Baby Collins is a....

Last night we found out what we are having!!!! For those of you who don't know, we decided not to find out last Tuesday at the doctor's office and instead we had the ultrasound technician write down the sex of the baby on a card. We brought one card for her to write on for us and one card to bring to a bakery. We ended up waiting a whole week to find out because the following Monday Travis' family was flying in from Ohio. We wanted both our families and a few friends to be a part of finding out. So, we took the card to a bakery and ordered a cake. We asked them to bake a chocolate cake with either blue or pink filling depending on what the card said. We had the big party planned for last night and we didn't even try cheating by looking in the card before! We had dinner together and once everyone was there we cut open the cake. We are so excited because baby Collins is a .....

christmas decorations

I promised Amy I would post some pictures of my house decorated for Christmas.  The first year Travis and I were married we were really living on a tight budget.  So, I remember standing in Michael's crying while on the phone with my mom as I used the $30 we had to buy decorations.  The house ended up looking Christmas-y, but not really what I had envisioned.  Over the next couple of years I have made it a priority to shop for a few decorations at the after Christmas sales.  Well, this is the first year I actually LOVE our decorations.  I am so thankful for God's provision in our lives and how these decorations are a reminder to me of the One we celebrate this season.  

Summer came over to help me put everything together and Brandon was there as well just to work on music stuff with Travis.  We had a pot of soup cooking and The Grinch playing in the background.  It was a fun night!

Below Travis and Brandon are posing as if they really helped put the ornaments on the tree. 



Our beautiful mantel. 

This is also the first year we have real stockings.  We threw away the $1 stockings we had for the first few years.  My mother-in-law is a very talented knitter.  She actually made these stockings for us.  I can't wait to add baby Collins stocking to the mantel next year! 


Our first "beautiful" Christmas tree. 

The small trees in the window have all of our homemade ornaments on them from when we were kids. 



This is Travis' favorite spot to sit and drink a cup of coffee while reading or working on the computer. 
Travis likes to do things early....well, the truth is...he just doesn't like waiting sometimes.  So, he gave Gunner his Christmas present early. 



The duck didn't last very long...literally just a few days. 

emily and jeff

Wednesday night we had Emily and Jeff over for dinner and to play a rousing game of Skip-BO.  It was a lot of fun hanging out with them and watching Jeff loose at Skip-BO.  You see...there are 4 "P"s when planning this strategic game and well, Jeff just couldn't keep up. 

 

Catching up...

The Saturday before Thanksgiving we had Brittany's Ladies Shower and it turned out beautifully.  My mom did another amazing job on making her a cake.  I don't have many pictures from the shower, because sadly my camera battery died.  I think from that one shower Brittany and Taylor have all the kitchen supplies they will need.

We had Thanksgiving at my mom's house with about 30 other friends and family.  It was a lot of fun to spend time together and eat really good food. 

You might think Trever accidentally closed his eyes right when we took the picture...but nope...it's on purpose.  

Then we headed to my dad's house for Thanksgiving up in the mountains.  It was really nice to get away and to be able to wear a scarf and a jacket.  We even were able to watch the small town parade welcoming Santa to town. 




My dad thinks it would be fun to have a float one year with all the grandkids on it...He is the kind of grandpa I bet he will do that one day.  

On Saturday we took the traditional weekly belly picture.  I turned 19 weeks and only have a few more days to wait until we find out if we are having a boy or girl.   It would be an understatement to say I am excited!!!

I can't believe that in just 2 more days I will be half way through this pregnancy.  I am really enjoying being pregnant and I can't believe how fast the time is going.  The first few weeks seemed to drag on, but now I can't believe I am almost 20 weeks along.  I absolutely love feeling the baby move all the time.  I am really trying to treasure each moment. 

