WOW, long time!

As we approach the middle of September, I cannot believe how quickly the time has flown since my last post... it was just three short days before my baby girl arrived.

The birth was text book as far as I'm concerned...

Went in at 6am July 23, 2009
Got my ultrasound for the estimated fetal weight... Got the Pitocin around 9am... They broke my water around 12, was dilated to a 4...Contractions were at a minute and a half apart by 1 when I received my epidural, dilated to an 8... Dilated to a 10 and began pushing around 4:20...

Avery Anne Carmichael arrived at 4:44pm 8 lbs 6 oz, 21 inches long

The emotions that ran through my body at that exact moment were totally indescribable... happy, joyful, thankful, praising the Lord, amazed, and really just complete and total surrealism...

Avery is now nearly 8 weeks old come this Thursday and I have enjoyed every single second of being a mommy and watching this precious girl grow and learn each and every day! She already has a funny personality and I'm loving watching it change from day to day... she smiles at mommy and daddy and knows just what to do to melt our hearts! :)I am currently working on getting baby girl on a better schedule... and that's been fun, it's challenging but I enjoy the challenge! :) I'm having a hard time finding the motivation to do things around the house though lol, just still don't feel normal... and it's hard to make Sheldon understand that. Maybe I'm just using it as an excuse but I just seriously want to stare at Avery all day long ha ha! And I feel guilty if I leave her in the swing for more than 15 minutes, yes I know she's fine but I should be spending time with her while she's awake, not cleaning right? lol Yet I'm supposed to sleep when she sleeps? HOW does ANYONE get anything done? HAA I suppose God will help me balance all of that in his timing! :)

I have been meeting new friends lately and that has been so nice... I was depressed about not having friends for a good while and God is beginning to fill that void for me. I am truly appreciative of his timing this is for sure... he always knows when we need him the most! :) Since being at Park Street, Sheldon and I have been praying for God to send us some counselors that will truly love on the kids and have a passion for seeing them grow in the Lord rather than doing it just to do it. Recently our two counselors that we do have got a renewed passion for the kids which has been super exciting AND he's put a couple in our lives that has just joined our church and definitely has that passion... we are excited to see what the Lord has in store for our ministry with them in the future if it all works out! :)

Missing all of my girls, thought I'd give a shout to each of you individually while I have a few spare moments....

Sarah Anne SARAH! Getting married in less than a month... so excited for you and devastated I can't be there :(

Lyndsi, thinking about you often lately hoping you're finding it easy getting adjusted to being married and holding a full time job! It's stressful sometimes but SO exciting! :)

Erin, as I said on your FB yesterday... Beyonce's dancing at the VMA's reminded me of your ghetto dancing! I love it! Favorite bachelorette party stripper ever lol... only some of you will understand that comment. ;)

Carrie... Haven't gotten to talk to you in a while but thinking of you often and hoping Arkansas is going well... wish you could come see us!

Kim HENRY! Excited where this next year will take you in your life... I know God is going to use you in a HUGE WAY!

Rachel, so glad i was able to come to your wedding in May... It's so neat to see you all grown up, married and working as a children's minister!!! Why do I feel like your big sister? lol

Kimberly, missing our college days as goofy CRAZY girls who would do anything if someone dared us to... sometimes I walk through wal-mart and punch items on the shelf in memory of our many trips there!

Amy...you have 3 babies now! How insane is that? Super mom! Wish we could see ya'll! It's been way too long!

Mickey... you left me!!! I am so excited for ya'll though and am so happy you were able to move on to a place that will bring about so many new opportunities to serve God in a new capacity! Thrilled to see what all God has in store!

Cassandra... cannot believe you're pregnant!!! You have always been the cutest ever and now you're gonna be the most PRECIOUS pregnant lady ever! :) I can't wait to meet baby Kuykendall! YAY!

Angela, so glad I got to see you in May and that you were able to come to my baby shower... excited to see what God has in store for you and Matt in the future! When are the babies coming? :) ha ha!

Kelli... I know life is tough right now but know that God has a place for you and going through times like this happens for a reason and you should be excited to see what he's got for you! I AM!

Erica, so excited for you and Ryan to see what God has in store for ya'll in Texas... I know it's huge and now I get to see you every time I come home! :)

Lori... I miss you and your family so much, you have no idea... ya'll mean the world to us! :)


To all of you and everyone else, I love you so much and I am so thankful God placed you in my life when I needed you most... missing each and every one of you and can't wait till everyone can meet Avery! :) I pray for all of you often and I look forward to the day when we all have our own families and can look back on college and reminisce about the good ole' days! HA HA!

The end!