My oh My, this life has changed

I recall a time in my life in which I never left the house unless my hair was curled, full face of makeup, and dressed to the 9's from head to toe... now I am lucky if I can get outta the house without drool or evidence of Gentry's lunch on my blouse. I mean don't get me wrong I still present myself in a reasonable matter, but it has definitely changed...

the timeline of my life seems to blend together and currently it is hard to remember the life I once lived without Gentry in it.... it all seems to fade into the reality that I am a mom to a precious little girl and I could not be happier to call this my life! so with that being said a timeline is just that... small pieces of history that brought you to what is now your reality. I am loving my reality that is full of slobbery kisses, drool, sweet potatoes, and dirty diapers. The lord has brought me full circle in my 27(or is it 28?) years of life... the evidence of my past and the person it has made me will soon be passed on to my sweet legacy, and I hope that she will come to see the beauty of what the Lord can and will do with her life! I cannot wait to see her get out there and start living her life  putting precious memories on a mental timeline to someday pass on to the children she will raise. To say I am blessed is an understatement, I am in awe of what the Lord has given me and I am amazed that with each new day he blesses me to a whole new level! Motherhood is something that will change you that is for sure.... it will make you realize how much the Lord truly does love you when he gives you the precious gift of life and says " raise this one so that she may know me". I cannot wait for Gentry to know him, to love him and to live each day of her life for him.... Thank you Lord for this precious life you have entrusted to me, I am forever grateful and honored that you thought so highly of me to make me this sweet little girls mom that will soon lead her to you.

A new Chapter

After much prayer and talks of starting our own Small Group, we are finally doing it!!! I feel that this season of life will bring not only Growth for my husband and I,but new challenges. We are excited to see the Lord work in our lives and the lives of the people in our group. this week I have taken each day and devoted it to praying over the family of each couple, and it has really given me insight and a deeper love for each of them! I pray that the Lord will use each person in this group and that we can embrace one another, being an encouragement, and group that speaks life into our families! this weekend we will be kicking off with a Group Social Cookout at our house... I foresee much fun in our future!!! :)

Social Parade and Picnics

this is the first time I am participating in the "social parade" I always see people post about The social parade every friday, but have yet to do it myself... so here goes its time for a SOCIAL PARADE!

this week has been BEAUTIFUL out... so we have taken full advantage of the gorgouse weather here in charleston with daily picnics in our backyard... here are a few of my favorite photos from the week...

playin in my jumper while mom and dad clean out the garage

love these sweet little piggies

thanks Dad for these lashes

watching my "siblings" play

lovin on my sweet sister lola

playing with mom

extreme close up

I am excited for my weekend... 

Friday I will be having a fun evening with my hubs and my little girl

Saturday we are going to Cypress Gardens to have a picnic with 2 other couples that are friends of ours :)

Sunday I am going to meet my new sweet little niece that just arrived! I cannot wait to see her :)

hoopla hoopla for a social parade!

Parting is such sweet sorrow

Last week one of my best friends Carly who was 20 weeks pregnant found out she had lost the baby and then had to deliver it. I received a call from the hospital just before she was about to go into labor... and as soon as she said the words I just lost it... I cried and cried and cried. I feel like in times when their are no words the best this you can do is cry, so that is what I did... I sat their on the phone with my sweet friend crying... words can't even express how you feel in those moments and I knew she was about to go through something very difficult... labor is hard enough when you have a child to care for on the other end of it, but to go through labor and on the other end hold a sweet baby that never took a breath is far more difficult then I can even imagine.

shortly after our conversation I got an update that I want to share with you...

"Just wanted to give yall an update.  

I delivered a baby boy at 4:19am he was 2.9 oz and 6 in long this morning and it made it a lot more real.  We were doing ok but then at that point it hit us. This was a real precious life. We are doing great now and God has really comforted us in so many ways.  Thank you so much for your prayers and I wanted to share something pretty neat with you. After we saw the baby the nurses put together a little memory box and it inspired us to try to name this little one.  So we started looking at names and came across "Eli" which means "ascended". Before all this happened, we were gonna name it "Levi" if it was a boy but Andi never could say Levi and always called the baby in mommy's tummy "Eli".  When we came across the meaning we knew it was a special way that God was saying "I love you".  How faithful He is and we feel his presence in this rough time and really do thank you guys for your prayers."

 it is so sad to think that this sweet little boy didnt make it, but so great to know he is now wrapped in the arms of a most high God that loves him far more then anyone on earth could... and while I do so wish my friend could have had a life full of being Eli's mama, I am happy she at least got 20 weeks with him. so it is in these moments that I truly understand the phrase "parting is such sweet sorrow" because while you are sad to see him go- we are rejoicing in the fact that Eli is with his heavenly father, being loved abundantly more then we can ever imagine!

