Beach Bound!

And it's beach time! So excited to kick off the summer season (and work on my sun tan!). Each year it is the Mathes Family Tradition to have the whole gang to North Topsail for a few days of fun in the sun. We came down yesterday and will spend a few days here. Looking forward to some sun, some relaxation, getting some reading in (I bought 2 new books yesterday so I would be prepared!) and some sand and waves.

Memorial Weekend 2009

Memorial Weekend 2008

As a side note... How good was the American Idol finale last night?!? I loved it! It was such a blast from the past having Janet Jackson perform, having the Wonder Year's song (we were only missing Kevin and Winnie!), Carrie Underwood (who by the way is absolutely gorgeous), among others. I thoroughly enjoyed it and was thrilled Lee won! I have a feeling with Simon's departure the show may take a turn for the worse, so I am glad they went out with a bang last night!

The Power of Friendship

"A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother." -Proverbs 18:24


Friendships are so powerful. They are so important. They give us breath and they give us life. Friends have a way of picking us up when needed the most. A smile. A laugh. A tear. A hug. Whatever is needed. The Lord places people in our lives at different times to meet us right where we are. Some friends are old friends. Some friends are new friends. Some friends are a part of our lives just for a season. But all of these friends share the same value... they are the ones who make our souls blossom. 

I was reminded of the power of friendship this week and am so thankful to have such dear friends in my life. As my husband and I move our family to Columbia, SC, I will miss those people I grew up with being right down the street! I am sure we will form new friendships, however, nothing replaces the power of old friends. 


I have been blessed to have friends scattered far and wide... from right in my hometown, to my dear friends I met at Appalachian State, to those who walked the summer journey with me on Young Life Staff in Minnesota, to those who filled my days with laughter while living in DC and everyone in between. I am thankful for the gift of precious friends. I see no greater gifts than those of friendship, love and laughter. 


I pray that as we move to a new city, I remain close to the people who made me who I am... the people who took me under their wing when I needed it, those who offered a hug or a laugh, a simple nod and tear with understanding. Those precious moments between friends are irreplaceable. Thank you, sweet friends, for you are a gift from above.

Ah!

Finally... a blissful night of sleep! I woke this morning feeling refreshed and excited for a week of things around the house then heading to the beach on Wednesday. Maybe it was due to the headache meds that are finally helping, or maybe it was due to my sweet husband taking care of everything at the house yesterday and letting me lay around, read, relax and have nothing to worry about. Either way, I felt so much better today, and if I had to place my bet on why,  I'm going to go with choice #2. Thank you extra sweet hubs!


We had a general contractor at our house this morning tieing up loose ends to make sure we close on time, so Chloe and I got ready, headed to my mom's house then went to the strawberry patch. Bummer on the strawberry patch front... after all the rain and hot weather, the strawberries are dieing out early this season. We each picked up a basket that had been pre-picked and I grabbed 2 tomatoes for tomato sandwiches. Not a total bust since we walked away with some strawberries then headed off to the park!


On to other exciting news... the Bachelorette premiers tonight and I am so excited to see Ali! I loved her on the Bachelor and am sure I will be sucked into this season because she is just precious! Can't wait to see what's in store! Happy Monday!

Weeks 13 - 16 and we're up to date!

Weeks 13 - 16 of this pregnancy and have been filled with highs and lows! Some days I feel so great that I am able to get up, go for a run, clean the house... which all make my sweet husband very happy. Then there are the other days... the days where I wake up at 5am sick as a dog, killer headaches, nausea, the works. I had hoped as I got further along in my pregnancy that some of this would start to subside, but no such luck.


I finished my last day at the Marriott May 14th, which was very bittersweet for me. After being there four and a half years, and having most of the same staff throughout my time there, I was sad to go. It marks the end of another chapter for me, for us, but I am leaning on the Lord's guidance as our new chapter unfolds. Chloe and I have been hanging tight the past few weeks and are ready to head to Columbia and get moved in to our new house!


We had my 16 week doctor's appointment on May 19th and everything is progressing nicely. I have gained one pound so here's hoping I can keep that up. Ha! The heart beat sounded good... 144 bpm. Now are you a girl or a boy?We find out June 10th! Only 3 more weeks and I can't wait! Here is my belly at 16 weeks!

After our appointment, Sean went back to work for a bit so I spent some time relaxing in the sun reading Angie Smith's (www.audreycaroline.blogspot.com) book, "I Will Carry You." Amazing. I cried. I laughed. I was convicted. I was blessed. I was so glued to her book that I sat outside for hours and read. I have since passed this book along to my mom, who is immensly enjoying it as well. 


