Athens. I finished up school and graduated in May '08 with a Bacholor of Fine Arts for Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, TN. I then moved back, along with all of our things, and we then lived with my parents for 3 months. At the first of August 2008, Don and I bought our first house, in Athens. This is where we currently live with a new addition....Capri!
Don and I have been married for 3 years and can't wait for all the others years to come, new additions that may follow and to see what God has instore for our lives!
I love you Don with all of my heart and I look forward to spending the rest of my life with such and amazing Husband as you! :) Thank you for all that you do and for being the best partner there is!

My little one

2010-05-14T13:22:00.001-07:00

pic taken by: a.nation

Capri is now 5 months and two weeks old! My, how time has just flown by! This little girl is growing like a weed. She is now smiling, laughing out loud, rolling over to her belly and the back to her back, she picking up small objects and is eating cereal at dinner. WOW, what a big girl! :)
I never thought being a Mother would be so hard!!! Infact, at first I thought I was just thinking it was going to be so hard...but NO, it's true....it is HARD! And, I am a stay at home/work at home (when I get the business) Mom, which is even harder!!!! Being at home and working in the home sometimes gets me down. I see Don with this whole other life (well that's what it seems like) at work...with his friends and different responsibillites...and it makes me feel like I have no other life than Capri, Don, Me and our Household. And it is ruff! And to top it all off, I want to have more kids....so I know that it's only going to get worse. But, a friend of my said that Capri is still very little and I am still transitioning into be a Mommy! And she is so right!
But don't get me wrong...I love Capri with all my heart and soul, and I have not doubt in my mind that she was created by God and was in His plans for mine and Dons life. No DOUBT!!! Being a Mom is hard, but I couldn't imaging my life without her in it!

Earth Day

2010-04-23T11:00:00.000-07:00

Here is our little girl on Earth Day! We celebrated Earth day by planting a red-bud tree in our yard. Last year we had our maple tree in our back yard to split all the way to the ground during a windy storm. We ended up having to have the tree cut down. So this year we decided to add another tree to the back yard! :D What a great way to enjoy mother earth and to thank God for what he has given us!

Growing up

2010-03-17T13:30:00.001-07:00

Today Capri had her follow-up appointment with her G.I. Doctor. We have had such issues with her doctors. First it was her ped. so we changed, then it was her g.i. ped, so we changed again. This time we changed to a doctor in cleveland. (well he comes to his office in cleveland once a week.) His name is Dr. Laman. We LOVED him!!! Capri is doing great. He talked to us a little bit about when to start her on baby food. Cereal at 4 months, then baby food at 6. Start with vegtables first, doing one vegtable at a time to see if she has a reaction to any of them, then go to fruits. "Don't do fruits first because she may like the sweetness of them and not want to eat her veggies." Once she starts getting a little older we have to start reading labels. Avoid anything that has: milk, soy, caserin, and whey in them. Then at 18 months she will have a milk allergy test on her skin to make sure that she doesn't have an anafilactic reation to the milk. If she doesn't then we can introduce milk into her diet. If she then has a g.i. reation to milk, we have to wait until she is 2 to try again. But, he is hopeing that she'll grow out of the intolerance by the time she is 1. We're going to keep her on Prevacid once a day and then drop the dosses of Zantac to once a day at bed time. After about 3 weeks we can try and take her off the Zantac to see if there is much of a difference. So, that's the update on little Capri!

So I'm a little down

2010-03-11T09:04:00.001-08:00

This post is more for myself, so I can get a few things off my chest.
I, as a mother, has decided to put Capri on a schedule. It is hard! In fact, I often doubt myself and even question my choice in doing so because it is so much WORK!!! Often, I go to others for advice, being Capri as my first child, I want to make sure that I am doing the best that I can. I know that each child is different and that what works for one may not work for the other. So I am on a mission to find out what works best for my little one! There is that someone that I, and as many others may know through their own experiences, go to the most! The one that you are the closest to. The one you know that will give you an answer because she has gone through the same things. The one that you feel most comfortable talking with. But, because I am not doing what she did, I feel a little frustration there and it brakes my heart! Frustration on my end because I want someone to help me and to tell me what I should try and what I should not do. And I want support in the decisions that I make. I feel frustration on her end because I am not doing what she did, so she can't relate to me in that way to help.
Now, I feel like I am on my own. Which I guess it is time for me to step up to the plate. Its time to stop asking for advice from everyone around me, and just do what I feel is the best for Capri. I just feel like the more I open my mouth about what I'm doing with Capri, the more I'm getting judged...by everyone! I am just down and in need of a great deal of encouragement.

Capri did GREAT!

2010-03-03T07:48:00.000-08:00

We dedicated our little girl on Sunday at Clearwater. I was a little nervous about taking her to church, for this was the first time that she had been there since she was born. We have finally got her on somewhat of a schedule, so she ate at 8:30am and then nap time started at 10:00am. The service that we took her to was at 9:30am, so it was right before her nap time. Sometimes when she gets sleepy and we aren't at home for me to put her in her bed, she get VERY fussy. But not on Sunday, she was such a good girl! :) We dedicated her at the beginning of the service and she was asleep in my arms by 10am. I was so proud of her, she did great!

Dedication

2010-02-25T06:24:00.000-08:00

As most of you know, Don and I have had trialing times with little miss Capri. For those of you who do not know, I will give you a quick summery. Doctor kept telling us that our 24 hr screaming baby was just colic. After blood in her stool, come to find out that she had a milk allergy. We took her off breastmilk and went through a few different formulas to get her back to normalcy. Then Capri developed RSV..which is a respiratory virus and can be bad for little ones to get. After a trip to the ER and two appointments with her (new) doctor, they finally put her on breathing treatments. After she got over that virus, her reflux started acting up again. Then, over this past weekend it just came to a peek, the girl quit eating but every 6 hours (and even then it was a struggle. Sometimes it will take us 1hr to get her to eat 4oz). So her G.I. doctor works us in on tuesday and puts her on prevacid, along with the zantac that she was already on and tells us to try and take her off reglan unless we notice a big change in her throwing up. Wednesday morning I get up and feed her at 5am then put her back down to sleep until 8am. When I get up at 8am, there is throwup all over her bed, the wedge that she sleeps on, her blanket, and all down the back of her clothes. So I guess its back on reglan for a while, along with prevacid and zantac. I'm not sure what God is teaching me, but I'm sure it's something important!!!

