Dusting off the ol blog a bit...

If you check this blog often for updates on our family, especially the smallest cutest member then I am sorry. I have failed at updating here. I am good about keeping up with Jeremiah's monthly calendar and baby book and even with his monthly pictures but not so good at the blogging. It has also become much harder to find time to sit down at the computer now that our little man is mobile and much more interested in the world around him.
I am thanking God daily for the joy our son brings to our lives. He is so much fun! I am so blessed to be able to stay home with him and to really have the time to play and enjoy him. His latest antics include pushing his hippo push toy all over, pulling up on EVERYTHING, eating almost all of his food with his hands, crying when its time to get out of the bath, signing more when he wants more food, and looking up when you try to take his picture. I cannot believe that his first birthday is quickly approaching. Time is certainly going by way too fast!
Over the next couple of weeks I won't promise to update much. Aaron and I celebrate our second wedding anniversary on Monday and then have a couple of trips coming up before we celebrate our little man's first birthday next month.
Here are a couple of cute shots just because I can :)

Yesterday and Today

Today I found myself very grateful for our church families and my hard working husband. Yesterday we went to the birthday celebration service for New Covenant Church. It was a great service and was a blessing to see where the Lord has brought the church over the past 33 years. I am grateful that the church has recently added a crying babies room where nursing mom's can go and have a private place to nurse and care for their babies. I missed that yesterday when we were at the community college and I needed to nurse. I love the people that make up the church. Nothing compares to the love of those Christian brothers and sisters. We have really appreciated all of the love, meals, prayers, etc our Christian family has given us. I am grateful for the teaching and worship we receive through our church. We are very blessed to have found a place where we feel God move and where we feel we can begin to connect and grow.
I am also very grateful today for my hard working husband. He has been such a blessing to me since we got married. He has encouraged me to stay home and does not complain about having to get up and go to work. He works so hard to provide each and every day for our family. Even when he comes home he keeps up with household work, especially the harder outside work. Since the birth of our son he has been amazing at getting food ready for me and keeping the kitchen clean. He has also stepped up and takes care of his son (esp. diaper changes) when needed. Thank you Lord for blessing me with such an amazing husband!!!

Lovely day

Today has been such a fun day! When we woke up today the only thing we had on the agenda was to go downtown to the Folkmoot International day festival. Folkmoot is a wonderful international festival that takes place in Waynesville every summer. I love getting to go and see the different countries and enjoy their music, dance and costumes. I love watching how open and friendly people are. Things looked great when we got there today, outside of the lack of parking. It was slightly overcast and there were a lot of great food and craft vendors set up. We had a blast walking around looking at everything. We were able to watch France dance/sing before the rain really started to come down. What looked like a great overcast day quickly turned into a very rainy one. We hated to only get to see one group but we knew they wouldnt be able to perform in the rain. Since we were already wet we continued to look around at the crafts buying a few Christmas gifts and then started the trek back to the car.
Once we got home and dried off we each curled up with a book. I flipped around and found out the Braves game was on, something that just doesnt happen at our house. What a lovely day~my husband, good books, a nap, and a Braves game :)
It has been nice to have such a relaxing day with my sweetie.

Keepin on, truckin on

Life has been busy. There are so many things that I need to catch up on. The last month has flown by. We started off the first weekend in June with our big ultrasound appointment at the doctor's office. Right after the appointment we drove over and picked up Aaron's mom and started our drive to Northern VA for his cousin's wedding. We had a great trip seeing his family and being there for their wedding.
Week 20 (The beginning of the bump)

A few days after we got back we held a Gender Reveal party for our friends to let them know whether baby Giese would be wearing lots of pink or blue. Our party was a blast! I will put up a seperate post with pictures from that night.


The following weekend I drove down to Winston-Salem to see Abby in Cinderella. For years now I have been able to go down and see the various plays put on by the West Side Civic Theatre. The plays are outdoors and are always fun to watch. I enjoy the layed back night of entertainment. The next day I was blessed to be able to visit with Sean, Christal and Cooper for a bit before coming back up to the mountains.


The last couple of weeks since then really have been a blur. I have gotten back onto the task of crossing items off of my really long and detailed to do list. Many of these items have been on there for nearly a year and some of them I really want to have accomplished before our little one arrives. Starting last week I also started keeping my cousin's little boy a few days a week. I have enjoyed being able to help them out while also forcing myself to stay home and get a few things done around here as well. Not to mention he is such a happy baby! In addition to those things Aaron and I have also made some decisions, based on many prayers, about our church home. We knew my time in the nursery was coming to an end but we have also decided that our time of going to Access church are also coming to an end. We love many different aspects of the church but are feeling led to come back to a more local church in order to raise our family in the way God would have us to.