Please continue to keep Carly and her husband in your prayers! 

I got an Award!!!

here is my Award :)

I would like to take this time to Thank Nicole at thistraindoesntstop for passing along this sweet award!

 now I will pass along the award... this is how it works!

-Thank & link back to the person who gave you this award

-Share 7 things about yourself

-Award 10 recently discovered great bloggers

-Contact these bloggers and let them know about the award, and let the giver know you accept the award.

___________

So here are my 7 things!!!

1.I have lived in Tulsa OK, McKinney TX, Loveland OH, Jackson TN, Los Angeles CA, Nashville TN, and Charleston SC- so when people ask where I am from I never know what to say!

2.I am a mother of 3... but if you ask my husband he says we have 1 child and 2 dogs... i personally see them as one in the same :)

3.I love all things fall especially Ohio State Football

4.I am thankful to my husband for allowing me to stay home with our precious little girl... I love being a stay at home mama!

5.I used to work in the Fashion industry in LA a job I always thought was my dream job, but when I got it turns out it was more of a nightmare... celebrities and fashion = bad attitudes!

6. I love the lord with all my heart! he is my sole purpose for the breath that I breath!

7. I have a major spending addiction, which doesnt work so well when your husband is a saver and happens to work in finance :( long gone are the days of my shopaholic ways- bummer

And the AWARD goes to...

1. laforcebewithyou

2. trulylovelywiththelaneysisters

3. 320 sycamore

4. luckylees2b

5.  mybelleepoqueblog

6.  woodslife

7.  kopycatcrafter

8.  carolynshomework

9.  hilarysurratt

10. domestic-fashionista

YAY!!!!

Tea Parties and Tutu's

our life with Gentry gets more fun by the day! she is a hoot and keeps my laughing.... she is obsessed with her brother and sister (the dogs) and anytime she sees them she gets a big smile on her face..she loves to "pet" lola aka pull her ears.. lola is a very tolerant big sister... tummy time with lola is her favorite activity, she "talks" to lola  like shes out for a girls night.... I just love watching this and crack up. It amazes me how this sweet little girl has managed to capture the heart of not only Phil and me, but the dogs too... All is well in the reynolds home.... here are a few pictures 

nightly tea party

having some tea with lola

mom she spilled hers

lola is in a tea coma

happy little girl

she insisted on wearing her tutu...

and eating it...

Public Service Announcement for all Moms!

I have some information to distribute to all you mom's of kiddos in diapers! let me start by telling you a story...

yesterday I went to go pick up Gentry from her nap. I picked her up and wham hot sticky poop all over my hand... I looked in her crib and low and behold all over her sheets and sheet saver-- eww eww and eww... but that wasnt the worst of it.... when I went to remove her poop outfit... she had poop in her hair, in her armpits, around her neck pretty much everywhere except her diaper.... We have only had 1 blow out in her life and it was really not that bad just a tiny one... so how does this happen? welll we used Babies R us diapers.... THEY SUCK!!! i bought them around christmas when they were having a huge sale after black friday...needless to say the deal i thought was a great deal turned out to be HORRIBLE! LESSON LEARNED!!! I WILL NEVER IN MY LIFE EVER NEVER EVER BUY BABIES R US DIAPERS! I promise to stick to huggies and pampers for as long as i live!.... As far as Gentry is concerned she got her bath and is now Clean and smelling good :)

sorry you had to hear about my day full of crap (literally) but I felt it was only necessary to inform you of my extreme dislike in Babies R us diapers...

so here it is my Public Service Announcement- Do not buy Crap babies r us diapers or you will get crapped on! :)

I admit it... I'm a couponista!

This past weekend I went to Target and let me just say there were deals to be had!!!

