One Month Left: May the Countdown to Olivia Begin!

As of today, we are one month away from Olivia's due date!  August 13th is just right around the corner and we can't wait to meet little Olivia Lou!  I still feel like I have a thousand things to do, but trust that the important things will be taken care of before she arrives.  I've been so blessed to continue feeling great this far into the pregnancy!

On Monday, I had my first doctor's appointment here in the US (I was a day shy of 35 weeks).  We started with an ultrasound, and praise the Lord she continues to look perfect!  Little Miss Livy Lou is still on the big side weighing in at an 6 lbs 2 oz.  To put things into perspective, Savannah was 6 lbs 8 oz when she was born at 38 and a half weeks!  LOL!  Olivia has dropped REALLY low and is in position for delivery, but I am thankfully not dilated yet.  :)  From this point on, I go to the doctor every week and once I hit 37 weeks I will go twice every week.

On Wednesday, I had the opportunity to tour the maternity ward of Highland Hospital here in Shreveport where I will deliver.  I was extremely pleased and impressed with the visit/facilities and felt very reassured of the decisions we have made to this point.  I pre-registered for delivery and we are ready to go!

Will you join us in praying for these specific requests regarding Olivia's birth:
1.)  That the Lord will continue to bless Olivia with good health and keep me feeling great!
2.)  That Brent will arrive in the US in time for Olivia's arrival.  Also, if the Lord has other plans, that He will prepare our hearts for that circumstance.
3.)  That the Lord will continue to prepare Brent and I as we welcome another child into our family, and that we will be able to give both of our children the love and attention they need.
4.)  That the Lord will prepare Savannah to be a big sister and the changes that will come about.

Thank you sweet friends and family!

Here is a profile shot of sweet Olivia's little face from the appointment.  Can't wait to meet our girl!

Olivia- 34 weeks 6 days
We love you sweet girl!

Saying Goodbye to the Sperlings

This week, the Sperlings, part of our Saudi family, said goodbye to the Kingdom.  Micah, Stephanie, and Jacob are headed to Doha, Qatar for their next assignment and adventure.

Stephanie, Jacob, and Micah

I first met the Sperlings at a Saudi orientation meeting about two months before we moved over.  During the course of that meeting, it became obvious to Brent and I that the Sperlings were believers!  We were so excited that the Lord was blessing us with like-minded friends in a new place.

A year later the Sperlings made it to Saudi and the rest is history.  Over the last three years,we have spent many days and nights together hanging out, playing games, making memories, and watching each other's families grow.  

The day Savannah was born.  :)

Jacob was just a few days old when we took this picture at Savannah's first birthday party.  

Savannah walking the Sperling's dog, Gizmo.
We had the privilege of keeping him on many occasions.  

On vacation in Dubai at the Atlantis hotel.

In front of the Burj Khalifa (the tallest building in the world) while on vacation in Dubai.  

Group picture of the ladies at Olivia's baby shower.

Jacob and Savannah playing together at her second birthday party. 

Savannah and Jacob playing together on our last day in Saudi before leaving for the States.

Group picture at the going away party for Stephanie.  

Three years of life together in Saudi is like ten anywhere else, and the friendships we form are like no other.  The Sperlings have been such a blessing in our lives and we could not imagine what this experience would have been like without them.  

On my last day in Saudi before leaving, I had to say goodbye to my dear friend.  I had been dreading this moment for weeks, and it still hurts my heart to think that Stephanie won't be there when I get back.  The movers came and packed them up while we were gone and this week Brent said his goodbyes to them the night they left.  

I hate that they won't be in Saudi any more, but I am so excited for them as they start a brand new adventure in Qatar.  We have already informed them that they can be expecting visitors in the fall once we get back to the Middle East!

Sperlings, thank you for three wonderful years of friendship and time together.  We love you guys and will miss ya'll tremendously!

Birmingham Visit With Brent's Family

The day after Savannah's birthday, we jumped on another plane and headed to Birmingham to visit with Brent's side of the family.  The trip over was easy and uneventful, and Savannah and I discovered some interesting items in the Delta Sky Mall Magazine.  Just what we've always wanted, our very own squirrel home decor.  LOL!

  

We got into Birmingham late that night, and were pooped!  The next day, Brent's mom and sister made it into town and we had the finally had the whole family together!  Brent's mom brought up our favorite cake from a bakery in Baton Rouge for a birthday celebration for Savannah.  At dinner we enjoyed the delicious treat and she opened her presents.  :)

Checking out the clock with Grandmommy

Hanging out with Aunt Jessica! 

Opening her present from Memaw!

Savannah's beautiful birthday cake that Memaw brought from Baum's in Baton Rouge.  :)  Thank you Memaw!

Getting ready to blow out candles.  

Aunt Myrna and Grandmommy

YUMMY!

Over the next couple of days we had a fantastic time spending time with our family and getting the opportunity to play and visit.  Savannah and Uncle Russ had a fantastic time goofing around with the LSU snuggie blanket!

Uncle Edwin kept Savannah entertained with the "spider on a string."

Aunt Jessica and her friend John Carl kept Savannah busy with all of her birthday toys that she was showered with!  LOL!

Each night Memaw (Tilou) gave Savannah a bath, and Savy would entertain us with a concert of all of her songs while her hair was being dried.  LOL!

Did I mention that they totally spoiled Savannah rotten with birthday presents???  Here's what we looked like going through Wal-Mart.  LOL!

We were lucky to celebrate the Fourth of July while we were there!  Aunt Jessica got some fireworks and Savannah had a great time watching them go off.  She and Memaw even did some special sparklers together too!

Waiting for the "Direworks" (as Savannah calls them) to start!

Sparklers with Memaw!

On our last night in town my brother Austen and his wife Nicki came by for a visit as well!  Nicki and Austen are expecting their first child, a little girl, in October.  This was our first chance to see each other pregnant at the same time!

Uncle Austen, Savy, and Aunt Nicki

Pregnant together!

All too soon our visit came to a close and we had to say goodbye to our wonderful family, but it is so nice to know that we will see some of them again since we will be in the US for so long!  We had such a great visit and can't wait to see them soon.  Love you all!

Snuggling with Aunt Jess and MeMaw

I love my MeMaw!

Goodbye hugs from MeMaw.

A last dance with Aunt Myrna!

Hugs from Uncle Russ and Aunt Myrna!

Savannah with her great grandparents- Grandmommy and Big B!

On our way back to Shreveport, we experienced some delays caused by bad weather in Birmingham which caused us to miss our connection in Atlanta.  Savannah and I ended up spending the night in Atlanta and flying out the next morning, but after all the travel we have done it was no biggie at all!  Savannah has become a super-duper traveler and handles changes really well.  We would gladly go through it again to have a great visit with the family!

We love you guys and thank you so much for such a wonderful visit!