Breathing....

Today Travis and I have a rare and unscheduled chunk of time to be home and just do NOTHING!  I love it and we desperately need it.  Travis told me this morning that this is his first day off in 2 weeks, and I would have to echo the same.  We have been BUSY these last couple of weeks and finally we are getting a little breather.  We've been wrapping presents, eating, reading, cleaning up a little, eating more, and making a serious dent in our Christmas card list.  Amazing how much we love this season, but how time just slips out of our grasp so easily.  We are working hard to protect our time in the next week so that we can really enjoy Christmas.  I hate the feeling of waking up the day after Christmas and realizing it's over and we never really stopped to enjoy it.  NOT GOING TO HAPPEN THIS YEAR!!  We are eagerly anticipating a week in Iowa with my family, but until then, we are trying to enjoy our time here too.  I am farther than I've ever been with my Christmas shopping but there still seems to be endless errands to run.  Yesterday I finished 58 centerpieces for our Women's Christmas Brunch on Saturday at Grace.  That was a good feeling to cross that off the list!  Now I just have one more event to help with next week and then I'm officially "not available" for awhile.  Hope you have a great Friday today!  I am going to keep this short today in an effort to move on to the next thing on my list :)  I've got a bucket of fresh greens and berries calling my name...can't wait to create something fun!  

For Your Viewing Pleasure :)

The (Student Ministries) Office: Episode Four from Grace Students on Vimeo.

Remember when I told you another couple on our youth staff was pregnant??  Well here is the latest Office video they filmed to tell the kids.  Little Ava happens to be the star :)   

Spaghetti Squash Girl

Do you ever wish you could make time stand still??  I find myself, these days, wishing for that very thing.  No matter how hard I wish though, time is definitely not standing still-it's flying by!!  I am starting to have waves of panic where I wonder how I will ever get everything done??  Ava Page is growing by the minute and so am I!  Today marks 22 weeks already!  22!!  I remember being 8 weeks like it was yesterday.  How in the world did we get here so fast??  Don't get me wrong, I am loving this, but I've waited so long for this baby girl that I don't want it to be over in a minute either.  Of course when it's over, that means I have her in my arms, so really it's a win-win, but I have loved being pregnant and I want so badly to take this all in and savor it along the way.  I'm trying, but falling so short of all the "things" I had planned to do!

Here is the latest "bump"shot :)  She is 11 inches long this week and almost 1 lb, about the size of a spaghetti squash ???  If you're like me, you might be wondering, what the heck is that??

Here, my friends, is a spaghetti squash.  I'm sad to say that I had to google it to find out what it was and what it looked like.  Obviously I'm not a big squash eater :)  There are however, all kinds of recipes out there if you are!  

This picture really helped me put her size in perspective.  I can't believe how big she would be already if I was giving her a bath in the sink!  You better believe that I'm going to claim every ounce she weighs the next time I go for my ob check-up.  Her ONE pound will make me feel so much better for the *** pounds that I currently weigh!  Good thing she's a lot cuter than this squash though :)  

People have been asking me a lot about how I feel right now.  For the most part, I feel really great.  I have my normal appetite, I have a reasonable amount of energy, and I'm sleeping pretty well.  My one and only complaint is my increasing back pain.  This sciatica thing is really bugging me every time I walk, stand, bend over, sit down or turn over.  I do have my first physical therapy appointment tomorrow, so I'm hoping for some relief.  I feel lots of pressure with every step I take, but the worst part by far is when I lie down at night.  There is no position I can find that doesn't hurt.  None.  I basically just wait to fall asleep.  Turning over makes me want to cry, so I find the best spot and beg the Lord to help me go to sleep quickly!   It's not so bad in the middle of the night, after I've been off my feet for several hours, but I think the strain from all day wears on that nerve and makes it so inflamed at night.  Heat helps and so do warm baths.  I'm willing to do it all these days if I think it will be better!  I have great hope in physical therapy though.  That made such a difference for me after my car accident.  

