A Letter from my Sister...

Sherri sent me this email following the baby shower last week. It was so touching, I just had to share it with everyone:

Sarah,

Becoming a mother is the most incredible thing that will happen in your life. All of the things that used to annoy you about your own mother will now make sense and you will have a complete new respect for all the woman in your life who are a mother too. When I talked about the book of Esther at your shower I really did want to make a point that being a woman is not easy...but it is the most amazing thing we can do. You are really assisting God in a miracle right now by helping him to bring Violet in this world. Esther was a story about an ordinary woman who went on to do really extraordinary things. My prayer for Violet is that she too will be an extraordinary woman. I know that things haven't been easy for you, but now is the time to start fresh and to build a life for Violet that you can be proud of. It won't always be easy--in fact being a mother and wife is the toughest job I can think of at times----but truly it is such an honor to wake up each day and know that I can influence and raise my child using God's instruction manuel. I hope that you realize that the most important thing you can do for Violet is to raise her in God's house. I love you little sister and I can't wait to meet my new little niece.

Love,
Sherri

A house does not make a Home

As many of you may already know, Steve was laid off from his 5 year long job with Dixie Safe and Lock at the end of May. Honestly, it was a blessing in disguise beause he had been very unhappy working there for at least the last year. I could immediately tell a difference in him, it was like a weight had been lifted from his shoulders!

A few days ago we got more surprise news....we have to move. We had always had a great relationship with our landlord, and a few months ago, we decided to go ahead and stay in our home for at least another year. We told this to our landlord and he was very happy to accept - verbally. Well, it seems now that he and his wife are divorcing and now he wants to move back into the house we are in. Lesson learned: Get everything in writing!! We explained how much work we had put into the house, that I was 8 months pregnant - but with no success. Finally, he agreed to give us the option to sign a 6 month lease. Nice, I suppose, but that has us moving right at Christmas / New Year's with a 4 month old. Not to mention, there are limited houses available in the winter! We are really having a hard time with what to do. We were not prepared to move at this point in our life or my pregnancy. This was supposed to be the relaxing, "everything's just about ready" point for me...ugh! This was the place we were going to bring our first baby home, with her pink and green walls, and new chair rail.....you get my point! So, I could spend all day hating my situation and cursing the landlord, but what does that really help. Then my sister texted me yesterday to remind me that, "A HOUSE DOES NOT MAKE A HOME". Simple, and true. My home is with Steve and Violet (and let's not forget Sasha, Stella & Shiner) and as long as we are together, I am home.

Thank you to everyone who has sent words of encouragement. I know these won't be the last obstacles we will have to hurdle, the important thing is that we do - and do it together. Love to you all!!

Sarah & Steve

31 Weeks, 63 days to go....

This last weekend was my baby shower, and it was FANTASTIC. Thank you so much to Gay, Terri, Sherri & Becky!!!! I love you all so much, that day was so perfect! We had many family and friends there, Violet was certainly surrounded with love that day. I was also thankful that my God-daughter, Jordan was able to join us and share that day with me as well.

I've been feeling great (minus the sleepiness), and Steve and I are in shock at how fast time seems to be going. We have been having a great time getting Violet's room together, and I HAVE taken pictures, however, I don't have a USB cable to download them - yet! When we got all the baby shower gifts put away on Sunday, I was able to rock in the glider in her room and read to her one of the many books she received at the shower. She kicked with joy, so I think I'm brewing an avid reader!!

Here are some photos from the shower and weekend:

The hostesses

and now the weekly update:

"This week, your baby measures over 16 inches long. He weighs about 3.3 pounds (try carrying four navel oranges) and is heading into a growth spurt. He can turn his head from side to side, and his arms, legs, and body are beginning to plump out as needed fat accumulates underneath his skin. He's probably moving a lot, too, so you may have trouble sleeping because your baby's kicks and somersaults keep you up. Take comfort: All this moving is a sign that your baby is active and healthy." - courtesy of babycenter.com

30 Weeks

The big 3-0 this week! Way to go Violet! She (we) passed our glucose test with flying colors, no gestational diabetes - yay! We had a checkup yesterday with Dr. Abbott. Baby looks good or "happy" as Dr. Abbott always says. It is always such a relief to hear her little heart beating away, it makes me so happy. The blood test did show that I am anemic, so I had to start taking iron supplements twice a day. I bet that has a lot to do with why I am always so tired and dizzy. Hopefully, I'll get some improvement there.

