Thank You

Our lives are all packed into boxes that are awaiting to be moved back to Nappanee on Friday. We've been packing up and cleaning out our tiny apartment, while saying our goodbyes to the friends we have made here. Last Sunday was our last Sunday at Bethel Church. Thank you, Bethel, for welcoming us into your congregation. You have brought us some great messages, meaningful worship, and helped us meet some extraordinary people. Through Bethel, we met our small group. I can't say enough about this group of people. Without them, I'm positive I would not have lasted this long in Merrillville. Mike and I have bettered ourselves, our marriage, and our walk with Christ BECAUSE of these people. They have welcomed us into their lives with open arms. They have shared our joys and sorrows. We have all laughed (alot) together and cried together as well. Some of our most important conversations have taken place with this group. So to them, we thank you so much for being Jesus to us.

As excited as we are to be moving back to Nappanee, we will miss this group of friends very much. They have been our family here in Merrillville.

Thank you.

Guess what Tenley did!

Yesterday was a big day in our house!! Tenley smiled at me, intentionally, for the first time! I just about cried I was so excited! It took quite a bit of work (silly faces, funny noises, etc) to bring it out, but I finally got one! This morning she gave one up a little more freely, so I hope that they will come easier! :) I caught a little one with my camera yesterday...

Isn't she just the sweetest!? I fall more and more in love with her everyday.

Annnd yesterday she moved her arm more than ever! Due to Erb's Palsy in her left arm she hasn't been able to move it much. But the neurologist gave us some exercises to do with her and I've been doing them everyday and was getting a little frustrated at not seeing any results. But then yesterday... We see this:

Isn't that fantastic!! I was so glad Mike was home to witness it too. Ps- Please don't judge the outfit! I ran to Target yesterday morning and came home and THAT is what Mike dressed her in. Guess I'll have to start laying out the outfits from now on!

On another note, we have boxes everywhere, we're getting all packed up and ready to move back to Nappanee!

In One Month I have Learned...

I've been a mom for a little over a month. I have learned a few things, and have many more to learn. Here's what I have learned so far...

-It takes much longer to get out of the house. And there's a lot of thought involved.
-Projectile Poop is not a myth. I learned this the hard way.
-"Wasting Gas" just to drive around to get a crying infant to sleep isn't so much of a waste.
-I have never worried about how many layers of clothing a person has on until now.
-I can actually function on less sleep. Even if I prefer not to.
-Daily chores (a load of laundry, unloading the dishwasher, picking up, etc.) take a very long time now.
-My heart has never been so full of love. This tiny little girl has completely changed our worlds.

One Month

Happy One Month Tenley! I'm a few days late with this, but better late than never!

We just had Tenley's one month appointment yesterday at the doctor and she said that Tenley is a very healthy little girl! Those were great words to hear.

Tenley is currently:

-10 lbs.

-22 inches long! I couldn't believe this!

-eating 3 oz. every 3 hours

-still getting up every 3 hours at night. We're hoping this will change soon.

-She's taken her first little roadtrip to Indianapolis. She slept the whole way!

-She has outgrown her newborn diapers and is now in size 1.

-She still can't wait to move back to Nappanee to be with all of her new friends! :)

Our love for her has grown so much in the last month! We've gone from wondering if we will survive the sleepless nights to being pretty adjusted and loving every little face and sound she makes. My heart overflows with love for miss Tenley Ann.

4 Weeks

Tenley you are 4 weeks old today!! I can't believe it!

-You currently weight 9 lbs. 9 oz.

-You are eating 2.5 oz. every 3 hours.

-Newborn clothes still fit you, but 0-3 month are starting to fit you better.

-You love your swing! Thank goodness.

-You're sleeping well in your bassinet, but I think you're just about ready for your crib! Is Mommy?!

-You're an excellent napper.

-You are a cuddler! You love being held. I hope this continues as you get older.

-You HATE bath time, having your diaper changed, and getting your clothes changed.

-So far, you're an excellent traveler. We've traveled back to Nappanee with you and you haven't had any problem with your carseat. You have slept the whole way!

and... You can't wait to move back to Nappanee in a month to be around all your friends and family!! :)

3 weeks

Tenley is 3 weeks old!! I can't believe it. 3 weeks has gone by so fast. I think I'm finally getting used to living on less sleep, even though I still get frustrated with it sometimes. I've been told by many people though that it will get better and Tenley's sleeping habits will improve! Right now she's sleeping for three hour increments, then getting up to feed. After the first two feedings she will usually go back to sleep pretty quickly, so I can go back to bed. But after her 6:00am feeding she is usually up for the morning. I'm still getting used to that one. Now is the time when I'm trying to figure out where to fit in my shower for the day!