I managed to get all this below for $26.32

there are 6 packs of stage 2 diapers (42-54count) diapers- 8.99 each
3 file folders- 1.00 each
1 large crest mouthwash- 5.04
1 pantene shampoo- 3.49
1 pantene conditioner- 3.49
1 gillette fusion shaving cream- 3.49
1 tide travel pack- .99
1 baby hoodie- 4.00
1 baby pants- 4.00

= a total of $81.44

and I got it all for $26.32

I had many many coupons and for every 3 diaper packs you bought you got a $5.00 gift card...
so I got a $10.00 gift card since i got 6

I have recently gotten into couponing alot and I am getting better and better at it! It is so fun and you really can save
a ton!

Rice Cereal....

Gentry has now had her first taste of rice cereal and I am not so sure shes a fan quite yet... infact I think we managed to get most of it all over her face and not so much down her throat... but thats ok she will get the hang of it in no time! 

Changes and 4 month check ups... dun dun dun

you guessed it, yesterday was the dreaded day for round 2 of shots... screams were heard from miles away! to say Gentry was a wee bit unhappy with our choice of activity would be an understatement... she was IRATE, but she managed to jump back into her happy self shortly after...

she now weighs 14lbs 12 oz-- (doubled from her birth weight of 7lbs 11oz)
she is now 25 and 1/4 inches long
and is in both the 75% for weight and height!

tonight we begin solids... this should be fun seeing as how she has just recently taught herself to blow spit bubbles... I forsee rice cereal making its way to my face in the near future...

its crazy how fast these 4 months have gone by... when people tell you "cherish this time they grow up so fast" they arent kidding! it seems like just a week ago we were bringing her home from the hospital and waking up around the clock to feed this baby that I felt like I was just babysitting... turns out it wasnt a babysitting job- it was permanent and I am so thankful it was... I love Gentry to pieces and fall more in love with her by the day...

the highlight of my day is the moments I see that sweet gummy smile followed by giggles - to say I am cherishing these times doesnt quite get the point across... these moments are what make me thankful that the Lord could grant me with such a sweet and precious gift! For our family- yes I hope there will be more children in our future, but there will never be another Gentry Emerson Reynolds in these precious moments because she is growing up day by day, and while I am so excited to see the future with her, its tough letting go of the past and knowing shes just gonna get bigger from here!

Gentry Day 1

Gentry 4 months later

We are BACK!!!

oops I have completely forgotten to update this... so here i am! it has been a busy and exciting 4 months in the Reynolds house.. we are loving our sweet little girl and she finds new ways to amaze me daily. she is full of life, smiles, giggles and love. I am really enjoying being home with her all the time and feel extremely blessed that I have a sweet husband that works so hard to provide for us. bottom line WE ARE GRATEFUL!!! being a mom has been a fun, exhausting, and rewarding job. she really is a easy baby! since 7 weeks old she has slept 12 hours a night, this has been a blessing to mom and of course the bags that used to be under my eyes :) I look back on the long 9 month journey that I took to get this precious gift. Its hard to remember the 22 straight weeks of puking a minimum of 6 times a day, the many sleepless nights, or the large amounts of discomfort. All i see is pure joy as I reflect on the 9 months that lead to this sweet little life. I am so thankful that the lord saw me through each of those moments and blessed me with a healthy, happy and precious little girl that I love more and more each day.

on a side note...with much thought and prayer Phil and I have decided to start moving towards trying to relocate to Nashville. Many things will need to fall into place for this to happen, but we know that if it is meant to be the Lord will open all the right doors! It will take us selling our home here in Charleston, Phil finding a great job, and us stepping out on a huge leap of faith and trusting the lord that this is what is best for our family. either way we are ready to see where this journey can take us. We are excited about the possibility of being closer to my family and the new opportunities that this can bring us.... Operation Nashville-- Underway :) 

so I have a baby...

It's hard for me to believe that 2 weeks ago today I had a precious little girl that has changed my world in so many ways... I have loved every sleepless moment filled with dirty diapers and all. 
many people are asking for all the details of Gentry's birth so here it is... 


