Merry Christmas!

Our Christmas dinner table!

Merry Christmas to all! I hope you all had a blessed Christmas! Jared and I had a very nice Christmas. It was quiet compared to years past, but we still enjoyed it! We stayed in Tampa this year; we usually travel up north to Indiana. With the baby coming we needed to save money and needed the time to continue (I mean START) getting the baby room ready. Plus, I need to be off my feet as much as possible - this swelling is getting out of hand! Jared's family went up to Indiana to visit with his twin brothers and their families - all 5 of the (born) grandchildren are there. Jared's younger brother and his wife did come over Christmas night and we enjoyed a nice dinner and then a nice fire outside (Whitney and I got Jared a fire pit for Christmas)! We were happy to have spend some time with some family! My family stayed up north because they will soon be making the trip down for the baby! In January Mom and Whit are coming for the baby shower and then hopefully return soon for the arrival of the baby in February (along with Dad this time). So, we will see then soon !
I will be 32 weeks along this coming Monday! Can you believe it? Only 8 more weeks! It is crazy! It seems so long and yet it will be here before we know it! I feel very big now and I can't believe how much more growing we still have to do! The baby is currently frank breech. Which means his butt is down, his head is up, and his feet are up in his face! Please pray that he turns in time for delivery. I have been given many natural methods to try to help increase the chances of him turning. In the meanwhile, he still appears to be healthy and that's what matters most! As I approach the last two months, I am becoming increasingly more uncomfortable. As I mentioned before my legs, ankles, and feet tend to swell very easily. Jared was very sweet and helped by massaging them today! You wouldn't believe how much it helped! As I get bigger and bigger, it has become harder to sleep. For Christmas Jared got me a beautiful leather rocking recliner! I have already spent so much time in it! I know it will help me on my sleepless nights! Sitting up does me well! I am so thankful for the new chair. I know we will both get much use out of in the the months and years to come!


I have another week off in which I have a list a mile long to get done. Realistically, I know it will not all get done, but I hope to get a good handle on the many things that must be taken care of before the baby. Jared recently painted the living room and dining room which both turned out beautiful! Now on to baby room! He has been such a help in getting the house ready! Well, as we get closer to February 23 (my due date) I will continue to update you on our status! Please keep us in your prayers! Blessings!

7 months down, 3 to go!

Today I am 28 weeks. I can't believe it! Some people say I don't look very big, but I sure feel like it! I officially have heart burn on a daily basis now. I have never had heart burn before this pregnancy. I couldn't figure out what it was at first, now Tums are my friend! Today I had an ultrasound with a friend of mine who is training at A Woman's Place - a ministry that offers free pregnancy tests and ultrasounds. It was fun to see her learn the technique of ultrasound - it's harder than it looks! It was great to see the little guy again! He appears to be growing and healthy - his measurements were right on track (although his feet look awfully big!). His legs are still crossed and his feet are now folded up near his head. He is very active - kicking my bladder is his favorite and he uses my placenta as a punching bag! I have an appointment at my OB this coming Thursday. I will be doing the glucose test - checking for diabetes ( a routine test). So far I have been a very healthy and "normal" pregnancy. I hope to get the same report on Thursday.
I got a lot done over Thanksgiving break, but not quite enough. I need like a month off ! Ha,ha - I wish! So much to do! Now, I just want to get a Christmas tree and decorations up. It is a busy time of year at school. The kids are antsy because of the holidays and yet there is so much curriculum to be covered. Standardized testing begins in February! Weather has been beautiful here in Tampa , as it typically is this time of year. It is actually going to get "cold" tomorrow morning. Yes, we have to turn our heaters on every once in a while, but not for too long. It will warm up again soon. I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving! I'll post more pictures soon! Take care and please keep us in your prayers!

It's all happening so fast!

Well, we are over halfway through this pregnancy and I figured it was time that I start sending some pictures and sharing this experience! I am currently almost 26 weeks along. In the past four weeks I have finally started to really show and I started to feel the baby move! Oh, and by the way in case you didn't know, we are a having a boy! We are absolutely thrilled! Boys are not rare in the Collins family, but they sure are in the Harper family! He will be the first boy since my dad and my uncle! (5 granddaughters and 1 great-granddaughter!) Crazy, huh? Jared and I have kept pretty busy through this pregnancy. We both work full time, help in the youth group at church, and up until a couple of weeks ago I was coaching high school varsity volleyball! I actually ran a 5k a couple of weeks ago. I didn't do too bad! (I've stayed pretty active.) Some days are very tiring and yet I'm kind of glad it is going by fast - I'm ready to meet this boy! I'm looking forward to Thanksgiving and Christmas break as we start getting the house ready for our new arrival in February. Just today Jared started rearranging, relocating, and eliminating things in the bedrooms. Soon we will be painting. It seems that the closer we get, the longer the list of "needs to be done before the baby" gets! Oh well, it's worth it! Sorry the page is a little skimpy. I will add more pictures soon!