The Kirksey Family

Happy 2nd Birthday, Camryn!

2011-02-22T15:11:00.002-06:00

I canNOT believe that this little bit is now TWO years old! Time has certainly flown!

First, we celebrated at home on her actual birthday, February 15th, with some birthday pan”cakes”, fun streamers, and balloons…she loved it! :)

The following weekend, we headed to Tyler to have a party with our families. Before the festivities, we got a chance to take a walk to Bergfeld Park with my mom and dad, my Aunt Julie (who we were so happy was in town for the weekend!), my sister, bro-in-law, and sweet niece, Emery. The walk through the Azalea District was so beautiful, the weather was perfect, and the park was such fun!


	Sweet cousins! Love this!

The slides were a big hit! :)

Tyson chose the theme for the party– Noah’s Ark – because she’s 2 and she LOVES animals right now! I got inspired by this cute party that I found online, and had such fun decorating!

The tables ready to go for dinner! Lots of animal pairs, black, white, and purple!

Raindrops and clouds everywhere!

And cakes to go along with the 2 theme – whoopie pies – two cakes with frosting between! I had fun making the toppers, too!

And then the party began!


Tyson was dressed for the occasion…he was ready for a flood. :)	We’re so happy! We have a two year old!

We all enjoyed dinner together:

The cousins got lots of lovin’ from family:

And the birthday girl was “showered” with tons of thoughtful gifts! She had so much fun opening them and playing with them…she kept saying, “New toys!”


Aunt Sassy was a great helper!

These cute cousins played (and danced!) so hard at this party! :)

All of the party attendees watching two cute girls!

I love this one of the girls on the couch! (Aunt Katie made Camryn the sweetest blanket!)

And the birthday girl loved her cake! She wasn’t quite as messy as last year! ;)

It was such a happy birthday, and we are so thankful to our families for coming and making it such a special day! We love how much you love our Camryn Joy! :)

Birthday Fun – The Arboretum!

2010-10-19T21:54:00.002-05:00

Since we’ve lived in the Dallas area, it has become a little bit of a tradition with my family to do some kind of event for my birthday involving some sort of Dallas cultural attraction…so fun! One year we went to see a movie at the Angelika (about all the men who have gone to the moon!) then shopping at Mockingbird Station. Another year we went to the King Tut exhibit at the Dallas Museum of Art. This year, we packed up the babies and headed to the Dallas Arboretum to check out their fall display – Autumn at the Arboretum!

It was a gorgeous, sunny Saturday morning, and the temperature was just right! We got there early, rented a wagon for the girls to ride in (Camryn loved it, Emery just wanted to stand up in it!), and made a beeline for the pumpkins! And yes, we dressed the girls in matching outfits! :)

There was beautiful scenery every way we looked…amazing! I can’t believe I had never been before last weekend!

The Pumpkin Village was pretty incredible. There were houses covered in pumpkins and photo opportunities everywhere…and we sure took advantage of that!

We made sure to get family pictures of the Madisons and the Kirkseys:

And pictures of Gigi with her grandgirls:

(I can’t get over Emery’s face…priceless!)

We saw about every variety of pumpkin imaginable…God is so creative!

We spent a couple of hours wandering through different gardens and just admiring all the plants, flowers, and pumpkins, of course. Toward the end, the girls were getting a little tired, so we headed back to the car, stopping for one last photo op at these huge, reddish-orange pumpkins.

I guess we wore the girls out, because this is what they both looked like about 5 minutes into our car ride home:

It was a fun and special day, made even more fun with the cousins there together! Thanks to Tyson and Camryn, Beth, Matt and Emery, and Mom for making in such a great birthday!

They Finally Fit!

2010-09-10T15:01:00.001-05:00

OK, so here’s the story: A sweet friend (Hey, Mrs. D!) gave Camryn this adorable pair of pink cowgirl boots for a baby shower gift (along with a pink stick pony which she loves!). Of course newborns can’t wear boots, and they were a size 5. We have been waiting patiently for Camryn’s walking skills and foot size to catch up to these boots, and they finally do! So she got fully accessorized today (completing her outfit with Mama’s bracelet) and we got some pictures!

This girl was walking all over the house in her boots…didn’t take long at all to figure it out!

I just love this little cowgirl! :)

Rainy Day

2010-09-08T13:39:00.001-05:00

When it looks like this outside ALL DAY…

…you have to find fun things to do inside! Not that I’m complaining about the rain…we needed it! So, instead of grocery shopping in the rain, here’s what Camryn and I did this morning:

Her mommy helped her get the couch cushions on the floor, and she had a great time climbing, flopping, and jumping on them! Yay for free fun! :)

Happy Birthday, Emery!

2010-08-17T14:44:00.001-05:00

Today my sweet niece, Emery, turns one! I can hardly believe that it has been one year since I got that phone call (in the middle of the night!) that she was on the way. What a blessing she is to us!

Last weekend, we headed over to Tyler for a big birthday bash for Emery! Her mommy did such a great job with all of the decorations and details!


Leading up to the front door – the birthday girl’s name in flowers!	The cupcakes, banners, and chandelier decorations all made by Beth! Can you tell what the theme was?? ;)

Everyone that came participated in the theme by wearing black, white, or pink (and wrapping their presents to match! Beth’s hair even got in on it! :)


Emery (in her tutu!) with her Gigi and OK.	Beth and Emery…see the pink hair?!

Emery did a great job with her birthday cupcake…and even got a little help from Camryn!

All the party guests loved watching Emery eat her cupcake and open her gifts…

…and Emery loved opening her gifts – she was SUPER excited about each one!

Happy Birthday, Emery! Aunt Sarah, Uncle Tyson, and Camryn all love you so much! And thanks to Matt and Beth for hosting such a fun party!

Summer Fun!

2010-08-08T21:36:00.002-05:00

This summer I have had to get creative. See, when you have a toddler with tons of energy and it is a bajillion degrees outside, you have to find ways to entertain them that beat the heat!

We have done 2 weeks worth of swim lessons… Camryn learned that being in the pool is OK, how to splash her hands and kick her feet, and how to hold on to the side of the pool. This was her first real experience in the pool, and she wasn’t sure at first, but warmed up to it quickly.

We have had some fun visits to Tyler to see family for special occasions like Fathers Day…

Great-grandgirls with thier mommies, Grandaddy, and OK

Camryn with her Grandad. Happy girl!

…and for my sister Beth’s birthday!

Cousin play time with Aunt Sassy!

Birthday festivities included a trip to the zoo with the grandparents.

We have also discovered the children’s play areas at the local malls and toddler story time at the library…Camryn loves them both! It’s survival, people, and we’re loving it! :)

Catching Up – Caribbean Cruise

2010-06-13T21:23:00.001-05:00

Although it kinda seems like a distant memory now, Tyson and I went on a 5 night Caribbean cruise just after Camryn’s first birthday in February. Oh man, was it fun! :) Both sets of grandparents made sure that Camryn was taken care of while we were gone, and they did a great job! We sure missed our girl, but we had a great time together celebrating the fact that we made it through our first year of parenting!