We had Tenley's newborn pictures taken. Here's a favorite:

Thanks to Dominique Partlow for taking these great pictures!! Despite the crying from Tenley they turned out so cute! :) Hopefully we'll have our announcements out soon. I should be getting them any day now. So keep an eye on your mailboxes!

I had such a great surprise this week. 5 of my friends surprised me on Monday evening and showed up at my door with gifts, meals, and cake! I thought only one of them was coming but they decided to throw me an impromptu shower!! I have amazing friends and they are constantly being Jesus to me in tough times. We had four babies in this apartment! Good thing none of them are on the move yet! I love that we can all go through motherhood together. What a blessing! Monday was just what I needed. Here's the four mommies with our babies!

This is how the whole Marshall household is feeling today. Plus, Daddy goes back to work tomorrow so Tenley and I aren't too happy about that.

Just had to share a beautiful picture of Tenley that my cousin, Lindsey, took the other night. Now do you see why I just stare at her all day and can't get anything done?!

One week old!

Tenley is one week old tomorrow! We're learning so much about this little person! For instance, she HATES having her diaper changed. She screams and screams. She also makes the cutest and funniest faces while she's sleeping. She really loves her swing - but only when it's vibrating. It puts her in a little trance. It's really cute. We've had some pretty terrific visitors and we have alot lined up for this week too! We love that people are coming to meet our little girl. She deserves it. We had some friends stop in last week, and this week alot of family are coming. It looks like Tenley will get to meet her great aunt and uncles this week, she will see her great grandparents again, and we are hoping that her great friends The Bluckers will come see her this weekend too!! (Hint Hint!!) :) Tenley is also pretty excited about having Grandma Karen come next week to spend some time with her. Mike and I feel so blessed to have such great support from our family and friends.

Tenley's first doctor's appointment was today. It went great! We were very encouraged. The doctor thinks that her shoulder will repair itself in a couple weeks, and if not we'll start some physical therapy that should take care of it. We were very happy to know that she won't have to live with this pain for too much longer. Her breathing is back to normal, her lungs sound great, and she's eating well. The doctor said she looks fantastic! She weighs 8 lbs. 10 oz. so she hasn't lost too much weight since leaving the hospital, which they were happy with.

A Family of Three...

Tenley Ann has arrived!! After 9 months of waiting, praying, planning, and thinking our daughter is here! We still can't believe it. First of all we can't believe we had a girl!! I was so certain we were going to having a boy that when the doctor announced it was a girl I'm pretty sure both of our jaws hit the floor. But we couldn't be happier.

Just a little about the day of labor- I went in for my 39 week appointment last Tuesday, September 7th, and the doctor was concerned about my elevated blood pressure. Since it was so close to my due date and she knew the baby was bigger, she made the decision to induce. So we headed to the hospital for what proved to be one long night! 18 long hours of labor later - Tenley Ann Marshall was born at 9:08am on September 8, 2010.
We're now home and enjoying every second with her. I could sit and hold her for hours just staring at her. She's such a good baby. Tenley has turned Daddy into a big pile of mush!! And if you know me at all you know the tears of gratitude and love are never far!

38 Weeks

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: 38 Weeks!

Maternity Clothes: All maternity clothes.

Best Moment this week: As much as I hated being in the hospital Sunday night for pains (that they couldn't do anything about), I loved being hooked up to the monitors and being able to hear Baby's heartbeat for an extended time period. I'm pretty sure if I could fall asleep to that heartbeat every night I would actually get some sleep!

Gender: My hunch is still boy. 2 more weeks and we'll find out :) Hopefully sooner...

Movement: Still trying to find room and moving alot!

Food Craving: Still fruit. and Slushies.

What I miss: A full night's sleep.

Sleep: Ugh. The last couple nights I have been getting up more than ever to go to the bathroom. Every couple of hours I'm up.

What I am looking forward to: I'm slowly making progress, but I'm hoping that maybe Baby will choose to arrive this weekend since Mike's bday is on Saturday! He says it's the only thing he wants for his bday! My arms ache to hold this little one. We can't wait!

Belly Button: ha, still in- but not by much.

Symptoms: Still getting heartburn. Today I started having back labor (i'm praying this doesn't last long!!) Ouch!

Doctor's Update: I'm just barely 2cm, still thin, and baby is still low. The doctor said today that I'm progressing, just slowly. It's frustrating, but I know baby will come when he or she is ready.

Size of Baby: Watermelon.

