Sex

That's right.  This posting is called "Sex", but don't worry, I'm keeping it clean.  We will find out January 7 what the sex of the baby is, so you have until then to cast your vote!  Don't let my vote influence you though!  I'm still not completely sure! 

So...

Is it a boy or a girl?  Comment and let me know what you think!!!

It's A _____!!!

Girl!  Ok...well...It's not for sure.  I don't have my ultrasound until January, but that's my official guess.  Originally I was expecting a boy, but something in the back of my mind caused me to not be so sure. 
Here are the reasons I think it's a girl:

1. I had a dream a couple months ago that we had a girl and I panicked because we didn't have a girl name picked out.
2. The "little voice" saying that it might be a girl.
3. Not to get wierd, but our little girl's middle name will by Lily after my great-grandma (in honor of my g-pa).  "Granny" was born late May & the baby is due late May.
4. The Chinese calendar says a girl.  :o)
5. The heartbeat is 140...an old wives tale says that a fast heartbeat means it's a girl.

So there, there are my reasons.  Obviously, we will be happy with a boy or a girl. 
We heard the heartbeat loud and clear yesterday.  When the doctor left I broke down and started crying.  Luke was nervous because he wasn't sure the reason for my tears, but once he realized they were happy tears, all was well.  I text my mom and she text back, "that's my grandchild!"  What a special time this is for us.  I'm so excited to be at this point in my life.  I can't wait to show you all pictures!  Count down with me to January 7!

Thankful

I know it's after the holiday, but looking back on our T-Giving trip to Michigan, I realize I have much to be thankful for.
1. I'm thankful for family
2. I'm thankful that the Masiaraks and Wests live close enough that we get to see both sides in one trip.
3. I'm thankful the in-laws that are fun to be around.
4. I'm thankful for KFC mashed potatoes.
5. I'm thankful that we left on Saturday to return to CO instead of Sunday.
6. I'm thankful that from MI to CO it's only 20 hours instead of 24.
7. I'm thankful that I only threw up 4 times the day of the drive home instead of 5.
8. I'm thankful that our car repair (on the way home) only cost $288 instead of $300.
9. I'm thankful that because we drove home on Saturday instead of Sunday, that we were able to get repair done.
10. I'm thankful that the repair man told us he was incarcerated with James Brown's wife. That helps me to trust him more.
11. I'm thankful we only got pulled over once.
12. I'm thankful our dog only peed in the car once.
13. I'm thankful for God's protection through all of this.
14. I'm thankful for a wonderful husband who I got to make all of these memories with.

What are you thankful for?

Psalm 139:13

Psalm 139:13 (New International Version)

For you created my inmost being;

you knit me together in my mother's womb.

This verse just amazes me.  How often can you say that God is tangibly, literally, & visually, creating something before your very eyes?  I'm astounded.  I don't even know how to put into words how awesome this is to me right now, and how real.

Wednesday was the second time we went to the doctor.  Me, the worrier, was just excited to hear the doctor tell me, again, that I really am pregnant.  I needed a stinking good reason for feeling this horrible.  I asked her what the normal time is to be able to hear the heartbeat.  She said it is 12 weeks and although I'm only a 10, that we could try.  She asked if I would promise not to worry if we didn't hear the heartbeat, I said no, but to try anyway! 
She put the goopy, aloe vera type stuff on my belly and started listening with the doppler.  She went back and forth, back and forth.  All the while I was praying, "PLEASE God, I NEED to hear this!"  My doctor is so awesome, because she didn't give up.  Finally, she cocked her head and listened a little more intently.  "Can you hear it?" she asked.  And at that moment Luke & I got to hear the faint, 10 week, beat of our baby's heart.  I just laughed the day we actually heard it, but reliving it brings tears to my eyes now. 
I'm so excited to finally be a mom.  I asked Luke who he thought the baby would look like.  "Me at first," he answered, "because it will be bald."  He makes me laugh.

I Can Hear the Derby Calling

Today, one of our many questions has been answered!  Luke now knows what his job will be in the Army (MOS if you want to learn Army jargon with me).  First, he'll be in Armor for three years.  The reasoning behind this is that he'd like to teach ROTC (which is the program he's in now) someday and must have at least 3 years of infantry experience to do this.  After those three years, he will be going back to school for his second MOS which will be Military Intelligence.  He will really be able to say, "I could tell you, but then I'd have to kill you."  That's hot.

We will be moving to Kentucky some time next year.  Finding out when the big move will take place is a mystery, but so goes our life.  I'm happy that at least one question has been answered and it's a major one!

If I can stomach icecream or some kind of special dinner, we'll be celebrating tonight! 