All that said...Sunday we are dedicating out little one to the Lord at Clearwater. We are wanting to publicly say "Lord, here is our child. We bring her to you and ask that you will teach us and guide us to enstore your teachings into this baby girl!" I would love for any of my readers to make it, it's at the 9:30am service. But if you can't please pray for us during that time; that God will work in our little family at that special moment.

Here are the invitations that I designed for Capri's dedication.

My Baby Girl!

2010-02-12T11:55:00.001-08:00

And always thank God for what he has done, for he knows what he is doing! :)

How much does you milk cost???

2010-01-18T11:07:00.000-08:00

Okay, let me updated everyone while I have a brief moment in mommy-hood as Capri sleeps! Capri was born on November 30th weighing in at 7lbs and 11oz. We came home and everything was grand until the end of wk 2! This is when it started...screams and cries all day long!!! Her Dr. kept telling me that it was just colic and to keep giving her gas drops every time she eats. This continued on for a month...let me tell you God was looking on me because that's been one of the hardest times..EVER!!! Finally we went back to the Dr. because she quit eating. This time the Dr. told me to try her on formula or a really strict diet...we decided with the formula. (I also have a cousin where her kids did the same thing, so shes been helping me out.) Come to find out little Capri has a milk allergy. We get her on this formula and everything totally changes...she smiling, cooing, being a totally normal baby....uh...for a week and a half! Then blood shows up in her stool and everything starts all over again!!! Lucky my cousin is also a nurse and tells me what kind of formula to try next. Now, this is where we are at this point. Capri has a G.I. appt on Wednesday at 10am, so were hoping that he can tell us where we need to go from here. Just be in prayer that Capri will get better, stay on this formula, and that wick will be able to cover this expensive stuff shes eating these days!

39 weeks and waiting

2009-11-25T06:43:00.000-08:00

Well, Capri and I have made it to the 39 week milestone! And what a milestone it is!!! It's funny how I think back before I was pregnant and remember other women who were pregnant and about to pop saying..."I just can't wait"...and I always thought..."why, they're going to be some much more trouble outside of your stomach!" Hahaha now I can totally understand!

I went to my doctor on Monday and she checked me like she does every week and I have progressed to 3cm dilated :) but I'm still at 80% effaced! The good news is she streched me to 4cm, so at this point we are just waiting on the major contractions to start. I'm thinking that they have to be soon! I did have a small brake down yesterday...trying to weigh out my options on what to do, scared to death that I'm going to go into labor when my doctor is not on call, and trying to decided how much farther do I want to go on my own. All these things just caught up with me. I really, really want to do this on my own and naturally...but I have a friend telling me (she had Dr. Newman as her OBGYN) that if there was a chance that I may not get my doctor, then to have her induce me because she is just that good! Then I have my aunt (who is a nurse) telling me that if I want to go natural...do NOT have her induce me and put me on the pit. "AHHHHHHH" So here I am trying to go on my own, fighting the inducement option and then my doctor tells me that she is not on call Fri-Sun! That made things worse!!! That is what caused the brake down!!! :( What do I do?
I finally called my doctors office and left a message for the nurse to call me back so we could talk about my options. When she called I was telling her how I was feeling and she let me know that Dr. Newman had switched weekends with another doctor and is on call all weekend long!!! Praise God!!! So if I don't go into labor by Monday, then I have an apt at 11:00am that morning and I think we may talk options then!

Please pray for me and the baby...that everything will work out, I'll get my doctor and this will happen on its own time!

38 Weeks and an attitude adjustment

2009-11-19T11:56:00.000-08:00

Last week I posted my 37 week post a few days before my next appointment, and then I forgot to let everyone know what the progress was then. We has our ultrasound and baby Capri is weighing in at about 6.8lbs...I know!!! and I was almost 2 cm dilated and 80% effaced. Just thought I would let everyone know the progression of last week before I went into this weeks appointment.

As you all may know already...I am approaching the end! This week Capri and I are at 38 weeks along and I am ready to be done. I attended the doctors office on Tuesday to hear some really good news... I am at 2.5 cm dilated!!! How exciting is that?! We also learned that I was still 80% effaced, which is what I was last week. So we made some progress in dilating and no progress in effacing. :( Then, as Dr. Newman was checking me, she asked if I would like for her to strip my membranes... this sometimes can help labor along if your body is ready...she said that this could be me into labor within 48 hours, well if my body was ready. So here we are...49 hours after that appointment and still no baby Capri! That has been a little disappointing because I am so ready to have her. Don tries to give me a little encouragement by tell me to think about my pregnancy; how it has been great and I have been really blessed to have not had any problems and to think that I am NOT OVERDUE yet, so there's still time for her to be developing inside my womb. I guess I just need to change my attitude from disappointment to thankfulness.

Week 37 starts today!

2009-11-06T15:16:00.000-08:00

Starting today, I am 37 weeks, meaning that if she were born today, she would be considered full term. As a guess...the average fetus this age weighs about 6.5 lbs.
This week I had another appointment and we got some more good news. My doctor check me and I am 70% effaced and 1.5 cm dilated! Talk about excited!!! My body is just rocking along in the right direction and I can't me any happier at this point in time. I thank GOD that he has allowed me to start getting ready for labor all on my own!
Our next appointment is next week, Thursday November 12th at 11:00am. This week I am having my final ultrasound to get an idea of how much she weighs at this point and if she is head down and ready! (which she was head down when we went and had our 4D ultrasound a few weeks ago) I can't wait for this next appointment. I am dying to find out how big she is.
Just keep us in your prayers!

36 weeks, pics, and appointment on the way!

2009-11-03T13:52:00.000-08:00

Here we are at City Park School in Athens, on a beautiful fall day. I had some pictures made by Ben, and I love everyone! You should check out a few of them at: benfinchphotography.blogspot.com!
Well, Capri and I have made it to the 36 weeks milestone! And what a milestone it is! At this point every day is a milestone. All I have to say is that I am ready! :)
I do have an appointment coming up at the end of this week that Don and I are really excited about. Last week when we went my Dr. told me that I was dilated 1 cm. Talk about excitement!!! I'm just hoping that I have made more progress for this week.
Keep us in your prayers!! For my body is trying to slow down and my mind wants to keep up the same pace. Now this is hard! Just pray that I give in to my body and slow down! I don't need to over do myself.
Please just pray!

