Finally 40! ...(degrees that is!)

BBburrr it's been a cold couple of weeks! I never thought I would refer to 40-50 degrees as "nice" weather but it's sure better than zero!

We had a fun New Years Eve with friends. We went out to eat and then spent the evening at Trent and Naomi's.

Grant & I New Year's Eve at Trent & Naomi's

Well Happy (early) Birthday to Grant! Tomorrow, January 15th, Grant will be 25! Happy birthday dear Hubby...happy birthday to you!
We've had alot of birthdays this month, we've also had Aunt Lula's, Dad's, Mom Skelton's & Trynity's is coming up on the 18th. Happy Birthday to all!
We spent last Sunday at the Farm and celebrated Grant, Mom Skelton & Trynity's birthdays.

Tryston making funny poses

Trynity blowing out her birthday candles! The big 3!

Grant's cake was really funny too. It had "25" written on it and they ran out of candles so Anjean & Brenda had the great idea to use matches instead. It was hilarious!

Jim & Grant working in the shop (it was sooo cold!)

Grant working hard

Crib progress:

Ta-da! Here is the front and sides with the first coat of stain!
The detail is incredible.

This much is completed. It just needs a couple more coats of stain!

They've started on the headboard and Grant hopes to have it completely done in the next month. So exciting!

We also ordered the bedding! Grant and I met Renee at fabric gallery and they had all the fabrics we picked out so she has everything she needs to start Grahm's bedding and curtains! We were able then to use the fabric swatches to go get paint and I even found the perfect rug (it was a steal! Naomi wouldn't let me leave without it haha). We have the walls taped up and ready to paint, the plan is to get started this Saturday! We'll post pictures of that as well! Nate & Alicia let us borrow their bassinet and it's just perfect. Things are really starting to come together!

As I mentioned before we got a new camera so we've had fun playing with all the functions. Here are some fun pictures we've taken.

Cardinals at the farm

This is the same picture but you can see the bird in flight!

Mr. Jackson after his trip to the groomer

This past Monday we had our 24 week appointment. This was the glucose screening, so I got to drink the delicious (...kiding) orange drink, wait an hour, and have blood work done. This is a standard test at this point in the pregnancy. I'm thinking the results will be fine, but if not I'll have to go in for a 3 hour gestational diabetes test (woo hoo). Grahm is very active. A couple weeks ago I mentioned that Grant felt him for the first time, well now that's a daily event! Grahm kicks a lot throughout the day and occasionally at night, he's especially responsive to juice and fruit. If I can feel him in a certain place and we put our hands there, he'll push against them sometimes! He did the same thing to the Dr. when she was pushing the doplar on my belly to hear the heartbeat haha. We saw Dr. Hinton this time. She said everything looks great: Grahm's heartbeat was 150 & my weight gain is right on track. When she saw my scar she thought I might have had a kidney transplant, she was shocked to hear that it was from an emergency appendectomy. My scar is often tender now as my belly is growing, but it's not too bad and of course there isn't anything that can be done. I'm happy to report there has been zero sickness still! My only minor compaints are typical; back pain, hard to sleep, uncomfortable, etc...but I've really had an amazing and easy pregnancy so far! Grant takes good care of me though, I've got it good! We have good reason to hope that he'll be getting off the night rotation next month too!!! That was wonderful news for both of us! We should know more details soon.
Well here is the latest picture (I was making a weird face so that's why I'm headless ha). This is from today, we're almost 25 weeks now!

We had a late Christmas get together this past week and Grahm got an outfit from my dad and Tiffany. It says "Team Grandpa". He's very excited about having a grandson!
Pretty much everything is decided and in progress except one little thing....a middle name!! We have it narrowed down to a few. See the poll below and tell us which one you like best!

Well Jackson got himself stuck under the bed again, so I'm going to dig him out and then it's time for bed!

Goodnight & God Bless!

Love

G&B(+1)

Go Cowboys!

An End to 2009...

Tomorrow is December 31, 2009. It's been an eventful and wonderful year!! We hope everyone has a Happy New Year & a great beginning to 2010.

