A Long Time

It has been a long time since I have posted. So much has changed, yet much has stayed the same too. I now have 2 beautiful children. When I last posted I was pregnant with my baby girl. Its almost been 2 years. I am always amazed at how fast time flies. I will update all of the photos when I get home. For now, I am happily enjoying the Florida warmth at my in-laws home in Debary, for some pre-thanksgiving family time. It was a wonderful stay.

Bill now works for an airline, so visiting family is now much easier to do. I am now the director of one of our local jenny centers. That has changed too- Jenny Craig is now jenny. But just as things change, many things stay the same also.... such as how much I absolutely adore my family. Caleb is now in kindergarten and there are always new and exciting things going on. I will post again soon, and keep you all up to date. Bye for now!

Week 35

Here I am, Week 35 of my final pregnancy. I already have my boy and now I am having my girl. My family will be complete.

I am completely uncomfortable and getting to the point where I am so ready to have this baby and be done with it all. I want to hold her and kiss her. I want her to meet her big brother, and her daddy. I feel her moving inside of me even as I sit here and the feeling is amazing. I know that there will be a day that I think back and miss all of this so I am trying to savor every moment.

I have a sonogram tomorrow, probably my last one! We are nearing the end. We are up to our ears in holiday preparations, and a fear remains in my mind that somehow in all of the craziness I will forget something important that I need for the baby.

I had better make a list. But more importantly I need to slow down and take the time to breathe, and really enjoy and savor the last moments of this pregnancy. Less than 4 weeks from now I will be holding my baby girl, and embracing my new family of 4.

To be honest with you... I am excited and scared. But I am hoping this blog will help me to document it all, every step of the way. My virtual scrapbook of sorts. I hope all who read this enjoys the day to day with my family.

My Friends

This past month my world has been shaken by many things of which I won't go into details, but I do want to take a minute to write about some people who mean the world to me..... My friends. I had always prayed that in my adulthood that I would have a group of women that I could lean on in times of adversity, who would be my strength when I was feeling week. Let me just say, God has been faithful. Every time I am around these women I am blessed, encouraged, and challenged to be a better person. I hope that I have shown them as much love and acceptance as they have shown me in the short time that I have known them. I continue to thank God for my friends and pray for them every day. I love you girls, never change! If you are reading this you know who you are.

Missing My Boy

I wrote this poem within a few weeks after Ethan was born, I miss him terribly even today. But cannot help but rejoice in the blessings God has given me, in Caleb and Madison. I am truly a blessed person. Happy Birthday Mommy's Angel Boy. I will never forget you, and I will always love you.

THE ECHO OF A MOTHER’S LOSS

I am a mother

My child is an angel

But I am still a mother

It breaks my heart to know all that I’ll miss

All of Ethan’s firsts

His first step, His first word

Even his first kiss

There is nothing I’d rather have in life

The Ethan at my side

He was much to young for me

To have to say goodbye

So take care of my baby God

Until I can get to him

Love him and hold him near

Take away all of his fear

Tell him that I love him so

And that I didn’t want him to go

He will always live in my heart

Even though we are apart

I dream of that day

That I may hold him again

To whisper his name and touch his face

To give him the warmth of his mother’s embrace

By: Gidget Ann Kinley

- In memory of Ethan Lawrence Kinley

Mommy Misses you little guy!

So Proud of My girl

I have to sit today and think of my little niece Brooke. She is almost 5, I cannot believe it. She has grown so much. It seems like yesterday that she was just an infant in her aunt gidgi's arms. I missed her soccer game yesterday, due to a nasty chest cold and a crazy child who likes to be up at god awful early hours. I am so sad that I missed her first game, but I am so proud of her, I hear that she did an excellent job. And she looks beautiful in her soccer uniform. I love you sweet heart.

Great News Today!

We received some great news today! Thank God! Bill will be starting training in his new job on Monday. That will ironically enough put him back to work in just one month, amazing with the current economy if you ask me. It makes me truly think about those who have been looking for work much longer than Bill has been.

I caught Bill trying to think of all of the worst case scenarios tonight, and stopped him in his tracks. I don't know what it is about Bill and I but we always seem to be waiting for the other shoe to drop, we never just trust that all is going to work out the way we hope it will or the way we want it to. This time I decided right from the beginning that I am going to put my trust in God, and trust that all of the right doors would open up. The way I see it is if it is God's will it will work out for the best. Because He (God) knows a heck of a lot better than we do about what is good for us, and what we need. In the mean time, I am staying positive about this new development. Keeping Bill that way is going to be my biggest challenge. So if anyone who may be reading this has any ideas on how to help me keep Bill from thinking negatively, let me know. If you have any positive encouragement I can pass along to him, I would love to have you post it. It would be such a blessing to me and him.

And for those of you out there, who haven't been as lucky in your job search as Bill has been, I wish you all the best of luck and you will be in my prayers.

That is all I have to report for now. More to come, plenty more to come.

Blessings & Challenges

Wow, I am finally blogging. I have been meaning to jump on the blogging band wagon for a while. Afterall, anyone who knows me knows I have a lot to say about a lot of things. Tonight, I would just like to talk about my amazing life. Its so simple, some might say boring, but I absolutely treasure every moment.

Bill, my husband, my best friend, love of my life. He would be embarassed to know that I am writing about him now. He is my rock, and while we have gone through many challenges in our close to 6 years of marriage, every challenge has somehow turned into a blessing. I look forward to more challenges and blessings in our journey through life together.

Caleb, my amazing and full of life 3 year old little boy. I cannot remember what my life was like without him. I love being your mama, little man. I look forward to watching him grow up, not too quickly though. I want to cherish every moment, every word, every smile, I wish I could box it up.

Madison, my sweet unborn little girl. Growing inside of me right now. Everytime I feel you move, I smile, because you are such a blessing. While you came as a surprise to your mommy and daddy, we are so happy that you are on your way. I cannot wait to hold you , and kiss you and watch you grow, just like we are doing with your big brother. 20 weeks to go!

To the rest of my family and friends.... I love you all, I don't know where I would be without the love and support I get from you all daily. I thank God every day for giving me such a wonderful family, and such great friends. I hope that I am a portion of the blessing to you all that you all are to me.

With all of that said, I hope that you all do not grow tired of my ramblings, I hope to get Bill to ramble on here from time to time. Feel free to post your thoughts and comments. I would love to hear from you all. Thanks for listening.