35 weeks

2009-10-27T12:53:00.000-07:00

Just a small update....
I went to the doctor yesterday, now I am going once a week since I am getting closer, and closer to time! :) I had a few questions to ask...like me cramping a little and some other things. The cramping is "practice contractions" called Braxton Hicks. This is normal. She also decided to check me to see how things are going...and I am dilated 1 cm!!! How exciting!!! Although, I could stay dilated 1 cm for a while, but it's nice to know that my body is heading in the right direction. Praise God!

33 weeks and some 3D pics.

2009-10-12T18:19:00.001-07:00

A dear friend of mine was generous enough to insist that Don and I get a 4D ultrasound done. She accompanied us as we eagerly awaited to see our baby girl, and what an experience it was! So everyone, meet Capri!

This week Capri and I are 7 weeks away from the big due date! She is estimated to be 4.5 lbs and still plenty of growing up and out to do! My uterus is maxed out in amniotic fluid, which explains why her pokes and kicks may seem a little uncomfortable these days. Antibodies are being passed from me to her as she continues to develop her own immune system.
:) Get ready little girl!

31 Weeks and two showers around the corner

2009-09-25T19:38:00.000-07:00

Today marks my 31st week of being pregnant...which is a week away from 8 months! These past few weeks I have noticed a major difference in her kicking...Wow, what a punch she has! My belly has really started to stick out and take on some major movements as she plays around in there. I just can't explain the experience this has been.
So here we are at the end of September, with less than 2 months left to go, and this weekend I am getting showered with gifts! Saturday I have a shower at my house with all of my girlfriends. I am so excited about this one because I know that it's going to be a blast! Then Sunday, Don's Family is giving me a shower in the afternoon. I can't wait to see all the many gifts that everyone has gotten for our new little baby on the way! Don and I are so blessed to have such great friends and family willing to help out in our lives!
As many of you know that Don and I were not planning on having children for a few more years, so the news of us being pregnant really hit me hard. I have to admit, I really struggled. I struggled with the timing, with our finances, with the size of our home, just asking God why now. I even began to question God, but as we all know..He knows what he is doing. It really took me a while before I could say to myself, God is in control of this..not you Alison! So I stared to pray that God would change my attitude towards this situation. That he would replace my fears, questions, and doubts with excitement, joy, and love. And thank goodness he has started to answer my prayers!

Week 30

2009-09-22T13:42:00.001-07:00

photo by: a.nation

Here we are at 30 weeks, only 10 more (or less) to go!!! WOW!!! Talk about a crazy feeling, to think that she will be here soon! Be praying for us as we quickly approach the end.

Week 29

2009-09-11T14:32:00.000-07:00

Here I am again at my weekly post with another photo. Man how I am growing!!! This week, Baby Nation can be as tall as 17 inches and can weigh nearly 3 pounds. Though already coming pretty close of her ultimate birth length, she still has lots to gain. Over the next 11 weeks, Baby Nation comes close to tripling in her weight. Much of her weight will come from the fat accumulating under her skin, and as she plumps up, the room in my womb will start to fell a little cramped. Making it less likely that I'll feel hard kicks, and more likely that I'll be feeling jabs and pokes from elbows ad knees. By the end of this month, my baby's home can be felt around 4.5 inches above my belly button!
Due to my husband being a police officer and his crazy schedule, we are unable to attend any 6 week long classes. But, tomorrow at the hospital where I'm going to deliver, Erlanger Women's East, they offer an all day crash course in Lamaze. So, we have signed up for this class and I am excited to get there and learn all about this birthing stuff. Wish us luck as we tackle "going back to school."

7 months today!

2009-09-04T09:32:00.000-07:00

Today marks the 7 month "milestone." With only 2 more months to go, I am finally starting to get a little excitement in my heart. "Thank you Lord!" I guess I am realizing that this is a situation that can not be changed, so I need to just make the best of it and enjoy it before the moment is gone.
This week Baby Nation graduates to a new growth chart, measuring head to toe in length. She is about 15 inches long (over a foot!!!) and is weighing a little over 2 pounds. She has been overly active the last few days and I am starting to think how I will miss her little tumbles in my belly once she gets here. What a crazy feeling being pregnant is!
My next appointment is scheduled for Tuesday, September 8th at 10am. At this visit I am having a sugar test done, along with a RhoGam shot. Needless to say that I am nervous about this one! For those of you who do not know what a RhoGam shot is; it is a shot that is given to a mother at 27 weeks and also at time of birth. This is done if the mother has a negative blood type and the father is a positive blood type, which could cause the baby to have a positive blood type. The shot is a precausion to the mother and any future baby to prevent the antibodies from treating the baby as an intruder and attacking it. So please pray for us as we go in for this appointment.
On a lighter note...I am approaching the point in my pregnancy where if I wanted to have a 3D Ultrasound done, we could schedule it within the next couple weeks. This is something that Don and I have discussed and decided not to do, due to insurance not paying for this procedure. A really good friend of mine, Jessica Winn Lillard, knew about the situation and wanted to be a DEAR friend. She has announced that she wants to take care of this ultrasound as a shower gift, so Don and I can experience this magical moment as parents!!!
Thank you so much Jess! You are such an amazing friend!!!

27 weeks. One more week and I'm at 7 months!!!

2009-08-30T15:36:00.000-07:00

So here we are at my 27th week and I am starting to realize that this baby is coming in just a few short months. Talk about CRAZY!!! So we have been getting things ready for this little girl to be here. (Am I ready, NO!!! Is our house ready, just about!)
So let me update you on her room. In our house, we only have a two bedroom. We have our room and then we made the other room my office so I can work at home. Now that we have a baby on the way, we decided to make her room be a nursery/office. On one side of the room is my desk, a bookshelf and a file cabinet. On the other side of the room is going to be her side...her bed, changing table, rocking chair...you know, all the baby stuff. Well, to make this seem more of her room and not my office, we decided to put stripes on the wall where her bed is going to be. Her theme is going to be elephants and her colors are green, pink, white, and brown. This past week we had my Dad come up and help us paint "her side of the room." Here is a picture of what the finished project looks like.

photo by: a.nation

Today I'm 26 weeks along!

2009-08-21T12:56:00.000-07:00

Today I am 26 weeks pregnant and 14 more weeks to go! WOW is that scary!!! This week Baby Nation is now a full 2 pounds and measures at 9+ inches long. Her eyes are beginning to open and is now able to see - though there's not much to see in her uterine of a home! She now has the sense of sight and hearing causing me to notice an increase in activity when she sees a bright light or hears a loud noise. (Although I haven't yet!)
Overall I am doing really well. Baby Nation is a lot more active now and you can see my belly move when she gives me those nice kicks and punches! I haven't been exercising as much as I was in the beginning. It has been too hot for me to walk, but I know that I need to get back into it. My next appointment is September 8th. At this appointment they are going to do a glucose screening test, which will determine if I have gestational diabetes. So pray for me during this time because I really don't want anything to be an issue at this point.
I will keep everyone updated on how things are going in the next week.

