Our Little Miracle!

David and I can't wait to meet our little Gracelyn Shea! We have been having so much fun lately just hanging out and laughing with one another. Getting dressed up and going out to dinner, and doing our bible study together. We are so blessed to have this time for just the two of us until our baby girl arrives!!

Shannon is Amazing!

Shannon made the CUTEST things for Gracelyn. A small personalized pillow, with matching burp cloths, and a fabulous patched blanket all decked out in paris poodles and pink!!! THANK YOU SHANNON :)

A shower with the mama's

My moms/womens bible study hosted a beautiful shower for me. A very good friend of mine Britt decorated the house to cute! Lots of pink toule everywhere it was perfect!! She even had a fantastic cake made for Gracelyn and is was absolutely delish :) Along with hosting she made the cutest diaper cake! I am so blessed to have such a dear friend as her!

Diapers on a dog?

Okay so I have been getting lots of diapers for Gracelyn but today I had to go buy my first doggie diapers. Apparently we scheduled Daisy to be spayed a little too late. She has her appointment on October 2, unfortunately she has been in heat for the past week... I was thinking we would just deal with it until she went in... but I have been spending too much time on my hands and knees with spot shot :(

Prayers for David!

David has been encouraged by the assistant vice president of branch operations to apply for the branch manager position. David has really been praying about this move for the past couple of years on and off and up until now really wasn't feeling called to apply. However, this time after much prayer he has decided to interview and trust in the Lord's sovereignty. Please pray for him as he prepares for his interview tomorrow at 2:30.

We know the Lord has a beautiful plan in store for our growing family, and will patiently wait for his perfect timing.

Love and prayers!

Doctor Visit!

Well we had another doctor's appointment on monday. Sorry I haven't posted since. Everything looks great. Gracelyn's heart was nice and strong and very fast. The nurse asked me if she moves around a lot. Of course I answered yes, that is ALL she does. CONSTANTLY! She said that she could tell because while she was using the sound monitor Gracie would keep bouncing around and kicking the device off my belly. They told me she is growing perfectly and right on schedule. Even though she is still considered big for 33 weeks, the doctor thinks she will start to slow down soon and arrive sometime around the beginning of November. She is head down and moving into position, so of course she constantly bounces my bladder off her head ;) I am just starting to be uncomfortable. Sitting is very hard and sleeping... well... that is another story. However, I am very thankful that I am not swollen... and that I am still able to wear my wedding ring :)

I can't believe we only have about 6 weeks left. I can't wait :)

Thank you for all of your thoughts and prayers for this baby and pregnancy. We have been blessed beyond measure and are continuing to pray for a quick and easy delivery.

Love you all!!

Today is the first day of fall :)

I have been having a lot of fun FINALLY decorating for autumn! I just love this time of year! Daisy love it too!!

I LOVE OUR STROLLER!!

David's parents bought us the kolcraft contour stroller that we wanted! It came in the mail and I put it together!!!!! It maneuvers so easily around corners, and I can use a finger to push it. I have been driving it along with the infant seat around the house :) I know, I know I am a dork!!!

Pink and White Shower!

The Annable's were so kind to open their home for a beautiful shower for all the SBC girls. Alyssa, Ashlee, and Katelyn threw a fantastic baby shower. Mrs. Annable decorated the place like a palace. There were pink and white balloons, pink doughnuts with white polka dots, and an amazing watermelon boat complete with berries and kiwi. Everyone had a great time decorating bibs, onsies, t-shirts, and baby hats. Gracelyn got so many beautiful outfits (her closet is almost full) some more matching nursery decor, and diapers and wipes!! Not to mention her shoe collection is beginning to grow :) Thanks to everyone who came and for all the sweet prayers you all wrote her. She is already so blessed and so loved by so many!

Prayers for the Mother To Be By: Angela Thomas

I was given this great book by a dear friend of mine, and was reading it to encourage another friend when one specific prayer stuck out to me. This one is called "In The Womb"

MY LORD AND REDEEMER,
Inside me is a sanctuary where You abide. Inside my womb You fashion our child and define every feature. The thought of Your work is more than I can comprehend, and yet, I delight in knowing that You are here. I have seen pictures of babies in the womb, and I am amazed at Your work. My child at each stage of development is such a marvel.
I smile to learn that the first organ to function in the heart. Would a lesser designer have begun with the brain? And so, I ask for my baby, that her heart will be perfect. Four flawless chambers beating in perfect sync. From there I envision the rest of the body that has just begun: spinal cord, lungs, and brain. Oh Lord, our Creator, please complete each detail with precision and strength.
As the face and limbs begin to form, please grow sturdy bones and sound muscles. Make her eyes much stronger than mine. Give this dear little one ears that will hear for a lifetime. Give her a strong mind that will serve as an oasis for truth and wisdom. Lord, please oversee my baby's growth. Give our child legs to run and arms to hug. Fashion hands that are skillful, yet loving. I trust You to provide all that is needed.
Remember my baby until she's complete. Keep her safe inside until her time is appointed. I have faith because You are the maker of all, You stretched out the heavens, and spread out the earth. Your presence gives me peace. I will wait patiently while You work.
Amen

"This is what the LORD says-your Redeemer, who formed you in the womb: I am the LORD, who has made all things, who alone stretched out the heavens, who spread out the earth by myself."
-Isaiah 44:24


I hope this encouraged you as much as it encouraged me. Pass this on to any mom's to be that you know of that need a little peace during their pregnancy.

