Her Face...

¹³ For you created my inmost being;
    you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
¹⁴ I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
    your works are wonderful,
    I know that full well.
¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from you
    when I was made in the secret place,
    when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
¹⁶ Your eyes saw my unformed body;
    all the days ordained for me were written in your book
    before one of them came to be.
How amazing are your thoughts concerning me. 

Psalm 139:13 - 17
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I have no words to describe this picture.  Taking a peek at our tiny, healthy, perfect, 5 month year old baby. This is the same face that will be gazing back at us in a few short months. She looks so peaceful and so perfect. I am completely in awe of my God and His goodness in moments like these.  What a blessing, this miracle of LIFE inside of me. I love her so much already... 

Rite of Passage

The Dad meets The Crib.

A milestone in every Father's journey toward parenthood.

We bought ours last week in Limoges from a really sweet couple and Logan assembled it the next day. I sat back and watched as he figured it out and took careful time and effort in making sure the screws were extra tight and the crib was extra sturdy.

When we placed it in her nursery, we both had a surreal feeling.  In a few short months we will have a BABY sleeping in that crib. This is really happening... It is exhilarating and terrifying at the same time but we cant wait to become parents and meet his little girl!

And of course... the documentation :)









Our house is slowly but surely coming together... Will be sure to post updated pictures here pretty soon :) 

French Visa Update

Last week I had to go to my required "integration" class in Limoges.  I had to sign a 1 year contract stating that I would take the French lessons required, participate in a civil service class, and a civic duty class within that timeframe.

Have any other expats gone through this process?

I was a bit overwhelmed and completely bombed my written French test in Limoges. My French language orientation took place 3 days later in Tulle and the lady I met with is placing me in a year long program in order for me to achieve my French language "diploma."  My current level is such that I am required to take 10.5 hours of French lessons per WEEK for the next 15 weeks.  In December (when I am huge and pregnant) I will take my first exam tracking my progress.  If it is satisfactory, I will receive my offical "Carte de Sejour" which will allow me to live and work in France legally and permanently if that is what we decide to do.

Although this is pretty intense, I think it is really GOOD for the country and for the immigrants.  It forces us to join society and sets us up for success and happiness.  It also ensures that the French language and culture are kept in tact.  

I start class TODAY! WOW that was quick! The good news is that the government is paying, my class is in Egletons so I can come home for an hour and 1/2 at lunch, and I should be able to fully function in French society by this time, next year.  I think overall this is going to be SO GOOD for me! I have had to be unusually codependent on Logan this year as far as running errands, filling out paperwork, etc.  so I think this will be vital to my happiness over here.  PLUS, Logan is going to speak in only French to Baby Stella and I need to be caught up to speed ASAP so I know what Dad is saying behind my back :)  Although overwhelming, I think this is just the push I needed in order to learn the language quickly. But I have to be honest... I am terrified about going back to school. Logan told me most likely I will be in class with a bunch of Turkish ladies and between Arab and English we will be FORCED to speak in French.  

Will let you all know how it goes! This has been a goal of mine for a few years now... lets make this happen! 

1/2/3

2nd Trimester Check In

How far along? 23 weeks 

New symptoms: Acid reflux... TUMS are my friend! Still have a good amount of energy, but get winded pretty easily going up stairs or walking long distances. 

Baby Stella: She is wiggling around like crazy when she is awake! I may have a tiny gymnast on my hands just like her Mommmy :) I used to feel her a few times per WEEK and now I feel her move every day. She is definitely awake every night starting around 10:30pm! Logan can feel her kick now too which is really cool... he loves just watching TV with his hand on my tummy in case she moves. 

Total weight gain: Honestly I have never kept a scale in my house PLUS everything is by kilogram over here which makes things extra confusing! I am all belly (and boobs) at this point and hoping it stays that way... 

Clothes: It is finally Fall here in France, so I have officially switched to my fall "uniform" which consists of leggings, a loose long top, and a sweater.  Voila! I have been sporting maternity tops and pants for awhile now mainly due to comfort and wanting to show off the bump :) Something tells me by the end of this I am going to want to make that bump look SMALLER and NOT stand out haha! 

Stretch Marks: Yes.... and not on my stomach... These go away, right? Or at least fade? 

Sleep: I am still getting up multiple times per night to use the restroom and I am constantly having to switch sides due to hip pain.  Overall though, no complaints here! 

Miss Anything: YES... my pre-pregnancy wardrobe and shopping for fun Fall clothes, raw cookie dough, WINE, champagne, margaritas...ANY alcohol really, sushi (although they don't even have that in our tiny town), cured meats, and my steaks cooked medium instead of well done. 

Food Cravings: Nothing specific this trimester.  I am grateful that I am enjoying meat again because in the first trimester I couldn't even look at it!  Fast food isn't a struggle because we don't have it.... I guess Coke is my big "splurge" and Oreos and milk :) 

Best Moment of the Week: We purchased a CRIB!!!! It is metal and white and so so cute! It was surreal watching Logan put it together and place it in her nursery.  Sometimes I feel like we are just playing "house" but it is moments like those that make all of this seem more real. 

