Advice for a Mom-to-Be

Ok, this is a question on practicality for all you Mom's out there!

I'm looking at the following crib bedding for Becca - (which, by the way, I'm absolutely in love with):




So here's my question: Do you need the 'comforter' that comes with the set?

I'm thinking it's too bulky to actually use in the crib with the baby, so why buy it? Right????

Feel free to give me any advice/suggestions you have about crib bedding - or anything else you think we might need to know in order to successfully raise this child.

Remember, we have no idea what we're doing:)

firsts & lasts

This was the first Christmas we were able to have everyone over to our house....our new house!




It also marked the first Christmas in which I was pregnant (although I assure you no pickles or ice cream were served today).


This Christmas also marked some lasts - the last Christmas that JP and I will spend as a family of two - God willing.


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To quickly summarize our day,
we had lots of presents to open:)

Becca really racked up.

She even got these precious onesies from her Daddy! It absolutely melts my heart to see how in love with her he already is.

Jack even got in on the present opening.


Oh, and let's not forget the finger painting with Blakley:)

But most importantly, we got to spend the day with most of our family.

(We did Christmas Eve with my family - but I didn't get any pictures)

So, yet another Christmas has come and gone. We look forward to 2010 and the arrival of our Becca:)

I hope you and your family had a wonderful Christmas filled with family, food, & lots of love.

Where has the time gone?

Ok, so once again I'm beginning this post with an apology - an apology for not keeping the blog updated (at least not much over the past 6 weeks)! So, I'm going to try my best to give a quick update about what the 3 of us have been up to!

15 weeks:

I was in a car accident on the way to work one morning. I was rear-ended on the interstate and then pushed into the car in front of me and the concrete median. I wasn't hurt - just scared for the baby. After spending all day in the ER and then labor & delivery, we found out that BP was fine:)



16 weeks:

This was a big week for us because we found out that we were having a little girl:)

We weren't supposed to find out the gender of BP until our 21 week ultrasound at the doctors office, however, we couldn't wait so we went to Wee See.
Our little angel wasn't being very cooperative that day, and after 25 minutes, she finally decided to uncross her ankles so we could tell she was a little girl:)
Here are some of the ultrasound pictures from that day:

After our appointment at Wee See, we went straight to the hospital to visit the newest member of the Eleazer family - Baby Hayes.

We actually went to the hospital that morning before our appointment, but Hayes waited until about 5 minutes after we left to make his big debut!

18 weeks:

JP was getting ready to leave for his hunting trip to Kansas, so we decided to put up the tree so I could enjoy it while he was gone!

Please ignore the crooked star at the top - I would love to say that it's now fixed, but it's not. It's still sitting atop our tree, leaning a little to the left.

19 weeks:

This was a VERY long week for me. JP was gone for 9 days, and let's just say I did not enjoy my time alone. I HATE being home alone, so this was very challenging for me.

He was gone over Thanksgiving and we (Grace and I) missed him very much:(

20 weeks:

JP made it home safely and we finally finished decorating the house.

This year we had a lot of fun decorating because it's the first year we've really been able to decorate.

So, BP finally has a name - well, a first name.

Our sweet baby's name is Rebecca, but we will call her Becca. She will be named after my Grandma whom I love dearly.

Here is her stocking that hangs with the other 4 on the mantel.

And I couldn't post about our Christmas decorations without a picture of my JP, up on the roof, hanging the lights on the outside of the house.

Oh, and did I mention these lights happen to be colored icicle lights with colored lights wrapped around the banister on the front porch.

I plan to post pics soon of the outside - it was just way too cold to go out and take a picture tonight:)

21 weeks:

And here we are, finally up to date! This was another big week for us because we got to see our sweet girl again.

I am still amazed that this wonderful, perfect baby girl is growing inside of me. I feel her move ALL of the time and it makes me smile. Here are some pictures of our ultrasound from yesterday:

She was much more cooperative this time - obviously!

Her sweet profile:)

And, we got to see what she actually looks like with the 4D ultrasound.

And last, but not least, here are some belly shots I took tonight. Yes, I've gotten rather large and yes I'm in my pajama's, but you get the point!

Oh, one more thing! We are still trying to decide on a middle name for Becca. We've narrowed it down to two:

Ansleigh

and

Kyleigh

Please feel free to let us know which name you like best. I've got to start getting this little girl's stuff monogrammed:)

Much love to you all,

Amanda & JP

18 Weeks

Miraculous, Magnificent - A little girl named Morgan Kate

November is prematurity awareness month, and a year ago, I did not know anything about prematurity, much less that there is a whole month dedicated to it!

Through one amazing little girl by the name of Morgan Kate, I have had the opportunity to learn a little bit about premature babies.

