Waiting on Kinley

It's been an emotional past few weeks for my family. In early November, doctors discovered that my brother had a benign tumor growing behind his ear and pushing into his brain. He had lost partial hearing in one ear a while ago and it had really been causing him problems. He visited an ENT doctor who decided to have an MRI done. We are so grateful that they did because they found the tumor. It's a rare thing and we praise the Lord they found it. It was a bit of a shock to all of us. It's been a long month as we've awaited the day of the surgery. The earliest they could do surgery to remove it was November 30. After undergoing two surgeries and a week in the neuro ICU unit, my brother was finally able to go home. It was emotionally draining on all of us as it's so hard to see someone you love so much undergo such a serious operation. The whole time, we were just praying that Kinley would wait since my parents needed to be with my brother in Memphis. It was hard for me to be away during this time. I felt so helpless up here in Louisville. The Lord protected my brother during these very serious operations. We praise God for how he guided the neurosurgeon and the other team of doctors as they carefully removed the tumor. We pray that my brother will have a fast recovery and will be able to get lots of rest. My brother did lose total hearing in one hear but we are just so happy that they were able to get the tumor out.

I'm very grateful that Kinley waited for my brother to make it through these surgeries, but now I'm really ready to meet her. She seems to just want to stay put now. I reached the 40 week mark this past Tuesday and had an appointment that same day. The doc told me that the 7th was my actual due date even though they've been saying the 9th all along. We had an ultrasound done and our little girl doesn't appear to be so little. :) She seems quite fat and happy in her home. It was an emotional appointment for me as we decided what to do for the next step. We decided to start the induction process Thursday night. They will put my on a drug to help thin me out and then will start pitocin at 6 am Friday. So by Friday, we should have our baby girl in our arms. I keep praying that she will just come now and I wont have to worry about this induction thing!

A Fabulous Fall

These past few months have been very eventful and fun-filled with birthdays, showers and work! I've been super busy trying to wrap up the magazine before Kinley's arrival, and I've neglected the blog. We met Bennett Moore (Kevin and Ginny's little boy) in early October after he was about a week or so old. We got to celebrate my dear friend Caitlin's 30th birthday the end of October. We went to an Italian restaurant for dinner and put silly mustaches on our faces and sprayed our hair gray. Then we went roller skating afterwards. As much as I wanted to skate, I thought it would be best if I just watched! We had another birthday to celebrate on October 30-our good friend Joanna.

On November 6 we had another amazing shower that my dear friends from church hosted. They did such a wonderful job with decorations, games and food. My mom drove up for the weekend. It's always great to have her here. She helped me get all the gifts organized and put away. Andrew and I have been blessed beyond measure!! Kinley has everything that she will need. We are getting so anxious to meet our little girl. It could really happen any day now. It's so hard to be in this place of not knowing what day it may happen and just wondering all the time if I will go into labor any time soon. I'm very nervous about the labor and delivery part and about becoming a parent but I have all this anticipation and excitement of seeing the face of our little girl. I just want to meet this little person that has been growing inside of me. I want to see the little feet that have been kicking me!! I just try to imagine all her little features. I cant wait!!

Meeting Bennett Moore

The girls celebrating Caitlin's 30th!

Our silly mustaches and gray hair!

Roller skating

Celebrating our friend Joanna's birthday

Louisville shower with my dear friend Tricia

Me, Ashley & Emily

Cute little dresses

All the amazing hostesses!

My mom and her best friend drove up to share in all the fun!

Another Wonderful Shower!

The week after the Germantown shower, my mom and I headed to Atlanta for another fabulous shower. We picked Andrew up along the way. It was a quick trip but was great to see his family! We got so many wonderful things for Kinley! I've felt a little overwhelmed at all these gifts and blessings that have poured in from people. As I see all these adorable outfits, I just try to imagine little Kinley in them. With each passing day, we get closer and closer to meeting her. I can't wait to see what she will look like, but I'm a little nervous about this whole parenting thing. Fortunately, I know lots of moms who I can call for advice!!! I'm sure I will need it. Here are some pictures from the fun shower in Atlanta!

The cute sign one of the hostesses made!

Me with the "grandmas."

The fabulous hostesses!

My cousin and her husband were able to come to the shower.

I'm sure Andrew will need this book!

My sister-in-law who did a great job writing down all the gifts!