Day 1 – Embarkation: We got up super early (I think it was in the 4’s somewhere), and flew to Miami to catch our boat, and it was beautiful (the city and the ship!). We got off the plane, caught a cab to the port, and we were on the boat by lunch time on Saturday, February 20th. The weather was breezy and warm…such a nice change from the mountains of snow we received in Dallas just a week before!

Our first day on the boat was spent familiarizing ourselves with the layout of the ship, unpacking in our somewhat-small-but-cozy stateroom, and enjoying our first of several great meals. We played a round of bingo after dinner, but didn’t make it to that night’s show because of our previously mentioned SUPER early wake up time that day!

Day 2 – Sea Day: Our first full day on the boat was spent at sea travelling between Miami and Ocho Rios, Jamaica. We really enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere, readily available ice cream, and all the activities on board. We went to an improv comedy show and played shuffleboard with a couple of older gentlemen from Ohio. Dinner that night was formal night, so we got all dressed up and another yummy dinner (Tyson had Colorado rack of lamb that he said was amazing! I wouldn’t know because I was too busy enjoying my escargot and coq au vin!)

Day 3 – Ocho Rios, Jamaica: I had hoped to watch the process of our ship coming in to port, but we were already in Jamaica by the time we made it to breakfast. We ate on a deck at the very back of the ship looking over the port of Ocho Rios.

We had a great tour guide that took us to Dunn’s River Falls, floating in tubes down a river, and to scenic overlooks and interesting places around town. He even brought us some fruit from his backyard…all varieties native to Jamaica, and none of which we had ever seen before! We tasted each one, and they were all interesting, but not all were so tasty. :)

Then it was back to the boat!

Day 4 – ~~Grand Cayman~~ Sea Day: Overnight we travelled from Jamaica to Grand Cayman (where we were supposed to ride jet skis and swim with the sting rays!). The water was too choppy that day for ships to get into port safely, so the port authority closed the port! Wop wop… So, that day was spent at sea travelling to Key West, Florida instead. This was another relaxing day spent by the pool, playing ping pong, eating of course, and game show activities on board. By the way, that night for dinner I had the Lobster Bisque and the Ossobucco ala Milanese, in case you were wondering. :)

Day 5 – Key West: Although we had booked a tour to go snorkeling, a long line trying to get off the boat kept us from making it on time…boo! So we just took our time wandering around the streets of Key West, people watching, and eating Mexican food. :) It was a cloudy, rainy day, so we didn’t spend too much time there before getting back on the boat.

This was our last night on board, and our last dinner in the main dining room. Our tablemates and our waiters were awesome! The other couples we were seated with were so nice and funny and easy to talk to…made dinner fun! Our head waiter, Limon was hilarious and so nice…we miss him reading the desserts to us every night and calling us “Ma’am Sarah” and “Sir Tyson” !

Day 6 – Debarkation and Travel Home: We got off the boat after breakfast that morning, and travelled home, excited to see our baby girl! After a LONG day of waiting in lines, delayed flights, and Dallas traffic, my parents were waiting at our house with sweet Camryn! She was pretty much SUPER excited to see us…the feeling was mutual! :) Unbeknownst to us (and it was probably better that way), Camryn had decided to get her first ear infection and trip to the ER while we were gone! Some yummy pink antibiotics fixed her right up, but it was sure a long night for her Gigi and OK who were up with her all night!

We’re so thankful to Tyson’s parents and my parents for making our getaway possible! I’m so sorry that Camryn got sick while she was with y’all, but we sure appreciate the great job you did of caring for her…she loves y’all so much! :)

Whew, I think I’m caught up on the major events of the last several months…finally!

Favorite book…

2010-05-26T22:12:00.001-05:00

Right now, Camryn is on a book kick – she will bring me a book, stand there and turn pages while I read, then bring me another. This goes on and on! We usually do about 6 books in a row, but I have a feeling she would do more! It’s pretty fun and sweet. One of her favorites right now is a classic:

Maybe it’s just because I read it so often, but I’ve seen a couple of things around our house lately that remind me of it:

Hopefully we’ll get to see the end of the book in our backyard, too!

Catching Up – Camryn is One!

2010-05-13T16:06:00.002-05:00

For Camryn’s first birthday party, our little family loaded everything up in the car, and took the party to all of our family in Tyler. Camryn turned one on February 15, so we planned the party for the weekend before – on February 13. The thing is, February 11 – 12, 2010 was the day of all-time record snowfall for DFW – 12 inches in 24 hours…Crazy! So this is what our drive looked like…

It was just nuts. Anyway, we made it safely there Saturday morning, and spent the day preparing for the shin dig!

Everyone participated by wearing their western get-up…

There were (borrowed) toy ponies to ride, which the birthday girl LOVED!

Then there were presents…

…games (the girls won, by the way!)…

…and cupcakes! A great time was had by all!

Next up, catching up with Sarah and Tyson’s Caribbean cruise…and Camryn’s first trip to the E.R.!

Catching Up - Four Christmases

2010-05-12T15:15:00.006-05:00

I'm starting a series of short-and-sweet posts to catch up on events of the last few months. So, we'll start with our family's four different Christmases that we were blessed to be a part of! :)

Christmas #1 - Big Kirksey Christmas in Houston, December 19th - Lots of food, family, and fun. Camryn was a little overwhelmed with it all, but she had fun and got lots of love from Tyson's extended family.

Christmas #2 - Grubb Family Christmas in Tyler, Christmas Eve - It SNOWED!! Craziness! Camryn enjoyed playing with her Gigi & OK, my Grandaddy, Aunt Sassy and Uncle Matt, and her sweet cousin Emery. Oh, and there were cake balls! :)
Christmas #3 - Kirksey Family Christmas in Tyler, Christmas Morning - Camryn slept through half of the festivities (hey, a girl's gotta nap!). We had lots of fun gifts, the traditional Christmas omelets, and lots of time with Gramma & Grandad, and Uncle Kevan & Aunt Katie.
Christmas #4 - Our Family Christmas in Carrollton, sometime after we got home?? - Whew! We made it back home (without an inch to spare in our 4 door sedan!), and now we have a little Christmas as a family. Camryn got a play table and chairs from us and a book in her stocking (which I made! it's in the middle), then Tyson and I exchanged gifts, too.

Up next, catching up on Camryn's birthday!

Where Have I Been?

2010-03-05T12:23:00.003-06:00

Good question! I feel like I just blinked and it has been three months since I last blogged! It has been a busy three months with four Christmases, a just-the-two-of-us Caribbean cruise, and a certain little person's first birthday! Whew! I promise to catch you up soon on all of that, but for now, here's a taste of life at our house recently (in case you didn't catch this on Facebook). Enjoy the video!

Christmas Cheer

2009-12-08T14:27:00.006-06:00

The best way to spread holiday cheer is...posting pics on your blog! (and singing loud for all to hear, of course! I heart you, Buddy.)

This year, we used our slim tree and put it in the living room. Usually we have a bigger tree set up in the den...which has become Camryn's playroom...hence the moving of the tree. :)

But I did let her have a look at it for fun...she wanted the gold ball ornament REALLY bad!

