We're 15 weeks!

Well, today we made 15 weeks! I'm not sure why, but every week feels like a milestone at this point. Everyday this baby becomes more real to me. It truly is amazing. Dawn sent me this today...

Our baby is growing right along and Dawn looks more beautiful by the day! We are so blessed to be on this ride with her. I could not ask for more.

Well, I'm off to Missouri tomorrow morning for a visit with my sister and beautiful niece. Summer is busy around here :)

Patiently Waiting (or not so much)

Seems like lately, I do a lot of waiting. I have never been the best in the area of patience, but this has been great practice. So, today, I am patiently waiting and praying for the things that are further out like our ultrasound on 7/21 and the baby, in general :) But also, I am waiting and praying for things more imminent. I have some health things going on and am waiting for them to be "figured" out (more on that to come, I'm sure and unfortunately). And on a much happier note, Brandon's sister and her husband are adopting their second son this week! It was an amazingly fast thing and we've only know since last Thursday that the baby was for sure theirs, but his birth mother is schedule to be induced tomorrow! So, they're on their way to Maine (where the baby will be born) now! I cannot wait to hear his stats, see his pictures, and know all is well! God is so good!

We're Baaaaacccck...

We had a great vacation. The weather was perfect, the water was clear and cool, the time was full of relaxing and fun- couldn't ask for anything more! Now, we are back to the "real" world, at least for now. I head, with the kids and the wonderful Kelly, to Missouri to visit my sister and niece next week for a week. Until then, home. I've been on the road a lot, trying to get all my visiting done before the baby comes.

As for a pregnancy update, everything is going perfectly! We have our big gender ultrasound scheduled for July 21st and I can hardly wait! I'm ready to be able to call this baby a "him" or a "her" and, most importantly, shop :)

Here are some pictures from our trip:

Time...

I am really at a loss for where the time goes.  Everything has been a blur since Memorial Day.  My brother and I flew up to OH on Memorial Day and immediately drove approximately 2 hours to the funeral home in a little tiny, wonderful town.  We attended the visitation for our grandfather and then visited with family.  After that, we drove back about an hour to our hotel in another small town.  Tuesday morning, back to the funeral home for the funeral...sadness.  We went to lunch at the church hall after that and then visited with family some more.  Then, we drove back to my dad and stepmom's house in another speck on the map :) about 3 hours away.  Wednesday and Thursday morning were spent relaxing, visiting, and reminiscing.  Thursday afternoon, Scott and I drove about 2 1/2 hours to the airport and headed home.  I am so grateful we got to go and it was so nice to see everyone, aside from the circumstances, but whew!  Friday, I did house things.  Saturday, I drove Scott back to his home in Waco- about a 3 1/2 hour trip each way.  I was/am exhausted.  Now, it's Wednesday and this week has been spent playing "catch up" and preparing for our vacation.  We leave tomorrow morning for 10 days.  We'll spend tomorrow night in Baton Rouge (4 1/2 hour drive) at Brandon's parents and then, Friday morning, we head to Panama City (another 6 hours) for 8 days of much needed R&R.  We'll do the same thing the following week, but in reverse ;)  So, I'm spending today cleaning and packing (and blogging, obvs).  I cannot wait to be on the beach, relaxing, with an empty brain.  I'm sure I'll have lots of pictures to post when we return to make everyone jealous!

On another note, today is the kids last day of school.  At day's end, I'll have a 4th grader and a 3rd grader!  Seriously!?  Where does the time go?!     

Pregnancy Update...

We are now 11 1/2 weeks along!  Everything is going great and Dawn is still saying this is her easiest pregnancy to date!  That makes my heart glad.  We should be finding out the sex of our little one sometime late July.  I cannot wait!  Then, I'll feel like I can finally start buying things.  So exciting!

My Grandpa...

Herman Berry was my step-grandfather. My step-mom and dad married when I was 12 and her family accepted us immediately. Both of my blood grandfathers died when I was young, so for me, he was it. I cannot tell you what it means to me that their family put my name, my siblings' names, and my children's names in his obituary. He truly was exceptional... Herman H. Berry, 84, lived in LaRue. Date: He died Thursday, May 21st, 2009 at 11:50 a.m. at Fairhaven Community in Upper Sandusky. Personal Information: Herman was born December 26th, 1924 in Kentucky to John Everett and Elizabeth (Chapman) Berry. He married Margaret Louise Clay November 28th, 1945. He was a WWII veteran serving in the Army Air Corp. He worked at National Cash Register as a collator operator, and then taught masonry at MCI and Tri-Rivers. He was a member of the Weak Enders Campers Club. He loved fishing, and getting the family together for cook outs. He had an exceptional sense of humor, lived life to the fullest and was a devoted husband and father. Survived By: His wife: Margaret Berry survives him along with three daughters: Loretta Dawson of Marion, Linda Gossett of Clarksville, Luana Mathew of LaRue, seven grandchildren: Cassandra Myers of Marion, Patrick Dawson of Marion, Chandra DeCan of West Manchester, Amy Penman of Columbia, Missouri, Heather Bello of Houston, Texas, Sara Kolax of Springfield, Missouri, Scott Gossett of Waco, Texas, eight great-​grandchildren:​ Bailey Myers, Ashley Phillabaum, Emma Sue DeCan, Brandon DeCan, Aubrey Bello, Blaine Bello, Carson Kolax and Evangeline Penman. His parents: John and Elizabeth Berry preceded him in death along with one grandson: Christopher Foster, three brothers: Kenneth Berry, Carl Berry and William Berry, one sister: Leona Lowman, one step-brother: James Johnson and one step-sister: Mary Purdin.

I'm off to Ohio, with my brother, for the funeral. I'm going to write a tribute to my Grandpa when I feel like I can. He more than deserves it.

We've got a baby with rhythm...

Today was our very last appointment with the Reproductive Endocrinologist.  We've graduated to bigger and better things.  And much like most graduations, it was bittersweet.  I will miss our Tuesday ritual: meeting Dawn, getting Dawn's two littlest ones to Kelly (who has been a lifesaver, by the way), heading up to Dr. Gill's office, being treated extra special by everyone at Dr. Gill's office, and of course, seeing our baby on that beautiful ultrasound.  But, like I said, we're on to bigger and better things.  Dawn is now far enough along (and doing well enough) to be under the care of her regular OB.  That is reason for excitement!  She also gets to stop the medications she has been on for 10 weeks- that's reason for her rear end to be excited :)  It's a big day.  

As for today's ultrasound, everything looks fabulous.  Our baby was dancing away to the beating of Dawn's heart!  It was amazing.  He/she also appeared to wave at one point- truly a magical moment.  I will forever be grateful for these last few weeks.  Here's today's ultrasound picture at 9 weeks 2 days.  This will be the last one until the BIG ultrasound in about 8 weeks!