After my many hour long relaxation (which was quite blissful), Sean and I headed off to our soon-to-be new house for the home inspection. I, particularly, didn't care so much about the home inspection, I just wanted another chance to go in our new home. It was just as I remembered! I walked around the house with my mind going a hundred miles a minute with decor ideas! Can't wait to get moved in get settled in our new home!


So I think we are up to speed on everything... I wanted to catch the blog up with posts throughout the past 11 weeks, as this will be my means to document my pregnancy, our move and all the new adventures the Lord has in store for us! 

This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” 

- Joshua 1:9

SOLD!

SOLD... Kind of :) Under Contract atleast! On April 29, after much negotiating, we got a contract on our house and could not be more thrilled. This has been a major source of worry for me... and I was so relieved when an offer we were able to take came in. We had the home inspection recently and are set to close on our house June 15th! Keep us in your prayers that we have no hiccups along the way!

Bye Bye High Point... Hello Columbia! We are heading south and are so excited to see what this new journey has in store for us. We have also bought a house in Columbia that we LOVE! After many, many, many (did I say many?) hours spent house hunting, we walked into this particular house and knew it was the one. I had such a sense of peace about this house and am so excited to start our life in Columbia! We are set to close on this house June 17th... 2 days after our closing in NC, so we again ask for your prayers that the hiccups stay at bay and we have a smooth transition into our new house. It has been a LONG time coming! I am so ready to live in the same city as my husband and actually see him during the WEEK! It will also be nice to not be burning up I-85 and I-77 so frequently! 


By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beatuiful treasures. - Proverbs 24:3-4.
                                          

Every good and perfect gift is from above.

This week marked our 12 week appointment! We first heard the heart beat and it was super fast! I think the doc said 166 bpm! After hearing the heartbeat, Dr. Smythe decided to go ahead with an ultrasound to check my progress and the size of the baby. I was SO excited! This was an unexpected treat. We went in the ultrasound room and they rubbed my belly with jelly... As soon as Baby Branch popped up on the screen I cracked up laughing. I have no idea why, I just thought it was so precious! See below the first 2 glimpses of Baby Branch! 

“Every good and perfect gift is from above.” – James 1:17

During the ultrasound she thought they made need to bump my due date back to November 10th... So who knows exactly when this little peanut will make his/her appearance. Somewhere between November 2nd and 10th! Other good news from our 12 week appointment, Dr. Smythe prescribed me Zofran. YAY! Hopefully this will help combat some of the nausea and make the days a bit easier. We scheduled our next prenatal appointment for May 19th... I will be 16 weeks!
xo Kilbi 

Weeks 9 - 11

Weeks 9 - 11 became a bit more trying. Morning sickness reared its ugly head and I found out that morning sickness, well it's really not just for the mornings! I was super exhausted during these weeks and working like crazy! Sean was still burning up the highway on the weekends, as was I, because we had gotten in the serious house hunting phase. On top of house hunting, our house in HP was on the market, and keeping a house immaculate all the time is exhausting! 


These weeks seem like a blur to me now, I just remember not feeling so hot! Here's me at 10 weeks pregnant:

Our house hunt is continuing in Columbia... I feel certain we are going to wear our agent out before this is all over! Bless her heart :). We have looked in the downtown area of Columbia, the Northeast and now we are on to the Northwest. I am confident the Lord has a perfect place for our family as we move to a new city... now just finding that place is a little bit challenging. Psalm 31:3 says "Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me."I have clung to these words during these weeks and am praying for God's direction during this time.


xo Kilbi

7th and 8th week

My 7th and 8th week of pregnancy were rather uneventful... I felt great, was super busy at work and even busier at home with Sean being gone, and I was just starting to think (or hope, or pray) that the Lord was giving me a good old fashioned "by" on the whole morning sickness thing. I thought certainly the Lord knew I was just too busy to be sick. Ha! I certainly didn't know what was coming. 


We made my first prenatal appointment in Columbia since we will moving there soon. I made the appointment when I would be 8 weeks at Columbia Women's Healthcare and I will be delivering at Baptist Hospital in Columbia. It was March 18th, and we headed off for our first appointment. I was so excited! After receiving my "congratulations you are pregnant" bag with lots of magazines, etc they took lots of blood and confirmed that I was indeed pregnant. We met with my nurse, decided that yes, we would deliver in the hospital, and that yes, I would like an epidural please. We scheduled my next appointment for 12 weeks for April 19th.


We left the appointment, had a nice lunch, and I headed back to Greensboro and Sean stayed in Columbia. Sean bought me a pregnancy day by day book and it says at 8 weeks "your baby's crown to rump length is 0.51 inches." Teeny! 


