Picture Post - Just a little late

I have taken way too long to download pictures off my camera, but here are some from our last golf tournament in Starkville.  Most of them are just the boys being silly.  I have been staying out of pictures as much as possible these days - not feeling very photogenic. 

Five reasons my Friday is Fabulous

1.   I get to see A in just a few hours!  I know, it's only been 2 days, but we are really bad at being away from each other and I am excited to see him soon.

2.  The first baby shower for Baby T is this weekend.  I have tons of family coming in from out of town and A's parents will be there too.  It's not that often we have both sets of parents in one place, so it will be nice to see everyone at once.

3.  I am leaving work early today to get to New Albany and get to see A sooner.  Leaving early always makes me happy.

4. It's only one more week until Starkville fun.  Labor day weekend, a creative baby shower, Bulldog football (tailgating for me) and lots of friends!

5.  It's not 100 degrees today!  Yay!

I am just curious if I have any regular readers and who you may be.  If you don't mind, leave me comment and let me know that I am not just talking to myself!

Thanks for reading and have a great day!

The break is almost over

It has been another uneventful week at the Tullos home, but this will be the last for a while.  We tried to relax and enjoy doing as little as possible for the last weekend at home.  I shopped for some maternity clothes (more on that later) and we had dinner with some friends Saturday night.  I don't think I got out of my pajamas Sunday, but it was much needed rest. 

Ok, back to the maternity clothes.  I have been lucky not to have to shop for too much until now, mostly because its been entirely too hot and all I have worn all summer are cotton dresses.  Well, I am starting to realize some of those are not really fitting quite right anymore and I might need to get some real maternity clothes for the next few months.  Who knew they were so expensive?  I mean really, I am supposed to pay that much for something I am going to wear for 3 months?  And how many times can you wear the same thing in 3 months anyway?  Oh well. 

And speaking of the heat, they are actually make a big deal about it on the news.  Apparently this is the hottest summer in Little Rock in who-knows-how-long.  We have had 20-something days over 100 degrees! Obviously not the best, or at least coolest, summer to be pregnant in Little Rock.  At least fall is just around the corner (I hope!)

Also just around the corner - Baby Showers!  I am getting really excited.  The first shower is this weekend in New Albany.  A lot of my family will be in town and A's parents are coming too. It will be fun to see everyone and just relax and celebrate the upcoming arrival of Baby T.  I feel like it's so hard to find time to just visit and enjoy being with family, so I am really looking forward to this weekend.

 I am also looking forward to this weekend because I won't see A again until then.  He left at 6:30 (too early!) this morning for a retreat with his new job.  Yeah, he's getting paid to to hang out at the lake and play golf for three days.  I have to say that I am a little jealous, but I am so happy that he has a good job that he enjoys. 

In Baby T news, I had my 30 week (wow, really?! only 10 weeks to go?!) check-up this morning.  The doctor said everything looks and sounds great.  She also said, her best guess is that Baby T is up to about 3 pounds now.  Also of note, Baby T has a name!  Can you believe it?  Yeah, me neither!  A and I have decided to keep the name to ourselves until he arrives (sorry), but we are sharing initials.  Of course that has led to a lot of guessing, but we are doing our best to wait until he is here to properly introduce him.  In case you're curious, the initials are J.A.T.

Fearfully and Wonderfully Made

For you created my inmost being;

you knit me together in my mother's womb.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

your works are wonderful,

I know that full well.

My frame was not hidden from you

when I was made in the secret place.

When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,

your eyes saw my unformed body.

All the days ordained for me

were written in your book

before one of them came to be. 

Psalms 139: 13-16

This chapter has always been one of my favorites and it has been in my head for a few days now.  I ran across the entire chapter on another blog this morning and really enjoyed reading it. It has always brought me comfort and assurance that God knows so much more than we can ever hope to.  He knows everything we want to know, but shouldn't.  All we need to know is that He knows and we can trust that. 

