Fuzzi Bunz!

As most of you know, we have decided to use cloth diapers with Thomas. We made this decision not because we are all earthy friendly and don't want to fill the garbage dumps with our child's diapers, but because, over the long haul, it is SO much cheaper. Plus they are super cute! While it was a hefty one time investment, we were able to buy everything we need with money we were given for Thomas, so essentially, it was free to us! So I thought I would introduce you to the cloth diapers for those who are curious.

The stash. On the right are our 24 diapers. On the left are wet bags and up top you see the detergent.

We opted for one size fits all, so that we could buy more and wash less. This is sized down for a Newborn.

The inside. You stuff the diaper with an insert(s) (see below) and put it on like a normal diaper.  

Inserts. You can use more than one for older children or overnight/naptimes.

After the deed is done, you put the dirty diaper into a wet bag (basically its just a water proof laundry bag). Then when you've got a load, you wash. I got two travel bags for the diaper bag. The box of detergent supposedly will last us a year and was only $15.

You can compare the sizing. On the left is sized for a newborn. On the right is size small which is 6-15 lbs. (If I remember correctly). The elastic in the legs and waist is adjustable to find the perfect fit. Then there are a bunch of snaps to adjust the tightness in the waist.

So there you have it. A brief overview of the cloth diapers. Not what you originally pictured, huh? We have 24 diapers, so theoretically, we'll only have to wash every 2-3 days. You don't really want to go past 3 though because of smell and germs. However, 12 diapers would be plenty for one child. I just went ahead a got more while we had the money in preparation for more children. By having more, they will be washed/worn less and last longer.

Burks Christmas!

We also had a wonderful Christmas with the Burks family. As you can tell from the central figure in all the pictures, Luke was a big part of the fun of the celebration! I can't wait until next year when our little man and Luke will be getting into everything!

Luke said: "Becca, if Martin doesn't want that bottle, I'll sure take it!"

The only way to get a real smile out of Smitty is to put him in a picture with Luke!

Wrangling the great grands.

Michael meeting Martin for the first time!

Luke is way more interested in laughing at Poppa than checking out his present.

Uncle Tater getting some quality time with Luke.

Ketchum Christmas

We gathered with the Ketchums the day after Christmas to celebrate. Unfortunately, we were one short because Jason was sick and stayed at home to recuperate and not share his sickness with all the pregnant ladies! We had lots of fun as usual with all the kids. this year they were old enough to take turns, so we watched as each one opened a present. Lots of fun. Next year, we'll have two more little ones, so its really going to be crazy! Clara Beth and Kaylea will be far outnumbered as both babies are BOYS!

Kaylea with her stack of presents! She was ready to go and not interested in taking a picture!

Clara Beth posing with her stack before getting started!

Nana and Pops and all their gifts!

Todd, Nicole, Matthew, and Andrew getting ready to open presents!

Michael helping Kaylea dig out all her goodies in her stocking from Nana and Pops. She would pull something out, look at it, and throw it behind her before diving in for more!

Even Thomas managed to snag a few things from under the tree! Note the little monkey feet. We love monkeys!

We had a really good time playing with all the kids at Christmas. Aunt Mary Beth introduced the tackle Uncle Michael and tickle him game which all the kids thoroughly enjoyed! Michael...not so much. Luckily, I was pregnant, so he couldn't retaliate!

Friends!!

Rebecca, Alyson, Courtney, and me (and Thomas)

The coming of graduation brings lots of things that I'm really excited about--namely Thomas' birth and moving home. However, graduation also brings the inevitable--saying good-bye to the amazing friends I've made here at SWBTS. Before I ever moved to Texas, I prayed that God would give me solid, Christian friends here. As always, God was so faithful and blessed me abundantly with three amazing girls. Each one is different, but we all seem to mesh together in the perfect way.

Courtney graduated at Christmas and with that came the first good-bye. She moved back to Florida over the Christmas break. This picture was taken at our last get together before the graduation festivities began and I shipped out for MS for the rest of December. Courtney was one of the first people I met at SWBTS and has remained a dear friend. She has the sweetest spirit and heart that you will EVER meet. I'm going to miss her tremendously.