37 Weeks! ~ Full Term!

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: 37 Weeks!

Maternity Clothes: All maternity clothes. I have to wear Mike's t-shirts because none of mine fit!

Best Moment this week: Hearing the baby's heartbeat today.

Gender: We're getting closer to finding out :)

Movement: I think the baby likes to push his or her rump into my belly. Trying to find room I suppose!

Food Craving: Fruit. All kinds.

What I miss: Sleep.

Sleep: Pretty much non-existant. Naps are a must these days. My hips hurt so bad that I can't lay in the same spot for very long.

What I am looking forward to: Mike and I are enjoying these last few weeks together before everything changes. But we really can't wait to meet this little one in just a few weeks!

Belly Button: I don't think it's going to pop out. But it's definitely trying.

Symptoms: All of the usual. Nothing has changed too much.

Doctor's Update: I haven't made any progress since last week, so I'm still stuck at 1cm dilated and 70% effaced. But baby is still really low, which is good. My doctor is hoping that I can make it a couple more weeks, since the baby is measuring a week ahead.

Size of Baby: The size of a watermelon! yikes...

My Feelings

This song makes me think of our little one and the love we're going to have for him or her! We just haven't met you yet, but we already have fallen in love with you! It has kept me a little more sane while we wait for the baby to be ready to meet us!

Update from Doctor...

I had my 36 week appointment yesterday and everything looks great! Baby's heartbeat is strong and healthy. I also had my first internal exam and found out that I'm 1cm dilated, 70% effaced, and the baby's head is very low. This was all great news! I'm excited to be making progress, however little it might be! Some women are stuck at one or two centimeters for weeks I know, but progress is progress to me. The doctor said realistically it could happen any day now! But I'm sure I'll be seeing her next Tuesday for my next appointment :).

Even though I'm sure it will still be a couple weeks before Baby Marshall makes his or her debut, the appointment got us thinking about everything that we still need to get done! So, the list maker that I am has started making lists for both Mike and I with all of things we need to do. Like getting the carseat checked, packing a bag (Mike needs to do this! Mine has been packed for weeks!), making sure all the pacifiers and bottles are boiled and washed, organizing, etc. So looks like my days will be filled with getting the last minute things done!

Have a great rest of your week and we would love if you would continue to pray for us, our families, and especially this little one as the big day draws near!

36 WEEKS!

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: 36 Weeks! We're getting so close!

Maternity Clothes: All maternity clothes, and some of them are getting a little tight now too. This baby has run out of room in mama's belly!!

Best Moment this week: I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow and I'm excited for that, because I start to go every week after this to see if I'm making any progress!

Gender: Despite the frustration of not being able to find neutral clothes we're still set on not finding out. But I've always had a hunch that it's a boy. So we'll see in four weeks :)

Movement: The baby doesn't have room to roll over like he/she used to, but is still very active and likes to kick the same spot over and over! Ouch.

Food Craving: Fruit. Mostly watermelon.

What I miss: Sleep.

Sleep: Not so great right now. I'm having a lot of hip pain, and it's causing me to lose alot of sleep. Not to mention the four times I get up to go to the bathroom! I guess I'll be ready for those nightly feedings!

What I am looking forward to: Getting everything organized in the next few weeks.

Belly Button: This is a sore subject with me. I wanted it to stay in so badly, but I fear that I'm losing the battle. Mike says that it will pop out when the baby is "cooked" and ready to come out!

Symptoms: Still have heartburn, tired, hip pain. But overall it's all normal and will be worth it!

Doctor's Update: I go in tomorrow so we'll see then!

Size of Baby: The size of a honeydew melon!

35 Weeks!

We finally have internet back in our home, so now I can keep up on everything better! Here we are at 35 weeks pregnant!! I can't believe we're here already. Five more weeks and I'll be holding our little one!!

Here I am at 35 weeks...

The nursery area is getting organized too. The crib is all put together and the beautiful bedding is on and ready! I just have some organizing to do with all the clothes, blankets, etc. Here's a picture of the crib!

I've been feeling pretty good. Sore, but that's to be expected. I've had some Braxton-Hicks contractions, but that means my body is getting ready! Mike is getting a little nervous as the weeks tick by, but he says he is ready. As ready as we will ever be I suppose!