I got a call from the dr's office bright and early on September 13th with some results from blood work I had gotten the previous week. they asked me to come into the office that day... (side note- I had mentioned to my dr the week before that I was extremely itchy so she wanted to do some blood work and if it came back elevated they would opt to induce me) so I get to the dr office and find out my blood work came back elevated revealing that I had something called Cholastasis... which basically is a pregnancy only related thing where your body doesn't break down things fast enough resulting in toxins in your liver and as a percausion they wanted to go ahead and get my little pea out. so the dr said ok I want you admitted tonight and we will induce in the morning... that was probably the most overwhelming feeling hearing those words, but either way I called my mom who began her trek down for the birth of her first grandchild... Phil and I went home gave the pups a bath went and ate our last quiet supper at jasons deli and then we were off to the hospital. the following morning they woke me up bright and early at 6am to shower and get ready.. it should come as no surprise after my 9 month long pregnancy that I began this day by puking in the shower... ewww- followed by a day of full barf bags and all... either way I continued getting ready because I was determined not to have those awful looking labor pictures...at 7am we began by breaking my water... and about 45 min later when I started feeling contractions (and they were not feeling good) I was ready for my epidural... and can I just say oh how I loved that epidural!!! by about 5pm I was dialated to 7cm and by 7pm i was still at 7cm and it was about then that they found out my IV had stopped dripping my petosin. so they had to remove my IV and it took 3 drs, 11 pokes, and an hour later to find a replacement vein... at this point I had been without petosin for 3+ hours and had stopped dialating and having contractions... they waited a bit to see if my new IV of petosin would start to kick my body back into the labor gear, but no such luck... at about 10pm the dr came in and we started talking c-section... an option I was hoping I wouldnt have to take by 11:30 I was in the Operating room getting the gut cut and at 11:51pm there she was- perfect healthy and pissed we had removed her from "her room" for the last 9 months... phil went to the nursery with her and I laid there getting stiched back up having only seen a bloody butt cheek of my child... it wasnt until an hour and a half later that I saw her- she was precious perfect and everything I had hoped she would be. I am honored the lord picked me to be this sweet little girls mom- that he heard my prayers and she was formed perfectly in my womb. she is indeed one special blessing and we are enjoying every second with her. I love watching phil with her- I know he is going to be a fantastic father and love her unconditionally. it is my prayer that the lord will empower us to be Godly parents, that can lead by example and love her as much as we possibly can, and when life throws us challenges that as a family we can stick together, pray together, and embrace our faith that the Lord will see us through those challenges. Thank you everyone for the prayers and support during this extremely special time in our lives... we appreciate you all and are thankful for the roles you play in our lives. 


so there you have it- we have a precious little girl named Gentry Emerson Reynolds- born on September 14th 2010 at 11:51pm weighing 7lbs 11oz and 19 inches long.... and she was fearfully and wonderfully made!!!

wow has it really been 9 months?

I've been a bum! my blogging has taken a backseat to my nesting and preparing for Gentry... but I can officially say- we are ready, at least I think we are... I feel like I am blindly walking into the journey of parenthood, even after all the classes and books. I don't really feel like those can prepare you for what it TRULY means to be a parent, but either way I am excited and cannot wait to take on this new role in life! 


I think back to January 11th (when I first peed on the stick) and found out I was indeed pregnant.. in that moment I was scared, shocked, surprised, worried, overwhelmed, and felt so unprepared considering we were planning on waiting... but the Lord knew what he was doing and all of those feelings seemed to slowly fade and turn into joy, peace, and an overwhelming excitement for our little girl. As I wait out these last couple days I could not be more pleased and at peace with where the Lord has taken us on this long 9 month journey. I cannot wait to see my loving husband turn into the father he was born to be. I am thrilled that phil and I have been given the opportunity to begin our own legacy by bringing Gentry into the world. this is something I am honored to do!!! I am not gonna lie I am still a little nervous about the birthing process in itself, but I cannot wait to see the precious little face of the one the Lord has been forming inside of me these last 9 months... Gentry Come on out -- we are alll waiting and ready to meet you!!!

what do you do when you are awake at 4am...

