Signed, Sealed, Delivered...it's OURS!

Today was the big day...CLOSING DAY.  We now own our very first home.  Neither of us have signed our names so many times!  Moving day will be Saturday, and rain is forecast, so prayers would be greatly appreciated for the ordeal.  I will have to post some pictures after the fact to show off the new digs.  Both of us are so excited to decorate Justin's room and make the place ours!

I also went to the doctor this morning for another checkup, and another good report.  The glucose test was negative, and I'm not anemic...both good things.  Mom was with me so she got to meet Dr. Nicholls, and I believe she approves. :)  He says everything is "perfect" and right on schedule, which thrills me because I can be a bit of a worrywart. 

Justin is definitely growing if my expanding waistline is any proof!  There's no doubt it's baby belly and not a "food baby" in there.  Besides that, he moves and grooves a lot more than in the previous weeks.  Like clockwork every evening around 7:30 he has a little tapdance session.  I just pat along and smile. 

Kerry's first week of work is almost complete, and he LOVES it!  I'm so proud of him, and I'm even more proud that things are so great for him there.  Blessings coming down from everywhere!

As Good as it Gets

What an amazing month we've had!  Of course you know about graduation, and probably already know that Kerry passed his boards, and even the packing up process to prepare for the move...but did you know how much answered prayer has come to us on top of all that??  Today was a complete example of that.

We got up early to drive from Panama City to Dothan for my first appointment with our new doctor.  I've not been too keen on the idea of having to switch in the middle of pregnancy, but even from the first phonecall they reassured me that everything would be just fine.  We had another ultrasound to see our precious boy, and since they had a brand new machine, the tech went ahead and did some 4D work just to "play with the new scanner".  I wish someone could have taken a picture of Kerry and me, because we were in such awe at the sight of his face that the room fell silent for a minute (which if you know us, you KNOW that's an accomplishment!!).  After the talking resumed, we decided he's adorable and perfect...and that he has my nose  ;)  We met with my new doctor for over an hour talking about anything and everything that came to mind.  My mind is SO much more at ease now!  And at the end of all that, the man invited us to church.  How do you like that?

Another major concern for us is that we're in a weird gap between insurance coverages right now.  After being prepared to pay a nice sum out of pocket today, the biller looked at us and said, "Oh, you can put that checkbook away.  You don't owe us a dime."  Say what!?  For a record SECOND time today we were rendered totally speechless.  I'm so thankful for these people, you just don't even know!

We walked through our new house again today--this time to measure spaces and decide where furniture will go, etc.  I was so excited to see it!!  We met a neighbor who welcomed us readily.  I have a feeling we'll really like it there. 

We spent the rest of the day doing paperwork for Kerry's job and for the mortgage stuff, and eventually made our way back to Andalusia, both exhausted and overjoyed.  Things really are lining up...things we've prayed hard for over the past several months.  I can hardly wait to see all that God is going to do in our lives if he's already done so much for us.  Somebody pinch me.  :)

6 am...Day after Christmas

Well this amazing Christmas is winding down.  We've just hugged and said our goodbyes to Jonathan, Misty, and Jenna as they departed for Little Rock.  Sad to see them go, but very happy they were here.

We were so blessed this Christmas!  December 17th was the day we've counted down to for so long...Kerry graduated!  It was an amazing feeling watching him receive his awards and diploma--like a weight lifted.  Then the icing on the cake, he passed his national certification on the 23rd!  For him, that means being able to relax and enjoy the next couple of weeks before he starts to work.  In the mean time, we'll be packing boxes and getting ready to make the move up to Dothan into our new house.  How exciting!  I can't wait to decorate the nursery and plant flowers.  :)

Speaking of the nursery,  Justin and I are doing quite well.  We'll be switching doctors in the near future, and that sort of makes me nervous.  I'm growing like crazy (because, I suppose, he is too).  I can feel him kicking pretty regularly now, even if other folks can't quite yet.  Kerry did get to feel it on a particularly active evening, and that's something I'll always cherish.  His face was so funny!  We're both still in awe of the things going on and how much God has blessed us over the past few years, but especially the last few months.  Looking forward to an amazing 2012!

Snips and snails, and puppy dogs tails...that's what little boys are made of!

That's right!

