We got home last night from a great trip to visit family and friends in Oklahoma.  This was Jessi Girl’s first flight, trip to OK and first time to see most of the family.  She did so great on the flight there and back! I couldn’t believe it.  My apologies to everyone who got to witness the lungs of our sweet girl.  The amount of people overwhelmed Jessika and she was a bit stressed throughout the trip.  I had no idea that a trip could be so traumatic on an infant, but now I know! I didn’t realize how attached she had become to mommy & daddy either! I’m glad she’s as crazy about us as she is!

A brief moment of smiles…

The best part of this trip…was the break I got.  I left my baby girl for the first time, and actually did something for myself.  It was great.  Brook and I were able to even spend a little time together just us.  Thank you to our family for hanging with the kiddo and letting us get a breather!!

We spent several days in Edmond and even got to take a quick trip to Tulsa to see Adam, Stacy and baby Jackson!! We saw what seemed to be millions of fam and friends and then we were off to Purcell for a few days.  Sunday we spent the day with my brother and celebrated our niece’s 1st birthday.

It was a wonderful trip, but Jessi is happy to be home and back in her routine. I’m happy that the screaming has lessened. Hopefully the next trip won’t be so stressful on our girl!

HAPPY 1st BIRTHDAY TAELYN!! Aunt KK loves you!!

I couldn’t have said it better myself….

This weekend the girls at the church threw me a baby shower. I feel so blessed and am so thankful that people want to pour into us and our little baby girl! I guess my friends felt sorry for me after this post a couple weeks ago, because they bought me my dream diaper bag! I’m sure hubby is very grateful as well because now he doesn’t have to listen to me whine about how much I want it (and doesn’t have to buy it for me!).

Just a glimpse of the joy… yup there were tears shed over a bag.

A huge thank you to the girls who hosted a shower for me!! You guys rock!

We’re back in the OC, and we had a wonderful time in Oklahoma!!!

Before we left I made a list of places I was craving that only Oklahoma has. I did a pretty good job!

Recap of food eaten:

Rodney’s Pizza
Raising Cane’s
McAlister’s
Hideaway
Teds
Braums
Earl’s BBQ

This doesn’t include Thanksgiving Dinner(s).  I’m a little nervous to weigh in at my next doctor’s appointment.  Could be ugly…but well worth it! YUM.

We had a wonderful day with my family on Friday and getting to spend the day with our niece Taelyn.  She was only a few weeks old last time we saw her and now she’s six months! She’s pretty cute!

Uncle Brook & Aunt KK

Sunday night was our baby shower and we had a great time!!!! These girls had the right idea and served a real meal…hello bbq! What pregnant woman wants to eat crackers and tiny desserts for a baby shower? No thank you…I’m not working on fitting in a wedding gown at the end of this.  I think those hospital gowns are huge and I’ll fit just fine

 
Preggo Friends                                Aunt Cayce

Big & Little…The greatest friends ever!!

Last pic of us before babies!!!!!!!!!!

It was such a great trip, and a blast to spend time with family & friends in the great state of Oklahoma.  I’m happy to be home with my puppy and back to the norm, but vacation is always great!!

Hello December! 3 months until we meet our daughter!!

I’m taking the next few days away from the blog to spend time with family & friends! I am so excited and really enjoying our vacation!

Friday – My brother, his wife & my precious niece Taelyn are coming to my parents to spend the day.  We haven’t seen Taelyn in 6 months and I can’t wait to love on her!! So bummed that the other niece, Tallie can’t be here

Saturday – FOOTBALL FOOTBALL FOOTBALL!!! Gooooooooooo POKES! Spending some quality time with Brook’s brother, sister, & bro in-law.  Going to dinner with Lee & Wes Jackson…so thankful for great friends!

Sunday Part 1 – We’ll be making our grand appearance at an OKC area Lifechurch.tv Campus.  Haven’t decided which one yet.  It’ll be like Where’s Waldo. Be on the lookout!

Sunday Part 2 – Baby Shower!!!! I’ve never had one of these before for me! Kinda excited! So thankful that we were able to make it to OK and our amazing friends/family put this together for us.  Can’t wait to see everyone!!!!

Monday – Probably a little shopping with mom & then off to the airport! Home to the OC and pick up our first born.  I sure miss that little guy!

Going to be a great weekend and I’m looking forward to all the amazing time with friends and family. Be on the lookout in a few days for plenty of pictures!!

(Skipping a week on the Friday Belly Shot…I’ll still post one on Twitter & Facebook )

Hope everyone had an amazing Thanksgiving!

Pregnancy sucks.

Can I get an AMEN? Ok…at least it’s been bad for me. BUT thankfully, the Lord knew how tough it was going to be and gave me wonderful friends to suffer with

MEET TODD & WENDY:

Two of our very best friends in the entire world. They are just one week behind us, and actually have their c-section scheduled on our due date! Our babies could come on the same day. How fun would that be?? And Wendy…if your baby boy arrives before our baby girl, I’ll be very very angry. For the sake of our friendship…they better come at the same time or ME FIRST!!

