3 wks till we meet David Montgomery Jackson IV!!

We THINK we are ready but I KNOW that we won't ever really be ready!  :0)

Good news first!

Well, I had 2 Dr. appointments this week.  The 1st was great because I was told that I'll be induced at week 39 which is wonderful news!   So Jax will be here sometime before the 18th!  I'll know more around week 38.  It is very good to know that there is an end in sight!  My 2nd appt wasn't so fun because I am now doing 2 injections a day and in my stomach......not so fun.   I never thought I would miss the shots in the arm but I will be happy when I can go back to those!  

So the theme of my life seems to be about running and finishing "the race".  I'm in the home stretch.  I was laying in bed thinking about it this morning and I remember when I ran the Nashville marathon (my first and last marathon!), I was coming around the last corner and I saw my brother-in-law, Doug, jumping up and down telling me that I was almost to the end.  (By the way, he had just had back surgery so that meant a lot that he was there. :0)  You can imagine that at 26 miles I was a little tired but at that moment I started running as hard as I could to the end.  I felt so much joy in that moment that I had accomplished something like that.  

I felt discouraged this morning when David gave me my shot.  A couple things are giving me energy for the last part of this race.  The 1st is the verse below and the 2nd is this sweet baby that God has made and that I am blessed to have carried.  Hope this encourages you.

Do you see what this means-all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on?  It means we'd better get on with it.  Strip down, start running-and never quit! ...........he never lost sight of where he was headed-that exhilarating finish in and with God-he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever.  And now he's there, in a place of honor, right alongside God.  When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through.  That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!  Hebrews 12:1-3 (The message)

Any movie suggestions??

So I've got 4 weeks left and not much to do so I'm trying to catch up on some movies before Jax comes!  Anyone got any suggestions for rentals?  My friend Audrey recommended "Once" so I'm looking forward to seeing that one!  (To be quite honest, if I don't get any responses from anyone, I will have my feelings hurt a little....BUT I know it can be a little intimidating to post so I WILL get over it!  :0)  Thanks!!

Cute family!

Well, I had to post this picture because I just thought it was really cute!  Here is Mac, Riley, Lisa and ONE of their dogs, Daisy...and Lisa is on the phone with Mac and David's aunt!  :0)

Baby Shower

I had a baby shower this weekend!  Brenda, Katherine, and Audrey, everything was wonderful!  Thank you so much for everything.  Thanks also to everyone that was there.  I felt honored to be surrounded by so many wonderful woman that I consider very good friends after only being here for 9 months.  What a blessing!  

Here is picture of me and the wonderful hostesses!  (Katherine, Audrey & Brenda) Brenda, I don't know how I got one with your eyes closed!  You still look beautiful!  

 

And yes, I know I have gotten quite large!  :0)

Updated Jax picture!! (34 weeks)

I was sweetly reminded by my friend Ashley that I had promised a picture so here it is!  Well, here is the best one I could find.  Apparently, we have a good shot of his kidneys (which are working just perfectly!) but I figured you would want to see his face instead! :0)  He's kind of hard to see in there but there is his sweet face and a foot!  Its getting a little tight in there for him so he has quit doing flips.  He really likes to tuck himself into my rib cage which isn't very pleasant but maybe that means he will like to snuggle?!  We can't wait to see what he actually looks like in person.  :0)  32 days!

37 days......

....to go but who's counting??!  I'll have updated ultrasound pics soon!

Fam, this is for you....Part 2!

Here is the progress on the shed.....

....and David building the doors.....

Top 10 reasons why I miss atlanta!

Yes, it is 5am....this is my routine most days now.  I wake up at 4 and lay in bed until I decide what to do!  This morning I couldn't stop thinking about all the things I miss  about Atlanta!  It has only been about 8 months since we moved from Atlanta and 2 months since we were able to visit Atlanta but it feels like much longer!  Since I can't travel right now, it will be a few months before we get to visit again, so that has been on my mind.  I've narrowed it down to 10 so I don't lose my audience...  :0)  Oh, and these aren't in any order.....

1. An abundance of good restaurants!  Just to name a few, Genki (Shar, Brittney, Leslie & Christy, thanks for introducing me to Sushi!  I miss our good conversations and laughs!) Fancy Pantry, La Botana (Allison and Lucas, we miss you guys!)

2. North Point Ministries!  I miss my job and working with some of the smartest and most creative people I've ever met....and the friends I made there that encouraged me and loved me inspite of my many flaws!

3. My parents - The ability to visit them because they are just around the corner is something I took for granted and I'm so sorry!  I miss you guys and can't wait to see you in a few weeks.

4. My sister - my heart aches to see my sister!  I try not to think about this one too often because it makes me cry!  It has been so hard being away from her.  Linds, I can't wait to see you in a couple months!

5. Good shopping!  Nordstrom, Macy's and Whole Foods to name a few!  (I think we are getting a Whole Foods here, woohoo!!)

6. Familiarity - I miss knowing where I'm going (most of the time!) and not thinking about how to get there. (Again, most of the time... :0)  Atlanta sights and smells and seeing the leaves change!  I never thought I would miss that but I do!

7. Lots of radio stations - I miss the radio in Atlanta!  There was always something to listen to.......

8. Winter weather - I'm bummed that we missed the snow this year!

9.  My nephews - I miss hugging them and the way they smell! 

10. Sentimental places - all the places that David and I hung out at when we started dating and began our marriage.  Good memories!  Scalini's, Goldberg's, Angie Aparo concerts, Chastain, our 1st house!

So in all fairness I have to give some reasons why I like Jacksonville and why it is growing on me!  Not as many to list as above quite yet but I know there will be more to come!

TOP 5 Reasons Jacksonville is growing on me!

1. David!! Where he is, is where my heart and my home are!  I want to be wherever he is and I would follow him to the ends of the earth!

2. a. Access Church & b. our new community group - (this one deserved an a. and a b.) 

a. our new extended family......we COULD NOT have made the adjustment to Jacksonville without these people!    Thanks for letting us be a part of such a great community!

b.  Our new group of friends that are committed to sharing life together and growing spiritually and in our marriages!  

3. Lisa, Mac & Riley! We are so glad they are here now!  What a blessing to have family here and it has been so fun to get to know them!  Lisa, you are so fun to hang out with.....thanks for hanging out with me while I'm waiting for this little guy to come!

4. NO TRAFFIC!!  Can you believe it???  I don't think I honestly knew that other cities didn't have traffic like Atlanta!  I've only sat in traffic here because of construction, a wreck or a train and not because there are a gazillion people trying to get to one place at 8am or 5 pm!

5. Weather - yes, I know I mentioned that above too but honestly it has been kind of nice to be able to wear flip flops everyday in January and the same outfit everyday since my wardrobe is very limited at this time!  I can pretty much assume that it will be in the mid 60's everyday this month!