Justin Michael Varner, our SON (!!!), will make his debut in April.  My doctor appointment went well again today.  So far, Justin measures dead on schedule for an April 25 due date.  He has a heart rate in the 140's, and weighs about a half a pound.  So far so good for me, too.

Also, during our Thanksgiving break, our niece, Jenna, was born.  She's a beautiful girl, and I can't wait for Christmas to come so I can squeeze her!  

Less than 2 weeks until graduation!  We're so thrilled!  God is good. :)

Helloooooooo 2nd Trimester!

I haven't had this much energy in...well...at least 3 months!  I'm about a week into the second trimester (over a third of the way there, yayuh) and I feel the fabulousness.  The nauseated gross feeling has left me for the most part, my crazy pregosaurus rex attitude has chilled out a little, and I still take a snooze here and there, but I was actually able to get out and RUN today - not jog, RUN.  And it felt great for a number of reasons.

We're in the process of signing papers, etc, for our house, so hopefully soon we'll be homeowners!  We absolutely love the one we picked out, so hopefully all goes well, and we can move in before Christmas.  I really really want to put up a Christmas tree this year, but I'm afraid I might not be able to.  46 days until graduation, so the time is drawing nearer!

In other updates, the "first" friend I ever had finally walked down the isle this weekend!  I was proud to stand by Jessica on her big day, and even prouder that the bridesmaid dress zipped...whew.  The wedding was absolutely beautiful, and the reception was so much fun!  I never thought I'd see her daddy (my other daddy) dancing to DJ Khaled!  Hysterical!  She married a real sweet guy, too, so that's a huge plus ;)

Next doctor visit is on Monday, so maybe, JUST MAYBE we'll get to see if this little person is a boy or a girl!

11 weeks 5 days - another great checkup!

3D image.  See him/her hiding behind the cord?

Profile Shot!

Another great checkup today!  Things are moving right along as they should according to the doctor and the ultrasound tech.  It's good to "know" people...I knew the tech from work when she was trainging as a student, so she gave me a few extra minutes, and even did a 3d/4d scan just to see.  We didn't get to see a face because the cord and arms were all up in the way, but that's ok...it most likely doesn't look "normal" yet anyway!  I love it when Kerry is along for these appointments.  He's so excited - asking all kinds of questions and pointing to the screen grinning SO big.  They told me that probably not the next visit, but the one after that is when we should know if this is a "JMV" or a "MSV"...tentatively speaking that is.  ;)  And NO, I'm not divulging names until we know...so there!

HGTV?!

Update time! Update time!

So since we've begun looking for houses over the last few weeks, smart little me thought it would be a funny idea to write to HGTV to see if we could get on one of their homebuying shows.  Well, "My First Place" and "Property Virgins" weren't currently looking for anyone, but "House Hunters" had an open invite.  Naturally I filled in the blanks and hit send--all the while not counting on anything coming of it.  3 days later, there was a message from an unknown person in my inbox that simply said "House Hunters" in the subject line.  It was one of the segment producers thanking me for the inquiry...blah blah blah.  I skimmed it thinking it would say "thanks but no thanks"...but wait...what did that say?!?  "We would love to know more about you and Kerry.  Where are you in your homebuying process?  When is the best time to reach you?"  SAY WHAT!?!?  I responded with our phone number, etc., and he wrote me back later the next day to set up a phone interview with us!  AHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!  So next Tuesday he's going to run through the process and get to know us a little better.  WOW!   How cool would that be?!  Now--Pessimistic Polly (me) still holds out that they will say "thanks but no thanks"...but to get this far?  That's gotta be something, right?

In other news, baby V and I are doing well.  Nausea is still lingering, but I'm a little more energetic each day (especially if I get a nap!) and I'm happy as I can be!  I may be just looking for an excuse, but I've started having trouble being comfy in my smaller pants I worked so hard to get into this year.  Glad I saved the bigger ones, because I think they'll be necessary sooner than later!

Today is our 4 year/10 year anniversary.  We're kind of bummed we couldn't spend it together since he's in Dothan, but he'll be home tomorrow and that's all right with me.  I can hardly believe it's been a decade since he picked me up in his big, black, LOUD truck and took me to Subway.  :)  How romantic, right?  Hey- we all start somewhere.  Haha!  I've been smitten with him since that day!  We've eaten at a lot of other restaurants since, too.  ;)

Keep your fingers crossed for us!!!