A year ago...

A year ago this past week (Sept. 2008), Jonathan and I were vacationing in Panama City Beach, Florida. It was the day before our 3rd Wedding Anniversary that Jonathan and I were floating in the ocean (well.. Jonathan standing and me semi-floating and hanging onto him in fear of jelly-fish and swimming crabs that like the bite toes...) talking about different things in our lives.. IE. plans we had for the house, finishing the basement, buying furniture, building a barn for the camper, landscaping, and family. We talked for a long time about where we would like to see ourselves in the next year. Jonathan has always been the one who would have been ready anytime to start a family, but it was me with the reservations. I babysat a lot in my teenage years, and I know what kind of commitment that it takes to have and raise a child. But, as we were there floating in the ocean we began to talking SERIOUSLY about having a child, and we both decided right there that we were ready! So, it was that day we stopped our contraceptives and began our path down a new road. I didn't realize that it would take as long as it did. It seemed that everyone in my family got pregnant while they were on the pill, and here I am month after month will no pill and no pregnancy. But what we had to keep telling ourselves was, that God would bless us with a baby in his time, not ours. So, fast-forward 9 months later... I was about 2 1/2 weeks late, but still hadn't taken a test yet. We were camping at Lake Chatuge and going to see Josh Turner with Jonathan's parents, Neal and Debbie, his brother, Shane, his girlfriend, Callie, and her family. We had a great time that weekend, Jonathan's dad brought his boat, so we all took our trips around the lake. It was when Jonathan and I took the boat out that Saturday afternoon, that something in me changed. I was SCARED. It seemed like we were hitting the waves so hard and bouncing up and down in the seats, so I grabbed my stomach in fear. I have never felt like that before, especially around Jonathan; he is the one I feel MOST safe with. I know that Jonathan saw the fear and panic in my eyes and he slowed it down and brought me back to the campground. I guess now, I realize that it was the motherly instinct in me taking over and trying to protect my baby. The next morning it seemed like I couldn't hardly eat breakfast when I woke up, so it was then that I was really suspicious that I was pregnant. So, when we got home, and got everything unloaded and put up Jonathan and I got a pregnancy test out from under the cabinet and took a deep breath. Jonathan went and sat on the bed, and I went into the bathroom. I wasn't trying to look as I was taking it, so I wouldn't know either way, but it turned so fast I couldn't help but notice. I set it on the back of the toilet and told Jonathan "I think I saw it say positive"... So we both sat on the bed and stared at the clock for 3 1/2 mins (like two little nerds!) and I told Jonathan to go in there and look.. so he did. He came out holding it and smiling! I knew then it was true! We hugged one another and cried.. happy tears. Wow! We are actually going to be parents! I told Jonathan to start praying right then for our baby.. that he/she would be healthy, strong, 10 fingers, 10 toes..etc. I prayed too. And we hugged some more.. and I cried more...! I know that I am one of the lucky ones, I was never sick. And believe me, I count my blessings everyday!
On September 8, 2009 (a year after we decided to start our family) we went for Baby Clint's 21 week anatomy scan. There we got to see the 4 chambers of his heart beating away at 146 beats per min, we saw his stomach, bladder, full spine, kidneys, upper and lower extremity bones, umbilical cord with all the vessels, his boy parts, and him in 4D. They said that everything looked great and normal! (Just what we had been praying for, and still praying for) The 4D photos were awesome, Jonathan and I were in awe as we were watching and looking at our baby Clint's face for the first time. WOW! How can you love something so much that you have never met or even seen? I guess that is how God's love works. All I know is that I love this little one with ALL my heart already and he isn't even here yet; not sure how I can love more... but I am sure it will happen as soon as I hold him in my arms and kiss his little face for the first time and know that he is My baby, OUR BABY.
It's amazing all the changes one can have in a year!! Here are a few pics of our last ultrasound...


This is my absolute favorite picture in the whole world right now!! This is baby Clint's first smile, and I can't help but smile and fall in love all over again each time I look at him!

Clint has no problem showing that he is a little boy!! Isn't it amazing how much you can see on the ultrasounds nowadays?