Last night we went to "Mom's Studio" (Mamaw's house w/ her new camera) to take photos of me and Steve and the belly! We had fun doing them, and I think we got some really great shots. I am amazed that Lucky, Baby or Meeker didn't end up in half of them! HAHA So, thank you MOM (Mamaw) for taking those photos, we will cherish them forever. Here are a couple of our favorites:

Velma Violet Clepper, Violet Sophia Schoff & Violet Alberta Schoff
(all the Violet's togehter! my favorite picture)

Here's what the baby is up to this week:
"Your baby's about 15.7 inches long now, and she weighs almost 3 pounds (like a head of cabbage). A pint and a half of amniotic fluid surrounds her, but that volume will decrease as she gets bigger and takes up more room in your uterus. Her eyesight continues to develop, though it's not very keen; even after she's born, she'll keep her eyes closed for a good part of the day. When she does open them, she'll respond to changes in light but will have 20/400 vision — which means she can only make out objects a few inches from her face. (Normal adult vision is 20/20.) " - courtesy of babycenter.com

Violet's Daddy!

I just couldn't pass this one up....he takes the BEST pictures!! LOL

I love him!!

29 Weeks

As I was sitting with Mom last night, we were looking at the calendar to see how many free weekends we have until Violet is here. Taking out the weekends where we have plans or my shower, that only leaves 7 weekends to get ready for her arrival! That made my heart race quite a bit. I mean, I realize that I am pregnant, I know my due date, but when you put it like that it just shocked me. In a very short time there will be an entire other human being here, that is completely mine to care for - "for the rest of your life" as Mom put it to me last night and I laughed!! Yes, Mom, I realize that I will be a mother for the rest of my life, and ALL that it entails. As I've come to know very well from a daughter's perspective, a Mother's job is NEVER done. (or a Grandmother's or Aunt's either for that matter)

A day late on the update, since I was 29 weeks yesterday....
"Your baby now weighs about 2 1/2 pounds (like a butternut squash) and is a tad over 15 inches long from head to heel. His muscles and lungs are continuing to mature, and his head is growing bigger to make room for his developing brain. To meet his increasing nutritional demands, you'll need plenty of protein, vitamins C, folic acid, and iron. And because his bones are soaking up lots of calcium, be sure to drink your milk (or find another good source of calcium, such as cheese, yogurt, or enriched orange juice). This trimester, about 250 milligrams of calcium are deposited in your baby's hardening skeleton each day." - courtesy of babycenter.com

This week was also my sweet nephew Jake's 11th Birthday, on June 8th, the same day as my sister and brother-in-law's Anniversary! Here are some photos from the celebration at Olive Garden.

The birthday boy with Mamaw!

Me and Sista Sledge! (aka Sherri)

*anyone else notice how pale I am in comparison....geez, I need a TAN!*

7 month photos

Here we go into month number SEVEN! This last weekend was my Mom's "35th" birthday, and she took these pics of me right before the party started.

28 Weeks

I had a 28 week Dr's appointment today. Dr. Abbott listened to the heartbeat and did a quick exam; everything looks good! I will be going Saturday to do my glucose screening to check for gestational diabetes. Hopefully I'll pass the first round and be outta there!

Now for the update:
"By this week, your baby weighs two and a quarter pounds (like a Chinese cabbage) and measures 14.8 inches from the top of her head to her heels. She can blink her eyes, which now sport lashes. With her eyesight developing, she may be able to see the light that filters in through your womb. She's also developing billions of neurons in her brain and adding more body fat in preparation for life in the outside world." - courtesy of babycenter.com