Christmas Card '08

Before Thanksgiving dinner, my brother-in-law Trever took our traditional Christmas picture.  He just had us go in the front yard and within minutes this is what we had.  He is always so generous with his time and talents.  People always say we are so lucky to have a professional photographer in the family.  We are lucky, but it more than his talent with the camera Trever is just a amazing guy.  Thanks Trever for always being so generous with you talent, but more importantly thanks for being a part of our lives.  We love you and appreciate you!

  

18 weeks

As of Saturday, I am officially 18 weeks along in my pregnancy.  I am really enjoying this stage of pregnancy.  I am just now starting to look and feel more pregnant.  I have been feeling the baby move for a couple of weeks now and this morning Travis was able to feel the baby kick for the first time. I already take such delight in this little one.  It is amazing to think how everything about this baby including the sex is a secret to us all except to our heavenly Father.  He is the One knitting this baby together in my womb and He is truly worthy of our worship. 

britt's shower and a few engagement pictures

Last weekend we threw one of the most beautiful showers for Brittany.  She was absolutely stunning and just glowing with joy.  I can't believe she and Taylor will be married in just 5 1/2 weeks!!! Below are a few snap shots from the shower, but to see a few pictures Trever took before it started click here.  

I thought I would also share a few of their beautiful engagement pictures.  

To see more click here. 

This is what we all refer to as "the crew" (except we are missing Natalie).  We have thrown several showers together and often find the set up is just as much fun as the actual event. 



Britt and her best friends. 

Toasting to the bride!

This is the cake my mom. 

funny...

yep...we made fun of them

siblings

Last weekend Travis and I went to Riverside to watch Brooke play in the championship fortuna game.  This is a CBU tradition that takes place every year during homecoming weekend.  We really loved going to school at CBU and we love going back to visit.  One of the highlights of the weekend was seeing my sisters and one of his brothers.  There is nothing like the relationship of a sibling. 

fun monday

Being in vocational ministry life is sometimes different.  For example, Mondays are our Saturdays.  This weekend Travis lead worship for all six services at the main campus for Saddleback Church.  So you can imagine how grateful we are for this day of rest. 

This particular morning we woke up and decided to take a walk down to our favorite breakfast place across from the pier.  This is probably one of my most cherished activities Travis and I do together.  I love this time because we get to take a walk along the beach with our dog Gunner while having great company and conversation...and not to mention breakfast food is my favorite food. 

On our walk this morning we were talking about how in 6 months we will have our little one with us. It still doesn't really feel like a reality that there really is a baby inside of me.  It was fun to watch the parade of mothers and strollers pass by us on our walk and it was kind of weird to think we are going to be joining the stroller club in the very near future.  

We are both really excited about what God has in store for us and we can't wait to find out if we are going to have a boy or a girl.  For now we are trying to treasure each moment we have together and each stage of this pregnancy.  The one thing we keep coming back to in the midst of this change is how much the whole process of being pregnant and having a baby gives so much glory to God.  We just can't understand how any parent can go through this experience and still not believe that there is One who is behind all that is created.

Before our walk Trav took a picture of me at 15 and a half weeks pregnant.

oak glen how i love thee...

Fall is one of my favorite times of the year and one of my favorite things about fall is our trip to Oak Glen.  I love going because for a day I get to pretend that we live in a little farm town.  We pick apples, eat carmel apples, eat a delicious bbq meal, and just spend time with the family.  We will be going this weekend and I can't wait!!!   This is a tradition I can't wait to share with baby Collins. 

Oak Glen 2006

Oak Glen 2007

Oak Glen 2008....here we come!!!!

12 weeks

Today I am officially 12 weeks and it is actually the first time I have taken a belly picture. Although, the average person can't tell anything has changed, my family, some close friends and Travis and I can totally tell that my belly is getting bigger. It doesn't seem like I have much to show for all the morning sickness and hard work my body has been doing the last 3 months.  

We have some big news to share!!!

I am 10 1/2 weeks pregnant!!! We are expecting baby collins to join our family around April 25th.  We actually had our first ultrasound today and I couldn't help but to cry.  We saw the baby moving around and waving its arms.  It really made this whole pregnancy feel more real.  I have to say God deserves all of the glory.  He is the One who gives and takes life.  We are so thankful for this blessing and we realize that He is the One in control.  I have to say though that this whole experience has caused my love for the Lord to grow in such a new and deeper way.  

