Madison's Room

I finally found the time and energy to finish Madison's room. Here are the finalized pictures. Now we're just waiting on her!

I made her a name plaque...I'm not by any means an artist..my 1st graders may think so, but it's not true. I was very proud of how well the sign and picture frame look.

A busy 2 weeks

The past few weeks have been so busy for Brent and I. I had to finish up my current semester for my masters by Oct. 31 and had to write 5 papers. They all had to be handed in by the 15th..AHH...but I got it done! Thank you Lord! It's hard to want to come home and work on writing a paper on education when I just spent 7hrs. in education. Hopefully I can get alot done when I'm home with Madison. I've also been putting together the school Christmas play and practices have started for that. Just one more thing to add to my plate. I told the other teachers I was going to go into labor early so they'd be stuck doing the performance. They didn't like that very much.
Last week was Madison's baby shower in Ohio that Grammy Vitt and Auntie Naomi threw for me/her. It was a lot of fun and I know they both worked hard and fast on putting it together. It was good to see all the ladies and friends that I cherish. Madison got so many cute clothes, soft blankets, and fun books. I'm excited to dress her up in all the outfits. She will be one cute little girl!
This past weekend was definitely a girls weekend. Brent had a men's retreat for our church and was gone all weekend so my mom, sister, and 3 nieces came to stay with me and get Madison's room/etc ready for her. What a weekend! Fun...but 3 little girls can tire a 7month pregnant woman OUT! They are such a joy and I love them but I also love that they go home with their mommy! We went through all Madion's clothes and seperated them by months and made a list of what we needed. Then we went shopping, made returns, made more purchases, and put her room together. It's not totally finished but it's getting there. My mom is a handy woman and made Madison's crib skirt to match the bedding. I didn't like the one they had at Target so she said she'd make one. She also made her a pillow for the crib and is making a seatcover for my rocking chair. I'm excited to get it all finished. Madison is all set and I even packed her diaper bag for the hospital. Maybe a little early but just making sure I'm ready.
Brent had an amazing weekend at the retreat and said it was life changing and eye opening for him. I'm so blessed to have a Godly husband who not only desires to do what God wants, but also challenges me to do the same. It's amazing how many woman think they have Godly husbands just because they pray at meals and go to church. Brent has become so much more in God's word and has such a desire to know God more and more. It's hard not to love my husband more each day!!! God has been so good to the Hall's!!!!!!!!!!!!

Baby Girl's clothes

So I know shopping is my middle name and Bargain is my game...here's my purchases for baby girl from Labor day.

The start to Baby Girl's nursery!

20 weeks

Baby already weighs 1 pound!

Crib

We got a crib for the baby's room. It's from pottery barn and retails for 600$....but the bargain shopper that I am, I got it for 50$ from a garage sale and it's only 1 yr. old. It looks brand new.

Olympic Swimmer!

We had our 4 months check up today and everything went well. This baby is a stubborn one already. The past two apt. we've been to the first nurse has had trouble finding the heart beat. Makes me always nervous when that happens...(I think the baby knows this and is just doing it to me because it can). So we met our Dr. today for the first time and she seems really great. A very outgoing and personable lady. I think I'll really like her. So she came into the room and we talked for a few minutes and then she tried to find the heartbeat. She stopped and starting laughing. She said "This baby is an Olympic swimmer. It won't stop moving for me to get the beat." Brent and I have always said we'd like our children to be either pro athletes or have really good jobs so they can support us later in life, so maybe we're going to get what we've asked for. Well finally baby stopped and we heard a perfect beat. She said I"m going to have my hands full with this one. Like I didn't already know that with my background and my husbands! The Dr. said everything looks perfect and healthy so far. We go for our ultrasound in 4wks and will be able to find out the sex and get our first picture of the baby. I'm excited to finally find out if baby will be wearing an OSU cheerleading outfit or a Notre Dame Jersey!

You'll be in my heart...always!

Yesterday was our 13 wk checkup. WE HEARD A HEARTBEAT! It's so soothing to know that there's a little baby growing inside and it already has a heart. God's creation is amazing. We go back for our 17wk checkup at mid-July. That is when they test the baby for down's...etc. Continue to pray for us and for baby. We're also going house hunting today. Should be fun! God is good...All the Time...God is good!

This is the Day the Lord has made!

What an awesome and beautiful day today! The sun was shining...it was warm...a nice breeze...God is GOOD! We are now 12 wks into our pregnancy and we are going insane wondering how we're going to be able to wait 6 more months for this little baby to come. I bought my first 'big' items at a garage sale on Fri. I got a brand new pac n play for 20$ and an amazing excersaucer for 7$ which originally retailed for 119$. WHAT A DEAL! I'm definitely the bargain shopper...Momma taught me well! It's fun walking by babies room and anticipating he/she being in there.
Today was just another beautiful day created by God. We had an awesome sermon today from our pastor. He's been doing a series on what it is to Fear God. It amazes me that there are people who think our world and universe all happened with one big bang...or they believe in no god...LOOK AROUND YOU!!! HE IS EVERYWHERE! Sometimes I know I don't fear God enough. I have been so blessed to have a husband who challenges me spiritually and I love talking about God's word with him. So everyone...FEAR GOD! After church we came home and ate lunch, played some Wii, relaxed and then went for a bike ride down to the beach. WHAT A TRIP....so we got our bikes from the garage and low and behold my tires are a little low on air. Leave it to me to think I can just ride with them that way. Hahaha, no way. We aren't two miles down the road till my thighs are killing and my calves are burning. It is so hard to pedal a bike with no air in the tires...I wouldn't recommend anyone trying it. Anyway, my wonderful husband traded me bikes (only b/c I said baby was not liking mommy being in pain) and he road the rest of the way to a gas station...which by the way...aren't close to the beach. We had to go over a dirt road...tore up sidewalks..and HOLES! So we got the air and then headed back to the beach. What a change in effort it took to ride my bike that time. We love our beach and park. So many young couples around, people walking their dogs, kids playing in the sand...it's just very peaceful and relaxing. We stopped on the rocks and sat for a little snack. I love just sitting and talking with Brent. We also dream about what it'd be like to have our own Yacht....never going to happen...but we like to dream. Anyway, we made it home safely and yes...my butt is killing me...but pain is gain...right?

