Introducing...

{Insert sono pic here when you finally get the gumption to do it!}

Jacob William Evans

Jake is due to arrive to our family on February 18th. However, due to my previous experiences with preeclampsia with both Joey and Andy we expect to see him much (but hopefully not TOO much) earlier than mid-February.

Many people have asked (or probably wondered) why we decided to find out this time if we were having a boy or a girl. The short answer is that due to my history and the complications surrounding Andy's birth (short version-he was born at 33 weeks, his umbilical cord was wrapped around his neck 3 times, he was born a dark blue color, and they spent more than 7 minutes working on him before he began to breathe on his own. His Apgar scores were 0,1, and 3. Yikes. Now you know what I have had a hard time writing his birth story and it's never published on my blog), we wanted this baby to be named before his birth so that those of you that are pray-ers can pray for him by name. Now, don't get me wrong. Daniel and I believe that God hears our prayers regardless of whether we pray for Jake by name or not. But...as humans I feel that we attach ourselves better to people, babies, whatever if we know their name (you know, like your mom would always tell you not to name that stray puppy so you didn't get attached to him because you weren't allowed to keep him). So, we are asking that you pray for both Jake and I during the remaining weeks of my pregnancy. Please pray that my blood pressure continues to stay where it is (right now it's VERY good) for many, many more weeks. We're hoping to keep Jake "cooking" until sometime in January (34-38 weeks). Also please pray for Jake...that he continues be healthy and to grow (maybe even a tiny bit faster than "normal"!). One of the biggest assets Andy had in his corner when he was born was that he was bigger than "normal" babies his age and his lungs were developed enough since he was so big. Had he, and his lungs, been smaller he would have had many more complications. So far, things are looking really good and we appreciate your continued prayers and thoughts.

So...there you have it. Another boy in the Evans' house. I think I'm going to have to do something drastic around here to even out the testosterone a bit. :o)

a long-overdue wordless wednesday

Breakfast

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

Food Blogs

I've totally gotten into food blogs lately. I really like The Pioneer Woman and Brown Eyed Baker. What's your favorite food blog? Any others I should check out?

The Cat's Out of the Bag

Well...this Mama's going back to work. There, I said it. No, I don't really want to and yes, I'd rather stay at home. But I'll be frank (yet somewhat private/vague). We're struggling. Big time. And we have been for a while. We've thought and prayed a lot. And short of selling our house or cars(neither of which would help us out all that much anyway), we've decided this is what we need to do. Daniel and I always make decisions based on what we feel is best for our family. And while I'd rather have my children at home with me everyday, we both really feel that being able to better provide them with basic necessities (and happier, less-stressed parents) is more important at this point.

So..I'm looking for a teaching job. It's a little harder this time around (something about the economy and budget cuts and cutting teacher positions...). Ideally, I'd like to go back to my old school. Right now they're scheduled to lose six positions at that particular school. We'll see. I'm also thinking about getting my Special Ed. certification. That would allow me more job opportunities as I could teach either General or Special Ed and, if I did Special Ed, I could teach at any grade level. In the meantime I'm looking for some kind of tutoring position somewhere that can get us through the summer. My mom has (very graciously) offered to come stay with us and keep the kids until we can find a more permanent child-care arrangement. That puts me at ease a little. I've never wanted my kids in daycare and now, having a preemie, I'm going to be even more picky and where they are and who they're with. Hopefully we can find an in-home situation or an affordable/reliable nanny.

So please join me in prayer. Please pray:
*that I (quickly) find some kind of tutoring position to help ease some of our financial stress
*that I find a teaching position for the Fall in the right place doing the right job (whatever that may be)
*that I pass the Special Ed certification test the first time around
*that after the job situation is settled that we may find just the right person to care for our kids.

Many thanks!

The shoes fit!

Confused?? Hope on over to my GfG's blog to find out more about why I'm sharing a picture of my new shoes with you!

Bed Head

Tres Mesas

My sweet little boy is three months old now. It seems like he's been a part of our family forever. He just fits. It seems like the stress and anxiety of the pregnancy, NICU and then PICU is just a distant dream. I love having him here.

He's doing really well. He's growing like crazy and is ALMOST as big as Joey was when he was born. LOL. Maybe we should have called Andy peanut instead! :o) He's a strong little guy. He's been holding his head up for weeks and when I put him on his belly he tends to roll over before I can blink! He may be tiny but he's certainly not lagging developmentally so far. And I couldn't be more grateful. I love him. I love the little piggy noises me makes when he eats. I love how he kicks his legs and smiles when he hears my voice. I love how patient he is when his big brother gives him "big hugs." He just fits in so naturally with us. Like he's been here all along. He doesn't like getting his diaper changed, baths, being still or changing his clothes. He loves to be moving or to be where he can see what's going on around him. He tends to sleep in his swing or bouncy most of the time but sleeps best when someone holds him. Most of the time he's pretty content just to be a part of whatever's going on around him. I can't imagine our house without him!!

I think he looks like my Grandpa in that one!

I love these guys

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday-Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

More great giveaways

I'm all about free stuff. I love gifts. I love getting stuff for free. I love photos. I am so behind on my scrapbooking because my software (thanks Robin!) intimidates me and I have a hard time finding tutorials online. I would LOVE to win MckMama's and The Grammie Diaries latest giveaway. Go check it out! They're giving away Lightroom AND Photoshop! Um. Wow!

Wordless Wednesday

Long time no see

I know, I know. I'm working on it. But in the mean time while you're waiting for my next post hop on over to MckMama's giveaway blog and enter to win a HP TouchSmart 600 touch-screen computer. I think I just might die if I won one! Wowzers those things are cool!!!

Long-awaited Andy pcitures!

~Scroll down to see Joey's latest pics!

TONS of Joey pics

OK, you can stop your public flogging. I finally got access to internet and picutres at the SAME TIME as I have some quiet time to myself. Hooray for both boys sleeping at the same time! Here are pictures of Joey over the past month or two that I have yet to post. As soon as I hit "publish" on this post I'll start on the long-awaited pictures of Andy. And yes, then I'll post them on Facebook. What can I say? I am to please. ;o) Enjoy!