Morgan Kate is the 1 year old daughter of our friends Travis and Heather. Last August, Heather delivered MK at just 25 weeks and 4 days. While the past year has been a lot of hard work for all 3 of them, they have made it through and have an incredible story they so generously share with all of us.

When I thought about what I would write today, I realized that there was no way I could put into words what Travis, Heather, and MK have been through. I myself cannot understand it.

But there are some things I do know:

* MK is an angel, put on this Earth to teach us all about what's really important in life.

* Faith and trust in God can get you through anything.

* God has a purpose in all that He does - even if we can't always see that reason at the time.

* Never underestimate anyone, no matter their size.

* The best things really do come in small packages:)

To MK,

You are such an amazing little girl and I have enjoyed watching you grow over this past year. You never cease to amaze me. From the first time I saw you lying in your isolette in the NICU, I knew you were special. I just didn't realize at the time how much you were going to teach me about faith, love, and determination. I am so proud of you sweet girl - I can't wait to watch the wonderful young lady I know you will become.

'Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.'

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

If you'd like to read more of MK's story, click here.

MK the day she was born.

A happy, healthy MK today!

The much anticipated news...

It's






a







Girl!!!

Boy or Girl?

No, we do not know the answer to that question yet (although JP will assure you that this baby is a girl)!
We will however find out this Saturday - providing the baby cooperates:)


So, it's time to vote.


One of the pages in my baby book one of my THREE baby books












...has a place for you to write down who thinks the baby is a girl and who thinks it's a boy.




I'd like to include as many of our family and friends on these pages as possible. So, here's your task:
1) Leave a comment at the end of this post
2) Tell us whether you think BP is a girl or boy
3) Make sure you include your name (if your post comes up anonymous)

That's it! Very easy!
And we'll reveal the results this weekend after our appointment.

So, here's one last look at my belly before you vote:)







I can't wait to hear what everyone thinks (because I truly have NO idea!)

Happy Fall Y'all

October has been a great month and it's hard to believe that it's almost over! Here are some pictures from the month.
And make sure you read all the way to the end for the big announcement!

We carved pumpkins (for the first time in years) with Lala and Jason!


Note the Dutch Fork sweatshirt I am wearing:) I borrowed it from Lala - JP was not happy!

Here are the products of our hard work! Feel free to tell us which pumpkin you like the best.


Lala & Jason's pumpkin



My pumpkin - yes, I'm well aware the he looks 'special' as Bubba put it.




And finally, JP's pumpkin. He was very proud of himself!


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I've also had the opportunity to visit more with Baby Abby. She gets more beautiful every time I see her.

On this particular visit she got to wear her outfit I bought her:)




I know it's hard to read what's on the outfit, so I'll help you out.

This sweet outfit says:


Who wouldn't love this sweet thing?



And last, but not least, a new belly shot. Here we are at 15 weeks.
NOTE: This picture was changed this morning because I looked absolutely enormous in the one we took last night!


So, here's the big announcement:

Next Saturday, Nov. 7th, JP and I will find out the sex of BP!

Let me explain - since we will not have our next ultrasound with our doctor until I'm 21 weeks, we decided to cheat a little.
There is a place in Columbia called Wee See which is a facility where you can go to have ultrasounds performed. Here we can go at 16 weeks and find out whether BP is a little girl or little boy. Our friends Lindsay and Callahan did this a couple of months ago and were able to find out 4 weeks early that they were expecting a girl.
We are beyond excited that we'll know the sex in a week and a half.

Make sure you check the blog next week because I'm going to have a poll for everyone to cast their vote as to whether they think I'm having a girl or boy:)

I hope everyone has a very happy halloween!

God's Miracles

So much good news to share!


First, my friend Lindsey (Paschal) Mobley and her husband Brian welcomed their daughter Addison Mae Mobley into the world on September 12th. Congrats guys:) I can't wait to love on her!!!

Then, on Friday, our friends Lindsay and Callahan welcomed their sweet little girl into the world. Abby Mills Morden weighed in at 8lbs 5oz and both Mommy and baby are doing great.

I got to meet her last night and love on her! Oh, how I love snuggling a baby!

JP even held her (despite his fear of a fire drill!) That's a story I'll share another day:)

And finally, the long awaited ultrasound pictures.

The ultrasound tech said everything looked great - she also shared with us that this baby is measuring big. Great! Just what the pregnant woman wants to hear!

I am constantly amazed that their is a baby inside me - growing.

I got an email the other day that made me really stop and think about how amazing pregnancy is. It was written by Erma Bombeck after she was diagnosed with cancer. She was writing about all of the things in life she would have done differently, and one of the things she wrote about was pregnancy. She said this:

"Instead of wishing away 9 months of pregnancy, I'd have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was my only chance in life to assist God in a miracle."