24 Weeks

It is hard for me to imagine I am already six months along! Evy is growing each day and is becoming more and more active, which is an awesome feeling. I look forward each day to those times she is the most active and enjoy that time with her. Chad was able to feel her kick for the first time this past Sunday! What a memorable moment for us. Now he asks about every hour if Evy is moving or kicking because he wants to feel her again. Chad is anxious to begin playing Evy different types of music to see how she responds. Evy is now a little over 12 inches long and weighs almost 1 1/2 pounds. Her taste buds are developing and her lungs are becoming more developed. I am feeling great (other than allergies), but I am beginning to have days here and there when my belly feels tight and uncomfortable. But, that just lets me know Evy is growing!

Letters To God

A few nights ago Chad and I were finally able to go see The Blind Side. One of the previews was of Letters To God. This looks like such a sweet movie and I can only hope we get to see it when it comes out in theaters (it comes out in April...the same time as Evy). Pause my playlist before playing the trailer...

Merry Christmas

We Love You!

Chad & Stephanie

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

I love, love, love Christmas. I look forward to celebrating Christmas all year long and get a little depressed when the holiday is over. There are so many traditions from my childhood that I love and still try to keep going now as an adult. I love decorating the house, inside and out, and begin this process the day after Thanksgiving. Last night I completed the finishing touches and I just love how simple, yet festive, our decorations are this year.

I bought new ornaments (shatter proof!) for our tree and I absolutely love the fun colors. I have a glittery ribbon for the top of the tree and hope to have a bow made this weekend.

Here is our mantle. We've had the same stockings since we got married. But, since Evy will be joining our family we will get new stockings for next year. The little stocking is for our first child, our very elderly dog.

Chad's grandma gave us this lighted church several years ago and I love it! We keep it turned on all month. It is so special to us since it was his grandma's before she passed it on to us. My mom gave us this nativity set several years ago. It is another special item I look forward to having out for Christmas because it was a gift from my parents. And, of course, I thought Evy needed a Christmas tree in her room. We went to WalMart and found this cute little tree and the pink and silver ornaments. I think it is so cute and can't wait to add to the ornaments each year as Evy grows up. And, can you believe it??? It's got pink on it!!! Pink is growing on me :) I visited with one of my adoptive families tonight and they made this banner for me. I love it and think it looks great in our living room. Thanks Jeff and Amy! The final touch I have made is this wreath for our front door. I have struggled with finding the perfect wreath that fits our personalities so I decided I would make one. Chad and I bought the supplies last night and I painted the "D" and added it to the wreath along with the bow. I love the way it looks and thinks it fits us perfectly! And, making this wreath was cheaper than buying a pre-made one.

Chad and I are already looking forward to next year and celebrating the Christmas holiday with Evy. We have been talking a lot about the traditions from our childhoods that we hope to continue with our children, as well as new traditions we want to instill. We hope and pray you and your family have a wonderful Christmas and that your focus will be on the true meaning of this holiday!

22 Weeks

I don't know if I look much different from last week, but I am feeling more different. My stomach is much tighter as Evy is growing. It amazes me what the body can do when growing a baby. Evy is now 14 ounces and about 10 inches long. Her eyelids and eyebrows are developed and her fingernails are visible. It is hard to imagine she still has 5-7 pounds to grow before she is born. Her movements are becoming more noticeable and I can pretty much plan on her being active at least 3 times a day...lunch time, dinner time, and bed time. And, of course, when I eat Dove chocolate! The time is flying by so I am still trying to savor every bit of this pregnancy.

7 Years!

Chad and I have been together for 11 years and have been married 7 years today! It is hard for me to imagine we've been married 7 years. Time flies when you're having fun! When Chad and I were planning our wedding, he really wanted "our song" to be our wedding song as well. This song is one that continues to be "our song" and reminds us of our love and commitment to each other and to God.

Take My Hand Between Thieves

Take my hand and walk with me a while. It gets so hard to face another mile. Days become weary without you by my side. But in your loving arms there’s a place to hide. Take my hand take my hand and walk with me a while. The faithful work of two will not be in vein. And if I start to fall you’ll pick me up again. If we walk together we are safe from harm. And when we are together you will keep me warm. Take my hand take my hand and walk with me a while. In our Savior’s grasp love has security. The world, our world cannot break this precious cord of three. Take my hand take my hand and walk with me a while. Take my hand take my hand and walk with me a while. Take my hand take my hand and walk with me a while. Take my hand take my hand and walk with me a while.

