Baby Pictures!!

So we had our down syndrome screening yesterday and the quality of the pictures was great, so find them below. The doctor said everything looked good and although we won't get the official results for a week, she seemed okay with the neck thickness that she measured. That's how they test for downs now is neck thickness which I thought was interesting. It was like watching a movie! Although, this child has been excellent so far in the sense of not making his mother sick, etc..he did not want to cooperate yesterday for the picture taking time (sound familiar to anyone) he got that from his mother. I think they woke him up. Anyways, after he was forced awake he started moving and stuff. Well apparently he was showing off because he kept doing head stands. It was hilarious. His little legs would be up in the air and his head was pointed down. I told Ryan that we have a little acrobat. I got to hear his heartbeat which also was incredible. It was so fast! So without further ado....here are the pictures.

Headstand baby!!!

Another pose once again with his legs in the air. We think he's going to be tall..although the nurse in no uncertain terms informed me they can't measure until we deliver, but we figure the odds are good!

P.S. We will find out the sex if he is cooperating on January 4th!

What a year!

Anyone that knows me knows that I am always up for the next adventure in life and even planning for it. However, if I do say so myself this year has by far taken the cake. I am thinking about all the changes and how God has a plan no matter what I might think. He got me good on this one but oh what a blessing.

Last weekend Ryan and I went and looked at some more houses in Katy. Well we found a builder we really liked and are now in the process of going through loan approvals and all of that to have a house ready to move in around the middle of February (by the grace of God).

So Sunday night after the whole house thing I was laying in bed thinking that I was late. So Monday at lunch I bought a pregnancy test and low and behold it was positive. I belive I took three more before I called the doctor and made an appointment.

When Ryan came home all three pregnancy tests were laying on the bathroom counter. I love my husband! He looked at them and said well I guess what you're trying to tell me is you're pregnant. Ha!

I went to the doctor today and I am about 6 1/2 weeks along. She said everything looked good and we'll go back in a month for a checkup. She did get a picture (although I still am not sure what I'm looking at) however, it's hanging up on the refrigerator. Our first picture as proud parents!

We are both just thrilled beyond words. Although, we weren't planning for a little one yet, God has chosen to bless us and we'll gladly receive it. Ryan is going to make a great dad as he is already talking to the little one even though I keep telling him he doesn't have ears yet.

We would like to ask for ya'll's prayers especially the next 6 weeks as this is the most vulnerable time for the baby and the risk of miscarriage is high. The doctor did make me feel better, she told me that since we could get the baby on the ultrasound the risk of miscarriage wasn't as high. However, she said it happens so be praying. I'm trying to eat as healthy as possible and I am continuing my exercise classes (I got the ok) . So far I have not had any morning sickness and am feeling just fine.

So let's see in a nut shell this year we have:
Gotten married
Passed the CPA exam and found out today I passed all the other stuff so now all I'm waiting on is for them to send me the packet so I can pay them more money to get my actual license.
Switched jobs (both of us)
Am in the process of building a house
Am going to have a baby

I told God I think that's all I can handle at this point althugh the scripture that keeps coming back to me is God is faithful he will not give you any more than you can bear. That is definitely my scripture of the year!

Busy Season

I have a love hate relationship with busy season. First let me explain exactly what that is...since I work in an area where we are governed by deadlines for about 4 months out of the year I am swamped trying to get returns out to meet the deadline set by the IRS. This year is especially fun because they moved the deadline up a month for partnership returns. I love the rush (yes I know that sounds crazy) of being pushed up against a timeline knowing we have to finish these returns or they will be delinquent. I hate being tired and never getting to spend time with my husband on the weekends and weeknights.

As most of you know beginning September 16th I am starting a new job with a smaller public accounting firm that mainly does tax work. I am excited and nervous but this also means one more month of being busy before the fall can be enjoyed.

Okay off to finish returns so that clients and bosses don't start yelling!

I'm done!!

So I found out I passed the last section of the cpa exam today!! It's like a huge burden has been lifted off my shoulders. NO more studying or working out schedules or using my vacation to study. Oh how it feels to be free free free!

I also received a wonderful suprise from Del and Robin. I had a message from the front desk right before lunch that I had something down there. They sent me a gorgeous boquet of flowers. It was so thoughtful and of course it's always so much to fun to get flowers at work, so I really appreciate their thoughtfulness!

Now I feel like I can focus on tax and further my technical skills there. However, I'll start tomorrow today I'm just going to celebrate :)

Miracles

Okay as excited as I am about my newphew being born I am going to let mom and dad post on all the details since he is their child. I will however share my thoughts. We started getting texts from Grandma (my mom) about 5 a.m. Friday morning saying that Bekah was in the hospital with contractions and Joseph was on his way. I didn't take this too seriously seeing as how Bekah had been having contractions for quite a while. I talked to Bekah and mom off and on throughout the day and finally that afternoon I got the text saying Joseph Howard Sparhawk had arrived.

I can't tell you how emotional this was and it wasn't even my child. I was so excited and happy for Bekah and Robby and so sad at the same time because I was in Houston and they were in Lubbock. Of course that same day work had pushed down an email about mandatory charge hours and working weekends since we are getting into busy season. The only thing I could do was cry and think of a way to get out working the weekend and go see Bekah and Joseph.

Now, those of you that know me know that Bekah and I are twins and extremely close. I was so upset that I could not make sure Bekah was okay myself. So after debating the merits of driving/flyinig/not going....yada yada, Ryan told me to go. I'm so so thankful that I have such a good husband who knows me, and I am so so glad I went.

All I have to say is if you don't believe in God, you need to witness a birth/1 day old baby. He was absolutely amazing and you can't tell me there isn't a God after seeing him. Robby and Bekah make great parents and I was so impressed with how well they both went about their new roles as parents. Robby just stepped up to the plate and helped Bekah with anything she needed and wasn't afraid to take care of Joseph either.

So congratulations to the new parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles....and thank you God for such a wonderful gift. Help us to guide little Joseph Howard and point him to You.

Wife's Roles

God has been teaching me so much about the role of a wife. Thankfully this is early in our marriage where I can practice and haven't developed habits yet. One of the things He keeps bringing to me over and over through various people, books, and His Word is that the man is the leader of the home. This is how God created them to be. My job is to encourage, pray, and be Ryan's helpmate. I know, I know, it sounds so ancient doesn't it, but I personally want the best marriage I can have and I know deep down this is the key. When I am praying for Ryan and encouraging him our relationship is better. When I'm nagging or handling things myself instead of discussing with him there is conflict. I'm issuing a challenge. Start praying for your husband. Pray that he will have confidence and a hunger for God. Pray that he will feel the responsibility of the leader of the home and strive to be the best leader/husband he can. Pray that inspite of all the attacks on marriages and family there are today that he rises above that.

Catching Up

So I took my last section of the CPA test on July 3rd. Hopefully and prayerfully I passed. I had that whole week off to study and I used it wisely. I just hope I used it wisely enough. We got our wedding pictures in and they look great, great, great. It was so exciting seeing everything and everyone. It made me want to do it again :) My newphew Joseph is doing good and everything looks great for the due date. I believe his mother is ready for him to come and we're praying extra special prayers down here in Houston for a safe and healthy baby and mama. Ryan's parents are coming down in July so we are getting the house cleaned and trying to figure out how to entertain them. One would think living in such a large city it would be easy but there's so much to do and show off. We also get to keep my friends dog for a week so Ryan and I get to see how we like the responsiblity. I'm excited. She's a good dog and it will be fun to have something different. So that's the story of my life right now. Marriage is still a really good thing and I recommend it highly.