Our 1st Anniversary

We celebrated our one year anniversary about a week and a half ago! While it didn't go exactly how we thought, it was sweet nonetheless. We were in SC to see friends and family. The night before our anniversary I began have contractions around 8:00 pm and they continued to stay relatively strong and regular throughout the night.  I didn't go to sleep, as I was trying to keep track of how far apart they were.  Lanie stayed up with me almost all night, keeping me company and keeping me calm and happy. Therefore we unexpectedly started enjoying our anniversary together as soon as it began at midnight :)

We ended up going to the hospital around 7am because the contractions hadn't let up and had been 2-7 minutes apart for a couple hours and I felt like I had to go in to make sure I wasn't actually in labor.  And although we were exhausted and that's not where we wanted to spend the morning, we made the best of it.  While I was being monitored, we got to hear our little boy's heartbeat for over 3 hours and hear all the swooshing movements he was making.  We loved that part.  The entire time we were there, I was reminded how blessed I am to be married to Lanie.  He was so sweet, encouraging, and hilarious the entire time.  He kept me calm and laughing all the while being hooked up to machines and fluids that made me feel super uncomfortable.  After a few hours, my contractions spread out and the let me go home.

Our romantic anniversary :)

We got to eat lunch with my fam quickly and then headed back to Knoxville.  I was anxious to get back, not be on the road, and be back near my doctor.  Thankfully, I didn't have many contractions on the way home.  Once we got home we got to relax, exchange gifts, and eat the top of our wedding cake :)  It was great.

Speaking of gifts, Lan got me the best gift. When we were first reintroduced in 2010, we both had blackberry phones and our primary source of communication those first couple month was via blackberry messenger...as in throughout the day, every day.  Long story short, neither of us have had those phones for a long time and I assumed all of those conversations were lost.  However, Lan had saved all of our conversations since the very first one. He had them all bound into a hardcover book, a 160 page book.  I cried, then laughed A LOT as I read through our interactions with each other.  I am so thankful that we will forever have those first bits of communication that would lead to our marriage.

I could not be more thankful to be Mrs. Lanie Britton.  I am a million times more thankful today than I was on our wedding day.  Our first year of marriage was just blissful. I know every season of life won't be as sweet or easy or fun but I'm so glad our first year has been just that. He has made an effort every single day to make me feel loved, cherished and appreciated. I couldn't have dreamed up a man better suited for me.   The Lord sure is good. So incredibly good.

32 weeks

This pic is from 30 weeks, I need to take another one soon...and I also need to post about our trip to Hilton Head and my sweet shower in Columbia!

How far along: 32 weeks and 1 days

Size of baby: We don't really know, but possibly about 18 inches and 4.5 lbs!

Total weight gain:  +25 lbs, and I just keep growing!

Movements: He is still moving around a lot and I am still loving it.  I hear he will be running out of room here pretty soon so I may not feel him quite as much.

What I miss:  just feeling normal, physically...but I really don't want to wish away the remaining weeks of pregnancy.

Cravings: still mostly chocolate...and I'm pretty much always in the mood for a cheeseburger

Symptoms: still backaches, braxton hicks contractions, heartburn, general discomfort from carrying all this weight in my belly!

Best moments of the Week:  Yesterday being Father's Day was really sweet.  I ended up getting Lan a backpack diaper bag (he wanted one) and I wrote him a lil letter from the perspective of our son.  It was just neat being able to celebrate for the first time the dad he is and is going to be.  Our little boy is so incredibly blessed to have him as a father.  If we can raise him to be half the man Lanie is, we'll have done a good job!  I can't wait to see them together and see the relationship that they will develop.  This is a sweet, sweet season.

29 1/2 weeks :)

How far along: 29 weeks and 3 days!

Size of baby: Approximately 17 inches long and a little over 3 lbs!

Total weight gain:  +20 lbs, my belly is feeling heavy most of the time

Movements: He's becoming more and more squirmy.  I now can feel and watch his little body move around within me.  I love it SO much. Lan loves to feel him move around too.

What I miss:  not having back pain, sleeping comfortably

Cravings: Nothing weird...still liking chocolate at most hours of the day

Symptoms: Large belly=back pains  Also, I'm still having Braxton Hicks contractions.  Some days I have a whole lot some days just a few here and there.  The doctor checks me every time I go in to make sure they aren't causing any changes and so far so good!

Best moments of the Week:  I just love the evenings being home with Lan...especially when little boy is super active. We our savoring our time together before he comes but love him so much and love thinking about what it will be like once he arrives!  We still haven't decided on a name but I think we're getting a little closer!

A Knoxville Shower :)

This past weekend, some dear ladies threw me a shower here in Knoxville. Danielle even came down from Ohio for the weekend, which was beyond fun. The shower was so lovely and just so sweet that so many women chose to come celebrate our little boy.  My friend Laura was the sweetest in wanting to throw the shower and my other sweet friend Shelley offered  her beautiful home. They made it such a special time.  The food was delicious, I received wonderful gifts, ladies prayed for our little man and then decorated lots of bibs and onesies :)

The beautiful hostesses

the decorated onesies...yes that's a TI calculator :)

I am so thankful for the friends and community God has provided here in Knoxville.  It is very humbling.  I know our little guy is already dearly loved and cared for.  There are many people, including his mommy and daddy, that are thrilled that he will be arriving soon :)

love her

sweet mother  in-love and sister -in-love

sweet friends

26 Weeks. Time is flying!

How far along: 26 weeks 2 days
Baby updates: Baby Boy is about 15 inches and probably about 2 lbs! He has doubled in weight over the past 4 weeks!  He can now recognize mine and Lanie's voices.  How sweet.
Momma updates:  I'm still feeling well.  I had lots of Braxton Hicks contractions last week and had to go see the doctor but thankfully nothing is happening.   I seem to be having less so far this week and I am thankful.  They don't really hurt but are just uncomfortable and a little disconcerting when I have so many. 
Things I miss: Sleeping comfortably and not getting up 5 times a night to go to the restroom.
Cravings: Nothing too specific...there have been a few days when I've really wanted a cheeseburger..and always chocolate.
Weight:  +17lbs! And that was last week.  I seem to be growing exponentially.  I was asked this past weekend if I was sure there aren't 2 boys in there. So no more little pregnant belly for me.
Best moments of the week:  My sister in law, Mariruth got married on Saturday!  That was a sweet time even through all the rain! Also continuing to feel my boy move around is just my favorite thing.  Its hard to believe that his due date is in less than 14 weeks! Can not WAIT to meet him.

The Brittons with the Van Hals :)

Oh Babies!

We are blessed with a great community of believers that live close by to us here in Fountain City.  There are 8 families total that get together every Thursday night for dinner.  Before a couple weeks ago, 6 out of the 8 of us were pregnant! I'm not sure, but I think we must have all drank something at the same time :).  Allison had her sweet baby girl Blair a couple weeks ago, so one down, 5 to go!  I am very thankful for these women (and the others who aren't pregnant).  They have made me feel super welcomed here in Knoxville and they are for sure a gift from the Lord.  One of them, Lori, happens to be an amazing photographer and had the brilliant idea of documenting this very pregnant and newborn season of our life :)

 

L-R-Allison, Annie, Emily, Allie, Me and Lori--in line according to due dates :)

kicks

Feeling my baby boy kick is the best feeling in the entire world!  That's all.