Yeah, so I have orange and lime green on my tree...so what! :) There's red and gold in there, too. I gotta have something to go with my orange couch!

This ornament says it all! Merry Christmas!

Before and After

2009-12-05T15:30:00.045-06:00

If you know us very well at all, you know that we LOVE a good before and after moment. Well, we must, because we've had SO many of them! :) You know, when you've finished a project that has turned out great, then look back on what you started with. It's so satisfying! Here are some of the before and afters that we've experienced over the years, mainly home updating/renovation projects. :) Enjoy!

Yard sale coffee table from our first home as married people - Harding West Marrieds apartment B-16. :) We simplified it and made it smaller to fit our tiny living room.

Dining room of our current house. Do not adjust your monitor settings...that really is a matching padded wall, table runner, and curtains! That's how the former owners had it decorated. Once again, we simplified. And, I heart orangey red. :)

Bathroom in our current house. Can you say, "major overhaul?" We took it from 1983 with his and hers sides (one vanity, closet and entrance door each), brown cultered marble, and carpet (ewww, in a bathroom?!?) to 1 big vanity, 1 big closet, and nice new tile. Major thanks go to Tyson's parents for their huge help on this project! And, yes, these two pictures were taken from the same spot in the room...did I mention this was a major overhaul?

In the living room we took down the dark paneling and replaced it with painted drywall. A much simpler project than the bathroom, and it really brightened the room, made it feel bigger, and brought it out of the 1980's.

Camryn's room. I don't have a good before picture of the opposite corner...that's where the huge mural of Gotham City was. Not very girly, so we changed it to golden yellow walls with black, cream, and pink...but not too much pink. :)

Just had to throw this one in there. :) The pregnancy wasn't always easy, but so worth it now! The before picture was about 1 week before Camryn came, and the after was last month...such a sweet girl!

The den/office/play room. For the last 3 years it has been brown paneling and dingy white drywall. We recently finished painting everything and rearranging the layout. Aaaaah, much better. :) (Anyone remember Kevan's dog Bailey? Apparently she came to visit us once!)

This is a little project that I saw on Martha this week, and it actually looked easy enough for me attempt. By just folding old magazines (no cutting, no glue, no nothing) I got a couple of cute, office-y Christmas trees! It took a while to fold each page three times, but really, what else do I have to do. ;)

So, there you have it...our favorite before-and-after moments. What about you...what's your best before-and-after? Pictures, please! :)

A Musical Heart

2009-09-17T15:49:00.000-05:00

Camryn loves music. It is one of the sweetest things about her. A sweet tune can make her smile when nothing else will. :)

A couple of examples:
At Kevan and Katie's wedding, a family friend, Randy York, played guitar for the pre-wedding music. *Side note - Y'all, he is amazing!* Being seated on the groom's side, we just happened to be on the front row, right in front of him. The entire time he played, Camryn was transfixed...didn't take her eyes off of him...didn't fuss...didn't even wiggle.

I don't know what it is about "Twinkle, Twinkle", but any time I start singing it to her, she gives me the biggest smiles! That song seems to be her favorite, but she always listens and pays attention whenever I sing a peppy tune...she really likes it when I add snapping and/or clapping. :)

On another note (heehee, get it, "note"), at each check up since she was 2 months old, our pediatrician has told us that Camryn has a functional heart murmur. She has no symptoms that it is causing her problems, and our doc isn't worried about it at all....he even told us that he has a functional heart murmur himself, and that made us feel better about hearing that news. At her 6 month check up, he mentioned that he still faintly heard the murmur and said, "It has a musical sound to it. That usually means it won't cause her any problems, but we'll keep an eye on it."

I mentioned his comment to Tyson when he got home from work. He responded by looking at Camryn and saying, "Camryn, do you have a muscial heart?"

Yep, I think she does...in more ways than one. :)

Whoa there, Buckaroo!

2009-09-16T14:44:00.004-05:00

Because I'm not quite sure that I'm ready for this!

Baby-proofing, here we come!

*If you're viewing this on Facebook and can't see the video, head on over to my blog!*

Life is Good....

2009-08-12T13:38:00.003-05:00

...when your sweet baby is laughing and playing with your sweet husband. Life is GOOD!

Lately...

2009-06-25T22:24:00.008-05:00

Lately...I've realized that I'm a much better Facebooker than blogger.

Lately...I've decided that I need a new approach to blogging. I have had the mindset that I need to have a cute theme for each post, write detailed descriptions of everything, and include lots of pictures. Obviously, that's not working. ;) I think I'll try doing little short posts instead because big posts just aren't happening!

Lately...I've become a stay at home mom, and I'm really enjoying it. It hasn't really sunk in yet, but I'm sure it will when all of the teachers go back to school in August without me.

Lately...I've found it easier to enjoy Miss Camryn. I mean, I have always enjoyed her, but I don't feel like I'm worrying so much. She is getting much more interactive (smiling, playing, making noises) and that is fun. Feeding her is much easier than it was when she was a newborn. Baby/Mommy life is good. :)

And here's a few pictures of what we've been up to ...lately...

Camryn turned 4 months old on June 15th.

She loves to hold toys and put them straight in her mouth.

We went to our first baseball game as a family...Astros @ Rangers. We all wore our Astros gear! Camryn didn't so much like the heat or the cheering after a Rangers home run, but she did pretty good. :)

Tyson celebrated his first Fathers Day. Camryn and I love him so much!!

2nd 6 Weeks

2009-05-10T15:50:00.000-05:00

(First of all, geesh! It's been 6 weeks since I blogged...shame on me!)

Going back and reading that previous post, I realize how much Camryn has grown and changed in such a short amount of time. I guess she is TWICE as old now as she was then, but still! She is growing so fast, and is getting sweeter, cuter, and more fun all the time! :) This will probably be the last "report card" that Camryn gets for a while...since I won't be a teacher any more after this year, I'm going to take a hiatus from giving grades!

BABY REPORT CARD

Student: Camryn Kirksey
Grading Period: 2nd 6 Weeks

Being Cute: A+
Tummy Time: B+
Smiling: A+
Here's a picture of her completing an "assignment" that counts for all 3 of these classes:
Sleeping: A-
The day she turned 9 weeks old, Camryn turned in her "Sleeping Through the Night" assignment for the first time! She has woken up just a few times since then to eat in the middle of the night, but mostly she sleeps from 9:30 or 10:00 until 6:30 or 7:00. Yay! Here's a pic of how we usually find her in the morning...for some reason she likes to turn her head around like this and wiggle her arms and legs out of the blanket. Hey, whatever works! :)
Dirtying Diapers - A++
I don't really need to go into detail on this one, do I?? ;)

Eating - A +
I don't have a picture of this class, but Camryn is a really good eater. We have never had problems with her nursing, and she even takes a bottle really well. That was something I was worried about because I will be going back to school on May 19th (so sad!), but she eats from a bottle like a champ! Also, I know she's eating well because she's doing a good job of growing and gaining weight. We went to the doctor for a 2 month check-up on April 15th. She weighed 11 pounds, and was 22 1/4 inches long...50th percentile for both!

