2. Family is the most important thing in my life. No matter what I go through and no matter where I’ve been I know my family will stick by my side and stand up for me.

3. Who my true friends are. True friends are the ones that stand up for you when you’ve messed up. That understand and will do anything to help you. Will call you just to see how you are doing. Don’t run away when things get uncomfortable and will not care to be seen with a waddling pregnant woman in public

4. The miracle of life. Pregnancy is truly a miracle. It is completely unbelievable how a life can form from two microscopic cells. Just watching the ultrasounds and hearing a heart beat at just 10 weeks from something that honestly looks like a peanut. And watching that peanut turn into something that looks, feels, sleeps, and kicks like a baby is indescribable.

5. The only thing that is eternal is a soul. Everything in this life is meaningless. When it’s all over it doesn’t matter what career you had, how much money you made, or what your GPA was. The only thing that matters in the end is where you are going to spend the rest of eternity and the impact that you left on this earth.

6. Patience. Although I haven’t mastered this goal by any means, I feel that it is something I am faced with daily. From waiting on doctors, waiting on circumstances to be solved, and truly seeing that with a little patience in every situation, God will come through.

7. Love. I know what it means to love someone so much that you would sacrifice everything you thought was important just to be able to be with them. I know that human love will never be perfect but I know that no matter what Kennedy does or says I will always love her. I have also seen such great examples of love in my own life lately. From the unconditional love from my parents and close friends to the overwhelming and magnificent love of a wonderful Savior.

8. Not to care what people think. Everyone has his or her own opinion. You can’t change that. All you can do is be completely confident that you are doing the right thing and ignore the looks, comments, or judgment that is trying to keep you down.

9. God answers prayer. From the very beginning when I prayed for God to slam the door in my face if I wasn’t meant to go to New York (right before I found out I was pregnant) to insurance problems, pediatricians, and other situations that arose. God doesn’t always give the answer you expect but he will always lead you in the right direction.

10. Stable doesn’t necessarily mean normal. Though Kennedy may not be born into what some may consider a “normal” family she has more love and people that are so excited to see her than some babies who are born into a “normal” family. I have seen that there are many different types of families and the definition of a family is simply people who love each other and look out for each other.

11. Some people surprise you. Some people I thought would be so judgmental or unsupportive of my decision to keep the baby have had completely opposite reactions. The same is true however for some people that I thought would be supportive that haven’t been.

12. Fetal hiccups are so much fun! I never thought that I could get so much joy, excitement, and entertainment from feeling Kennedy move. Out of all the movement and the kicks I must say that the hiccups are my favorite. Annoying at times, yes, but I just have to remind myself how amazing it is that there is a little person inside of me that gets hiccups just like I do

13. The generosity of people is amazing. I had four baby showers. Four! It completely blows me away at the gifts I received and the eagerness of so many friends to help out. I am so thankful and grateful to every single person. I ended up not having to spend much money at all on things I needed to get ready for her to be here and for that I am soooo thankful and couldn’t put into words what it means to me.

14. Pregnancy truly bonds a mother and daughter. My mom and I have gotten extremely close throughout this whole experience. She is my role-model and my constant friend. I am so blessed to have her as a great example to look up to.

15. Distance is no match for true friendship. True friends will stay close no matter how many miles are put between them. Period.

16. No matter how big you think the baby is getting it will ALWAYS get bigger. I remember thinking how big I was and how heavy she was at just 5 months. HA!

17, Great stories are meant to be shared. I love telling my story to people. It is such a personal testimony to how God has truly reviled Himself to me. I love sitting with people one on one and simply sharing this experience.

18. What To Expect When You’re Expecting is the holy book of pregnancy. If you are pregnant and do not have this book, get it. Now.

19. Mexican food does not start labor late in pregnancy. In fact mexican food late in pregnancy just causes nausea, heartburn, indigestion, upset stomach and possible diarrhea but you can’t take pepto bismol when your pregnant so just watch out

20. Full moons do not always lead to labor. My mother was convinced that Kennedy would come on the full moon. This was because she went into labor on a full moon with both me and my brother. There is some scientific proof to why full moons make women go into labor. It didn’t work for me.

21. No matter how much you think you are ready for labor you will never be. As much as I try to convince myself that I am so ready to have this baby I am so nervous about what it is going to be like and how everything is about to change. I really think I am ready to tackle all of this but there is still that anxiousness.

22. When you are pregnant you will see numbers on a scale you never thought possible. Enough said.

23. The first trimester of pregnancy is def the worst. The second is the best and by the third you are miserable but at least you aren’t as sick as you were in those first few months.

24. Nine months are needed in pregnancy to fully prepare you for motherhood. I look back at who I was nine months ago and how much I have matured and changed in order to be a good mother. It is amazing how much motherly instinct just comes over the months.

25. My life has changed forever. It will continue to change but I believe it has been the best change I could ever ask for and I couldn’t imagine having it any other way.

http://www.expectnet.com/games/KennedyGrace

I’ve been getting a lot done in the nursery. It’s coming together so nicely!! I’m not going to post any pictures until it’s complete though. It’s just so cool how everything is in the final stage.

