Shout out to our parents!

Let me start by saying, Happy Father's Day to my Dad and Paul, my father-in-law, and of course Mike, my wonderful husband. I have been thinking for a few days about all the things that both our dads and moms have done for us, not only since we became pregant or got married, but basically our entire lives. Mike and I have been blessed with the most amazing parents in the world. Both sets have been an awesome example to us of what marriage is supposed to be and what it truly means to love someone and to sacrifice for that person. Our parents have supported us in everything that we have ever done, from school to ball to our faith. But that support has never been more appreciated until now. Thank you guys for laying our strong foundations and for always showing us love and how to be a parent. We know we could never raise Will without having you behind us. We love you so much and thank you for everything!

Will in 4D!!!

So....today we are in Chattanooga visting my family and we had the amazing experience of seeing lil Will in 4D. It's so incredible that new technologies have given us this capability to see him in realtime pictures. We really felt like we wanted to pick him up right there and hold him, but we have to wait another 11 weeks. The technician was able to get some really good pictures, despite the fact that Will had his hands around his face the whole time. He was so comfortable and cozy that he didn't want to move around too much. After a little drink of Coke, though, he decided to start moving, he even yawned and opened his eyes for us. Thank you so much Mom and Dad for this opportunity.







After the ultrasound, I went to the pool with my cousins Holly, Katie and Baby Jake. This was little Will's first time to the pool. Just so everyone knows, I'm wearing my new maternity bathing suit that I got from Old Navy that I paid 8 bucks for. Sorry, just had to brag on my amazing bargain!


My 29 week belly

Making room for Will

It has occurred to Mike and I that we have too much stuff in our house that we don't use or don't need. With Will scheduled to arrive in 12 weeks we know that we have to start cleaning out to make room for him and all his new stuff. So, yesterday Mike and I took on the large task of cleaning out the garage. It took about 3 hours, but I have to admit, it looks amazing. Our only regret is that we forgot to take a before picture so that we could appreciate what we accomplished. But still we did make room to start storing diapers and other shower gifts until they are needed. Our next task is to start in our guest bedroom closet, which is scary. But the funny thing is, we have been talking about doing a yard sale this summer. Today there was a note on the mailbox from one of my neighbors advertising a neighborhood yard sale in 3 weeks. I was intrigued and even more motivated to clean out that closet so that hopefully we can not only gain space for Will's stuff but earn some cash as well.

On another note, I was reading a blog yesterday and the person posted the current book that she was reading. Being a librarian, I thought this was so cool. I am always reading and always interested in what others are reading. So I thought I would share some titles that I have read this summer and what I am currently reading. We can call them my pre-mommy reading! :)


The Yada Yada Prayer Group by Neta Jackson- This is actually a series of 6 books. I have read through book 3 and can't wait to get my hands on the 4th. The group of women in the books are very easy to relate to because they are going through similar trials that normal women face everyday; for example trying to work, fix supper for the family and finding time to have quiet time with the Lord.


This Present Darkness by Frank Peretti- I just finished this book a few days ago. It was awesome! It talks a lot about the spiritual warfare that is going on around us everyday between angels and evil spirits. And it shows just how much prayer can work in your lives. Mike wants to read this book and he doesn't read fiction.


Deep in the Heart of Trouble by Deanne Gist- This is the book I am currently reading and the fourth book I have read by this author. She writes fun, historical, christian romance novels. These books are great for the beach or pool.

27 weeks

It is now the beginning of June. I can't believe that summer is here, I am out of school and that we will be parents in a few short months. I have been at home now for about a week and have been very bored! There are so many things that I would like to do around the house and in the nursery, but they involve lifting or moving furniture. Since I can't do any of that I am forced to sit and read, watch tv or do "light" chores like laundry or cooking. The good thing is that it does allow me to sit and just pay attention to Will. He is moving so much now, it feels like he is kicking me all day. Saturday night Mike and I were watching a movie, when all of a sudden Will kicked so hard. We both put our hands on my stomach and we felt a hard little lump where he had just kicked. We aren't sure, but we think we could have felt his foot. That was exciting!