well its no surprise that this season of my life is revolving around a tiny little baby being formed inside me. the more I ponder this thought the more I am amazed, and I am sure that within the coming weeks the amazement I feel now will be joined by pure blessing and joy in the marvel at what my God can do. I feel like everywhere I go, I am greeted with stares and confused faces... just to clear things up man sitting on the bench staring at me like I have a 5th appendage coming out of my mid section... I AM PREGNANT.. I guess people have a hard time understanding this phenomenon, and I guess I could understand this if you do not realize the true divine uniqueness of the Lord. Pregnancy is in itself is a crazy thing, but man oh man it really helps inforce how big my God is... I mean you have a baby that soon turns into a toddler, followed by a child, then the awkwardness of a teenager, into a growing adult, an excited parent, and finally a wise grandparent...whoa...reflect on that! I can't help but notice that everywhere I go whether its sitting in a movie theater or waiting in line in a grocery store, that the 16 year old trying to decide on a candy bar in line in front of me, was once that of a 7lb little baby... WOW... just think about that... its crazy how fast the life cycle takes place and we find that the 7lb baby is no longer a baby... with this being said I cannot wait to meet this little bucking bronco that has put me thru the ringer with the morning sickness, sore back, uncomfortableness, sleepless nights, and around the clock bathroom breaks. I also know this much that when she does get here I will cherish every second and day with her because we all know they grow so fast, this is not a bad thing but I can only imagine that it will just put into reality once again that God truly is Amazing and when he designed us in our wombs, he did so with a vision of purpose,hope, and love for our future! I cannot wait to see what his vision is for Gentry- she has no idea how loved she already is not just by me and the rest of her family, but by all the people that have been consistently praying over her and that will continue to pray for her as she grows to be someday that of a parent herself. 

Miss Gentry Emerson Reynolds- we love you and we can't wait to see your sweet face, NOW GET YOUR BUTT OUTTA THERE :)

Mommy must have's of the Moment... according to me!

Mommy must have's of the Moment... according to me! :)

I love these little booties...

http://www.etsy.com/listing/8529446/baby-sweet-pea-1-3-months

and what little girl doesn't need these shoes... haha I love them!

http://www.yomybooties.com/categories/Signature-Angora-Booties/

these bottles are supposed to be FABULOUS!!!

http://www.weilbaby.com/Baby-Gift-Sets/Cart-Update.html?whence=

and how adorable is this little hat.... Gentry will for sure own one of these!!!

http://www.etsy.com/listing/50597629/flower-bloom-newborn-hat-with-detachable

and of course she will need her very own first pair of heels...

http://www.heelarious.com/ava.php

these are great blankets and super soft

www.inphantelefant.com

this coat will be a must have come christmas time..

http://www.bearingtoncollection.com/Cat-49-2-147/Cuddly-Animal-Coats.htm?PageN=0

and she will need this coat too...

https://www.mud-pie.com/p-7305-pink-fleece-jacket.aspx?EID=611&EN=Category

and these matching shoes are a must!

https://www.mud-pie.com/p-7304-pink-fleece-booties.aspx?EID=611&EN=Category

I love all clothes mudpie... they are certainly the cutest around...

https://www.mud-pie.com/c-550-shop-by-collection.aspx

that does it for now... we are currently in the process of working on the babies room, more scoop to come.. 10.5 weeks to go and I cannot wait till she gets here!!!

Nighmare on isle two, three, four, five,six,ect.ect.....

oh my goodness... we went to Babies R Us to register for our sweet little girl and much to my surprise even with all my baby knowledge I WAS OVERWHELMED and felt as though i was in a foreign country... it was a mess! they hand you a scanner and wala your on your own... EXCUSE ME WHAT? yep on your own... I found baby registering to be much different then wedding registering.. i mean you should be able to know what kinda plates, pots and pans, and towels you want but choosing a breastpump when there are close to 28 options is near impossible.. especially for someone who knows nothing about a dang breastpump... and then we go to the bottle isle where there are near 90 options-how the hell are there 90 freakin options for a bottle? good grief and they are basically all the same, providing the same end result a well fed baby! wow oh wow! i had to take many time outs and my poor husband had no clue what he was getting himself into, it was comical! he didn't understand a single thing we were registering for ahhhhhhh... its all too much! and our registering should have been easy considering all our big ticket items we already have like the car seat, stroller, base, diaper bag, bedroom furniture, mattress, AND not to forget Gentry's first baby doll....but still the task of registering came across as IMPOSSIBLE! i still have no clue what we clicked and if it will even be needed in my future of motherhood, I guess time will tell... I still don't understand why they don't send you off with a Babies R us consultant to help you out like they do when you register with bed bath and beyond... I have chosen NEVER TO REGISTER WITH TARGET again after our wedding registry nightmare, in fact i even sent the corporate office of Target a letter telling them this much, so I will be holding true to this! I am considering also registering at pottery barn kiddos, but who knows that's more for bedding all of which we will be making ourselves( not literally, but taking the fabric to a nice little lady to go crazy on with her mad sewing skills) does anyone have any other suggestions of places to register? I have always been told give 2 options... I was thinking the second option could be a getaway for Phil and myself considering we need a vacation after our stressful attempt of baby registry, but that might be a tad bit tacky... and I AM NOT TACKY! welp there you have it baby registry= one big nightmare- how the heck to people do it and know what to get for their 1st pregnancy? cause i came off as one clueless mama, and I am sure so did my registry by the looks of it... opps- help needed and appreciated if you have any insight!

