A Baby, the Beach, and a new Bathroom

So here we are relaxing and enjoying the beach after a wonderful dinner at the Island Grille, overwhelmed with anticipation and excitement about the new addition of the Weathers' family. That's right Charles "Charlie" Todd Weathers is days from exploding onto the scene where he is expected to do no less than change our lives forever. The whole idea of a baby has Kathleen and I full of excitement and as well as wondering what the future will hold for our family. We are extremely excited and feel blessed to be able to be the soon-to-be parents of a beautiful baby boy.

I for one can say that I am grateful to have survived the last 365 days of work. After missing only 2 days of work in the last year, it is indeed rewarding to be able to retreat to the beach for the week to recover from a long summer and even longer year. Looking back though it has been a great year. I can highlight a couple of things: finding out that Kathleen was pregnant was obviously one of the greatest moments of my life; finding out that this child to be was going to be my first son was yet another great moment; being able to see my Tar Heels win the National Championship in Detroit was unforgettable; and lastly having my love for Kathleen and our new addition grow over the last 38 weeks has unmistakably been the most remarkable thing I can ever remember in my short twenty-seven years of life. We are grateful to be able to come to the beach to rest, recover, and get ready for all that lies ahead.

And then there was the new bathroom...So I had the bright idea that I could renovate the master bath and do most of the work myself (thanks dad). Turns out working 70 hours a week and trying to get a nursery ready for a new baby are not a good combination for renovating a bathroom. Long story short, after a month of using the guest bathroom, both the nursery and master bathroom are ready for use. We both learned a lot during the process and know how to deal with the next project we face (probably the guest bath, then kitchen cabinets and countertops, then downstairs flooring, then half bath, then patio). But once again we stand amazed at how fortunate we are and how much God continues to bless our family. We are obviously happy to be done with the first of our many projects but consider all of this quite pitiful compared to the exciting arrival of "Charlie".

Baby Shower!!

This past Saturday I had a wonderful baby shower! It was filled with lots of my favorite ladies. My sweet Grandmother and Aunt Anne weren't able to make it and were greatly missed!
I was overwhelmed with all of the wonderful gifts. Baby Charlie is going to be one stylish little guy.
In one of the photos you see me holding a blue blanket. This blanket was made just for Charlie by his sweet great grandmother "Momena" Cox. She made these blanket before she passed away in 2000. We have lots of fun stories to tell Charlie about her as he grows to love that blue blanket. I had to rush that gift away since my tears seem to be very leaky lately!
I thought I would also post a picture of Isaac, my youngest nephew. He is the son of Jason's sweet sister Mandy. Everyone says that he looks just like Jason did when he was little. I guess we have a few more weeks to see!
It was a great weekend. Thursday, my best friends from childhood came to stay and help me get Charlie's room more organized and put together. Thanks Patti and Rebecca! They worked so hard! All my in-laws came on friday. They too helped get the house ready. Jason and his dad worked hard tearing apart our bathroom so that I can feel clean when I bathe! Hopefully it will be done before the baby comes. My other best friend Julie stayed Saturday night. She helped me get all of Charlie's clothes organized and put into drawers. I have the most wonderful friends. I am so happy they got to be a part of Charlie's 'in womb' life. They are so supportive of the decisions we are making in birthing and raising Charlie.
I also included a picture of me and Tara....my 'shower thrower'! She is one of my college best friends, made of honor, and Charlie's nanny! I can't believe I will be able to take advantage of her wonderful child development skills! She will be keeping Charlie for me two days a week while I make people's hair look pretty. I am so thankful for her and the blessing I know she will be to Charlie.
Lastly, I included a picture of the best mom in the world...mine! For some reason her lipstick photoed black with my camera.....so ignore that! She has been our biggest help during this pregnancy! She is going to be the best GiGi to Charlie. I am so thankful for the great example she has shown me in how to be a good mother. I am truly blessed to have such a wonderful mom.
I guess I should also mention that I am 35 weeks today!

Sorry for the lack of posts. Things have been busy, but good around here. Jason has been working hard and I have also been working and resting. Baby Charlie seems to have grown a lot lately. He likes to be very active, especially around 3am. (At least I can call Rachel at that hour) I am about to enter my 31st week of pregnancy. So far, I haven't been too hot. I will keep my fingers crossed that I stay cool and air conditioned until he comes in August.

These pictures are of some great friends of ours. We all got together to celebrate Tara and Matthew's sons first birthday. Elias did a great job devouring his cake! We also got to spend some time with Josh and Courtney, who are moving abroad for the next few years! We will miss them greatly!

I still can't believe that Charlie will be here soon. Jason and I are fully aware that our world is about to change. I am very excited to meet him and see what he is going to look like. I am also eager to see Jason in "daddy" action.

I hope you like the pregnancy picture. It is still kind of a weird thing for me to want to document my belly growth through pictures. (Thanks Hadley for putting the pressure on!)

Baby Weathers

.....IS A BOY!!!!! We are so excited to be able to call our baby by name....Charlie! He proudly spread his legs at the ultrasound. From the beginning, I felt like it was a boy. We can't wait until he is here.

Good Teachings

Today at church my heart was burdened to be more consistent. With a child coming, this lesson seemed even more pressing. Deuteronomy 6:6-7 says this, "These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up." How simple are these commands, yet so hard too. I desire to always be mindful of my relationship with the Lord. It is a powerful and life changing thing. I deeply desire for my future child to know Jesus and the great grace he bestows on us. While saying this I also know that I have a great book to refer to when raising my child, loving my husband, working, or alone. This book is what I need more of. Through this book I can listen to God. The news and the media seem to think that they are the answer to childrearing or loving one another....oh no, we have even greater answers through following Christs example. He is love. He is the only reason I will be a decent parent, wife, or friend. I want to be more thankful for that.

A little Update

I am sorry that I am not updating more about our first pregnancy. Honestly, it has been very easy so far. I can't wait to find out what we are having so that we can finally feel like things are a little more real. That will happen on April 2nd. Jason and I both have a "boy" feeling, but would be so happy to find out that it is a girl too.

We have enjoyed our experience so far at the Women's Birth and Wellness Center in Chapel Hill. Jason was most agreeable to using a midwife once he found out that our babies birth certificate would say Chapel Hill. I am hopeful that I can do this naturally, but know that getting this baby here may mean something different. We will see! I am trying to get myself "prayed up" for this birth, but I am trying not putting any pressure on myself. The facility is warm and cozy. The birthing rooms have lots of nice things that will hopefully help with labor.

I am cutting back a bit at work. Standing on my feet all day is not easy on the body, especially a pregnant body. I am trying to allow myself two days off a week and sometimes three. I think this will help me be less stressed and feel better. When I get too overworked I hardly feel like returning calls to clients.

That is about all. I pray that Jason and I will be good parents. We will have to rely strongly on the Lord in order for us to be. I desire to be more disciplined in spending time with the Lord so that when I am sleep deprived and can't figure out why my baby is crying I can recall His comforting words. We appreciate your prayers about this too!

I will post more when we know more. I am almost at 18 weeks!

BIG NEWS

Jason and I are very excited about our upcoming summer arrival. The baby gear was Jason's Christmas present from me. The picture of my Mom is her surprised reaction when she opened up a baby bib for Christmas.