Happy Birthday Holli!!!!

I'm definitely a few posts behind.... Tucker and I took a quick trip to PA to visit some family. Tucker enjoyed some much cherished time with GG (what all the great-grandchildren call my grandmother, short for "Great Grandma"), though I think GG enjoyed him even more! :) We were so busy during our brief trip that I didn't even get one picture to capture the memories! I'm so disappointed about that.... But, the time spent with Grandma was worth the 8 1/2 hour drive.


With all that busyness, I failed to post a Birthday Wish to my baby sister! Holli turned 25 on June 19th. Happy Quarter of a Century Holli!!!! :) Here is a pic from her birthday celebration! Wes, myself, and Tucker love you!!! :) MUAH!!!

Happy Father's Day to the BESTEST Daddy-to-be!!!

Tucker is one lucky, BLESSED little boy! (And he's not even here yet!) He has the most wonderful Daddy ever! His Daddy is already totally in love with him! He smiles from ear to ear just at the mention of his name! Tucker is trying his hardest to get strong enough so Daddy can feel him move around in Mommy's tummy. Mommy can tell that his movements are getting stronger and stronger and it won't be long before Daddy can feel his son twist and tumble!

Tucker wants Mommy to make sure she also tells Daddy how very much he loves him right back! Tucker loves to hear Daddy's voice! He loves when Daddy rubs Mommy's tummy and talks to him and tells him about all the fun stuff they will do once Tucker gets here! He loves when Daddy reads stories to him! He loves how Daddy holds him at night while everyone sleeps!

Tucker also wants to make sure that Mommy tells Daddy that he says, "Happy Father's Day to the BESTEST Daddy-t0-be!!!" For Father's Day, Tucker got Daddy a book called "Daddy and Me" and had Mommy write Daddy a letter from him. Daddy loved it! :)

Happy Father's Day, Wes!
Tucker and I love, love, LOVE you very much!!!! :)
Love, Mommy & Tucker

No Air (No, not Jordan Sparks!)

Well, Wes and I got home last night from a day in Springfield and were greeted by a wave of hot air when we came in from the garage. Not the greeting we were expecting, that's for sure! At some point yesterday while we were gone, our AC went out!!! Grrrr! Not a good place to be when you're more than 5 months pregnant! Today we spent the day in the pool at Mom and Dad's, and of course, took the girls with us so they could enjoy the AC. Now, we're home again. It's actually not so bad in the basement and Wes is so sweet, he went out and bought some really nice fan for his pregnant wife. Hopefully the repair guys will be out tomorrow.... (Prayers welcomed and appreciated!)

This whole little "ordeal" has definitely made me appreciate the AC, that's for sure! Not something I will take for granted anytime soon!

Tucker's making himself known!

It happened for the first time a couple days ago........

I was in the changing room at the gym, I was dressed in my work-out gear, had just put on my shoes. Then, as I sat on the bench, I bent down to tie those shoes. Nope. It just wasn't happening. It wasn't until I had subconsciously put my ankle on the knee of the alternate leg to tie my shoe that I realized what had just happened. That belly that I'm "embracing" was in the way! I said aloud, "Well, Tuck, it was only a matter of time! Let's go burn some calories!"

Complaining? Naw, it means Tucker is growing and growing and that's just what I want! I love being pregnant! ;)

What's in a Name?

A child has to carry the name given to him by his parents for his whole life. It's a very important decision for a parent to make. Fortunately, for us, this decision comes pretty easily! Wes and I have had our future children's names picked out for some time :) and now, it's time to share Baby Keene's name with you all! (Though, if you asked us, we told you already. We haven't been keeping it a secret.)

Baby Keene's name is......... Drum roll please.............

"JAMES TUCKER"

It's important to us that the name we pick for our son is meaningful. How much more meaning than a name that comes from his daddy and his daddy's daddy? Wesley's first name is James. Tucker comes from Wesley's father, his grandfather. He'll go by his middle name like Daddy does.

So, introducing, at a little over 20 weeks in utero, TUCKER KEENE!!!! (or "Tuck" as Mommy and Daddy sometimes call him! :)

Actually, Wes does the introduction much better. It goes something like this (in his best announcer voice):

"And now, for the starting line up for YOUR Kentucky Wildcats! At guard, a 6'5'' freshman from Shelbyville, KY, TUCKER KEENE!"

(Not sure where Tuck's gonna get that height from, that's a few inches taller than Daddy, but we'll go with it for now! Of course, the talent will come from Mommy!!! :)

Baby Keene's First Photo Session!

The ultrasound. As I previously said, this was something that Wes and I have been looking forward to since we knew we were pregnant. After all, it's the first time we got to see Baby Keene! (The pic to the right was taken right before we left for our appointment, can you tell were excited?!)

This post would be much longer if I had words to describe the experience, but I don't. All I can say is: It was truly AMAZING! As I laid there, watching the life God has blessed me with tumble and twist inside of me and looking at the ear-to-ear smile on the face of the very proud daddy, one of my favorite songs came to mind, "How Great is Our God!" How great and how perfect!