Apple juice, Watermelon, and Mashed Potatoes...

I know I know I have been a horrible horrible blogger lately... well I am now back in action! life has been a little hectic, but none the less still fantastic! summer is upon us which means cookouts, friends, HEAT (yuck), and trips... Next week we travel down to Orlando for Phil's family's annual Disney trip. I am interested to see what this preggo will be able to do, seeing as how rides are no option, lets just pray for some cooler weather so I dont melt away. Our Niece Eliza will be celebrating her birthday while down there so we get to have breakfast with all the princesses! 2 weeks past that we will be hoping in the car to head to Nashville TN for my moms WEDDING, YAHOOOO.... then shortly after that on July 2nd--- I RETIRE! this is probably my most anticipated event.... goodbye working days hello life of the stay at home mama!! I cannot wait and hopefully my stay at home friend gets back to Charleston in time for our many hang outs and outings! as we get closer and closer to Gentry Emerson's arrival things are starting to come together. we got all her bedroom furniture this weekend. I can hardly believe she will be here in about 3 months... as I look back on this pregnancy it seems to have flown by, however I recall in the 1st and half of the second trimester as I was still puking my guts out that sure didnt seem like it was the case. either way I am ready to get her out! she still insists on keeping her head in my left rib cage- this is growing less and less comfortable, especially when she decides to move it around. She is going to be a pistol thats for sure! We pray that she will be healthy, and that if  not that the Lord gives us strength to lean on him and trust in the things we do not understand. I cannot wait to meet her, see her sweet little face, tiny little hands, and cute little piggies.to watch her grow up to be the precious little girl that God has created her to be. As I think about this journey we are about to embark on I see so much good and I am in constant prayer that the Lord will empower us to be loving, nurturing and encouraging parents, that will not only lead by example, but en-stile values and a relationship with the Lord in our little one and hopefully soon after that little one's ...The realization that I am soon to be a mom is finally starting to sink in-- although I have considered myself a mom for the past 3 years to my 2 four legged babies, but Phil disagrees, constantly reminding me they are DOGS not KIDS... I personally see them as one in the same ;) 
We have yet to register-- I am just clueless as to what to register for, I mean when you register for your wedding you know your stuff- but baby registering is FOREIGN to me-- does anyone have any tips??? they will be gladly accepted!!!
 my recent cravings have been apple juice, watermelon and mashed potatoes ... not all together- yuck! but definitely separate... I cannot get enough of them! our next Dr appointment is tomorrow so more scoop to come on little miss Gentry then! :) 


Love you all, thanks for the continued thoughts and prayers- we appreciate them!!!

Ultrasound Take 2

After 3 long weeks of waiting to find out what exactly is in Courtney's belly, the day was here. Yesterday that is. Monday May 3. I arrived at the doctor's office at exactly 2:30, our appointment time. But to my surprise, Courtney was already in the Ultrasound room, gel on our stomach with a tv screen showing pictures our new baby. I thought I missed it, but they assured me they had just begun. So we watched the screen as we saw different angles and views of the baby. As I was expecting a boy and Courtney expecting a girl, we each saw what we thought  were boy and girl parts, but there was still no answer yet. So after several minutes of looking, the ultrasound lady stopped and asked Courtney to take a bathroom break and do some stretching. This baby was not cooperating in revealing itself. So a few minutes later, Courtney returned, hooked back up to the equipment and we begun again. We were so excited, anticipating our baby's sex. After several more different views and angels the ultrasound lady stopped again. Wanting us to take a brisk 5 minute walk outside to get this baby moved around a little bit. I responded to Courtney that we may have to wait another 3 weeks. She replied, "No, I'm going to found out today whats been inside me for the past 20 weeks". So we took a fast walk around the building twice, then taking the stairs back up to the ultrasound room. Courtney lied down again, got gelled up, and we were off again. Still we were having trouble determining what it was. So the ultrasound lady told Courtney to lie on her side. Switching sides continuously. Then finally we had an answer. Not that we could really tell, but the Ultrasound lady could. She paused. Looked at us slowly. And slowly from her lips uttered, "It's a girl!". We were happy and relieved. The news was out after so much anticipation. There you have it. We're expecting a girl. We couldn't be happier.

