26 weeks Belly Pics!

I feel like Joel might go full term...if so, we have 14 weeks left to prepare for our next lil' bundle of joy! :) Jude came 2 1/2 weeks early so I can't be sure ofcourse but this pregnancy has been SO different! For one thing, I've definitely popped out faster! HeHe. I've only had 3 sonograms versus the weekly ones I had with Jude (due to low fluid levels) which is different...but I'm thankful b/c that means everything looks good and is on track for a healthy baby boy! Thank you God! :)



Jude loves being in the "belly pics" and I love that it feels like he knows what's going on, even at such a young age. He comes over to me and lays on my belly or pats at it looking at me...so cute!



With Jude, I was more self conscious about weight gain...not so much this go-round! LOL. I'm enjoying my caloric intake and eating pretty much what I want and when I want it. Thankfully I like the "good foods" like veggies, fruits, etc... I'm eating Raisin Nut Bran here (this morning)...which, I've never really been a cereal fan until this pregnancy. I could eat it for breakfast, lunch and dinner...with snacks in between ofourse. ;-) Works out good for Jude b/c he loves to share with us...off OUR spoon!



Another pic taken this morning before leaving for work...



I do have some nerves about having 2 under 2 ofcourse(eek!) but more than anything, I'm just so excited that Jude will have a little brother close to his age and that our sweet family is growing!! :) I'm SO SO thankful!!

XoXO,
Brooke

Growing w/each cupcake purchase & enjoying every minute!!

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: Almost 26 weeks(25 weeks, 4 days)
Size of baby: Joel is around 14" long and weighs about 2 lbs

MY Total Weight Gain/Loss: Gained 16 lbs
Maternity Clothes: A Must! I have my staple jeans that I rotate out. I pretty much despise getting dressed for work but casual days aren't bad. I love my UGGs & am so thankful leggings are in style! :)
Gender: It's (still) a boy!!!
Movement: Joel is VERY active! I'm not sure he ever sleeps, LOL.
Sleep: Yes please, where do I sign up for that? HeHe. I'm tired!
What I miss: The occasional alcoholic beverage... I made myself a virgin margarita the other night...ok, it was basically a limeade slush in a salted rim glass...but it was wonderful!
Cravings: Is it lunchtime yet? ;-) Cupcakes have been a big thing for me this pregnancy...anything w/buter cream cheesy type icing!
Symptoms: Mostly just tired. I seem to have a cold I can't kick (b/c I am steering clear of meds most likely) but yeah... few complaints thankfully. :)
Next OB appt: Feb 1st for Glucose test - ew!
Current questions/concerns: I may have to make a seperate blog about this but...Jon and I still can't decide on Joel's middle name! I know we said Joel Philip but it just doesn't roll off either of our tongues just perfectly... I've been leaning more towards Joel Oliver again. SO STRESSFUL! Jude's name was so easy! And we know we love Joel... it's the middle name that's wearing us out! ;-)

Today's blog...brought to you by the letter C!

Today’s blog is brought to you by the lovely letter C…



1st C is for CRAVINGS:
Like COKES, CANDY…and CUPCAKES! I can’t get enough!! Skittles for breakfast? Well, don’t mind if I do! ;-) 2 cokes a day…will that hurt baby Joel? So hard to resist!!
And oh the CUPCAKES…I’m a bit obsessed! For those that haven’t already heard me talk about my earth angel, Erica, let me tell you her story. She is my step-brother’s sweet fiancé and she lives in Maryland, just outside of Baltimore. My step brother, Brandon, is stationed w/the Navy in Maryland…thus how they met and fell in love (awww). Before I ever met her, I mentioned to Brandon that there is a place in Georgetown (D.C.) that they both have to try called Baked & Wired


