I knew it!

So there I was...standing in front of the mirror checking out my big belly when it hit me. I'm HUGE! And if I don't really look huge, I feel huge. I feel as big as I did when I delivered Katin.

So I took out the tape measure from my dear hubby's construction bags and tried to measure myself. Supposedly, you measure the same number of weeks that you're pregnant. I'm 27 weeks. I would have bet that I measured 37 weeks. Lo and behold, the metal tape measure didn't work. And I'm pretty sure they don't use inches either. Maybe it's centimeters? Hmm...

So I had to wait until I saw the doctor. Which just so happened to be the next day... I walked into the small room and there it was...the evil tape measure! 27 weeks pregnant and measuring 29 whatevers. I knew it! So I guess I have every right to say I feel and AM huge! Well, maybe not. I'm not having twins. And I'm not that big...I think it's just my ooey, gooey muscles that never really tightened up after Katin was born that are just hanging out in there not very securet. So, here I am...29 whatevers and 27 weeks pregnant knowing that I'm just gonna get bigger. So here's to a bigger size maternity shirt and more sweat pants! Here's to (hopefully) eating less cinnamon rolls and more edamame beans. Here's to a growing belly, that despite the size, reminds me every day of our little miracle that God is knitting together.

Although you are hard to sleep with, and you make it hard to eat a lot at one sitting, and you often get kicked by this little 15 month old running around, I love you Belly. I love you very much. Cuz Belly means Baby!

Ok, now I'm hungry...I wonder if there is any ice cream in the freezer.........

Uncle Joe and Aunt Shelby Visit!

This past weekend we were blessed with the company of Uncle Joe and Aunt Shelby. We were so excited to have them and it really meant a lot that they took the time to come visit us here in CA. They made it for an absolutely beautiful winter weekend. Sun all day, car windows down, and amazing sunsets. It was one of those, "is it really winter?" weekends. Katin loved having new friends over and getting the chance to dip her toes in the water. Thanks for visiting Joe and Shelby! We love you!

Come again soon!

Park Day with Grandma and Grandpa Williams

After being cooped up inside all weekend (mom has a cold and no one does anything when mom has a cold) we decided to venture out into the world again. It was a typical Souther California winter day (don't believe the lies people say that it's always 75 and sunny). Crisp and cool...definitely warm enough to go out, but cold enough for a sweater. Grandma and Grandpa Williams, and Uncle Harrison, came with us to the park! Equipped with baby swings and a big field to kick the soccer ball. Katin loved it and Thomas took some really cute pictures. I just had to post a few for y'all (that was for you, Becky). Happy Winter wherever you are!

Taking Katin for a walk :)

If you look closely, you can see my fang...my one top tooth! (The other one just came through)

Our future soccer player!

She's a natural :)

Swinging with Grandpa

And loving the slide

Christmas then Mickey

Happy New Year! It's 2011...the birth year of our second child! Crazy! Before moving on though, I'd like to share a few snapshots of our Christmas in California. Despite the fact that I was miserably ill, we had a great time as a family of three. Katin is still young enough that she had no idea what was going on...which means mommy and daddy didn't really have to buy her anything and Santa didn't have to come....which means grandma and grandpa did....which means she has new toys! And although it was far from a white Christmas, we still sipped hot chocolate but also walked down to the beach :)

year number two for the giant stocking...we'll see how many years we can put her in it!

ooohhh...what's in there?! a talking pony that I can ride anytime I want?!?! COOL!

her very own pink chair...that daddy has used more for a pillow :)

A couple days after Christmas, Thomas, Katin and I went to Disneyland with our free passes. It was the busiest day I've ever seen, but we weren't there running around for fast passes on this trip. On the top of the list was Dumbo and meeting Mickey mouse. Both were accomplished and both were LOVED by Katin. She'll never remember going, but that's why we have cameras people!

DUMBO! First ride of the day and she loved it! She even made it go up and down all by herself!

hold on!

the first thing she did was grab his (although I think it's a girl in there) nose and shake it...so funny!

yeah for Disneyland!

how could we pass up an official "kodak picture spot"?!

Happy New Year! Enjoy God's many blessings in 2011!

