Boy OH BOY!!!!!

As you all now know..... WE ARE HAVING A BOY!!!! Let's just start there, because its the most exciting thing that I'm going to write.. however, if you would like details... I'm the one to ask for details:):)

Fear. Fear does not come from the Lord. The Lord tells us, instead to, not to be anxious about anything, but pray instead, and present these requests to Him! I was presenting several "requests" to him these last few days.. over and over saying "Lord, calm my anxious heart, do not allow me to fear the unknown." Thursday at 10:30am could not come soon enough. I was counting down the days, the hours, and at 9:35, the minutes. The night before, I went to sleep... but unable to sleep... My heart beating faster and faster just thinking about the next day.
Brett prayed for us that night, and said "Lord, we have already given this child to you.. this child is in your hands and there is nothing we can do.. our desire is to have a healthy baby, but we want your will to be done.. Calm our anxious hearts..." The next morning, I woke up feeling refreshed and extremely excited! I met Brett at the Ultrasound.. both of us in great spirits and so excited to see what the Lord has in store for us...

We walked into the Ultrasound room and saw no pastor... no music.. no congregation... just us, Becky (the ultrasound lady) and the big Ultrasound machine now on my belly...

The second that thing was on my belly, and I saw our baby.. I knew God was there too. This was a worship experience I have never experienced before. No pastor (expect Pastor B-Cad:)) No music and No congregation. However, God was there, and it was real!!! Experiencing the feelings I felt is indescribable... the only thing I kept thinking every time Becky said "this looks good... this looks good..." was "Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!"

After everything looked "great", we told her we were ready to know.. As she said those words.. "Its a BOY" my heart FILLED WITH JOY!!!!! A BOY!!! A PRECIOUS BOY!!!! I know we probably would have been just as excited if she would have said "girl"... but its hard to even imagine now after feeling how excited I was about having a BOY.... we are SO EXCITED ABOUT THIS LIL GUY!!!

Brett kept saying over and over how amazing this was... He said "I feel a little overwhelmed right now... I have SO MUCH to teach him!" He was also very concerned about making sure he saw "it." He said "Oh, I think there IT is" and Becky said, "No, don't get your hopes up, that is the umbilical cord" hahaha....

Baby B-Cad is measuring about 7-8 inches right now... he's "above average" according to Dr. Adams. He is measuring a couple days earlier than the 21st, but not enough for my date to be changed. She said "Who has the Big Feet?" His feet were very big, along with very long legs! (Where did THOSE come from:))

After coming from the appointment, I was allowed to tell my sisters (Whitney cried- surprise! surprise! :) ... ALL of who thought for sure it was a girl .. along with the majority of my kinders kiddos. I got to school, and they were all so excited.. knowing that today was the day I found out (we have been counting down.)

To make the "big announcement" educational, I made a graph. They graphed what they thought the baby was.. 16 said girl, and 7 said boy.. When I made the "Big Reveal" and they saw my paper that said "Boy".. they started booing!!!!! I at first got my feelings hurt.. and said "Well Mr. Cadwell and I are VERY excited" Then I realized they are 5 years old, and are just upset because the majority didn't win:) haha...

We went out to eat with our parents.. P.F. Changs, of course! This was so special for Brett and I to have our parents all to ourselves! They loved our announcement and our gift to them. I forgot to take a picture of it.. but I wrote them a poem, and framed it... they of course were VERY excited for us:) Even the manager Chris got into the spirit of the night and gave us a lil gift.. Baby B-Cad better get used to the idea of going to Changs:)

It was an amazing day.. next to our wedding.. the greatest day of my life! I am so excited for Brett, and to see him as a dad.. he is going to be the best dad!! I told him yesterday, "I hope Baby B-Cad is JUST like you... EXCEPT.. I want him to want to put on plays and dance around with me!"

Its amazing how this child has made me more in Love with Brett, and more in love with Christ!!

Thank you all, friends and fam for your excitement for us:):) I'll keep you updated as much as I can about how our lil guy is doing!!!!

