Number 2 of the Year - better than only 1 per year!

So in an effort to stay on top of this blogging, I feel like if I make it a habit, maybe it will stick. Since it's only been a week since my last post, there hasn't been too much that has happened in our lives. We are continually working to get the house ready for the baby. Last weekend we finished up the guest bedroom. We painted, steam cleaned, set up the new furniture, etc. The only thing missing is a bedside lamp. The room doubles as Grant's room with the XBox - meaning if you come to visit, you have a nice flat panel to look forward to! Those were the perks of working at Samsung back in the day! :-)


Right now everything that we have for the nursery is in the hallway/dining room at our house as I am planning on starting to paint this weekend while Grant stays busy studying. We are doing a vanilla cream on the upper part of the wall and ceiling, putting up a chair rail and then painting a green color that matches the bedding on the bottom half of the wall. We don't have black furniture and won't do a black chair rail, but this is the bedding and kind of the look we are going for (sans the border at the top). We got a great deal on the bedding online as it came with everything pictured (15 pieces - valances, mobile, lamp shade, everything!) for $130 including tax and shipping. For baby bedding that is a steal for something that is nice and quilted and has detailed embroidery versus appliqued images. Most of the other sets I saw were over $150 for just the comforter, sheet, dust ruffle, and bumper. Then all of the accessories were sold separately! It's amazing how crazy the markup is on baby stuff. I feel really lucky that we have gotten the baby furniture and other items so cheap on Craigslist.

We are still trying to figure out Grant's schooling - he has a call in to the TAA coordinator for our area, but everything is so slow moving due to the bureaucratic nightmare. We are planning on going to talk to an advisor at one of the schools he is looking into next week after his next Anatomy and Physiology test in order to figure out how many hours exactly from his Associates Degree at TSTC will be able to transfer. We've been told that if we have everything in order degree plan wise when we finally meet with the TAA coordinator, it will go much more smoothly. If you think about it - please keep this in your prayers - both figuring out the degree plan and for them to accept the maximum number of credits AND for everything to go smoothly with the TAA Coordinator.

I got back to swimming this week (I had taken about a 4 week hiatus during year end busyness at work) and it felt so good to be back in the pool. I did find it a little strange doing flip turns being pregnant and I'm sure Claire was wondering what the heck I was doing, but I felt so refreshed after I worked out. Hopefully I won't have to wait too long after having her to be able to be back in the pool.

I'm not sure who all reads this - but thanks to those of you who do keep up with it. It's nice to know that someone may be interested.

2009 - A Year in Review, 2010 - A Year of HUGE Changes, but SO exciting!!

Yes, I realize that it is the 11th of February...but I've been inspired, so here's our 2009 in review.

January:

Celebrated the New Year in Austin with the family and worked my butt off during year end close at work. Thank goodness it's only a few weeks a year.

February:

Sushi for Valentine's Day - I can't remember much else about February. Started playing keyboard and singing at church with the praise band. SO MUCH FUN!!

March:

Started getting antsy for another getaway - but unfortunately nothing until May. Grant still plugging away at Samsung on Days.

April:

Celebrated 6 years of being together (April 12!) crazy it's been this long!

May:

Celebrated 2 years of marriage. Got an amazing deal on a last minute weekend getaway to Barcelona (ie booked it on Monday left 4 days later on Friday last minute!) . It was awesome!!

In front of the Museo de Catatlan in Barcelona - we had beautiful weather and such an amazing time!!

At the top of the Ramblas that leads down to the Mediterranean Sea in Barcelona, Spain!

The famous Sagrada Familia - Gaudi's design in progress - this thing has been in progress for over 90 years!!

June:

Still working hard - had to take mandatory vacation in Q2 of 2009 so we took some time to spend in Fort Worth with Grant's family. Had an amazing tubing trip down the Comal River with the small group - I haven't had that much fun in a LONG time!

