THR33

“Today I take you to be my partner in life and my second true love. Today I give myself to you in marriage. I promise to encourage and inspire you, to laugh with you, and to comfort you in times of sorrow and struggle. Through all of the uncertainties and trials of life, I promise to be faithful to you and love you, so that together, we may grow in the likeness of Christ and that our home may be a praise to Him.”

On this day 3 years ago, I looked into the eyes of a man and said those words. My feet were killing me and I really needed a drink of water but I was sure it was the greatest day of my life.

I was wrong.

Jason and I spent our engagement picking out flowers, reading books, choosing tuxedos, attending weekend marriage classes, and dreaming of “the big day”.

On our wedding day, Jason stood at the front of the church glowing (mostly from the profuse sweating) as I walked down the aisle with a great dad on either side. As our wedding ceremony progressed, we vowed that we will love and honor one another all our lives and that divorce will never be a solution to our problems. We both fought back tears and nerves and a serious case of the giggles to maintain our composure. We were just two young kids trying to stand tall in front of 150 people and make some extremely lofty promises to each other. Then Jason took my hands in his and melted our worries and nerves away with one small prayer. This day we thanked our First True Love for bringing us together and praised Him for the love he was growing in us. Best day of my life – you bet!

Through our first year of marriage we experienced…being married. We originally called these experiences “ups and downs”. We now know that a whole lot of “ups and downs” all lined up together and experienced side by side are marriage. Marriage is up. Marriage is down. Marriage is ups and downs. Please keep your hands and feet inside the car at all times and secure any loose articles before the ride begins.

Pick up your socks.

What’s for dinner?

Where is our money going?

I’m going to pray for you right now.

You cannot wear those shoes with that outfit – ugh!

Angie, get a job!

If I do the laundry will you fold it?

Close the door when you use the bathroom!

It’s trash day.

You used all the hot water!

I thought you were going to fold the laundry.

Angie, get a job!

I’m tired of cooking, can we eat out?

Our second year of marriage brought new jobs (finally), better communication, and 365 days of marriage experience. We pretty much had it all figured out by now. Jason doesn’t even realize there is a basket in the closet for his dirty socks, I will never remember trash day (even if I do, I probably won’t walk the trash all the way to the curb), living room dance floors are the most romantic, we spend too much money eating out, someone should invent a laundry folding machine, and we are still crazy about each other. Best days of my life – you bet!

So, as we celebrate our 3rd Anniversary, this is what I’m excited about:

Jason still makes me a better Angie. I can be more of myself and be more comfortable in who I am with him by my side. He knows that he will always come second in my life and loves me deeper for it. His leadership is selfless and inspiring. Jason has a heart for serving others that is contagious and I love catching it. The gift of our first pregnancy has humbled both of us, brought us to tears, and drawn us closer to each other and closer to God. So, I'll keep picking up socks, he'll keep taking the trash out, and maybe I'll start cooking more, maybe.

Three years ago I thought life couldn’t get any better and here we are – better. We realized that God had greater plans for us; plans that would be better executed if we did them together as a team, as partners. Now, we are being called to parenthood and called to raise children that are champions in Christ. We are excited to see the plans God has for us and the lives we can impact as a family of 3. TODAY is the best day of my life! (and I'm willing to bet tomorrow is even better)

Happy Anniversary, J. I still do.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

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Top 5 Questions About Being Pregnant

After announcing our pregnancy, there are several ridiculous questions that have been presented over and over and over and over. I don't necessarily mind them and actually, I love talking to people about this journey and our tiny sprout, whom we lovingly refer to as "Jangie" (like Bennifer or Brangelina - but then not like that at all).

DISCLAIMER: If there was a sarcasm font I would begin using it here - there is no such font. Please don't be offended if you have been the generous and concerned friend presenting one or more of the questions below.


Here are the top 5 questions of the first trimester (and my answers):

5. How long have you known? Well, I was the first one to know the big secret. You see, there is one tell-tale sign that a girl is with child. Without details or continuing on this subject (just in case a boy reads it), it would be safe to say that I knew within a day or two of the 4th week (which seems more like it should be called the 1st week but, whatever). Combine that tell-tale sign with a smorgasbord of sticks flashing plus signs faster than I could flush the toilet and well, we knew. With the exception of our family and a couple of close friends, we kept my soon-to-be budding belly a secret for about 8 weeks.



4. Oh, Congratulations! Is that why you...?
Is that why you stopped drinking 80 million cups of coffee everyday? Is that why you have been eating Thai Cafe for lunch so often? Is that why you didn't help with any painting or lifting or carrying during At The Movies set-up week? Is that why you canceled your tanning membership? Is that why you finally got a tankini? Is that why you didn't have a glass of wine? Is that why you haven't been wakeboarding all summer? Is that why you're getting fat? Yes! That is exactly why. Thank you for pointing out every single slightly unhealthy aspect of my pre-preggo lifestyle.



3. Have you been sick?
Probably the question that I hate to answer almost the most. I don't mind talking about barf. I have barfed several thousand times in my life. I loathe this question because of the lashing, bitterness, and evil stares my answer provokes. Through the first few months, sometimes all 9 months, many expectant moms experience morning (noon and night) sickness. Eating, smelling or even thinking of food can bring on waves of horrific nausea. That is what I read in my book anyway. I have not been sick at all. Sorry. See, you're happy for me but so mad at me and maybe a little jealous all at the same time. A direct quote from my mother, who is anxiously awaiting her first grandchild, "Maybe you're just really good at being pregnant and you can have a lot of grand babies."
Uh huh. Let's do one at a time lady.

2. Do you think/feel like it is a boy or a girl?
Seriously? I am supposed to feel like Jangie is one or the other. Is it supposed to appear to me in a dream? I dreamed I peed the baby out one time but I was freaked out and woke up sweating before I could check the sex. Seriously, can people tell? I've never done this before. I have decided that this question is a polite way for people to find out what sex we hope Jangie is and that my friends, is information for a later post.


1. Were you trying?
Ummm...excuse me? Did I forget to put the Do Not Disturb sign on the door? This question has been followed by some real doozies. To keep it PG Rated, the most common follow up question to this inquiry is, "Were you trying or just not preventing?" I could be completely wrong about this or maybe I listened too intently to an overzealous school nurse give a radical explanation about birds, bees, boys, and babies but, I'm not so sure that "trying" and "not preventing" aren't pretty much the same thing. When this particular question is posed I always find myself struggling to answer. I don't know if I should pause and give a quick lesson about sex and how babies are made and emphasize that it only takes one time or if I should just answer what I think they are trying to ask. Yes. We meant to do it (no pun intended). Now if you could please take your questions outside of my bedroom I bet we'd all be a little more comfortable.



Baby update: thumb sucking, peeing, grasping, and facial expressions are all happening. Jangie is the size of a lemon and my stomach is sticking out as if the little sprout was the size of a cantaloupe. Hello week 14 and unbuttoned jeans.







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I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream...

WE'RE PREGNANT!!!
Well, I'm pregnant and Jason watches and brings me ice cream.

I originally started this blogging thing as an outlet for my random thoughts about life and my attempts to be adventurous. Apparently it will now be my random thoughts about growing people inside my belly.
I am currently 13 weeks into this miracle and just as clueless as I was on day 1. Yes, I received the book "What To Expect When You're Expecting" from my dear friend and soon-to-be mom for the second time, Sarah. It is fantastic and I'm trying really hard to read ahead and be prepared (though I know this is not truly possible). So, stick around and keep reading to follow along in our adventure, excitement, and preparations!

Our due date is January 17th, 2011