Making Progress

I didn't even realize until today that I have only blogged twice since I started back to school. Does that tell you anything?! Just when I think I am ahead at school, my to-do list grows. That is just the nature of the job ... the work is never done and you can never just leave it at work!

OK, so this post is not about work, it is about Baby Avery! Tomorrow I will start my third trimester. I can't even believe it! Lately, she has been pretty active and her movements are way more defined. It is a pretty amazing feeling. She is growing, and I stay hungry ALL the time! I always feel a little strange posting "posed" pictures of myself. However, some of you have been asking for an updated picture of the baby bump, so here it is!














We are also SLOWLY making progress on Avery's room. My parents came two weekends ago. The goal was for my dad to help Matt paint the room. But, Matt and my dad ended up working mostly to fix our car problem. So, it is still a work in progress. I can't wait until it is finished!

Her name will be ...

Since we found out that we were having a baby, Matt and I have been talking about names. Truly, before we found out if we were having a boy or girl, we had more girl names picked out than boy names. Well, we decided this weekend to start calling her by name. Using the initials you see below, see if you can guess her name.


















Did you guess correctly? Her name will be Avery Grace Metcalf. We will call her Avery. While Avery has no significant meaning, we chose Grace as a reminder that we don't deserve precious gifts such as this. Yet, God has graciously allowed us to begin this amazing experience into parenthood.

Kids Say the Funniest Things

For those of you who have asked about my baby bump, here I am starting week 21.














As many of you know, this past Thursday was the first day of school. On the first day, I told my 1st graders that I was going to have a baby in December. Of course, they are SO excited about it. On Thursday, I wore a dress which kinda hides the fact that I am pregnant. On Friday, I wore a shirt that shows my baby bump and one of the kids said, "Mrs. Metcalf, you look bigger today!"

Occasionally, when I think the kids need to move, we do some fun "get up and move" songs together. On Friday, one of the kids said, "Mrs. Metcalf, I bet your baby is dancing!"

Kids say the funniest things, don't they?!

Baby Metcalf is a ...

Today was an exciting day around the Metcalf house. This morning at 9 a.m. we had an ultrasound scheduled to find out the gender of Baby M. Before we went in, we both decided that we would wait to find out at lunch. So, we asked the lady doing the ultrasound to write "It's A _____________" on the inside of the card we brought with us to the appointment. I never questioned her because she said, "It is very obvious ... you may want to cover your eyes."

When Matt and I left the doctor's office it was too early for lunch, so we went to Cracker Barrel. Once we sat down, we couldn't help but to immediately remove the card from the envelope and read ...














It's a girl! (See, now you know and don't have to read the rest of the post! Ha!)

Matt and I were both surprised, but we are both so excited!

Oh, but the day was not over! We actually had planned (well Matt had planned) a 30th Birthday/Gender Reveal Party with some of our friends. So, tonight, we joined them at Pie In the Sky Pizza for a little guessing game with pink and blue cupcakes (which Matt and I made ourselves) and a little celebration. We had a great time and are thankful that we have such great friends!

I noticed that my little friend Will Dixon REALLY enjoyed his cupcake ... and he even picked the right color! Way to go Will!

Crazy, Busy Life

Let me start by saying that this is the first time I have been off work in the summer since 2005! I didn't just like it, I LOVED it! I was in desperate need of a break. Prior to that, I had worked full time at LifeWay while getting my Masters. Then, I moved right into a new teaching job at Sunset Elementary.

For the last week and a half, I have been preparing my classroom for this quickly approaching school year. It started like this ...



















and with the help of my wonderful husband, a few friends, and my parents; it now looks like this!








































I am missing summer already and it isn't over yet. It isn't because I don't like my job; it is because the pace of life has been slower this summer. This fall already promises to be crazy busy. In addition to his full time job, Matt had the opportunity to pick up a part time job on the weekends. He also signed up for a landscape design class. I will continue my job as a 1st grade teacher (still in my first year). Amidst all the busyness, we will also be making time to enjoy and prepare for the arrival of our baby!

Ready or not ... the crazy busy life is right around the corner.

17 Going on 18: The Pregnancy Update

This journey to parenthood is pretty incredible! I am nearing the end of week 17—almost halfway through. I can hardly believe it! I am going to share a few thoughts/reactions:

1. I am hungry ALL the time and most days eat like a champ! I am convinced that I am going to double in weight! HA!
2. I can be nausea in the morning and have these amazing cravings by lunch (Nacho Cheese Doritos, Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream, Burger King). Notice, none of these are healthy cravings!
3. Thanks to my friends, Jacob and Shanna, I now crave McAllisters weekly.
4. It finally happened! I am no longer comfortable in my skinny jeans! This was tragic because I was even using the belly band.
5. I didn't know trying on maternity clothes could be SO depressing ... until I found the maternity section at Target.
6. I finally think I felt Baby M on the move. Yesterday he/she must have been active because I felt several flutters in my belly!
7. My friend Melissa asked why I wasn't stressed about school starting soon. Wow, pregnancy sure has changed my state of mind (perspective).
8. I don't sleep very well at night. I am thinking this will probably not get any better.
9. Matt is super protective of me and the baby ... and I LOVE that! He is going to be a GREAT dad.
10. We find out in ten days if it is a boy or a girl! There is poll on our blog so go vote NOW!

Now I will leave you with one final thought/reaction. Today at church we talked about Psalm 139 and how much we are valued by God. "For you created my inmost being. You knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made." (Psalm 139:13-14) It really struck home with me as I read about how the baby is growing and changing weekly. It is an incredible reminder that God values each one of us, even Baby M whom He is carefully knitting together day by day.

Chicago Mission Camp

Matt and I just got back from an amazing week in Chicago with the students from ClearView Baptist Church. We explored the city, ate too much Chicago-style pizza, and watched fireworks on the banks of Lake Michigan on the 4th of July. But most importantly we served and ministered to the people at Lamon Avenue Baptist Church and the Garfield/Armitage area of Chicago. Isn't it amazing that you go expecting to minister to others (and you do) but often leave having learned so much more than you feel you have given? I wish I would have taken more pictures but here are a few from the trip.