Psalm 89:5-6

"The heavens praise your wonders, O LORD, your faithfulness too, in the assembly of the holy ones. For who in the skies above can compare with the LORD?  Who is like the LORD among the heavenly beings?"

Here is the story of how we found out.  It is really long so don't feel obligated to read the whole story...

On Sunday, August 17th, Trav and I decided to take an afternoon nap. Before we fell asleep he asked if I wanted to go to Sonny's Italian restaurant for dinner.  I declined the offer because I had just gone to an Italian restaurant the night before with all the girls who had come down for our CBU weekend. 

During our nap I woke up and thought about taking a pregnancy test.  I thought it was a little early to test, but I couldn't resist and decided to test anyway.  I quietly got up to take the test because I knew if it was positive I wanted to surprise Travis. As soon as I took the test, sure enough a second line started to appear!!! I couldn't believe it.  Really? Me pregnant?  Oh my gosh it was positive...the line started getting darker and darker... undeniably positive!!! I, of course, started to cry and then my hands started shaking and all of a sudden they were clammy.  I didn't know what to do, but I knew I had to get my act together so I could follow through with my plan to surprise Trav.

So, I hid the test in a drawer and climbed back into bed.  A few minutes later Travis woke up and I told him I was starving and I really wanted to go to Sonny's.  He was surprised I changed my mind but hey, I am a girl, I do that a lot.  While I was getting ready he was in the living room playing guitar.  I quickly pulled out of the top of my closet a gift I had bought for him in May of 2007 "just in case".  It was a blue sleeper and a pink one.   

Anyway, I put the pregnancy test in the box and stuffed it in my purse.  (By the way at this point i had probably checked the test at least a dozen times to see if it was still positive...sure enough it was).  We walked down to Sonny's and didn't have to wait long to get a table inside.  I wanted to wait and give him the gift after the waitress took our order so I would have time with him without interruptions.  Before she took our order Travis was saying how we really have to trust God with the timing of this whole "trying for a baby".  During his little chat I had a smile from ear to ear...the kind you can't really disguise, but of course it isn't unusual for me to smile in regards to the subject of babies. 

(The picture below was taken as soon as we were seated...before he knew)

After we ordered, I pulled out the box. As soon as he opened the box he could see the pink and blue sticking out.  He just looked up at me with big eyes and said, "Are you serious? Is this for real? Are you pregnant?"  Of course, by this point I am sobbing.  I began to tell him about taking the test and my plans for surprising him... and continued to sob.  

(I took this picture right after Trav opened the box)

Little did we knew we drew an audience at the restaurant.  The manager ended up coming to our table with a bottle of champagne and 2 glasses on the house.  (Of course, being pregnant I denied joyfully).  The waitress came back to the table and said we were making everyone in the back cry.  

It was such a fun and memorable night.  After dinner we took a picture of us holding the sleepers outside the restaurant. On our walked home, I couldn't help but to scream with excitement.

 

We emailed the picture to his parents right away and even called them at midnight their time in Ohio to get them out of bed to check their email.  Then we had to wait until the following weekend so we could tell my family in person.  We had some onesies embroidered with "coming to the collins' come near you".  We wrapped the onesie along with a book from the perspective of grandparents to their grandchild, and the framed picture of us outside Sonny's.  Everyone was soooo excited and many tears were shed. 

I have definitely had my share of morning sickness...which includes throwing up.  But, I am thankful because it is a reminder that God is doing something inside of me.  So, this is the reason I haven't blogged much.  Between being tired and sick there really isn't much energy to sit at a computer and blog.  The morning sickness should pass in a few weeks, so I will probably begin blogging a bit more regularly.  Thanks for reading if you made it this far.   We will definitely keep you all updated on this new journey.