Melissa & Carson - 6 months and counting

Here's the latest picture. Carson has been a lot more active lately, jabbing, and kicking, and giving my stomach a jolt on a regular basis. It's been a lot of fun, and I'm guessing that the remainder of this nine months will fly by just like the first 6 has. We're very excited. As Cary often says, "Okay Carson, you can come out now. We're ready to meet you!!"

Oh, and sorry for the gargantuan picture of my belly - it just turned out that way, and I can't figure out how to make it smaller - the picture, not my stomach! Hey, keep that snide comment to yourself and wipe the smirk off your face :) Actually, you can post it if you want, it might be funny...

P.S. I just resized the picture, so it's not nearly as large, but you can only imagine!!! :)

More answered prayers

After feeling like we have been in a desert for so long, God sure has chosen to poor out his blessings on us! I am so overwhelmed at His goodness and faithfulness to us.

Cary got a new job. He wasn't looking for one, and was quite content at Starbucks, but out of the blue a company that he had been acquainted with while working at another job called and offered him a position. He's super excited. It's a great Christian owned company called Maintenance Connection. There based in Sacramento, CA, and Cary gets to work from home. They cover all of his expenses and benefits in addition to his salary; he gets to travel to somewhere in the USA once a month, and I can go with him if I choose and all we have to cover is my plane ticket - they pick up our stay and car and food. Anyway, this is a super turn of events. It will enable me to either only work part-time or stay home with Carson all together once he arrives. We'll be out of debt by the time he is born, too - which I can't believe! We're also considering buying a house - which is a big venture, so be praying with us about this one.

Also, Journey Fellowship - the church we are helping out - wants to bring Cary on staff more permanently. We're praying about this, but are unsure at this point.

On another glorious note, we are taking a trip to Mexico in March with our friends Josh & Kelly. WOO-HOO!!!! It's official, and I am oh so excited!

Sing it with me now....

God is so good,
God is so good,
God is so good,
He's so good to me.

Fit Mama

My great aspirations for being an extremely fit pregnant mama are not going so well. What with the morning sickness in the beginning and the extreme exhaustion, activity in the first trimester just wasn't happening. I've been feeling great though for several months now, so I really have no excuse anymore - thankfully I haven't gone into food overdrive - but still, if I exercised for myself in the past, surely I can exercise for my baby. Swimming is my absolute favorite way to exercise, so, last night I went and got a maternity swimsuit from Motherhood - which I LOVE! It's so cute, and I actually don't feel like the fat kid! Yay!! I guess this is the one time in my life it's okay to look a little round in a swimsuit! Ha ha. Anyway, I went swimming last night, and plan on making it a habit. I'm so excited!

On another note, Cary suggested last night that we should maybe take a trip to Mexico with some friends in March. Woo-hoo!! I hope it all works out! It would be the first major trip we've taken since our honeymoon! Fun, fun, fun!!!

Random thoughts

So it's been a busy few days. Got to spend some time with Cary's mom and Tommy and siblings this weekend. Very fun. What is it about cramming a visit into a weekend that just zaps all energy out of you. I still haven't recovered - but I have unpacked and started laundry - which for any of you who know me well will understand that this means I must not be doing to poorly.

I had a Mary Kay meeting last night. It was a skin care class, which is always fun because guests get to play with the products while I learn something. Next week I become a senior consultant. This sounds like a big deal, and I guess it is, except that it took little effort on my part. It basically means that my friend Lindsay signed up to be a consultant through me. This is a lot of fun for me because we're both in kind of the same "just starting out" spot. It's kind of nice to not feel like I'm lost by myself.

I got punched in my diaphragm today - by Carson that is. Tell me...how does this little guy go from poking me in my belly to punching my diaphragm in a little over a week? That's some fast growing. It is kind of neat though, and nice to know he's having a good time in there. Oh! and in other news...I got asked if I was "expecting" for the first time yesterday. I guess I've finally passed the look of "maybe she's just gained a little holiday weight." In the same day, I had someone who I barely know ask if they could rub my stomach for luck. Umm, no. Why do random people think that it's okay to touch a pregnant woman's stomach? My mom or my sister, or a good friend, sure why not, but not the lady who I only see on my way to the restroom. I know this is a regular phenom that pregant women have to deal with - I just think it's weird.

Okay, enough randomness for now. Maybe I'll have something of worth to say later - or at least something humorous.