Great time in Germantown

This whole past week I've been in Germantown spending some wonderful time with family and friends. I know this will probably be the last trip I make home before our baby girl arrives. Andrew and I have decided to name her Kinley Ruth. We chose the name Kinley because my brother is a big mountain climber and even climbed Mt. McKinley in Alaska. We chose Ruth because we had been trying to have a child for a while. Our small group at church was reading through the book of Ruth. On the last night of the study, we were talking about how Ruth had been barren with her first husband and when she married Boaz, God blessed them with a child. We were able to tell our group that night that we were pregnant. We're very thankful for everyone's prayers and wanted to have a reminder of God's blessing to us. Later, we found out that Ruth is a family name on both Andrew's side and my side. :)

I had my first baby shower this past Saturday hosted by my mom's sweet friends. It was such a fun morning and I got some great things for Kinley. Here are some pics from the shower. I cannot figure out how to rotate the pictures. :(

Lake Getaway!

Andrew and I were able to enjoy a very relaxing get-away this past week at my boss's cabin on Tim's Ford Lake! On our way down, we stopped in Murfreesboro and caught up with old friends. We got to meet our friend's new baby girl Stella. She is so precious! We also ate at Andrew's favorite Murfreesboro restaurant, Camino Real, and caught up with several of our former youth students. Every time I'm around them, it just reminds me that I'm getting old. Some of them are preparing to go off to college and others are going to be seniors this year. Where does the time go??

We really enjoyed our few days at the lake, away from the internet and distractions of everyday. It was sooo hot outside so we spent a lot of time inside reading, playing cards, working on a puzzle and just being lazy. We were very grateful that my boss let us stay here for a few days! We did make a day trip to Chattanooga and met up with Andrew's mom, sister and brother. It had been a while since we had been together, so it was great to see them.

On our way back to Louisville, we stopped again in Murfreesboro so we could eat at my favorite restaurant, Demos'! Man I love that place. During this whole pregnancy, all I could think about was a Demos' steak. I've wanted one so bad!! I was very happy to have my steak, spaghetti alfredo, bread and salad. I'm getting hungry again just thinking about it!

Here are a few pictures from our little vacation!

Me, Andrew and baby Stella Kramer

My boss's great lake house!

Just hanging out on the dock by the lake.

Eating at Big River Grille in Chattanooga with Andrew's mom, sister and brother.

Quick, let's take this picture before we all fry!

Time to brag on my brother!

I've got to give a little shout out to my brother, Karson! He completed his goal of climbing all 54 14,ooo-ft. mountains in Colorado! It's taken him 14 years to accomplish this goal. He climbed many of the mountains by himself. I wish I could post pictures of him on every summit. He is such an inspiration to us all. I truly cannot imagine doing what he did. I've climbed 7 of the 14ers and just never got into it like he did. He has loved climbing since he was born!!! The Memphis paper did a very nice article on. Here's a link to the wonderful article.

http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2010/jul/27/mountain-man/

Way to go Karson!! We're all so proud of you!

Sweet BABY GIRL!!

On Tuesday of this week Andrew and I went in for the 20 week ultrasound and got to see adorable pictures of our BABY GIRL!! My mom was able to be there for it as well, and it was very special to have her here. I must admit that I had already made up my mind that it was a boy. Andrew had felt the same way too, and we had picked a few boys names that we really liked. So when the ultrasound tech announced that we were having a girl, I think we were in shock! But we are so excited to have this blessing in our life and now, I think we are getting used to the idea of a daughter.

While my mom was here, we did lots of shopping and running around and couldn't resist buying things for our baby girl. We even picked out bedding and some decor for her room. If you know me very well, you know that pink is not my favorite color. So we're going with an adorable green and brown theme and I just love it!! I really wasnt planning on getting all this done for the nursery, but it's coming together so well. I know that Andrew and I will both have a really busy fall so it's nice to have all this taken care of. Here are some pictures of our girl and her cute room!

Waving to the world!

She may be sucking her thumb or just putting her hand in front of her face. So cute!

My sweet mom who spent the week helping me get the room ready!

5 months!

One of my dearest friends Jensey stopped in Louisville with her husband Nate. We were able to grab a quick lunch together. I have known Jensey since kindergarten and she is still such a wonderful friend. She and her husband are currently living in Orlando and are awesome wedding photographers, but they will be moving to Nashville soon, so it will be great to have them so close!

Our little girl's brown and green room!
(The white circle on the wall is a reflection from the mirror.)