So, if anyone has a big hat I can borrow, I'd be honored to wear it to all of the Kentucky Derbies we'll be going to.  'Cuz you know, we're cultured like that. 

Praise God for His goodness!

Happy Apple Farm!

This past weekend, a few friends of mine & I went to the Happy Apple farm.  It's the third time we've been in three years and has become  quite the tradition!  This year, we went a little late and the pumpkin patch was more like a pumpkin graveyard.  I think that we all were a little saddened by the site of all the poor pumpkins sitting out in the unforgivably, hot sun with no one to pick them up and take them home.  Luckily, there were a few still ripe for the picking and we all chose the perfect pumpkin pet to make our own.  I have to tell you though, people are RUTHLESS at pumpkin patches!!!!  I set down my pumpkin to do something and some little, thief of a kid STOLE MY PUMPKIN!  He was caught redhanded, but I was in such shock that I couldn't utter a word!  How dare he?!  Luckily, I did get a picture with my little pumpkin before the thief ran off with it (see below).  At least we had a few moments to share.

Beautiful, isn't he?  OK, OK, he's a little hidden, but you get the picture.

So anyway, after I recovered from my devastation, I did find another pumpkin to call mine.  (Although, now my dog apparently tried to eat it when she saw it today.  Man...can't a girl just enjoy her fruit!?)

All in all, it was a great time.  I'm sad to think that Luke & I may not be here this time next year, so this might have been my last time going to Happy Apple.  Times are a changin' in the Masiarak house.  Next week or the week after, we'll find out what Luke's military job will be.  That will be a huge factor in determining our future.  Don't worry, I'll let you know as soon as we know, but for now we'll be content to stay in our home with our little, orange pumpkin friend.

Along Came 8 Weeks

Oh the joy of early pregnancy.  For the past two days, I've done my hair, put my makeup on, and whatever else I could manage from the comfort of my bathroom floor. 

My first 7 weeks were great.  Ignorantly, I was so worried that my lack of sickness and food aversions were a bad sign.  I thought maybe I wasn't really pregnant, or worse, that I was, but wasn't any more.  Then it hit.  My days of nausea.  My "feeling great" comments ended this past weekend.  Now, even having my space heater too close to my feet makes me want to throw up.  To steal Renee's writing style - I have the piece of crap wonderful priviledge of having my office right across from the communal kitchen.  This morning the smell of coffee gently greeted me from across the hall.  Although I've never enjoyed coffee (except if you put 3/4 creamer in and 1/4 coffee) I've always enjoyed the smell.  Then, some monsterous smell interrupted my bliss!  I don't know what it was, but I praise God for my office door now.  Don't people know that there is a pregnant lady right next to the microwave!?!?  That whatever they decided to have for breakfast this morning made me want to lose mine!?!?

I'm sure every expectant mother thinks to herself, "He'd/She'd better appreciate what I'm going through right now!"  Well mom, I can say now - I DO.  I think even the guys eventually get a smidge of appreciation at some point.  Like when they hear something through the shower curtain and ask there wife if they're ok.  "Yes, I'm fine, just dry heaving is all."  I think it's at that moment that new parents really realize how awful beautiful pregnancy is. 

Next week we have our second doctor appointment and I'm hoping that well get to hear the heartbeat.  I'm not sure, but that would be a great encouragement.

Change #1 - Growing Our Family

As you all may know, Luke and I had planned to start trying for a baby when he got home from an Army camp late August. You also know how God has been stretching my trust in Him with this issue. Praise God! He showed His amazing grace to me by not making me wait long. Luke and I found out on Thursday that - We're Expecting! -
We tried to keep it a secret for a while, but apparently, good news travels fast. It's ok though, I think my husband is relieved to tell everyone.
I think this news has brought us closer. Distance makes the heart grow fonder, but so does having a baby (well...in our case at least). We've got both under our belt now and life is good!
My due date is May 24, which makes things interesting as Luke graduates May 22. Pray the baby waits at least until after the ceremony!!! That could be interesting!
Thanks for all of your prayers and your excitement as we begin this new & exciting chapter in our lives!

Trying...

As I'm sure many of you know, we've been trying for a baby for a whole month now (OK, OK...more like 3 weeks, but who's keeping track). Do you know that I'm already getting so nervous about not being pregnant?! Luke keeps reassuring me that if it doesn't happen this month, we'll (happily) keep trying. But I am struggling so much with the realization that this may not happen when I want it to. There! I said it! I WANT to be at the point that I'm OK with God's timing, but right now I'm at the point that if He wants us to get pregnant this month, that will be the only way I'm OK with His timing!