New Classes this 6 Weeks:
Car Trips: A+
Since the last report card, Camryn has been on several trips out of town. Our first trip was over Easter weekend, and we went to Tyler to visit a whole bunch of grandparents, aunts, and uncles. Since then we have been back to Tyler once (for Kevan and Katie's shower!) and to Abilene (for Kevan's graduation...yay Kev!). She slept basically the entire time we were in the car, coming and going, for all of those trips! Granted, none of them were over 3 hours long, but still, she did great!

Talking: B-
Also since last 6 weeks, Miss Camryn has really started talking! OK, talking might be a bit strong of a word...really she can only say vowels at this point (you know, "eeeeh" or "aaaaah")! She and I even had a little conversation the other night! She would make her cooing sound, and I would make one back. She would watch me, then make another sound right after I finished...so cute! :)

Teacher's Comments: Camryn is a wonderful student! She is showing improvement in all categories, and I love having her in my class!

1st 6 Weeks Report Card

2009-03-28T12:05:00.005-05:00

Camryn will be 6 weeks old on Sunday...whoa! In teacherly fashion, I am going to give her a report card on how she has been doing.

I gave her a B in Sleeping because she has some missing assignments. ;) One assignment that hasn't been turned in yet is Sleeping Through the Night. Hopefully she will get this turned in during the next few weeks!
She received a B- in Smiling because it is still very inconsistent. Sometimes it seems like she is doing it on purpose, other times not.
Camryn still needs improvement for her grade in Tummy Time. She earned a C for this class because of her behavior. She does not enjoy this class, so she is not putting forth her best effort. ;)
Lastly, her B in Going Out is due to the fact that she left early from the assignment titled "Walking the Mall with Mom and Gigi" that took place on March 19th because she was crying. She did make up this assignment by completing "Walking the Mall with Mom and Dad" on March 21st, but it is still affecting her grade.

And Camryn received a A+ in being cute because...well...a picture says 1,000 words!

One Month!

2009-03-20T17:55:00.003-05:00

Wow! This past Sunday, Camryn was officially one month old! We have had a long, fun month of learning, growing, lack of sleep, and falling in love with her! :)

Camryn at one month old...with a couple of special friends! :)
Here's what has been going on with us during her first month:

1. We are working on getting Camryn on a schedule. Right now, she's eating about every 3 hours and taking 1 1/2 to 2 hour naps between each feeding...that's a lot of sleeping! We're trying to go by the book Babywise...seems to be working well so far.

2. She still wears newborn sized diapers and clothes. Some of the 0 - 3 month things fit, too. I can tell, though, that she is growing little by little...she's starting to get the cute, baby rolls on her legs!

3. She gets the hiccups about once a day. (Check out this video)

4. She sleeps really well when she's swaddled (aka burrito baby!)...but she also loves to wiggle her arms free.
5. Her favorite place is snuggled up next to my chest.
6. We think her eyes will be blue...they started out very dark, but are lightening up.
7. We have had several visits from family...we are so blessed with how much Camryn is loved!
8. Camryn can hold her head up for a short period of time...we're working on that a little every day! (Watch this!)

9. She is getting much better at making eye contact...she loves to look at our faces. :)
10. I try to take Camryn out somewhere every day. So far, that has included church, small group, the grocery store, Target, the mall, and on walks through our neighborhood.
Thank you, Lord, for the sweet blessing of a child! We're looking forward to what month 2 has to offer!

Our Little Bundle of (Camryn) Joy!

2009-02-27T18:15:00.001-06:00

I think it's a little ironic that I'm just now getting around to posting about Camryn, and today was supposed to be the day she was born! Ha! She certainly had other plans! I have been enjoying the last 2 weeks, but it has definitely not been easy. There have been several tears and moments of frustration, but all in all, it has been wonderful. :) So here's how the whole thing went down...

Saturday 2/14/09 @ 11:59p.m. - I get up out of bed to go to the bathroom...not at all an unusual occurrence at this point in the pregnancy.

Sunday 2/15/09 @ 12:00a.m. - My water breaks! I hadn't had any contractions, so there was no warning at all. It was an especially big surprise since it was 12 days before my due date! I run back into our bedroom and wake up Tyson. I say, "Honey, I think my water just broke." Poor guy was so groggy, surprised, and confused! He got up, and while both of us are crying and shaking, he prayed over me and the birth of our baby...sweet memory for me. :)

12:10 - 12:45a.m. - We rush around the house getting last-minute things together for the hospital. Oddly enough, that day we had set up the pack-n-play and packed Camryn's bag of things for the hospital...but we were expecting to have 2 more weeks to get everything else packed up! During this time I start to have some minor contractions. They're definitely noticeable, but not too painful. They basically started right after my water broke!

1:00a.m. - We arrive at the hospital and get taken up to labor and delivery. I had the best nurse for most of my labor! Her name was Lisa, and she was very positive, kind, and funny! I was very sad that her shift ended before Miss Camryn arrived!

1:00 - 4:30a.m. - Contractions. That's about all that was happening at this point. They got longer, closer together, and more intense...and that's probably all you want to know. :) Tyson was very sweet and helpful throughout my labor...I just love him so much! He kept telling me what a great job I was doing, and was very sweet to help me and get things for me...Thanks, honey!

4:30a.m. - I realize that my pain level has increased to the point where I'm ready for some meds. I told this to the nurse, and I was thinking she would give me some demerol or something because I was still a long way from needing the epidural. Well, she checked me and said that it was epidural time! Whoa, this was much sooner than I was expecting! Actually, about an hour earlier, Tyson and I made a short video (between contractions!) where we talked to Camryn. I said in the video, "It's very early in the morning, and we're looking forward to meeting you sometime this afternoon." Ha! :) So, things are progressing faster than we or the nurse were expecting...this is a good thing for me!

5:00a.m. - Epidural time! It really wasn't too bad getting the epidural except that I was having contractions while the anesthesiologist was working on me...that made it tough to be still and stay in the right position. I did tell him, "I just don't want to see the needle!" and I didn't...I think that helped. :) It was around this time that we called our families to tell them that we were having the baby. We decided to wait until 5:00 thinking that would let them get some sleep and give them PLENTY of time to make the drive from Tyler...things just moved more quickly than we anticipated.

5:00 - 7:00a.m. - Labor continues to progress, but I'm not feeling the pain from the contractions...yay! I am, however, feeling quite a bit of pressure during the contractions. That pressure increases throughout this time, to the point where I feel like I need to push. I tell this to the nurse (Ashley now, instead of Lisa because her shift ended), and she calls the doctor on call to let him know it's time!

about 7:30a.m. - Nurse Ashley calls the doctor again to make sure that he's on his way. I'm really feeling the need to push, so the nurse lets me push a little during the contractions. She eventually has to tell me NOT to push because the doctor's not there yet!

sometime between 7:30 and 8:00a.m. - The doctor arrives...whew! He has just enough time to get all set up before I really start pushing. Later I find out that it's a good thing the nurse called him a second time...he was on his way to Starbucks to get some coffee before coming to the hospital! He thought he had lots of time since it's my first baby and I had an epidural...usually two signs that the labor will take a while!

about 8:00a.m. - Our families arrive just in the nick of time! I promise I didn't know the labor would go so quickly!

