Ellie Anna

Today I did a little research on our little one's name - the name Ellie is a Greek name that means light. Every night Chris and I have been praying that she truly would be a light in this world, dedicated to Jesus and shining his love. It is also derived from the name Helen which is Chris's maternal grandma's name - a very special lady in his life. Her middle name, Anna, means gracious and has been a family name on my mom's side shared in some way with her Aunt Annie, Great-Great Grannie Annie, and Great-Great-Great Grandma Anna. We didn't know all these things when we first named her, but it was really neat to find out the history...

The other day it struck me. I began thinking of the memory verse that every little Christian boy and girl learns, John 3:16. "For God so loved the world, that He gave his one and only Son. So that whoever believes in Him, shall have eternal life." I held Ellie Anna in my arms and looked down at her. I know from the bottom of my heart that I will love and cherish her, protect her and provide for her forever. I will never let anything happen to her. And this is how parents feel about their children. My God loved me, LOVES me, so much that He let go of His Son and gave him to this world to deny, humiliate, persecute and eventually murder, so that He could provide the chance for ME to CHOOSE Him. And, he IS victorious. He conquered death in love through great suffering because of Love. This was so humbling to me. It took me back to my roots. In fact, it reminded me of a dream I had when I first found out I was having a little girl. I dreamed of her and knew she would be perfect in my eyes. I saw her, and was in love with her. She didn't have to do anything, accomplish anything, give me anything, she just was. And I loved her. At the end of the dream, I heard the song, Just As I Am, playing and awoke, knowing that just like this little girl came into the world with nothing, completely humble, completely naked and I loved her without anything in return, this is how my Lord feels about me. She is my precious little girl. And I am His.

Life with our daughter...

The first of many first bath pictures...


Our dear friends Jolene and Braxton brought their little one, Avery, over to meet her new friend and give us some new parenting advice. Jolene has been amazing. She's a nurse as well as just a really calm, down to earth friend and has already been my "go to" several times!


In the few moments that she's awake (Today she was actually awake for a whole hour!!) we try a little bit of "tummy time"...

What a beautiful, beautiful daughter we have been given. The first few days have been full of adjustment, learning and tremendous miracles! We are so humbled by our friends and family supporting us and encouraging us and our daughter every moment from the beginning. We are so blessed! Every good and perfect thing is from the Lord!

39 Weeks...

What a wonderfully lazy weekend! Each weekend that goes by, Chris and I take advantage of late mornings and relaxing days, hoping that it might be one of our last days just the two of us. Friday night we helped Annie and Doug move into their beautiful new home. Yesterday we went and watched the KSU game with our friends after a lovely surprise of four frozen meals for when our little one comes from the Heines! Cordeon blue, deep dish tacos, and meatloaf! Complete with directions so Chris can take care of me! Today, Chris spent the day taping and painting trim and doors, scrubbing down the fireplace and spray-painting the inside...fine-tuning the beauty of our home! I tried my hand at "nesting" and scrubbed down the fridge, cleaned out my closet, organized our pictures and tried not to think about how much I wished my legs weren't tree trunks. Overall, another beautiful weekend of putzing and enjoying our home and life together...

P.S. LOVED the snow...

Counting down...

No pics this time...Just an update after one final sonagram today...The doctor thought last week that our little girl was measuring a little on the small end and asked us to come back in for a sonagram as a part of our weekly appointments. And, man, does she look good! :) The technician approximated that she weighs about 6 pounds, 8 ounces and we're still on track for March 8th if not a little after as she is a little short for her due date. But she was "practicing" her breathing and her heartbeat was strong...so the wait continues. Although we're still 3 weeks out even from our due date, it feels like the day should have already been here and passed. The baby's room is completely ready for our little one; pictures should be coming soon...Walls painted, crib set up, clothes washed, diapers stocked, pillows poofed...just waiting for the main addition. My sister reminded me today to count these weeks as a blessing as the last weeks it will be just the two of us. Hard to remember when patience isn't exactly Chris and my number one strength...And, I'm so very thankful for my job. What a wonderful place to spend my days while I wait for a little one of my own. My principal doesn't even mind that I broke out the leopard print slippers to trek around the classroom in as my feet don't exactly fit in my shoes very well any more. And Jazzercise is more of a token hour out of routine than a real workout, but again, I lift my weights, bounce my heels, and call it a good hour of exercise! Hey! Lugging this extra weight around all day counts for something doesn't it??!! Chris is putting up with these pregnancy hormones pretty well too; the other day the sight of a thirsty koala bear and featherless cockatoo from the Australian wildfires sent me into sobs...a good excuse really to just cry when I felt like it, but he bit the bullet and comforted me anyway...What a hubby! He'll be an amazing daddy.

