Maternity Pics

My good friend, Hailey, took some maternity pictures for me yesterday. I was blessed to have her do them because she's a great photographer who has her own business, but she did mine for free because she's that sweet. =) The forecast called for sunny weather AND rain, and by the time we were able to get together in the afternoon to have our photo session, the clouds had rolled in causing an overcast, but fortunately, the rain held off until later in the evening. Because we're friends, the photo shoot was really laid back, and we had fun figuring out poses together. She hasn't done many maternity shoots that involved just the Mom. I suppose she was kind of using me for experience, but I was willing. Ha. She has already posted a Sneak Peek on her website, and I'm really looking forward to seeing the rest!

Btw, she is also helping plan my upcoming baby shower. Talk about being awesome! I'm really thankful for friends like her. =)

New Things....

Wow! I can't believe it's been over a year since I've posted anything new on this blog. So much has happened! The biggest news....

November 13, 2011

We found out we were going to be a family of four!

Josh and I talked off and on last year about having another baby, and we were haphazardly trying throughout the summer and into early fall. It wasn't until October though that the reality of turning 30 in 2012 made me serious about getting down to business and being intentional about getting pregnant. Prior to October, there was still some doubt as to whether or not it was a good time for us to get pregnant because we were considering moving and Josh was looking to go back to school. I was never fully committed emotionally and mentally to getting pregnant. But then I realized that as I got older into my 30s, complications during pregnancy and labor would only increase, and it was then that my mind was made up, and I flat out told Josh that we were going to seriously try that month. And we did something that I don't remember doing during those other months. We lifted up our desire for another baby to the Lord. We asked Him to bless us. Now just because we prayed about it didn't necessarily mean that God would allow us to get pregnant the first month we really tried, and I prepared myself for an unsuccessful attempt. But to both of our dismay, we found out the day after Josh's birthday that we were going to become a family of four! I told Josh that was his birthday present. =)

December 7, 2011

We got our first glimpse of our sweet baby.

February 29, 2012

We found out if we were having a boy or girl!

To tell Josh's family the gender of our baby, I enlisted the help of my sister-in-law Abby. I wanted to use a bakery that I found down there in Garland, TX, but I wasn't able to contact them when I went to place my order for the cupcakes. It was kind of shady, but in the end I was glad that I was able to involve Abby. She made cupcakes that included blue and pink fillings, so that when we called to tell her the gender, she could box up the correct ones and head over to Josh's parents house where the grandparents would also be waiting. She even included a cute poem on the outside of the box. I think she did a great job, and I was so thankful for her help! Well, when they bit into the cupcakes, the filling revealed was....PINK! We were going to have another princess! In all honesty, we were very much hoping for a boy since we already have our little princess in Ella, but as always God knows what He's doing. I'm thankful now that Ella will have a little sister to grow up with and share things with. Maybe one day, the Lord will grant us a son, but until then, we are thankful for the blessing of another child.

Norah Jane Lowery

May 30, 2012

When we went to have Norah's 3D ultrasound done, it was amazing to see the resemblance between her and Ella. We could have easily been looking at Ella's 3D ultrasound pictures and video. Norah definitely inherited both of our cheeks as Ella did. I think she's going to be a pretty chubby baby. =) My doctor even said that she thought Norah would exceed the 8lb mark. 0_0 The sonographer said that she thought Norah favored Josh, and I agree with that. People even think that Ella looks more like Josh than me. How ironic would it be if we had a son someday that favored me? Ha. I am in my 37 week, and we are hoping that Norah comes sooner than later. We are so very anxious to meet her! =)

Other than waiting for Norah to arrive, we are waiting to hear from Sanford-Brown College to know whether or not Josh has been accepted into the Cardiovascular Sonography Program. The school is located in Dallas. I'm due July 18, and the start date for his schooling would be August 12 or 13th. I can't quite remember. Josh has politely asked if there was any way for them to notify him sooner than later about whether he's been accepted because of the nature of our situation. We would have to pack up and move and get settled in Dallas before school started. Alas, they have not obliged us. We probably won't find out until the middle of July. They usually like to inform students of their acceptance about a month before the start date. I am very optimistic that he will be accepted, and we have made plans with a moving a company to pack up our things and have it shipped at the end of July, but you never know what God is going to do. If for some reason, he doesn't get accepted...well, we'll cross that bridge when we get there. =)

Ella completed her first year of of preschool at Timberlake Christian Preschool! It was rough at times because she had to adjust socially to interacting with other children, but she has loved going to school to learn, and she has grown so much this year. Other than maturing and getting smarter, she has grown quite a bit vertically as well. It's exciting and difficult at the same time to see our little girl growing out of toddlerhood. She's turning 5 at the end of this year! What?!? Time is flying by, but we are proud of the little lady she has become, and she keeps us on our toes with her inquisitiveness and energetic personality. She truly is a blessing to us!

Ella Austen Lowery

November 4, 2011

Well, that's all for now. Summer has arrived, and we look forward to taking advantage of the warm weather (whenever we have it). Seattle is still unpredictable. As I write, it is raining and dreary outside. Hopefully, the rest of the weekend will be much more sunny! =)