Does it sound like a train or a herd of horses?

"Train!" Was Peter's emphatic reply.
But, in truth no one's sure we won't deny.
The midwife smiled as I giggled with glee
at this sound that we heard from in my tum-my.

It was quick and healthy and so very alive!
Through this sickness I know I can survive!
There is a child in my tummy, we heard it last night
And it was so exciting, it was so very right.

For now we'll wonder, horse or train?
But, in truth happy we'll remain
For we are blessed already to know
That our baby's heart is strong and will grow.

Note: That pic is not of our baby, but we are moving through week 12!

Thoughts from my 1st anniversary...

Dinner out is only a good idea if one feels well enough to stay at the restaurant and eat it...thankfully we were able to take Peter some dinner to go.

Eating together at home, while I lay curled up on the couch is romantic too...

My aunt's cake still tastes good 1-year later...

My husband was a doll to do the dishes again while I remained curled up on the couch...

Even when I fell asleep around 7:40pm trying my hardest not to throw up, I still felt my husband's love and thanked God for it...

I felt his love when I groggily woke up 45 min or so later and he rushed over to me and offered to get whatever I needed...

Yes, not the anniversary I would have dreamed of, and yet, the reality of life. Romance, like the kind read about in books and viewed in movies is wonderful, but I have come to appreciate the day to day romancing and care God gave me in my husband one-year and a day ago.

I love you, Peter!

One year ago

One year ago I married the sweetest, most gentle, loving, caring and kind person I've ever met.

Since then, we've both been sick here and there, we've both been hurt once or twice, we've both gotten tired and angry on occasion, but we always take care of each other, and we always go to sleep loving each other.

We know each other much better than we did a year ago.

We hardly ever do anything without each other. We like it that way. Someone teased me the other day about how if I was going to play ultimate frisbee I'd have to quit touching Julie for a few minutes. He meant it as a compliment, and it was :)

I'm so blessed that God brought Julie into my life. I'm thankful that she brough with her a loving and godly family, and I can't wait to live another year with her.

--------------------------------------
What's new:
Looks like Julie may finally be over her morning sickness!
Playing lots of tennis with Jeremy and Joseph, mainly. Only vague idea of what I'm doing.

What isn't new:

Julie is beautiful
Lucy is adorable, talking a lot in strange language
I'm still looking for a job :)

"Kid Larock"

is determined to make his/her mommy sick most of the time! But, we're thrilled to announce that yes, we have a little one due at the end of April, 2009.

I am counting down the days until the first trimester is over, hoping very much that I feel "great" for the second one.

Right now my diet is basically:
Watermelon
Applesauce
Toast/bagel sometimes
Baked potatoes (at least one a day)
Toasted cheese
Tea
Pasta with pasta sauce, (that can contain nothing that tastes like meat)
Other juicy fruits sometimes
Juice-sometimes
and Pickles! I seriously think this kid is a boy with the whole pickle deal:-) I think the salt is what attracts me to them.

Each of these items is eaten just a bit at a time.

I was really shocked at this change in my appetite. I love food and I love spicy and interesting food. Apparently my preggo tummy does not. This new diet has helped me trim several unwanted pounds in readiness for a bunch of new kiddo pounds:-)

Peter's been amazing. I didn't get out of bed much at all on Saturday and he sweetly kept at the household chores and brought me food as I could stomach it!

Yesterday I was able to do some cleaning and I was so thankful to be able to do something! It's been hard for me to not feel like doing anything. I tend to always be busy with some task. Ah well. As my mom explained, obviously my body needs the rest.

There you have it.

We'll keep you updated.

Julie

Pray for the Bullock family...

One of my dear, dear friends lost her mother yesterday. Her mother, Esther, has been battling cancer for 5-years, and yesterday she went home to be with Jesus.

Hannah and I met back in 2002 during TeenPact, D.C. We roomed together and became very close friends. We've kept in touch since then even as life has changed so much for both of us. We both kinda met and fell for our men around the same time. She spent part of last year in China ministering. That's where she met Dan Lee. She married in November, and is now expecting their first child. Hannah has always been an example to me of someone who walks with the Lord. She knows him and she clings to Him as I'm sure she is doing now. Hannah has 2 brothers and 2 sisters, (the youngest is only 5; I remember when she was born!)

I loved the visit I had with her family down in Georgia. Her mom was a precious and hospitable woman. She loved Jesus, and her precious family. She was a great home maker. She had beautiful gardens, and was an awesome cook.
It's amazing, really--I only met her once that I can remember, but even that meeting had an impact on my life.

I am so very sad for Hannah and the others who are left here to grieve this painful loss, but I'm also filled with joy knowing that yesterday Esther had the thrill of looking her Savior in the eyes! Wow!

God speed the day when we can all look with wonder and awe into the eyes of the One who gave His life for us.

still around

Just wanted to stop and in say hi. We have some fun summer pictures and activities to tell you all about, and I promise that they are coming soon.
We've added some new furniture to our cute little place and I do want to put up some pictures. I've also been growing some veggies and such on our back porch in pots, and I am thrilled that they are doing so well! The storm last night injured my healthy tomato plants a bit, but they will pull through I think.

We both had birthdays this summer. We went to DC on Julie's birthday to visit Hannah, who was up from Georgia. We also stopped and saw Prince Caspian, the movie. On Peter's birthday we hung out with the LaRock clan in Stephens City. The mini golf, batting cages and dinner were fun and exciting, but the most exciting event would have to have been the go -cart crash! Thankfully the slick pavement was to blame and nobody was hurt:-)

Catch you later!

P and J

The random guy, and what he was up to...

On my wedding day several things stand out in my mind, but I will only mention one for now. The music was softly playing, my knees were knocking, and the church doors were just about to swing open to reveal my Pete at the other end of the aisle. The moment came, and dad squeezed my arm and we began to walk. All of the sudden, this random, blond guy that I had never seen before, stands up an takes a picture of us. The tranquility of the moment was over, and then I began wonder who he was. I started telling myself, "look for Pete...", but thoughts of "who was the guy?" kept crowding out that thought.

Now I know who he was! He was a friend of another photographer who kindly stepped in the help out. I have a bunch of pictures from him, yay! Some of them are a little dark, but here are a few for your enjoyment.

For the obligatory update: Currently, Peter is in Iowa, and I'm here in Virginia. We had a huge storm come through on Wednesday. It was bad enough to send the staff here to the basement. The power was knocked out and didn't come back on until sometime Late on Thursday or early this morning. Happily for me, I was able, after running Peter to Dulles, to head home and give our house a much needed spring clean!

Also, over Memorial Day weekend, we headed to Illy for my sister Jane's wedding. I do have some pictures, but my camera is daid, and so don't have them up here just yet:) She was a lovely bride:-)





gotta have that first kiss shot...























awww, my mother and grandmother...in Mary Kay that is....