33 weeks preggo...

Well here I am with a lovely cold, or strep throat, or flu, or whatever it is that's giving me an extremely sore throat, runny/stuffed-up nose, headache, and cough. I never realize how GOOD it feels to be healthy until I get a stuffy nose. That really is the worst. When you can't breathe normally and you feel trapped in your head. I honestly can't remember what it feels like to breathe normally! It's definitely different being sick and pregnant. You can't just go pop whatever medicine you want and feel better in 30 minutes. And even the meds on my "safe list" are supposedly being discovered as unsafe too. That's what I get for researching stuff on the internet. I have several friends in med school...one of which already told me that it's ridiculous to NOT get the flu shot. I guess it pays to be at the forefront of medical research. :) I did take her up on her advice and got the shot a while ago. So hopefully what I have is just a pain in the bum cold. Honestly, these days no one really knows what they're talking about. It's not like studies are being done on pregnant women, testing what certain medications might cause what defects. Probably the smartest thing to do is just stay away from everything. That way, there's nothing to worry about. =)

On a much happier note, I now have my awesome rocker in

the nursery! It's the comfiest chair ever, and also the ONLY "upholstered rocker chair" under $600 anywhere. It's comparable to a pottery b

arn kids chair, but half the price! I would most c

ertainly recommend it. :)

I think my favorite place in the house now is sitting in the chair looking at the all cute little boy stuff in the nursery. After a couple months of knowing we were having a boy, I've finally warmed up to the idea of decorating for a boy. It's funny how my whole life I've wanted all boys, then when I get pregnant I suddenly want a girl, start planning for a girl, start decorating for a girl.... I really did get myself way too hyped up about a girl! I think the moment it started was in Anthropologie (my favorite store), and I came across some gorgeous curtains. The curtains then led to a matching crib set, then to coordinating wall art (and my giant peacock painting I spend 30 hours on), and then to adorable little girl dresses. Funny how one curtain transformed into an entire interior design plan, photoshop presentation and all.

At my sonogram, and surrounded by 6 girl friends, parents and in-laws, I found out it was a boy. It was amazing how the first thought in my head was, "......" Nothing! Just this awestruck wave of peace and contentment. It no longer was about the colors lime and pink, or the ruffled bedskirt, or the peacocks. It was about my husband and I having a BOY! Suddenly all of that was a thing of the past, and I teared up thinking about how God gave me what I always really wanted. Granted, I didn't have as easy a time decorating the nursery (girl stuff IS my specialty), but I had just as much fun doing it. Thinking about how my little Asher will be sitting in Daddy's lap on our new comfy chair, and painting "I'll always love you" in baby blue, and reading "bringing up Boys,"... that is what makes this whole experience so special.

Thank you God for this little boy who loves to kick my ribs and then hide whenever Daddy wants to feel.

I can't wait to meet our little one.

Time to eat some fudge. :)

Photobooth :)

This is me at 15 weeks. Not much showing here!

At 24 weeks on my birthday!

24 weeks along...

Hello from the Layton family-Chris, Carol, and Asher!

I wanted to start a blog for family and friends to be able to keep up with in such a busy time! I will try to keep this blog updated with videos, pictures, and news of what's going on in our lives.

Here's a quick recap of what has happened in the last few months...

Chris and I found out on Memorial Day that we were pregnant! We were hoping to have a baby sometime next year, so God's timing was absolutely perfect. :) After at LEAST 5 pregnancy tests, I was finally convinced that a baby was on its way!

We have slowly been preparing for our little blessing. We live in a one bedroom, one office apartment on the campus of Dallas Theological Seminary, so it has been a challenge figuring out where everything is going to go! But thanks to a $25-a-month storage unit, a husband willing to move his enormous desk to the church office, and a mommy-to-be with a knack for interior design, we are now well on our way to an adorable nursery!

Chris and I have learned so many things in our year and 4 months of being married. It's not about the things we have or the places we go that make life special. We have been so blessed to live on this campus. Chris can walk to class, his accountability group was able to meet right here in our apartment last year, and our building is full of families and women who are going through the same things we are. I have met many women here who are youth pastor/seminary wives who I can really relate to. We have learned to really cherish the small things in life- time with each other, great friends, wonderful seminary, and even Luke's- the small ministry across the street that gives free groceries/clothes/home goods to seminary students!

We have also been extremely blessed to be able to spend so much time together. I work from home, and he only works away from home on Saturdays, so we have been able to BE together the better part of the day. Now many people might wrinkle their nose to this, or give one of those knowing sighs..."that won't last...," but it's been almost a year and a half, and not once have we wanted things to change. We both are "Quality time" people (Love Languages) - and it has been incredible to get to spend my life with my best friend! Bring on the next 60!

Chris works as the youth pastor at First Christian Church of Plano, and what an amazing experience that has been. This church has truly welcomed us with open arms, and the support they give the youth ministry is phenomenal. It has been an amazing time of growth and encouragement.

We are very excited to be able to have our first baby during this time at seminary. The support I have with so many friends and Mommies living above and below me really is a comfort. I love how safe our home is and how our baby will be able to spend the first year of his life surrounded by so many little friends and Christ-loving families. Chris's class schedule allows him to be home during much of the day, so he is very excited about being able to spend lots of time with his son. My virtual teaching job allows me to earn income AND be a stay-at-home mom. Best of both worlds. Another awesome thing about DTS- seminary students also get a wonderful deal at the Baylor gym right down the street- $50 a semester, so I can go to free Mommy and Me classes with Asher, and *cross my fingers* lose that baby weight before Chris graduates! It's another one of those small things that I am so grateful for!

I will be adding some pictures and a video soon. Next doctor's appt. is this Wednesday, but no more sonograms for a while. I'll add some nursery pics soon too.

I hope everyone is doing well! Please let me know how you are doing- I would love to get updates from you too.

Happy FALL! I am SO excited about this cool weather. :)

God bless,

Carol