Seriously, someone needs to stop me. I have names picked out, the theme of the room picked out, the baby shower invitations picked out, who's giving my work shower picked out, who's giving my church shower picked out, someone has even bought me an outfit (make that 2)!!! I will be crying in my pillow if this doesn't happen soon. I should probably stop planning so much, don't ya think? :)

How did this motherly need creep up on me? I can't even look at a baby without welling up with emotion! It's ridiculous!

Anyone have advice on how to be patient and rest in God during this time? I'll take it! Anyone have a revelation that I'm going to get pregnant soon? I'll receive that one too!!!!

"Normalcy"

Isn't normalcy surprisingly wonderful? It's amazing how much we take it for granted and even get restless with it. When our world is rocked though or change happens, we tend to cling to it as if it was our best friend.
I'm not sure what my definition of normal is. I guess it would be anytime that Luke is home. I know it's crazy, but one of my favorite things to do when Luke is here is to go grocery shopping at the commissary. Most people loath the thought of grocery day, but for me, I get to have a glimpse into our future. The number one positive is that I get great deals! They even have a section just for sale stuff! It's the best! Number two is that I get to be with the heros of our nation and I get to pretend like I live among them. It's still a novelty to me, military bases. That's, most likely, where we'll raise our children and have so many good memories. I get excited just thinking about it!
I think that's why I can't step foot in the commissary when Luke's gone. It makes me acutely aware that I'm alone. That things aren't normal. The one I vowed to spend my life with doesn't always get to be with me.
Luke got home last weekend and ever since I've been so thankful for the nights we get to share, for the excitement and the fast beating of my heart when I hear him unlock the door to the apartment after a day of work & the days that we get to take Lexi for a walk.
Always appreciate the time with your spouse. Never take for granted the little "hellos" you get to say to each other at the end of the day. Relish in the times you get to do the "every day things" like getting groceries. Keep in mind that "normal" = wonderful.
I know I won't...

Thoughts inspired by "A New Kind of Christian"

I've been reading a book called "A New Kind of Christian." If you would've asked me yesterday or last week what I thought about it, I probably would have given you a vague or negative answer. I just wasn't getting into it (or getting it for that matter). Today it really got me thinking.
In one of the early chapters the author talks about the Bible. He says that it's not necessarily the end all and be all for our lives. He said we should take it more like a book of wisdom, not one that has the answer to every problem. Now, before you yell at me for reading this book, hear me out. I don't agree with everything the book says, but I definitely can appreciate a book that gets me thinking.
I was driving to Batteries Plus for work this afternoon and started thinking about God/Jesus. I realized that all my life, I've been worshipping the God of the Bible that I know. I get my opinion of Him from my understanding of the Bible. This would be great if I was an amazing person who interpreted the Bible exactly as God said it and knew every tiny crevice and corner of it. Not so though...I'll admit...I never will know it like that. So why am I basing my thoughts of Him and worship of Him on that?
Here's my new challenge. I'm going to worship God for who He is (earth shattering right?). I know that's not a new concept, but I think I'm finally starting to get it. God/Jesus is not just someone who lived in Biblical times and did great things. Why am I worshipping Him like He is?
I want to worship a mysterious person (God) who romances me every day and makes me smile. I want to worship a God that adores me and whom I adore. I want to worship a REAL person (God). I hope this isn't disrespectful or blasphemous, but isn't there something sexy about mystery? Doesn't it just leave you wanting more of someone? Isn't it exciting when you find new things about them that you didn't know? Why don't I let God's mystery draw me to Him? Why do I love Him for only what I know, when there is so much more to love Him for that I haven't even found out yet?
God is good, God is real, and God is not just in the Bible. He's here, with me, whispering things to me, romancing and exciting me. I want to learn more about this God...

PS...I DO believe that the Bible is the end all and be all...not just a book of wisdom :)

Post #1

I was reading a friend's blog today and she unknowingly inspired me to create my own. Luke loves writing blogs, so I thought this would be the perfect spot for us to share our thoughts and news.

I (the planner/control freak) have so many things to look forward to in the upcoming year. We're going to start trying to have a baby soon, in November, we will find out where we will be stationed with the Army, Luke will become an officer, etc.

It may sound weird, but I'm starting to get restless for change. I know some don't enjoy it and I don't always either, but I'm excited for our future! Luke always reminds me to enjoy this year as it will be the last one like it. After this, our lives are in for a major overhaulin'.

Since we don't live near our families, I hope this will help us stay in touch with family and friends more easily. So here's the new spot to find out what's going on with the Wandering Mas's...get it??? Genius right????