I love Baby USA!!

We found our nursery furniture, and it's on sale until the end of this month!!! :) Once again, God has provided for us, and we will be able to get the furniture without stress or trouble! This is such a huge relief! Our baby will have a place to sleep! Okay, I know some of you are saying "Good grief, Melissa. It's not that big of a deal." but yes it is! Two months ago, I remember thinking that if we had to wait to get a crib until Carson was older - say 6 months or so - it would be okay, but I can tell you right now that emotionally, it would not have been as okay as I'd convinced myself. Anyway, I am so excited and I just had to share. Thank you, Lord!

Also, our couch came in yesterday, and it looks so good in our living room!!

Okay, as I reread this, I see how shallow and materialistic this post makes me seem, but had you seen our former couch, you would be happier than I am - even my mother thought it was in shambles! Ha! And I think everybody will readily admit that babies need a place to sleep - so there! I'm justified - and oh so excited!!

Happy day!!

God is so good.

When we first found out we were pregnant, I remember telling Cary that I knew God would take care of us and not let us falter. I was saying it in faith, but recently I have been reminded of how true this is. Cary got a call yesterday out of the blue from a church that we helped at in college saying that they needed an interim worship leader for the next few months. It is just part-time, and something Cary can easily do while working at his beloved Starbucks. This is such a blessing because we have really had a desire to get back into leading worship and haven't been quite sure how to go about doing that. Today, we found out about a bill we hadn't exactly planned on, and because of this door God has opened for us, we are going to be able to pay it without going into debt. Thank you, Lord!

It seems so amazing to me the way God always shows up just in time. I can't tell you how many times there have been in this last year and a half when we weren't sure how we were going to make it through the next week, yet without fail, God has allowed us to have just enough. Just enough that we have to look to Him for the next week and the next move. Thank you Lord for leading us just far enough that we don't panic at what's ahead, and thank you for providing the stepping stones to get us there.

A quick note

I felt Carson move today from the outside of my belly for the first time - twice in a row. He's been quite the swimmer since the ultrasound, but I was so excited when he kicked my hand that I almost cried. Hopefully Cary will get to experience this soon; I know he's anxious. Carson James, we adore you already and pray for you daily, I am so glad you are making yourself known!

We're heading to Arkansas to see Cary's dad and Pat and the rest of the gang for Christmas, so it may be a bit before I post again. In the meantime, I hope that you all have a wonderful and joyous Christmas, and may Jesus make Himself known to you in such a real way as we celebrate His birth and His life given for us.

Merry, Merry Christmas!

The pictures my mom has been waiting to see.

Sorry these are so dark. This first one is Carson's whole body.


Carson sucking his thumb 

Think of this view as if he were sitting on a glass table and you were looking up. The white half circle by "bottom" is his pelvis, and the rest is sort of self explanatory.


 


19 weeks

Cary, Melissa and a half

Here is a more recent picture of Cary and I from a wedding last weekend.

a P.P.S. on "Feel free to comment"

Okay, thanks to Lindsay - you can see her blog by clicking on "Adventures in Munson land" under "BlogRoll" - I have now adjusted my site to where you can comment without having to have a sign in name. SO, just click on the comments link below any of my postings and follow the prompts.

Thanks!!
Melissa

Shameless plug in 3...2...1...

I've started a Mary Kay business. It's just kind of a side thing right now, but eventually, it would be nice if I could use this to supplement our income so I can stay home with our baby(ies). Anyway, if you don't know what it is, it's skin care and makeup that has been compared to Lancome, but is 1/2 the price.

Check out my site here - no really, go look. They're having a sweepstakes right now, so even if your not interested in buying something, you should check it out. Also, if you want, I can add you to my mailing list - and then you get free samples. Kind of fun! :)

Independent Beauty Consultant
Mary Kay Cosmetics

Shop 24/7 @
www.marykay.com/melissa_yocum

a P.S. on "Feel free to comment"

Okay, so I guess in order to comment, you do have to have a username - but long before I created this blog, I created a username and never got any unwanted emails or junk or anything - so if your brave, you may want to do that. And besides, I'm beginning to feel lonely here.

No really, I am very thankful to all of you who have taken pity on me and read my gibberish. :)

I'm considering moving my site, but so far, haven't found any that I like as much as this one. So, if I change my mind, I'll let you know.

In the meantime, happy reading.