10 weeks today!

Our baby is 10 weeks today! So far it's been a good pregnancy. I had some nausea for a couple weeks and only get it every so often now. I think taking my prenatal vitamins at night helps. I wasn't prepared for already waking up 3-4 times a night to use the bathroom. It's so annoying and makes me think that my days of sleeping through the entire night are over for at least the next 3 years, or more with more kids...AH! Brent somehow just sleeps right on through. I'm thinking about purposefully climbing over his side so he wakes up every time and feels the effects that I do. Somehow I think that wouldn't go over very well!
We've been very busy with life. School is ending for the both of us. I only have 2 1/2 days left and Brent has 1 week. He has seniors so will be finished with classes early but will still have to be at school. We're both so ready for this year to be over. It's been great and hard for the both of us. We love our students but we love the summer too. Brent will be teaching summer school for the 1st section and I will be at home plug in away at my masters. Hopefully I can be finished by next summer. Staying home on maternity leave will really help....if I can stay motivated that long!
My family is coming next week to visit. We are so excited. We haven't seen our nieces for a couple months and they change so quickly. It'll be nice to have my mom and sister here to go baby shopping or garage selling. We love a good bargain!
Brent's dad is healing very nicely. His amputation went well and his wound is looking great. He is now working on his swallowing from the mini strokes he had while going through surgeries. Once that is under control he will be allowed to come home. He is SO ready and I know we are too. It should be a couple months before he can get fitted for his prosthetic leg. We're very thankful for his nurses and therapists to keep on him every day.
Well that's an update on us. We hope everyone is doing well and ready for the summer. Hopefully in the next couple days we can post some pictures from our Memorial day BBQ. Love you all!

7wks

So we're 7 wks now into pregnancy and I'm already feeling that nausea. Last week was really bad but manageable. This week, so far, has been better. I have some medicine and have been munching on small snacks to keep my stomach full. Our ultrasound last week went well. The doctor said she saw a good heartbeat and the baby's measurements looked perfect. We will go for our next apt. at the end of May. Brent's dad is still recovering in the hospital after his surgery. For those of you who don't know what happened, I'll fill you in. Rich (Brent's dad) went in for surgery about a month ago for a clogged artery in his leg. They did surgery and sent him home. About a week after he was having the same pain from before and went back into the surgery. Within that week they did 3 more surgeries, none of which were successful. They decided he needed to loose that leg. So 2 wks ago he had his right leg amputated from the knee down. This was very difficult for him because he is a very active and independent man. He is doing well in recovering. They finally moved him out of ICU and into a regular room and took him off of all but 1 IV. We're praying that he will see God's plan and will through this. We haven't told him about the baby yet but are going to this week. We wanted to wait till he was getting better and was able to understand. It's been hard to find joy in our trials, but God is constantly reminding us daily of his love and faithfulness to us.

Baby Hall!

We're having a baby!!!!!!!! Brent and I are so excited! We are 6 wks and growing. Today I went for my for ultrasound. We have a good heartbeat. We're due Dec. 22nd so we'll be having a new bundle of joy for Christmas. We were so surprised at the news but are SOOOOOOOOOOO excited. Feel free to start the spoiling!

realestate

I've been looking at some real estate and can't believe how different prices are from IL and OH. The houses that we could afford in OH are three times the size of the ones in IL/WI. We're praying that God will show us where to go in the upcoming year.

Pulaski Day!

So I love teaching in Illinois for a lot of reasons, but one in specific is that they celebrate Pulaski day. This means NO SCHOOL! Brent had school because they had to make up snow days. I teach at a private school and we don't have to make up until later. So here I am, at home getting ready to type 5-6 masters papers all day. I set the coffee maker last night so Brent would have coffee in the morning and there would be some left for me. I love not waking up at 5:30am! I'm not someone who can sleep in till 10-11 (I used to be). Nowadays I sleep in till 8:30-9. I think its because I feel there's so much to do in the morning. I usually make sure the house is clean and if its a weekend I cook breakfast around 9:30. On Saturday I made Belgian Waffles with our new waffle maker. This is our 2nd new one. The first one we got from our wedding broke and I couldn't take it back. My amazing mother knows how much my husband loves her waffles so she got us a very nice one for Christmas. Let me know if you'd love the recipe! They are AMAZING! I thought I'd put up some pictures of our family. Some are from our wedding and some are from Christmas! Enjoy and have an awesome PULASKI DAY!

Just Starting!

Wow! It's exciting to be starting a new blog for Brent and I. So much has happened to us in the past two years that I thought I better start writing it down somewhere so our kids can look back and see what we were up too. I also thought this would be a great way to stay in contact with friends and family. You know you always get that question, "So how are you guys? What are you doing these days?" Now I can say, well check out our blog!