Well, we’re back! Caleb, Jonathan and I took a wonderful little cross-country jaunt to both Minnesota and Indiana this past week. What a joy! (Actually, we started to agree with the people who thought we were insane to drive all that way.) But the good outweighed the bad by far on this trip!

John and Sharon Sommerfeld had a beautiful wedding. I give it two thumbs up ~ but that might have SOMETHING to do with the fact that my beloved looks SO good in a tuxedo, and as best man, he got to stand in front for me to ogle at! I thought the pink suspenders were a nice touch, too. Not kidding.

It was also just fun to get to meet up with all the Minnesota crowd for such a happy occasion. I met a couple of new folks, but mainly it was the usual suspects, which makes me so happy! I finally got to spend some more time with the people that I love there, and develop better relationships with some that I didn’t know so well. Plus, I got to spend some more time with Mom and Dad, Grandpa and Uncle Bud and Aunt Barb - which was good, since it was such a short trip that Jonathan hardly got to see them at all.

Then it was onwards and upwards to Indiana to spend time with Mandy Harris! Hoorah! An added bonus was that Jonathan has a client in Elkhart that he got to meet with while we were there – so now he’s all hot to trot, talking about relocating to the RV (and Humvee) Capital of America. I admit, there are quite a few benefits to living there – not the least of which is the aforementioned Amanda Harris and her whole family! But right now, the idea of moving into that heat and humidity is unbearable to me. Let me get this Caleb into the world and see if my temperature tolerance gets a little better!

Driving back wasn’t too terrible either. However, eight days away from home, five of which were spent on the road? You do the math. And figure out how long it will be before we take a driving vacation again. HA! Caleb loved it though – he thinks it’s hilarious to squish his mom’s bladder after only having driven for 45 minutes. Tee-hee, fun for the whole family! The only other bad thing was that my feet swelled up worse than you would believe possible for a human. They looked like King Kong’s fat little sister’s feet! But like I said, those petty irritations don’t mean a lot in light of watching our friends get married and getting a chance to see such great friends.

Now Auntie Alisa is living with us for a while – so I’m hoping that between she, Johnna and myself, we can come up with a killer nursery arrangement. I’ve already got the crib set, so at least we don’t have to pick a theme, but it would be nice to know what we’re going to do with the paint, closets and window coverings. I’m thinking of taking the closet doors off. Is that done? They’re an unholy hassle, and replacing them just sounds awfully expensive to me right now. I’ll let myself be led by the wisdom of my friends! (Which is YOU, whoever is reading this, so give me some input, huh?)

Jonathan just felt Caleb move! It was so great. I was sitting on the floor in front of our couch, leaning up against the coffee table with my tummy, when Caleb kicked against the table. So I grabbed Jonny, threw his hand on my lump and waited. He didn't feel the first two little kicks that I did, but the third one was really a good kick! (He's gonna be a soccer playa, yes he is!) It was really fun. I wish I could have gotten a picture of Jonathan's face when he looked up at me. It was magnificent - the kind of look that all Daddies should have when they feel their son move for the first time.

We're getting ready to get on the road to John Sommerfeld's and Sharon's wedding. (She's not a Sommerfeld yet, but less than a week from today, she'll take on that part!) I find myself really looking forward to the trip. On the eight days we'll be away from home, five will be spent on the road. Hearing horror stories about pregnant women and travel hasn't daunted my enthusiasm in the least! The only thing I'm mostly worried about is my left foot and how badly it swells when I sit for a long time.

Which reminds me! I had my latest doctor's appointment on Thursday! My mom came with me, since they were doing some of the testing that made me queasy last time. We sort of hoped that we'd get to do another ultrasound - since I've had one at EVERY SINGLE appointment so far - but the doc was running behind, and that didn't happen. However, Mom got to hear her grandson's heartbeat, which she still bragged about to Dad. (And she cried, which I thought was so darn precious that I wanted to hop off the table and hug her crazy!) Anyway, they ended up not needing to do another biopsy, so I was fine!

I was SO fine, that Mom and I went to Babies 'R' Us afterward! My first trip there as an expectant Mommy! We had a really good time looking at everything, but it was really a wake-up call as to everything that we'll need. Holy CROW is there a lot of stuff that you need for a baby. We're just going to have to rely on the grace of God and kindness of friends and family to be able to afford this little one! It's a good thing that I trust him - and them!

I'm feeling like singing a little "My Fair Lady" this morning, because...

"I can't believe I did it, I did it, I did it! I can't believe I did it, but indeed I did!" (If you know the song, go ahead and sing along. If you don't, um…it's really cute.)

I surprised Jonathan for his 26th birthday yesterday! Why 26, you ask? Because I've never been good at planning parties before, and probably won't be in the future, what with the bouncing baby boy and total lack of funds.

It started with a beautiful breakfast at our favorite restaurant. (I actually woke up at three in the morning, I was so excited! For those of you who have had the joy of being near me at Christmas, it was ALMOST that level of anticipation for me!) I had gone ahead early to decorate the booth with banners, streamers and balloons. It was so fun! He said that he hadn't had a decorated time out since he was a kid! Then at ten o'clock, I had arranged for his friend Bob to come over and pick him up to go to the shooting range. He shot a couple of new guns, and had a glorious time. But while he was away...

I had the troops arrive to set up the most spectacular surprise barbecue in the history of surprise barbecues! I had rented out the clubhouse at our condominiums months ago, and made plans for my family to assist me in my deception. First of all, if you know Jonathan, he may be "like a guy" oblivious about a lot of things, but when it comes to his birthday, all of a sudden, he's stinking Hercule Poirot. (Caleb, read "Murder on the Orient Express" someday, son!) But the most important reason I had to drag my family into the whole thing was that our place is so small that I couldn't have possibly gotten everything packed in without outside help!