24 weeks!!!

2009-08-13T15:11:00.001-07:00

So here I am guys at 24 weeks and growing like crazy! This week, Baby Nation is 1.5 lbs and about 8.5 inches in length. Her weekly weight gain is now about 6 ounces which is coming from accumulating baby fat, growing organs, bones, and muscles. By now her face is almost fully formed complete with eyelashes, eyebrows and a sprinkling of hair. (We are hoping for a red head folks!) My Mother is a red head, along with Don's Grandmother...so maybe Baby Nation will get the red genes!

23 weeks and a year older!

2009-08-04T07:02:00.000-07:00

As most of you know, Don and I just got back from a well needed vacation to the beach. What a great time that was for us to spend some alone time together as seeing this will change in the near future. I did have a little trouble swelling while I was there, but that all went away once we got back to TN. I think it was just the hot weather and the long ride. I have grown, a lot, well it feels like a lot, while I was there. Although, I'm sure it didn't help that I DID NOT watch what I ate while I was there. I thought, "Hey, I'm on vacation! If I want a two scoop ice cream cone, then I'm gonna get it!" Probably not the best thing once I realized I had gotten bigger! HAHA, we'll see how much I have gained this month when I got to the doctor again next Monday.
This week I am 23 weeks, which puts me in my 6 month, according to my What To Expect When You're Expecting book. This month marks the last of the second trimester, which means I'm almost two thirds of the way there. (Which scares the crap out of me!) It also says that little Nation is around 8 inches long and just over a pound in weight and she will begin to pack on the pounds (including me!). HUH! But by the end of the month, baby Nation will be double the weight she is now.
August 2nd was my birthday, and if you know me...then you know that I LOVE BIRTHDAYS!!! This year I turned 25, hitting the half-way mark to 30, which I'm not too excited about! But none the less, it was my birthday. So seeing as I felt it was a big deal, Don made arrangements to invite my parents, my brothers family, his parents, his brothers family, and then a few of my friends (which Lori was the only one that was able to come) to go to the Olive Garden (which is my favorite place to eat) on Sunday night. We had a really good time visiting with the whole family together in one room along with their little ones. As I was sitting there I could not help but to thing that next year we would have one of our own, and I'll be turning 26!!! GOSH!! I got a few gifts from the family and then enjoyed an ice cream cake Don had ordered for me when we got home. All around it was a good birthday!

22 wks at the BEACH!

2009-07-24T20:16:00.000-07:00

Today was my 22 week mark and Don and I are spending it at the beach! Dons parents happened to be taking their camper to Flagler Beach FL, which is between St. Augustine and Daytona, and invited us to tag along. Man oh man did we decide to jump on that. Don and I haven't had a vacation since our honeymoon...and considering that I'm expecting...we thought we might need to go to get some "me and him time" before the little one comes. We've only been here one day and I've already gotten 3 pictures that I wanted to post. :)

all photos by: a.nation

Now, onto Baby Nation and what she is up to this week...
Our baby weighs a whopping pound (prob. more now cuz that's how much she weighed last week at the dr.) and measures nearly eight inches long. She is about the size of a small doll who can now perceive light and dark. She can also hear my voice, my heartbeat, my gurgling stomach, and the whoosh-whoosh of blood circulating through my body. Not to mention the fact that my belly is growing on a daily basis!!!

My Banana needs a dress!!!

2009-07-20T11:55:00.000-07:00

Here we are at 21 weeks, and finally knowing what Baby Nation is going to be. This week baby girl is about 7 inches in length and 12 ounces in weight. If I'd like for my baby to have a taste for bananas, then eat up Alison...my amniotic fluid differes from day to day depending on what I've eaten, now that the baby is swallowing amniotic fluid each day, she will be getting a taste of what's on my menu. Her arms and legs are finally in proportion, neurons are connected between brain and muscles, and cartilage within the body is turning to bone. Yeah, grow baby, grow!!
I am excited to say that Don and I are getting ready to head out of state on a well needed VACATION!!! We are leaving this Thursday, July 23rd, and won't be back until next Thursday, July 30th. We are going to Flagler Beach, FL, which is between St. Augustine and Daytona, and we are so looking forward to this time together...alone...for it will be our LAST!

A little GIRL is in our future!!!

2009-07-14T15:16:00.000-07:00

Well folks, here I am at 20 weeks!!! And what a difference there is in my last photo of myself and today. I've grown A LOT!!!
If any of you have not heard the news, Don and I are expecting a little GIRL!!! Oh yeah, I am totally excited. I have wanted a little girl ever since I was old enough to care about things like that. What are we going to name her? Well, as I have said in previous post...her name will be
Capri Violet Grace Nation. There is a song by Colbie Caillat called Capri, and everyone that reads my blog should totally find this song and listen to it. This song is what inspired me to name my baby girl Capri, it's such a beautiful song.
So I have a small story to tell about myself. If you don't know, Don and I lived in Clarksville, TN while I attended Austin Peay. Before Don and I got married, I lived in the dorms and had a roomed with Krista for a semester. Well, she made this elephant a few months ago (in blue and white to go with her unknow baby on the way) and posted it onto her blog. I fell in LOVE!!! (being the elephant lover that i am) She told me to pick out a color scheme that I would like and she would make me one as well. I picked out the colors; pink, green, brown, and white....really girly colors. Once we found out that we were both pregnant, whithin days apart, she asked if I would want her to wait until I knew the sex of the baby before she made it for me. Now that we know, it is really ironic that I picked out the color scheme of my nursery before I even knew I was pregnant!!!

We're having a mango!!!

2009-07-03T11:15:00.000-07:00

So here I am at 19 weeks along!!! Even though my stomach is growing and I can now feel Baby Nation inside me, it still seems so unreal. I can not believe that Don and I are going to be parents!!!
And talk about excitement for our upcoming appointment on the 13th, that is just 8 days away. I can not wait to find out what little Baby Nation is going to be! We can finally decide on a name and stop calling it an "IT". This week baby is 6 inches long and a half pound in weight. And it is starting to hear and learn the sound of my voice along with others. What an amazing journey this baby stuff is!

