Our New Edition

As I'm sure all of you know by now, Justin and I have a brand new edition. In about the middle of May I found out that I was pregnant. I was so excited and couldn't wait to inform Justin but he was working until about 11 that night. So I spent the rest of the day talking to my tummy and praying that Justin would come home soon. I ended up taking a picture of the test and put it as his background on his computer. Well that night when he came home, I had him turn it on and he saw it. His response? "So, you're pregnant? Well, come give me a hug." Not quite the romantic tear-filled reaction I had throught it would be. In retrospect, I really shouldn't have told him that late at night, but he's really excited about it. He's going to make a great daddy and I can't wait for him to get that chance.

I went to the dr. to get it confirmed and he told me I was 4 weeks and 5 days so we waited until that weekend to tell our parents. We told his parents by getting a onesie and writing "Aunt Hannah" on the back and putting it on Hannah. Robin seemed to really like that. Then it was close to my dad's birthday so in the card we wrote "love, Karen, Justin and Baby E." Everyone was really excited because it's the first grandbaby for each side. I think they're all going to make wonderful grandparents. And I know that the baby will be spoiled with love by everyone.

As far as what's happening in my tummy (cause I know ya'll want to know lol) I'm not really sure. We've had a couple appointments. At the last one, that Justin was lucky enough to go to, we got to hear the heartbeat for a little bit. That was really exciting because it made it feel real. Besides that, I'm 13 weeks now (I change every Thurs) and have gotten past "morning sickness." It was about once a day that I got to enjoy all that the name entailed. So far I've lost about 18 pounds. We had issues with insurance so we finally got that settled and now I'm going to Laurel and seeing the midwife, Jodie McCraken. Tomorrow we have our first appointment with her so hopefully we'll get to hear the heartbeat again and maybe get the first ultrasound set up. I can't wait to see it so I know Lulu is really in there.

This blog is going to change. Before it was just about the two of us going through life and now it's about us as a family. I'm so happy that the Lord has blessed us with this little one and I'm honored that He would give us the chance to be parents. It is my constant prayer that the baby will be normal and healthy, as far as any child is, and more importantly that we will be good Christian parents and can raise him or her in the path of the Lord. I hope you all enjoy keeping updated as we go through this journey to parenthood.

What I've Learned...

Today is my 25th birthday. As a child, the mere thought of this "old" age sent my head spinning, as I see it does with my own kids at work. Yet now that I've hit this magic age I just don't feel it. In an instant I went from a little girl in pigtails to a grown woman with a family. It's as if I went to sleep and woke up in someone elses' body.

I was telling my friend that I feel at this age I should have learned something by now; a little insight into this world in which I live. Honestly though? I wasn't hit with a lightning bolt today which suddenly explained the world so instead I made a list ~ a list of 25 things that I have learned in these very few years upon this Earth.

~Faith will always help see you through no matter what the situation.
~Spend as much time with loved ones as you can
~Drinking and darts are pretty much a bad combination no matter the circumstance
~Bad things happen. It's life. Hold your head up and keep on moving.
~When hunting for a good looking guy at the Ren Faire, you will inevitably get lost and drive around York and Southern PA the REST of the day.
~Always go all in for love. Don't be afraid of what will happen. Otherwise nothing ever will.
~The Laurel Festival monkey has always had, and will always have, the ebola virus.
~Enjoy good food and drinks. Don't worry about those few extra pounds. You look great!
~Free furniture creates some of the best memories
~Always tell people how much you love them. You may never get the chance to say it again.
~Never trust a tattoo place which sets up shop at the county fair.
~Cherish the past. It's where you came from. Look towards the future. It's where you're going.
~Having your body covered in liquid detergent is not cool the next day.
~Dance in the rain.
~Enjoy growing older but always keep the child in you.
~Always try to travel. There's so much of the world to see. But when you do, don't forget the small town and raised you. It's always better at home.
~Don't worry about your weight, gray hair or wrinkles on your face. Each of these "problem" areas has a story story to tell of romantic dinners out, excitement and adventure and deep laughs shared by friends.
~Hobos are scarier than most people give them credit for.
~Never get too old to laugh until you cry.
~College days and nights make for some of the best memories you'll ever have
~Taking pics are some of the best ways to remember special events and to be used for blackmail later.
~Celebrate every day because you never know when it may be your last.
~Don't always focus on just the big events. It's the small, everyday things that create life.
~Always eat the whole fortune cookie to make the fortune count
~Friends and loves come and go. They can either break your heart or lift you to the heavens, but each relationship makes you the person you are today.