September 18, 2009

Approximately 8 months ago, Brett and I were standing in our bathroom, staring wide-eyed at the positive pregnancy test. Emotions and tears overwhelmed us by the thought of bringing a life into the world. September 18th seemed so far away, but of course, well worth the long wait.
A couple weeks later, we arrived at our 1st ultrasound. Nervous and excited to finally hear the baby's heartbeat! As the Dr. was doing the ultrasound, she noticed a small flicker of a heartbeat, but the baby's heartbeat wasn't strong enough to hear. She said "Are you sure you are 8 1/2 weeks? Your baby is measuring about 6 weeks. Of course confusion, anger, frustration, and plenty of emotion overwhelmed us as we were trying to figure out exactly what this means. A week later, we went in for another ultrasound to see if the baby had grown in that weeks time. As many of you know, and most of you are figuring out, our fears of not being able to have a baby on September 18th were then being lived.
I think about this day often, and still try to figure out why God would have this in His plans. As days seem to move by slowly and time was the only thing getting in the way for Brett and I to try again, I faced God with this question often. The realizations I got from this whole experience gives me peace. I know that the Lord does not give us more than we can handle, (even though at times, I didn't know if I could handle the pain). This experience has allowed me to see how hard it is for others who have gone through this experience or are going through this experience. I have been more sensitive to others and pray for them often. This experience also gave me such insight on how blessed we are to have a Savior that cares for us so much. Anytime I felt heartache, I gave it to Him. This experience allowed me to see His goodness, His love, His timing, and the many blessing that I already have. It allowed me to look at my husband in a way I have never seen. I thank God for Brett, and how much he loves me and how much more he loves the Lord.
The fact that our baby is with Jesus now is overwhelming. No one can comprehend the joy that this child is experiencing compared to living on earth. I completely understand that God sees the big picture in our lives. The whole time Brett and I are experiencing this, I believe God was looking at us, heartbroken.. but at the same time with a grin on His face thinking "You just wait.... Wait to see what I have for you...."
and of course, as you know.. this story ends happily... Brett and I were even more joyed when we shockingly discovered that we were expecting again.. (long story about that too:)) I can't describe to you how blessed we feel.. how blessed we are!! I also can't describe how much I love this baby already (and its only the size of a marker!) I smile from ear to ear every time I think about God and how he works through hard circumstances. I smile when I think about how this baby is a miracle in itself.. I'm amazed every time I read about what our baby is doing from week to week. I just can't comprehend how I don't do anything, and yet this child is growing inside of me. We serve and are loved by an amazing Creator!!!!!

If you are America's Got Talent watchers, you know the story of Babara Padilla, an opera singer who was diagnosed with cancer and had to come to America for treatment. Here, she met her husband, which allowed her to have her little girl, and then she got the chance to be on the show. Her performances are amazing, and she gives God the credit. She mentioned on the last show, "If I never would have gotten cancer, none of this would of happened, I want to thank my God"

February 21st can't come soon enough... but when it does.. Brett and I will look at our child and say, "If we wouldn't have experienced that pain, we wouldn't of had you."
Praise the Lord!

Crazy Love

Last night was the kickout to our small group. Brett and I have been extreamly blessed by these other four couples. In just a couple years, they have grown from "members of our small group" to some of our closest friends. So I was very excited to finally kick off the year (even though we've seen them all summer:)) Yesterday I was busy sweeping the carpet, cleaning, making the dessert, just getting ready for company... I really didn't sit down from the time I started school, until I actually sat down for our group session. As I was sitting there, watching the video, I started feeling a "flutter". The most amazing feeling I have ever felt. I had to hide my grinning face, because I was chessy from ear to ear. I think about our baby about 16 hours a day (the other eight, I'm sleeping, even though most nights I dream about the baby :)), but to actually have this conformation is truly a gift. I whispered to Brett, "Our baby is moving!" Then the grinning became contagious. Just remembering the look on his face, brings tears to my face now:):) As I am feeling those "bubbles" in my stomach....I'm watching the video for our first session....
The name of our study is "Crazy Love" In the first chapter, the author wrote about our paryer life, basically saying "STOP PRAYING!" Most of us (Me!) just go right into praying, asking God for this and that, and don't just take the time to sit, and reflect on how amazing he is, We don't sit in silence, letting him speak to us. We don't allow him to work in our lives by just taking the time to sit.. because we are so consumed with cheking those prayer requests off one by one. He said if he stop praying, we might be able to hear God speak to us in our lives....

What a way for the Lord to speak to me that night... The first time I stopped cleaning, cooking, working, was when I got to experience that most unbelievable "flutter" of our baby. What else can he show me if I just stop asking, asking, telling, and telling in my prayer life, and simply just Stop and Listen....
I love the title of this book and how it relates to my life right now. I am so Crazy in Love with B & I's unborn child... I can't image how Crazy in Love with us He is.....

A lil update about how this whole pregnancy thing is going:)

How far along? 15 weeks.. one week into my 2nd trimester!

Total weight gain/loss: I go up and down, after my camping trip last week, 3 lb. but this morning was officially just one!
Stretch marks? Ew, when do I get those?!

Sleep: I've slept good, just woke up a few times because I'm so stuffed up! Plus, I get up early in the morning to use the bathroom.. other than that.. 9 hours a night baby!!!
Best moment this week: Yesterday, another teacher said "Oh my gosh Shelby, are you showing?" and touched my stomach! I was so excited, and then I realized how weird that is when someone else touches your stomach:)
Movement: Can't wait!!! I read 16-22 weeks.. we'll see:)

Food cravings: Not really... I wish I had some!
Gender: Of course, B and I just want a healthy baby... however, we both secretly want a boy. My "feeling" says girl. We'll see in 3 weeks and 2 days!
Labor Signs: I lil too early I think.
Belly Button in or out? Still very much in.
What I miss: Sweet tea from Mcalisters, Diet coke from McDonalds, and the other day Brett brought home Mike's hard pink lemonade! I looked at him like, "WHY did you do that?" He laughed and said "The funny thing is, is that I was actually buying as a lil surprise for you, and then when I was signing my credit card, it hit me.. I'm sorry babe, I'm an idiot" I didn't think I missed that until now, when its sitting in our fridge.
What I am looking forward to:Looking pregnant, the baby moving, knowing whether to start buying pink or blue!
Weekly Wisdom: Phil 4: 6,7
Milestones: Everyone knows finally!!!!