Sweet Potato at week 18!!!

2009-06-26T10:01:00.000-07:00

Okay, I know this picture is not the cutest thing we have all seen....but, that's the size of the little baby growing in my tummy right about now. Today I am officially 18 weeks along, and Baby Nation is filling out nicely, and getting larger. I am even feeling all of its kicks and punches now. At this point the baby is complete with fingerprints on his/her fingertips and toes! So it is safe to say now that I am over morning sickness...THANK GOODNESS!!! I am a much happier person now that I do not feel sick all the time. And I think I am in my "nesting" mood now. Yesterday afternoon, after Don went to work, I rearranged the office space/soon to be nursery. Since our house is so small, we have to convert the office into an office/nursery all in one. I have been trying to get things all in order on the office side of the room so we will be ready to start moving baby furniture in. Right now there is just a very organized desk and book shelf with a wicker chair, rocking chair, couch, dresser, Amos' toys, a baby bouncy chair, and a baby swing. A CLUTTERED DISASTER!!!...soon to be organized. Actually, I do not dread doing just that, as a matter of fact, it sounds pretty fun! What can I say, I am an organized freak!!!

Baby Onion at 17wks

2009-06-19T09:13:00.001-07:00

So here we are at 17 weeks, carring an onion!!! Baby Nation is about 5 inches in length and 5 or more in ounces. One skill that baby is practicing now is sucking and swallowing and the heartbeat is between 140 to 150 beats per minute. As for me, I am feeling much better!! No sickness in about two to three weeks!!! ;) and I am super excited about that. We do have another appointment scheduled for July 13th to find out what Baby Nation is going to be. I have to say I am a little nervous!!!

16 and counting belly

2009-06-16T15:12:00.000-07:00

So here I am, prego at 4 months. Thought everyone would like to see my belly growth! Just a small one, but getting bigger by the minute!

Going on 16

2009-06-11T06:39:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow I will be 16 weeks...which is 4 months. Baby Nation will be a whopping weight of 3 to 5 ounces and 4 to 5 inches long. At this point the baby is growing fast and the muscles are getting stronger...I will start to feel movement in a few weeks! I think my sickness may finally be on its way out the door. I have not felt bad in about a week, which is really exciting for me. I am so ready to be OVER this morning sickness stuff. And, is my belly ever growing! I have not started taking belly shots just yet, but I need to because I am growing fast. I do have a bump but I can still hide it pretty well. I was starting to wonder when was I going to grow?! I have been looking at the baby stuff, trying to get an idea of what I am going to register for. I have found the perfect bedding for a boy or a girl at target. I am worried that by the time people start buying me things that my designs that I liked will be gone! I guess that something I will have to swing with. I just wanted to give everyone an update on me and what is growing in my tummy!

Week 14

2009-05-30T12:49:00.001-07:00

Here I am at 14 weeks, the beginning of my second trimester and my nausea is still making its ugly appearance here and there. Now the baby is about the size of a clenched fist -- or lemon, and might actually be sprouting some hair. As far as my body is concerned, nothing noticeable yet. I mean I can tell a small difference, but as far as anyone else...not so much. I have been exercising and making sure that I do not intake caffeine, unless it's chocolate of course! I want to be as healthy as possible, although a doughnut here and there keep calling my name!!!

Progress in the office/nursery???? ummm, not so much. I know what color palate I want to use for both sexes but we're not quite set on a theme. I have thought about doing elephants since I have always loved them and have a collection of elephant things myself, but nothing defiant! I really want to do something that is unusual and not so common. If anyone has any ideas, I would love to hear them! Color wise, Boy: blue, green, brown; Girl: pink, green, brown.

Names??? Don has four names including his last name and I want to do the same for our kids. (that is if we decide to have another after this) For a boy, so far, we like: Finnly Eli Boyd Nation; for a girl, so far, we like: Capri Violet Grace Nation. We wanted to do a name that we both liked that was unique (Finnly & Capri), a family name (Boyd & Violet), and a biblical name (Eli & Grace)...that's the madness behind the idea. ;) I really, really, really hope that we can stick with these names because I like them so much. But my brother has informed me that Don & I will change our minds....we'll see!!!

So what I ask for in everyone that reads my blog is to PRAY!!! Pray hard that Don and I will be good, loving, christ centered parents. This is so important to me and what I fear the most! I fear that we will not be the best that we can be and that we will fail to lead our children to Christ. So keep us in your thoughts, heart, and prayers, for we need them all.

13 weeks and counting

2009-05-24T08:41:00.000-07:00

Well, I am 13 weeks now and my morning sickness is still going strong!!! but not just in the morning, but all day long. I am only longing for this to pass and the next trimester joys to come so I can enjoy my breakfast, lunch, and dinners and for my energy to appear again. No wonder some people only do this once!!! So I'm asking for some encouragement, PLEASE!!!

New News

2009-04-27T06:06:00.000-07:00

So I have a little baby growing in my belly!!! Today, I am 9 weeks and 3 days along, making my due date to be November 27th! So as most of you know, if you are really my friend, that having a child was a big struggle with me. (not so much with Don) I am scared!!!! to DEATH!!! of raising a child!!! When I was younger I used to say that I wanted 3 kids and I wanted to have all of them by the time I was 27 years old. As the years kept passing and my age kept getting older, my mind started to change. The past couple of years I have been dealing with..do I really want to have children or not! All my friends know my worries, so when Don and I found out we were pregnant, it was a very big surprise! But what is really ironic, I had just prayed to God a few weeks before we found out. I had prayed telling God that he knew all my fears and worries with having a child and I was turning them over to him. I knew Don wanted to have kids, and now that I'm 25, well, I'm at the right age to start having them. So I told God that I trusted him, and I turned everything over to him. If he thought that we were ready or not, it was in his hands. That is the ironic part, because when I prayed that little prayer I was 1 week pregnant!!! and I didn't even know it yet!!! Isn't that crazy??? So I know that this is in Gods plans, I'm just still a little scared! So please pray for me and Don, so that we will be God honoring parents!!!

More Word Photos

2009-04-18T11:17:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone! I have recently added a few more photos to my "Word Photos" collection. I thought you might want to take a look.

To one person you may be the world. - Bill Wilson

Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart's desires. Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him and he will help you. - Psalm 37:4-5

Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised. - Proverbs 31:30

I will sing of the Lord's unfailing love forever! Young and old will hear of your faithfulness. Your unfailing love will last forever! Your faithfulness is as enduring as the heavens. - Psalms 89:1-2

photos by: a.nation

I've been tagged

2009-03-25T09:14:00.000-07:00

Joy tagged me to do 25 random questions. It is in the middle of the day and my husband is at work, so I have a few minutes to do these questions.