21 Weeks!

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: 21 weeks.
Total Weight Gain/Loss: -12
Maternity Clothes: I've been wearing mostly my maternity capris. My regular shirts still fit, but I've noticed a lot of my t-shirts are starting to get tight.
Best Moment this week: Mike felt the baby move for the first time!
Gender: Not finding out.
Movement: I've been able to time some of the baby's movements. Between 9 and 10 every night is when the baby moves the most.
Food Craving: Popsicles of any kind.
What I miss: sleeping on my stomach.
Sleep: Ok. Not fantastic. But ok.
What I am looking forward to: Decorating the nursery area!
Belly Button: in. and it better stay there.
Symptoms: I'm tired alot. I often feel the need for a nap in the middle of the day, but other than that I've been feeling pretty good.
Doctor's Update: My next appointment is at the end of the month, I have my glucose test then.
Size of Baby: The size of a banana!

20 Weeks and an Ultrasound!

What an exciting day we had yesterday! My 20 week ultrasound and check up was yesterday and I could barely sleep Monday night knowing that it was coming on Tuesday. This was the first appointment that Mike could be at so him and I were the only ones in the room for awhile during the ultrasound. Our baby is quite the little mover!! He or she (no, we didn't find out what we were having! We stayed strong!) was very active and put on a show for us! The ultrasound tech kept giggling, because she said it looked like the baby was doing pushups! He or she even waved to us at one point. The baby is healthy and growing normally. All the organs look great. We are so thankful and we pray that everything continues going well. I had my checkup afterwards and my doctor agreed that everything looks great! My next appointment is at the end of May and it's my one hour glucose test. Yuck.

Pregnancy Highlights:
How Far Along: 20 weeks! Half way there!!
Total Weight Gain/Loss: -12
Maternity Clothes: Still in my regular clothes for now, but the day of maternity clothes is quickly approaching.
Best Moment this week: the ultrasound. seeing our little one. I can also feel more movements better as they get a little stronger.
Gender: we're team green! didn't find out.
Movement: Getting stronger everyday. As active as this baby seems to be, I have a feeling I'll be feeling every movement soon.
Food Craving: Still banana popsicles, but not as bad as before.
What I miss: Sleeping through the night.
Sleep: I bought myself a body pillow and that has helped a bit.
What I am looking forward to: registering :)
Belly Button: in. and it better stay there.
Symptoms: I still get sick about once a week, but that's an improvement. I'm not showing a lot, but there's a little bump there (i think it looks just like more fat but Mike disagrees) The doctor yesterday also said there was one. Ha.
Doctor's Update: I think I covered that above.

19 Weeks!!

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: 19 weeks!
Total Weight Gain/Loss: -13
Maternity Clothes: They are in my near future. My work pants are getting tighter than I expected them to be! I did buy a be-band this week but have only needed it once so far.
Best Moment this week: feeling the baby move!!!!
Gender: still not going to find out :)
Movement: YES! I can feel little movements, especially at night when I'm laying flat in bed. It's so amazing, I can't wait til it's stronger.
Food Craving: BANANA POPSICLES!!! It's the only thing that EVER sounds good!
What I miss: Not feeling sore.
Sleep: disturbed.
What I am looking forward to: our 20 week appt!! Five more days!!!
Belly Button: in. and it better stay there.
Symptoms: I'm so sore! My hips especially.
Doctor's Update: n/a

18 Weeks!

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: 18 weeks!
Total Weight Gain/Loss: -14. So I've gained one pound since I'm not so sick anymore. Thank goodness!!
Maternity Clothes: I'll need them fairly soon I think. My jeans are starting to get a little more uncomfortable. My work pants are pretty big anyway, so I should be good for awhile, but I can tell they don't quite fit like they used to!
Best Moment this week: Praying with my husband with our hands on my tummy for our child.
Gender: still not going to find out :)
Movement: Nope, the other night I was laying still on the couch and I thought that maybe, just maybe I had felt the baby. But it wasn't quite distinct enough that I could really tell. So I wait.
Food Craving: Nothing really ever sounds good lately. I kind of graze. It annoys Mike because I'll make dinner for us and then not eat it because I change my mind and don't want it anymore. Ha.
What I miss: Sleeping through the night - I get up to pee twice now at night.
Sleep: disturbed.
What I am looking forward to: our 20 week appt!!
Belly Button: Ha, Mike and I joke about this because I have an abnormally deep belly button apparently. So I think it will stay in. But Mike thinks that it's not as deep as it was before I got pregnant. So who knows.
Symptoms: I have been getting pains in my pelvic area on my sides from stretching ligaments. I've been feeling much better though. I'm having a little back pain, but that's not too unusual for me.
Doctor's Update: Only about a week and a half til our big appt!!