So yeah, I have learned these few insights but was it a spark that suddenly gave me all the answers? Of course not. But maybe I'm not suppose to figure it out. Maybe no one is. After all, life is a mystery that may never be uncovered. That's why we all need to make our own list and just live life to the fullest.

Here's to many more birthdays for us all!
xoxo

A New Year

So this is the new year. I understand now what people mean as they talk of the years going by faster and faster. I can't believe that it's 2010 and I'm almost 25! How crazy haha.

Justin and I are both doing good which we thank God for everyday. We've been married for 2 years and 4 months. And after all of this time we've decided it's time to start thinking about children. (I figure I can put this in since I'm doubting the number of people who actually read my blog lol). I've gone off the pill and now we start our journey. Justin and his mom believe that it won't take long, but I'm not so sure. I've always been a very superstitious person in the fact that I'm worried if I want something bad enough God isn't going to give it to me purely to have to me learn to trust His Way. He did bless me with a wonderful husband which I am forever grateful. So anyway, we are going to try and see what happens. I hear that as long as it's before a year we will not have to see anyone until then.

So we will see. Whether it takes us a few weeks to a couple years, I am going to be happy in my husband and my faith. I hope that God decides to bless us with a child, but if that's not in His plans for us I pray that we will be given the patience and understanding which we will need.

I hope you all have a wonderful 2010!

Back to the Writing World

Wow, I can't believe how long I've been away from this blog. I know that my cousin will be happy that I finally wrote since she already commented on my absence already.

So what's been going on in my life? Not too much I suppose. Justin and I have celebrated our second anniversary which was amazing :-). We went down to Washington DC and got to spend time with my cousins that we never see. It was so much fun down there. And it wasn't as nerve-wracking as I thought. Like I figured me coming from up here in the boondocks I would be flipping out in our nation's capital but I was really surprised that the number of people really weren't overwhelming. Then we went up to Philadelphia for the rest of the week and spent time with Justin's cousins. That was a lot of fun since we don't really get to see them either. We went to the city once but otherwise we just hung around their area. Probably the nicest part was going to Longwood Gardens. It was so different than everything we have up here <3.> Well, this was short but at least it was a post so I'm feeling good haha. I PROMISE I will write more though. xoxo

Our New Family

So, Justin told me that, for our second anniversary, we would get a puppy. This made me extremely happy! I was looking into small breeds of dogs thinking of a maltese or something like that. Well, plans quickly changed when a guy who works with Justin was surprised to find that his dog had given birth to a litter of four puppies. So with the agreement of a free puppy we took a dog. We wanted a little black one but they were all boys so the only little girl was a white one. Yesterday, as I relaxed on a couch, Justin called and said we were going to get the newest member of our family!

As I write this I have a little white lump laying on my foot. Our bundle of joy is named Poundcake. Her dad was a BIG lab and her mom was part huskey, part border collie and part something else. That mystery part kept her and her sister fairly small though so Poundcake could go to either extremes. Of course, everyone I've talked to thinks it would be adorable for a mini-lab and I kind of agree haha. She's not very curious as of yet. Instead she likes to sleep and pee in people's houses and places of work. We're learning that this is not appropriate behavior. And for this reason, mommy has to watch her like a hawk lol. Her days mostly consist of sleeping with 10 min. bursts of energy here and there. I love watching her sleep though and it's fun to just be around here.

As for the rest of the dogs in the family? Dakota could not care less about this new puppy taking over her pillow. Teddy investigated her a bit more but didn't really know what to think. (My grandma wanted to keep her haha.)

Potty break! Sorry, but if I don't get her out RIGHT after waking up we have issues lol.

So anyway, we are now a family of three. I know she's not a real baby but dogs become so much more than pets. And until I get a real baby, Poundcake more than enough makes up for things she gets into. And believe me...that's enough haha.

I Love Them Carnies!

Actually, carnies scare me lol. So, Justin and I went down to the Wellsboro carnival the other night. It was ok. Lots of lights as the night fell. Almost everyone in the town was out to experience the first night. Carnies, in a haze of smoke, called to the potential customers walking by them. Little kids screamed and had the fun in their eyes. So, Justin and I were there and experienced the carnival once again. Obviously, the best part was the food and watching the the little kids fly down the inflatable slide. I seriously think that was the best part of the whole night haha. Oh, and I also realized that we can totally hear the rides and announcers from our house.

The one thing that I do know though is that it's not as fun now as it was when I was little. I've even talked to some of my friends and we all have the magical ideal as to what it was like when we were young. The lights were brighter, the rides were better and the food was better lol. But then I think, was it really better or is it the problem we all face as we grow older. Times were better, people had more morals and the carnies were decent men without the inherent creepiness that is almost required of them today. I hope this isn't the case though. I want to still believe there is magic in the air even though I'm an adult now. The only thing that I could think of last night was that I couldn't wait until my children would be able to experience the same thing that I use to feel coming to the fair.

