22 Weeks, 5 Days

It has been a while and a lot has been going on. First of all we decided to find out the sex of the baby...It's A Girl! I am about 5.5 months pregnant, and this is my first child so I am experiencing everything for the first time. It is wonderful, a little crazy now and again, but absolutely wonderful! Speaking of the interesting things that go on during pregnancy: I woke up about 5AM and could not go back to sleep, thanks to that big slice of homemade pizza I ate for dinner around 8PM. Heartburn was in full swing! My hands felt tight and I was so thirsy (thanks salt and simple carbs), and I'll just be honest I had a touch of some bloating going on. So I guess it is my turn to have some prego symptoms. I never was sick, and really haven't had any symptoms until now. I stumbled to the kitchen and took 2 Tums. If you know me you know I absolutely hate to take anything, especially if it is chewable and tastes like chalk. I bought a bottle about my 3rd month, because anyone who has ever been pregnant tells you horror stories and I had heard of the "Dreaded Heartburn!" I guess my heartburn wasn't that bad on the scale, I just needed to sit up, but for someone who has never really had it before it was bad for me. I am very thankful I had them. They have been sitting on a shelf above my kitchen sink for 2 months unopened, and they finally made their debut in my 1st pregnancy. Although I will try to eat a little better and avoid the "Dreaded Heartburn!" from now on. I am also thankful my heartburn has subsided, and I am awake past the point of return, so I guess our day starts a little earlier today. Our's meaning me + baby, and Bentley. He is my little shadow and is wherever I am. Asleep on the couch beside me as I speak. Cocoa on the other hand doesn't get out of bed before 930AM for any reason short of fire or visitor knocking on the door. Maybe I have gotten this earlier start because I am to get more accomplished today, or possible the same amount and an afternoon nap. We shall see...

Hatfields & McCoys

The Hatfield Family

 Inspired by the recent 3 part mini-series aired on the History channel I thought I would share my claim to historical fame. I married one of those ole Hatfield boys. Most people know the basic story associated with these two names, especially those from southern West Virginia and eastern Kentucky. Each side had (and still do have) their own versions of what TRULY happened, and stories have been passed down from generation to generation. However, even though a story this old can not help but to be made of fact and fiction intertwined it is entertaining nonetheless. Many claim to be descendents of the fueding families, especially if their last name is Hatfield or McCoy, and I'm sure that a lot from this area and some scattered across the US are related in one way or another. My husband is one of those relatives. He is a direct descendent of William Anderson "Devil Anse" Hatfield. Devil Anse would be his great-great-great grandpa.

Capt. William Anderson Hatfield

Statue of Devil Anse - Hatfield Cemetary Sarah Ann, WV

The Family Tree: William Anderson "Devil Anse" Hatfield's 3rd born son was named Robert E. Lee Hatfield,who then had a son named John B. Hatfield, who then had a son John B. Jr. Hatfield (Aaron's grandpa), who then had a son Jackie Lee Hatfield (Aaron's dad), who then had James Aaron Hatfield (my husband).

*Notice the continuing "J" names. It has been considered a tradition of this Hatfield line and only applies to the males in the family. I was instructed that if Aaron and I have a little boy that his name must start with a "J" because I can not be responsible for breaking a 100 year old tradition. If we have a boy J____ Hatfield it will be. I like tradition, plus it narrows down the possible boy names.

Any baby name suggestions?

I Spy With My Little Country Eye

Our New Home

My porch swing - made by Popaw Clarence

2 Positive Pregnancy Tests!!!

That's right our family is expanding and we couldn't be happier. Whether we should be tickled "PINK" or tickled "BLUE" we will just have to wait and see.

UPDATE

We are lovin our NEW home, but believe it or not there are still some places in America without cell phone service and/or Internet connection. Good news: The phone company says that Internet will be coming soon...what they consider "soon" we do not know

- We are officially moved into our new home, but not all the way unpacked...workin on it
- Aaron started a new job here at home so no more PA...gettin back to a normal routine
- I have started my internship so that I can graduate in May with a BA in Psychology...hello workin world
- Cocoa and Bentley are lovin the new house and fenced in yard...they needed the exercise

Busy, Busy, Busy! Oh where did those carefree, lesiurly days go...needin a vacation

BUT all is well, we are BLESSED...happy and healthy and simply livin'

Embrace the Camera



Meet my nephew Jaden. He is an adorable, sweet, says the darndest things little 3 year old.

