Showering Greyson- Couple's Shower

We have the best group of friends! It seems like the group of girls that I always hung out with in high school ended up marrying someone in the same group of guys that was a few years older than us! There are a few exceptions and we still love them just as much! 

Friday, January 11 we had our Couple's Shower at Haley and Evan's house!

Haley and Evan, Sara and Ryan, Katlyn and John, and Alex and Jason put together this shower for us. 

We were once again blessed with many great things for Greyson! This is going to be one spoiled little boy!

 

 Cute decorations filled with goodies for the Greyster

 

 I loved this wreath! It is hanging on Greyson's nursery door now 

Me with Katlyn- she is about 2 1/2 weeks behind me with Averie!

I love her so very much!

Some more of the girls while we were playing Partini, Baby Style

Again, we are so blessed with a great group of loving friends!

  

Showering Greyson- Church Shower

I can not even begin to describe the showers that we had for Greyson! We literally got everything we could have wanted, and more!

January 6 was our first shower at our church. We have such a loving and giving church and we could not be more thankful! I left feeling so overwhelmed and blessed! I still can not get over all the people that took the time to think of John Thomas and me during this exciting time in our life! Here is the gift table at the end of the shower! 

Here are pictures of the cute table decorations

This is just funny to me. When John Thomas and I registered he insisted on scanning this bib and neither thought someone would buy it...only Randi and Sherry :)

It says, "If you think I'm cute you should see my dad"

October - December

Where has the time gone??? I looked the other day and realized the last post I had was in October.

We have been so busy with work and life I have just not found the time to sit down and write. I use Instagram all the time and it helps me document what is going on.

I only have 6 short weeks from yesterday until due date! I can not believe it has been 34 weeks already! We are ready for Greyson to get here, but I think I am more than anyone! I am clearing space on my computer to make sure I have plenty of room to upload and store all my pictures after his arrival!
 

My showers start Sunday and I could not be more excited! Once the showers are over and his room is done exactly how I want it, I will post pictures.

Until then, go check out Passion 2013's Live Stream. Session Five is what I have been listening to while cleaning up the house. It's awesome. I wish our church had gone to this when I was in college! I would love to attend this...the speakers are incredible!

http://live.268generation.com/

 

Back to work tomorrow....five weeks for me then it will be baby time! Unless he decides to come early!

love-

Pregnancy Update and Other Shananigans...

I realized the other day that I am shooting myself in the foot by not posting each week like I wanted to. Then I thought about it and remembered that my busy everyday life is a BLESSED life! I am so thankful that I have a home to come home to and clean. I am thankful to have a job that I absolutely love, even when I have 76 research papers to grade and what seems like never-ending meetings sometimes. I am thankful for a husband who works hard for our family. I am thankful we both have jobs where we can put food on our table, water to fill our bathtub, dishwasher, sink, and washing machine. I am thankful that I am feeling this little boy move all around each day and know he is growing healthy!

So yes, we have been very busy with the hustle and bustle of everyday life and I would not change ONE SINGLE THING!

Enjoy an update of pictures through Instagram since my last post.

Wally had a HORRIBLE reaction to a flea bite. After two trips to the vet, three different types of antibiotics, one shot, and strict bath routine he is much better. This picture was Trip #2 to the vet. He hopped right up into the chair like a human would. One day we may tell him he is dog...I doubt it though. :)

Week 17 and 3 Days. My stomach was a lot more flat the day prior. This is when he really popped to me!

Week 19

John Thomas and my dad have worked super hard on the weekends to build this in our backyard. The disadvantage of our cute little mill house is no storage. Our spare bedroom/Wally's room is transforming to Greyson's room and we needed somewhere for all the "stuff" we have. All that is left is paint and shingles! Good work, boys!

Week 20- This was early in the morning before our "Big Appointment". By "big" they were to measure him and look at his brain, heart, lungs, kidneys, etc. He did not want to do that that day SO I have rescheduled my appointment. He was on his stomach and underneath my belly button so they could not check and get the pictures needed that day. Stubborn little boy. :)

Week 21- not sure about that shadow

Last weekend we took off to the mountains for our annual camping trip! It was great to get away for aa few days! Here is Wally, Bailey and me sitting around the fire Friday night. 

Wally and I when we were riding in Uncle Reed's truck on the Blue Ridge Parkway.


That is all for tonight. Love-

Greyson Stephen Gillespie

John Thomas and I had an appointment set for September 6 for normal blood work the doctor has to do and to find out if we were going to have a little boy or girl. A few weeks before John Thomas started saying he didn't know if he was going to be able to wait until Sept. 6 (about 2 1/2 weeks out at this time) to find out what we were having. There is a place close to where we live that you can go that does gender reveals starting at week 14. I told him it was just two weeks and we could make it, besides..if it was like getting an appointment at the doctor's office it would take forever to get in. He agreed.