As far as our little one goes, we are continuing to be blessed by the Lord with an easy pregnancy. My only complaint is some occasional mid back pain. I thank the Lord daily for this child and this pregnancy. I can honestly say I am enjoying being pregnant. I love feeling our little one, who's kicks are growing stronger every day. I am thankful that they seem new and exciting to me each time. I never want to forget just how special this time is. While the heat has been above average here lately I have been managing ok. I have only had one day where I felt miserable with the conditions. Next week marks 24 weeks in this pregnancy! I will post a new belly pic then.


Thanks for continuing to check in on us even in our long absences.

furniture, flutters and funny dreams

Things around here have been very busy lately. We continue to try and finish up projects around the house that we have been wanting to do especially the ones that have to do with baby. At the end of last week the crib and dresser came in and Aaron's mom brought them over here with her truck. During the weekend my parents came over and helped us move around the furniture in our guest/baby room and assemble the crib. It is a beautiful crib and dresser set! We are still getting used to seeing them in the room as we walk by. Once we have things more prepared I will post pictures.
I am getting more and more used to feeling our little one flutter in my belly. Most of the time I start to feel little flutters in the first quiet moments of the evening. Over the last few days and nights I have noticed that I am feeling our little one more often and for longer moments each time.
I am evidently very excited about finding out the gender of our little one. Last night I had 3 seperate and very different dreams about finding out. In each dream there were different friends and we found out or told people in different ways. When I got to the end of the last dream I found myself wanting to go back to sleep and to the dream so that I could find out...haha. Many of our Chrysalis friends and family were in my dreams as well as some complete strangers that I couldnt figure out why they were there or would want to know. I'm glad that I only have to wait 2 more days before we find out (or at least have the chance to).

I'm still here!

We are still around and doing great! I am sorry for the long absence between posts. Here are a few tidbits of what has been keeping us busy:

Baby Giese (also known as Wiggle Worm)

I spent most of the first trimester sleeping. That included through a good part of the Olympic figure skating. I was blessed enough not to really have any morning sickness. I did have a few food items that made me feel icky, but with avoiding those items I have felt great. Aaron and I walk as often as we can and have started the process of trying to select names.

I've been to the doctor twice now (I go again next week) and have received two great reports. Thus far this pregnancy has been wonderfully uneventful. I will continue to pray for a happy and healthy pregnancy. We will continue to pray that the Lord continues to form this little one and brings about a healthy pregnancy and delivery.

We have not taken many belly pictures largely because there has not been much to photograph in that department. Around week 12 I began to have a slight bit that I could no longer suck in. Here at 15 weeks I am just barely past that point. Still nothing major to report. Here is a little picture of week 12.

In other events, our social schedule has finally slowed down. We ran a very busy schedule from the beginning of February to the end of April. Lots of fun events but it was very tiring not to have any down time. We were blessed to be able to celebrate Cooper's 2nd birthday with him, participate in another Chrysalis weekend, continue to serve with our church, celebrate Adam's birthday, visit Disney (i promise to upload pics soon) and a number of other events.

I am excited to say that we are making some progress on some personal goals we have around the house as well. It is nice to see some things come to place that we have had to put off for quite some time. Both of us are looking forward to this spring and summer season and all that it will bring!

Enjoying a mouse or two

Aaron and I are enjoying Disney World this week. I will be back next week with pictures and memories to share.
Love you all!

With growing joy and excitement....

we bring you our exciting news..............we're pregnant!!

I had suspicions and decided to take a test even though it was probably a bit early. Within a minute or so the test very clearly read pregnant. Even though I knew it was a very real possibility I was surprised. I looked at it over and over saying to myself...really? I even went so far as to go back and look at the test several times throughout the morning. As the day went on I realized just how excited I was and how much I love our little one already!


Aaron came home from the office for lunch and I had waiting on his computer an "I love Daddy" bib. When he saw it, he looked at it and quickly realized its meaning. He had a few moments of surprise and realization and ended with great joy.



We are both still processing this news and are excited about the changes that are coming!

We have now told most of our families so I thought I would take a moment and post our news on here :)

This one's for you Keisha...........honeymoon pictures :)

Our honeymoon was nothing short of fantastic. We had absolutely fantastic weather and enjoyed a mix of sightseeing, stamp getting, and relaxation in the sun. While I could go on and on I wont. I will just leave you with these wonderful snipets of our week in paradise.

At long last...a wedding post!

