LiFe As We KnOw It...

Have you seen that movie, Life as we know it? It's pretty good and pretty accurate as well!  In that movie these two people end up taking care of their best friends baby because her parents get killed in a car accident.  Although (thank the Lord) the circumstances aren't the same, the movie goes on to show how one day they are out, care-free, doing whatever and the next morning you life as they know it is completely different.


When you are expecting a child and carrying it for 10 months you think you have time to prepare.  Yeah right!  You read all the books, get advice from everyone whether you want it or not, and you try to have everything you can think of ready.  Then you bring home this little life; this precious bundle of joy that you stare at it thinking he is the most beautiful thing you've ever layed eyes on.  You can't believe that God blessed you with the responsibility to raise this little boy that was created out of love by you and your husband, your best friend.

But just at that moment, he starts to cry...and doesn't stop.  Or he cries everytime you put him down and your days/nights now consist of sleeping in a recliner or couch to keep your baby satisfied.  You go through a cycle constantly of changing a diaper, feeding him, and then getting him to sleep.  You wake up getting a couple hours of sleep and you become a coffee drinker (when you couldn't STAND the taste of it before.)  Sounds miserable doesn't it?

Well the truth is that YES it's different, but it is amazing.  It is not miserable at all.  I can't believe Eli is almost a month old already.  It seems like just yesterday I was 41 weeks pregnant, praying that I'd get to meet this little boy soon. 

He has turned mine and Kevin's world upside down, but for the better.  We are more in love than ever and stronger than we've ever been in our relationship.  The sleepness nights and figuring out cries are worth it everytime he gives you that little grin or makes this little giggle because he's trying so hard to figure out how to laugh. Or when you are rocking him in your arms and he is making those little noises falling asleep and he cracks his eyes open just enough to make sure you are still there and then falls back asleep.  I am overwhelmed with love for this tiny baby already and can't wait to see each milestone as it happens.  I wouldn't trade this new life for anything in the world.  So my advice to soon-to-be parents...just go with it.  Don't try and plan too much.  Don't think you have it figured out because just as you get somewhat on a schedule, he goes through a growth spurt or changes and you have to figure everything out again.  Enjoy it because everyone is right about one thing...they grow up WAY too fast.

Sitting, Waiting, Wishing

Well I am 38 weeks, 1 day pregnant and still counting.  Today Kevin & I went into our doctors appointment in a great mood, so excited to be checked (which is hilarious by the way...this will definitely be the only time I ever get excited about being "checked" by a doctor...awkward) and see what/ if any progress had been made.  No more progress...still just 1 cm dialated and really nothing else major going on.  Darn.  BUT, then we had an ultrasound and got to see our precious baby boy's face on that monitor again. It was such a clear picture of his face with his little pug nose and big, full lips.  Kevin got to use the sonar and find the heartbeat himself, which was awesome.  We sat there thinking, "this will be the last time we see Eli inside of my belly", witnessing the miracle that there is really a baby in there and as disappointed as we thought we would be...we weren't! 

The truth is...he has to come out and at the most it will be another 13 days on his due date, November 3rd.  BUT we are so blessed beyond measure.  To carry a baby...a healthy baby...and not have many complications (besides morning sickness and such) is such a blessing.  People take it for granted and even though this last week has honestly been pretty miserable, I wouldn't trade it for the world.  I would do this all again and hope to before too, too long!

So what's the worst that will happen until God reveals Eli's birthday to us all?  Kevin and I will spend time together, being in love and enjoying these last rolls, tumbles and kicks that we get to see going on in my belly.  And we know that before long, we will be holding our beautiful baby boy in our arms and this "waiting game" will just be a memory for the books.

There Shall be Showers of Blessing...

Kevin & I have realized once again just how blessed we are, after our recent trip to North Carolina. We headed out (Kevin, Muffin and me) very early in the morning and didn't imagine just how great this trip would be. Over the first two days we spent time with old and new friends and took part in two of our great friends special day.  We got to hang out and have fun with some great friends (probably for the last time in a while) and meet tons of new friends as well!  We danced, talked and laughed two nights away.  Our friends, Sunny & Tyler had a beautiful wedding and we were glad to have been chosen to share it with them.  Every time we attend a wedding, especially when Kevin's up there in his tuxedo, it makes me fall in love with him all over again.  Seeing the love in the bride and groom's eyes, listening to the words you say to each other and thinking back to the day when you said those words to the person you love is a great moment.

After that, it was our time to be reminded how in love we are and how our love for each other has created a special little boy that we get to meet and take care of very soon!  We got to go back to where I am from and see tons of people (friends and family) that I haven't seen in what seems like forever.  It was so great to see everyone and the support that we got from friends and family was amazing!  It's not everyday that someone who has been gone (technically) from their hometown (Creswell) for 4 years can go back and get the love and welcome that I did.  My home church and family blew me away with their generousity.