These verses really made me think as I read them this morning.  I find it absolutely amazing that A and I don't even know yet what Baby T's name is going to be, but God already knows every detail about every day of his life.  He know what kind of person he will be, what he will be when he grows up, how tall he will be, what color hair he will have, how many children he will have, and so many other things that we haven't even began to wonder about.  It is amazing to realize how much God already loves our child, even before we have met him, and it is so reassuring to know that his days are well planned. 

Wow, time flies!

I cannot believe I am already moving into the third trimester!  This pregnancy (and I guess this year) are flying by!  I am suddenly realizing how many things we have left to do and how little time we have to accomplish those tasks.  Oh well, I am sure we will get it all taken care of eventually... (I am trying to be as stress-free as possible these days!)

We went back to the doctor today for the 28 week check up and the dreaded glucose screening.  The doctor said everything looks great; Baby T is measuring on schedule now and his heart rate is perfect.  The glucose test was not pleasant at all, but I've had more than my share of those and knew what to expect.  I am a little nervous that my history with those and blood sugar levels in general will result in needing a second round of tests, but we've got our fingers crossed that it's not necessary.  I should find out in a few days if I have to go back in.  Now that we are in the third trimester, we have to go back to the doctor every two weeks.  Knowing that just makes everything so much more real and immediate to me.  Wow, anytime you have to see a doctor that often, its definitely serious business! 

A and I have quite a busy schedule over the next month or so.  We are going this weekend to the last golf tournament of the summer in Starkville.  We are both really looking forward to seeing friends and relaxing for a few days.  After that, we have a few baby showers over the following weekends and then our childbirth classes start in mid-September.  (After reading about Emily's experience, I am kinda nervous, but maybe we will at least learn something!) I have a feeling the next few weeks will be a little exhausting, but also a lot of fun.  I'll try to post pictures as we go.  Speaking of pictures, here's an updated picture of me and Baby T. He's definitely growing! 

Baby T's room

I have been trying to decide for several weeks now how to add some character to Baby T's room.  While I love the colors and fabrics we have chosen, it was missing something.  I wanted to paint on the walls, but A vetoed that idea, partly because we will have to repaint when we decide to sell the house, and partly because I think he's afraid of something that permanent on the walls.  So, I had considered painting some canvases and looked at vinyl wall decals online.  I had even tried to learn to make vinyl decals myself.  After a lot of searching for ideas (and begging on my part!), A agreed it would be ok for me to just paint on the walls! I was so excited!  I started sketching immediately before he could change his mind!  After finally getting an idea we both liked, I also convinced A to help me.  He typically doesn't participate in my more artistic projects, but I needed help reaching the top of the wall, so he obliged.  I think after a few minutes of "why am I doing this again?"  he started to enjoy himself.  By the time we finished, he was adding his own little artistic touches.  We are both quite happy with our finished project and hope Baby T will like it too.

I didn't get a good picture of the bottom of the flag, but there is a golf green along the floor of the room too.

Weekend Update

Well, it was another relaxing weekend at the Tullos home.  We went to check out some local yard sales Saturday morning (there are 15 to 20 every week in Maumelle!).  I got a good deal on a few baby items, but I think I may have created a monster.  A has never really been out looking for yard sales, much less bargain hunting at one. He was so excited about the stuff we found. "It's like a treasure hunt!" He has already said he wants to go again next Saturday.  Uh-oh.  After our adventure, we went home to bake some amazing cookies from Amanda's recipe.  So good.  Then we went to decorate A's new office. I meant to take pics but forgot my camera; maybe I'll remember the next time I stop by to visit.  It looks very grown up.  I am so proud of A and his new job! 

We have still been trying to name Baby T, so Sunday we made a trip to Barnes and Noble to look through some baby name books and try to find inspiration. (The websites, discussions, family trees, and more discussions we have already tried didn't work, why not a book?) Still no name.  I am afraid we have actually started going backwards in our progress.  Instead of settling on a final decision, we are crossing previous favorites off our list. I would love to have some custom artwork finished and at least a few things monogrammed before Baby T makes his debut, so inspiration better find me soon!