(http://bakedandwired.com). I tried them with Jon and 2 other girlfriends on a Washington DC trip we took a couple years ago and they have amazing CUPCAKES! He must have immediately passed on the information to her and within the week she sent me a dozen special ordered cupcakes straight to my door (early December) from Baked & Wired! Who does that?! So sweet! The story continues… Brandon and Erica stayed with my parents in West Texas for almost 3 weeks over the holidays. They took a week to come down to Keller and stay with us so Erica could see DFW before heading back home to Maryland. They happen to be with us for New Year’s Eve and that was the night Brandon proposed!! So romantic and fun and I couldn’t be happier to have been there to help CELEBRATE! Erica went back home a couple days later…Brandon is still in Texas for some schooling w/the Navy. Tuesday I received another “special shipment” of CUPCAKES from Erica as a thank you for playing hostess (which was totally unnecessary for the record…it was my pleasure, I had a blast)! They were waiting for me on my front porch after work. *sigh* Seriously, a little piece of heaven when I taste them!! This wonderful second batch is from a bakery called Bangerang Bake Shop
(http://www.bangerangbakeshop.com)... You really just can’t beat bakery CUPCAKES…even via mail and this bakery specializes in keeping the CUPCAKES uber fresh w/an individual jar for each!! My favorite so far is definitely The Big Salty CARAMELLA Fella! Delish!! The perfect COMBINATION of sweet and salty and it hit the spot!! Thank you, Thank you sweet Erica!!



2nd C is for CONGRATULATIONS & COMPANY:
If you know us, you know our door is always open for COMPANY! We have a sign that hangs above our guest bedroom that says “Live, Laugh & Love at the Howerton Hotel” ~ Given to us by my sweet girlfriend, Lara. :) Well, Brandon (step bro mentioned above) is coming today to stay with us for the weekend!! Him and Erica have set a wedding date for August 6, 2011 and have opted for a Texas wedding (Screaming YAY!!! to this) – CONGRATULATIONS you two lovebirds!! Having about 7 months to plan, we’re going to look at different locations for the ceremony/reception. I totally should have been a party planner. ;-) I love this stuff! So honored they’ve asked for my help!






3rd C is for Eric and Brie’s sweet little CHAMPION aka baby CURRAN Gomez: For those that want to follow CURRAN’s progress - http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/currangomez is a journal that is being maintained daily with updates on how not only Curran is but on how the family is as well. Ofcourse, constant prayers are still needed and appreciated!



4th C is for my CRANKY CRYING CHILD: Jude has had a tough time lately… he was sick all last weekend so we stayed indoors and this week he transitioned full time to the “Walkers” room at daycare. I won’t go thru all the changes he’s enduring since I already blogged on it earlier this week (you’re welcome ;)) but I’m definitely ready for him to be on a routine schedule again! It’s proven none of us operate well when he’s...”off” – LOL. The good news is, we have seen smiles of plenty the past two days so I’m hopeful the end is near!!



5th C is for CHURCH: We’re still in search of a permanent church “home” but that being said… I’m so on fire for Christ that I don’t even mind! I feel God working in our lives daily and I know that he has taken lead and we’ll find where we belong soon. :)



6th C is for CLEANING the CLUTTER: Call it nesting but I can’t handle the CLUTTER of my house! I took out everything in my kitchen cabinets and am purging what we have never or will never use. I mean…who needs 20 Pyrex casserole dishes?? Really! Don’t worry, I’ll find them all good new homes. :) Next step…Jon has been tasked to build a toy box for Jude and Joel. When your toddler has a 1st bday AND Christmas in the same month…it tends to make your entire home resemble a Toys R Us sample sale more than the prior much humbler abode. LOL.

Thanks for CARING enough to read friends, Hugs!

Conform To The Spirit

Posting as a note to self that I can look back on and reference when I'm in need but am happy to share with others as well that could use the same spiritual "boost" every now and again...

Let people look at you and admire the qualities you have that are a direct result of having Christ in you. Conform to the Spirit! Let it control your life. You belong to God and you are His child. Represent Him everyday because you carry His last name when you are called “Christian.” Represent your family that has adopted you and canceled all of your debts. The Father sent His only son to die for you. Be thankful and live according to God’s will.

If you truly desire to be conformed to the Spirit, you must come before God broken, with a contrite spirit. God cannot build us up in His family when we have already used our own earthly desires to build an ideal world for ourselves. Pray for God to break you. Who are you to be proud in front of an Almighty God. Humble yourself before the Father and cry out “You are King! I will place no other God before you including myself.”