MEET JOSH & JENNY: 

Jenny is practically a sister to Brook. They were raised together and their families are BFF. Thankfully upon marrying into Brook’s crazy (yet wonderful!) family I got some amazing sisters/friends. Jenny is one of those and I love her so very much! They are due on May 18th!! I can’t wait for our babies to grow up together as we drag them on our adventures all over the place!

The bummer part is that these amazing friends live about 1500 miles away from us. Sad day. However, I’m so thankful to have them. Nothing beats another woman with hormones as insane as yours to help you through.

And I’m so thankful for one amazing woman who understands. I had a loooong, hard weekend and my dear friend Andrea packed up a yummy meal and delivered it to us last night. The last thing I feel like doing is dragging my preggo, tired body into the kitchen to cook. It was amazing to have a wonderful home cooked meal. With our families so far away, I’m thankful for our church family who is willing to help out in a time of need. (Andrea…I think it’s about time for you to have another little friend for our Baby Girl!)

Thank you Lord for giving me these people! We all know I couldn’t do this thing alone. I’m sure my husband would like a vacation from the craziness that is my pregnant-self!

Bring on the babies!

Well, we’ve been home a couple weeks now, and the experience in Israel has had some time to sink in.  I’d like to share a few of my favorite things, and most life changing.

I read the bible differently now. It’s amazing the change I’ve seen in the way I look at God’s word.  It’s more personal, and more real now.  I’ve been there, I’ve seen it.  I saw the place that God took Moses to show him the Promised Land.  I stood on the hill where Jesus preached and fed the 5,000.  I walked up the steps that Jesus took some of his final on.  I prayed in the place that Jesus cried out to God, and cried over the land.  It is so real to me.  Never again will I look at the bible as stories.

Experiencing it with my husband. We do everything together, and I can’t imagine doing this without him.   We learned and grew together.  We had a blast together! I’m so thankful that we are able to share experiences such as these, and everyday makes me look more and more forward to our future together!!

Baptism in the Jordan River. This was one of the most amazing experiences! Jesus was baptized in this place.  It was the place that he taught us how important it is to be cleansed of our sins.  He lowered himself to our level to set the example for us.  Nothing beats that!!

Spending intense quality time with family/friends. This was quite the intense trip.  Not only were we tested physically by walking a million miles a day, but we were tested spiritually.  We learned together, we were stretched together.  I’m so thankful I got to do this with this group of people.  The “family friend network” and the brave souls who joined them…you have all become my family and some of the greatest friends I could ever imagine.  Thank you for welcoming me in with open arms from day one!

It was an unbelievable trip! I can’t wait to go back

Thanks for listening to the stories, seeing the pictures and I just pray that you learned a bit reading about our experience.  I encourage you to take the trip if you ever get the opportunity! It’ll change you in so many ways!

We had a wonderful weekend getting to see everyone!!!! We flew in Thursday afternoon.  I got to see my sweet Cousin, Crista and my very cute preggo Big! I can’t believe I didn’t get a picture with them, but Sarah looks amazing and I can’t wait for little Braden to arrive in a few weeks!!

Thursday evening we got to see Reagan star in her school play “Seussical”.  It was so cute! She was The Cat in the Hat…and was amazing! So proud of her and so glad we got to see the play! Love you Reg! Really missed seeing Cayce & Efren!! Can’t wait to see you guys in a couple of months.

Friday we hung out with my parents during the day and then had Rehearsal Dinner.  Such a great time getting to see the “Mob”.  Love those people so much!!

Saturday I got to hang out with Little all day! Looooove her and so glad I finally got to see her cute loft in downtown Tulsa and actually see her face!

Saturday evening was the wedding.  It was a great time.  Here are a few pics from the blessed event:

Me & my handsome man!

Brook singing at the wedding

The Lovely Bride & Groom!

The Girls! (Minus Cayce, Reagan & now Randi!!)

Sunday morning we went to the LifeChurch.tv Edmond Campus.  It was great to see some friends and visit LC! Then it was off to Purcell again for some more family time.  We finally got to see Stephenie’s cute little baby belly!

We got our wedding cake out of my parents freezer to celebrate our Anniversary (just a month late!!).  It was actually really good!! Happy Anniversary baby!!

Yummy Wedding Cake!!

Brother & Fam...baby on the way!

That’s pretty much a recap of the weekend.  We had a blast seeing everyone, but it was kinda nice coming back to amazing weather, palm trees, Jack & our bed!! Can’t beat that!

I’ve been feeling a little homesick this week.  (No, mom that doesn’t mean we’re packing up to move back…) It was different being in Texas where we were only a couple hour drive from our families and closest friends.  We are still settling in here, and it takes a while to really find great people you connect with.  I’m SO thankful for the great friends we’ve already made here, but still makes me miss the ones back home a lot!

Here are a few peeps I’m thinking about and missing…

My amazing parents!!

My big brother & sis in law. She's 6 months preggo and I want to see that belly!

Brothers & Sisters...Probably the greatest picture ever too. Oh..and the In Laws, miss them too

The Practice child...and his parents of course

This girl. A lot.

Simply amazing friends. Sisters.

This place: