23 weeks..

23 weeks has come and almost gone (tomorrow kicks off week 24).

Life is good and Asher is growing growing. I don't know what kind of tricks he is doing in my belly but he sure is good at them. I absolutely love feeling him kick. When he kicks hard, I can see my belly move. I find myself sitting and staring at my belly waiting to watch it move. When it does, it's incredible. I am officially in almost all things maternity. There are a few things I can still wear but not many.

We put his crib together this weekend and the decorating started. I will post pictures soon. I love walking into his room. Just walking by his door and seeing his crib makes my heart smile.

Happy 23 weeks!!

(excuse my tired eyes...)

Here is what Asher looks like today:

He is over 11 inches long and weighs more then a pound.

p.s.

Happy Birthday to my sweet Momma!! I cannot wait to see her this weekend and squeeze her and give her a big smooch on the cheek!

22 weeks...

We are coming to the end of our 22 week. I'm feeling really good and growing by the minute. Asher is a wild man. He kicks me like crazy!! I.love.it! We moved furniture around this weekend. We switched our office and guest bedroom around so Asher's nursery is empty and ready to be filled with all of his goodies!! I'm keeping my fingers crossed that his crib is here this weekend. I cannot wait to get it set up and start decorating. I have so many ideas floating in my head.

Happy 22 weeks!

Here is what Asher looks like today!

He's about 1 pound and 11 inches.

He's a growing boy.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declared the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11"

quick trip home

Trav, Reecie and I headed home this past weekend for a quick visit. On our agenda: family time and registering for Asher!

On Saturday, Summer and I headed to Knoxville to Babies R Us to register for all kinds of goodies for my little man. I honestly could not have done it without her help! I had no clue what to get and she is super Mom. I am really excited with everything that we picked out. We were there for over two hours. We took our time walking up and down every isle ooohhing and ahhhhing over everything. The best part, I picked out our crib. I love it and cannot wait to set it up and start decorating. Have I mentioned that Trav's Mom, Asher's Nana, is making our bedding?! It's going to be adorable and more importantly, one of a kind. More on that later...

After spending a lifetime in Babies R Us, we headed back to Mom and Dad's. While we were shopping, everyone else was having fun in the sun.

Josie B is just like her Mom and Aunt KeKe. We loved the water when we were younger and she does, too.

Trav's family came down to visit and to get out on the lake. Our niece, Sidney, had never been on a jet ski. She loved it.

Travis and Sid.

After a yummy dinner (thanks Mamaw Oran for making me your chicken for me!!!), Trav snuggled up with Charlie and Jo B.

Everyone headed home Saturday night but Josie and I had a slumber party at Papaw and GJ's. She normally stays there with me whenever I'm in town. I want to spend 24/7 with her whenever I can. Soon Charlie and Asher will get to join us. That will be fun!!

I love this little man!!

We had a great weekend and are so glad we were able to spend so much time with our families. It was great to have both of our parents there together. We cannot wait to live much closer.

21 weeks and sweet sweet surprises...

We are 21 weeks and feeling good. I don't want to jinx myself but I've been feeling really good these past few weeks. Like I've said plenty of times, sleep is still a bummer but if that's my only complaint then I think I'm doing pretty good. I have been trying to go for a walk at night with my friend, Julie (her baby girl is due at the end of October) or Travis as much as possible. It has really helped with my aching hips.

Asher has started kicking me like crazy the past week and a half. I used to feel him about once a day and now I'm feeling him all the time. He's a little wild man. Trav felt him for the first time on Monday!! He's been dying to feel him. Monday night Trav put his hand on my belly and Asher kicked him twice.

Happy 21 weeks!!

Here's what Asher looks today:

He's approximatley three-quarters of a pound and the length of a carrot.

This week has been full of surprises! For about the past 6 months or so my friend, Julie, and I have been getting together once a week to study/learn the Bible with our friend, Courtney. Courtney went through Downline and learned an incrediable amount about the Bible and also the key ingredients to discipling others. She's been teaching us everything she learned. She's doing an amazing job and is a wonderful teacher. My relationship with God and my knowledge of the Bible has grown so much and it's mainly because of her. She's given me the knowledge but she's also given me the drive to want to pick up my Bible and want to learn my about my God so that I can teach others one day. Getting together once a week and having some real girl time has been like food for my soul. I look forward to my nights with these girls.

Julie and I headed over to Courtney's last night and walked into a sweet surprise!

This is what we saw....

Two diaper cakes, yummy Muddy's cupcakes and presents.

Two amazing girls that I get to call my friends!

Asher's cake!! I'm going to use it as decorations in his nursery for a while. It's just too cute to take apart.

Julie and I reading our sweet cards. I almost teared up but made myself pull it together.

Precious little socks for Kate.

I'm in love with this clock! I cannot wait to hang it up in Asher's nursery.

We both also got super cute onesies! Julie's of course are pink and mine are blue with trucks!

Courtney, thank you for being amazing. I'm blessed to have you as a friend and teacher. You're going to be the best "Aunt" to my little man.

Then today I got home and had a package in the mail. It was addressed to Asher Sisco.

Yep, Asher's not even born yet and he is already getting mail. Stud.

Inside were some of my favorite things. I always comment on Josie and Charlie's little InchBug labels. Now Asher has some! Summer, Mike, Josie and Charlie sent him his very own personalized bands for his bottles and stickers.

If you look closely you can see that all the stickers have different animals and all say Belong to Asher on them. I cannot wait to use these.

First time I've seen his name on anything. Makes my heart smile, a lot.

(please ignore the nasty scratch on my thumb..yuck! sorry, i didn't crop it out...)

Thank you Mattmanns!! Asher loves you four like crazy and cannot wait to meet you.

This week has made me realize how lucky I am to have so many people who love my son so much already. I strongly believe that Trav and I have the best friends and family in the world.

"Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples!"

Psalm 105:1

half-way there!!

I'm trying to do a much better job of taking a picture and posting on our actual first day of each week. Today we are officially 20 weeks!! We are half-way there, that sounds so crazy.

This week has been a long tiring week and it's only Wednesday. I had to go back to school on Monday and my body just isn't liking the early hours and hot hot heat. I am getting excited about this year. I have a new position. I am the TCAP Coach for my school. I will be working with 3rd-5th grade students. This is a huge leap from my little first grade friends. In April my Principal asked if any teachers who wanted to switch grades. I offered to switch and take the TCAP position. I've taught the 1st grade for 5 years and honestly cannot imagine teaching anything else. But I figured it would be a good change and might be a little easier on my body since I am pregnant. 1st grade teachers don't sit down till about February! Honestly, you have so much going on and 1st graders are so busy you don't have any down time while they are in the room.

A little side note: Asher has kicked me three times while writing this post! He likes it when we talk about him... =)

Here's what he looks like today:

He's a little over 11 ounces and he's the length of a banana!!

20 weeks and trying to survive the heat.

"And what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also." 2 Timothy 2:2

plastic lap trays