Just the two of us... celebrating!

I'm back and blogging!

Sorry it has takent so long to get an update out, but I have had been having such a good time with the hubbie, it's been hard to find time to do a blog.

As of today, we are six days out from the due date... and I am thinking she is going to be a late one. No changes in dilation or effacement. I have my next appointment on the 31st so I will keep you updated (check facebook-- I will be better about updating there).  I have been reading about averages and statistics for the first baby, and they say it usually take 41 weeks and a day. However, with the wonderful invention of artifical simulation in contractions and jumpstarting labor, we can work around the stats!
.... and if she goes further than Monday, I can't say that I wouldn't be willing to be jumpstarted...

But to be honest, I AM SO SCARED!! AHHH! PLEASE PRAY FOR ME!

Oh, how I admire all you women who have gone before me-- you give me courage as I approach this life experience!

What has brought me the most comfort is my latest reading. As I went through scripture in the last couple of days, I found these verses:

"I sought the Lord and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant and their faces shall never be ashamed." Psalm 34: 4-5

Such a beautiful reminfer for my heart before I go into this situation: God has already delivered me... and I can trust that!

And I love what Jesus has to say about all a woman in labor in comparison to his leaving/our walk:

"When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you." John 16:21-22

Thank you Jesus for understanding with us, giving us a real picture of the battle before us women and then comforting us saying that we will not remember once we see what all of that pain results in!!

... I am totally taking that verse to the hospital!! Haha!

Ok, moving on. As Andrew and I have been waiting, we have done some things to celebrate our season as it comes to a close (both the season of life as a couple without children AND the season of 'summer' itself). Examples: we have be hiking mulitiple times, fishing DOZENS of times, just spending time reading and chilling and hanging out in a fancy resort....

Actually, I'll let the pictures give you a better idea...

Here are some good ol' messing-with-Eli shots:

Poor Pup!

Haha!

Amd here is our restaurant on the mountain experience.

They are called Seven Glaciers.

Its' a very fancy restaurant that you have to take a tram to get to

(or hike 2 miles straight up hill!!)

I think you are at 3,000 ft of elevation.

It was kind of rainy/cloudy the day we went up (which is the typical day there) so the view wasn't the best, but it was still beautiful in its own way.

Our special Soup de Jour!

(don't ask me whats in it... I can't remember. I think there is an oyster in the middle of it, topped with caviar)

Andrew is excited to be there!

My duck salad!

The next day, we went hiking to the hand tram.

The hike was much better than the first time we had done it and we ACTUALLY got to use the hand tram (too bad I dont know how to load videos on here... I'll figure it out someday..)

This place is considered a rainforest.

Can you figure out why??

It's so pretty!

Baby and I hiking away!

We have been doing a lot of sleeping....

for the first time in my life ;)

More hiking!

By the way.. I think the color white is a bad idea for pregos!

Haha!

On my lovely husband's birthday, he decided that he would take out all of my bushes/trees...

The results:

AHHH!!

Jk... he likes it, so I am happy :)

Oh, and we just recently went to the Alaska State Fair! It was a lot of fun!

I think all we did was eat our way through it...

One of our favorites was the turkey leg!

We look like ravenous animals!

.. it was delicious!

Oh, another noteworthy picture from the State Fair was this:

Yes, Elvis everyone.

Even 4,000 miles away from Memphis, we cannot escape the fame of the king!

(though he kind of looks out of place with the Alaskan mountains in the background!)

Another fun memory: Fishing at Jim Creek.

And yes, that is a glacier in the background.

How fun!!

... to get out to Jim's Creek, you literally had to have a truck.

It was a dirt bikers/ATV heaven!

And I have to say Andrew had a good time in the truck as well!

Eli was, however, quite sad that he missed all the swimming action at Jim's Creek. It was not looked upon kindly to let pup swim where fishermen were trying to catch, so we had to tie him up....

Poor pup :( No fun for him!

Oh, and we are official:

Andrew and I passed the driving exam and got our Alaskan license! 

We also dropped by and got Andrew his birthday Starbucks, which he turned into a game: how expensive can I make this drink! Haha.

He ended up putting 5 shots of decaf in his mocha with a shot of peppermint....

Yes, gross.

It was a $7.50 drink I dont think I will ever order.

But birthday boy loved it!

....even more so because it was free ;)

On his ACTUAL birthday, we went fishing early that morning with the Adam's at Ship's creek...

We caught nothing :(

We ended up at the market for a while though (which is always fun to me!).

Mr. TN himself!

And the boys really got into the painting activity booths that were set up for the public....

Matt spent a lot of time getting his right and looking good!

Andrew, on the other hand, was a little bit of a darker artist...

his was a PG-13......

Oh Elyse... we have GOT to grow up in the next week!

And to finish off his special day, here he is blowing out his '25' candles...

....which makes him ill as he thinks how old he is!

Jk! Happy birthday, soon-to-be daddy!!

And yes, I am back at it!

I woke up this morning before Andrew with lots of energy for the day!

Even at 5:30am.

So to go at the morning strong, I made my husband and I a treat for the fall (since I am guessing cooking will be limited soon).

Here are some Thin Mints I found online...

And yes, they are legit. I recommend trying them. Here is the link.

Good stuff!!

Well, that is all I have for today.

Hope you enjoyed the updates...

Hopefully we will have more exciting ones here in the near future ;)

Blessings-- XOXOXO