8:16a.m. - After just over 8 hours of labor, Camryn Joy arrives! She is crying and pink and perfect!

She's Here!

2009-02-17T17:37:00.003-06:00

Well, much to our surprise, Camryn Joy Kirksey has arrived 12 days early! I'll do a quick post and picture for now, then follow up later with more details.

Camryn Joy Kirksey
Sunday, February 15, 2009
8:16 a.m.
7 pounds
19.5 inches
Mom, Dad, and baby are doing well. :)

We're in the Red Zone!

2009-02-09T20:25:00.000-06:00

That's what Tyson is calling it now...the red zone. :) My due date is 18 days away, which basically means that I could go into labor any time now. Wow, that's a sobering thought! It didn't really sink in until my doctor's appointment last Monday when I found out that I am 1 - 2 centimeters dilated already. I freaked out just a little (OK, maybe more than a little), but then later found out that many expectant moms stay there for even a month! Regardless, it was a reality check! (At today's appointment, I found out that I haven't progressed any in the last week...thanfully!)

We have been spending the past couple of weeks making some "final" preparations, realizing that our time before Camryn arrives is getting shorter and shorter. We've installed the car seat in my car, finished the nursery, and we're in the middle of a 3 week childbirth education class.

So here are some pictures of what we've been up to. You can see that the belly is definitely getting bigger, and boy, am I feeling it! I'm not in pain or anything, I just feel like she's pushing on everything inside me when she moves! Also, here's the latest progress on the nursery:

This weekend, we went on a shopping trip, and used gift cards to pick up some things that we still needed for her room. We got a diaper pail and a changing pad/covers, plus we have put a little shelf on the wall for wipes, etc.

Last weekend, my parents stopped by on their way out of the country (on a trip to Israel!...they'll be back this week), and they dropped off the crib skirt and bumper. Oh, wow, they turned out so good! I was thrilled with the result, and I think they look great in the room! Here's the whole crib put together...

And here is a better view of the inside of the bumper...I love how the fabrics all look together. Girly, but not baby-ish...just what I wanted!

So we're in the home stretch! I am so thankful for how I have felt throughout this pregnancy...the nurse today even commented about what a great pregnancy I've had...and she sees LOTS of pregnant ladies! We are prayerful for a healthy baby and mommy, and for Camryn to wait until at least her due date to make her arrival (the longer she waits, the less I have to go back to school at the very end of the year!). We'll keep you posted...

Sneak Preview

2009-01-28T10:06:00.004-06:00

Last night my mom emailed me a sneak preview of the bedding that we're having made for the crib! Here is the glimpse that I got of the crib skirt....I LOVE how these fabrics look together! Especially with the pom-pom trim! Now I'm looking forward to seeing it all in person and actually in the nursery...so fun!Also, my blog got a new look thanks to having the day off of school yesterday! I had time to play with our digital camera, then play around in Scrapblog. So, enjoy!

Camryn in 3D!

2009-01-10T17:24:00.008-06:00

Over our Christmas break we had the opportunity to get a 3D sonogram! We went on the Tuesday before Christmas to a place in Tyler called Stork Vision. It was a full house! My mom and dad, Tyson's mom and dad, Tyson's brother, and my sister and brother-in-law were all able to join us! Unfortunately, Miss Camryn did not cooperate with us. The cord was in front of her face the whole time, so we weren't able to get a good picture of her. The nice people at Stork Vision let us reschedule for the Friday after New Year's so that we could try again. So we went back and had much more success. Here are some of the best pictures that we got!

Profile view of her face:

Front view of her face. Chubby cheeks and a dimple in her chin!
Big yawn!
She had her feet crossed over each other...not much room in there!
Thanks so much to my mom and dad (and Aunt Babe) for this fun experience! Now we are just looking forward to seeing her in person in 7 weeks or so!

Tyson's Birthday & the Nursery

2008-12-20T17:23:00.009-06:00

Happy Birthday to Tyson! The lucky boy got to celebrate yesterday by having the day off of work! When I got off of school, he opened his gifts, then we ate dinner at Abuelo's (yum!), did some shopping, and came back home and ate cheesecake...made by me! I love you so much, honey! I'm so blessed to have you in my life!! Here are some pics of his gifts:

Opening a new shirt from his mom and dad.
Now wearing the new shirt, and holding my gift!

Playing with his new toy from me...speakers for his iPod. :)

In other news...we've been working on Camryn's nursery lately, too! Today, we picked out a chair for her room from Ikea, and I bought most of the fabrics for the bedding. I also got some letters to put on the wall that spell her initials. Here's a couple of pictures of what the room looks like now:I have my next doctor's appointment on Monday afternoon, and shortly after that, we'll be heading to our 3 Christmases in Tyler and Houston, then our Kirksey family trip. We'll be back in town in a couple of weeks, and then I'll update with pictures of our fun holiday! Merry Christmas to everyone out there in blogland! :)

30 Weeks

2008-12-17T20:18:00.004-06:00

Oh my goodness, how time is flying! On Friday, I will be exactly 30 weeks along...only 10 weeks to go! I have been so blessed to have an easy pregnancy that the time has gone by waaay too quickly! I am so thankful for how good I have felt, and that any "issues" I've had have been minor (Thanksgiving weekend I discovered what it feels like to have your heart burning!) I realized this week that when I go back to school after Christmas break, I will only have 8 weeks left! (That is, assuming that Camryn decides to come ON her due date! Ha!)

So here is what is going on baby-wise lately:

1. We picked her name! (in case you didn't see that in the previous paragraph!) Camryn Joy. Not Cammy. Not Cam. Not CJ. Camryn! :) We are keeping with a tradition in Tyson's family to have names that end with an "n", and both of us liked how it sounded. It's nice to be able to call her by her name now! :)

2. We regsistered! Everyone that we talked to said that Babies R Us was the best place to register, so that's what we did. Talk about an overwhelming experience! I feel like on every row I just stared at all the stuff thinking either "What is that for?" or "Do I really need that?" There are just so many of everything to choose from. I think that a few mommies should go check out our registry and tell me if we picked good stuff! :)

3. I passed my glucose test! Yay! And at my last appointment, my blood pressure, my weight, and the baby's heartbeat were all great and normal. I go back next Monday for another check up. By the way, the last sonogram I had was at 19 weeks, and I'm not going to get another one unless I start having problems...so disappointing! My friend Jamie is getting a sonogram every time she goes in for an appointment...lucky girl!

4. We are working on the nursery. I got some cute letters at Hobby Lobby today to put on the wall. The only problem was that I wanted C, J, and K, but they didn't have a C! I'm going tomorrow to a different Hobby Lobby near my school to see if they have one! If not, I may be sending my mom or sister to check out the one in Tyler! :) Also, over Christmas break, I will be bringing home fabrics for the bumper and crib skirt. A friend of my mom's (who is an amazing seamstress) is going to make them for us. I can't wait to see it all together!

