Winter Retreat 2012

It has been a couple of weeks since we got back from the middle school CAUSE Winter Retreat 2012, and I think we are recovered. :) This year we got to have retreat at Camp Tadmor, and were blessed with snow; something I could not have been happier about.

My friend Michelle and I had an awesome group of 7th and 8th graders in our cabin. We learned about how we all want to have a purpose in life, and how God created us out of all His creation to learn to love Him.  We worshiped while it snowed outside, had amazing meals and enjoyed just getting to spend time together.

Loved sitting by the fire.

Our beautiful cabin.

Carpet Ball: Favorite Middle School Activity

Snowball Fights

SNOW!!

CAUSE Retreat 2012 = Wonderful, Amazing, Memorable.

Gender Reveal Party

Since Jason and I didn't get to tell our parents in a creative way that we were expecting, we thought it would be fun to combine my 25th birthday party with revealing our baby's gender. We found out on February 20th and had to keep the secret until February 23rd...which was a lot harder than we thought, but so worth it.

Julie (Jason's mom), Carrie and Cayden (our baby's cousin)

From the top: Aunt Nancy, Val (mom), Aunt Pat, Aunt Sue and Grandma

Sisters

 I got together pink and blue decorations, pictures from when Jason and I were babies, 

and some foods that I had been craving lately:

We had our guests vote if they thought the baby was a boy or a girl:

To reveal the gender of our little one, I had a cake made at a local bakery.  

We told our guests that the inside of the cake would either be pink or blue...

Here is the video of the cutting :)

We are having a little boy!!! He is growing and moving all right on track, which we couldn't be more thankful for. It was so much fun to surprise our family, and make it an even more exciting birthday. His little kicks are being felt all the time now, and Jason and I even watched my tummy move when he was being really active.  That is such an amazing feeling; one that I have pictured for so long, but never could have expected it to be so wonderful. This mama and daddy are feeling VERY thankful and very blessed...looking forward to meeting the newest member of our family come July! :)

It's a....

BOY!!!

And we couldn't be more excited! :)

Best Present Ever!

Sweet Blessing.

Baby Bernard: February 20, 2012 (19 weeks 2 days)

On Monday morning we got to have our hour long ultrasound; our little baby is healthy and growing right on track. The ultrasound literally took my breath away.  For the entire hour Jason and I were glued to the screen, watching our now "big" baby move and wiggle around.  I could not stop smiling the entire time.

The first thing we saw was the spine; every single bone exactly where it should be. Jason and I were speechless as the doctor showed us each bone in the baby's body.  We saw the four chambers of the heart, and the heartbeat was strong at about 150 bpm.  What amazed me the most was when we saw the little hands opening and closing.  All the bones are there; every little bone working just like mine are now! God is amazing to be growing this sweet little one inside me.

When it came to trying to get a profile shot of our baby, that took some doing.  I guess you could say our little one was being camera shy.  Each time the doctor would get close to getting a shot, the baby would snuggle its' face into my uterine wall.  I had to turn on my side, my stomach and walk around to try to get the baby to move. :) Needless to say, we got the shot at the very end of the appointment. From what I saw though, this baby has a silly personality, and this mama couldn't be more proud or excited to meet my little one.

After the appointment, Jason and I spent the afternoon floating around the Woodburn Outlets getting the baby its' first gender specific clothes bought by its' mommy and daddy.  Jason commented that now that we know what is baby 'is,' it makes it all the more real.  I couldn't agree more, I am so in love with my little stinker.

Also....the all important question about gender...we know 100% what we are having....the baby was not shy in that area.  We are waiting to announce the gender until Thursday, when we will be having a birthday party for me as well as revealing the gender of the baby. : ) I know that I am more excited about telling the whole world about our little one that celebrating my birthday.

This is the best gift I have ever gotten for my birthday....

a loving husband, and a healthy growing baby.

We couldn't be more thankful,

and more excited about what is to come this next year.

Love.

On Valentine's Day it is easy to remember that we are suppose to say, "I love you."

 What I think is important is saying those words everyday, but it is essential to mean them as well.  We all know what it is like hear the words, "I love you," but have it feel empty and untrue.

As an "almost" mommy, above all that I do, I want my children to know that I love their father and that I love them so much.  I want them to know each night they go to sleep that no matter what took place during the day, no matter the choices they made or how others may see them, that I love them unconditionally.

Love is something that I think those that have it can easily take for granted, and those that don't wish for more than anything.  I want the people that I come into contact with; my students, my family and my friends to know that I love and care about them.  I am so thankful for the many people in my own life that have shown me love.  They didn't stop loving me because of things I did, or who I was, but they loved me for me.

"I love you," powerful words that I hope everyone can have someone say to them, and know they mean it.

{Baby Movement}

It seems like the time is flying by, 

and with each passing week 

lots of new changes are taking place in our family...

First off, last week I started to feel the baby move for the first time!  It has been fun to feel the light movements and flutters.  It was also amazing, because Monday night Jason felt the little flutters as well. It was so sweet to see his face light up with he felt the little kick for the first time.

We are moving along with the weeks, and are now approaching the 18th week.  I know all we both can think about is our upcoming ultrasound where we get to not only find out that our baby is growing strong, but also hopefully if we are having a boy or a girl.

We know the baby is growing, because all of a sudden I have a bump that is there all the time (not just after I eat); and people are starting to notice.  It has been really funny with my middle school students because they don't know if they should ask, but they also don't know how to hide that they are trying to figure out if I am pregnant.  I overheard this conversation between two 6th grade boys, "I noticed she's carrying a little lower.  I think that means that she is having a girl."  They are keeping me entertained that's for sure.

Beside baby news, we are also excited because Jason's half-time job has been extended to a full-time position; at least until early April.  He is still teaching special ed. in the mornings at Straub Middle School, but now he is teaching special ed. in the afternoons at the new elementary down the hill, Kalapuya Elementary. We are very thankful for the extra blessing, and even more thankful that he is getting to get some time teaching elementary, which he loves so much. Thankful, and also praying that it would extend into something a little more permanent.

What a Week

This last week was quite the week...right after the clock struck midnight on New Years Eve, I started to feel pretty bad.  I couldn't sleep that night, and the next morning I was coughing, throwing up and feeling pretty bad. I spent the whole day on the couch, and slept in the next morning.  I thought that was going to be the end of it, but I was wrong....

I went back to work Tuesday, after an awesome Christmas break.  I diffidently didn't feel 100%, but made it through, and came home and went to sleep.  Wednesday I went to school, but should have stayed in bed.  You know that's the case when a student says, "Mrs. Bernard you look horrible." That comment didn't sting as bad since I felt exactly like he said.  Wednesday night is when my cold took a turn for the worst.

I woke up Thursday morning with a 102 degree fever, was throwing up...and then became dehydrated. My doctor scheduled me for that afternoon to get IV fluids, and medicine.  I've never done that before, and when they say, "This medicine may make you sleepy," IT REALLY DOES! I was out for two hours at the hospital, and woke up after it was all done.

Thankfully after all that, I can say that I am feeling a lot better, and we seem to be back to our busy "normal" lives.  The baby is 13.5 weeks along, and we are looking forward to our next check-up appointment this next week.  I am over the morning sickness (for now) and I have more energy than I did even a couple weeks ago.  We also found out we will get to find out the gender of our baby around week 18; only about a month away.