Well our big 22 week update: Not only can I really feel Grahm moving/kicking but Grant felt him too for the first time! Last night we were watching a movie after dinner and Grant had his hand on my belly. I felt Grahm moving but hadn't said anything because I didn't think Grant could feel it. All of the sudden he gives a good kick (or punch, or something!) and Grant's eyes get huge and he just looks at me. We couldn't believe it! Grahm did it one more time. It was so exciting to see Grant's face and see him experience that! He gets pretty active after I eat it seems. Today after lunch I was in a meeting and he was going to town, I couldn't help but sit there and smile while he wiggled around.

Here are a few pics of the beginning stages of the crib. Much of it is done, we just have to finish staining the front and sides. They are starting the headboard soon. It's going to be a big piece of baby furniture!

Raw wood cut for the front

Front, done & ready to stain!

Side, also ready to stain!

Saturday we're meeting Renee. If things work out, she's going to be making Grahm's bedding and drapes! We've seen her work and she does a great job! Here are some of the colors/fabrics we're considering. We'll see what we come up with this weekend! We're ready to get fabric swatches so we can start matching paint!

& Teal! haha

For Christmas Grahm got a Sock Monkey named Jasper and his first Razorback hat from GG, first blanket from MeeMaw and first set of pacifiers (Razorback ones!) from my mom (her 'name' is undecided haha)! Grant and I also couldn't resist these tiny little Converse shoes!

Grahm's First Pair of Sneakers!

Just some fun pics of our fur children...

Jax posing for the camera after rolling around on the bed

Bella hiding from the camera! Very unusual - she's a ham!

Aww sweet Bella snuggled under the covers!

We hope everyone has a safe and happy New Year!

Go Hogs!

Love,

G&B (+1)

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

Only a few days until Christmas! The holidays really snuck up this year. The question everyone seems to be asking is "where did 2009 go?!".

Well I'm asking the same question - but more like "where did the last 21 weeks go?!". We can't believe we're already at 21 weeks! Below is the latest picture of baby belly, he's growing! (our other little boy wanted to be in the picture too).
We bought 'Twas the Night Before Christmas and we can't wait to read it to Grahm. My mom read it to me every Christmas so I can easily recite it without the book, haha...but it's fun to look at the pictures too.
Tonight Grant was talking to him and he was talking in a funny voice and I said "talk normal so he'll know daddy's voice" and Grant put his face up to my belly and said "LLluuukkkeee, I am your father". Ha! I love it! I guess he cleared that right up :)

21 weeks!

Well I am officially graduated as of Saturday! Brittney Ann Skelton, MBA (haha..no but seriously, WHEEW!). Grant and I have already enjoyed the extra time together. In just a few days I'm already realizing how much time I spent studying, writing papers, and in class. This is a long awaited freedom, although it was worth it. Here are some pics from graduation:

Receiving my diploma from JBU President, Dr. Pollard

Getting 'hooded' at the Graduate ceremony

Grant, me, Mom & Dad Skelton and James

Me with some random handsome guy.

Ok...ok, so I know him. Thanks for all your support Hubs!

Mom, me, and Sissy

Me and my bff - lil' sis Sara, better known as "Sissy"

Natalie & I - she and Momma Petty drove all the way

from Little Rock for the big day. Love you!

Me and my Grandad!

Dad & I

Tiffany, Joan, Dad, Grandma, Hannah, me, Ryan & Sara

Grandma Daisy, me and Aunt Lula.

By the way, I forgot to tell you Grandma but someone asked

who you were and said "she's so pretty!"

Sissy, Mom, Cousin Emily, me, Grandad, & Aunt Melissa

Us with LJ & Joe aka 'mom and dad' they've helped

take care of me when Grant works nights. LJ even records

our favorite show since I always had class when it was on TV lol.

Grahm graduated too!

I'm off to finish wrapping presents.

Merry Christmas!

Love, G&B (+1)

While we were still sinners....

I'm posting what a co-worker sent a few of us this past week because he so eloquently states what we should all remember this Christmas.

Romans 5: 6 - 8, "You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

What an amazing Christmas gift….the gift of Salvation. God asked Jesus to come to earth and die for us many Christmas' ago. And when Jesus willingly came, he did it for sinners like me and you. Wow! Very rarely would any ordinary man give his life to save even the greatest of men, but somehow God saw fit to save us. Today and this Christmas holiday rejoice in the fact that God loves us all with a crazy and eternal love that is far beyond what we know and it all started in a manger in Bethlehem.