36 Weeks Down...4 to go!

Today is one of those days I just don't have the energy to go through with my weekly plan for meals and grocery store trip...So I've decided to blog instead! :) I keep reading about the "nesting" phase that comes right before the baby...so if that's true...well - I have awhile to go! Chris is certainly making up for me though! He finished remodeling the bathroom! WOW! I am pretty upset with myself for not taking more "before" pictures, but the after is awesome! He completely ripped out the vanity, toilet, stripped wallpaper, repaired holes, put up bead-board and trim on the bottom, retiled the floor and then painted with texture the top half. It looks awesome! The best picture I have is from when Doug (Annie's newlywed hubby) came over to help him replace the toilet and hook up the plumbing...They've bonded pretty quickly...



In other news, last weekend was amazing! Thursday my work threw a baby shower for me and I was so humbled by everyone's generosity! Little Girl French is set! She has a new stroller, jumpster, blankets, high chair, and much more! Then, Friday, my class threw a book shower for me! Each one of my students brought a favorite book from "when they were little" and gave it to my baby for me to read to her! I now have quite the library! The Runaway Bunny, The Polar Express, Red Fish Blue Fish, Guess How Much I Love You, and Watch Out for Ducklings were some of my favorites. Then, Saturday, our dear friends the Heines threw a couples shower for us at their home with the Buchanans and Cunninghams. What fun! A bunch of the couples even chipped in together to buy us a play yard! We will always think of the blessing of friendship in our lives when we use it for years to come...

Long time friends, Mike and Lauryn Rametta

Long time friends, Dennis and Ange Burd

Kyle and Ceciley French investigating the candy bar mess...

The beer bottle race...

Annie and Doug investigating the possible candy bar mess...

Dreaming of our little one to come...
Jason and Jessica posted more pictures on their blog (off to the right side) and explained the games if you're interested...

Then, the superbowl...Jonah and Andrea came in town for our shower so we took advantage and had some fun with 3D Glasses...Chris and Jonah had to make a quick dash to Wal-Mart as soon as we heard they were broadcasting some of the half-time show in 3D...I think we had more fun with the glasses than enjoying the futuristic moment...






Then, yesterday, Chris was a sweetheart and arranged a "babymoon" day for us with a trip back to the town we fell in love...Manhattan, Kansas. We spent all day reminiscing our favorite spots and moments...Started off in Aggieville with Pita Pit, Coldstone, Varney's, The Dusy Bookshelf, ACME Gift, PAST the tatoo shop although Chris begged me (as usual) for permission to get a tatoo...need I even share my adament answer? Funny thing is, our first outing together after Chris took me to campus to hand in a literature paper was to this tatoo shop to watch our friend, Jeff McBride, get his Lambda Chi Alpha tatoo on his ankle...SO romantic... Then, people watching through Aggieville, caught some of the basketball game at the Union, then drove out to Lookout Point at Tuttle, then to Campus for hand-holding walks through the buildings, Hale Library, the Stacks, finally dinner at Coco Bolos...

We really wanted a picture of us in front of this sign but couldn't find anyone to take one for us...Oddly enough, this truly was one of the first streets we drove down together when Chris drove me to campus to turn in a paper the day after we met...Love at first sight...

Self-portrait...Notice Anderson Hall in the background...

When we first started dating, Chris was so love-struck he tended to drive down one-way streets quite a bit...the wrong way. So we documented the confusion...He still doesn't quite get the whole "one" way concept...

