Ultrasound Photos

Today was the big day!  We got to see our baby for the first time!

And although he was shy at first, the ultrasound technician poked and prodded him to get him to move around.  And this is what we saw.... no doubt about it, he's all boy!

Eli is very proud.  

I'm sure we will be pulling this out of the closet someday to embarrass him in front of his girlfriend.

And here's his first recorded footprint.  The toes are point towards the left.  Big toe on top.

Needless to say, we are on cloud 9.  Totally awesome day.  

Totally awesome God who already has a plan for this little baby boy!  

One Week...

...until we find out if we're having a BOY or GIRL!

What do you think our baby is?

Vote now!

Book Review: Love & Respect

Love & Respect: The Love She Most Desires, the Respect He Desperately Needs by Emerson Eggerichs

My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The Lost Meaning of Ephesians 5:33

Ephesians 5:33 (NIV) states: “However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.”  I think most of us GET the “love” part; yet tend to overlook the “respect” part.  In his book, Dr. Eggerichs unpacks this verse for us with plenty of personal stories, scientific studies on gender differences, and additional scripture.  Eggerichs explains and illustrates the impact of this verse on relationships with what he calls the “Crazy Cycle” - that a man needs respect to show a woman love and a woman needs love to show the man respect and when that chain gets broken somewhere along the way, we end up in the “crazy cycle” of the husband feeling disrespected and the wife feeling unloved.  Fortunately, Eggerichs gives very real, very practical examples of how to break free of this doomed pattern.

 “Love & Respect” certainly challenged me, inspired me (and most of all, instructed me!) in how to be a better wife.  I also know that even if my husband never reads this book, he will be a better husband because of how I treat him (and how God intervenes!).  So whether you are thinking about getting married, hope one day to get married, have been married for 1 year or 50 years, I think there is something in this book for you!


-Katie Casey
Thomas Nelson Book Review Blogger
http://brb.thomasnelson.com/

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Pregnancy Update

How far along? 16 weeks 5 days
Total weight gain: 0
Maternity clothes: not yet, but some of my jeans are getting too tight to be comfortable
Best moment this week: knowing that the baby can now hear is amazing!
Movement: none yet (at least none that I am positive is the baby!)
Food cravings:  salty stuff mostly - pickles and pizza (though not together!)
Gender:  we get to find out on May 26th!
Belly button: no changes yet - I sure will miss my "innie" when that happens!
What I miss: margaritas, horseback riding
What I am looking forward to: finding out the gender and seeing our baby for the 1st time on our May 26th ultrasound!
Milestones: we received baby's first stuffed animal (a teddy bear named "Chaucer") from good friends in St. Louis!

Big News!

Yesterday, we got to hear the most amazing sound in the whole world. Our baby's heartbeat!

I have to admit, I am super-paranoid and didn't want to share our good news until we reached this milestone. I mean, I took 4 pregnancy tests just to make sure I wasn't seeing double (lines, that is!).

I was so nervous while the nurse searched for the heartbeat with the dopler wand. We kept hearing mine and she explained that wasn't it as it was too slow. Of course, the longer it took to find baby's, the faster mine got! And then... there it was! like a little train engine going 170 bpm! What a miracle!

Of course, our parents and family already know. Here is a video from the night we told my mom and Eli's parents. Our brothers both already knew, so Nick was filming it!


The Unveiling from Katie Casey on Vimeo.

My due date is October 13th - which is actually Nick's birthday - and we are so excited to be in this journey towards parenthood!!!

Book Review: The Screwtape Letters

The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis


My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Didn't realize how controversial this one was. Especially the extra segment "Screwtape's Toast" in the back where the demons take credit for a lot of today's "social justice" movements and even equal-opportunity education in the public school systems. The demons' goals are simple: to get Christians to add something to their Christianity (i.e. Christianity AND Politics, Christianity AND Economics, etc.).

 C.S. Lewis' point is a familiar one: "MERE CHRISTIANITY" is the answer. No additives please.

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Book Review: 200 Pomegranates and an Audience of One

200 Pomegranates and an Audience of One: Creating a Life of Meaning and Influence by Shawn Wood
My rating: 5 of 5 stars 
"Here is what I know about you: Right now there is a work in you that God has not given up on. You may have; but God has not."  

In 200 Pomegranates, Shawn Wood looks at 10 verses from 1 Kings 7 that tell the story of Huram - a skilled craftsman from Tyre who is called upon by King Solomon to do some work in the Temple. His work? To create 2 columns 18 cubits high (~35 feet) on which he carved 200 pomegranates each. And all this beautiful craftsmanship was located at the top of the columns - in a place where no one would notice or see - in a place where only his "audience of one" would appreciate.  

From this vantage point, Wood launches into a portfolio of "artists" - people who have lived and are living their lives full of purpose and meaning, despite facing difficult and distracting circumstances. He writes, "God's gallery is filled with broken-down people with great upswing potential. We are a group of people who now have the opportunity to grow and expand the investment God made in us by following the model of Christ and investing in others and things that will last."  

I loved Wood's honest and humorous writing style and am so encouraged to do whatever I do (even if it's carving 200 out-of-sight pomegranates) as if I'm doing it only for my "audience of one." I highly recommend this little book with a powerful message.  

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