We finally picked out furniture and got it ordered. We got a crib, dresser and a rocker and ottoman. That was a big relief, especially since it could take up to 12 weeks for all the pieces to come in. Now we just have to decide how to paint the nursery. It's always something! Tomorrow I go for a check-up and for my glucose test to see if I have gestational diabetes. Hopefully all will go well.

The pictures below are from an annual cookout that our friends Jay and Aimee host every Memorial Day. She sent them to me the other day and I thought they would be fun to share.


Mike and I


Me and Aimee


New Pregnant Girls- Each year at this cookout there is always a group of girls who are pregant. The tradition is to take a pregnant picture and then the following year take a non-pregnant picture in the same order with the babies.

We have a name!

Mike and I have finally decided on a name for our little boy; William Michael Fessler. We will call him Will for short. We thought a lot about this name. We wanted to give our son a nice, strong name, but at the same time one that held some significance to us. William is a family name on both sides, not to mention that Williams is my maiden name. Mike had said that he wanted to use Michael for the middle name, so that our little boy could carry on his daddy's name. The deciding factor though was the meaning of both names together. One day last week, I decided to look up the names. William means "determined protector" and Michael means "who resembles God". As soon as I told Mike what I had found out, we both seemed to feel that the name was perfect.

Well, this week was busy with important things going on. Not only did we decide on the name of our son, but we also had out first baby shower. My awesome friends at school were nice enough to honor me on Tuesday with a baby shower luau. It was not your typical shower. They grilled out hamburgers and hot dogs and had it a neighborhood pool close to our school. It was so much fun , because you just got to sit and enjoy each other's company in a casual, relaxed setting. My mom came and mingled with my friends like she had known them forever. That was really cool. It has been so much fun sharing my pregnancy with her, and it meant a lot for her to come down for the shower. We had a lot of fun and left with a number of nice gifts to help get us ready for Will. It sure is a blessing to have good friends!

Mom and I at the shower
awesome Publix cake with cream cheese icing
opening gifts

Baby Jake

On Friday, May 16, 2008, my cousin Holly and her husband David had their little boy, Jacob Andrew Collett. I guess that would make him my second cousin, but Holly and I were raised as sisters so its more natural to think of him as a nephew. Mike took me to see him this past Sunday. He is so cute and tiny! The whole family ended up coming over and hanging out at Holly and David's house for the afternoon. It was so much fun, not only being with everyone, but also getting to celebrate a new life. Seeing and holding Jake let me know that I am ready to be a mother, and have been for awhile.


Isn't Jake adorable!

We are already at 25 weeks, we only have 15 more to go. Everyday at work someone tells me that I am getting big or that it looks like I popped out overnight. I can tell that I have gradually gotten bigger. All of a sudden its hard to bend over and tie my shoes, much less get up off the couch at home. The midwife told me at my last Dr.'s appointment that I am measuring on schedule and that baby boy's heartbeat sounds great. I am including some pictures to show how much I've grown over the last few weeks.

Me at 13 weeks


Me at 20 weeks


Me at 25 weeks


25 weeks


25 weeks

Mother's Day-24 weeks

I just had my first Mother's Day. I was pleasantly surprised with cards from both Mike and my Mom and Dad. I spent the day with my family in Chattanooga. We went to church and then met the whole family for lunch at Cracker Barrel. Afterwards, Mom and I went to Target to register for upcoming showers. (We have already registered at Babies R US) Once I came home, Mike took me out for dinner to IHOP. I was craving pancakes! :)

My cousin Holly and I on our 1st Mother's Day

The time is really going by fast now. Its hard to believe that we are already 24 weeks. That means we have 16 weeks until our blessed little boy gets here! But it also means that we have a ton of work to do. We have to pick out furniture for the nursery, paint and decorate the nursery, and start thinking about taking some classes at the hospital to get ready for the birth. So much to do, so little time!