Sara's modesty keeps you uninformed.

I want to take this opportunity to brag about my wife and the mother of my daughter (same woman).

Sara updated you on the happenings with Gabi's bedroom and how great her last appointment went, but she failed to mention that she received the results for her Nursing Comprehensive Exam. She passed it wonderfully and I cannot begin to emote through words how proud I am of her but as always, I will try.

This is a time in our lives that it is very easy to see God's hand on our lives and I am so thankful for His blessings. Whether it is when finances don't look good and then things just work out, Sara's most grueling clinical work is late in pregnancy and she has the strength to finish and do well, or just this wonderful blessing of bringing a baby girl into this world, God provides and I'm thankful to receive it and to recognize it. I know that our family and friends have been praying for us and I want to thank all of you for those prayers.

Love you all, and Gabi does too, (she told me via morse code through Sara's belly)

Stephen

Nesting...

It's official, we have begun what I can only assume is the nesting process! It all started with a visit to the OB. We went to the doctor on the 22nd for our 31 week appointment and another 3D ultrasound. Once again, we got good reports! Gabriella is growing like a weed and now weighs in at 4 lb, 8oz! Based on her measurements alone, the due date would actually be pushed up two more weeks! However, our official due date is still the same, we "expect" her to be here just before Christmas.

Everything else is looking great as well. Mommy is growing too with an added 17 pounds so far. (I can't believe I just admitted that so freely!) I am still anemic despite the two supplements I currently take. The OB added a third, so my poor stomach might not feel so great for a while! It's definitely worth it though, I'm really in the home stretch!

After our appointment, it dawned on both Stephen and I that Gabriella could realistically come anytime in December, especially with the way she's growing! We went straight to the furniture store (after the bank!) and paid off the balance on her crib and changing table. Thanks to some help from dad, we got it home that day and set it all up before the night was through! It actually feels like a nursery now. We still have several more items on our to-do list, but we are getting close. It's amazing how much a tiny baby needs! We were so overwhelmed at first, but thanks to so many wonderful people, we are getting the things we need.

More is soon to come...

Sara

Update time!!!

Alright this past week in itself has been jam-packed full of delightful events. I will begin with the most recent and work my way back.

Today, October 11th, Sara attended Gabriella's first baby shower! It was graciously hosted by Kathy Payne and I'm sure we'll be talking about it for a while. I'm won't go into specific detail about guests and gifts, but from Sara, Heather, and Karen's account, it was an excellent time. Thanks again to all of our friends and family who are helping us accumulate all of the things a baby girl needs. (unfortunately I do not have photos to post of this event but they are coming)

While Sara was representing Gabriella at the shower, I was getting some much needed R&R. This morning I woke up at 5:30 to eat breakfast and start warming up for the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in downtown Knoxville. Sara and I went down to the event and were quite surprised at the vastness of it. Covering the field at World's Fair Park were 20 or so vendors promoting breast cancer awareness, making sure the runner's have what they needed. Even Starbucks was there handing out free coffee to be sure we all stayed caffeinated! It was very moving being around the breast cancer survivors and also those who were walking or running in memory of a loved one taken by the terrible disease or in celebration of a survivor. But today was a day of triumph, and I refused not to join in. It was my first official race ever and I ran hard and pretty well. I felt great afterwards and I cannot wait to run my next race.

FYI, this week I also decided to train for the Knoxville Marathon in March. If I can run it at 7:25 a mile, I will qualify for the Boston Marathon.

Wednesday, Oct 8th Sara completed her comphrensive exam for nursing school! I was talking about how proud she makes me and someone I work with asked me, "On a scale from 1 -10 how proud of her are you?"

I didn't verbally respond but instead held up both of my hands and I actually grew an extra finger on my right hand to authoritatively answer, "11!" But I digress...

Now that we're in the final stretch, we have been working on getting Gabriella's room transformed from an office to a nursery. Sara and her mom did a fantastic job of cleaning and organizing all of my junk that I had stowed away in the room. And I have been doing a little painting upstairs and downstairs. It's not all done but it is very close.

With all of the events to catch you up on, I forgot to mention just how well Sara and Gabriella are doing. They are working well as a team and everybody is very healthy.

Please keep Sara's sister, Heather, in your prayers as she is recovering from surgery to remove a cyst from her lower back.

Stephen