Family Photo

Since it was the first time that the majority of the family was together (we missed Will!), we got my aunt and uncle's neighbor to come over and take a picture of all of us! I thought it turned out pretty well, especially considering the folks in it :) Here is a pic of my dad's side of the family!!

Happy 2nd Birthday, Sadie!!

Sadie's birthday was on Thanksgiving Day this year. Because we would be leaving her all by herself all day while enjoying all the fantastic food, we took her to the new Bark Park near our house. Here are a few shots of her resting after running around with some other dogs!

I Should Know Better....

My mom gave me quite the hilarious gift for my birthday. It is based on a very embarassing story from my youth that I will not get into right this moment. Anyway, she wanted to go on and give it to me even though wearing it likely won't happen anytime soon. She asked me to model it (on top of my clothes, of course), so I thought I would post this as a funny belly picture as well :)

So here it goes - me in Santa lingerie over my clothes, 16 weeks pregnant!

Better Late Than Never

Well I know my birthday was a few weeks ago, but I just wanted to take a moment to comment on what wonderful family and friends I have!! I was able to celebrate for almost a week - dinner with friends, dinner with my dad and brother, celebrating at my mom's house, celebrating at my mother -in-law's house, dinner and a movie with Brad...oh and a celebration at work!! It's hard to believe that this was my last birthday as a daughter, granddaughter, wife, employee, friend...and not a mother. This time next year I will have a 6-monthish old son or daughter, and I can hardly wait.

Below are a few pictures from my birthday celebrations!! Enjoy!

The Group Shot!! What fun :)

Melinda & Jonathan (the newlyweds)

Katherine & Ashley

Whitney & Cat

Best cake...EVER!! It is from Darlene's in downtown Nashville...I highly recommend that place!!

Count the Visits & Update

I added a counter on the bottom right of our blog so that we can see how much traffic our blog actually receives!! Should be fun to keep tabs on :)

As far as an update, there really is not a whole lot - I am 18 weeks today and that is so hard to believe. The bump is continuing to grow, which makes me happy. That tells me that Cletus is growing too! We had a wonderful Thanksgiving and really enjoyed getting to visit with family. We also really enjoyed some much needed time off work which allowed us to decorate for Christmas and work on shuffling things throughout the house. We are still working on emptying out the office turned into nursery and re-organizing the bonus room and guest room closets. Look for more pictures and updates soon to come!!

One of my favorite parts of Christmas!

Iron Bowl

I just have to say, even though the odds are against us.......

WAR EAGLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

17 Weeks

Well I got an email this morning letting me know what goes on at 17 weeks (seen below). Let me just start by adding that good grief, my appetite is back with a vengeance!!!! It seems like I eat a full meal and within 30 minutes I am ready for more! I guess Cletus is going through a big growth spurt right now - that is what I am sticking with at least. Needless to say I am so thrilled about the food involved with Thanksgiving. Of course it will be wonderful to see all the family and catch up, but I am pumped about the food too (this year more than usual)!

Congratulations, Ashley! You're 17 Weeks Pregnant. Your baby measures about 4.4 to 4.8 inches from crown to rump and has doubled its weight in the last two weeks to about 3.5 ounces. Fat begins to form aiding heat production and metabolism, the lungs are beginning to exhale amniotic fluid, and the circulatory and urinary systems are working. Hair continues to grow on baby's head and his eyebrows and eyelashes are filling in. You're showing more, with an obvious swelling in your lower abdomen. A five- to 10-pound weight gain is typical by now. You also may be noticing an increase in appetite.

Decision Made!

Well, I decided to stick with the crib, a regular dresser (so it can be used as a changing table early on), and a bookcase (we have to have somewhere to put the toys and books!). I have begun the cleaning out process and good grief, we have a LOT of crap!

Changed my mind already!

Well we bought those two items yesterday and I have already changed my mind - figures, right? I am calling this afternoon to tell them that I don't want the 5 drawer chest - instead, I want a dresser. I really want a place in the nursery for diapers to be changed and clothes to be changed. I am trying to decide whether to do that and then get the bookcase in a few months or to keep the 5 drawer chest and buy the dresser and a hutch for later on (instead of the bookcase). Oh gosh...decisions, decisions!

On a different note, Brad is going out of town today. This means hopefully I will be more motivated to clean and organize Cletus the Fetus' room - I really should do before and after pictures - it has got a long way to go!

