A Baby

Good news, folks!  Gutshall baby #2 is on its way!

Emerson is going to be a big brother!

We are 10 weeks pregnant and according to our ultrasound, our baby is due March 24, 2013.  Yes!  If you remember correctly, that was Emerson's due date AND birthday!  I said I wanted my kids two years apart, I just didn't know it would happen so according to my plan!  God is so good to us and we feel very blessed and undeserving right now.  Please pray for us and especially our little one as God knits him/her together.

Quiet House

Today my mom came down and we met at Chick fil a for lunch.  Then we went to Target and she got me some clothes and cute storage things for our house.  I had a lot of fun with her and she is the most giving person I know.  She came down to take Emerson from me :(  He is going to stay at Nana and Papa's for the night and we will retrieve him tomorrow.  Caleb and I have CPR/First Aid training for foster care tomorrow.  That is why they are watching him. 

So when I come home, my house is so quiet.  Any of you mothers know that whenever you have a child, none of your minutes become your own.  Yet they are the best minutes ever because you are caring for this little person who needs you.  You wake up to their voice in the morning and you are with them every moment until they go to bed.  You get used to it.  It might be an adjustment at first, but eventually you come to love it.  And THEN it feels weird when that little person is gone and no one needs you!  It makes me think how different life would be if you ever lost a child, or even when your kid goes to kindergarten, or college!  I'm still trying to dumb-en Emerson up, so he won't go to college and will live with me til he's 40...  Ok, maybe that would be a little odd. 

Anyway, my mom took the dog too, so our house is exceptionally quiet.  Caleb and I don't know what to do with ourselves when they are gone.  We just follow each other around and talk about how weird it is.  Of course, we eventually find things to do with ourselves :)  I may make banana bread this afternoon.  If I feel up for it, I may take a nap.  Tonight, Caleb and I are going on a date.  So, we won't be too bored ;)  But we will still miss our boys.  Well, here are a few pictures taken this week.  Have a magnificent weekend!  Hug your little ones :)

Moving all the chairs to the kitchen.  Entertaining himself :)

Yummy Hedge Apple

Checking out the fishies

All Aboard!

Our other boy :)

Pep in my Step

About this time every year I start getting that itch for fall, even winter.  I have to admit, I am not much of a summer person.  Especially when it gets really hot.  Anything over 90 degrees is too hot for me.  Thankfully, it has cooled down a little bit the last few weeks, which makes my itch even stronger.  School starting back up, the cool mornings, and the fall magazines in my mailbox signal it's close! 

I know it's pathetic, but I checked out a few unseasonal books from the library the other day; a Thanksgiving one and a Snowy Day one.  I have to teach Emerson now to love snow.  I think it's his favorite book right now :)  That's my boy!  And I've already said several prayers for snow this winter.  You don't know how much it saddened me that we didn't get any snow last year.  I have faith this year will be different, because it's this cool in August. 

I saw mums at Wal-Mart today.  And all kinds of squashes.  Football season is upon us.  More signs, people.  It puts a little pep in my step.  My favorite time of year is coming! 

The Deep Blue Sea

Emerson got to see the ocean for this first time this past week.  His very first reaction was not fear, but rather fearlessness as he attempted to run right into the ocean!  When we first stopped by the beach, we wore our normal clothes and didn't intend to swim.  We were just trying to waste time before we could check into our beach house.  Emerson did not stay dry for long.  He was drenched from his shoulders down  and he loved it.

Seeing the ocean for the first time.  All dry.

Sitting in the ocean for the first time.  All wet.

Photo from Mike, my father-in-law

One of the best things about this trip was that we got to meet our niece for the first time!  And we got to spend the whole week with her!!  She was so sweet and definitely the most laid back baby I have ever met in my life.  Ever!  If was fun to get to spend so much time with miss Nolah.

Holding her for the first time!

Baby toes.  Cousins.  Mike's photo

The rest of the week was spent swimming, playing, napping, and eating out.  We ate out every. single. night.  I don't want to eat out for at least a month :)  lol.. but, seriously.  It was good to spend time with Caleb's family.  His aunt, uncle, and cousins came too, so it was fun to get to know them a little better.  They were a fun group! 

We found sand all over our boy.  You name it, we found it there.  This includes in the ears and the diaper.

Notice the sand coating his face

Daddy created a mini pool for Emerson

Oh, and I had my 26th birthday while I was there.

 The whole gang!

It was a wonderful trip and we survived the 20+ hour trek both ways.  After driving through the night, we developed a new appreciation for beds and horizontal sleep.  I am so glad we were able to take this trip and spend some quality time with the fam.  It was bittersweet to leave, but it was also good to be home.  Home sweet home.

Emerson saying "bye-bye" to the ocean