Phil

Can we please rewind???

I had a fantastic weekend full of cookouts, picnics, fun times with amazing friends, strawberry picking, time with my husband and a nice long relaxing prenatal massage at the mom spa with a hole cut out for my belly and everything.... it was needed! I also had a mini midlife crisis, as i found my very first gray hair on my head the day before i turned 28... OH NO MY LIFE IS COMING TO AN END... ok maybe not but i mean, who gets gray hair at 28??? I can only think that within this next year with a baby on the way there will be more gray hairs to come. Nothing like a gray hair to make you feel like you are one step closer to that grave then you thought... I know I am being a bit dramatic but IT WAS REALLY REALLY GRAY... ahhhhhh! my mom just started getting her first gray hairs and she is 53- something is WRONG with this picture! Anyways I now have one more  year under my belt and I am anxious for this next year full of life changes as we move one step forward to building our family together. I can only hope that grace comes with age in my case :)

The way you make me feeeeeeeeeeeeeell...

ok so I can't deny that Pregnancy makes you feel oh so lovely... if the first trimester full of puking and nausea wasn't enough we have now graduated to big bellyville... yes that's right I officially feel HUGE!  kinda like a hippo or a wildebeest or a large oger... all of which i find highly unattractive! its clear that others around you notice this too with the stares you get, people look at you like you're an alien or at least carrying one...don't get me wrong I certainly do not think my child is an alien, but you have to admit its still crazy to me to think there is a little human forming inside of me..God certainly has a sense of humor, because something that brings such joy in life has a lovely way of making you feel like at any moment your chair might break from your large growing belly...  I can't help but laugh daily at the new things you find out about pregnancy that THEY DON'T TELL YOU IN THE BOOKS!!! what good are those books anyways? my child is sure gonna be a handlful I can already promise you that, but either way I will take that sweet little handful and love it unconditionally and buckle up for the fun and full of laughter ride that we are about to embark on! I cannot wait to know my child and to see its sweet little face! the baby and I have already been having conversations on spit up... it should know by now if it needs to spit up- do it on dad! we will soon see if this memo has come thru clear come september... and did i mention i am ready to know what this baby is??? boy or girl we will love it the same! however I am a little partial to Team Girl ;) Our names have been picked out since my first pee on a stick!

Boy- Stetson Monroe Reynolds

Girl- Gentry Emerson Reynolds

I am just ready to know what exactly i will be calliing "IT" so I can stop reffering to IT as a IT...hurray up May 3rd- we cannot wait to see you!!! :)

A Father's Gloom

We were so excited to go to the doctor on Monday. It was our day to finally find out the gender of our baby that we've now been enjoying in Courtney's womb for the past 17 weeks. We took off work early for our 2:50 appointment. I met Courtney at the doctor's office with a big smile. I just knew it was a boy, while Courtney using every prediction around including the Chinese calendar just knew it was a girl. They called our name and we slowly walked to the little room where we waited excitedly and impatiently for almost an hour. Finally the Doctor entered the room. We were so excited! She performed her routine procedures and checked the baby's heart rate. Everything sounded good. Then finally came the best part - the ultrasound! We looked at the doctor and said, "Ok we're ready to find out the Good News - a boy or a girl. We watched the doctor's lips answer slowly, "The ultrasound technician is slammed. It'll be another 3 weeks until we can get ya'll in" We couldn't believe what we heard. All our excitement and anticipation came to a halt. We checked out and left the doctor's office with such gloom and depression. Courtney was in tears. I was doing everything I could to comfort her...So that's where we're at. We'll let you know as we sssslllllllooooooowlllyyy count down the next 3 weeks. See u soon.

Phil

Hello!!! We have officially become bloggers :)

We are completely enjoying married life and are happy to celebrate 9 wonderful months so far. Our life is full of fun, laughter, and lots of time together! its great to do life with your best friend, thats for sure! we are happy to say that we have a sweet little baby coming our way in September. We are anxious to be parents fully devoted to laying a foundation of faith in our child. We already feel so blessed that the Lord is going to entrust us with such a wonderful blessing! we are counting down the seconds until May 3rd when we find out what exactly is in that tummy of mine! Thank you for being our friends, family and support through this wonderful life journey we are beginning... we cannot wait to include you in it every step of the way!!!