Blessings,
Amanda

Pedicure :)

Ashlee and I enjoyed a wonderful spa pedicure yesterday. It was so nice while it lasted. She spend a lot of time on us and the flowers on my toes are amazing. However, before it started I joked with Ashlee about wanting the baby to come and that I should try and induce my labor with some foot massaging. Knowing full well that they don't touch your feet if you are past a certain time in your pregnancy. Ashlee and I just chatted away when we both noticed she was massaging the EXACT place that nurses do when they are trying to get labor started... of course I didn't say anything because it was wonderful and my feet were in heaven and I didn't really regret it until that evening. All during our child birth class I was having strong contractions, I especially noticed them getting in and out of the car, and walking from the hospital to the parking lot.
They continued into most of the evening and then thankfully didn't come back... but wow were those a bit harder to deal with!

I guess I won't be getting anymore foot massages until I am IN labor already ;)

Another Wonderful Baby Shower!

David's mom was so nice to host a baby shower for me. It was a beautiful shower all covered in pink and gerber daisies. David and I have been so blessed with all the baby things we have received so far. We got a lot of practical things and a lot of cute girly fun things. Gracelyn is going to need a bigger closet! Some major things that we got were our car seat, an extra car seat base for the other car, our highchair, our stroller and our snuzzler (David loves the snuzzler :)

Baby Shower!

David's work was so nice to throw us a baby shower this morning! Another co-worker of his is also expecting around the same time and we are both having girls so they did a surprise girly girl shower for the four of us. Everything was wrapped in pink just the way it should be :) Though it was early (8:00) we enjoyed some orange juice and cinnamon rolls while we sat around playing some baby games. We got some great things! A baby monitor set, some stacking cups, a grocery cart seat cover, and a cute monkey mirror for the car! It was so sweet of them to think of us and had so much fun today!
I can't believe it is coming so fast! So fun :)

Update on miss Gracelyn Shea

We are just entering our 32nd week and 8th month, and so far this little girl is staying put. The contractions have gone down a bit so I am able to relax more, but they are still coming all the time. Sleeping has definitely become more difficult constantly tossing and turning, and just like her mother Gracie is constantly tossing and turning too. Not so much of the hard quick kicking just rolling and shrugging. I still don't have the swelling (thank goodness) but because of my photosensitivity (sun poisoning) they are still extremely sensitive. The purple has begun to fade and so have the little red blisters but for some reason it still hurts to take a bath or shave my legs :( Hopefully it will clear up pretty soon.

As far as my "nesting" I have gone around and cleaning all the doors and re organized every cabinet except the pantry. I took the vacuum today and lugged up each stair as I used the attachment to make sure every inch of that step was cleaned thoroughly.

I have a doctor's appointment on Monday so I will write another update as soon as I get home from that.

So that is pretty much all for now!
Thanks for reading!!

Blessings,
Amanda and Gracie

It is coming together :)

I told Dad my idea for the window nook. I told him I have always wanted a window seat and if he could design something that could also double as a toy box then that would be perfect. He is amazing!! He took what I told him and made it even better. While he began to build the seat/box, David began cutting the baseboards. I can't wait to see it when it is finshed

Nursery Update!

Katelyn came over to begin painting the Eiffel Tower... she got a lot done and it looks great! Then Dad came over and helped cut and lay the carpet with David.

Our backyard friend :)

David took Daisy out to the bathroom and she found a friend. I named him Pete :) He smiled when I took a picture.

September 1, 2008 Happy Anniversary!

The morning started out perfect. David of course got up before me and surprised me with breakfast in bed. After exchanging cards we went to enjoy or gifts to each other... a massage!! It was amazing! I can't remember the last time I was able to relax while lying down. We spent the day just hanging out and lounging around and since I didn't want to make dinner we ordered pizza!!! After Pizza and a movie we got ready to eat our wedding cake. We cut the cake together and enjoyed a surprisingly tasty piece of cake and some champagne. After talking and reminiscing about that special day we lied down on a blanket to look at the stars. Sadly, that didn't last too long because I can't lie down comfortably anywhere ;) We went back in the house and watched our wedding video and to finish off the night danced to our "first dance" song. Let's Make It Last by Brandon Heath!

What an amazing first year!! We have been blessed beyond belief!