RULES:Step 1: respond and rework—answer the questions on your own blog, replace one question that you dislike with a question of your own invention, add one more question of your own.Step 2: tag—eight other untagged people.  

1. Make a list of things you can see without getting up: I’m in the office, laptop, dest, art history books from college, bookcase, couch, my camera, amos' toys, amos, lamp, calendar....just a few items that makes up my office.
2. Favorite football team: Well, I am not a big football fan, but in honor of my husband I will say Tennessee Volunteers.
3. What are you wearing now? bluejeans, a long sleeve shirt, and i am barefoot!!
4. What color is your bedroom? mustard yellow
5. What’s the last thing you read/are currently reading? Bible, The Marriage you've Always Wanted by Gary Chapman, and Biblical Womanhood In the Home by various authors.
6. Do you nap a lot? Only on Sunday; that is if Don is working and i got all my laundry done on saturday.
7. Who was the last person you hugged? Joy Finch
8. What’s your current obsession/addiction? cooking
9. What was the last thing you said aloud? "Bye babe, love you, be careful. See you later." (I was talking to Don as he left after lunch to go back to work)
10. What Web sites do you always visit when you go online? My email, my blog, and myspace.
11. What was the last thing you bought? Groceries at walmart
12. What are you listening to right now? Amos' new toy that we just bought him yesterday.
13. What is something you wish you could do more? Visit with my friends that I don't get to see much.
14. What gives you hope? Knowing that there are other Christan women going through the same struggles that I am and realizing that you just have to trust God!
15. What is your favorite weather, and why? I love the heat..i love the sun and the way it makes your skin feel.. so summer. (this was Joys answer, but I totally agree with her word for word!)
16. What time do you usually get up? 8-9am
17. What is your most challenging goal right now? To memorize scripture. I am slowly doing it, but memorization is just so hard for me. This is something that has been laid upon my heart to do.
18. If you could have a house–totally paid for, fully furnished–anywhere in the world, where would you want it to be? On the coast in Maine.
19. Favorite vacation spot? The beach..any beach!
20. What is your favorite children’s book? I don't really have one spicific favorite book. Any book by Dr Seuss or something that has great illustrations.
21. Name one thing you just can’t resist no matter how bad it is for you: IceCream!!!
22. If you could meet anyone famous - dead or alive - who would it be? Jack Johnson (musician)
23. What is something you have experenced in your life that you wish you could take back? My heartbrakeing relationship I had in high school.
24. If you could have any job in the world , what would it be? I am doing a part of my dream, but I would love to have my own line of gretting cards, invitations, birth announcements; anything print services.
25. Who is your hero? Parents who raise their children who become good godly people.
26. Who is the last person you talked to? My kitty, Amos (does he count?) If not, then my mother.
27. Who has invested the most in you other than your parents? My husband Don Nation, my college mentor David Bieloh, my coworker Ben Finch, and my newest friend Joy Finch!
My added question: Who do you wish you - could or could have - spend more time with?

So i tag Amanda, Lindsey, and Krista.

Latest works

2009-03-19T13:43:00.000-07:00

Here are a few of my latest photos that I have taken. These three jumped out at me while I was editing and I thought I should post them. Are they not so beautiful? The weather has been great lately, really encouraging me to get out and take pictures. I hope you all enjoy these just as much as I do.

photos by: a.nation

Avery

2009-03-19T12:58:00.000-07:00

Don and I went to visit my family in Birchwood a little over a week ago now. I did not intend on taking photos there but once I saw how cute Avery looked in his overalls, I could not resist. I thought all of you would like to see a few of my favorite pictures from that day.

photos by: a.nation

Memorization

2009-03-18T11:38:00.000-07:00

So it has really been laid upon my heart to start memorizing scripture. This is such a hard thing for me to do because I don't memorize, I learn. I have taken three verses that I felt are very important and memorized them. It has taken me a little longer than the average person to do this because it's just so difficult for me. So, here they are:

Don't worry about anything, instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done. - Philipians 4:6

Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares for you. - 1 Peter 5:7

When Jesus spoke again to the people he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." - John 8:12

And what a great blessing it has been for me to learn these verses. I take time every night to go over them and really think about what they mean to Christians and what they are saying to me. I encourage everyone to do the same.

My Life

2009-03-17T14:04:00.000-07:00

So I'm struggling with a few things now days. Things like friends and other things like not being in control even if I know that it's what God wants us to do. The good news is; Oh how I am growing in GOD. He has such a great plan for me and great plans for Don and I in our marriage. I just have to know that he will lead us to be what we need to be as husband and wife if we continue to give our lives to his will. I pray that God will light a fire in Dons heart so that he may become the spiritual leader in our family that I need as a husband and that our future children will need as a dad. I am struggling with my time frame that I have put on our lives, when God knows what his plan is for Don and I. I need to let go and trust that God will work in Dons heart on HIS time. I'm also struggling with a friendship that I feel is fading. Its like when you know in your heart something is not right with this relationship; where you can't put your finger on it but you think there may be a little anger involved. Are they mad at me? Did I do something wrong? Why don't we talk anymore? Where has this friendship gone? That is what I am feeling. I need to get down on my knees and pray for my friend. That's what is needed the most. To lift them up to God and to ask him what I need to do and if I have done something wrong that He will make that known to me so that I may know what to do to change it. Then today I took a walk with a "growing" friend of mine and we are going to start reading a book together called, Biblical Womanhood in the Home. Hopefully this will help make our godly friendship grow and our rolls as christian wives to grow. I look forward to this!

Amos Update

2009-03-03T13:07:00.000-08:00

photo by: a.nation

Amos had to go to the doctor today,and as you read in my previous post, we were pretty worried about him having kitty leukemia. Well, he tested negative for this disease, which is GREAT! Hopefully this sickness that he does have will just run its course and be over with soon. So now we have to hang in there for a few more weeks to see if little Amos toughs it out. Thought you all might like to see this photo that I took of him being a lazy kitty.