Kassie and Mason Visit

We had a great time while Kassie and Mason were here visiting. We were so glad that they made the trek out here to see us and spend time with us. What a blessing it is to have a friend like Kassie and I'm sure if Katin could talk, she'd say the same about Mason. A few highlights from their trip:

Huntington Beach Boat Parade. We got to watch decorated boats go by while shouting "Merry Christmas" to the boat riders. The kids loved all the lights!

My Gym class where Mason and Katin got to play in the ball pit, climb up ladders, slide down slides, crawl in tunnels, swing on swings, and dance to songs. Let's just say they were tuckered out afterwards!

One of my favorite pictures of all time! I think it will be featured at their wedding...hahaha. We had a great time dipping our toes in the sand and cold ocean water.

Kassie, my mom and I went on a nice walk along Three Arch Bay beach- no sea glass or shells to be found, but good conversation, beautiful scenery and a few good pics of us friends!

Thanks so much for visiting! We can't wait to see you again soon and create more fun memories with your family. Miss you already!!!!!

Giving Thanks to the Lord

"In that day, you will say; give thanks to the Lord, call on his name, make known among the nations what he has done and proclaim that his name is exalted." Isaiah 12:4

My friend Juliet and I are memorizing Isaiah chapter 12. You may think, wow, that's pretty awesome, but let me be the first to tell you that it's a whopping six verses. We will be done next week where we will recite the entire six verse chapter to each other at BSF. It's been a good thing for me. If she hadn't agreed to memorize it with me, I'll be honest, each verse would be on a note card, but the note cards would just sit next to my bed. So thanks, Juliet!

Verse four came at a wonderful moment in my life. A moment that will be marked forever with God's goodness and faithfulness. A moment that I will remember as my Isaiah 12:4 moment.

So little surprise baby number two is on the way....due in April. She's a she! Katin's going to have a little sister! Sidenote- I grew up (and am still growing up) with a little sister that I love dearly, which is another blog post all in itself. We're thrilled. Beyond thrilled!

After my 20 week ultrasound, the doctor couldn't find a stomach bubble that they always seem to look for. She said the heart was on the same side as the stomach and that there was a possible hernia in the diaphragm causing this jumble of intestines to be in the chest cavity. She didn't want to say that it was a 100% correct diagnosis, but by the sounds of it, I was catching her drift that it was pretty likely. She sent me to the high risk ultrasound doctor (I'm sure she has a better name than that, but you get the point). She sent me to her FIVE DAYS after sher talked with me. So for five whole days we waited.

And waited.

And prayed.

And ate a lot of turkey and mashed potatoes.

A lot of people waited and prayed (and ate a lot of turkey and mashed potatoes). So thanks! Thanks to all who prayed because God is good and hears our prayers! We prayed that this little baby would be healed and knit together a little better. We prayed God would heal her and get all the glory he so rightly deserves. We prayed that this little being would be a testament to God and his goodness and that we would ultimately be closer to Christ through this trial.

It worked.

Although those five days lingered...... and.... lingered..... and.....

Baby number two looked perfectly normal on Tuesday. Her heart was in the right place, the stomach bubble was in clear view and the diaphragm was perfectly knit together. Praise God!

So...may it be known among the nations (right now it's the blogging nation) what God has done and can I joyfully proclaim that his name must be exalted?!?!?! Today and everyday I will give thanks to the Lord for this miracle and many others, and I'll call on his name to continually humble me with his grace.

I'll leave you with a picture of our little girl. Who would like it very much to continue to be prayed over.

My little Family

Family

(yep, I'm about to do an acrostic poem...I guess I miss teaching)

F- Fun to be around and make silly faces with.

A- A+ for effort. Being a mommy and a daddy come with days of failure, forgiveness and fictory (I had to stick with f's)

M- Mini Milburn (Katin) is almost walking, saying please, eating mushrooms (gross!) and loving the ocean.

I- I have to say... Thomas is the greatest, most loving, forgiving, diaper changing, bath giving, foot rubbing, joke telling, husband, man and prayer warrior I'll ever know.

L- Love fills the air...well, most of the time. Sometimes the air is filled with farts, whining, macaroni and cheese or all of the above.

Y- Young love- starts with friendship, CU football, walks in the park, an elf hat, a beach wedding, a condo, family game nights, family visiting, snow camping and a baby.

Oh how I love my little family.