Weeklong Update

Sorry for the looooong time between posts. So much has happened in the past two weeks that it's been a bit of a blur. I'm going to attempt to recall everything. I don't think I'll be able to string together coherent sentences...so here goes an update in bulleted format (in no certain order)!

• The Iron Sharpens Iron Conference was a great success. We were blessed by beautiful weather (since Emmaus is not air-conditioned, this is always a major praise!) and very few problems. I had a great assistant in my friend Kimmie. She has such a servant's heart; she will literally do anything I ask her to do. I love the hustle and bustle of the conference so it was exciting for me to be involved once again. This was my fourth year of working at ISI and I enjoy it more every year!
  
• The funeral for my friend, Melsie, was beautiful. I think Mels would have given her seal of approval while at the same time lecturing everyone for making such a fuss! I truly miss Melsie and have reflected on her influence in my life quite a bit since her passing. I have so many wonderful memories of Mels. It still doesn't seem like she's gone.
  
• I did make it back to Atlantic for a quick weekend visit while in Iowa. I got plenty of playtime in with Addie and Reese, but not much time with Gracie since the poor little thing was sick. I don't even have an updated picture of her! And of course, what would a trip to Atlantic be without some time with Uncle Jeff Jeff. Between Aunt Angie and Uncle Jeff Jeff, the girls have plenty of playmates to boss around. We prefer to play outside and eating popsicles is an important tradition.
• While on my way back to Atlantic, I met my childhood friend, Jen, at Starbucks for a quick visit. We went to grade school together and we are both pregnant for the first time and due only a week apart. Oh, and we are both having boys! It was fun to see Jen and to catch up while also comparing pregnancy stories. I am kicking myself for not taking a picture! Duh!
• Of course, I can't forget to mention the amazing baby shower that was thrown for me by my friends, hosted by Grace and held at the home of Jan Murray. Linda, Sherri, Kati, Jenna, Grace, and Jan brought all my favorite foods - it was a smorgasbord of yummies, what I might imagine a banqueting table in heaven might look like! I think we counted about 30 ladies that attended. I was overwhelmed and so thankful for their generosity. The open house format was a great idea; it was more casual and I was able to chat with all the ladies that came. The theme was "go green" which meant everyone brought a gift that was unwrapped, so I could see everything as it arrived. It was so much fun. I honestly couldn't believe all the great stuff we received. I better get working on those thank you notes!
• Jason arrived for the ISI conference and brought his friends Lee and Louie, and Louie's son Jairus. All had a great time and enjoyed the conference. I was sooooo glad to see my hubby after nine days apart.
• The first order of business after returning from Iowa was my three hour glucose test. Being poked with a needle four different times (on my hands, which hurts worse, since they can never find the veins in my arms!) on an empty stomach (they make you fast) was not my idea of fun, but I found out this morning that the test came back normal. Praise the Lord for that! I am still going in to the doctor this afternoon so they can check out my blood pressure after my ankles and feet have started swelling. I thought it was because of working on my feet during the conference, but it hasn't gone down since then.
  
• Jason and I are going away this weekend - to Cincinnati. We are actually really excited to get away even though neither of us has spent much time at home lately! We are celebrating our one year anniversary which we can hardly believe is here already. My parents will be visiting us over our actual anniversary date (June 9) so we decided to celebrate early. We are spending one night with friends and one night at the Hilton downtown. We are taking in a Reds game, the Creation Museum, and the Newport Aquarium. My weekend update probably won't show up until Monday because I anticipate we won't be back until late Sunday night. But I'll have plenty of pictures to share from our weekend!

WHEW. That was a lot of info to recall. I am sure I will think of something else I missed. Here are way too many photos to round out this already-too-long post!

Addie and Reese enjoying their popsicles. They taught us that if you say please, Grandma lets you have another one!

Jason and Louie on the Mississippi River

Louie and Lee

Louie and Jairus

Here are the shower pics, in no particular order!

