September 21...

Good Morning Memphis...

So, I am getting my coffee this morning and I hear someone on a loudspeaker very clearly warn someone to "GET BACK IN YOUR HOUSE!" What the... I look outside my front window to see four policemen with shotguns trotting down University. Again, what the... I hear some more muffled warning come from a loudspeaker and then - shots fired. Four or five, I was too shocked to count.

I haven't heard an official account of what happened, but I think the MLGW meter man saw blood on a window down the street and called the police. When the police got here, someone was in the house and came out, guns blazing. What came of that person, I don't know. However, there are still a load of cars down there, crime tape is up, and the news has been here. The picture below says enough.

I am off to Team Trek in Heber Springs this weekend for Leadership Academy. Maybe some pics from that, if I can take my camera. Anyway, here is our morning excitement pic!

It's a girl!

According to the nurse, who tells me her readings on the ultrasound are about 100% accurate, God has blessed us with a sweet littel girl! Autumn thought it was humuorous when I asked the nurse about the accuracy of the ultrasound. I thought I saw a little bundle of "equipment" down there. I know what an umbilical cord is...

So, Autumn has finally gained some weight and the baby girl, according to the 100% accurate ultrasound measurments, is about a week and a half BIGGER than average. We spent some time counting fingers and toes, checking out how L-O-N-G her little legs are, looking at her spine, making sure all four heart chambers were beating (144 bpm is pretty strong), and watching her open her mouth and stick her tongue out at us! She is already taking after her Aunt Joey - at the end of the ultrasound she settled down and started pulling on her ear with on hand and sucking/licking her other thumb. The ultrasound showed a pretty great shot of her face and that she already has lenses in her eyes. It was an absolutely amazing moment. We did get a videotape of most of this. Of course, I don't know if we even own a VCR anymore. BUT, as soon as I can get it on to a cd, I will see about posting it for your viewing pleasure. I also need to get a picture up of Autumn's belly. Strangers have started rubbing my wife's belly and I don't know how to feel about that, yet.

The Big Day... One of many, I guess

We have a doctor's appointment to have an ultrasound this afternoon. In a few hours, we could know the sex of the baby. I am sure we will post - to a grandfather's chagrin - and share the news. As it is, I am excited about this milestone and wonder how it is going to change Autumn and I. People have asked if we are hoping for a certain sex. I will speak for myself when I say I am really not leaning one way or another. I honestly don't want a boy over a girl or a girl over a boy - a baby is blessing enough for me. Just an anxiety post, really. More news to follow!

Beauty and calm

Well I am finally back from a long, tiring, and disappointing trip to Des Moines. For the first time in over 16 years, we did not place in the top ten in nation. What we did do is get our flight delayed a day so that we we flying in the day of the competition while split into groups on different airlines going through different cities. We also managed to have some luggage lost. Also managed several all night trips to the ER with one of the students. With all of this on my plate, I didn't have enough time to visit with my family up there. Hopefully, I can get back up there quickly to actually visit.
I was very excited to get home and relax and catch up on things here, however, there was no calm in this world either. Just a crazy tiem for everyone I suppose. I spent most of yesterday in bed hoping to sleep through it all, but was back up and at it this morning. I decided to sneak away today about 4pm and found myself with a bit of a smaile when I pulled up at the house and saw the flowers starting to bloom and the grasses beginning to grow. So Chris and I walked around the yard to see what had survived and what was already coming up. It was so calming. I guess my parents and his parents' love of the garden and its beauty has somehow passed on to us.
We decided to take a few pictures of the front fence to show you the roses that we planted last year that my parents shared with us as well as the azaleas we have cared for since being in the house. So we thought we would share for those you that might need a little beauty in your life.
Wishing you beauty and calm.

First Lesson: Patience

Well, yesterday was another check up and we thought it was our ultrasound appointment to learn boy or girl, but oh no. The doc's office had other ideas. Apparrently they did not have us down for an ultrasound so we go back on April 25th to try and find out. These people obviously do not know that I do not sit back and wait well. I am determined to find out before then somehow.....but how. As for the baby, the heartbeat was still very strong and everything looked good. The doctor is a little upset with me as I have continued to lose weight. I tried to explain that maybe I was just too big of girl to begin with.
Sorry we haven't posted in awhile. Our worlds have been running in every direction lately. We have either been out of town with family or had family here visiting. We are just now playing catch up. It has been nice though having all of our family around. We have enjoyed all of the visits and look forward to many more.
Not really any pics to post right now, but we will very soon. The new office should be done shortly and the store has now been rearranged. We are still planning on painting and changing a few things, but it is a start. Might even post one of those, "Ohhhhh, how cute, you are getting your pooch," that people seem found of lately. Especially now that Mom hooked me up with some really cute preggers clothing. I don't have to go around with my pants undone anymore.
Enough rambling, but we didn't want you to think we had abandoned the site. :)