Now that we know we're having a little girl, the pink gifts are flowing in!  This is a sweet little lamb that my sister Jennie gave me and a darling little book to read to Ava.  I love the lamb and I'm thinking it will end up in the crib :)  It's so soft and looks like an old-fashioned toy.  So cute.  
My cousin Jenny gave me this outfit the morning that we found out girl or boy.  It's so sweet!  I can't wait to put her in this next summer!

When I called my Dad from the doctor's office, to tell him about his new granddaughter, he told me that he ran downstairs to the gift shop at work to buy the smallest pink thing he could find!  Obviously you can see that he works for John Deere.  Ava will look so cute in this someday :) 

Remember how I told  you that I hadn't bought anything for the baby yet until I knew boy or girl??  Well I caved one day and bought this....isn't it cute!!  I'll have to put a pink hair bow in Ava's hair or something when she wears it, but I just loved it.  I discovered that H&M has the cutest baby section and really great prices.  Plus she'll match the color scheme of her walls and furniture when she wears it!  Ridiculous I know, but it's true :) 

This is the first little girl thing I bought and they did not disappoint.  While we were in Utopia, I went to the one and only little gift shop they have and I spotted these.  They're called "snugs" and they had me at hello!!  I told Trav to walk away and not ask because I HAD to have them no matter what they cost!!  They are so soft they feel like fur.  

And this is what they look like from the back.  I mean seriously??  Have you ever seen these???  They are darling and because the Lord was good to me, they were also on sale :) 

  
I also purchased this little hat and Trav's mom bought the matching mary jane slippers....how sweet are they?  I was such a happy preggo when we left that store!

This is one of my all time favorite things and was such a cute little surprise.  Why, you might ask?  Because it was knit by an 8th grade BOY in Travis' d-group!!  Is that not the sweetest thing??  He makes these hats for big people and he's good at it.  He made one for Travis that Trav really liked, so when we got to church last week he surprised us with this for Ava!  He couldn't get over how tiny he had to make it.  I just wanted to cry over that.  The junior high girls are totally into this baby, but I wasn't aware that they boys even know or care.  I love this and will love bringing her to church with it on so this student can see her in it.  

Travis' sister Katy also surprised us with these pink and white gifts from baby gap.  I just love all of it.  That little sleeper is a newborn size and I just love to hold it and picture my tiny little Ava in it!  

Remember when I told you that Melissa went overboard by blessing us with the cutest gifts??  Well she made this bow holder to match our nursery and she also made all those tiny little boys for Ava to wear!  I think I squealed when I opened it!  I love them all.  What a sweet gift.  

She also gave us this darling little smocked outfit, a pink scrapbook with all kinds of accessories, and a bag of pink and white jelly bellies (which we ate).  Oh and when we found out we were pregnant, she sent me a little black onesie (and matching hair bow) that said, "this is my little black dress" because she just knew we were going to have a girl.  I guess she was right!!

And finally, the "creme de la creme" one of the best gifts my Mom found for me...This ADORABLE little night light for Ava's nursery!!  Isn't that amazing??  She and my sister Stacie found it while they were shopping in North Carolina over Thanksgiving.  I LOVE it and it will look darling in the nursery.  Plus, I love that it's from our beloved North Carolina :)  Great find Mom and Stace!!

Thanksgiving in Utopia, Texas

We spent our Thanksgiving in Texas this year, seeing some of Travis' family.  We always meet in a little (more like tiny) town called Utopia.  That name always cracks me up!  It's basically in the hill country of Texas, also the middle of nowhere.  We love to go there because it's one of those places where we truly get to rest and catch up.  There isn't a whole lot to do out there, which is perfect.  We spent so much time chatting, watching movies, drinking coffee, and just relaxing.  It was just what I needed after that wedding!  

Getting there however, was quite the adventure.  I managed to survive the plane ride pretty well, although I was a little queasy thanks to some turbulence.  Ava was moving like crazy though!  She must have wondered what was happening.  I kept apologizing to her :)  Anyway, after we landed we had to drive out to the hill country, which was B-A-D.  It was night time, so there were tons of deer out, and I swear Travis was slamming on the breaks every 30 seconds.  Not to mention that we were heading into the HILL country, which is made up of tons and tons of HILLS!!  It was awful.  I'm always a little sensitive on that drive anyway, but this year was terrible!  I was SO SICK and had to beg Travis to pull over.  Oh it was the longest 90 minutes of my life.  We made it though and I wanted to kiss the ground when we got out!  