July:

Enjoyed the four day weekend for the 4th of July in Fort Worth. Things starting to look a little more worrisome for Grant and Samsung, but he's still working away.

August:

I'm really busy at work before September 15, celebrated my Dad's birthday at Austin Park and Pizza (he's still a little boy inside!). Found out at the end of September that Grant would be laid off as of Sept 24 (a day after Grant's Birthday).

September:

Grant had his last day at Samsung and the first day of a lot of big changes for us. Grant's Mom had a double knee replacement so we went to Fort Worth to help out for a long weekend.

October:

We found out that we are pregnant!! A bit of surprise, but a huge blessing all at the same time!! We also left at the end of October for a trip to Hawaii. My parents gave us a week of their time share so we went to Kauai for a week and then island hopped to the Big Island and Oahu for a few nights. Overall it was a good trip - but sadly we aren't beach bums so it wasn't our favorite trip overall.
November:

Celebrated Thanksgiving with Grant's family in Fort Worth. Grant went up there again right after to help with some household projects of his sisters and brother-in-law's (they're expecting as well!!) Started buying and selling TONS of stuff on craigslist to redecorate our house for the baby. So far with all the selling and buying, I've come out $200 ahead!! Gotta love Craigslist!

December:

Celebrated my birthday by finally using a gift certificate to a bed and breakfast that my parents gave us for Christmas last year. It was SO nice and a great mini-escape before the holidays. Celebrated Christmas in Austin with my family. New Year's with the small group and are ready for the excitement that 2010 will bring.

At the small group White Elephant Exchange / Christmas Party. Courtesy of Jenni's blog!

Prospects for 2010:

In January of 2010, Grant started taking Anatomy and Physiology, not sure if he was going back to school for good, but it was better than doing nothing this spring since he is still searching for work. Thankfully, on January 14, 2010, we were notified that the employees that were laid off from Samsung were certified under the trade adjustment act to qualify for "additional services". What that means to us is that the Federal Govt will help pay for Grant to go back to school to finish his degree!! We are in the process of trying to figure out all the red tape (there is plenty!) but we are excited about this blessing in disguise from the layoff. Right now he is planning on studying Computer Information Systems, but we are still looking into all the options. His A&P will not be a complete waste as he needed a four hour science with a lab. He is doing well in the class and got a 97 on his first test!! The goal is that he will be a full time student by Summer. All in all, I think this will be a HUGE blessing not just for him finishing school, but for him to be able to spend time with the baby and help with child care. While I'm still working, he'll be able to help share some of the child care and defray the enormous cost that child care can be. If all goes as planned (which we often know doesn't! :->) Grant should be able to finish school by the Summer of 2012.

At the beginning of February we found out that the baby I'm having is a little girl!! We have a name picked out and it is Claire Marie Ledyard. I've ordered the nursery bedding and we got the furniture off of Craigslist used (have I mentioned I love/am addicted to Craigslist?!) and are in the process of painting the new guest bedroom and nursery. I am due June 20 and am looking forward to spending some time at home with her for a little while. Right now my plan is to take a full month off and then begin working from home for a couple of months, returning to work full time by the middle of September. Fortunately, I work for a very accommodating boss and she is very flexible with how I handle my maternity leave. She had told me that if I wanted/needed to I could take 3 months and not work at all. I don't have that much sick time and with Grant being out of work, the best option I've come up with is the take the time off and then work part time from home for a while to extend out my time with Claire.

Everything works out and while at first we were so worried about what we were going to do when Grant was laid off and I found out I was pregnant, God has been completely sovereign in our lives. He has provided an amazing blessing through allowing Grant to go back to school and an even MORE amazing blessing through giving us this baby. So often we try to be in control and determine what is "enough" for ourselves based on what the world says, but it's amazing how much more exciting life can be when we learn that God is enough to sustain us through the trials. This year I'm going to try to be a better blogger, especially with all of the life changes we are going through...so keep an eye out and give us a shout if you're ever in Austin!!