Baby's first photo shoot.

Today was the best day ever! Not only was it our Anniversary (2 years), but it was also the day our first ultrasound was scheduled! We had very good pictures, mainly because my bladder was about to pop....oh, I digress; the baby was VERY active, he/she even bounced on it's head for a few seconds! (that definitely does NOT reflect my activity lately! ) Also, the baby had a very strong heartbeat, normal for a 9 week, 2 day old. (making my due date NOW March 7th.) And it will change again and again I am sure. We could see the baby almost immediately. As soon as I did, I began to cry. Did I say cry? I believe the word I am searching for is BAWL!!! Until today it wasn't real to me. I knew I was pregnant, but seeing it there on the screen was the greatest experience THUS far!!

At 9 weeks, he/she is only about an Inch long. But, it is soooo weird for me to look at these pictures and say that he/she is inside of me growing! WOW! What an amazing thing! Anyhow. Hope you guys enjoy the pictures, we know we did and will continue to until we get to meet little Jackie Jr. or Kari II!!

Doctor Update

Well, it has been officially confirmed.....we are having a baby! So, now all there is to do is eat, sleep and breathe "baby"!!! On August 2nd, I go in for an OB Orientation which consists of lots of paper work, and blood work ("yay's" not included!) Then on August 4th (our 2 year anniversary) (feel free to "YAY!") we go to the "dating ultrasound". All you mothers AND fathers out there already know what I am talking about, so for those of you that don't know...it's so they can "see" the baby, and make sure the size of the fetus corresponds with the estimated age they have come up with. But, all I really care about is that it will be the first ultrasound!!!!! THEN....on August 8th, I am scheduled to go in for a complete physical. (Do I really feel the need to explain that one? No.) So, that about catches everyone up. And, I will post more as the time comes! And, if you are at all wondering how I am coping...great! I feel tired, hungry and sick most of the time...but, I am enjoying the peace while it lasts!! haha. Just kidding! Oh wait, no I'm not! Well, thanks for looking at the blog! Can't wait to post more!!

Family Reunion

Saturday Jackie and I went to my family reunion. Well, one of them. This one was for my Granma's siblings and their families. It was the first time everyone has been together since my Great-Grandma, Mima's birthday party. Which was about...oh..I'd say..18 years ago. Yeah, I know, kinda sad....But, we finally got together! It was a lot of fun. Granma and Daddy were busy RE-Introducing me....and introducing Jackie to everyone....and after all that, we had a LOT of food, and a lot of catching up. So, it was a great time! But here are a few pictures....and hopefully soon, Granma will give me a copy of the WHOLE clan!


I assume that my Granma looks most like her dad, because her other sisters look just like Mima! It was pretty freaky when Aunt Ina walked into the room, because she looks like the Mima I remember. Anywho...For those of you that don't know who is who....From Left to Right is: My Granma Carol, Aunt Ina, Uncle Tommy, and Aunt Betty.

Just a little background, I never met my Great GrandFather. He drowned in the river when Granma was 2 years old. And, Mima never re-married. The reason why we don't get together at all...is because her brother and sisters all live in High Point. Which is on the other side of the state. Anyway, here are a few more pictures!

Graduations

The last of the kids have graduated (well, out of my siblings and me) So congratulations Brittany!!!!!! We are all so proud of you!

This is Brittany and Debi (her mom, my stepmom).

Dustin, Brittany, and their dad.

Debi and her kids, (Casey, Dustin, & Britt) with my dad, Jeff.

Me, Brittany, and Jackie

Chris (Britt's boyfriend) his dad, Norman, Brittany, and her dad.

By the way, Chris' dad passed away Friday. He went to the hospital last week, (he has been in and out of the hospital for a long time now), and Friday morning, he died unexpectedly of Heart Failure. So please keep this family in your prayers. We don't know for sure, but the way he was talking to Jackie, at Brittany's graduation, made it seem as if he were saved. So, we thank the Lord for that!

Diana Ross

Well, I am finally posting some of my pictures from The 2006 New York City Fleet Week festivities. For those that don't know the story, I will give a brief synopsis. 3 Marines and I were talking to 3 NYPD officers on Broadway, I believe between 48th and 49th. A woman walks out of a building about 20 feet from where we were and goes to get in a limo. I turn and say to the cops, "That woman must be rich". One of the cops says to me, "that is Diana Ross". I thought it was a joke and kind of laughed and turned around at the same time to see if it really was. While he was telling us who it was, I hear a woman's voice from that direction saying thank you's and that we look great in our uniforms. When I finally turn around, I see that it is her and walk over there and ask her if we can get a picture with her. She agreed happily.



We say goodbye, thank you, nice meeting you, etc... She drives away. A man comes out of the building about 5 minutes later and tells us not to go anywhere. He said he just got off the phone with Diana and she wanted to take us upstairs to her recording studio where she has been recording here new album. She just finished laying down her vocals for a song and was on her way to London, but she had her driver go around the block (a New York block) which took about 10 minutes. She pulls up to the door and hops out. She said let's go upstairs to the studio. I want you all to hear what I'm working on. We can't believe it. We get in an elevator and get out in her studio. We walk in the door and her walls were covered with records upon records that she has made over the years. That was very cool.

We are ushered into the actual sound room where they were recording that very moment. On the other side of the soundproof glass were her background vocalists trying to record the backgrounds for the song she just finished moments before. We were able to stand in there and watch them record while Diana was with us singing and carrying on.

We are in there for about 15-20 minutes and then she has to leave. She had to get to London. We all went downstairs and before she left I asked her if we could an autograph. She had no problem with that and did it happily. Then we said goodbye and she left.

She had a camerawoman with her that came down to the lobby before we went up the first time. She videotaped us from that time until Diana left about 30 minutes later. Then the camera lady took us to Times Square and videotaped us giving a little bio of ourselves and thanking Diana for everything. I could continue in greater detail, but this is suppose to be brief. That is all for now.

The End

Church Friends are FUN!!!

Our friends at church have become the best friends we could ask for!!
They were there for me when Jackie was gone, and they, unlike some friends, have been there for the both us since. We love them all dearly, and we always have a blast together!! So, here are some misc. pictures, some from Jackie's "SURPRISE!!" party, and from Church events.

BIRTHDAYS...BIRTHDAYS

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU, HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR:

JACKIE
SHER
EMILY
AUSTIN
JENNIFER
ZACHERY
JOY
AMY
ISABELLE
SHANE

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AND MANY MORE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ALL YOU ELWARTS!! WE CAN'T WAIT TO SEE YOU GUYS THIS SUMMER