...Get it?? I thought I was pretty clever for thinking up this one...Talk about a belly picture!! This is why I've been strategically taking pictures from shoulders up...Can I really make it 4 more weeks!!??

We ended the day with a bonfire with Jonah and Andrea at Tuttle Creek. SO fun!!

...It was a little chilly for Andrea and me...


So perfect!
This week we have another childbirth class, doctor's appointment and I visit with my long term sub to explain the plans for my maternity leave. Lord only knows when this little girl is coming...

Getting Closer...

Last weekend we got to spend time with the Frenches - Chris and Gary even put the crib together! It was kinda fun thinking that their visit might be the last one before they have a granddaughter to come meet...




...What would we have done without Pippy's help??

Today marks 33 weeks! Yesterday Chris and I attended a childbirth class from 8:30 to 5...WOW! Actually, it's been a "baby week"! Thursday we toured our hospital, Friday we went to our Doctor's appointment and then the all day class yesterday! We walked away so excited! It's been information overload, but honestly, it starts to make it even more real! Right now he's in the garage assembling the nursery dresser, piece by piece, we're putting our little girl's room together!






...Although she is definitely taking after her father (and maybe a little bit her mother so I'm told...) in pure, beautiful, stubborness, we got to see just a few pictures of our little one last weekend...She wasn't too willing to be the center of attention though; she kept her hands up in front of her face almost the whole time. That's okay, though. She'll be making her debut soon enough...

Oh the Holidays...

What an amazing Winter break! Between continuing to unpack, several days in Great Bend including a fantastic Christmas Eve dinner, painting 5 rooms in the house, remodeling a bathroom, celebrating New Years Eve, the lovely Mr. and Mrs. Jonah and Andrea Nelson staying with us for six nights, seeing A Tuna Christmas at the Crown Center Theater, and hours of a hot pad and propping up my feet...it almost felt like a break being back at school today! Many times I found myself just thanking the Lord for such an amazing family, comfortable home and such an awesome husband...and Pippy dog! Speaking of dogs, if anyone is willing to put up with a good cry, Marley and Me is definitely worth seeing! Such a great story! Being back at school is really fun too! I had in my mind that once I counted down to the holidays, it was downhill from here to the blessed arrival of our little girl! Only 8 1/2 weeks to go! Chris even treated me to a pregnancy massage as my Christmas present...SO thoughtful! I felt like a pregnant pile of noodles afterward!

And now for a photodiary of our break...


-Chris about to get his tile on...




-My super brave wet-saw wielding husband


-My manly husband



-The work in progress...


-The Taylor (slash French, slash Nelson, slash Stelle) Fam


-Part of our Great Bend trip included reminiscing Chris's days of community service as an EAGLE SCOUT! I'll tell ya...He never ceases to amaze me! :)


-And he's a little proud of himself too... :)

Doug and Annie's Wedding Pictures

http://www.portraitsbylucinda.com/slideshows/stellewedding/

Thank you, Lucinda, for your amazing work!

Interesting Holidays

Well...this holiday season has already been incredibly eventful! After putting our house on the market Labor Day weekend, we sold our home within a month and have been working these past few months to close and find our new home! And...we did! The week of Thanksgiving was so busy, all we could do was laugh...if we had time! Annie got married on Friday (pictures to come thanks to www.portraitsbylucinda.com) so every other day that week was spent moving, packing boxes, cleaning, unpacking boxes, hanging blinds, finding boxes...etc. We are so very blessed and so thankful for our beautiful new home! Chris has been busy busy between travels with work and painting, but we have an end in sight! Now that I'm in my last trimester, we're really looking forward to being able to have a clean, organized, freshly painted home to bring our little girl home to! I just cheer him on while propping my swollen feet up on the couch. He's pretty good at taking care of me...Less than 3 months to go!



While Annie was busy preparing her bridal beauty, Chris and I tried to take Christmas card pictures...



Andrea's pretty excited to be an aunt!



Chris is already wrapped around our little girl's pinkie...



The Gordon uncles and my dad



The beautiful newlyweds, Jonah and Andrea Nelson



Annie and Doug Stelle making their exit from the party and entrance into married life...



He's excited! :)