As God builds us up, we must continue to seek Him. What we put in our heart will become who we are. Learn truth, wisdom and love and you will become these very things. Walking the path of faith is your mission on earth. Become supernatural as you are called to be and reap the benefits God is waiting to give!!

January Jibber Jabber...

I have lots to jabber about today...

A New Church Home:
Jon and I have been members of a church in Keller for 4 years now. We taught in the nursery every Sunday, were married in the smaller sanctuary (now used for Children’s’ church), Have stayed active in the same small group, we have friends that we love & cherish…but we have both felt in our hearts, that something is missing. We prayed and talked to each other about our feelings for a year and kept pushing away the idea to try other churches. This past summer, we followed God’s lead. It has been a HARD process! At first we felt guilt over leaving our current church home in search of a “better fit.” We were fully aware there is no such thing as a “perfect church” and we didn’t know for sure that we would even leave our current church home permanently. BUT either way, we needed to know that we were where God wanted us. All summer we tried church after church after church, debated each week on where to tithe…it was spiritually exhausting! Some churches were…ok, some were totally not our style and/or belief…it was an experience I am very thankful to have had my spouse’s help with. I can’t imagine having to endure all the visits as a single! Thru faith and diligence, we continued on and I am truly thankful for the feeling of contentment that we have found a church that we will soon join! Jon and I continue to pray for guidance and are thankful to feel a sense of peace about our decision more and more! God is good and he DOES answer prayers! It may not be the way YOU think he SHOULD answer…but I believe, he is listening and guiding.
In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Proverbs 3:6

Jude, Jude, Jude... Such a funny boy!!
This week he is all daddy’s boy! I swear he must have had a bad dream that I was mean to him or something?? I pick him up and he reaches for daddy almost to “save him” from me. I know that he goes back and forth and ofcourse I can’t take it personally but…I miss my sweet love from him. Next week maybe? ;-)
Happy to report…we are back on the veggie train! After months of spitting out anything that belonged to the vegetable food group back out, Jude has taken a liking to green beans and corn! Hooray!! It’s a start! I was afraid the kid was striving to live off fruit and milk alone!!
INTO EVERYTHING!! I couldn’t wait for him to start walking…now I can barely keep up! ;-) Jon and I went to Kohl’s yesterday and we pretty much just followed lil’ man around the store cracking up. He’s a mover on a mission!
Talking some. His new favorite word is “Uh oh!” He drops everything just to say it! It’s adorable but I foresee possibly a future problem…haha. Sippy cup, on the floor, “ought oh!” Ball, thrown, “Ought oh!” Tooth brush w/toothpaste, thrown to the floor mat of the bathroom, “ought oh!” Oh Lordy…
He has also gotten really good at “bye bye” but doesn’t know the difference b/t hello and goodbye…it’s just always “bye bye” with a wave.
“Momma” and “Dadda” are still always welcomed and he loves to hold up one of his thousands of balls and say “Ba!”…he hasn’t quite gotten the full word down with the l’s on the end. :)
Graduation!! Jude has moved up to the next classroom at his daycare. It’s a bittersweet transition b/c I LOVED his teachers in his prior room but I’m also so excited to watch him learn and grow! They told me they kept him as long as they could but the time has definitely come!

Biggest Changes include:
1. No more high chair – he now will sit at a table with toddler chairs (that are still attached to the table and have a belt) with his classmates and eat daily from the school menu…with utensils! Can’t wait to see how this goes ;-)
2. 1 nap/day vs his prior 2 naps. They turn out the lights after lunch from 12:30 and don’t turn them back on until 2:00. We knew this was coming so we prepped for it over the holiday break. I think he’s ok with it really. It’s definitely helped for a longer night of sleep! (a big YAY for mommy and daddy!)
3. Activities – He gets to do more hands on activities, like crafts! LOVE this part!! :)
4. Tuition went down!! He’s officially in the 1 yr old class which means, $15 less a week. Hey - $15 a week adds up! ;-)

I’m sure there are other changes but this is his first week so…those are the big ones I’ve noticed.