I still have this semester with the other girls, Alyson and Rebecca. Its going to be different because we only have one class together and it ends in early March. We're going to have to work hard to keep up with each other these last few months, but I plan to do my best! Then I suppose Skype or Google video chat will replace lunch dates!

2 weeks touring Mississippi

Before I go on to Christmas, I must tell you that during the two weeks I spent at home, (AKA my parent's house...I assume, when Michael and I get a real house, that will become home in my head, but this apartment just doesn't qualify!) I did lots of fun things including:

1. Attending Mom's office Christmas party where I was fed like the fattened calf in the Bible. (I got TWO desserts and some of the kids' mac 'n cheese just because I'm pregnant!)

All the "children" at the office Christmas party. Some qualify a little better than others as far as age goes. :)

2. Going to Memphis with Bubba and Luke to visit Martin and Becca and Bryan!

3. Getting my hair cut for the first time since JULY!

4. Getting my eyebrows done!

5. Sharing meals with wonderful people that I love including: Aunt Edna, the Westmorelands minus Caleb, Lindsey Easley...I mean Nicholson, Jenna and Day (they go together), Nanny and Pa (them too), Uncle Doug, Uncle Stan (dad's brothers), and Aunt Jane (mom's sister).

6. Lunch at Nanny and Pa's deserves its own spot because she made salmon croquettes!!! YUM!

7. Attending Matthew's (nephew on Michael's side) 5th birthday party!! I CANNOT believe he is five already. Michael would say, well time does go by. That's the whole point! We'll see what he says when its HIS little boy turning 5!

8. Spending a morning catching up with my old Sunday School teacher in Starkville and discussing how to survive natural childbirth.

9. Meeting Clint Townsend's son Dunkin--hopefuly he and Thomas will be good friends!

10. Last and certainly not least, probably the best actually, spending lots and lots of time with Luke! I got to keep him several times while Stephen went hunting the first week. The second week, when I started missing him, Ashley very sweetly brought him to work with her for me to pick up and spend the day with! He is absolutely precious and the happiest baby I think I've ever met. (and I've kept a lot!)

 

Here is sweet Luke in one of his Christmas outfits. I must admit that in all the time I spent with him, he ALWAYS had on  a Christmas outfit or pajamas. And he only repeated two outfits that I can think of. This kid's got style.

I almost completely forgot to mention getting hit by a DEER! Mom and I were on our way back from Jackson the day of Matthew's birthday party. We stopped in Starkville to pick up Stromboli's for dinner (because really, who can pass up Stromboli's?) and then headed home to Columbus. We were just chatting away, when I look over and see this huge doe running straight for us. I barely had enough time to shout "Mom!" and point before the deer made her impact! Luckily the care just rocked a little with no airbag deployment or seatbelt lock up, so I doubt Thomas ever knew anything happened. The poor deer rolled all the way down the driver's side of mom's care though denting the whole thing up! (Yeah, it came from the median, not the side of the road!) So then we had to sit there and wait on the HWY patrol, who apparently just take their time when you aren't injured. I had to talk my dad down the whole time from coming..to do what I still don't know. Apparently, I have good skills because he stayed at home. Police man rendered the car drivable, so we went home. Poor mom. This was her 3rd wreck in six months. The first one coming 1 month after changing insurance companies. They probably aren't too happy with her. Only one was her fault though!!

Maternity Pictures

While at home for Christmas, Katie McCrary took some maternity pictures of me. They turned out really great! Check out this blog post to see a few sprinkled in with some of her other work. I highly recommend her if you live in the Golden Triangle area in Mississippi. Her pictures are gorgeous (as you can see), and the experience was really laid back and comfortable! It only took about 45 minutes, and she got some awesome shots!

Its Raining, Its Pouring

We have been very blessed by friends and family with showers and gifts for Thomas! We had two showers in Texas and two more at home in Mississippi over the Christmas break.