It was a great Thanksgiving and we were very thankful for the chance to be with Trav's family.  Of course our minds were also on the biggest blessing God has recently given us, sweet Ava Page.  We can't wait to do all these things with her next year, it's such a miracle to imagine.  The Lord has been so faithful to us and has poured out His blessings on us this year.  We have so much to be grateful for.  

Some of Travis' immediate family, his Mom and sister Katy.  We found this beautiful spot by the river to take some pictures that day.  I told Travis that Ava WILL NOT be swimming in that river someday!  Not if I can help it :) 

Pam with Travis and Katy.  We missed you Shaye!!  Travis is the middle child, with a sister on each side.  I think all those women helped make him a great husband!

Katy, Travis and I with their aunt Peggy.  She and Ron live in Utopia and built a B&B there.  Isn't this view of the river amazing?  It was still fall there, which was so funny for us Minnesotans!

Oh, I married one good-looking man!!  A little thanksgiving football to pass the time.  Trav's uncle Ron teased him because we were tossing the football back and forth and Ron thought I had a better throw than Travis!!  Ha ha, that is so not true though.  Travis is the one who taught me.  I just told him I had to keep my skills up because I'm married to a junior high youth pastor and I have to let those junior high boys know that I can still keep up with them :)  I have too much pride to not join in those games!

Our "last Thanksgiving" without kids!  Next year will be much, much different I'm sure!  Like eating in peace and sleeping in...At least we milked it for all it was worth this year!

Paw Paw and Mee Maw.  Travis grew up with them living next door.  They have lots of funny Travis stories!

Travis' uncle Curtis, aunt Sue, and aunt Peggy.  Somehow I didn't get a picture of his uncle Ron though, sorry about that!  Peggy was the master cook behind everything and the hostess for us all.  She and Ron were very sweet to invite that much chaos into their home!

These two little sweeties stole the show!  Emma Cate is our niece and Lily is Trav's cousins' little girl.  They are both stinkin cute!!  I can't wait to throw little Ava into the mix :) 

They were watching something on tv with us, but I can't remember what.  Emma's mom Kara is in the background.  She is married to Trav's stepbrother Brian.  We loved getting to see them on this visit.  

This is me with Trav's sister Katy, his Mom, and his aunt Sue behind us.  Yes, for the first time in this northern girl's life, we had Thanksgiving dinner outside!  It was like 76 or something, so it was perfect.  When we were done, I took a little nap in a lawn chair :) I'm glad you can't see my plate here!  I was the big joke of the meal...my plate was "heaping" to say the least!  I argued that nobody got to judge me for it or count how many times I went back (and for the record, it was several times).  I especially enjoyed every carb on my plate this year!

Kind of blurry, but one of our only pictures together.  This was post-meal I believe :)

Travis and his sweet Granny.  It was fun to stay with her at Ron and Peggy's house.  

The cutest little heartbreaker, Henry, enjoying a cracker.  He is a lot like his daddy Ian, Trav's cousin, I hear.  In other words, busy!!!

Trav with his cousin Heidi.  She introduced us to her boyfriend, who is a true Texas cowboy, starched wranglers and all!  I didn't get a picture of him, but he was very sweet.

Ian's wife, and my friend, Melissa.  She is Henry and Lily's mom and a very talented woman!  We are a lot alike and she has gone overboard blessing me with sweet little gifts for Ava...Just wait until I show you what she gave us and made us, so darling!!  We were laughing here about our "utopia hair."  For some reason, we both have the worst hair when we come to Utopia.  We blame the water.  

Peggy (Trav's aunt) and her granddaughter Lily.  They were feeding tomatoes from the garden to the cows that were literally leaning over the fence for them!  Lily and Henry were loving it!

A night shot of the back of Ron and Peggy's house and bed & breakfast.  If you're ever in Texas and want to stay at a B&B in the hill country, go visit them here.  You won't be disappointed!!