Continued prayers for Eric, Mali, Eleri and baby Curran!!
Please continue to keep praying for The White and Gomez families! For Eric as he grieves the loss of his wife and takes on the new roll of a single father of 3. For Mali and Eleri that they remain constant in their love for Jesus as they learn to cope with their new life absent their loving mommy. And ofcourse for Curran as he continues to fight for his life in the NICU and that he grows to be a strong man of faith!

Here are some websites for those that want to stay up to date and informed:

Curran's care page/journal updates: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/currangomez
Brie's Blog: http://brieericandmaligomez.blogspot.com/
One of several great tributes to Brie's life: http://bethanyfields.typepad.com/bethanyfields/2011/01/the-prize.html

Something must be in the water... AND I LIKE IT!! ;-)
I was so happy to hear news that another close girlfriend of mine is expecting a baby soon!! There are so many of us pregnant together right now and it makes the experience just so fun!! YAY for 2011 babies!!

Baby Joel Update:
Pregnancy Highlights:
How far along: 24 weeks today
Size of baby: Joel is approximately the size of a rutabaga, yep...a rutabaga, aka...a large turnip!
Total Weight Gain/Loss: I've gained 16 lbs!!
Maternity Clothes: CHECK!! I am definitely feeling large and in charge ;-)
Emotions: Out of control!! I cry daily about something! Poor poor Jon, haha. I can't listen to country music w/o tears, even commercials are heart wrenching some days and please don't freak out if I tell you just how special you are to me...10 times...in a row! ;-)
Gender: It's STILL a boy! ;-) Joel Philip Howerton
Movement: I've been feeling baby a lot more lately! Ninja what?!
Sleep: I'm sleeping pretty good!
Symptoms: Mostly tiredness, definite nesting lately, I'm starting to waddle, a few other things I would never mention on here... ha!
Best Moment this week: Had dr appt on Tuesday and got to hear the heartbeat. Dr Flowers says Joel is a strong and healthy boy! YAY!! Praises to God for that news!!


Hugs,
Brooke

Christmas 2010 in Picture Review

I have and will always LOVE Christmas time..for so many reasons! I love the family time, the decorations inside and out of homes, the giving, the time off work, the excitement of the children, Black Friday early morning shopping, Christmas cards/family pictures...I can go on and on! This year was no exception for the Howerton fam! This was Jude's 2nd Christmas but the first he was old enough to participate...last year he was only 11 days old. :)

1st Tree: Christmas service at church
Picture in front of the foyer tree of the kiddos

(Staci, Brandon holding Austin, Allen, Kevin holding Jude, me and Jon)

2nd Tree: Our house

Jon's mom, Sister and brother's families came over for a brisket lunch and presents :)

Jon and Bentley have their seats secured ;-)

Gettin' some loving from Grandma!

Jon with our sweet niece, Kathryn, and Jude

Jude and Kathryn had fun playing in Jude's new chair from Grammy and Grandaddy :)

3rd Christms Tree: Grandma and PaPa's House
Every Christmas Eve my dad's side of the family meets at his parents house for the "Family Tree." We enjoy what we call "mexican pile up" for dinner, entirely too much food for one individual to eat in one sitting! Then, with full bellies and happy hearts, we all move to the living room where the Christmas story is read (this year by Grandma), we sing a couple Christmas songs and then a "Santa" is named for the year to start handing out the presents.


4th Tree: Granny's House


We left Grandma and Papa's house to head west to Marc & Mom's house for the night. We woke up EARLY morning to head 45 minutes further to "The Ranch House" to eat Christmas breakfast and celebrate with Marc's side of the family. I've never seen more presents in all my life!!

we opted to stay in PJ's ;-) Jude wasn't ready to wake up quite yet...



Christmas Chaos?? Check!


Mom and Marc w/their stack!


Me & B



One of my tops!! I LOVE my new boots!! Thanks Marc and Mom!


Erica was sweet to let Jude help her unwrap ;-) He's become quite the pro!



Brandon and Erica, my new favorite couple!! (Engaged on New Year's)


Granny and Brandon


Jude was having just as much fun digging in my purse as he was tearing apart wrapping paper, LOL. He found his sippy cup...raisins...all kinds of goodies! ;-)


Always the right size ;-)


5th Tree: Marc & Mom's house

We stayed at Granny's house until around 4:00 then came back to Marc and Mom's house, got back in PJ's & enjoyed the rest of the night together!