Monday came and I could not stop thinking about it, and it was the first day of school. I emailed John Thomas and told him I was going to call and see if I could get us in to do an appointment to see sometime this week. Well now he was convincing me that we could wait two more weeks.

By Wednesday night we both had decided we were not going to wait anymore. I called first thing Thursday morning. I played phone tag all day with the lady working and John Thomas trying to figure out a time we could go. When I left school about 4 that day I called one final time. She was so sweet and told me if I could be there by 5:45 she would squeeze me in. I squealed I was so excited! I told John Thomas he had to hustle and leave work right at 5:30 to meet me (he was only an exit away but the traffic between the two exits is crazy from 5-6 each day!)

We decided we were not going to tell anyone that we were going and surprise everyone that night. I had planned to have a gender reveal party at our house the night after the doctor's visit with cake and the whole nine yards. Before going to the office though I went by Party City and got a bunch of blue and pink balloons so we could leave from the office and go straight to telling people. :)

We sat for what seemed an eternity waiting to go back for the ultrasound (We entertained ourselves by flipping a coin guessing boy or girl). When we finally went back and she started with the ultrasound "it" was being VERY difficult. It would not move or show any parts. After some wiggling around we finally had some movement and clear as day saw that it was a BOY! I think John Thomas was ready for a victory lap around the room! Giddy does not even begin to describe his reaction (and don't worry...I was very excited, too!)

When we left we went straight to Wofford to see Marian (she had a sleep study that evening and was at a dinner so we schemed with his Aunt Monte and was able to greet her at the gate with the balloons!). From there we went a few miles away to JT's brother's and sister-in-law's house. They were so shocked! Then off to my moms. My dad was traveling of course and wasn't at home. Mom was walking Bailey in the neighborhood and was already outside when we pulled off. I jumped out as quickly as I could and grabbed the blue balloons! She kept saying, "I knew it!" She was one of the only people who didn't say what they thought, so I have NO idea what she thought it was.We waited on my brother and his girlfriend to get there to show them and then thanks to technology, we were able to Facetime my dad! Thank the Lord for technology!!


That night it really hit me, I am going to be a mom. I am having a baby. I am having a baby boy. I have a son. It was a feeling that I couldn't describe and still can't. I think it is normal to feel that way. I was so excited and at the same time the realization of it all was making me scared to death.

Enjoy the pictures from the night...

So, in February we will meet our Greyson Stephen Gillespie.
 I.CAN.NOT.WAIT!
I'll post later about the name...


18 weeks tomorrow!

love-

Week 15

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: 15 Weeks 4 Days today

Size of baby: Baby G is the size of an avocado (4-5 inches and 3-5 ounces)

Total Weight Gain/Loss: Haven't weighed myself lately

Maternity Clothes:I am wearing dresses most days. If I do wear pants I make sure to have a trusty rubber band.

Gender: Found out this past Thursday (story to come...), but it's a BOY!

Movement: I think I might have felt a flutter the other night when I was going to sleep but I am not positive.

Sleep: Can't get enough. With school starting I have been past the point of exhaustion most nights.

What I miss: Brushing my teeth without gagging.

Cravings: Probably fruit and anything sour, especially Sour Patch Kids

Symptoms: The continuous "Pregnancy Congestion." I am not a sick person and I have had two colds since I have been pregnant. I haven't been sick lately (knock on wood). Just super tired!

Best Moment this week: Finding out we were having a boy!

After finding out it was a boy. I feel that this week my belly really "popped" out some.

Bullying.

Today we had by far the best staff development training ever. We are beginning a program called Olweus Bullying Prevention Program in our school district. I am not sure how it will work at the K-6 level, but at our school (grades 7&8) I think the impact will be great!

My concern before starting this was that a bullying program would create more drama. When a student was called a name one time it would be reported, etc. and it would create more than help like the purpose should be. Within the first ten minutes of the training I knew my assumption was wrong. 

The opening of our meeting was a YouTube Video. I sat there amazed. I couldn't believe it. Surely that wouldn't happen in our school. However, it does..and often. I just want to share this video. My eyes were opened. I knew about bullying, but never being the "victim" of bullying it's a hard concept to grasp.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TdkNn3Ei-Lg

I am so thankful for our school committee that worked SO hard on this to put this together for our faculty and staff today. I am very excited to get this implemented and watch the impact that it will have!