Bump Update

How Far Along: 19 Weeks

Size of baby: Baby T is the size of a summer squash (about 6 inches)

Total Weight Gain/Loss: I honestly have no idea. We just discovered our scale again in the moving boxes, but unfortunately it has no batteries. How tragic. I can tell you it's probably around 10 pounds.

Maternity Clothes: I'm wearing my normal clothes but I have a feeling I'm going to live in tunics and leggings. I'm ready for fall to be here!

Gender: Can't wait to find out!

Movement: Sometimes I think I feel a flutter, but no really strong feeling.

Sleep: I'm so tired that I sleep pretty good. I'm having to get up during the night sometimes when my bladder is screaming at me, but I suppose that's not too much of an inconvenience.

What I miss: large glasses of sweet tea at Mexican restaurants and Feta cheese (the Friday special @ Tazikis!)

Cravings: fruit, fruit, fruit, and french fries

Symptoms: Still feeling great with no morning sickness(Praise the Lord!)

Memorable Moment from this week: Arriving to work on a particularly rushed morning only to discover that I was wearing 2 different black flats. (At least they were the same color.)

Sharing the News

While we weren't able to capture each one on film, these are 2 of our favorites.

In this video, filmed on Father's Day, we took my family on a guided tour of our house construction. In the very last room we walked through, I mentioned that, "This room would be the nursery, but not until January." They were all so used to me describing each room that they gave the same, "Oh, Ok." response as every other time. A few seconds later, it sunk in. (My Mom, Aunt Sandy, and G-Daddy are seen in the video.)

Untitled from anna tyson on Vimeo.

The next video is from our closest group of Birmingham friends. We had made a day trip down to Birmingham to celebrate sweet Madelyn's 3rd Birthday Party at the pool. It had been a long day, but everyone still managed to drag themselves to dinner, kids in tow. (I have to insert this picture of everyone at dinner at Full Moon BBQ. In case you can't count, that's 10 adults and 7 kids age 3 and under.) 

After dinner, we moved outside to the patio to say goodbye. I asked the girls to take a quick picture with me. Of course no one wanted to, seeing as how we'd been at the pool all day. But they obliged, and that's where the video starts.

"She's a beaut, Clark."

Sorry - I couldn't resist the Christmas Vacation reference.

On a more serious note, the jumble of wood and concrete we saw in May....

....has now turned in to this little house, and we couldn't be more thrilled!

I can't wait to start 'nesting' and make it feel more like a home. Lord willing, we are set to close on the house this Thursday, and we sincerely covet your prayers during this time of transition. And, we can't wait to have you all over for dinner :)

Perspective

My heart is particularly heavy today for some close family and friends. Although I firmly believe that there are many things that happen in this broken world that we will never fully understand, it still breaks my heart. Reflecting on the difficult circumstances over the course of my own life, I see a gaping hole where I am quick to cry out to God in pain, but not as eager to dive into His Word to hear him speak in response. This excerpt came to me today, by no accident I am sure.

"The eradication of doubt and its hesitancy, the removal of confusion and its chaos, the banishment of fear and its paralysis, comes not by gazing at the circumstances of life to know God's will but by knowing God's word. Then we can understand the circumstances of life so doubt is replaced by confidence, confusion gives way to clarity, and fear gives way to courage.Simply put, you do not grasp God's will by reading circumstances but you grasp circumstances by reading God's will- His word."

-Pastor Harry Reeder
www.briarwood.org

Old News is Still News

This is old news for practically everyone, but for posterity's sake I will say again, "We're having a baby!" Chase and I are thrilled to be able to share that we are expecting our first bundle of joy in January 2012. Chase is still shooting for an early delivery and a tax write off, but I'm just praying for a healthy full-term little one.

I went to my first visit with my new OB-GYN here in Huntsville in April. (Side note: picking an OB-GYN is so ridiculously awkward, and this is the 3rd time I've had to do it with our various moves. yuck.) I'm pretty sure I picked a winner with Dr. Callison. During my visit, we discussed pregnancy, but neither of us thought I'd be back in 2 months for an ultrasound. On June 7th, we got to see this sweet little eggroll move and wiggle. 

We were also able to see his/her heartbeat. The ultrasound tech was so sweet to go over every little millimeter and explain each detail. Going in to the appointment, Chase and I were both so nervous. After it was all over, we just didn't really know what to do. So we ate. Some people have celebration dinners at Ruth's Chris or Connor's. Not the Tyson's........we headed to Mama Goldberg's Deli. (ironically, also part of our 'new baby tradition' seen in this post)

And for those of you keeping track.....a barely pregnant 6 week baby bump picture taken at a Memorial Day BBQ.

Newness

I've completely lost track of what happened and in which month the following events occured, so I'm grouping February, March, and April all together. Looking back over the things I've included, there seems to be a theme of 'newness'.

We traded in my old faithful Toyota Camry for this shiny new girl. (except ours is black)

My plan was to drive my Camry until the wheels practically fell off (because the car was paid for). When we started to sense that it might need several expensive repairs in the coming year, we began casually car shopping. We visited several local dealerships to check out the used car inventory. Honda started offering 0% financing, and when we paid them a visit they offered us much more for the Camry than we thought we'd get. As with any purchase, Chase researched and researched.....and researched. Oh, and negotiated - that's his favorite part.  About a week later, we drove this little girl off the lot. (just in the nick of time, too, seeing as how my car battery had died 2 days before)

I also have a new Sister-in-law! Sweet Brianna (known to us as Bri) officially became part of our family when my in-laws adopted her. For those of you that aren't familiar with our family, Chase's parents serve as temporary care foster parents. Bri was placed in their care on Thanksgiving day 2007, at 5 1/2 months old. 

She is now 4 (going on 18) and we love her to death. My mother-in-law, who raised 2 boys, has been thrilled to have a girl to dress up and shop with. If you know them, you know that Bri is my mother-in-law's 'mini me' in every sense of the word. It's hilarious.

Keeping with the theme of new, we finally quit browsing MLS and hired a realtor to help us purchase a new home here in the Huntsville/Madison area. When we moved here a year ago, we settled in an apartment to a) save money, and b) figure out what area of town we wanted to be in. Regina Underwood, who I highly recommend, did a great job showing us properties we requested to see and neighborhoods she thought we might be interested in. In the end, we placed a contract on a house in an area we hadn't even considered looking in and in a price range well under what we expected to pay. We put a contract on this....yes, this.

The best part about it has been that we have been able to select, within reason, several of the finishes and colors. I'm crossing my fingers that the things we picked out in 6 inch swatches end up looking good when they all come together. More house updates to come....