17 Weeks

Ok, so I'm not officially 17 weeks til tomorrow, but I have time to blog now so deal with it :)

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: 16 weeks, 6 days.
Total Weight Gain/Loss: Still at -15. Haven't gained anything.
Maternity Clothes: Still don't need them.
Best Moment this week: Work has finally slowed down, so now I'm finally getting a little break and am able to take care of myself better!
Gender: still not going to find out :)
Movement: None. I'm hoping in the next couple weeks I should feel something!
Food Craving: None, I'm still getting sick every few days, so I have been really trying to be careful with what I'm eating.
What I miss: feeling like myself.
Sleep: I get up at least twice a night to go to the bathroom. Ugh.
What I am looking forward to: Our appt on the 27th!! It's the first appt Mike will be able to be at. And we will get to finally see the baby again!
Belly Button: In.
Symptoms: I still get sick every few days, but that's an improvement. I finally have some energy back on the days that I'm feeling better.
Doctor's Update: Haven't had an appt in a few weeks - next one is on the 27th. Can't wait!!

15 Weeks

I found this on someone else's blog, but I thought it would be a nice update and something to look back on as I go through this pregnancy journey.

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: 15 weeks
Total Weight Gain/Loss: -15 due to morning sicknessness
Maternity Clothes: I have bought some, but don't have a need for them yet.

Best Moment this week: Hearing baby Marshall's heartbeat!! Four weeks is so long to go without hearing it!!
Gender: We have the opportunity to find out in about 4 1/2 weeks, but we're not going to.
Movement: None yet.
Food Craving: In the last few weeks I've craved Bob Evans Sausage Biscuits. Wierd I know, but it's all I ate for about a week. Lately, I haven't had many cravings.

What I miss: Sleeping through the night!

Sleep: I fall asleep quickly (which is a change for me) and sleep well until about 3am, but then I can't go back to sleep til about 6 or 7am.
What I am looking forward to: Feeling better and getting som energy back! I'm also looking forward to my next appointment.
Belly Button: In.
Symptoms: Just Tired! Still getting sick every now and then, but it's getting better.

Doctor's Update: My doctor said at my last appointment that I look great (big change from the last time she saw me when I was fighting back sickness in her office) and that I'm measuring just right and the heartbeat is right on track! Everything is great!

News!!

Well if you haven't seen it yet on facebook or gotten an email from me, you'll know now! Mike and I are expecting our first child!! We couldn't be happier. I'm 15 weeks along and due September 16th. The first trimester I dealt with ALOT of morning sickness, but it's not so bad now that I'm in the second trimester. Hopefully all the "joys" of the second trimester are true and I start to regain some energy too!

Please keep us in your prayers as we begin this journey in our lives and we prepare for our little one to arrive!

Cardboard Testimonies

What would your cardboard testimony say?

Bright Spot in a Gloomy Day..

A great reminder for me today...

Phillipians 4:6-7 (The Message)

"Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life."

A Look Back...

I was thinking about 2009 and everything that has occured. I decided to take a look back at old blogs to see what I was doing/thinking through the year. Here's a little recap...

In January, Mike and I were full-fledged newlyweds. And enjoying every bit of it. We were trying to make a home in Merrillville and find our place while trying to learn more about each other. My Notes From a Newlywed explains most of my feelings at this time in our marriage.

In February I didn't have as much to say, but the searching that was happening in me, says enough. At this time Mike and I started attending Bethel Church in Crown Point. We weren't sure if it was the right place for us. But now, almost a year later, I'm confident that we made the right decision. We've been so blessed with our small group of fellow believers and newly married couples. They have really been great role models for us.

March brought many mixed emotions and memories as I was reminded of the losses of two great men in my life. Each year brings back more memories. Yes, I believe time does heal, but you certainly never forget.

In April I headed to Florida with the Marshall women to help take care of Mike's grandma. I learned much more about his family and grew much closer to my sister-in-law. It was a great time for us and I learned alot about the values that I hold so close to my heart.

In May, I was reminded of the blessings of family. Mike's parents came to help us move into our new apartment on a night that I was so stressed out and felt like there was no way I could get everything done by myself (Mike was working long hours at the time). They came without question and helped me pack up and move our belongings. My parents then came that same weekend to help me paint and organize. May was a great reminder to me of how to minister to others by giving of your time and efforts.

During the summer months, we dealt with a possible big decision when Mike's job might take him to Texas. During this time I was also struggling alot with not being able to find a job. Looking back, I think I battled a little depression and it was tough to keep my eyes on God knowing He had a plan for us. He came through though, and I'm beginning to enjoy my job.

During the last few months it's been a whirlwind of job training, Mike working a few more hours, and lots of work hours for me as well. We've made it through though and we're excited for what 2010 will bring for us!