5. Childbirth classes...I'm thinking we need to go ahead and sign up for some. Has anyone else taken these classes and were they helpful at all?? First-timer needs advice!

6. I felt Camryn hiccupping (sp?) yesterday. What a fun thing! All of her movements in the last few weeks have been big nudges that are mostly higher up (like around belly button level on me). But the hiccups were lower down, smaller movements, and rhythmic...that was definitely something different! I have been continually amazed at the little life that is growing inside of me. And she's not growing and developing perfectly because of anything that I have done, but because God is knitting her together himself! I love you, Lord! You are so good!

Anniversary Fun!

2008-12-14T13:42:00.015-06:00

Happy 6th Anniversary to us! :) Tyson and I decided to do something special to mark our anniversary, so we booked a tour of downtown Dallas...riding Segways! :) I was a little nervous being 6 1/2 months pregnant, but it was super easy, and I felt very safe riding the Segway. Although it was pretty windy, the weather was mild, so that made for a nice experience. We got to see parts of Dallas and learn about the history in a way that we never would have before.

First, they trained us on how to "drive" the Segway. It was so easy! I felt comfortable riding on it after about 5 minutes of practice!
Then we made several stops as we "glided" around the downtown area. We stopped at Dealey Plaza where I got a picture of Tyson on the grassy knoll, and one of the book depository.

Then we saw the Old Red Courthouse...a really cool building!
We also stopped at Pioneer Park to see the bronze longhorns and cowboys.

Our tour guided (in the green jacket) was really nice, and did a great job leading us around and giving us the history of all the places we went.

We also saw this great view of downtown when we stopped at City Hall.

It was a really fun experience, and I would definitely recommend it! The tour company should be posting more pictures of our tour soon!

A Couple of Things

2008-11-21T17:43:00.006-06:00

OK, here is a promised picture of the belly and the nursery! We stayed up late last night to put the crib together, and we love, love, love it! It looks a little darker in the picture than it does in person...maybe because of my day-glow bright orange shirt! :) I really like how it looks with the fabric that I picked out and with the wall color. Baby is going to love it! ;)

Also, in case you haven't looked at the comments from the previous post, my friend Larissa sent me the link to her post called "What Not to Say to a Pregnant Woman." After re-reading it, all I have to say is "Amen, sister!" :)

100 days

2008-11-19T17:56:00.004-06:00

Well, it's official...the counter over on the side of the page says I have 100 days to go! I remember counting down to our wedding and feeling all of the excitement and anticipation...this is not too different from that. There are so many new things that we will be experiencing 100 days from now, and I don't really feel prepared for any of it! (Who does, right?)

We have been spending some time lately working on the nursery. We just finished painting the walls last night, and we are planning on assembling the crib sometime this week. We also just got home from picking up a second-hand dresser/changing table. It feels good to be making some kind of preparations and to see that things are getting done. I will post pictures soon!

I am still feeling well and enjoying being a 5 1/2 month pregnant lady. :) The belly is definitely growing, and people comment almost every day. It has been interesting to hear the variety of comments from people about the belly. I know that everyone who says something is trying to say something nice and to show their excitement about the baby, so I try to keep that in mind. Especially when someone says something like, "Wow, you're getting big!" or "I don't think that shirt is going to fit much longer!" **Tip for saying things to pregnant ladies (and I learned this a year or two ago from my friend, Larissa, but I can't find her blog post about it...) if in doubt, just say, "You look cute!" We know you're referring to the belly! :) I will post another picture of that soon, too.

And for those of you waiting for the next chapter of our testimony, I promise, we haven't forgotten! It's the best part of the story, so I will definitely be working on that post. In the mean time, be blessed, all you out there in blog-land!

Baby Update!

2008-10-22T20:01:00.008-05:00

Geesh, it's been a while! It seems like it's time again for a picture of the growing belly, and an update of what's been going on with us baby-wise. Since I last blogged about Baby Kirksey (and this will be news to you if you're not family or a Facebooker!), we found out that we're having a girl! No, we have not picked a name yet. No, we/I have not picked out bedding yet. Yes, we're working on it! :) The doctor said that he was 100% certain that she was a girl, so my mom, sister, and mother-in-law went ahead and got us some sweet, pink baby things...it has begun! :)

As for me, I am still feeling really good overall. There are some minor discomforts that I won't discuss here, but generally I feel pretty normal. I am definitely bigger, though, as you can see. So far I've gained several inches around the waist and a few pounds...I'm sure it will be much more before she gets here!

I am feeling her move all the time now (right now actually!) , and Tyson has been able to feel her move, too. That is a little strange, but still so cool at the same time! I have heard it described as "a flutter" or "like having butterflies in your stomach." No way! First of all, it is way to low down to be in my stomach, especially at this point! And, it's not really as gentle as those descriptions make it sound. I think it feels like a nudge from someone, but from the inside instead. How would you describe that feeling??

The funny thing lately is that my students have started to say things to me about having a baby. I didn't feel the need to make a big announcement to them...I assumed they would ask if they were curious. For example, today I had a boy hang around after 2nd period and say to me, "Mrs. Kirksey, there is a rumor going around this school that you're going to have a baby. Are you?" Ha! I thought it was so funny how he said the rumor was going around the whole school...apparently I'm big news! :) All of the kids who have said anything have been so sweet and excited...I appreciate that!

So here are some pictures of baby and me. The sonogram pictures are from 2 weeks ago when we found out that she was a she! They are a little tough to decipher, so I'll try to explain each one. Enjoy!!

Me (and the belly!) at 21 1/2 weeks.
Sonogram picture at 19 weeks. She's in a crouched position, and you can see her leg bones and rib cage!
Another sonogram picture. Here you can see her face on the right, and a hint of ribs on the left. She's laying on her side, and her face is turned toward us. :)

Testimony - Chapter 3

2008-09-30T21:52:00.007-05:00

(Tyson here...I'll be narrating chapter 3.)

If you haven't yet, please read chapter 1 and chapter 2 first.

Winter had passed and Spring of 2008 was upon us. It had been several months since our latest doctor visit, and nothing had changed. We felt discouraged but hopeful, and were blessed to be surrounded by loving friends, family and church leaders.

As April arrived, we had become ready to try the prescription given by Sarah's doctor. The Lord reminded us that all healing is from Him, and often times He does use a doctor and common medicine. We felt that if that's what God wanted to do, even though we were still uncomfortable with it, we should not box God in. We became spiritually prepared to start medical treatment soon.

The first week of April, I (Tyson) was planning to travel to Searcy, AR for a Camp Wyldewood benefit golf tournament over the weekend. Record rainfall ensued the 4 days prior to the tournament, and the forecast was even worse for game day. I was all but certain that my travel plans would be canceled. In the three days leading up to Friday, Searcy received over 5 inches of rainfall, and yet to my amazement the tournament was never canceled. On Thursday evening I shrugged, grabbed my clubs and hopped a flight into Little Rock. In the 6 hours after I touched down, Searcy received over 3 inches of rain. The tournament was canceled first thing Friday morning, leaving me in Searcy with nothing to do for two days. I called the airline, but no early flight was available back to Dallas.