Our wedding was perfect! The whole day was wonderful. God provided me with a sense of calm and peace that passed all understanding. All day long people kept commenting on how calm and happy I was. The joke by the end of the day was don't worry about asking Rachel, she'll just tell you "its all good". Over and over I kept being surprised by myself and how calm I was. All I can say is that I know it was Christ being with me and carrying me through that day.
The morning started off with the ladies getting our hair done while watching a couple of chick flicks. I then calmed my mother down before getting into my wedding dress. Things after that happened in a weird state of uncanny calm and crazy rush. I barely remember hearing music as my dad walked me down the aisle. (Funny note: I had to ask Abby afterwards what music was played during the wedding b/c I didn't know nor hear it) My dad and I both tripped a bit over my dress as we climbed up the stairs and then the ceremony part of everything began. I remember hearing my dad choke up a bit as he turned to walk off stage. I remember focusing on Aaron and Alan throughout the ceremony. Before I knew it the ceremony was over and we were out on the porch, alone--as husband and wife.
Our reception was fantastic and fun! We visited with people as best we could, we took pictures (lots and lots of pictures), we even managed to grab a bite or two to eat. It was so much fun for us to watch everyone esle have TONS of fun. The photo booth was such a hit! As soon as I can figure out where I put the cds I will add some of the photos from the photo booth. One of the fun keepsakes we have of our wedding day is a scrapbook made from the photo booth pictures--each page being made by our friends and family for us. They are great fun to look at!

I loved nearly everything about the whole day. We felt so loved and blessed that day. I felt beautiful from head to toe (loved my dress more than I remembered when I bought it). I loved seeing my family and friends and being able to celebrate our special day with them. I loved seeing my dad so dressed up and so proud of his little girl (knowing that there was a part of him that day that was wishing I wasnt so grown up). I love thinking back and remembering how beautiful and perfect everything was. The tables, cupcakes, flowers, etc were beautiful. My mind is overwhelmed when I think about all of the work that my family along with Wanda and Devon did to make everything just right for us.

We are blessed my friends, so very blessed. Our life is not perfect but we are so blessed.

We should be getting wedding pictures back in the next couple of weeks. I will share them when I can. Also, I will post pictures and a quick recap of the honeymoon as soon as I can.

We're back!

We are back from our honeymoon which was as fantastic and wonderful as the wedding! We have unpacked, washed clothes, and managed through our first days of married life together. Hopefully before long I can sit down and blog a bit about our wedding and honeymoon, complete with pictures. For now I leave you with the knowledge that we are back and doing well. We are enjoying figuring out married life one day at a time.

Movin on up...

Well, I'm not moving up per say, just to the other side of the lake. This weekend I will be moving as much stuff as possible into the house that Aaron and I will be renting for the next year. NO, we will not be living together....at least not until September. The plan is for me to move in now, get settled, have a place to move my school stuff as well as wedding gifts, and then Aaron will move in in September.

Life has and will continue to be super busy crazy for the next couple of weeks. For the record here is a quick recap of what is going to take place over the next couple of weeks:
*Finish up teaching: complete with assessments and c. folders and kiddos
*Move my house this weekend
*Go to Charlotte to order wedding bands and visit IKEA
*Organize my classroom into things I might use while out of the classroom, grade specific stuff, etc
*Bridal shower at school
*Revisit the guest list for the wedding and order invitations
*Move out of my classroom
*Organize and learn how to live in a new place

After June 12th (the last day of school) things should start to calm down a bit. At least thats what I'm hoping for. I'm hoping for a few days of rest before I have to kick my behind into full blown wedding mode. If anyone wants to come and help with any of the above items or wedding stuff please let me know!

26

In honor of turning 26 today I thought I would post 26 things you may not know about me or might just find interesting.