Zach Mathew trying out Brady's new bumbo seat

Me with Linda and AmandaWith Kati and JennaWith Grace and SherriWith JanLots of fun and eating!A sweet tag written by Nathan SanchezSome of Brady's new duds - what a handsome dresser he'll be!I loved this tag from Cyndi Davis's presentKati looking cute - and due in November with one of Brady's future buddies!Me and Amanda - I used to be able to carry her on my hip. Sigh...am I old? or is she?
The food. YUM.Trying to pack everything up - both those bags are chock full of clothes and other goodies! Notice Jason's camo diaper bag that he picked out and registered for - it was purchased for him by Andrew, Brandon, and Caleb Johnson. Hilarious!And Mama makes it home to Ohio - and tries to deswell her ankles (no such luck!)

Time Warp

I am really out of it, aren't I? Is it really almost June? Have we really almost been married a year? Do I really only have 73 days left until I meet my son?

I just got home yesterday from my two weeks in Dubuque. I hope to post an update tomorrow (or maybe the next day...) with pictures!

In lieu of a weekend update

Melsie Glock passed away this weekend. She was a loving friend, mentor, second mom, hilarious, godly, classy lady...I could go on and on! She will be missed by many. I am thankful to be in Dubuque during this time so I can attend her funeral. She taught me so much. My last text message from her will be treasured. I was eating Chips Ahoy cookies which are her favorite. I texted her "I am eating Chips Ahoy and thinking of you" and she texted back immediately, "They are the best. Love you." It's silly, but I am thankful to have that memory. She also gave me an adorable outfit for Brady at my baby shower. That outfit will be cherished.

Last night everyone gathered at the Glock house. It was weird to be there without Melsie sitting at the stool behind the counter chatting with everyone and organizing everything.

Thanks, Melsie, for everything. Jason and I are thankful for your influence in our lives. We have so many memories. We will miss your smiling face, encouragement, advice, and of course, your gummy bears. Can't wait to see you again someday, I am sure you are living in the biggest mansion and wearing the most sparkling crown! We love you! We promise to "keep on keeping on!"

Third Trimester

Today is the first day of my third trimester!
Only a few short months left!

My first baby shower was a wonderful time - I will post pictures during the weekend update! Until then, I have to get back to work!

Results

We have an explanation for Brady the Monster. My results came back from the glucose test and it was "higher than they'd like it to be"...so, those of you who have had babies recently are familiar with the next step. I have to have the three hour glucose test the day after I get back from Iowa - bummer! This will determine if I actually have gestational diabetes or if I just need to watch my sugars.

In the meantime I have to increase my protein and veggies while watching my sugars and carbs. So far I've watched sugars and carbs go right into my mouth. I suppose I'll have to watch them go into someone else's mouth for awhile! No more oreos.

My trip to Iowa has been great - it's always great to see my friends and it feels good to be in an office again (I realize that I have an office at home - but I wear my pajamas to that office!) I miss my hubby, of course, but it will be just over a week before I see him again!

Canceled Flight (aka Weekend Update)

Brady the monster and I are supposed to be on our way to Dubuque tonight but our flight from Cleveland to Chicago was canceled. (By the way, did you know that "canceled" is only spelled with one l? I thought it was two but my spell check tells me otherwise...that's probably not important). So, I am booked on tomorrow night's flight. I will be in Dubuque until the 26th for the Iron Sharpens Iron conference at Emmaus. This conference is what I spend a majority of the year planning. While I am there I get to enjoy time with friends, a visit to my family, and a baby shower - my first one! Oh, and work...lots and lots of work. Jason is coming for the conference, but we will spend 10 days apart before we see each other. With this canceled flight we've been reduced to only 9 days apart - it feels better to be out of the double digits.

My first Mother's Day is one to be remembered, for sure. My dear husband gave me the diaper bag that I've had my eye on since the first trimester. I never thought I'd see the day when a diaper bag made my heart go pitter patter. To my delight, I received three cards in the mail yesterday (from my mom, from Carol Tate, and from Cass Morgan) and Cass sent a book for little Brady as well! Thank you for thinking of me, ladies! I also received a card from Brady but I think Daddy might have bought that one. Just a hunch.

Here's a photo of my bag. Hello, gorgeous.
Can be found at Babies R' Us...

Now Jason and I are a little unsure of what to do with the rest of our day, since we were literally walking out the door when we found out about the cancellation (now that has two l's...go figure!). In fact, the heavier of my suitcases is still out in the car and there is no indication from my dear husband that I'll be getting it back soon!

