This week, we're flashing back to our engagement! There's not much of an engagement story. No big surprise or anything like that, which was fine by me! I just wanted to be engaged and get our wedding planned!
We started dating in March of 2001, graduated high school in 2002, and went to college that Fall. Jared went to UGA and I went to Georgia College & State University. We were about 1.5 hours apart, which was a bit farther apart than while we were dating. We continued to see each other on the weekends, but knew we were ready to get married!
Yes, we were YOUNG (I was 19 and Jared was 20), but we knew we wanted to be married and spend our lives together, so why spend another 2 years apart?
After Jared talked to my Dad and his Dad, he ordered a ring. On the weekend of January 7th, 2004, we got the ring!
These pictures were from before we had digital cameras, so they are pictures of pictures. The day after we were officially engaged.
Shocked, thankful, surprised, scared, excited, elated,....did I say SHOCKED!
Those were the thoughts swirling through my head on Wednesday, September 5th. You see, I woke up that morning with a migraine. I had gotten a few in the Spring and Summer and was irritated that I had another one. I had one early in my pregnancies with Arabelle and Bo, but didn't even consider that a pregnancy was possible.
That Wednesday evening, a friend text me to see how I was feeling from the migraine and asked if I could be pregnant. I kind of laughed to myself at the thought. Then I got to thinking about it. When we got home from church that night, I had convinced myself to just take a test. I was irritated at myself for wasting a pregnancy test the whole time I was testing. I couldn't believe it when 2 pink lines popped up right away! Completely shocked!!!
Jared didn't seem to be as surprised as me, but then again, it's hard to get a good surprise reaction from him anyway. He did want me to get another test just to be sure. ;)
We were in a bit of shock, so we didn't tell anyone for a few days. That weekend, we told my parents while we were visiting, then Jared's parents and the rest of our families that next week.
Before we shared the news with others, we told Arabelle and Bo. I figured Arabelle would have an interesting reaction, so I set up the tripod and made a video.
Then Arabelle wanted me to make another video:
We got a lot of "we expected this" and "I was wondering when this was going to happen!" replies. Funny, because we were completely surprised! We WERE planning on a 3rd child in a few months. We know God's timing is much better than ours and His way is best!
In the 3 weeks since finding out about the baby, I've become more and more sick. Just like the last 2 pregnancies. :( Please pray for us, as I try to be the wife and mother that I want to be. It's been really difficult, especially grocery shopping and cooking.
Fortunately, Arabelle and Bo were born big, healthy babies, so I'm not too worried about this baby not getting the nutrients he/she needs. He/she may just sap me of everything I've got!
I had my first appointment today and the baby looked great! Heart rate was 150 and the baby measured 7 weeks and 3 days and due May 15th!
Both Arabelle and Bo were late and born on the 20th of their birth months, so I'm betting on May 20th. That'd be pretty easy to remember!
Oh yes, Arabelle thinks we should name the baby "Arabella" if it's a girl. ha!
I'm sure there will be lots of baby updates along the way!
Jared was gone with Sambo elk hunting in Colorado last week, from the 15th-22nd. We had quite a week! It was just the usual stress and exhaustion from caring for a 2 & 4 year old 100% of the time.....until Friday.
That's when Bo got sick at school with a stomach virus. Then I got sick Friday night-Saturday. Then Arabelle got sick Sunday morning. We were pretty pitiful there for a while!
I spent all morning bleaching and cleaning, so hopefully we've killed the virus and Jared won't catch it!
Arabelle is "finally" four! Apparently it's a BIG deal to be 4! She went to bed expecting to be bigger the next day and she was convinced she had grown over night.
We spent Wednesday night at Papaw and Mamaw's house. She had told us that she was going to wake up before anyone and open her present. Fortunately, she didn't do that!
Bo wasn't too happy that he didn't have a present.
Arabelle with her "A" pancake.
We played a bit and got ready for a fun Birthday! We first went to Walmart so Arabelle could spend her birthday gift card from Aunt Kay and Uncle Gary. She was SO excited to use her "credit card". She got so serious while she was shopping, but once she saw the 3 pair set of princess shoes, she was SOLD! Luckily, it was $0.03 under the amount on her gift card!
We met Jill, Isaiah, and Anderson at Monkey Joe's to do a little playing. They had SO much fun on all the inflatable slides and jumpy houses.
It was hard to get pictures of them because they were in constant motion!
We had lunch at Applebee's:
She wore her dress up shoes in to eat. It's SO funny to see her clicking around in little heels. :)
We were all worn out and went on back to Pineview. Everyone except Mamaw napped on the way home!
Arabelle crashed with the shoes in her lap. :)
Silly faces:
One more birthday celebration and cupcake.
On the way home that night, I asked her what her favorite part of her birthday was and she said her princess shoes and the jumpy place. :) I also asked her how she liked being 4 and she started crying and said she didn't know what to do now that she was 4. She was just so tired!
We got home around 8:40 that night and Arabelle and Bo were SO tired. Arabelle asked me to put her to bed first and that never happens!
She had a party at school on Friday. She requested a princess cake, so I dropped the kids off at school and went to pick the cake and other snacks up. Before I could get back to the school, they called to say Bo was sick. :( I was sad to miss her party, but luckily, she didn't mind! She really liked the cake.
Julee Brooke was already there for Tripp's birthday party, so she checked in on Arabelle and took this cute picture of Arabelle and Gigi. :)
Arabelle seemed to enjoy her 4th birthday! So thankful for Arabelle!
Arabelle is SO excited to be 4 tomorrow! All week, she's been asking me how many more days until her Birthday. When she woke up this morning, I told her tomorrow was her Birthday and she was SO excited!
She thinks she's going to be BIGGER when she wakes up tomorrow. :)
We came to Pineview this evening and we're going to have a fun day with Anderson & Isaiah in the morning!
Icing her cupcakes.
And taste testing.
Bo took a ride on the horse, naked. ha!
Going to bed as a 3 year old for the last time! She'll be 4 at 4:19 am. :)
Bo can be sneaky at times. I snapped this picture of him yesterday at Connie's house. He discovered a candy dish a few weeks ago. It's on a table behind a clock. Instead of asking for one, he goes behind the curtains, sticks his arm out to take the lid off, grabs a chocolate, opens it, and eats it behind the curtains. :)
Then I have to remind him to throw the trash away and to have just 1. :)
Arabelle started soccer "practice" on Monday! She really had a good time and said she was really tired after. :)
One problem that I should have thought of before hand, but didn't, was the fact that Bo would want a soccer ball too. He was so sad when Arabelle and the other kids ran off with their soccer balls and he didn't have one to play with.
We remedied that today. He used his Birthday Walmart gift card from Aunt Kay & Uncle Gary and chose a red soccer ball!
Of course, he had to put on a pair of Arabelle's shin guards too. Then he got a little confused and wanted to shoot the soccer ball on the basketball goal. I know he will be SO happy to have his own soccer ball Monday when Arabelle goes back to practice!
Arabelle put her cleats and shin guards on and we played a little. She's getting pretty good at dribbling (yes, I'm learning soccer terminology!).
*Arabelle made the wise decision to save her Birthday gift card to use on her actual birthday (In 1 week!). I'm curious to see what she picks out this year!
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