Christmas and more...

Wow! I can't believe it's been soooo long since I posted! I was planning to post update photos every 4 weeks, but as you can see, I've kind of dropped the ball on that one. I am officially 31 weeks along today, and baby and I are doing great! I can't believe we've only got 2 more months until we meet our little guy/girl!

Jim and I had a CRAZY Christmas season, but it was wonderful as well. I spent the first part working like crazy to finish our downstairs remodel (the infamous kitchen tiling project). I think I must have painted everyday for like a week straight, and if I EVER see a paintbrush again, I think I'll have to be admitted somewhere for psyciatric treatment...haha. Anyway, I finally finished the painting and decorated for Christmas just in time for the ladies cookie swap that I hosted for my life group this year, and I have to say that getting a chance to finally show off our new house made all that work worth it!

After the cookie swap I had a few days to finish last minute Christmas shopping, which turned into VERY last minute shopping since we're down to one car right now, and I've been home bound while Jim is at work. But I managed to pick up the last few things the morning Jim's parents got in town the weekend before Christmas. We enjoyed a few days with them and went to his extended family Christmas party. Then we headed down to Tallahassee to be with my family for Christmas.

Needless to say Christmas Eve is usually a crazy day, but when you're in a Pastor's family, it's even more so, and by the time we finally got home at about 9PM, we were so exhausted that "Santa" decided he'd wait to bring the present until the next morning. Haha! On Christmas Day, we swapped gifts, ate breakfast, cooked and packed like mad, and then headed to Alabama for a Christmas celebration with my dad's family. After Christmas, we got to spend almost a week hanging out with my family at the farm. I lOVE LOVE LOVE this week every year because it's the only time that my dad (the pastor) and my mom (the teacher) are ever REALLY able to chill and just "hang out" at the same time. We had a great time, and the week even included two photography shoots- one that I did for my cousin who is a senior (check my blog soon for those photos) and one that my sister did of me so I'd have some maternity photos since I can't take my own. (I've posted some of those photos of me below). It was funny to be the model instead of behind the camera directing my subject!

After my family left, a couple that we were close with in Michigan came down to hang out and hunt/target shoot at the farm for a few days. While Jim and Kyle, practiced long range rifle shots, Kristin and I went to the Montgomery zoo and spent some girl time chillin' at the farmhouse. Then we all drove back here (stopping in Auburn to eat at my FAVORITE restaurant- Momma Goldberg's deli) and hung out one more night here in Atlanta. Then Monday morning early they headed back to the great white north (which I am not missing at this time of year! haha!)

Yesterday was spent finishing the stripes in the baby's room and painting the trim and doors (did I mention that I loath painting?), and last night we finally got the baby bed set up!! YIPPEE!! We still need to buy the mattress and stain the dresser/changing table, and we're waiting for the gliding rocker to come in hopefully in a few weeks. Now I'm just itching for baby' to be here!

Well... I guess that should catch everyone up on our lives. I'll try to be better about posting a little more often.

Have a blessed first full week of 2010!

Jim and Ally

20 weeks and counting...

Just wanted to catch everyone up quickly. We had our 20 week appointment today, and Baby G. is looking great! He/she measures exactly where he/she should in weight, size, heart rate, etc. We got to see him/her moving again today at the 20 week ultrasound, and it was soooooo exciting! Baby wanted to sleep, so the ultrasound tech kept having to bounce her little probe on my belly to wake him/her up, and then he/she would start moving around again. We got a great look at the right hand at one point, and I have to give glory to our creator that a being who is only half-way through full term development could look so perfectly human!! We could clearly see every little finger and a tiny thumb! He/she was all curled up and it almost looked like he/she was trying to grab his/her toes! Too cute!!

We told the tech that we didn't want to find out the sex today, and I was pleased that she just skipped that part of the exam so there is no danger of anyone slipping up and telling us. Part of me is just dying to know, but I think it will make birthday just that much more fun because we really don't know what he/she will be like! :)

I have also finally started feeling him/her move around (or at least started being able to distinguish that from other movements in my belly ;) It has been so exciting and comforting to finally start having continual reminders that everything is going well with this baby, and that, God-willing, we are really going to be parents in a few months!!

