34 week update!

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

How far along? 34 weeks along! (41 days to go:))

Total weight gain/loss: According to my scales at home- 24 pounds!
Stretch marks?

    Thank you Mom! I owe my "no stretch marks" answer to you! (I heard they are genetic)
Best moment this week: My latest baby shower... I have had two so far: The first was the Kessler family in late Nov. and then yesterday Vickie's friends hosted a shower! I get so excited opening each gift and picturing our lil guy using it! We have felt so blessed with all the gifts given!
Movement: Several times on the hour. This is one of the Lord's greatest blessings. This child loves to roll from side to side, and his parents LOVE watching him to do!

Food cravings: Surprisingly, and disappointingly, NO! I was really looking forward to "milking it" when it came to the food craving!
Gender:  

 BOY OH BOY! We LOVE our lil BOY:) 
Labor Signs: 

    None... I'm looking forward to this lil guy "dropping." It gets so hard to breath sometimes!
Belly Button in or out? My Belly Button is basically flat! It hasn't popped out, but it is definitely not in!
What I miss: Being able to get comfortable in the evenings. I tend to go to bed early, simply because I can't lay on our couch very easily!
What I am looking forward to: Baby showers coming up! My friends are throwing a "friends" shower on Friday. Then a school shower next Thursday.. and then Whit and I will have our double-shower on the 23rd!!! I love getting to see people I haven't seen in awhile.. and then saying to them, "Next time I see you, I'll be a MOMMY:)"

Weekly Wisdom: Well, The Dahlstrom's & The Cadwell's began our Labor & Delivery class on Wednesday! I'm receiving ALOT of "wisdom" from that:)
 

Milestones:My nursery is as complete as it can be right now! Now I just have to fill it with his actually necessities!

Busy Parents already!!!

Has it really been a month since I have posted a blog? WOW!  Well I assure you, I've had great intenstions.. but preparing for a baby is a lot of work! A lot of work.. but Oh.. it is so fun:) We have been very busy painting, shopping, painting, buying, shopping... you get the idea:):)

   I can't put into words how thankful I am for Brett. I honestly believe that for some reason, the Lord reserved the best guy out there.. all for me!!! He has been so great through this whole pregnancy thing! He talks about the baby and to the baby! He has done everything that I have asked helped with.. plus MORE when it comes to the nursery, and he goes out of his way to make me comfortable and feel beautiful! We are so so excited for our lil guy to get here, but are really trying to appreciate the calm nights we have at home until he does!
        I was so excited when one of my Kinder student's parents gave us several BRAND new clothes and this Baby Bjorn! We like to make Tuck feel part of this whole baby process, so he gets to try it out first:):)  

  
The baby nursery is coming along great. It took me awhile to decide what color scheme I wanted.  I originally bought some green and brown bedding, but wasn't too happy with it when it arrived.  Brett said he didn't care what color I chose, but the more I thought about it... I knew he would love a baby blue type color (His favorite color is represented by his North Carolina Tar Heels:)) My friend Sue came over to help me paint (as she does when I decide to do any home decor dealing with paint:))  I used the leftover brown that was in our kitchen and wa-la!!

      Brett has been busy putting up the chair rail, and putting the crib together! What a great sport!!
   When the nursrey is COMPLETE.. we'll show you more.. this is just a lil sneak peak:)

  We can check a few things off our list..
  1. Bedding - Check!
  2. Crib-    Check!
  3. Dresser- Check!
  4. Glider- It's in the process of being recovered!
       Baby B-Cad has some amazing grandparents who have helped so much with buying things for the nursery! He has an awesome Aunt Whitney as well! We have had so much fun buying decorations and putting together a pregnancy scrapbook!

    Well thats the update on the nursery! As for me and Baby B-Cad.. we're having a BLAST together! We play this lil game often where he pushes my ribs and I push back on his lil bum!  Again, I can't wait until I am actually holding my lil buddy,  but in the meantime- I LOVE LOVE LOVE carrying this child!!!  And everytime I feel him move inside me, I ALWAYS smile, and give the Praise back to the One who created him!!!
 