On yet a different note, tomorrow is my birthday! Hard to believe that I am almost a quarter of a century old - sounds old (though I know that 25 really isn't that old..)! We celebrated with friends on Friday night, and we ate at Sperry's with my dad and brother last night. I love spreading out the celebrations to create a birthday week! :)

Let the shopping begin...

Today Brad and I went and looked at more furniture at a store called The Baby Crib. We ended up heading back to USA Baby, which is where the furniture we liked is. They were having a good sale on the furniture we loved, so we bought a crib and a 5-drawer chest.

Next on the purchasing agenda is a bookcase (same bedroom suit) and a glider for the room, and the bedding of course. We will buy the rest of that stuff sometime next month. The bedding and glider will have to wait until we find out the gender. Below are pictures of the kind of glider we want (also is a recliner...and we get to pick the upholstery!) and bedroom suit (crib and 5-drawer chest pictured - we won't get that other piece - we will get a bookcase). YAY!!!!

Belly Update: 15 Weeks

This picture was taken 2 days ago at a work-related conference. I think I am going to start taking the pics with a sign indicating how far along I am so that I can remember! What a bright idea! Anyway, I am 15w2d in this picture (and looking a bit goofy - it had been a long day!!).

And the big day is....

December 12! We go in that morning for an ultrasound and then the dr appointment following. So we will know whether Cletus is a boy or a girl in just a matter of days :) YAY!

They Just Get It

I just wanted to comment on how great it feels to be with people that 'get it'. You like to associate with fans that share passion about your team or with other moms or with people that you just share common beliefs with, right?

I got back last night from two different conferences - both of which were for adults that have sibs with disabilities. We were talking about how great it is to see eachother, even if it is once a year. You can just walk in the room and let your guard down because you know that everyone in the room understands the challenges and celebrates the victories. It doesn't matter if you are 22 or 62, being around other adults, regardless of place in life, that have similar life experiences is such a great feeling.

The first conference was the national meeting - the 2nd Annual Sibling Leadership Network meeting. It is refreshing to be around people who want to advocate on behalf of sibs - to make sure that we as sibs are supported (which research shows leads to more support for our sibs). I had met a lot of the people that were there, but this year just allowed me to strengthen those relationships.

It also gave me the energy I needed to continue planning the First Annual Tennessee Adult Brothers & Sisters (TABS) conference that will be held April 3-4, 2009. I got a lot of wonderful ideas at the statewide Ohio conference that I stayed for (after the national conference). Hopefully some of the friends I made in Columbus will be able to come to Nashville for our conference - I'd love the chance to see these folks more than once a year!!

I know I don't typically write about work-related issues, but this is also extremely personal for me. I just wanted a chance to reflect on how refreshing it is to go out with a bunch of sibs.....amazing.

Mall Parking

Well I went to the mall to get Cat's birthday present and I couldn't find a parking place. I was circling the parking lot and came upon this spot. I kind of blew it off at first. Suddenly I put it in reverse and whipped on in this spot. After all, I am an expectant mother, right??

Baby Coulter's First Outfit

I am sure you can guess who this is from..... :)

Second Trimester Time!

Well I am 14 weeks and could not be happier!! I decided it was time to post a few pictures as I seem to blossoming every week!

The picture where I have a purple and black dress on was taken at Jonathan and Melinda's wedding - me and my glass of water!! I did manage to bust a move or two, so I look slightly sweaty! I was 13 weeks 5 days.


This picture was taken the night before as I began to hand out candy to the trick or treaters. A little bit blurry, but you can see the beginnings of a bump! I was 13 weeks 4 days here...

Diaper Choice?

So tonight, Brad and I got Robert and Kara some Cracker Barrel for dinner. We also got some for ourselves and the four of us ate dinner together over at their house. After dinner, Kara and I were discussing how baby boys often pee in mid-air when changing their diapers. I then proceeded to tell a story about a little boy baby that created the perfect arc with his stream. The diaper that was being changed when this happened was a pee diaper, which I mentioned in my story. Brad was sitting with us and overheard this story. I looked over and he had a confused look on his face and proceeded to ask, "Wait...there are different diapers for pee and poop diapers?"

Clearly Brad does not have any experience with babies, and I can see where one would be confused after overhearing part of my story. But come on now....separate types of diapers for pee and poop????

I can hardly wait for Baby Coulter to join our lives....there will be many more stories like this to share :)

My Hubby Is The BEST!!!

