Lead Us...

While driving in the car yesterday, I heard one of my favorite songs at the moment, Sanctus Real's "Lead Me." If you have never heard it, you should YouTube it, it is such an honest, raw song that if most families were to be really truthful, would admit fits them. The song is written from a husband's perspective, and I definitely pray that God will give Paul the strength to be a good head of the household, when he isn't feel so strong; but I also know HE can't do it alone, either. I just really started thinking during all my driving, will Paul and I be strong enough in our faith to raise good Christian children? I want my child(ren) to truly love the Lord, not just simply be in a "routine" of church on Sundays and praying at night. I do pray for this child ten thousand times a day and rejoice in the abundant blessings I have been given, but maybe I should be praying for Paul and I, too! I should be asking that he "leads" us to be better partners to one another, good parents to this child, and better witnesses to his grace! Let us be the parents who do not let life get in the way of our family, let us get our priorites straight and know that ultimately what matters is the family that resides in this house. So I ask that you pray with us that we will take this miracle of life we are being given and raise him that way that God intended.

On another note, my best friend Kelsey, who expecting little "Harper"about a month after me, got some really devastating news yesterday! They believe that the baby has skeletal dysplasia, which could be stunted growth of specific bones, or bone growth could cease altogether and it would be fatal. She sees some specialists tomorrow morning and we will know a bit more, but there are also tests to be sent off, and will take awhile to get those results. Kelsey and Noah have a rough, uncertain road ahead and they need all the prayers that they can get, please raise them up. My hope is that the doctor she saw yesterday, who is only human, made a mistake and that sweet baby Harper is going to be just fine! My gut says that Harper and Hudson Pierce Andrew Nolte (we will pick a name soon enough) are going to be the best of friends, and once Noah feels ready to let go ,will go on to marry after their four years apart at A&M and Tech!

21 week survey coming tomorrow...

20 weeks! And Survey Says...

How far along?
20 weeks! Woo Hoo, only 18 more weeks!

Maternity clothes?
Mostly but I can still get away with some pre pregnancy clothes using the nifty rubberband trick or bella band for pants! As far as shirts, there are so many non maternity ones that work just as well!

Stretch marks?
Not yet, thankfully

Sleep?
Not great, not terrible!

Best moment this week?
Buying all of his nursery furniture and getting everything picked out for his nursery!

Movement?
Still not feeling the little man move, patiently and eagerly awaiting it!

Food cravings?
I actually like sweets this week, which is a huge change for me! I have craved greek food and chili dogs!

Gender?
It's still a BOY!

Labor Signs?
Defintely NO

Belly Button in or out?
Still in

What I miss?
Energy, I know most people feel "great" in their second trimester, but this one is still zapping my energy! I hopefully get to start iron infusions next week, which is a huge energy boost for me!

What I am looking forward to?
Getting to see his little face again (Sept. 8), deciding on a name, getting this nursery started!

Weekly Wisdom?
Don't stress about the small stuff! I have found that there are only about 83,647,823,583,564 different things you can stress about when expecting, and only about 10 of them are even worth spending much brainpower on.

Names...Decisions, Decisions!

Words have meaning and names have power. ~Author Unknown

Pretty much from the day that we found out we were having a boy, his name has been decided, he would be HUDSON ANDREW. We both really liked the name, it fit our personalities well, and the personality we thought this munchkin would perhaps have. It was different, yet not too crazy! Well in true Courtney fashion, it could not be that simple!

While reading a pregnant girlfriend's blog, I came across a picture of her dream nursery. In this precious custom designed nursery was another name on the wall that began to pull at me, PIERCE! Paul is liking this name for the fact that our little man would have his initials' PAN. I like it because after teaching in a preschool for over three years, I never had a Pierce! I had a Hudson, but he was absolutely adorable and sweet, so that does not deter me from it!

So the two of us sit here having no idea what his name will be Hudson or Pierce, Pierce or Hudson? Decisions! Decisions!

What do you think? Your opinions of course do matter to us, you have to hear his name being called, too!

19 weeks!

We are officially half way mark of having our sweet baby in our arms! 38 weeks cannot come fast enough, although there is quite a bit to be done for our little John Doe! I have accomplished some big tasks this weekend, Paul and I have picked out the fabric for the nursery! Might sound crazy with me being a sewing newbie, but I am going to attempt to make the bedding, curtains, and everything else that is not furniture! This could make for some pretty good laughs, I will be sure to post pictures of my craziness, throughout the process!

Today will begin my weekly survey! Get excited, very excited!

How far along? 19 weeks

Maternity clothes? Mostly but I can still get away with some pre pregnancy clothes

Stretch marks? Not yet, thankfully

Sleep: Johnny Doe boy seems to feel like sleeping is overrated, he kicks my sciatic nerve all night long! It is totally awesome!

Best moment this week: Finding out that we were having a boy was pretty stinkin' awesome!

Movement: Not feeling it yet, but I know from my ultrasound that he is a busy bee!

Food cravings: pickles, olives, and spicy foods!

Gender: It's a BOY!

Labor Signs: Defintely NO

Belly Button in or out? Still in

What I miss: Dirty martinis...very crazy since I have never had a dirty martini, it just sounds like something I would really like to drink right about now!

What I am looking forward to: Getting to see his little face again (Sept. 8), and working on his nursery!

Weekly Wisdom: Drink lots of water and gatorade! Dr. instructions, I am having some killer leg cramps and bloody noses so bad, some might think I should be visiting a women's shelter!

Milestones: We are half way there!

It's a BOY!

So most would conclude that life has been pretty boring since May, that being the reason Courtney has not bothered to update once since finding out we were growing a human! Let me just tell that is pretty far from the truth, us Nolte's are busy people! We have had many doctors appointments (all giving us very good news), we have worked and worked and worked, and above all else we have nursed our precious furbaby back to health (which if you know anything about us, know that this has been a FULL time job in of itself)! We have also taken ourselves to the beach, not once but twice, so baby Nolte has felt some serious waves crash into his home in mom's growing belly! He seems to like the beach, it is the only two weeks of this pregnancy that has caused mom absolutely no illness! Mom has also quit her job in the midst of all this! I am going to be a stay-at-home mommy to furbabies for a few months and learn quickly how to be domesticated, then around Christmas take care of Baby and forget all that I learned domestication wise! I mean come on people who has time to be Suzy Homemaker and raise a child, especially if he is anything like his daddy!

So in case you hadn't noticed all the "he" pronouns and suggestions of boy Nolte, it is indeed a boy! We could not be more thrilled about this, though fear takes over every now and again as I think of raising a miniature version of my lovely spouse; but God never gives you more than you can handle!

There is my update, and I promise to be back again before the baby graduates college!