Baby Keene definitely gave Mommy and Daddy a show! He was playing with his hands and feet. It was so cute!!!! Here is a pic of the cute, little bugger: :)

Contentness...

It has taken me sometime to come back and post about our extremely exciting ultra sound experience (AKA Baby Keene's photo session). Believe me, I'm not without things to post about, I've just been, um, well, occupied. Okay, okay, I'll admit it.... My name is Tiffany Keene, I am a mommy-to-be to a sweet baby boy, and I am OBSESSED with nursery planning! I've been spending all my free time in the evenings researching baby bedding and cribs and designing and fantasizing about Baby Keene's nursery!!!! I'm ashamed to admit that my house keeping has been way below par, I have neglected to walk the girls a couple nights, and I have spent way too much time online at work since finding out we were having a BOY!!!! OKAY, {deep breath}, that's out.

It's just so hard to concentrate on anything else now that I know Baby Keene is a boy! I want to plan, plan, plan and do lots of exciting fun things that I had been holding off on until we knew whether we were having a boy or girl! And, let me just tell you, nursery planning is hard! You would think that I've had the past 5 months to think about what I would like for our nursery for both a boy and a girl and that I would be ready to go the moment we found out. Not the case. Believe me, I've looked but there's so much out there, I decided I would wait until my search could be narrowed to either blues or pinks. Unfortunately, my searches have brought me to some very pricey finds! I cannot believe the amount of money people pay for baby bedding! The pictures to the right are not bedding choices I've picked out, though that would be nice since I'm a fan of both. They are options I came across web surfing that are almost $1,000 for 3 or 4 piece sets!!! I just cannot believe people pay that much!!! If you know someone that sews and can pull off a knock-off look for a few hundred, you're lucky. However, I would suggest doing that and instead of using it in your nursery, selling it!!! Obviously, you could make quite a profit! :)

While I would no doubt agree that $1,000 for bedding is WAY OUT of my price range, I have found myself stretching what I think is a reasonable amount to pay for various nursery items (i.e., furniture, bedding, swivel gliders, etc.). The other night, I was explaining my nursery plans to Wes. I first asked him to close his eyes and picture himself in the room that is the nursery-to-be. I then explained the color on the walls, the furniture, the bedding, the overall atmosphere of the room. (I even included the window seat that, in my fantasy, Wes had built for the bay windows!) I was excited and wanted him to open his eyes and be able to see the same twinkle of excitement in his eyes too. WELL, instead, he looked blankly at me and said, "Can you give me a cost estimate for all this?" WHAT! NO, I cannot give you a cost estimate! Does it matter! I mean, this is our son's nursery! I'm not going overboard, it's not like I'm buying this adorable toile bedding that cost $850 or anything! GOSH! Can you really put a price on our son's happiness?!

Okay, obviously I'm exaggerating (a little). The point is, Wes was right (yes Babe, I said it!). Baby Keene would be happy in a nursery with a good, comfy mattress and some toys. Many things, like some of the bedding, will be used for such a limited amount of time, is it really worth going overboard on? Of course, I want a fabulous nursery, but don't want to break the bank to do it.

To top it off, in the mix of all my self-realization, our Sunday School lesson Sunday was on being content. I admit that I often find myself in a state of un-contentness. I often want more, mainly materialistic things. I am embarrassed to admit it and I'm ashamed that I have not been more content with the things that God has, through HIS grace, given me. About Six years ago, Wes and I were engaged, I had just started graduate school, and I had lots of goals and dreams. I wanted to marry Wes, finish graduate school, get a great job, buy a house, and have a baby. Those were my goals, my dreams, that is what I wanted. I thought once I reached those goals, those dreams, I would be happy, completely content. What more could I want? I HAVE ALL THOSE THINGS and so much more!!! I have an amazing, absolutely AMAZING husband. We are extremely blessed to have good, stable jobs, especially in this economy when there are people who do not have a job and who do not know where their next meal will come from. We have a beautiful home. Don't get me wrong, I am very happy, I absolutely love my life and could not be happier, but why is it so easy to take these things for granted and to not be content? I overly use the following phrase to Wes: "You know what we need?" And then I follow it with whatever my "want" is that I think will make me content, such as hardwood floors, a new bedroom suite, etc.

"I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I now what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry. I can do all things through him who gives me strength." Philippians 4:11-13

I pray that I will not take for granted the wonderful "things" God has so graciously blessed me with and that I will use those things to HIS glory.

Baby Keene shares HIS secret!

Today, June 3rd, 2009, was Baby Keene's very first photo session!

Which means, it's the moment Mommy and Daddy have been anticipating for months now, and Baby Keene did not show any stage fright at all! The show was full of twists, tumbles, somersaults, hand-waving, kicking, and organ-showing-off!

So, without further ado, Baby Keene was very enthusiastic to "show" us that HE is in fact, very much so, a BOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mommy and Daddy are absolutely THRILLED!!!!

WE ARE HAVING A SON!!!!!!!! WOW!!!!!

Stay tuned for more fun facts about our very first ultrasound and very first chance to see Baby Keene! (Right now, Mommy is tired from all the excitement of the day!)

Goodnight Mommy's sweet baby boy!