Popcorn in my Belly!

My greatest moment of pregnancy happened last night!!! (Well, 2nd to when we found out what Baby B-Cad was going to be:)) I was sitting in small group, and hoping that this child would move.. nothing! Once everyone left, and I was laying down, I not only felt him move, but my blanket moved too!!!!
   It was the 1st time that Brett got to see him move in my stomach.. he was going crazy! My stomach looks like one of those air pop popcorn machines:)

    I'm now 25 weeks... LOVING everyday of pregnancy!  I cannot wait to see this lil guy.. but I know that I'm going to miss actually being pregnant!  We just had a Dr. appointment.. and the Dr. said he is measuring BIG! She had "he has definately hit a growth spurt, but should slow down a bit about 30 weeks. I think he is about 2 pounds!!... Brett and I are starting to wonder if Baby B-Cad is going to take after his Pawpa Neier!!!!

Ordinary, yet Extraordinary!

  Brett and I's small group is made up of 5 couples.  Each of these couples are very ordinary people.. but have huge hearts!  Each year, we have focused on a specific area where we can grow.. the first year together, it was Fellowship.  Each couple was new to Noblesville, and had no other friends or family in the area... so we spent a lot of time fellowshipping together.. last year, our focus was study. We dug into the word and grew more on a spiritual level.. this year, we tried to take the focus off of ourselves, and try to give more back to our community... 
 I in no way, want this to sound like we are patting ourseleves on the back, but rather as accountability that we will continue this mindset...
   We have done various things around our community that in small ways might impact others.  We adopted a single mom, and have helped her wih her girls, along with moving out of a bad apartment.  About every other month we will have a lunch-in after church and donate the money we would normally spend on an after church meal, and use the money instead to help someone in the community. We provided Christmas for a family, helped a boy (who was the first to go to college in his family), purchase items he would need in he dorm, and most recently, we saved up some money to buy gift bags to take on our next little adventure...

   We not only wanted to help in our own community, but to expand this midset into our country.  We decided to go on a short mission trip to the Appalachian Mountains in Kentucky, an area very effected by poverty.  We found an organization called "God's Love from a Diaper Bag."

  Going on a mission trip, you think that you go to "Change" or "Help" them in some way.. and maybe in "some way" we did... the guys did some small construction projects (the girls tried to help), and we got to do some neat things in the community, like pass out the gift bags at a nursuring home.. and spent the afternoon visiting, we passed out pizza to elderly in apartments, and passed out school supplies to kids on Halloween... but after we left this place after a short 3 day trip.. we realized that we didn't do much.. instead we came away from this place inspiried and challenged...

     Bessy & Lester are the founders of "God's Love From a Diaper Bag." You could go on the web and try to find more info on this, but you will find none.  They don't even have an email address they use consistantly.  They are the most kind-hearted, sweetest people you could meet, yet they are very ordinary.  This ministry began by Bessy giving away diapers out of her truck in a Wal-Mart parking lot.. and because she has been obedient to the Lord, and has heard his calling, He has used Bessy in such a mighty way to impact her community.  Lots of people and various churches have come by her side and helped her and this ministry.  They have donated lots of diapers, other baby products, and their time to help the people in this community.  The people in this area can come day or night and recieve diapers, formula, blankets, clothes, medicine, etc for their babies.  She has baby showers for groups of 20 women at a time, and they have begun construction and are adding on to this mission.. when the contruction is completed, she will have a couple dental offices to help people with dental problems.  She has no day off, and works long hours and even lives in the same place they do their ministry.  She would be nobody special to someone in the next county over, but to those who have bennifited from this ministry, she is a celebrity!
  I could go on and on, about how amazing this ministry has been to the people in Jenkins, KY, but my point is simple.. We are all such very ORDINARY people.. ordinary yes.. but if you are willing to go outside your comfort zone, and invest some time.. you can become extraordinary... 

   Allow Bessy & Lester.. a couple 50 year olds with no special talents to be an inspiration.  I know that Brett and I have thought and talked about this a lot.. we don't know what the Lord has in store for us.. but we are excited to find out!

