Misc. Monday

So I've decided (just now, at 9:oo pm) that I think I'll start a regular "miscellaneous monday" feature on the blog.  I've stated before that Mondays are my favorite day of the week.  They are my day off and a day that I usually get lots of stuff done.  I like starting off the week this way, but they are usually very random and full of misc. things :)  Today specifically, I have been incredibly organized and very, very productive.  For sure I am NESTING with a capital "N"!!  I am still in my jammies and never made it to the shower, but I crossed a million things off my to-do-list and that is totally worth it!  So, in honor of my first "misc. monday" post, here are some misc. things I've been wanting to share with you :)  

First things first, the results are in!!  After Trav's staff meeting today, where they waded through all of the response cards from New Year's Eve, we are thrilled to discover that 13 students made decisions to accept Christ after the gospel was presented to them!!  YAY!!!  Praise the Lord for 13 kids who have now made eternal decisions.  Every year we believe that this event is worth it if even 1 student hears the Gospel and decides to put their trust in Jesus for salvation.  "Not to us Oh Lord, not to us, but to YOU be the glory!!"

Yesterday marked 26 weeks for me!  I am a little stunned at how quickly this is moving.  I won't lie, I've had several little "freak outs" in the last few days because it's hitting me that our countdown is getting smaller and smaller!  We have only 14 weeks left now and I feel like I have SO much to do.  For months now, we've been saying "after the holidays we'll get to all the baby stuff", well here we are!  The holidays are over and now it's time to get to work!  As you can see from this picture, I have definitely "popped" and Ava is taking over.  We feel her move constantly now, well I feel it more than Trav, but she is kicking so much that he gets to feel her almost anytime he wants!  For the most part, I am feeling really great.  I am tired, but sleeping so well on our new mattress topper.  So far, my opinion of memory foam is very high.  I have some fun things to share with you in the coming days, gifts Ava has received and things we are doing for her nursery.  I am very thankful that our schedules have finally slowed down and I am quite happy to be holed up at home, nesting to my little heart's content!  

Ok, is there anything I love seeing more than my husband holding a little baby girl???  Well, maybe seeing him hold Ava, but for now I'll take this sweet picture of him with little Julia Grace.  We went to see Greta and Jason last night and to finally meet little Julia.  Isn't she yummy??

She is so precious, we were just eating her up.  She's also a great jolt of reality for us.  I kept looking at her and thinking about how big she was and how incredible it is to imagine Ava that size INSIDE me!!  And then to imagine how she'll be coming out...you can see how one of my "freak outs" started!  Greta is looking great and feeling better everyday, she gives me great hope!  Julia looks a lot like her big brother and sister and we are so thankful that Ava has a new little playmate to grow up with :) 

Last week we spent 5 days with this little cutie and we had such a great time with him!  This was during our trip to Mall of America, where Barrett asked to ride in a stroller and insisted that Travis be the one to push him.  I was very happy to agree to that :)  We had a great week with Barrett and were exhausted on Saturday night when we got home!  He is so easy and actually we had more trouble with their dog than with him!  He had some classic lines for us everyday that kept us laughing :)  Almost daily he asked me if I "still" had a baby in my stomach...I'm not sure where he thought we might hide one if not in my stomach!

I just love this little face :)  

These are pictures that I've been meaning to share with you for awhile.  Remember when I told you that I was working on some stage decorations for our Christmas concert at Church?  I never put the pictures up because I never got one of the whole stage...until today, when I spotted this picture below on facebook.  I spent several days making those giant ornaments and figuring out how and where to hang them from the catwalks over the stage.  I was very happy to be done with them, but also happy with how they turned out :)  My neck was very sore after it was all over, however, from looking up for several hours and barking orders about where to hang them!  I was happy when they decided to leave them up for a few weeks but a little nervous that at any minute my knots might break and they could come crashing down.  Thankfully, that never happened!

Finally, I spent lots of time in this room today...

...because Travis announced that he was going to paint the nursery for me this week!!  I spent the day cleaning, organizing, and getting it ready for a paint job.  Don't be fooled, I have TONS more work to transform this from a guest room into a baby's room.  The closet is full of things that have to go, as is every drawer in those dressers, the bed, etc.  But, I am so happy to see some paint on the walls and to get that room started!  I will happily share the results with you when Travis is done in there :)  

I hope you've had a great Monday today!!  I'm off to shower and get in bed :)