Worried Mommy

2009-03-02T09:10:00.000-08:00

Amos has had a rough two months. It all started when Don and I decided to get a new cat, well mostly me. We brought Bella into the house and Amos' whole world turned upside down. He has been battling sickness since she walked in and out of the front door. First he got a cold that settled in his throat which caused him to loose his voice. We took him to the doctor for that and soon after he got better. Bella stayed another two weeks while see was still struggling with a cold herself. We ended up taking her to the vet twice to get put on antibiotics. First time, no change, second time , again no change. This is when Amos started being so mean to her we decided to take her back. At this point it had been two weeks since he had first visited the doctor. This is when he started the sneezing. The sneezing went on for another two weeks, I thought it was just allergies he was dealing with, until he started coughing. This is when we decided to take little Amos back to the vet for another visit. They checked him out and decided to inject him with a steroid because they thought he just had allergies. His cough went away but the sneezing stayed around. Another week went by and Amos then lost his voice yet again and the sneezing just got worse. One night he kept me up all night sneezing his head off. The next day, back to the vet he went. This time the doctor said, "He should be better by tomorrow, if he is not better by Monday you need to give me a call." Well, here we are Monday and mommy is still worried. Over the weekend Amos has gained back his appetite, gotten his voice back, quit sneezing for one night, started sneezing again, and yet again lost his voice. So I am at my wits end. I do not know what to do or what is wrong with him. I know that he needs to go back to the doctor, but I dread what they are going to tell me. Before I left the vet on Friday, Amos' doctor asked me in he had been tested for leukemia. I checked his files and he had been tested, two years ago. What does that mean. I know what it means, that he could have leukemia. And if this is true I will just die!

A family visit

2009-02-17T12:21:00.000-08:00

So my brother and his girlfriend, as you all know, have a baby together, Avery Kohl Delashmitt. Well, I had not seen him since Christmas so this past weekend my parents brought him to athens to visit with his Aunt Alison and Uncle Don. I thought that I might post a picture of him so all of you could see just how much he has grown!

photo by: a.nation

Sickness

2009-02-11T14:11:00.000-08:00

So if you are a friend of mine, then you know how much I hate to get sick. Now, when I say this I am not talking about cold sick, I am talking about getting the stomach virus. I have been trying of avoid this virus that has been going around to everyone I know. First my friends, then Don's family, then my family. I have been staying clear of all these people until I knew for sure they were over this thing. And somehow, Don ended up getting it Monday night. When he called me from work, telling me that he was coming home early because he had gotten sick twice, I was freaking out. If my family had not have had it a few day prior, I would have left and spent a few days in Birchwood. So Don comes home, I fix a bed on the couch for myself, then I head off to Walmart to get the certin items that everyone needs when they have the stomach flu: Sprite, pop sickles, soup, and crackers. Unfortationaly we did not purchase these things when we got groceries two days before! Don was sick all night until about 4am, but he still did not go in to work the next day because he felt awful. That was Tuesday. Tuesday I completely bleached the house! I cleaned the bathroom first, then the kitchen! Tuesday night, even though Don had not been sick, I still lept on the couch just to make sure I wasn't getting the virus. Not after all that hard bleaching work I did. So today is a new day. Don felt 100x better and off to work he went this afternoon. I spent the whole morning, still avoiding Don as much as I could, washing clothes, bedding, towels, rugs...anything that came in contact with Don while he was under the weather. So I'm praying that I do not get sick and making Don stay on the couch tonight just to reinforce the virus that I'm not going down!!!!! Well, at least not without a fight!

Winter Walk

2009-02-02T17:26:00.000-08:00

photo by: a.nation

Today it snowed again, and it was BEAUTIFUL. Don and I took a drive around Athens and I took this lovely picture above. As some of you may remember, I took this same picture back in the fall at City Park. I thought everyone might enjoy seeing a different season. I am thinking about taking this same photo for each season and then framing them in my house. I thought it turned out great!

Word Photos

2009-01-26T20:09:00.000-08:00

Hey guys! I wanted to post a few of my new photos that I am doing. I am so excited about these and I hope everyone likes looking at them! Let me know if any of you would like to purchase one!

Photo: White Flower

Photo: Tellico

Photo: Sun Trees

Photo: Jessica Flower

Photo: Hiwassee

Photo: Arching Tree

SAD

2009-01-26T19:34:00.000-08:00

So if anyone noticed, I deleted all the blogs that I had posted about Bella. Sadly we had to take Bella back to the adoption agency, which was a HUGE decision for me to make! Things we just not getting any better, in fact they were getting worse. Amos was started meowing outside her bedroom at seven in the morning, this went on for three days. The last night she was here, he started doing that at 11:30pm and did not stop until 1:30am, I had had ENOUGH!!! Besides that, the last full day she was here, and what really made us decide to take her back, Amos was constantly chasing her around, jumping on her back and bitting her. When he would do this, Don would pick him up and hold him for a couple of minutes to give Bella a brake. When Don picked him up this particular time, he had some of her hair in his mouth. He had bitten her so hard, he had pulled some of her hair out. That was it for me, she had to go back. I was very sad. Sad for her because I knew that she was not happy here with this really mean cat that was constantly mean to her. Sad for Amos because we were yelling at him all the time. Sad for me because of the love that I started to get in my heart for her. But I knew that this was for the best. The night before she left was the hardest for me, I just laid in bed that night and cried myself to sleep. I miss her! The house is quiter without her here, like I said in a post that I deleted, she was a big "talker". But Amos is back to normal, which is really good. I started to miss they was that he used to be. Hopefully Bella will get adopted to a really nice home, one that will be better than what we could give her. *my heart brakes* I miss you baby girl!!!
So there is the whole story about the cats and I would really like it if no one would talk to me about it because it makes me really sad!

Snow Day

2009-01-19T16:58:00.001-08:00

photo by: a.nation

Today was beautiful! It was the first snow that we have had in our new home. I thought everyone might like to see a photo that I took when it just started to lay on the ground.
As most of you may know, Don's grandmother past away last April. It hasn't even been a full year yet, and everyone is still making adjustments to life without Grandy. Today was a sad day for me, and even if Don didn't say, I know it was for him as well. Grandy LOVED snow! Today it snowed all day long. I first noticed it snowing at 10:30am this morning and it continued to snow until it got so dark outside I could not tell if it was still snowing or had quit. Don and I lived right down the street from her old house, and it only made me think of how happy she would have been to see the snow all day long. And how we probably would have spend most of the day at her house enjoying the view with her. "We miss you Grandy!"

