Time is flying!!!

Hello there blogging world. I know it's been a while. Things have been really busy and honestly I haven't taken many pictures that are blog worthy in my opinion. I thought I would give an update on things around here before they get too out of hand and I have this baby!

I am 6 months along now. Time has absolutely FLOWN by with this pregnancy. Maybe it's because we already have a kiddo and he keeps us on our toes, or maybe it's all the things are trying to get completed before he gets here...not sure which. Either way, there is only 3 months left and our 'list of things to do' is still never ending. I am feeling good. Bigger than I was with Aaron, which I expect. The doctor said yesterday that things look great and everything is measuring on target, BP is good, and baby is growing perfectly. I have noticed that since my belly has 'popped' now I am more and more uncomfortable with sleep and when I stay in one position too long things go numb quickly:) I forgot about this particular part...not that fun. Especially when I have a toddler who LOVES to snuggle and doesn't understand my constant rearrangement of positions. Enough complaining right???? I am getting very excited for this new little guy to make his entrance into our lives. I want to see what he looks like, if he will be anything like Aaron in looks or personality. What will life be like for us as a family of 4?

Aaron is now in school full force. He LOVES his school. Sometimes he whines when I drop him off, but no more crying:) He is all smiles when I pick him up! He comes home each week with a new song to sing for us. The older he gets the more we are realizing his love for music and how quickly he seems to be able to learn songs/tunes. He has his first class party next week for Valentine's Day. We had to go buy CARS valentines for the kids in his class yesterday. The biggest reason I started Aaron to school is because I wanted him to get more socialization and gain more confidence in new situations. He is a very sensitive and sometimes insecure kid when we get in larger groups and new situations. I thought putting him in school would help that and I am very thankful to say that it has! Even as early as the second day of school I noticed a difference in his confidence level in little things and it seems to be growing. YAY! We have parent teacher conferences next month and I cannot hardly wait to see what that will be like. Part of me is thinking...my kid is 2yrs old...what on earth will we have to talk about. The other part is so excited to find out what Aaron is like without us around. Of course we think he's the smartest child there ever was!!

I am still working once a week...which I enjoy so much! It's worth the sacrifice we make and sometimes the stress of finding a sitter for a few hours until one of us can get home. I think it makes me a better mom and wife to have my own job that doesn't include being a mamma or wife. Hopefully things will work out for me to work right up until I have this kiddo and then I can return after the summer is over. Other than his work, Mark has been working really hard on the house trying to get things finished that are tedious and that can finish before the warm weather gets here..cuz he'll want to be outside at that point. We just have one horse right now, so he is keeping up with riding and some training as he gets time. I can't wait until I can join him again! He is also working very hard on a project for Team Arequipa. He and some other guys from church/work are building solar panels every Sunday afternoon for their trip in June to Peru. We are praying continually that this will help the people of Arequipa. Mark will be going with this team in June to Arequipa to hopefully see this project come to completion and see our good friends there! I know he is excited to go! I will be so jealous, but busy at home with a newborn and our very active 3 year old.

That's pretty much it for now. Sorry it's so long:) I will post pics of the baby belly soon! Mark is taking me on a surprise V-Day date night tonite so maybe I will remember to get some pictures....maybe!

BIG day!

So today was a big day at the Adams house! Today is Aaron's first day of school..well preschool. He has been looking forward to this day for over a month and woke up this morning telling Mark, Raich, and I that it was his 'first day of cool.' He did great until we drove up to his school...then he cried...hard. It broke my heart to see him crying like that and insecure, but I just hugged him and told him I loved him and I would be back, and then left. I tried hard to not be one of those mom's that calls to check on their kid cuz he's crying, but I couldn't help it. I was very happy to find out that he was playing happily. We'll see what he says when I get him after school!

In other news....I had an ultrasound this morning. Baby looks great and everything looks to be right on target growth and development. ALSO....we found out we are having a BOY!!! Another boy! We couldn't be more excited and can't wait to see his little face in person and not on a computer screen.

7 years!!

Today Mark and I celebrate 7 years of marriage. I CANNOT believe how fast time flies! Aaron woke us up this morning to say "Happy Anniversary!" It was so sweet, even though he didn't really understand what it meant. God has grown Mark and I both as we strive to serve him together. I am so thankful for a man who loves God and is constantly seeking Him no matter where that takes him or us. We are enjoying His blessings so much during this part of our lives and pray that we always remember to bless others. I love my husband so much and can't wait for what the next 7 years has in store for us!!!

Christmas is coming!!!!

Mark is back from Africa. He had a great trip. He was blessed by those who were helped and was able to give to so many. It was tough for us at home, especially since it was over Thanksgiving, but I know this is something that he will remember forever and we were able to be with TONS of family while he was gone so it worked out great. We spent the week in Kentucky and had a great time! Thanks Baba, Jenny, Mom, Dad, and Rachel for helping out SO MUCH! We picked Mark up in Nashville Sunday night very late and haven't slowed down since. I have training for work this week for 2 days and have to work a shift on top of that, Mark is busy catching up at work, upward basketball starts very soon, and I have little to NO shopping done for Christmas...ugh! But....oh well...busy is good. Also...