I love this picture. My mom (Jude's Grammy) teaching Jude to be sweet to Bentley...


PJ PARTY!! :)


Proof in pictures...it was a wonderful holiday! We are so blessed to have such great family! Here's to a happy and healthy 2011!! We love you all so very much!!

XOXO

Prayer Warriors Needed:

My heart has been full of emotion and heavy this past week…Please join my family in praying for the family of Brie Gomez. They are such a strong faithful family but even still, I can only imagine the future trials they face and the heartache they are currently enduring! The Gomez family was involved in head-on collision the night of Dec 26 while traveling the 80 mile stretch home from Dalhart to Amarillo…they had been celebrating Christmas with family. Brie suffered a fatal head injury, but was able to hold on long enough for doctors to deliver the couple’s 3rd child, a baby boy, Curran Blaec (Curran = Champion/Hero). She was 30 weeks pregnant. Her husband, Eric, and their two precious girls Mali (6 years) and Eleri (nearly 2) were treated and released. Eleri suffered a fractured leg and is now in a pink leg cast. Mali sustained several bruises, but none compares to that left on her heart. :( Eric and Brie had been married almost 10 years.



I had only talked with Brie in person a handful of times. My husband, Jon, went to Dalhart HS with both Eric and Brie and was close with Eric growing up. He loves them both! Brie & I kept up with each other’s blogs and on facebook and bonded over our commonalities. I found her advice very positive and approachable in regards to children and our faith in Jesus Christ. The last time I saw her in person was at the Dalhart HS reunion…she was pregnant with Eleri. Our friendship grew from that point (online). We were most recently happy to talk to each other about welcoming baby boys together (I’m due May 6th with our second son). When my husband and I received a text message from a mutual friend of ours that the Gomez fam had been in a horrible accident, it seemed to be a bad dream. I was SURE she would make it thru! It was a long night…I can only imagine for her family.

Brie did such a great job of diligently documenting her living days in a blog. http://brieericandmaligomez.blogspot.com/ I was amazed time and time again how often she made time for it! She would joke that nobody even read it…and even if that were the case, which I doubt, thousands have read and are touched by her stories and testimony today! I know one day her girls and sweet little champion, Curran, will find comfort in her words. I’m so thankful they were able to have some quality family time together last week with a trip to Disney World. What a wonderful memory to leave her husband and girls with!!



I find comfort in KNOWING that Brie was a devout servant and gave glory to Jesus in all she did…with every circumstance she held true to her faith! I know she is in heaven singing his praises! As someone else noted, she is a true bride of Christ and displayed this daily. The love she has for The Lord cannot be doubted. The last post she added to her blog gives me goosebumps everytime I think of it! On the day of the tragic accident, she posted the lyrics to FOREVER REIGN (Hillsong)…almost as if she were preparing her family, telling them she was ready to meet her father in Heaven. I lost my father when I was 18, also in a fatal accident (he was 42) and in a similar way, he had studied on “fatherless children” earlier that morning and left his bible open, with handwritten notes & highlighted passages…as if it were a goodbye letter telling my sister and I to keep the faith and trust in the Lord. It’s amazing how God does give us that comfort in such traumatic times like these.

Jon was able to attend the Life Celebration in honor of Brie in Amarillo and said it was like nothing he had ever been too! I had no doubt it would be. It is my honor to have known such a disciplined Christian, loving mother, devoted wife and friend!
I will continually pray that peace, strength and comfort will cover the Gomez and White families. Please join me in prayer for Eric as he goes thru the grieving process and transitions to the role of Single Dad. Pray for their sweet sweet girls who loved their mommy so very much, and especially for Mali, who is at an age where she will feel pain that will be extremely hard to process. Pray she will continue to love and praise Jesus through this and that her mother will be a true example for her in future days. Pray for their newborn baby boy, Curran Blaec, who is still in the NICU…pray that he will fight through this and come out the champion his parents knew he would be when they named him!

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of tender mercies and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation,that we may be able to comfort those in any sort of tribulation through the comfort with which we ourselves are being comforted by God." 2 Cor. 1:3-4

Prayers & Love,
Brooke