I have decided to join Emily's Embrace the Camera. Check it out.

My husbands brother got a new job and he, my sister-in-law, and little Jaden will be moving 3 hours away. I am his Christmas...and that is what he calls me instead of Aunt Kristin. "My Christmas". He loves his Uncle Anon & Aunt Christmas, and we love him. I know we will still see them, but not as much as when they lived 20 minutes down the road. SO I have been snapping many pictures of him and grabbing hug after hug since we heard the news.

We hate to see them move, but know that it is for the best. Plus it is bitter sweet, because Aaron and I will be moving into their house. Goodbye old house...HELLO new recently remodeled house with fenced in yard. YAY! The dogs are very excited.

4:03 and a little irony

It is the wee hours of this Wednesday morning and I have not slept since Aaron left Tuesday morning for PA, once again without is faithful sidekick.
Our Phone Bedtime Routine: I stay up and wait for his highly anticipated call when he gets off work and turns in for the night (around 12am). We share a short but sweet goodnight, and then it is off to our beds separated by miles and state lines. Well tonight was no different, we said our "I love you's" and then I took that lonely walk to our bedroom (not completely alone I did have Cocoa & Bentley). Anyway I settled into the middle of the bed, because I hate to lay on my side when his side empty. I read some and planned on drifting off to sleep, because reading past 9PM usually makes me drowsy. This did not work, so finally I grabbed the TV remote to see if anything worth watching was on. Sometimes we like to watch the History channel at night, although very educational and interesting, it can be somewhat of a sedative at times. I turned it to the guide channel which plays music and the song playing was If You Only Knew by Shinedown. It is actually a break up song, but part of the chorus fits this situation perfectly:

It's 4:03 and I can't sleep
Without you next to me I
Toss and turn like the sea

IRONY: I glance at the clock and it was actually 3:03, so in our version we are an hour ahead. AND as previously posted in mine an Aaron's story Good Ole Boy meets Country Girl I told about our date to an outdoor concert. At this concert the main act was Shinedown which both of us were anxious to see, but there were several bands that had to perform first. At this concert we had our first fight and we left the concert early and never got to see the band perform. SO...

1. Shinedown + Kristin + Aaron = disaster! At that moment we wanted to be anywhere else in the world instead of a truck with each other.
2. Shinedown + Kristin - Aaron = Sad. Because at this moment there is no one else in the world I would rather have here with me.

Music is tied to memory and this song got my mind turning, and even though it was a little sad because I miss him so much, it also sparked a little grin because we have came a very long way from that day in the park, at an outdoor concert, the scene of our very first fight.

I know it is a little silly, but hey I haven't slept in 20+ hours.
GOODNIGHT!

Then & Now: Hayden

My nephew Hayden born March 29th, 2008

It was love at first sight

Sweet Baby Boy!

Nap time with Cocoa

Hayden & my brother Mikey

Loves bath time

 

My little man

Silly Sissy!

 Fun at Easter

When I could still pick him up

Monster Trucks @ Sissy's

First Day of Preschool (3yrs old) 

Darth Vader for Halloween

Always Smiling...

He loves his Sissy!

And Sissy loves Hayden!



He loves Dixie too

 

 I know they have to grow up and it's a good thing, but does it have to be so fast!?!

 Then: he was this precious baby boy that stole my heart. Now: he is the little boy that owns my HEART. 

Then: he was this active toddler into everything. Now: he is still that active toddler into everything!

Then: he said Sissy for the first time and made my day. Now: It's Sissy, Sissy! and I adore it.

Then: he was this tiny little baby and I loved him so very much!

Now: he is 3 yrs. old (and a very BIG 3) I can't even pick him up anymore. He is such a happy child, smiling all of the time! I love him so very much!