I am REALLY getting excited about Christmas! I think Aaron is going to be like his Mama when it comes to holiday cheer. We set up our Christmas tree last night, which he LOVED helping with, and he has told me no less than 100 times this morning, "I like our Christmas tree mama!" He also sat on Santa's lap this past weekend It went well...no crying...just VERY serious face the whole time. I guess Santa encounters are very serious to him. He even told him he wanted a train for Christmas. I had no idea that's what he wanted. He always tells me he doesn't know what he wants when we ask him. As soon as the jolly man in the red suit asks, he says he wants a train without hesitation. So now I am on the look out for a cool train.

Happy Halloween 2011

a real pro at trick-or-treating this year

all ready to go

Luke and Aaron

(neither wanted their picture taken)

forced to put his hood on...

note the holding down of the arms by mark

This year we went to the Muse household for trick-or-treating. Our neighborhood isn't exactly made for trick-or-treating...so they were gracious to let us use theirs. It was really fun and Aaron hasn't stopped talking about going trick-or-treating since. He even included that in our prayer tonite at dinner, very thankful to God for letting us go trick-or-treating. I was able to snap a few pictures although it's difficult when your child won't stand still long enough for a good picture or put his hood up on his costume...so I took what I could get. enjoy!

Peru 2011

Well I'm back! I had a blast. After a VERY long stretch of flights, I arrived (and Jeannie too) in Arequipa about 2pm on Friday. Megan had lunch ready and we spent some time playing with the girls, catching up, and resting. The kiddos are adorable and fun! All three have such different personalities(Cohen's still being developed of course). Megan was awesome to show us around the city and give us some really fun Peru experiences....like smashing all 6 of us in a very tiny taxi, visiting the Llama place, dropping Ana off at her school, going to the market, worshiping in Porvenir with the church, and so much more. It was great to get to know Jeannie better, and deepen my friendship with Megan. I will never forget the girl talks/laughs, frappachinos, homemade cookies, and Gilmore Girls marathon every night. It was one of the best trips I have taken. I am so thankful for this opportunity and thankful to God for keeping me safe and bringing me back home to my family! The work in Arequipa is being blessed immensely by God and I pray that continues! It's good to be home with my family...Aaron seems to have changed just in the week I was gone. Mark gets the dad of the year award and my I am permanently indebted to my in-laws ( and everyone else in Melber) for helping out so much. Here are some pictures!!!

Leaving...on a jet plane!

Tomorrow afternoon I will get on a plane by myself (yes you read that right) and make the long journey to Arequipa, Peru. One of my best friends, Megan (and her family) lives there and will be husband-less for a few weeks. So I am headed down for a visit! My excitement almost can't be contained. It's been a long time since I have taken a trip by myself (like almost 7 years). I never imagined I would be able to take a trip like this having a young kiddo...so I will enjoy EVERY minute of it. Of course, for those of you who are thinking..."how can she leave her child?" Believe me, this is not going to be easy. He is so much of my world right now that it's hard to imagine walking away from him and Mark tomorrow afternoon to get on a plane. But something that Mark and I committed to before we had children is that having a child cannot and will not be the only thing that defines us. Right now, the mommy role that I fill takes up the biggest part of my life, and it should. I love it and wouldn't change a thing. It is my biggest ministry right now and I am proud to be blessed by God for that responsibility. Same with being a wife and a nurse. However, those roles should not always limit what I am able to do when opportunities (like this one) come up. Will it be hard to leave, oh yea, there will be many tears. But none the less, something that I believe will be good for all three of us! Sometimes mommies and wives need time away....daddies and little boys too! Granted, not all need to fly to Peru to do that...but you get the idea. A time for me to be a girl that giggles with friends and has time to herself that doesn't involve a 2 year old yelling "mommy!" pulling on my leg, or thinking about what to cook for dinner for several nights in a row, or making sure the laundry is done so Mark has a shirt to wear to work the next day. The break will be welcomed. But I will miss them both terribly! For the first time in over 2 years "mommy" will not be at the forefront of my mind....what will that feel like?

I cannot, repeat, CANNOT believe that I have been given this opportunity. I feel so blessed and grateful beyond measure to several people who are making this possible. Of course Mark is taking on double duty of mommy and daddy while I'm gone, a job I know will not be easy. I love and appreciate him for taking this on! Another big thank you to Papa and Gigi for keeping Aaron most of next week while Mark goes out of town on a business trip! I know you will enjoy your time with my sweet boy, but you will also be WORN OUT! He's a never ending ball of energy. He is so excited to come stay with you all that he probably won't even know I'm gone! I know my mom and dad will be with him every second they can too! There are a few others (you know who you are) that literally made my trip possible. I would not be going with out you. So from the bottom of my heart...THANK YOU!!!! I will enjoy every minute of it and praise God for the opportunity. So...off I go!!! Lots of prayers would be appreciated!