Then we traveled to Kevin's hometown (Four Oaks) for yet more showering by friends and family.  Even though we were in two different places, the kindness from everyone was the same in both places.  It's great to see someone when it's been a while and pick up right where you left off.  That's how you know people truly care.  We had friends come (who had to travel a good ways) from previous jobs, college, etc. that we probably haven't seen since our wedding!  True friends are so hard to come by and Kevin and I are even blessed in that area because we have so many friends that are there for us no matter what!

Eli will not go lacking.  We received so many thoughtful gifts that we literally had to rent a U-Haul to get it all back to Florida with us.  What a great problem to have!  Other things that were great were that Muffin got to visit with everyone and she LOVES her some grandma and grandpa. I started calling them (my parents) that long before I even thought about their nicknames changing for a baby one day...so she doesn't know who Nana and Papa are, so I'll have to work on that.

Since we've been back it's been tons of fun organizing, putting things together and then placing them in the exact right place (or so we think for now).  Kevin and I couldn't be happier right now.  The only thing that can make it better is having little Eli here to put him in everything we received!

We're getting close!!!

Today marks 31 weeks pregnant and I can hardly believe it.  Although part of me feels like I've been pregnant forever, the other part feels like it has flown by!  It's almost unreal that in 9 weeks or less we will be holding our baby boy.  I'm at the point where although 9 weeks is plenty of time, all of a sudden I have 5,000 to-do lists laying around the house of things that "need" to be done before the baby gets here.  My mind constantly races about things he'll need.  I often wonder if I forgot anything important on the baby registry or which books I should be reading about after he comes home.  The teacher in me feels like I won't be prepared unless I've read a book about napping and feeding, etc. for newborns. When you're a teacher you have to be trained on EVERYTHING so it kind-of gets to become a habit.

Sleep is becoming more difficult on my own which I guess is God's way of preparing me for the lack of sleep I'll be getting soon.  My nausea has come back (I guess 16 weeks of it at the beginning of pregnancy wasn't enough) so the only good thing about that is the Zofran knocks me out, so it helps with the lack of sleeping.  So that's a positive!

We have 2 baby showers in NC in a couple of weeks and could not be more excited.  Although I dread the ride because of the swelling my feet will do, we have decided to make me a bed in the back of the tahoe, elevating my feet and I'm gonna sleep most of the way.  Kevin's idea...isn't he the best? We can't wait to spend time with family and friends.

Next update on the blog, we will be getting even closer to the arrival of Eli!  :)  Kevin is loving the sound of "daddy" more and more and I can't WAIT to be mommy to more than just muffin.  She's pretty excited about becoming a big sister too. Maybe next time I'll include pictures...we'll see!

WHOA mama...

When you get married and are so in love, you just can't WAIT to have a baby.  The thought of you having this precious little miracle that combines you and your husband together with features from both is amazing.  You envision it and you get butterflies.  You imagine yourself pregnant and turn sideways to picture this little baby growing inside of you, feeling it kick and sharing that excitement.  Then you really do get pregnant and you are like WHOA...no one told me THIS is how it is.

Let's be honest (anyone who's ever been pregnant) knows what I mean.  Don't get me wrong I still LOVE feeling the kicks and envisioning what features he will have from Kevin and myself and am already so in love with this little baby boy and we have weeks to go!  HOWEVER, no one mentions that it's not just a "baby bump" in your stomach you grow but it's fat everywhere!  Everything gets bigger, whether you try to eat well or not and whether you exercise or not.  My face keeps getting rounder and rounder.  My stomach, thighs, butt, boobs, and "baby bump" all keep expanding with lovely marks in those places in case I didn't notice it on my own. (By the way those commercials about those lotions that prevent stretch marks are wrong...You can lather in them all you want and if you are going to get marks, you still get them.)  You see yourself getting larger and larger, feeling unattractive and Shamu- like as every day passes...you can't exert too much energy on anything without feeling out of breath and you look at old pictures which point out just how much weight you have gained despite the number that the doctor says is "great for how far you are"...

BUT, then you see an ultrasound of this growing miracle inside of you, and hear his little heartbeat and look at your husband and he is grinning from ear to ear.  Or you are sitting on the couch and you all of a sudden see your entire belly shift and realize that's YOUR baby.  I don't write this blog to complain (although it may appear that way) but instead to be realistic of how pregnant women feel and what they go through.  It's like an unspoken rule among women.  You don't hear all of these stories until you are pregnant and then all of your friends, family, etc. that have experienced start sharing it and you are like why didn't you tell me before?  Well...the truth is, it wouldn't have stopped me from getting pregnant and experiencing this anyway.  AND, despite how it sounds...there is something about being pregnant that I absolutely LOVE!

In November when I hear Eli's cry for the first time, all of the morning sickness, problems, headaches, backaches, etc. will all disappear because I will be overwhelmed with love for this little life that we created.  It will all be worth everything you go through and I probably won't even think about or remember it until we try for baby #2...

Where Memories Begin...