Realizing that I had better make good of a bad situation, I decided to try to touch base with some old friends from camp, Michael and Shelley Lincoln. I was happy to catch Michael on the phone, and we quickly met for ice cream and caught up with each other's lives. Within minutes, he had called Shelley and insisted that I join them for dinner and stay the night with them. Of course I was happy to do so. These are dear friends that Sarah and I consider in many ways a third set of parents. The Lincolns have fed us, employed us, counseled us, worshiped with us, cried with us, laughed with us and most of all blessed us with a clear example of a Godly marriage and family.

Later Friday night at the their house, I began asking for their prayers for Sarah and I and our attempts to conceive a child. Of course they agreed, and each began talking about their six-year experience with natural healing instead of medical doctors, and how they frequently visit a man in Rose Bud, AR who owns a herbal supplement store called "Remedies".

The Lincolns had plenty of testimonies of how they had used herbal supplements and natural remedies to cure common ailments, from common colds to athlete's foot and back pain. Shelley went on to tell me that Barry, the owner of Remedies, had mentioned to her earlier in the week that he had helped 125 women get pregnant. She didn't understand his comment at the time, calling it "random" and out of context. Shelley started to believe that maybe she was told for our sake, and she asked if I would like to go talk to Barry in the morning.

Now...needless to say I was a little uneasy about the thought of seeing an "herbalist". I'm generally skeptical about things like that, as most people are, I think. But Michael and Shelley told me that they believe Barry has "a gift from the Lord", and he often knows his patients even before they disclose any information about their lives. Because of our relationship, I knew the Lincolns would never recommend anything that they didn't believe was firmly in the will of God. I agreed and Shelley and I planned to go see Barry first thing in the morning.

On Saturday morning, Shelley and I made the short drive to Rose Bud (population 429). Barry was in, and after a short wait we joined him in a comfortable living room adjacent to the store. He asked how he could help, and I gave a 30-second recount of our attempts to get pregnant and the doctor's diagnosis of Sarah's condition. Barry took a 4x6 note card and began to write on it.

"Tyson, has anyone in your family had thyroid issues in the past?" he asked. Uh...wait a minute here. I came to ask about Sarah, and he's asking about me! In fact, my Mom has had thyroid trouble her entire life, but I didn't know how that was relevant. I answered simply, "yes, my mother has." He went on to explain that I also had thyroid problems that caused a low body temperature. He said it would be hard for us to get pregnant unless my body temperature was closer to normal. He jotted down on the note card some information about something called Wilson's syndrome, and told me to pray about taking a specific amino acid supplement for 60 days.

Now, I had just had a physical exam a few months ago with complete blood work and tests, so I was a little suspicious about the beginning of this conversation, but the fact that he knew about thyroid trouble in my family caused me to stay locked on his words. Nevertheless, I never remembered having a low body temperature.

"Sarah," he continued, "has two cysts on her left Fallopian tube. This is why she hasn't had a period on her own." Barry went on to explain that for both males and females, the left side of the body is responsible for reproduction. Left testicle, left Fallopian tube, left ovary, etc. On a new note card, he jotted down an herbal supplement and handed me the note card, saying "pray about this, but I think it will work and you should be pregnant in 60 to 90 days."

So there I was...holding two note cards and overwhelmed with emotion. Is this crazy? Is this real? Does this guy know anything? He just sat there and looked at me...how can he know anything? I thought back over the last 48 hours, wondering how I had even come to this point. 48 hours ago I was certain I would not be going to Arkansas, and yet, for some reason, I got on a plane, flew north and ended up sitting and talking to a guy from Rose Bud named Barry who seemed to know more about our situation that our doctor or even ourselves.

17 Weeks Update

2008-09-21T15:01:00.005-05:00

Here is an updated picture of the baby bump! :) The baby and I have definitely grown since I last posted a picture! I have had to make the leap with some of my pants to wearing the Bella Band (actually, the Motherhood Maternity version of it). It really is great...so thanks to all the moms and moms-to-be out there for the great advice! I also went shopping this weekend with my mom to look at cribs and maternity clothes...so fun! I now own 2 maternity shirts (so pretty!), but I'm not quite big enough to wear them yet. I'm sure it won't be too much longer. ;)

I went to the doctor last week, and he was pleased with my weight gain (2 lbs. since the previous appointment 4 weeks earlier), said the baby's heartbeat sounded perfect, and my blood pressure looked great. Those were all good things to hear! I go back (with hubby in tow) on October 2 to find out if we're having a boy or girl. We are both very ready and excited for that day! Then we'll start turning our "Batman Room" into a nursery!

I'm not quite sure yet, but I think I may have felt the baby in the last week or so. It's a little hard for a first-timer like me to distinguish from other things moving around in there! :) (was that TMI??) I am still feeling really good, so I am thankful for that. I will be working on the next installment of my testimony this coming week, so be looking for that. Be blessed, all of you out there in blog-land!

Chapter 2 - A Word from the Lord

2008-09-13T12:10:00.008-05:00

In case you're thinking, "Chapter 2?? Where's Chapter 1??", here you go :)

~~~~~~~~
The fall of 2007 was just kind of a waiting time for us in this trying-to-get-pregnant process. Nothing was changing with my body, and we weren't sure what steps to take next. We were getting tired of just waiting for something to change, so I made another doctor's appointment for the first week of December.

The Sunday before my appointment, December 2, 2007, Tyson and I went to church. I mention that not because this is an unusual event, but because it was a significant day for us. Our preacher had been teaching an in-depth series on the work of the Holy Spirit, and lately had been talking about the gifts of the Spirit. (this was a really good series, by the way, and you can listen to any of the sermons here) That week, the topic happened to be prophecy. At the end of the sermon, he had members of the church stand up in front whom the Lord had used in the past to speak to others. Each of these people had a chance to say something to the congregation that they felt that the Lord wanted them to say.

One lady said words that I'll never forget hearing, "There is a woman here with a hormone imbalance, and the Lord wants to impart healing in your body." (*In case you are not a PCOS expert :) the cysts on the ovaries cause hormones to be made in incorrect amounts, not allowing eggs to develop.*) Now, I don't deny the fact that there very well could have been multiple women there with hormone imbalances. Even knowing that, I felt like God had reached down and personally touched me. I never wondered if that word was for me or not...I knew it was. And that one sentence would shape the way I thought about my situation for the next several months...it brought back some hope.

Before that day, I had not personally experienced prophecy that was meant for me. For Tyson and I both, prophecy was a pretty foreign concept, and I associated prophecy with predicting some future event. So, to feel that the Lord was speaking directly to me about something that was going on with me at that moment was pretty shocking. I can now look back and see how the Lord wanted us to hear those words to give us encouragement and strengthen our hearts that day, not just some day down the line.

Later that week, I went to my doctor's appointment. I'm not sure what I expected to learn at this appointment...I guess I was just looking for someone to tell me what to do next. I didn't really learn anything new about my condition, but that was the first time that the doctor suggested and prescribed a low level fertility drug, Clomid. Tyson was out of town on business at this point, so when he got home, we really talked this out. I still felt emotional about taking fertility drugs, especially after what we had just heard earlier that week.

Now, I will say that I do not think that taking fertility drugs is wrong. I just felt that it wasn't the right move for me at the time.

Once again, I felt conflicted. I wasn't sure whose word to trust...that lady in church or my doctor. I wanted some resolution to this problem, but the words I was hearing seemed like total opposites. So, not knowing what to do, we spent December, January, and February waiting on the Lord. Really, I was actually waiting on Him to fix me...to heal me completely.

...stay tuned for Chapter 3...

Testimony - Chapter 1

2008-09-10T06:47:00.006-05:00

The story of the last year of our lives has been one of major ups and downs (and lots of just so-so times in between), but ultimately it is a story about the Lord. It is a story about hurting and healing, questions and peace. It's also a little long, so here's Chapter one. :)

