8 weeks today! 32 to go!

I am getting so excited!!! The baby is about the size of a raspberry. Crazy to think that 6 weeks ago it wasn't more than two cells big. I have to stay this has made me enjoy the development section even more. Even though it kills me to know all of the development problems that can occur. Do you have any idea how hard it is to know so many things than can be going wrong right now? I just pray that God will wrap his hands around our child and allow all to be well.

I keep getting in trouble with my husband for buying things. All I have bought are some books and a really cool breast feeding cover up that I really got for free. I just had to pay shipping.  www.uddercovers.com use code Family2010 This automatically take $32 off of your order. This would make a great present for any expecting mother that plans on breast feeding. How can I not want to order stuff when Joe sends me a link for this?

 I really wanted to go through this experience with someone. I thought I was going to be several months behind friends that are also pregnant, but it appears everyday I learn of someone else that is expecting around the same time that I am. One of my really good friends from middle school told me that she is due on the same day. How crazy is that? I have had another couple of friends let me know in confidence that they are expecting. I will talk more about them once they have shared it with the world.

I feel like this is going to be the longest process in the world. Why can't we get pregnant, and then have a baby 8 weeks later? That would be perfect? I just keep trying to break the time down by looking forward to the different things that are going to happen between now and then. Thirty days from Joe and I will set sail for the Bahamas. This is our first cruise. I am very excited about it. I hope that I am past the morning sickness phase, but still in the normal clothes stage. Joe has started buying things for me once size larger. It is kind of bitter sweet for me. I loved getting into a small or extra small, but Old Navy has some really cute dresses and skirts that I think will serve me well over this crazy hot summer. I am ten weeks away from finishing my first year of medical school. I will be honest, there was a point around Christmas when I wasn't sure this would happen. Neurology is NOT going to be speciality. This semester has been a lot more fun for me. I enjoy physiology and the anatomy of the chest. Thursday concluded my OB/GYN elective. I LOVED it! I am convinced more and more that OB/GYN is my future field. I loved every aspect of my elective. I didn't get to see any baby's being born, but Dr. Holsten (my wonderful OB) told me that I can spend all the time I want with her this summer. Since I am no longer going to Peru for five weeks, I think I may turn shadowing into my goal for the summer. The only problem is that I won't make any money. I am still employed with WellStar so I may try to get some time in there this summer.

Ok! Enough for now! I must study for my exams on Monday! Take care and say a prayer for our little blueberry!

-Jane

Seven things I've always wanted to do...

...visit another country. Maybe Australia. It would be so cool to see such an exotic location. I would love to see all the different wildlife and see the Joeys - baby kangaroos.

...work on a national political campaign. I have been enamored with the drama and strategy of elections since high school. I just got done listening to 'Game Changer' - the story of the 2008 presidential candidates and VPs. Boredom to most, riveting to me.

...live near my family. I haven't lived near my family since college. As I've grown older...YIKES...I have been wanting to get closer. The biggest drag about living so far away is having to plan the trip and then the DRIVING. Right now it take 4 hours to get to Rebecca's family and 6-7 for mine. :(

...become more community driven. Serve on a local board or committee. Really make a difference in the areas I live and work in. 2009 was a year of progress and I hope to continue that in 2010.

...jump out of a flying plane (with a parachute of course). How AWESOME would it be to free fall from 20,000 miles in the air?

...ride in a hot air balloon. Similar to my last idea. I can't imagine the views from that high up.

...have a CHILD. This one is in progress! Little baby Pierce is the size of a blueberry. So cute and fun. I can't wait for him/her to be born, it is going to be absolutely amazing! We'll go on walks, teach some life lessons, and all-in-all have a blast.

A Tale to Begin All Tales

...Joe meets Jane.

Rebecca and I met at college. It wasn't love at first sight and it wasn't hatred at first sight. Our first interactions could be summed up in two words: RANDOM and AWKWARD. We first met when she was a high schooler on campus and I was charged with 'wooing' her to not only attend the university, but to take over the college yearbook of which I was Editor-in-Chief. I remember feeling so out of place amid dozens of high schoolers on campus for Tennessee Governor's School and then having our first awkward conversation ever. I imagine it being...

Me: Hey, my name is Joe(y). Tomi wanted me to tell you...um....that UT Martin is a great school and that you...um... should really thinking about coming here.

Rebecca: Ughh. Ok. (Thinking, who the heck is this guy and WHY IS HE TALKING TO ME?)

Me: Ok.....well....have fun this summer.

THE END. AWKWARD.

Walking away I remember thinking and feeling like a total dufus.

The next time we met was her first day back on campus (I guess my UT Martin speech worked!). She came to the bookstore to complain that her pre-ordered books were packed wrong. I helped correct her order and she left the store. It was the second time we met, and no sparks flew, no numbers were given, and no lives changed. Just more randomness.

After this our paths started to cross more and more often. Nothing really stuck until we were jammed packed in a Volvo driving to Nashville to film a music video for Brad Paisley. Our mutual friend's brother needed extras to be background actors for his new music video - Mud on the Tires. After arriving in Nashville with a comfortable group of friends we PLAYED IN THE MUD all day long, I mean for like 8+ hours. There were about 20 people in the mud doing silly, crazy stuff. It was so much fun its hard to believe we got paid to do it. Rebecca and I flirted in the mud most of the day, ignoring the others.

After being sprayed down with a hose, getting dried mud out of my hair and drying off we loaded back into Rebecca's Volvo and headed back to school. Rebecca and I ran into each other a couple of times later that night and it was still a little awkward. We both liked eachother, but we were still in that shy/unsure phase. Later that night I 'bit the proverbial bullet' and called her. The short conversation that we had landed me a lunch date! I was so excited and happy! We met for Chinese buffet as our first date. Before you JUDGE my SKILLS - remember I was broke and this place was probably one of the nicer places in our dinky little college town.

After lunch we split our ways - she went to a sorority game party and I went to hang with fraternity brothers. Thankfully one of my brothers was dating one of her sisters and we crashed the game night. We just showed up, stayed for a about ten AWKWARD minutes and we left. I did notice that she couldn't stop smiling at me and I was trying to play it cool - can you imagine? Ha.

Anyways, we started dating that day and have been together ever since. It's been several years since then and I can't believe what came out of all those random awkward conversations we shared. I can't imagine life without her and now our little blueberry...aka Baby Pierce.

Joe

The video that brought us together...