I need your help!

I keep meaning to get to this, but I haven't had the time. As we are expecting our second child, Ethan Thomas, in late September/early October, I realize that I need to update the blog. It wouldn't be fair to completely leave one child out.

Any ideas on good names? I am fresh out of ideas. Thanks!

Memorial Day Pictures

We had a great time with the Delaneys on Memorial Day. Nothing beats family, burgers, and a swimming pool! The weather was perfect, the water felt good, and we got to spend some time with a few people we love. Here are the highlights.

My family, my ministry

My wonderful friend Mariann and I were joking around last week when my sweet Emma was misbehaving, and she humorously reminded me that "(My) family is (my) ministry!" Even though I laughed at the time, I knew she was right: what an INCREDIBLE opportunity I have to make a difference in the lives of the two people who matter the most to me--Dan and Emma!

That being said, one way that I love to show love to my amazing husband is by cooking for him. They say that the way to a man's heart is through his stomach, and that cliche` is SO TRUE for Dan! And here is a great (and so easy, but not at all healthy) recipe to love on your family--courtesy of Beth Moore's blog!

Sopapilla Cheesecake

Ingredients:
2 (8 oz) packages cream cheese
2 (8 oz) packages refrigerated crescent dinner rolls
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract or almond extract
1/2 cup margarine or butter, melted
1/2 cup cinnamon sugar (combine about 1/2 cup sugar with 1 TBS cinnamon)

1)Using a 9x13 baking pan, unroll one package of refrigerated crescent rolls and line the bottom of the pan.
2) Flatten.
3) Mix together the cream cheese, sugar, and extract.
4) Spread over the crescent rolls.
5) Unroll the other can of crescent rolls and place on top of cream cheese mixture.
6) Pour one stick of melted butter or margarine over the top and sprinkle with about 1/2 cup of the cinnamon sugar mixture.
7) Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Makes 12-20 servings.

We all loved this recipe! Thank you so much, Beth Moore!

Emma's first "table"

Isn't it cute how toddlers use words they already know to name new things? While shopping at Target with my wonderful husband and daughter, we came to the game section. Emma fell in love with a Littlest Pet Shop puzzle, and since she's never owned one (and it was only $4), we decided it would be a good educational investment.

Emma was SO EXCITED about her "table" the whole way home--Dan couldn't figure out what she was talking about until we got it back to the house and she pulled it out of the bag. "My table, my table, my table!" is all that we heard until we got the box open. She had so much fun watching us put it together and trying to help. After a few days, she has gotten pretty good at figuring out where most of the inside pieces go (we still have to finish the puzzle frame before she knows where to put them).

Isn't it amazing how their little minds work at this age? She is like a sponge that soaks up everything she sees and hears. I love it!

We're having a...

BOY!

We are very excited! Overall, everything looked great today. Here is the update on our progress:

Baby's weight: about 12 oz. (the weight of a soda can)

Mommy's weight gain: -3 lbs. (I have gained one pound of the four that I lost)

Mommy's blood pressure: 118/72

The one major concern of the doctor is that our baby has what is called Single Umbilical Artery (SUA), which is a condition where only one of the two arteries that is supposed to make up the umbilical cord (in addition to a vein) is present. While this can cause major birth defects--the big ones would have been a heart or spinal cord abnormality--PRAISE GOD that NEITHER of these problems are present. Our doctor believes that the biggest concern at this point is IUGR (intrauterine growth restriction), which will keep him from growing as well as he should.

So far, he is growing RIGHT ON TRACK, measuring at 20wks, 3 days (I am technically only 20 weeks along). Please pray that he will continue to grow as he is supposed to and that I can carry to term. After 32 weeks, I will go in every week for the doctor to determine if he would be healthier outside of the womb. Obviously, the best situation would be for me to reach 37 weeks before they induce.

All that being said, we know that whatever happens we will have the baby that God has intended for us. We are so excited for this addition to our family, and we know that God has this precious little guy in His hands!

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

Psalm 139:14-16

Ahh!

The Delaneys have had a tremendous three days--and of course I didn't charge the camera battery to take pictures of it all! So, imagine if you will...

We got to spend some time with my Dad and family in Rock Hill. My dad just finished a 1300-square foot addition to the house. We had so much fun with everyone...

On Friday, I was fortunate enough to have dinner with some friends whom I haven't seen in a long time. We then went to a chorus concert at my high school because the choral director was retiring. It was fun, and I got to see some folks I haven't seen since graduation...

Yesterday (an hour after Emma and I returned), her new friend Ethan came over with his Mommy and Daddy. We grilled steaks, laughed at the kids, and stayed up way too late...

Can't you picture it now? Those are some great pics, huh?

A little slow

I meant to get the pictures from last Friday up sooner, but it has been a crazy week with colds and Nerve2Serve stuff and getting ready to go to Rock Hill. So, enjoy!

Here are great pictures of Emma and Roman in her new $9 pool from Wal-Mart. By the way, this might be the best $9 I have spent since becoming a Mommy!

More pictures to come!