~~~~~~~~
In the Spring of 2007, Tyson and I decided that we were ready to be parents, and that we would start trying to get pregnant at the beginning of that summer. We also decided at that point that we didn't want to tell people around us about this decision. We didn't want the pressure/questions about it, and then when we got pregnant, it would just be a fun surprise for our friends and family. So I went off of birth control at the end of May. A month later, I had a period, so that meant we were unsuccessful. Maybe my expectations were too high, but I was a little disappointed that day. Oh well, better luck next time. :)

But the next month I was late, and I was excited! Maybe this is it! So I took a test...negative. Well, maybe it's too early. So, two weeks later, I took another test...also negative. OK, so I'm not pregnant, but I'm also not having a period. This is weird. During this time, Tyson and I (along with the HUGE help of his family) were completely redoing our master bathroom. It was very busy and stressful, so I just figured that I was late because of stress. July, August, and September went by...nothing. Realizing now that it is probably something other than stress, I set up an appointment with my doctor.

October 4th of 2007 was my appointment. My doctor did several tests and drew blood, and told me they would call with my blood test results in a couple of days. They called later that week and said that my blood work showed an imbalance of hormones that indicated polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). I had never heard of this unexplainable, incurable illness before, but the nurse told me that there were several treatments available (including fertility drugs), and that I shouldn't worry. Riiiight. At the time, I had a very emotional reaction to the thought of taking fertility drugs. I wasn't sure where it came from or what caused that feeling, but I knew that I did not want to take that route. Now I know that was the Lord speaking to my heart, but not letting my mind in on the secret. :)

Here began a time of confusion for me. I wanted to be hopeful, but I didn't want to get my hopes up. I wanted to believe that we would have a child, but I couldn't ignore the fact that so many couples try unsuccessfully for years to get pregnant. I hadn't given up hope, but the thought had crossed my mind, "I may never be pregnant and have a child of my own." It was tough to reconcile all of those thoughts while feeling that it is the Lord's will for us to have children.

Not knowing what step to take next, we just waited it out for a few months. That November, we made a visit to Tyler to visit family, but also to visit our friends (Team Arequipa) who are now in Peru. Our friend Greg taught our class at church that Sunday, and just happened to teach about Hannah. I had one particular "Hannah" night not too long before that where I just wept to the Lord about my infertility. I think most people would say, "How funny that he taught about Hannah when you guys were going through the same thing." I say that the Lord provided that class for us as reassurance and hope that we would have a child just like Hannah did, however unlikely it seemed at the time.

...Chapter 2 to come...

Baby Bump

2008-08-30T10:42:00.013-05:00

Yes, it has begun. I am starting to get a little pooch in my belly! I didn't really notice until this week when I was dressing for school. I put on a nicer top that I didn't wear all summer, and there it was...the belly was definitely noticeable. I guess I'm in that awkward time when I don't really look pregnant yet, I just look (in my own mind anyway) a little chubbier than usual. :) I had to try several things before I found an outfit that didn't accentuate the tummy, but I figured it out. Thankfully my clothes all still fit, they just look different.

I find that I'm having some conflicting feelings about the whole body thing. First of all, it is kind of a sad moment to be losing my figure, but I feel like the belly is a little trophy as well. Being pregnant is something that we prayed about and wanted for quite some time. So, even though my vanity is slightly getting in the way, I'm reminding myself that I'm a proud to be a mommy-to-be!

On that note, I'm trying to wait as long as possible before buying any actual maternity clothes...any tips on how to make my regular stuff last longer??

The Unknown...

2008-08-21T17:23:00.006-05:00

That is always my thought at the beginning of the school year...what does this year hold for me?? I always seem to have this sense of dread, not knowing what I'm going to be dealing with. I never sleep well the night before the first day of school. Actually, I usually start dreaming school dreams several weeks before the kids arrive (and they always involve me feeling super stressed!). And then...the first day. The kids show up, they are so little and cute, and it doesn't seem so bad after all. Kids have a way of making me feel more optimistic...and making me laugh! I guess that's why I ended up being a teacher. :)

There are some things that I do know about this school year:
1. The Lord is good and is in control. It is comforting to know that he is good and perfect, and that he has been preparing me for this year already. He did say "Do not worry...", right? :)

2. For me, it is only going to last about 6 months. Baby Kirksey will be here around February 27, so I'm going to be missing the last part of the year. This is a wonderful thing! I am so looking forward to being a stay-at-home mommy, plus, the timing works out so that I'm missing all of the TAKS testing! :) Anyone who has administered a TAKS test knows that those are great days to miss!

3. I'm probably not going to feel like myself. Not having been pregnant before, I don't exactly know what to expect, but I know my body is going to be changing...a lot. I'm looking forward to those changes (I think that's the science teacher in me!), especially since this is something that I've wanted for quite some time. I have decided that I'm going to enjoy this next 6 months and complain as little as possible! However, (and this is the whole unknown thing again) I don't know how it's going to affect my students. I still want to keep up my creativity and energy, and hopefully I'll be able to do that!

4. I have great teachers to work with. My fellow 6th grade science teacher is a great friend whom I have worked with for the past 4 years. She is so helpful, funny, and loves the kids! I love ya, Lesley!! Also, my team members are just awesome. Two of them were on my team last year, and I am so glad to be back with them this year. And, there are 3 teachers on my team who are new to the school, and they all seem wonderful so far. Plus, there is my sweet friend, Shevawn (who was on my team last year, but has moved on to new challenges at our school), and she is a great source of laughs and support!

5. I am not going to have any bad kids this year. OK, so I don't actually know this, but this is what I have decided in my head. There's enough to be negative about going in to a school year, so I have made the decision to think positively about my kids. I often forget during the year to praise them for doing good, and only focus on what they're doing wrong. They all do good things (some more than others!!), so I'm planning on spending more of my energy looking for those good moments. Maybe opening my eyes to those things will make all of the other stuff...the unknown...not so bad after all.

Here we go!

2008-08-10T18:01:00.001-05:00

Well, it's official...I'm a blogger! :) This will be a great place for me to post pregnancy/baby news, and maybe some of my random thoughts as well. Enjoy and be blessed!