And I also think it'll be a good excuse, once we have kids, for Justin to be able to go down the fun Slide lol.

I Wear My Flipflops!

Diamonds scattered across the velvet midnight sky twinkled down upon the tiny town below. The glimmer mirrored in the flashes of light from fireflies on the ground. Light summer wind blows gently, barely rustling the blades of grass where the ladybugs have settled in for the night. A soft hush falls over the town. Hidden on a porch swing, a young couple sits and gazes into the night sky. She cuddles into his body as he wraps his arms around her and pulls her close. She sighs and closes her eyes. He kisses her forehead. The only noise comes from the crickets calling to their lovers. No words said; thousands of sensations felt.

Love, True Love, in its Finest...

Our New Home!

So it's official...Justin and I have moved into our new home! We signed the last of the paperwork a week ago today and we absolutely love it! We have two floors, full baths on each, a laundry room, beautiful kitchen, large livingroom, a formal diningroom/library (our 3rd bedroom), a reading area for me, a baby's room (haha, yeah we're thinking), our master bedroom and our second enclosed porch is going to be turned into my sewing room!!!

So far we have most of our things put away. Our master bedroom is all done in red. And yes, I know that people will be like WHAT??? But it really looks nice and everyone has really loved it. You just have to see it to appreciate it. And Justin painted the downstairs bathroom a nice blue. It's a warm beach theme. We're going to get ready to paint the other few rooms in the coming weeks and have a yard sale to get rid of all our extra things.

I'm just really happy that we finally have our own place. I know when we got married it's when we really started our lives together but this move just makes it seem more real I guess. We have our own place. We can get a dog. We can have babies. And it's such a beautiful place that I thank God all the time for showing it to us and it being His will.

Wedding

The other day (Apr. 3rd to be exact), Justin and I were able to go down to State College to witness one of my best friends, Shonna, get married to the love of her life, Dan. I was honored enough to be her maid of honor! After like a Noah's ark type of rain, Justin and I made it down the two hours and got to hang out until the rehearsal. It was really nice, although I met one of the scariest women pastors' in the world! Made me pee my pants lol. The next day was chaotic...especially when the hair stylists' place had no power! Yeah, luckily the women were able to figure it out. Shonna and Dan had a beautiful wedding and the feeling of love was clearly felt throughout the entire place. May Mr and Mrs. Dan Preston have a wonderful and blessed life together!

I started thinking about our wedding. It was such a wonderful day, even with everything going wrong. I know that our married life isn't always the easiest but I'm so lucky to have him as my husband. He's such a wonderful guy. Justin works so much harder than like anyone I know and I appreciate him so much for trying to make a good life for Justin and myself. He'll make a wonderful dad someday and I can't wait until I see the loves of my life, cuddled on the couch sleeping. I love him so much and am honored to be his wife!

House Hunting, Part Deux

So, our house hunting might possibly be done. You see, we looked at the three houses I listed last time. Two were pretty good but enough things wrong in them that we wanted to keep looking. We were going to look at 3 last Sat, but 2 ended up selling and the owners of the 3rd called at like 11 pm Fri and said that their kid was sick. Possibly a lie but doesn't matter. Anyway, that morning Mark P. and Robin (Justin's mom) both called telling us about a for sale by owner house which seemed too good to be true. Like 3 beds, 2 full baths, new everything! But Justin called and finally got a call back from it. Luckily, we were both at a time when we could go look at it.

It's up on Wetmore St. above Patterson's Lumber. It's like the second to last house on that road. It's blue. A good sized yard. There's an apple tree, peach tree and grapes there. And also a shed. There's 2 porches, one enclosed and they're going to work more on the second. You walk into the kitchen. New fridge, dishwasher, stove and microwave and front loading washer/dryer. Expensive "Glitz" (what the owner called it) is above the counters. And the walls are really thick! And awesomely quick heat throughout the house. Pretty good size living room, with a door leading out to the enclosed porch. A downstairs bedroom which also has a door to the porch. Then you go upstairs and there's a long hallway that has two bedrooms and a second full bathroom with an area for a vanity! Justin and I absolutely love it!

There was a couple that looked at the house before us and were set to get it but it was taking awhile to deal with their bank and they said that they knew there were others interested in it and to just go ahead with the next couple...US! So God definately blessed us with this house. It seems to be His will and I hope that He blesses this other couple with a wonderful home of their own. Now we just hope that all of the paperwork and inspection goes well. That'll be the only thing that takes the house from us. Please continue to pray for us all.