For those of you who didn't catch my last post...keep reading about Brady the monster.

Happy Mother's Day to my mom, my mom-in-law, my grandmas, and all my mommy girlfriends. Love to you ALL...thanks for being amazing examples of the sacrificial love of a mother. I am thankful for your influence and hope to be half the mommy that you all are! You've set the bar pretty high!

I'm going to be one of THOSE women...

one of those Amazon women who give birth to 16 pound babies!

We had our ultrasound today and found out everything is fine, except our baby is HUGE. A monster, as Jason says. He's 89th percentile for weight and currently weighs about 4.5 pounds. YIKES! He's supposed to be right around only 2 pounds right now! I've put on a total of nine pounds of weight, which I now find out that half of that is Brady weight. I knew he was stealing my oreos!

I also had my glucose test today. If that comes back high, that may explain why Brady is so big. But otherwise the explanation is just that he's big. Our future linebacker.

This may explain why his movements have always been so bruising. I never felt that first "flutter" of movement ("it feels like a butterfly" is what someone in my Bible study said). Nope, all I felt was BOOM BOOM BOOM!

So, good news is that all is well. Bad news is that I am going to give birth to a bruising monster linebacker. Please pray for me.

(Those cute little newborn diapers are going back to Target. I have a feeling he won't fit into them!)

My irrational fear

A few weeks ago, I confessed to a little boy at church that my biggest fear was sharks. Tonight we went to his family's house for dinner and afterwards he drew me this picture. I'm not sure if I should be flattered - he did draw the picture for me...but that is a shark eating ME...and another one eating my BABY. I couldn't help it, I laughed. But I think I'll keep little Samuel away from Baby Brady. :)

Weekend Update

Brought to you in bulleted format!

• We sold our house! It was bittersweet for me - sweet to be out from under the burden, for sure. But my thoughts also drifted to the day I signed the papers and moved in, feeling independent and so grown up (with my parents help, of course! ha!). I painted and decorated it just how I wanted it. I loved having groups of students and friends over. I thought of the day that Jason and I got back from our honeymoon and unpacked all the wedding gifts and put them away in their places. It was our first home and it definitely registers on the sentimental value scale...but I digress. I am truly thankful that it is gone!
  
• We celebrated on Friday night with dinner and a movie. We also visited a few furniture stores as we are shopping around for a rocker recliner that will serve as Jason's napping spot and Brady's dining room (hopefully I don't need to explain that).
• Saturday was spent catching up on work around the house and running errands. Jason did so many loads of laundry that he lost count. He is the best husband.
• After almost 11 months of marriage, things changed dramatically for us on Saturday night as we made the earth-shattering decision to switch sides of the bed. Jason now sleeps on the right and I sleep on the left. We take our sleep seriously and this was a big decision for us...ha, ha, ha!
• This morning Jason preached at Westlake Bible Fellowship, which is about an hour from Akron. He did a terrific job; he is a really gifted speaker. I know I have said that before. But it is true :)
  
• We made the mistake of going to Wal-Mart tonight. There is a truly terrible Wal-Mart in our area of town. We were looking for new rugs for Jason's bathroom and thought we'd just check. MISTAKE. Let's just say we almost ran for the door. We made a pledge to each other never to stray from Target again, unless we are in Atlantic, where Wal-Mart is nice, not scary! On our way out of the parking lot we saw a very pregnant woman light up her cigarette and take a long drag. Grrrrrrrrrr!
• I don't want to end on a rant, so here is a happy picture of us from last weekend's Haven of Rest banquet. :) If I look a little sweaty, it's because I was sweaty.
• Our baby item of the week is a pack of newborn diapers. My mom informed me that I probably should start getting really practical and have diapers be the baby item of the week every once in awhile. So, we bought our first pack of many tonight. We both did a double take at the cost - it sure seems like a lot of money for something they poop in! But I suppose we will get over that with time.
• And now I must get back to the Cubs/Cards game. It's tied and requires my full attention.
  

Love to All!
Jason, Angie, and Baby Brady :)

Indians vs. Yankees

Brady's first baseball game

mmmmm...Ballpark Nachos

yum yum yum

Alex Rodriguez - the reason I was excited to see this game!