I have a great name!

So when I type in "gloria" on the youtube search, this is what I find. Oddly enough, this is also what my little inmate, Elayna, does day in and day out.

It's official. If I ever have to go to prison, I want to go to the Cebu Provincial and Rehabilitation Center in the Phillipines.

Bryce Benifield

This is his mug from the last video.
In the first video, I'm pretty sure this is him.

aw, Ryan's cousin

stuck in my head

I've had this song stuck in my head ALL DAY! Seriously, I don't even know how it got in there; I've been humming it since I woke up this morning.

Elayna . . . . .

Okay, so Ryan & I are having great difficulty finding Elayna the perfect middle name. Any suggestions?

ABC

ABC stands for "Asian Baby Carrier." That's right. I've been in a super-sew-y mood lately and wanted to start sewing clothes and other things for Elayna. I found a website that listed patterns for a whole bunch of different slings and carriers. It even had its own Asian section. Anyway, I saw a few that looked very similar to what my mother appeared to utilize with me as an infant. (Looking through some of my old baby pictures there were a few where I was literally strapped to her back while she did chores around the house.) Anyway, this isn't exactly what she did, but I thought it would be a neat project for the near future. I made one tonight... I'm definitely NOT posting pictures because it's horrible! Not bad for the first go-round, but too poor to post a picture of. We'll see how the next few turn out. This is the website: Have a Ball Baby.

so I spoke too soon

Okay, just when I start bragging on how beautiful the weather has been, it changes. Why did I have to jinx it?!!! So, as you can see, it's supposed to rain all day today... just like it did yesterday and is supposed to do tomorrow. What a drag. I really like having the windows open (especially since Ryan's in the field and I don't have to keep the house at 70+ degrees). But I can't do that with the winds pushing the rain into the house. Anyway, the breeze is wonderful and suits the mood for spring cleaning. I miss sunshine.

oh sew easy

Do you ever get in those sew-y moods? Jess has been breaking in her new sewing machine and I've been making things for little Elayna. (Yes, that's right, we've finally decided how to spell her name.) Our congregation back home participates in a ministry to help clothe little girls in Africa. The dresses are oober easy to make and really cute too. Anyway, I made one for Elayna and Jess has been making them for Mabry.

Here's an update to the curtains I hung. I'm still working on the coordinating bedding set.

Since it doesn't rain much at all anymore, the dogs have been spending MUCH more time outside. Libby, I think, would prefer if we never let her in. Dax, on the other hand, can't stand to be apart from us for very long. But here she is, gettin her tan on. (Dax was laying against the back door, waiting for me to come let him in.)

Oh another note, I received a call from Bethany Christian Services, an adoption agency here in the Northwest. I have an interview with the Director on the 20th and I'm very excited. The position is for a Part-time Birth Parent Counselor. Please keep your fingers crossed that I get the job! I've been desperately searching for a part-time position where I can still use my degree while working throughout (and possibly even after) the pregnancy.

Mr. Miyagi's new room

Here are the new additions to the nursery. We now have a mattress, crib skirt, and matching curtains. I have coordinating fabric to sew the quilt, decor, and possibly crib bumper (if there's enough fabric). The bumper would be purely for looks and would be taken out as soon as she starts to roll-- because of the suffocation hazard. The curtains and skirt are an off-white, cream color and an attempt to help the room look bigger than what it really is.

This is an outfit we received today from a Reva Lacewell. She worships in Melber.

"There's a party in my pants!"

Holy Moley. Ryan had to work a 24 hour shift so he didn't get to see/feel what was going on last night. When I finally crawled into bed around 10:30, it took forever to fall asleep because the karate kid in my belly decides to have a late night spar. I just kept thinking to myself, "There's a party in my pants and I'm only there by default." So, it's official. She's moving. I can feel her from the inside and out. It's not the fluttering sensation everyone talks about. Her motions feel like pokes or pops. Come to think of it, I have been feeling this for awhile (just like everyone said) but just passed it off as some type of monstrous gas. Anyway, here are a few belly shots. (Please remember that it hurts to suck it in anymore, so what you see is belly AND baby.)

This whole pregnancy thing is SO NOT flattering.

And it just keep growing and growing.

SERIOUSLY?!!!

Okay, so while I wish our daughter good health, we're not going to drop her 50 feet to make it happen. Tell me how someone can think this is a good idea.

Or what possess someone to think it's okay for babies to play with cobras?!!! Seriously! This one totally freaks me out. I can't even finish watching it.