I'm including one ultrasound shot from today (check out the nose... we think it looks like mine ;) and two pictures of me today at 20 weeks so that those of you who are out of town (or out of country) can see how I'm growing! (I definitely like being behind the camera better than infront of it, but I decided to make the sacrifice for posterity sake. Haha!)

We continue to appreciate your prayers as we get closer to becoming a family of three! God bless!

Jim and Ally

Please pray!!

Hello everyone!

I just wanted to write a quick post to ask all of you to pray for wisdom regarding the funding for the scholarship for Kenia Guitierrez (the young lady in Nicaragua that I have been raising money for). This year due to the economic difficulties here in the States, we have only received about 1/3 of what we need to fund this year. We are currently praying about what steps God would have us take next. 1) Should we just wait and continue to trust Him to provide the money somehow? 2) Is this his way of saying that she needs to take a break from school? or 3) Is he planning to provide her with a job so that she can work her way through the rest of her college career?

Please join me in praying for widsom. I want so desperately to hear God's voice in this situation, instead of just proceeding with my own "problem solving ideas." To those of you who have generously given this year despite financial strains, thank you from us all! I pray that God will bless your generosity 100 fold!

We continue to covet your prayers!

In Him,

Ally

In Michigan again

Just a quick update on our status. Jim has been extended AGAIN- this time supposedly until the middle or end of October, but as I told Jim, I will believe it when he's driving to Dunwoody for work every day. HAHA!

I've been up here with him for a week now, and it's been sooooo wonderful just being back together! It's also been great to reconnect with my friends up here that I've missed so incredibly much since moving back to Georgia. I also got to meet the two new additions to our "group," babies Leah and Jordyn! I've gotten to spend about 5 of the last 8 days with my little buddy, Blayne, which has been so great too! The first day, he didn't want me to leave when I took him back home, but I assured him that I would see him the next day, and he was cool with that. He got to spend one night with me in the hotel, and he later informed me that he liked my "little house," and he asks me if we can go back all the time... haha! I've missed him so much!

The other praise is that I am FINALLY feeling better... no more morning sickness or nasty digestive problems (knock on wood), and Jim and I are really looking forward to our next ultrasound in two weeks!! AND... on that note... (because I know you're all curious), we've decided not to find out the sex of the baby. This is one of the few true surprises in life, and since Jim and I will both just be happy with a healthy baby, we decided to wait! (I need something to look forward to that will get me through labor...LOL!!)

So that's our update in a nutshell. I will be up here for another week and a half, then back to Atlanta for my OB appointment. And October 24, I am photographing my first wedding as the "main" photographer! This is such an answer to prayer! Praise God!!

Love to all,

Jim, Ally and Baby G.

Another good report

I had my 16 week check up yesterday, and everything is going perfectly! I got to hear Baby G's heartbeat again, and it was very strong! It is so encouraging to have made it this far, and I can't thank everyone enough for their prayers! I'll try to post more about what else is going on with us ASAP. Just wanted to give you and update on our most exciting news! Have a very blessed day!

Ally

Introducing... baby Garrison!!!

With a little hesitation, Jim and I would like to share that we are expecting an addition to our family on March 9, 2010. We are about 10 weeks along, and everything looks to be going well. We considered waiting until the end of the first trimester to tell everyone because coming back with bad news last time was so hard, but I decided that we need the prayer support more.

So with that, I am asking that you please add us to your prayer list. Please pray that this baby grow healthy and strong and that God would begin even now to prepare him/her for the great work that HE has for him/her to do. Please pray for Jim and I as well, as we prepare for parenthood. Please pray that God will help us to develop the patience and wisdom needed to raise our children to be responsible adults who deeply love Jesus and want nothing more than pleasing him!

Thank you so much for loving and supporting us!

All our love,

Jim, Ally and baby G.

We're home!!!!!!!

We're finally all moved into our new house! It's so exciting to finally own our own home, and I can't wait to get it all painted just like I want it!! My mom and sister are coming in town today to do just that.

Please continue to pray for us as we wait for Jim to permanently move here. He's still in Michigan off and on until September-ish, and being away when there's so much he wants to do to the outside of the new house is hard for him.

Thank you all for your love and support during our moves to and from Michigan. It was a fun adventure, and we made lots of new, wonderful friends that we hate to leave behind!

Love in HIM,

Jim and Ally