October 2050

Have you ever thought about what your life will be like in 41 years from now?  I believe that most of us just live day to day, and week to week, just plan a few months at most in advance!
   My dad, who continues to amaze me with the creative ways he uses talents, thought of this idea... "Let's do a Papaws Pond Time Capsule!"
     The sealing of the Time Capsule was a day made of many wonderful memories.  We began the day, with 15 kids under the age of 5, parading around in their Halloween costumes.  We passed out candy and went on a Hay Ride. Later, we all gathered around to share some of the things that we included in our Time Capsule...

  My extended Neier family now represents over 20 individual families.  Each family put something in a PVC Pipe that they, or their children or grandchildren would open in 2050.  Each family's time capsule was different.. some chose to reflect on past memories made and special moments they had at Papaw's Pond, some wrote letters to their children and grandchidren.  Lists were made about cost of living and gas prices, details about where our culture is in terms of morals and ethic.  Brett and I made a CD of our favorite songs, along with a detailed description about where we are in our lives,  my cousin put his college basketball jersey in, my dad wrote about a typical day in his life, along with where he wants his children and grandchildren to be.  The lists goes on and on....

   One particular time capsule that was shared really stood out in my mind:  My Aunt Rhonda's.  She reflected on WHAT Pawpa's Pond is, and how important is has become to our family. More importantly, she reflected on the person behind this amazing Pond, My PAPAW!
   My Papaw Neier has been gone now for over a decade.  Its easy to forget about WHO he was because at the time died, I was in middle school.  After hearing her talk about how much he loved his children, and how much more he loved the Lord, how hard of worker he was, and how respected he was (and still is) around his community.... I started thinking how much I owe this Papaw of mine...
  He wasn't someone I personally knew very well.. the few memories I have of him aren't even pleasant ones! When I stayed at his house, he fixed me oatmeal... the NON-FLAVORED kind... He gave me "boy" presents at Christmas time,  he ALWAYS smelled like the backyard, and when I asked him a question, he never gave me a direct answer.. "Papaw, How old are you?" "Do you know how old Dirt Is!?" he would respond...
   However, little do I know how much my faith in Jesus is in exsistance because of his wisdom, leadership, and his own heart for the Lord!  Because of him and his faith, my dad became the man of God that he is, and chose to marry someone, like my mom, who loves the Lord as well, and through my Papaw's example of a father who loves Christ, my dad became that, and much more to me and my sisters.
   Its amazing to think about the fact that my Papaw didn't impact me directly, but his memory and character still lives on, and because of that, I am who I am, and where I am today!!
   Not only was this "assignment" my dad gave to us going to be something we appreciate in 41 years..but even more importantly, it made me think about my current life.
   What are Brett and I doing in our day to day lives that is going to make an impact on who our children turn out to be in 41 years? Will it matter what color of bedding I pick out for our lil boy? What his baby clothes look like?  What we choose to do for fun on the weekends?  What kind of car we drive? Are those the things that we will remember in 41 years? Or that someone will remember about us?
   I think of the day when our lil boy (and Lord willing, his siblings, spouse, and children) open this time capsule...and he reflects on his parents and grandparents. What will he think of us?  When he thinks of us, will he think of us as Godly parents who have love and respect for each other and their kids?
   I think we all wish and hope that our children will see us in a positive light. as Christ Followers and Servents!... but what we sometimes miss, is that we ACTUALLY have to BE that person, for our children to see us that way!

I challenge you to reflect on your life today, just as Brett and I have done, and don't just HOPE that in 41 years that someone will be talking about you, and thanking you for showing them Christ.... But actually BE that person.

"I can't Wait to see Jesus!"