I am so lucky...after a stressful morning coordinating a training, I got back to my office. Not 10 minutes later a delivery man came in with a package...for ME...from 1-800-FLOWERS!! They are the prettiest yellow, pink, and reddish/yellow/orange roses!!!! With a vase! (more convenient when receiving at work) And the note with the flowers was amazing - it was really all I needed.

THANKS BRAD!!!!!!!!!!!!

I love you! xoxo

The Rest of the Details

OK so I didn't include some of the details in the post below. My due date is May 4 - almost a Cinco de Mayo baby!!

When I found out that I indeed was pregnant, Brad was out of town! So I kept it a secret from him because I wanted to tell him in person. In the mean time, I went to the doctor to confirm the pregnancy via a blood test. They called and HOORAY - my beta was 49 (it is supposed to double every 48 hours). So the next step was to get Brad back from Atlanta and tell him.

I decided to give him an early birthday present. We both got to the house at the same time and I gave him a gift bag when we walked in and said something along the lines of "I found this for you and thought you could go on and use it - and it definitely counts as part of your birthday present!" In the bag was an outfit that says "I Love Daddy", the book The Expectant Father, and the pregnancy tests that said Pregnant. He was so happy when he opened it and figured out what I was telling him!!





I also wanted to wait and tell my grandmother, Meme, on her birthday. This day also happened to be the first anniversary of my grandfather's death, so I thought she needed something to really celebrate. This is a picture of her as she read a poem I printed out for her. Below the picture is the poem :)

To: Great-Grandma Meme

I do not have a face to see,

Or put inside a frame.

I do not have soft cheeks to kiss,

I don't yet have a name.

You can't yet hold my tiny hands, 'nor whisper in my ear.

It's still too soon to sing a song, or cuddle me so near.

But all that will change come May 4,

That’s when they say I'm due.

I'll be your First great-grandchild; I can't wait till I meet you.

All I ask between now and then is your patience while I grow.

I promise I'll be worth the wait, because of all the love we'll know.

So have a Happy Birthday

A wish to you from me.

I cannot wait to be a part

Of this great family!

Love,

Baby Coulter

(and for those of you that don't already know, we are calling the baby Cletus the Fetus until we know whether it is a boy or a girl!!)

Announcing....Cletus the Fetus!!

Well, on August 26, I took a test...a line is a line (and I had to get reassurance from Kara & Robert because Brad was out of town)...please notice the VERY faint up and down line in the left window!


I needed reassurance, and that requires using first morning urine. Early the morning of August 27th, I did a rather foolproof, digital test....AND HOORAY!!!! It said a very obvious PREGNANT!!!

This is a picture of me on August 27. I was about 4 weeks along (very early). It will be really neat to compare that picture to the size my belly grows to as time goes by. It is so hard to believe that I am already 12 weeks.

Fun Pics of Brad & Me!

I finally uploaded a lot of pics to my computer and thought I would do a quick post of some new pictures...Enjoy!!

Before a Diamondbacks game in Phoenix...

After dinner one night...

WAR EAGLE!!!!

Baby Carter

I am so excited that I am officially an auntie. I feel that since I have known Kara for so long, we are considered sisters. This means that her new bundle of joy is my nephew :) Baby Carter entered the world this afternoon. I could not be happier that both mom and baby are healthy and happy. The crazy part of the story is what a big boy Carter is....he was born weighing 10 pounds, 1.5 ounces. CRAZY!! What a big boy. Robert and Kara sure do grow them big!

Congrats to the new parents...what a blessing.

More Pictures

Well, I found some other pictures and thought I would post them!! We are so lucky to have such wonderful friends. These pictures are from various events over the summer - dinner at Red Pony, the Fish Fry at Brad's boss' house, and Cat and Tyler's rehearsal dinner!!

Verses of Inspiration

I just really love these and thought I would share them with yall!! Oh and I didn't ever write to discuss that we finally joined a church - as a couple - just the two of us! I am so proud of us and I can hardly wait to see what God has in store for us as we embark on finding our niche within the church!! We joined Brentwood Baptist Church. I have to be 'dunked' since I was raised Methodist, which means I was 'sprinkled' when I was baptised. Anyway, here are the verses!

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts. -Colossians 3:15 (NRSV)

As it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him." -1 Corinthians 2:9 (NIV)

The LORD said, "I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told." -Habakkuk 1:5 (NIV)

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. -Proverbs 3:5-6 -6 (NIV)

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. -Psalm 46:1 (KJV)

Let your hope keep you joyful, be patient in your troubles, and pray at all times. -Romans 12:12 (TEV)

We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. -Romans 8:28 (NRSV)