After the Holiday update

2009-01-09T13:10:00.001-08:00

So my Christmas was busy, I guess that goes for everyone who is married and has to juggle a couple of family dinners in one day. Not to mention that my husband has been working second shift through the holidays, so that made things even more difficult. But they turned out great! Don and I got a lot of money for Christmas, and since when we moved into our house the shower had a crack in the bottom, we used our Christmas money to renovate. Now our shower is AWESOME! Other than that we got a few small stuff like; cookbooks, Don got some police stuff, clothes, and I got a really cool chair to go in the living room, along with a quilt rack. We had a great Christmas.

For New Years Eve, which is when we first met so we always celebrate that together, Don was working so we went out the night before to The Coppers Cellar in Knoxville, then to see Benjamin Button. We had a really good time going out on a date together, we haven't done that in while. The next holiday that is coming up is Valentines Day, and I LOVE Valentines Day. So I look forward to that. I'm thinking about making Don a surprise dinner, but I'm not sure what to make just yet. Let me know if you have any really good recipes I could try.

(I deleted the section about Bella)

Elf Amos

2008-12-19T13:49:00.000-08:00

photo by: Don Nation

So Don and I love our cat as if he was an actual person, not just any pet. We have had Amos for one month shy of how long we've been married, which is One and a half years. We adopted Amos from his foster family in June of 2007. So this will be his second Christmas with us. Last year we got him a stocking filled with a variety of balls for him to play with, but this year his granny, my mom, bought him a real stocking that has the face of an orange kitty on the front, which is so cute. We have put up Amos' stocking with ours and this year we got him this lovely elf outfit that you see in the photo above. He absolutely hated it, but we thought it was cute. Maybe next year we can have mine, Don, and Amos' picture taken and send out Christmas Cards to everyone. If you can't tell we love our cat very much. I just thought that you guys would like to see our "Elf Amos" in all his glory.

Yucky

2008-12-18T16:25:00.000-08:00

So today has not been a good day at all! I woke up this morning, watched some Rachel Ray. Once I started getting ready to go eat lunch with my husband and his dad, I started to not feel so good. Don went ahead to go eat and brought me back some rice, really nice thing to do by the way Don. But, all day I've just felt yucky! So I've spent the rest of my afternoon on the coach, wrapped up in a blanket, watching TV with my cat while my husbands been at work. Then I fixed dinner, and it sucked! So now I'm eating PB crackers. I just hope tomorrow is a lot better!

Christmas Surprise

2008-12-10T15:38:00.000-08:00

photo by: Ben Finch

So here is our family photo taken the other day at Ben's house. This is a surprise Christmas gift to my parents and gradparents. They are going to be so excited. I think it turned out really great. For everyone who doesn't know who is who: Don, Me, Kala, Austin, Destiny, Avery. This is our family!

The Holidays

2008-12-05T20:15:00.000-08:00

photo by: a.nation

So my family went this week to a tree farm and picked out our own tree. This is a picture that I took at the farm while we were trying to find the perfect Christmas Tree that would fit in our house. We had such a good time deciding on just the right tree. But this can be deceiving. When we got there, I said "Is this it!", because I was thinking, "Man these trees are so small." When in reality they are a lot bigger than they look. Once we picked out just the right size we wrapped her up in netting, loaded her onto the top of our car, and tied her down. When we got home, Don and I had to cut three inches off the top of the tree so she would be able to fit in our house without touching the ceiling. (and I call her a "she" because it gets all dressed up for Christmas so it could not be a guy!) The tree is so tall we can't even put a star or an angel on top. So our tree is topless...lol...that sounds really funny after I just called the tree a girl!!! Anyway, we had a really good time.

Faithfulness

2008-11-10T16:40:00.000-08:00

So I am trying to be more faithful. Faithful in church, Sunday school, prayer, Bible readings, and my own quite time with the Lord. Some of these things come easy, and others a challenge. After my bible study today, I prayed. While I was asking God to guide me, encourage me, and give me patience and understanding; I cried. I haven't done that in a really long time. I guess I cried for myself, Don and I, my brother, and my best friend. As I sit here writing this blog, I'm listening to a song by Casting Crowns; Prayer For A Friend. This is how I need to pray for others. Sometimes I get so caught up in my own personal life that I don't put others in my prayers like I should. This is another thing that I want to be faithful in. I want to be a better person, I want to make a difference, I want God to use me. This is something that I have just recently started to feel, to really be able to be used by God and to make a huge difference in someones life. I've started reading a book by Max Lucado called A Love Worth Giving. This book is about love; being loved and loving. It weird because I have had this book for about three years. It was given to me by an old friend, but never have I read this book. But recently I felt as if God was telling me that I needed to read, so that's what I'm doing. I'm only in the second chapter, but already I've learned, love is patient. And that is something that I'm going to have to work on. If I don't get anything else out of this book, it is just that; to be patient. I hope all who reads this will pray for me, that I'll be faithful to serve and live for God.

Cooking

2008-11-06T07:21:00.000-08:00

photo by: a.nation

I had a really good day yesterday. I took a day off at the office and I decided to do a few things just for myself. I made some bread, home made bread. I kept a loaf for Don and myself, then gave a loaf to a friend of mine. It turned out really good. I just love cooking, it is one of my favorite things to do. I am not much on baking, but I loved cooking this bread. Then Don and I went to the park and I took some great photos of the trees. (as you can see from above) The weather was beautiful and the leaves were gorgeous. Yesterday was just a really good day.

Babies

2008-11-04T11:00:00.000-08:00

I know that some of you, Joy, are waiting on me to post something new. Well, what can I say, I don't really have anything to say, my life is pretty boring. Lets see...we'll start on Halloween; Don and I went to Birchwood to spend a little time with my family since I feel like I never get to see them now that we live in Athens. My brother and his girlfriend just had a baby on September 30th, Avery Kohl Delashmitt. He was dressed up as a "little monster" so cute! It's pretty funny how you can go from being totally terrified of having a baby one minute, and then as your holding this little person in your arms you think, "Gosh, this isn't so bad. How sweet." Well at least that's what I thought until he started crying and then me hearing all the stories about how he has not been sleeping well, and how everyone is so tired because they've been up half the night trying to get this baby to go back to sleep. Then I think, "Man, I am so not ready." This is my mental struggle, back and forth from absolute terror to...awww, not so bad....then back again. Should Don and I just say, "Whatever happens...happens," or is even saying that stating that we are somewhat ready? I'm too anal to just let things go like that. These are HUGE, important decisions on the line here. All I know is that Avery is one cute baby, and I'm so glad that he's my brothers and not mine.

2008-10-24T16:14:00.001-07:00

i am so excited to get into this blogging stuff.