Feel free to comment

Hey everybody! Thanks so much for reading my gibberish, and for the kind emails you have sent!! Feel free to post your comments to me on this blog - I know others would love to read them too! It's very easy, at the bottom of the entry that you would like to comment on, just click where it says (#) comment, and it will take you to a page that allows you to post a comment. I don't even think you have to sign in.

Have fun reading!!
Melissa

Please pray

Please pray for my cousin Daun and her husband. I don't have a lot of details, but she too is pregnant, a month behind me. The doctors have been unable to find a heartbeat and have told her that they do not feel the pregnancy is viable. I have seen God turn worse things around, and she could really use some happiness in her life right now, so please, please pray. I just can't imagine what she must be feeling right now.

Thanks!
Melissa

Stupid preggo brain

And I just thought people made this up! I think I'm in the running to put Jessica Simpson out of office in the stupid factor!

So last night, Cary and I went to the grocery store on our way home from work. It wasn't an incredibly stressful day, so I don't even have that as an excuse! :) We get to the checkout line and put everything on the counter for the cashier to ring up. So we wait while she finishes and begins to bag everything up, and when the bagging area was full, she asked if she could see the cart. So stupid me! I tipped the edge of the cart up and showed it to her!!! Obviously what she really wanted was for us to give her the cart so she would have somewhere to put our groceries. I don't know where my brain went, but please, if you find it, give it back. I used to be smart...really.

At least I thought it was funny...I'm still laughing about it as I type this, and I'm sure I'm not laughing alone!

It's a................

Well, we had our level II ultrasound this morning! Quite the event - as any of you who have done this before would know. I have come to the conclusion that it is quite unnatural to drink a ton of water and then lie still while someone pushes on your stomach. It was actually a little humorous. There I am biting my lip and trying to think about something else - anything else - while the technician is digging around on my stomach and Cary is making little comments like "Oooh, is that the brain?" or "Oh look! A hand!" My favorite was "Wow you can really see all 4 chambers!" (of the heart) I wanted to say, "Hey, remember the mother? Yeah, that's me. I'd like to see too, thank-you!" Thankfully at that point the technician said that I could go to the restroom because she couldn't see everything because my bladder was so full! I could have told her that without all of the digging... But, all in all it was a very exciting, unforgetful, and emotional event. We even have a video and a few pictures for show and tell.

After I had made myself more comfortable :), I hopped back up on the table and she showed us everything. I truly believe this is the most amazing thing I've seen up until this point! You could see everything! The spine, the ribs, the heart, the legs - knees included, feet and toes, hands and all five fingers on each, kidneys, brain, the baby's profile - so cool! And then we got to see the toilet view! :) The technician said "Okay, there you go. Can you tell?" I looked and blurted out "Oh my goodness, it's a BOY!!!!" It was VERY obvious - and Cary was quite proud! Of course, once we saw the goods - as Cary likes to call them - that's all he wanted to show! We kept trying to get a good view of his profile and face, but all to no avail! Little show off! :) So Carson James is on his way. We are absolutely so excited! We even went and bought his first little outfit during lunch.

Anyway, thought you would all like to know! Our due date is officially set at May 12, 2005.

Carson James is on his way!!

Let's get started

Well, I'm not exactly sure what I am going to use this blog for, but Cary and I have been thinking about buying a domain for our family. I figure this is a good first step. I don't really know if I'll have any insight or enlightening revelations for those of you who may read this, but at the very least, I hope to keep you updated on the simple happenings of our little family.

The long and short of it is that Cary and I are living in Waco, have been married for a year and a half, and have our very first bundle of joy due in May. We are absolutely thrilled, excited and full of trepidation at the thought that we are actually going to be responsible for this little one. I guess, all in all, we are praying that God will grant us the grace and wisdom that we will need along the way, and that when our children are older, they will still want to spend time with us. :) More than anything I want to surround this child with God's love and with our love. My biggest dreams for this child is that it will grow up with the knowledge of who God is and how great He is, and more than anything that our little bean will have an unquenchable desire to serve Him, love Him and be loved by Him. -- But, hey, that's not a lot to ask, right? :)

We have an ultrasound Monday - Woohoo!! :) And we hope to find out if we are having a he or a she. I absolutely cannot wait!!!! :) Cary is planning on waiting until Christmas to find out (I'm going to write it in a card), but I am sooo not that patient! Here are some pictures of Cary and I, and I hope to post some belly pics soon!