There is a sign in Disney world when you enter that states, "Where Memories Begin."  Although this is true, this week the Dunn household will be where they begin (or really continue.)  This afternoon, in about 5 hours my mom and dad will be arriving at the airport and visiting us for a week.  I don't know who is more excited...me or them!   The last time they were here it was not very enjoyable for them because they were helping to move all of our stuff into our house, so this time around we plan to show them a good time.

Not only are we taking them to some parks for the first time (in their lives), but the thing I am most excited about is we are starting to work on Eli's nursery.  This little bundle of joy that Kevin and I talk to and feel kick everyday is their first grandchild.  He is definitely going to be spoiled.  Last November, when I had a miscarriage, we were far enough along that the entire family had gotten excited, which also caused devastation when we lost the baby.  BUT, God has a plan and we have been blessed with another chance and a healthy pregnancy so far and we don't take a thing for granted.  We cherish and anticipate this child so much already and he's not even here.

Eli's nursery will be painted navy blue with white trim and a white crib and decorated in baseball items.  This should not be a shock to anyone who knows Kevin and me at all, being we are HUGE Atlanta Braves fans.  We have the crib here to be put together and also the bedding (which is the Madras collection from pottery barn kids.)  It is a various color plaid.  We are just waiting for Nana and Papa to get here to help take a part in putting everything together.  Pictures will be posted as progress is made and maybe even an update at the end of the week to what adventures we actually did take this week. I'm hoping Eli cooperates and the excited grandparents will even get to feel his strong little kicks.  We will see, but what a fun week lies ahead!

Memorial Day Weekend

Memorial Day weekend (other than what it obviously means) used to mean 3 day weekend away from students and almost the last week of teaching before summer.  It's amazing how different things are now and what they mean.  I anxiously awaited Kevin to get off of work on Friday going over a million things we could do here in Florida on this 3 day weekend. Everyone makes plans on this weekend, so we HAD to, right?  WRONG.  Kevin & I have never been the typical couple.  My mom and dad have always said that when the phones rings at home and they see it's us, they never know what to expect us to tell them. :)

We have recently started watching the Harry Potter movies...a little late I know, but my friends Allison & Tatum swear by them.  Anyway, we thought the first couple were ok, but at about the 5th one we were hooked.  So on Friday night, we watched the 7th (Part 1 of sleepy hollows) that we had received with Netflix and went to bed early.  Then Saturday, we cleaned up the house together and spent lots of time playing with Muffin (our yorkie).  On Sunday, we went to to see our church family at Real Life Christian Church.  It's amazing that we've only been going about 3 or 4 Sundays, but already feel so at home there.  We WANT to be there and we DON'T want to miss it.  The music is amazing and so reviving and the preacher is funny, but HONEST.  We like that.  He doesn't sugar coat things...he tells it like it is and Kevin and I have never been so glued to a sermon from beginning to end.  God really answered prayers for us and our families when he led us to this church only 5 minutes from our home.  It has taken Kevin and I a while to get there, but the Bible speaks the truth, "Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it."  We both want Eli growing up in a strong, Christian home like we both had. 

Last but not least on Monday, Memorial Day, the day that everyone on facebook had their "toes in the sand" we woke up and discussed what to do.  So what did we decide?  We ended up going to Ashley Furniture and buying a king size bed...a step that was much needed for this ever growing belly, pregnancy pillow, Kevin and muffin...and then spending hours walking around in Babies R Us "ooo-ing" and "ahh-ing" at all of the precious little boy stuff.  Then we headed home and ate a simple dinner at home.

What's the point of all this?  Well besides rambling, it's just to say that I used to be so bored if we were out and doing something but now, at this stage in life, I was perfectly content in just spending time with my wonderful husband doing whatever we wanted. So many people complain, but the truth is...Happiness is what you make it.  So make the best out of everything, every chance you get.  Hope all of you had a relaxing, enjoyable weekend making memories that will last a lifetime.

Why the Title?

Because we live in Florida!  We live in Clermont (about 20-30 minutes from Orlando and all of the attractions)...not a well known place in Florida, but to us it's "home."  It is full of hills and road construction, lakes and orange groves. Even Palm trees! :)  Kevin's job brought us here and it is the perfect place for us to began a new chapter of our lives. 

After a year of marriage (and being together) we finally have a house, renting one that is.  It is roomy and we love it.  When we first moved in, the bedrooms are all painted light neutral colors, except one, which is lavendar.  We thought that might have been a sign for what our bundle of joy was going to be, but we were wrong.  On November 3rd we are expecting a little boy, Eli Wayne Dunn.  Like any parents, we would have been happy with a boy or girl, as long as it is healthy, BUT I must admit that we were both hoping for a "little dunner."  This little boy will be carrying on the Dunn name and even though he's not here yet has already won the hearts of many.

At first I wasn't sure about "blogging."  Just another thing to do, noone will take the time to read it...I thought.  However, I have enjoyed reading some of my friends recently and think it is a great way to get a glimpse into our busy lives.  With family and friends all in different states than us, why not have another way to communicate and share details with them that can't always be remembered to be said in a short conversation.  So for whoever reads this, ENJOY!