SO! Between my parents and my sister, all the food/drinks/etc. were brought in, chopped, prepared, and presented on the table. Then everyone else started appearing, and helping to decorate, guide people and whatnot. It was an incredible time – miraculous, really, how everything got done! I owe a huge debt of gratitude to a whole heap o’ folks.

When Jonathan and Bob got back, we were just heading out to the clubhouse when our doorbell rang. It was my friend Lisa from Chicago! I tried to wave her away to the clubhouse, but realized that she had no idea where she was going, and wouldn’t have had time to get there in front of us anyway! So I opened the door and acted like I hadn’t expected to see her. (Lousy acting, I’m sure, since by that point, my nerves were on the EDGE!)

So we get to the clubhouse, and Jonathan says, “Why is my present in here?” I said, “Baby, it’s too big to fit in our place!” So I opened the door and shoved him through. He just stood looking around for a minute, but then everybody yelled SURPRISE and he re-animated. It was really a lot of fun! Anyway, he was genuinely shocked – he had thought I might have some people over, but nothing to that extent.

Plus, with Lisa, he had thought that I was waving away someone else coming to surprise him like Bob had, but that I hadn’t realized it was Lisa! So even THAT worked out!

It was absolutely a riot! Jonathan said it was the best birthday of his life, and the rest of us got to have a great time, too! Not too many people went swimming, but I can understand that. We ended up having a few of our close friends stay pretty darn late, and I fear I crashed pretty badly at the end of the day. I think I may have been just the teensiest bit dehydrated, because then I really fell apart. So Jonny put me to bed, but I was too miserable to sleep for a long time. No more big exciting all day events for me for a while, please! But I wouldn’t have traded this one for ANYTHING!

From having worried that I was a bad mom because I couldn't feel my baby, to thinking that every little motion was him - be it cramping or stomach gurgle - I can say for a FACT that I feel Caleb moving finally! On the fourth of July, Jonathan and I laid down for a little nap, and about ten minutes in, I felt a really sharp little kick right in the middle of the middle of my tummy. So I grabbed Jonny's hand and put it there quickly. We waited for a minute, then the little booger had moved down lower, and kicked two times there! So I threw Jon's hand down, and I kept my hand where I'd felt him kick initially, and wouldn't you know it, he quit moving. I'm really excited for Jonathan to feel him - it will really be incredible.

I registered us for our baby classes! I had kind of wanted to take them a little earlier, but apparently, you're supposed to register in your third month! I was just going by their informational packet I got, that said classes should be taken in the third trimester. Oy. But that's all good, because any earlier than September would leave us too much time to forget what we learned! I'm not overly informed about the labor/delivery process right now, but I figure that's okay. I've got a ways to go. Plus, I have friends who have done this a bucket of times, I'm a fast learner, and I have another friend who is a labor/delivery nurse who invited questions! I'm covered!

I'm starting to have so much joy about having my son. As you may or may not know, this hasn't been the most delicious of pregnancies. I fear I must admit that I haven't been overly positive at times. But now that I'm getting a little further along - and not determined to get off of my nausea pills - I find that I'm less a wreck, and more excited about the blessing that he is. I'm praying over him a lot, and I sing to him all the time. (Poor kid - it's a good thing his ears are full of amniotic fluid!) The biggest prayer and song of my heart is simple: That Caleb would sing God's praise all the rest of his days. Not suggesting I want him to be any more of a "singer" than his momma is, but that the joy and knowledge of the love and goodness of God would be so ever-overwhelming that he wouldn't be able to keep himself from praising! Who could hope for more for their son?!

WELCOME TO OUR WORLD, ISAAC THOMAS VAN RYN! As of July 1st, Tom and Wendy Van Ryn have added to their family with a beautiful son. Mad props to my little Wendolence for going through the whole thing drug-free! Brava, baby girl!

It's kind of funny, because I'm so darn happy for them, but it still didn't get me all jazzed or anything to have Caleb. I was worried that it would shoot me over the edge of wanting a baby RIGHT NOW, but I know that God is protecting my heart and mind against...shall we say unrealistic desires?! So my whole heart just goes out to them in joy FOR them! (Rather than half-heartedly, because I'm self-concerned, you know?)

I have had a great day after a rough week. My heart has been going in all different directions at once. Due to various circumstances in life, I've been through a lot of grieving this week. (Our prayers are still going out to the Magruder/Harris house for the loss of Kenji.) So it was nice to have a day that was just BUSY fun, you know? Jonathan and I ran errands almost all day - and I only took half a miracle pill this morning, and still feel great!

Our errands and preparation today had nothing to do with Caleb, and everything to do with getting ready for our big trip out to MN and IN at the end of this month. We got the wedding presents for the Sommerfeld's, batteries for all our electronic equipment, and new ice packs for our coolers so that our spending on the road will be minimal. We're actually PREPARED! It's a great feeling.

It's funny to think about how much we have to do before Caleb gets here. (And when I say funny, I mean absolutely PETRIFYING!) We have been blessed with so many people's generosity already and are starting to pull together the basics that he'll need, but there are a lot of things we have to do to get ourselves ready! We're going to need to take our childbirth classes and hospital tour, I'm going to need to take the breastfeeding class, we need to get the nursery ready, and...well, that's all I can even cope with right now, so we'll call that good! And every weekend in July is taken up completely right now, so August is going to have to be very, very long!

God's grace is sufficient to get us through it all, though, right? And his mercies are new every morning! And my SON will have the benefit of having a mommy who BELIEVES THAT!