1) I once lived in a purple palace.
2) The word phlebotomist makes my skin crawl. I don't really like their job either since I hate needles.
3) I cant stand Sprite or Seven Up, reminds me of being sick when I was little.
4) I have a female cat named Bob.
5) I am obsessed with list making, specifically to do lists.
6) I have also become addicted to blog reading though I stink at updating my own.
7) I love to have my toes painted but only like my fingers done if they are done professionally.
8) I have nicknames for almost everyone I love.
9) If there were benefits involved I would run an in home daycare so I could play with little ones all day, every day.
10) Happy Hour at Sonic really does make my day!
11) I have several OCD issues, most of them relate to cleanliness and all of them involve my own stuff not other peoples.
12) I still get excited like a little kid over my birthday every year. I love to celebrate, hear from those that I love, and eat birthday cake w/buttercream icing!
13) I love to travel, especially with friends and family.
14) I miss my grandmother more with every passing day.
15) I am horrible about deleting emails, right now I have nearly 800 in my inbox.
16) I love to cross stitch, and crochet though I never seem to find the time to do either of them.
17) I would love a digital SLR camera.
18) I can walk on my knees.
19) I didnt get my drivers license until I was 19, and after my freshman year of college.
20) I have been to 9 different countries, a few of them more than once.
21) Sweettarts are my absolute favorite candy, especially the Chicks, Ducks, and Bunnies.
22) I have donated my hair 7 times now. I plan on donating at least 3 more times, probably more.
23) I read really quickly and have been known to finish an entire book in a day or two.
24) I love to swing.
25) I have been a Mountaineer since the sixth grade.
26) I am getting into healthy eating, but draw the line at soy milk and tofu.

Where have I been?

So I realized a few days ago that this blog would be a whole lot more fun if I actually wrote on it..updated it. I am hoping to include pictures. I know I have said that before but I would really like to get back to it. I need to work on taking the card out of the camera, putting them on the computer and then actually doing something with them. Goals for another day...

Life has been busy....if you really want details call. Too much to type :)

I am SOOO ready for Spring Break. I have major spring fever, mostly related to travel. I need to get out of Waynesville. Anyone want to go somewhere?

Just a little bit of evidence of God's love this week:
**Positive comments from my lead teacher about my efforts at work
*I won a door prize at my workshop tonight b/c I was the only one in the room who has a birthday this month. And on top of that it's purple!!
*Getting to meet, hold, and feed baby Braydon

Only 2 more days til my birthday!!
(15 more days til Aaron's birthday and 177 days until we get married)

a look at the numbers..

As of today:
*20 days until my birthday!
*33 days until Aaron's birthday!
*195 days until our wedding!

a bit of snowday stress relief...

This afternoon I took some time, stepped away from my work and went outside to play in the snow. It is amazing what some peaceful white snow and an amazing fiance can do for you! Here are a few pictures of our fun outside in the snow!

Here is a quick glimpse of our feet next to each other. Aaron was surprised my feet are so big...guess he is still learning new things about me!

I love this pic! Isn't he handsome!?!

sneaky!

While I am at school I have only a few options of the sites I normally visit that will make it through the insane firewall here. So why am I able to get on today? Who knows! But hey, I am and for that I'm excited. :) I have only a few quick moments before my kids come back from P.E. all sweaty and stinky. Just enough time for a mini (and really random) update on what I've been up to. Life has been very busy. Things at work are going better right now. I am finally finishing up with conferences (thank you snow) and moving onto more exciting things with my free time. This past weekend we celebrated my little friend Deseray's birthday. Ah to be 7 again. Since it was in the low/mid 60's we were able to celebrate outside at the lake. Aaron and I only have one semi free evening this week, which is fun but also very tiring. Tonight is our new life group--Fireproof your marriage. This study is based on the movie Fireproof and hopefully will give us a lot of wonderful advice to starting off our marriage on the right foot with Christ as the head.
Well...thats all the time I have for now. Sorry for the scatterbrained randomness of this post!

It's been a good day...

This morning Aaron, Zach, and I loaded up the car and set off for the Big House. We got there right as they were working on creating the prayer vigil banner and agape bags. For the first few minutes we walked around enjoying those that we had not seen in a LONG time and trying to find our place again amoung the happenings. Within minutes I turned to see the two men I brought and whom I love dearly, down on their hands and knees drawing on the banner. Ah, I know that my smile could not compare to the one my holy Savior was giving at that sight. I had a wonderful day serving others and spreading the love of Christ. After lunch we made about 7-10 different agape items to share with these 4 caterpillars over the weekend. Thats a lot of love for 4 men. Exciting to think just how much God loves us--that he would put together a whole weekend for just 4 people!
On our way home tonight I got a call from Mom saying it was snowing at home and for us to be careful. I felt like a little kid when I saw the snowflakes start hitting my car right as I got off of our exit. The only thing that could make it better would be the forcast--snow for the next 3 days!!

six years!

Six years ago this evening I went out to dinner with a friend, and came back his girlfriend! After several hours talking and hanging out on the playground I remember getting back to the room that night telling Abby and then hopping onto the phone to call Sean and Christal.

These past six years have been full of their ups and downs and have included several different degrees of long distance. We have laughed, argued, cried and loved. Overall I can say that I am more in love with him than ever before. I cannot wait to begin this next stage of our relationship as husband and wife!!!

I love you sweetie!!!