Baby Messersmith Update :o)

Thought I would write an update on how my sister is doing.  She is 36 weeks now and measuring at 38.  She was actually measuring at 38 weeks when she was only 34 weeks, so she hasn't grown since then.  She just found out this week that she is breech.  Her head is pretty much hanging out near her rib cage.  So, her doctor gave her some exercises to do to try to get Baby M to flip around.  Tiffany is hoping with all her her gymnastic ability she will know what to do :)  If not, it is likely that she will have a C-section.  Here are some pictures of her room and recent ultrasound pics -- it's so exciting to see her face up close!  My little niece (and mommy's little princess) will be here before we know it!

Her nursery is SO cute.  Gotta love the Hello Kitty princess border.  

We loved Hello Kitty when we were kids!

So precious...

I think she looks like Mommy already, but Tiffany thinks she looks like Daddy.  Guess we'll all find out soon!  Please say a prayer for safe delivery in the upcoming weeks!  She is due on August 12th (Uncle Chris' birthday), but we all have a feeling she'll be entering our world a littler sooner than that. 

As for Tiffany, she is doing pretty well.  Obviously feeling the effects of being 8 months pregnant.  Here is a picture of her with one of her teams during camp.  She's hoping to be able to teach the rest of her camps, but if her little one appears before then, she has it all planned out :)

Love you, sis!  Can't wait to meet your little miracle!

Barkley's Buddy

Last week Cloe took some pictures of Barkley for me when she came to let him out to play.  She got some really great pics!  Her little boy seems to love Barkley.  They love to play with each other and Cameron likes to lean over and give Barkley lots of hugs :)

 

Heading outside to play with my buddy!

 Playing under Cameron's swing set

Catching some shade

Mmm... a bulldog loves a good stick!

Back to the porch (this is where he goes when he is worn out and ready to go inside)

Giving him a treat before heading back to his crate.  Cameron is such a good buddy!  Thanks for the great pics, Cloe!

Hope for the Day

I receive emails on a daily basis from an encouraging website and today I wanted to share because it really enjoyed it.  For my readers who have suffered a loss or know someone who has, I hope you enjoy it too.

Sometimes its so hard to remember life as it was before our

loss.  We try to "get back that feeling", but we can't.  When

the bottom dropped out from below us, we were crushed, and

the healing seems to be an ongoing work, and we forget what life was

really like "before." 

So, we begin to mark the calendar with "firsts."  The first time

since it happened....the first birthday, the first movie, the

first time in church, the first vacation, the first holiday.  And,

every event seems to be shadowed by the darkness of our loss.

We wonder how we are ever going to go on.  Will it get any

better?  Will the heaviness ever lift?  Will laughter ever be

part of life again?

Our loss changes the entire constellation of our lives.  That

fact will never go away.  That is etched into our hearts forever.

But, the edges will soften, and events and people that enrich

and bring love into our lives will bless us so that our loss will

not always take a front seat, but will in time become part of

the tapestry of our lives that will add its own bit of special

beauty that we will wear with special affection forever. 

If your heart feels like it's breaking in two today, remember

with patience and hope that your life will not always feel

this fragmented and broken.  Hope will embrace your heart

and allow love to bless you as joy slowly returns.  -Clara Hinton             

I know, kind of depressing to read, right?  I guess I enjoyed it because one year ago today I found out I was pregnant.  When I look back, it seems hard to remember the joy from that day because my memories are overshadowed by the loss that we suffered.  In fact, I went back and read my original blog to remind myself.  I will never forget that day or seeing Christopher's face.  I will always remember the thoughts going through my mind all day.  I was on cloud nine.  I never knew how much my life would change after that and how my life would depend on faith and hope.  Faith that I would laugh again without feeling bad and hope that we would find that joy again.  And also, love from a God that remains faithful through everything.  I love the last sentence... HOPE will embrace your heart and allow LOVE to bless you as JOY slowly returns.

"..and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us."  --Romans 5:5

Another weekend come and gone

Chris' parents were here over the weekend to visit and help us with some yard work (mulch, tree-trimming, etc).  They were VERY helpful and we managed to get a lot accomplished all in one day since I had to work on Sunday.  Chris' dad brought lots of fish so we had a fish fry at our house on Saturday night.  We had our neighbors over (Lonnie and Cloe) along with Wade, Jess, and the girls.  Lonnie and Cloe have a 2-year-old who is just 2 months younger than Addie.  They were so cute together and even got to practice "sharing" Cameron's cars.  We took some pictures and I think they are just too cute.  They are all adorable, so I had to include them all.

Cutest 2-year-olds in town

Addie checking out Cameron

Addie:  "Hmm... he's not so bad.  Let me get a little closer."

Cameron: "That's enough!  I gotta get outta here!"

 "Enough pictures--back to causing trouble"

Of course I had to include one of B.  He is one of Cameron's buddies.  Cloe lets Barkley out for me at least once a week while i'm at work, so they have become good friends.  Guess I need to get a pic of Cameron and Barkley together next.  He was all tuckered out after a busy weekend, plus he was up most of Friday night because it was storming.  Must be rough being a dog :)

Showered with Love

Last weekend my sister had a baby shower at her studio.  She had a great turn out with around 40 people, and got lots of great gifts for her little one.  Here are some pics.

Double-layer cookie cake from Sam's club = double yum!

 The girls decorating bibs... Tiffany got to pick her favorite

Racing to see who can drink Hawaiian Punch through a bottle the fastest

After the shower we had dinner at our house with our small group.

 Our friend Dwight loves Bulldogs.  I just love this picture because they both look so happy!

Almost too big to hold... but not quite :)