I had my second baby shower this past Sunday. It was so nice. There were a lot of people there I hadn’t seen in a really long time and it was really nice to see all of them and catch up a little. Kennedy got a lot of really great stuff! I was very surprised by the turn-out and it was a very nice shower. I’m going to add a shower picture gallery at the top of the website page

Went to the doctor today and I am now on weekly appointments! It’s getting so close!!! Had an ultrasound and Group B Strep test today. The ultrasound was great got some real cute pics of Kennedy’s face and she is pouting her lips in one of them. It’s the cutest thing! She’s going to get anything she wants with those little pouty lips. She weighs an approx. 5lbs and 13oz. I can’t believe she is that big! Well, actually I knew she was getting heavier to carry The doc said I have just started to dilate. Not enough to be a 1 yet but at least the process has started. We talked about an induction date and haven’t finalized anything yet but hopefully will by next week.

As far for me, I’m feeling good. A little miserable carrying around an almost 6lb baby but it’s to be expected. Had my first big contraction last night. Braxton-Hicks no doubt but it was not comfortable. The anticipation is scary. Not knowing when it will happen and when I will go into labor is starting to worry me. I don’t like not knowing things. I know it will all be okay but I just wish I knew!! It’s also getting a lot harder to sleep with a big baby belly but I think this is just God’s way of preparing me for all the sleep I’m about to lose when she gets here

I have another baby shower coming up on Sunday and I’m very excited! If I don’t post anything about it then, I will try to update after my doc appt next Tuesday. Thanks for all your prayers and support!!

For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
Psalm 139:13

After the hospital I went to the doctor for my two week routine checkup. Two weeks ago at the doctor they said that my belly was measuring at 30 inches which was a little low since I was 31 weeks. It should have been more around 31. This time the external measurement was still at 30 inches so they wanted to get an internal measurement to make sure the baby had grown in the past two weeks because it didn’t appear that she had. So they squeezed me into the ultrasound schedule and all of her measurements were great! She is growing very nicely. They still don’t know why those external measurements were off but Kennedy is doing fine and right on track. She weighs 4lbs and 12oz! She is getting so big Also, she cooperated with showing us her little face. She has some cute chubby cheeks!! I can’t wait to kiss them

Kennedy is doing great. She is getting so much bigger! She weighs around 3.5 pounds and I can feel her every movement now. Two weeks ago I had another growth ultrasound which everything was fine. However, Kennedy decided to turn her head toward my back and therefore we didn’t get to see that beautiful face Maybe next time. I’m not going to the doctor every two weeks which means I’m getting closer! This week was short and we just discussed scheduling an induction or not. No final decision was made but I think it is what I will end up doing so I can make sure that my doctor will deliver her.

Childbirth classes also started last week. Me and Mom got lost and made a grand entrance as the only non-couple couple late. It was very entertaining. But we discussed a lot about pregnancy which by this point was kinda useless. Like one of the things the teacher told us: Don’t drink caffiene after noon because this will get your baby moving and active during the night and will already set the carcadian rhythm for their sleep patterns when they arrive. That would have been nice to know before I started having my caffiene for the day with dinner or at our lovely campaigns meeetings. But it is true that Kennedy is much more active at night… so no sleep for me when she comes We also got a tour of the birthing center and it was really nice. It always good to know what you are getting yourself into (even though scary at times).

The nursery is now painted! Well almost…. there are a few touchup spots that need to be fixed but we ran out of paint!!! So that’s on my to-do list that just keeps growing and growing. Once the paint is officially done I can start arranging the furniture and get ready for some more baby showers

I went to babiesrus on Tuesday and bought some really cute things for miss kennedy grace. I got her an outfit, a halloween hat, some really fuzzy soft socks, some little hairbows, and a couple things for the nursery. I’m so excited to get to dress her up!!

Today I also accoplished a much needed task and found a pediatrician that will take TennCare!! They are also located close to home and make rounds to the hospital. That is an answered prayer right there. She will be seeing someone at Pediatric Consultants of East TN. So if anyone has a recommendation as to which doctor there please let me know.

I believe the insurance thing will be taken care of as soon as she is born. No one seems concerned about it so I’m not going to worry either. Right now I need prayer for finding someone to keep her when I start back to school in January. I’m on two waiting lists at two daycares both of which are outrageously expensive. I would really like to find someone who already stays at home and can keep her just for the few hours I am in class each week. That would be ideal.

Things are def starting to come together and I am amazed to see the pieces of the puzzle start to fit together!

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6

I went to the doctor on Monday for the one hour glucose test. The drink was awful but I managed to get it down and didn’t get too bored during hour wait. I saw the doctor and she measured my stomach and listened to the fetal heatbeat and everything was great! She is measuring correctly and heartbeat sounds good too. No ultrasound this time but it good to know that she is still doing well even if I can’t see her.

I got the test results back this morning. My glucose level is good!! That means no three hour test with the 13 hour fast. I really don’t know if I could go that long without eating!! My iron was a little low and they suggested to put me on an iron supplement which should help those levels from getting too low. So everything was good! Praise God!!

Over the past few weeks I have registered at both Target and BabiesRus which was so much fun! Both registeries can be viewed online by going to target.com or babiesrus.com if you would like to see!

I have also started getting stuff together and starting on the nursery! I’m so excited! I’ve got paint picked out and some furniture and crib bedding. It’s coming along quite nicely. I can’t wait until it is all finished so I can post pictures!!

Along with keeping up with working 3 days a week at the country club and taking my hard demanding summer class I guess you could say I have been very busy the past month. The summer class ends July 30th and then I will have a little more time one my hands. I can’t wait!

Kennedy is still doing well. She is moving around quite a bit and i can tell shes is starting to get bigger. I just can’t wait until she gets here

“I lift my eyes up to the hills, where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” Psalms 121:1-2