Opening presents at my shower in Fort Worth!

The lovely hostesses for my shower in Fort Worth--girls from my Sunday School class and our teacher, but she was taking the pictures! Laura (on the right) is due about 6 weeks after me (not that you can tell in this picture!)

        

BIG present! Exersaucer!

The lovely hostesses and I at my "high school" shower in Columbus. I've been friends with these ladies FOREVER! Day is not pictured although she also helped host. She is a dedicated med student and had BIG BIG tests the next day, so we let her stay home and study!

Priority number 1 when arriving at my church shower in Columbus: play with LUKE!

The showers in Columbus marked the beginning of my 2.5 weeks stay in Columbus for Christmas break!! YAY! I flew in late Saturday night...much later than anticipated! I flew from DFW to Houston. I was very distressed because I had to change planes in 20 minutes. No need to fear though, my connecting flight was delayed for 2.5 hours! I cried. Literally. Then I put my big girl panties on and dealt with it. I got some pizza and chocolate chip cookies and set up camp. The plane ended up arriving early and "flying fast" into Jackson, so I arrived only about an hour later than I was supposed to. My sweet in-laws, Mr. Taz and Mrs. Betty, picked me up and I spent the night with them. Then Mrs. Betty and I headed to Columbus bright and early Sunday morning to make it in time for church and then showers!

Thanksgiving?

We'll start with Thanksgiving as I can't remember what I posted about last!

We spent Thanksgiving day with Michael's family and then headed over to Columbus to spend Friday and Saturday with my family. We weren't supposed to get to see Stephen and Ashley over Thanksgiving, but they decided to surprise us with a visit Saturday afternoon and stayed for the Egg Bowl that night! I'm glad but sad to report that I was so enthralled with my nephew, Luke, that I took ZERO pictures of us with him over Thanksgiving! I just wanted to play with him!

All in all it was a wonderful visit home with both families. The drive back normally takes approximately 9 hours took us about 12 but I survived. I was pretty uncomfortable when we hit the Texas line, but Michael was patient and we survived! I even got some Red Robin out of the deal! YUM!

The entire Ketchum family at Thanksgiving. We will add two to our number in 2011. Thomas in February and Joseph (Todd's third son) in late April.

Trying to get pictures for our Christmas card. I'm too lazy to crop this. sorry :(

I think we might be ready...

...or at least as ready as we are ever going to be! So I know it's been quite awhile since I've posted. I promise to attempt to catch the two of you that still read this on all that I've been doing lately.

Today, I am 36.5 weeks pregnant. On Wednesday, I will be 37 weeks, which is, technically speaking, full term. OMG.

He has a name. Thomas Edward Ketchum to be calls Thomas, or if you are in the Burks family "plain Thomas". Long story.

I think we finally have the apartment functional yet as de-cluttered as possible after adding all the baby stuff. Thomas will be in the bedroom with us until he outgrows his basinet at which time he'll transfer into a pack-n-play in the living room/office area. He's not going to have his own room because the guest bedroom is (a) too far away for my comfort and (b) filled with  boxes and boxes in preparation for moving.

I've been preparing for delivery by getting as much schoolwork finished as possible. Thus far, I've completed two book reviews (includes actually reading the books), one 5 book annotated bibliography, 5 Systematic Theology readings, 5 memory verses, and 5 quizzes. That leaves 2 readings, memory verses, and quizzes and one interview project that I really want to finish before he's born. If I'm really lucky, I may even get one research paper written next weekend. Just not sure if I'm going to be able to write a research paper before actually taking at least SOME of the class--plus the topic is always helpful! We shall see...

So I guess that is a summary of what's happening as of today. I'm going to try to do a series of posts summarizing what's happened since the last time I posted. We'll see how far I get!

I got back to the doc on Tuesday. We'll see if there's any progress towards getting this child OUT! :) I'm not really tired of being pregnant, just REALLY ready to see him, hold him, kiss him, hug him, snuggle with him, and watch Michael do all those same things!