Chad, I love you more than words can say. You are an amazing husband to me and I cherish your love. I am so blessed to have you in my life and am looking forward to the next 50+ years with you. Since we are celebrating 7 years...here are 7 reasons why I love you: 1. You support me and encourage me in life 2. You take care of me and serve me, even though I don't deserve it 3. Your childlike heart 4. Your desire to be a great father to your little Evy 5. You can always make me laugh 6. You put up with my always changing moods 7. You work hard to support our family

I love you so much!

The hospital Chad works for puts on a Christmas celebration for the patients and their families and the employees of the hospital and their families. There is a tree lighting, Santa, hot cocoa and cookies, and an amazing fireworks show that is synced to Christmas music. This year Chad's family joined us. It was pretty chilly out, but we were able to find an outdoor heater to stand under. When the fireworks started, our niece, Mallory, was amazed; however, there were some big booms that startled her.

Mallory & Uncle Chad

Mallory & Me

The Davis Family

Me & Chad

After the party we went to Razoos to eat dinner...Alligators beware, Mallory is on the hunt!!!

We can't wait to have Evy and my family join us next year for this fun night.

Evy's Favorite Christmas Song

Last night Chad and I joined my parents and the senior adults from their church for "Johnnie High's Country Christmas Revue" in Arlington. Once the show began Evy started moving and kicking. This was at the time in the evening Evy is active so I didn't think much about it. But, once the cast sang "Boogie Woogie Cho Cho Train" Evy started movin' and shakin' the entire song! I don't care for the song, and Evy and I have listened to all my favorite Christmas songs this year; but, for some reason, she went nuts dancing to this song! This was the only video I could find for the song...but it's pretty entertaining (turn off my playlist before starting the video)

Evy's Nursery

Ever since we found out we were having a girl my mind has been racing with ideas for Evy's nursery. After several weeks of picturing different ideas, I think I have finally settled on how her nursery will look. A couple of months ago my mom and I looked at fabric for the crib bedding and picked out an option for a girl and boy. The room we are using for the nursery is already painted a green color so we had to find fabrics that would match the walls (because we do NOT want to have to repaint that room!). If you know me well, you know I hate the color pink! I don't wear pink or use anything that is pink. So who would have guessed these are the colors of the nursery. Although I'd like to say it is salmon...not pink! Below are the three fabrics for Evy's bedding...and I just love them!

The following picture is my inspiration of how I want Evy's bedding to look like with the 3 fabrics above.

My mom will be making the quilt, bumper pad, dust ruffle, and curtain. We will use a coordinating ribbon as ties for the bumper pad.

And these pictures show the styles of the crib we are looking at buying. We haven't fully decided which style, although they are all pretty similar, but will make that decision in the next couple of weeks.

This one (above) is my favorite...and probably the one we decide to use

At the beginning of this year Chad and I found this rocking horse at a garage sale for $3. I just had to have it and could picture exactly how it would look if I redid the paint. The week of Thanksgiving my mom and I worked for 2 days tearing off the carpet seat, stripping off the paint and face, and staining the horse. I love the way it turned out and I know it will go great in Evy's room.

before

AFTER!

I have also purchased this little lamp for Evy's room. It will make a great night light!

And finally, I am ordering these blocks for Evy. The lady customizes the colors to those of the nursery and one side of them will spell out "Evy Lynn". I've had my eyes on these blocks for months and months and was just waiting to finalize all the details before placing the order.

We can't wait to begin pulling all these things together for Evy. I will definitely post pictures of the nursery when it is complete...which will be in a couple of months.

21 Weeks!

As I type out "21 weeks" it is hard for me to wrap my mind around the fact I am half way through this pregnancy! Over the past two weeks my baby bump has really popped so it is more obvious I am pregnant. Chad comments on my growing belly every day and I think seeing my body change is making the pregnancy more real to him. We are going to begin taking a picture every week to see how much my body changes throughout the remainder of the pregnancy. So, here I am at 21 weeks... Evy is about 8 1/2 inches long and weighs approximately 12 ounces. She is becoming more and more active. Currently Evy is active for about 10 minutes around lunch time and is then active from about 8:30-10:00 every night. The other day I ate several pieces of Dove chocolate and a short time later it felt as though Evy was turning circles. She must love her Dove chocolate as much as her momma does!