We shared the news with our friends and family after this appointment, and were so excited to tell everyone. The doctor's set my due date for November 2nd! Can't wait to meet you Baby Branch!


xo Kilbi 

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made...

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; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. -Psalm 139: 13 - 14

(1st ultrasound at 12 weeks)

Baby Branch is on the way...  I am filled with so many emotions. I found out on March 6th that I was pregnant, after I spur of the moment took a pregnancy test late on a Monday night. We had already found out we were moving, and Sean had already started living in Columbia during the week, and coming home on the weekends. Why I chose to take the test the day after he leaves to go out of town is beyond me. I fumbled through the bathroom looking to see if I had a test in there, and sure enough, I did. I did the normal, and waited for the results... Almost immediately it popped up positive. I was shocked! 

I stared at it for what seems like forever, and then couldn't decide what to do. I had it all planned that whenever I found out I was pregnant I would put this whole surprise together to tell Sean the news. Now if anyone knows me, then you know I am like a kid on Christmas, and can't stand not to share exciting news. I would be seeing Sean on Thursday, and how in the world was I going to wait 3 whole days to tell him? I called my best friend Carrie in NYC and thought if I told her first, atleast I had told someone, and I could keep it a secret until Thursday. Sure enough, no such luck, because after many failed attempts at reaching Carrie, her " no cell phone service" in her apartment did me in, and I couldn't hold it in any longer. I called Sean and told him I was getting ready to send him a picture on his phone and to call me after he got the picture. I sent the picture above and waited for his call. He didn't call! He says it was only 45 seconds, but I was about to bust, so I called him back instead. "Did you see it, did you see it??" "Do you know what that is??" For a moment I think he was in shock, and then his voice turned to pure excitement. He couldn't believe it either and was so thrilled. We shared a few minutes of "Oh my gosh, can you believe this?" before carrying on with a triple dose of excitement!

Carrie soon called back and I shared the news with her... I told her my plan was to tell her in hopes of keeping it a secret from Sean until I saw him, but told her that was a total bust when she didn't answer. Ha! 

The next morning, just as any girl would do (right?), I took 2 more tests just to be sure what I was seeing was true. Sure enough, there they were, shining in all their positive glory...

I headed to work the next morning, bubbling over with joy and still so in shock from our news. Not long after arriving at work, my sweet husband sent these... I loved the mix of pink and blue! Smart man ;)

And so starts my pregnancy journey... I will recap the past 11 or so weeks (I didn't find out I was preg until 6 weeks along and I am at 17 weeks), so I can have all these memories for me and my family of how this journey felt and all my emotions. 

xo Kilbi 

My first blog post... and our title!

So... as silly as this may sound, I struggled with naming our blog. I wanted it to reflect me, my husband and our family, right where we are in our life. Life has been a whirlwind these days, and I have found myself so thirsty for the Lord. So eager to be in His presence. Spending time in prayer and books. Seeking his guidance. And as I was thinking of starting this blog, I started thinking what we would call it. What would represent our journey... Our journey as newlyweds, our journey as we pick our little family up and move to a new city, our journey as I am now almost 17 weeks pregnant, and I thought of the words to the song "The Prayer." This song holds a very special place in my heart as it was sung in our wedding by my dear friend Malia, and the words always touch me deep in my core.

The Prayer

I pray you'll be our eyes
And watch us where we go
And help us to be wise
In times when we don't know

Let this be our prayer
As we go our way
Lead us to a place
Guide us with your grace
To a place where we'll be safe
La luce che to dai

I pray we'll find your light
Nel cuore restero
And hold it in our hearts
A ricordarchi che
When stars go out each night
Leterna stella sei
Nella mia preghiera
Let this be our prayer
Quanta fede ce
When shadows fill our day
Lead us to a place
Guide us with your grace

Give us faith so we'll be safe.
Sognamo un mondo senza piu violenza

Un mondo di giustizia e di speranza
Ognuno dia la mano al suo vicino
Simbolo di pace e di fraternita

La forza che ci dai
We ask that life be kind
Eil desiderio che
And watch us from above
Ognuno trovi amore
We hope each soul will find
Intorno e dentro a se
Another soul to love

Let this be our prayer
Let this be our prayer
Just like every child
Just like every child

Needs to find a place,
Guide us with your grace
Give us faith so we'll be safe
E la fede che
Hai acceso in noi
Sento che ci salvera

As I start this blogging journey, it is my hope I will have a format to document our journey, our challenges, our victories. As our family grows (the new addition is due November 10!), and as we start life in a new city, it is my prayer, that those dear to us, will join us on this adventure. Love to you all.

xo Kilbi