This cow was begging for anything he could get from us!  I appreciated his posing.  He was only a couple of feet from me and I swear he was ready to take my arm off if I would have offered it!

The hill country of Texas is ranch country.  Lots of dust, ranches and animals everywhere :)  The perfect setting for a bunch of cowboys!    

The Endless December To-Do-List

I wonder if there will ever be a day when I feel like my "to-do" list is done??  EVER???  You'd think that this would be the time, before kids, when I feel like I have a handle on stuff and like I am on top of my game.  But alas, it couldn't be further from the truth!  I don't know if it's the added pressure of nesting or what, but my list right now seems to be a mile long and like everyone else, I'm just watching my calendar get eaten up by event after event.  I've got a few things cooking at church, which is great, but lots and lots of work to do at home too.  I suppose it will get done, most of it anyway, but at this particular time, I don't know how!  

Here's what's currently looming over my head:

1.  Christmas cards.  I've picked up the pictures, but now I have to write the letter, print the letter, stuff the envelopes, get the addresses and buy stamps.  And then mail them.  Hopefully before Christmas.  

2.  Christmas shopping.  I have one person done.  Out of like 20.  And lots of out-of-towners who I need to buy and ship gifts to.  I guess you know what I'll be doing on Saturday!

3.  Centerpieces.  I'm doing centerpieces for like 58 tables for our women's christmas brunch next week.  Fortunately they are pretty easy, but they're going to require time.  And right now that is limited.  

4.  Decorations.  I'm also helping decorate for our big Christmas production at Church on the 18th, which again is not hard and should be fun, but will require even more of my time.  And some errands looking for stuff to use.  My "days off" are quickly disappearing :)  

5.  Appointments.  Dentist appointment for fillings (oh yeah, should be fun); physical therapy appointments for my back; and another OB appointment at 24 weeks.  Lots of waiting rooms in my future.  

And add to those things the normal chores like cleaning, laundry, groceries, errands, work, church, a SWEET HUSBAND :) and a baby on the way....

Is is 2009 yet???

Trimming the Tree

Merry Christmas from the Armstrongs!  This was the winning shot for our Christmas card :)  We match the background of our photo card from snapfish!  

It took me awhile, but I finally convinced Travis to embrace the tree and help me decorate it.  He was a great sport and turned the Christmas music on for us and helped me unpack the ornaments.

What I love about Trav is that every year when we do this, he says the same thing with every ornament he hangs, "this is my favorite one babe, let's hang it at the top."  I hear that about 20 times :) 

Ryley just laid on the floor and watched us.  He really didn't care what we were doing!  The first Christmas that we had him, he was still a puppy and he chewed off some of the ornaments we had hanging at the bottom of the tree!  Now he couldn't care less about any of them.

After a great Sunday nap, we spent the rest of the day and night in our jammies.  A perfect way to spend the day! 

Little miss Ava at 21 weeks!  Next year she'll be watching us do this and probably staring at all the lights! 

The finished product.  I love my new tree skirt.  This is the first year I've had one I liked!

We tried some pictures with all three of us, but we all lost patience quickly.  This was the best one, but still not great.  

This is Ryley's contribution to the Christmas card.  I ordered some with 2 spots for pictures, one of Travis and I and one of Ryley.  Next year we'll add little Ava too!  

What's Going On in Student Ministries??

Here is a picture of 2 of my sweet friends, Greta and Sarah.  What do we have in common?  All three of our husbands work at Grace, all three are in student ministries, and all three of us have babies on the way!!  Congratulations to Sarah and Jed, we had dinner with them at Jason and Greta's and they surprised us with the news!  They are expecting baby #2 in July...Yay for more friends for Ava :)  Greta is 36 weeks pregnant, I am 21, and Sarah is almost 7 weeks I believe.  We decided not to give you the profile shot, as that would be depressing for some of us....However, the Dads decided to provide one for you below:
That's right, Jed is expecting baby #2, Travis is expecting, baby #1, and Jason is expecting baby #3.  I have no idea what they ate that night to make their stomachs look like that!!  I think they were just trying to make their wives feel better about our growing waistlines :)  It's going to be a busy winter and spring in student ministries!!