Looking Forward To: Baby hiccups, the cool Fall weather, boots, more nesting in our new log home. :) 

 

 

PS Charla, thank you for the run down format. Totally used yours! :)

5 :) Dallas Edition

Happy Friday everyone! This has been an EVENTFUL week to say the least... I will have to fill you in LATER, but thought I would give you 5 :) from my trip home to Dallas. 

1. Snuggles with Libs. 

 2. These girls.... the ones I met with every Friday morning in Dallas for breakfast... back together again! 

 3. HILARIOUS wine-induced cards that I received at my baby shower.  Don't worry... it wasn't Lola or Libby drinking the vino ;) Lets hope Stella turns out CUTE! haha

 4. Speaking of cute... My adorable niece Laine has gotten so BIG! Isn't she darling? 

 5. Practice makes perfect! Although tempting to get something girlie and pink, we stuck with the gender neutral pack 'n play so that it can last all 3, 4, 5, 10 kiddos ;) I kid... I kid... 

BON WEEKEND EVERYONE!!! 

I start my intensive 10.5 mandatory hours of French lessons per WEEK on Monday! Wish me luck... I am nervous, but I know this is going to be so beneficial to my overall happiness here in France, even if it is tough at the beginning! Will let you know how it goes :) 

My Best Friend's.... BABY!

Alexis and I have known each other a long time.  We used to compete against one another in gymnastics during junior high and were finally in school together starting in 9th grade.  We became instant besties and spent hours on the phone each night chatting about crushes & checking homework answers.  On the weekends we basically lived at either her house or mine.  Our birthdays are also only a mere 3 days apart in April, we both went to Texas A&M University, got engaged within 1 month of each other and married less than 1 year apart!

So when Alexis called me on a Saturday afternoon in May to tell me she was pregnant, I was hoping in my gut that I was too! I told her that we had taken 2 failed pregnancy tests but were waiting to have bloodwork done on Monday to make sure.  I daydreamed all weekend of the endless possibilities of being pregnant at the same time and sure enough, Monday brought the GOOD NEWS!!!! Alexis and I are literally due 3 days apart (just like our birthdays) and we couldnt have planned that even if we had TRIED! haha :) I love how God was probably just delighted to surprise us with that blessing. Even though we are an ocean away, we have been able to email every week on new symptoms, have you felt the baby kick yet, baby names, sleeplessness, aches and pains, and celebrations over each sonogram.

THAT WAS THE LONGEST INTRO EVER.... ANYWHOO, while I was in Dallas, Alexis had her gender reveal party! I was so thrilled that I was able to be there IN PERSON to find out firsthand! My inkling from the beginning was a boy because we thought that we were having a boy and it seemed like everyone around us was having little girls...but once we found out Stella was a little girl, I had a feeling that they would be having a little girl too... I will let the pictures do the rest of the talking!












YEP!!!! GIRLS!!!! TEAM PINK!!!! Future BFFL's!!!! How special is this? Best friends, birthdays 3 days apart, due dates 3 days apart, and BOTH little girls.  I am tickled pink! Baby Stella can't wait to meet Baby C in April... I see lots of matching outfits and slumber parties in our future :) 

Baby Shower Party Pics

I had to include a few of my favorite pictures from the showers that were unrelated to the "details"... Enjoy! 

My BFF and Stella's FUTURE BFF! 

My lovely friend Debbie! She is pregnant with Baby Luke right now- can't wait to meet him :)

Nicki likes to crouch down by the Stella bump... they are already close like that ;)

I have really pretty friends... wow!

Me and Gigi

Aunt Katy


Friends since kindergarten... now having our own little ones! Time flies.

LOVED all the personalized gifts :)

Teenie leopard shades... so cute!

Can't get enough ruffle bottom panties! 

Gigi made these (not ordered, MADE) for Stella's nursery. The one on the right is going to have her birth announcement information. Aren't they adorable?!?!? 

Sweetest "Stella" necklace from Aunt Katy. Made us cry... 

Loved all the personalized burp cloths and bibs that we got! 

My lovely hostesses pitched in to get my drool-worthy Petunia Picklebottom diaper bag. I was giddy! 


Aunt Katy wanted to get Stella her very first tutu... it is adorable! 

Aunt Bec said she may be Little Miss Frenchy but she's our Miss America :) Loved the patriotic jumper! 

Dad gave me an A&M sock monkey... His childhood sock monkey toy was a staple item in Katy and I's childhood and has always reminded us of him.   Now Stella will have her very own from Pappa. :)

Pappa also gave her a little outfit for "Cowboy Night" at The Colorado in France - SO CUTE! 

My Mom and Chris (Gigi and Opa) surprised us with our stroller! I was shocked! 



My SIL Erin and I are due 1 month apart... sweet cousins :) 



The Evans girls :) 

My sweet grandma Mammaw

Nana and me 

Love my family :) 

The trip back to France was bittersweet and so tiring, but the trip home to Texas was SO WORTH IT!!! We are so happy that we came home to celebrate with family and friends before Stella's debut into this world :) Thanks to everyone for all their encouragement, prayers, and support so far.  We are grateful, a bit nervous (if I'm being honest), and excited that God chose us to be this little girl's parents!