Have a Blessed Christmas and New year!

Love,
G&B (+1)

And we will call him....

Wheew it's been a fun weekend so far. Grant and I went to my department Christmas party last night. Whole Hog catered and it was delicious! The best part was playing Guitar Hero after dinner and the white elephant gift exchange.

Grant and I have been going back and forth on deciding how to spell baby Skelton's name. We were debating between Graham and Grahm. Neither of us could decide which we liked better so we tried to focus on picking out a middle name. Today I came home after shopping and Grant was just waking up. I went in our room and sat by him and said "I think I like g-r-a-h-m" and he said "me too!". Apparently he decided he liked that spelling best while texting his friend Tony just minutes before. So it's official, we will call him....


Today was the first day I've had time to finally go shopping for baby stuff since the ultrasound! I got up this morning and hit the mall to look for Christmas gifts and buy a couple outfits for Grahm that are special to us.

This one is white, orange, and brown from Gymboree, couldn't resist!

His first 'mommy' outfit.

This outfit was a must have because "Handsome" has been a name I've always called Grant. We both loved it when we saw it at Gymboree. I had to go back and get it for our new little "Handsome".

Found this at Baby GAP, pretty self explanatory because Grahm's daddy rocks of course!

His first 'daddy' outfit.

We finally finished decorating the tree and mantel for Christmas! Things have been so busy lately but the house now feels warm and cozy for the holidays. Just a few more finishing touches to do.

Our mantel with stockings for Bella, Grant, Brittney, & Jackson.

Next year we'll have one more up there!

We also hang the yearly ornaments Mom Skelton gets us each

Christmas that represent something big that happened that year.

My sister Sara is hanging out with me tonight while Grant is working. Tomorrow we have church, Chuck-e-cheese with new friends, and then papers, papers, papers. I have to finish my final papers and presentations that are due next week. I can't believe I'll officially be done with grad. school in one week from today! Hooray! Thanks everyone for your support. I'm looking forward to having the extra time to spend with Grant and to work on preparing our home for Grahm.

Please pray for peace and comfort for the Crumby family. Their 4 year old daughter, Hannah, passed away this past Monday from Leukemia after suffering strokes and complications. Her family's faith has been an incredible witness and we praise God that she is free of pain and with Him now.

Praise God for providing for our One in a Million Family thru all of you who generously gave! The response was amazing and we'll be delivering all the items tomorrow and then enjoying time with the kids at Chuck-E-Cheese! Thank you!

2 Corinthians 5:14-15

"For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again."

Love,

G&B

It's a.....

(reposting because the last post on the 8th didn't display all of the text)
I've been getting in trouble this morning for not posting last night! We were so excited and busy and well the computer just wasn't calling my name. So sorry! haha. Ok so many know by now but for those who don't...drum roll....WE'RE HAVING A BOY!!!!

We are sooo very excited!
Honestly we would have been shocked (but still thrilled) if it weren't a boy, we were just so sure! My mom and sister, and Grant's mom and dad came to the ultrasound with us. She first took measurements and checked the heartbeat. It was so incredible to actually see the heart beat move along with the swooshing sound! The tears starting flowing at this point. Our baby boy measured at 7 inches and 11 ounces and the technician and doctor said that's just perfect. Based on those measurements we were exactly 19 weeks and 4 days as of yesterday and the due date is confirmed at May 2nd. Then...the technician said "so, are you guys ready?" and the room errupted with excitement when she announced "It's a boy" (insert more happy tears here).

Well time to get planning! We'll update with more pictures and the final name when we get the spelling and middle name down. The second picture is the 'boy' picture, although not very clear on here, there were a couple very clear shots of his 'boy-ness' during the ultrasound. The first picture is so precious too!

Baby Skelton 19 weeks
"It's a boy!"

Hope everyone has a wonderful week! Love,G&B (+1!)

Today is the big day!

3 hours until we go in for our ultrasound!!! Can't wait to see baby Skelton!