Teaching Sunday can occasionally feel like a duty, like a chore. Something that I should do... When I received my new class of Kindergarten Kids, I quickly compared them to how my own kids behave in my class at Fall Creek, and how much easier MY KIDS are to teach. After reflecting on this, I have been convicted of this attitude...
This last Sunday, I was teaching those same kids. During worship, we were singing fun songs and slow slongs... After we got done singing "Jesus is my Super Hero" (An oldie but goodie from back in my CIY days:)), One of my Kindergarten Kids came up to me and pulled my hand, with a huge smile on her face she said "Miss Shelby, I can't WAIT to see Jesus!" It was so sincere and so real! A huge smile was placed on my face, and tears filled my eyes!
Not only did this convict me of my attitude towards teaching Sunday School, but it changed the way I taught the rest of that day... I didn't just read a story about God... I had the opportunity to SHARE CHRIST!!!
Even though teaching in my own school setting is "easier", I don't have the opportunity like I have at church to openly tell these young kiddos about Jesus! What a gift! What a Blessing!

I cannot wait for the day..and it'll be here very soon:)... when Brett and I get to share Christ with our son. Not only do we pray for him to be healthy, but we pray already that he will love Jesus...

BABIES EVERYWHERE:):)

Even though Brett and I feel like the world has stopped since Lil Baby B-Cad has come into our lives.. there are other who feel the exact same way about their lil bundle of joys!
I just wanted to give a shout out to some others in my life who I am very excited for!

I never did mention the amazing fact that my youngest sister and best friend is very unexpectingly.. expecting:) Whitney and I were laughing about her "realization" of her pregnancy just a couple days ago.. I remember the day very well and those words she said with that lil crying voice... "It says positive.. is there any chance it could be wrong?!" haha.. I just laughed and said "NOPE!" I have LOVED LOVED LOVED going through this process with her.. I have loved seeing how her emotions QUICKLY changed once she, herself got to experience those first moments of pregnancy and the awe factor tied with God's blessings! Her and I are exactly 7 weeks apart.. so every Sunday, I call and say, "Happy 12 weeks... Happy 13 weeks.. etc" I have loved talking about room decor and travel systems! She laughs, and I dread the day when Baby Dahl and Baby B-Cad are old enough to play together, and that lil Dahl Baby is beating up on my Baby B-Cad!


Well the Lord has doubled the blessings, and doubled the cousins! RACHAEL is 3 1/2 weeks behind me! RIGHT in the MIDDLE of Whitney and I!!!! I am so glad that she is going through this with us, otherwise she would be very annoyed talking about baby names every minute we spend together:) She is so great with answering my questions, and giving me advice.. Its also great to have someone tell me which of the 50 choices of bottles and pacifiers I am suppose to register for! Oh.. and did I mention, she is having a BOY TOO!!! Surprise Surprise:) Another boy!!!!
Sorry.. no picture:)

My best friend from college just had her baby boy... Kaiden Lee Jones!! I am so hapy for her and Ryan, and so glad everything went great with her delivery! This is her and I at her baby shower... she was 37 weeks, and I was 18 weeks...




Samantha and I have been friends for a LONG time... we usd to play the "dot game" in the middle of the church service back at Roachdale Christian Church.. Its amazing how 15 years have past, and we are living a couple miles apart from one another, we go to the same church, and are in the same small group. Samanaha and JT have been through a lot these last few years... trials and blessings!!! They are currently foster parents for a lil baby boy, Anthony, and his 2 year old sister, Jade. These two lil ones have not only been a blessing in their life, but in all of our friends as well!!! SOON they will adopt... they are guessing and hoping that this will be shortly after Christmas!!! ANOTHER friend for Baby B-Cad to have!!!!



We have been patiently waiting to find out is my cousin Stacy will be having a lil boy or girl.....
Well our family LOVES those boys, so there is no surprise that she had a Baby BOY.. Kysen Wayne Cox!! Congrats Stacy! We never did get a picture together, did we:(?!?

One last fun lil fact... Baby B-Cad will be the 19th baby on the Neier side (Feb.).. Baby Phillips, the 20th (March), Baby Dahl, the 21st (Apil).. and we have recently found out that my cousin Blaire and his wife are expecting in May (22nd) , and My cousin Tyler and his wife, Mishelle are expecting in June!!!!!
24 babies... UNDER the age of 6!!!!!!!! We have followed the Lord's commandment, haven't we..

Be Fruitful and Multiply!!!