Monopoly by the old oil lamp

While Aaron was working in PA, Dixie and I spent the night with Mamaw & Popaw Blankenship, in the Holler at Hanover.

Unexpectedly the power (or juice according to some country folk) went out. So what did we do...Played Monopoly by lamp light.



Popaw was the car, because he loves race cars. And the banker.

I was the dog, because I love dogs. And the properties, house/hotel manager.

Dixie was the hat, beacause she likes hats. And got to work on her math skills.



Mamaw was the old lady in the Shoe (j/k she could pass for 40) and the WINNER!

Embrace the cards you are dealt and make the most of every situation...you may be suprised and make some great memories.

We had a wonderful, fun evening and the power was restored around 11:00 pm.

Quote for the day

“Great minds discuss ideas. Average minds discuss events. Small minds discuss people.”
~ Eleanor Roosevelt

No More Procrastination

Day 6 of Creation 

Genesis 1:24-31

24. And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so.

Deer posing for a pic near a dirt road

Cattle

My Bunny Babs

  25. And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good.

deer fawns

stick bug

Mr. Turtle - my red ear slider turtle

26. And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

*Horses and goats are on the top of my favorite animal list (dogs being #1)*

Baby pygmay goat

27. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

28. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

Mine and Aaron's new baby niece Kelsey

29. And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree in the which is the fruit of every tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for food.

30. And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for food: and it was so.

31 And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

  Day 7 of Creation

Genesis 2:1-3

1. Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.

2. And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.

3. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.

I know that there may be skeptics out there, but let me assure you he is very REAL, and his “word” is not just words written down in a book, it is also real. I have heard, “the bible is a very good collection of stories”. Why yes it is a good collection of stories, but that is not all. It holds TRUE stories, and it is God’s word to us. We see how this world began, learn from the past, learn for the present, and have prophecy for the future. The Bible is God’s instruction manual for life, it is up to us to follow it.

I serve an awesome God who sent his son to die not only for the world, but for you and I. It is joyful to read and learn from the Bible which he has given us. It begins with the creation of the world, which was in 7 days, and ends with the destruction of the world, and God calling his children home. We can see the beauty and Gods touch all around us whether we are Christians or not.

Please do not just take my word for it read his word. If any one should be reading this that has not accepted Jesus Christ as your personal saviour let me leave you with these verses from the bible:

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that, that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

Romans 3:23 For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God;

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death: but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ dies for us.

Romans 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with they mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

Romans 10:13 FOR WHOSOEVER SHALL CALL UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD SHALL BE SAVED.

Romans 5:1Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ

Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Romans 8:38-39
38. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
39. Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Chris Jesus our Lord.

New Year's Resolution

Since today is Jan. 5th I guess my first resolution will be to not procrastinate.
There are several things in my life that I would like to improve on and make changes to, and if I keep my first resolution I will accomplish this. Most importantly I would like to grow spiritually, and here are 10 steps that I am going to take this year to do that...

1. Read through the the Bible in one year. (I started this a few months ago, but I am behind...stop procrastinating!)
2. Choose one book of the Bible to study in depth.
3. Study a specific topic and set an attainable goal that will help me grow.
4. Participate in a weekly Bible study. (Wednesday night service & Ladies meeting)
5. Read 3-4 books to deepen my devotional life. (What I am reading right now...Calm My Anxious Heart: A Woman's Guide to Finding Contentment by Linda Dillow)
6. Participate in a weekly prayer group.
7. Start a journal to record growth
- thoughts while reading the Bible
- prayer
- what I am asking God for
- actions I am taking to follow after him
- new discoveries
8. Record blessings, prayer requests, answered prayers.
Prayers of thanks and praise
9. Mentor a young Christian
10.Pick a theme verse for the year *Repeat Daily* (Tape to the bathroom mirror or say out loud every morning)
After several months if verse is learned pick another verse.

What New Year's Resolution have you made in 2012?

Quote for the Day

I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.

- C. S. Lewis

I Spy With My Little Country Eye

My father-in-law's steel guitar

Blondie