He's Here!!

We have been soooo very busy, but here are a few pics of the little man. I really have plans to write out the birth story, but I have also been trying to upload these for days, so we'll see about that.

Joseph Porter Chappell

12.17.09

7 lbs. 7 oz.

3:13 p.m.

35.5

I am so far behind at this point that I am not even going to try to catch up! So I will just hit the highlights.

I am tired, uncomfortable and swollen. I am over this for real.

Okay so... big things:

1. This baby does have a name, and no, it is not a secret. I can't believe I haven't posted it... I had good intentions. (I was going to introduce him with a beautiful 4D picture of his sweet face, but then he didn't exactly cooperate, and I forgot.) We are naming him Joseph Porter Chappell. Both are family names. There were just too many options out there, so we decided family was the way to go (and Justin didn't want him named Edward Cullen Chappell...). Joseph was my great-grandfather's name and also Justin's grandfather's name. Porter was my great uncle who raised my Grandmother Frances (when Joseph died). We are going to call him Porter. I have only known one other Porter in my life (a good friend in college), and he is a pretty good guy, so I feel safe in this choice. We have gotten in the habit of calling him JoPo. Justin says that he is going to be the best running back in the SEC, and "Run JoPo Run" is a Nike campaign waiting to happen. I do hope he isn't too disappointed when the child inherits my athletic prowess... Anyway, we must stop calling him JoPo pronto...it just rolls off the tongue...

2. I had my last day at work on November 11. It couldn't have come soon enough. I have been super-busy trying to get everything done before the baby comes. I run out of steam quickly, so this has not been easy. Who knew how long it would take to wash all those tiny clothes?! And we still have not finished his room. And I have been trying to get all the Christmas presents bought and wrapped... my list is long, people. Please pray that I get it all done. I am not very good at sitting and waiting; I like a plan. And a firm date and time. And apparently that is not how childbirth works, so I get frustrated easily. I am a joy to be around...

3. Showers!! I have had several showers in different cities!! I really have felt so loved by everyone involved... my mother's friends, friends who drove HOURS to see me (one days after giving birth herself), perfect menus, no details overlooked... It has been overwhelming, to say the least. I was going to post separately about each one, but that would take forever, and I am still missing some pictures (why I can't be trusted to take them on my camera is beyond me....) These pictures are backwards chronologically, which drives me nuts, but whatever...

Me and Mom

Lauren, Krista, Lyndsay, Sally, me, Lucy, Nicole & Carson Jill, Kat, Kelly, Kristen & Kelley

My AU Besties: Caroline, Taylor & Lindsey

Pretty table at Kelly's house

The hostesses: Katie, Kristen, Jill, Nicole & Kelly

Mom opening her present!

Fun truck theme at Mrs. JoAnn's house

I think that is it for today... I have to sing the praises of my sweet husband, who has taken over all the household duties and has listened to me complain non-stop with little irritation on his part. He did tell me to suck it up yesterday...that I only had a maximum of 4 weeks left, and couldn't I just keep it to myself for 10 minutes???? But he said that after listening to me grunt with every step all the way around the mall for hours... I wish I could keep it to myself, but it just comes out. Which is another good reason for me to NOT blog right now!! Who wants to read this drivel... I'll update when I have something nice to say. :)

And God bless single mothers. I think about them all the time.

Imagine That

We are in Dothan helping my parents with a home renovation project. {I am in charge of getting the lemonade.}

What better time to get a 4D ultrasound?

Too bad our baby is already completely defiant.

First attempt (yesterday 7:30 a.m.), he was balled up. All we could see was his spinal cord and back of his head. Zero pictures.

Second attempt (yesterday, 3:00 p.m.), this is what we got:

Little feet

Little fingers saying "No pictures, please. I am far too beautiful for you to see my face."
I think he is very much like his Uncle Aaron...

I hope he is more cooperative when we try again...

I am staying here until I see what he looks like.

Thirty, Flirty & Thriving...

The birthday is over, and I think Justin has been sufficiently celebrated.

I wanted to make this birthday super special for him because:
1. He's 30.
2. He has put up with a lot of crap from me. I have not enjoyed pregnancy, nor do I know the meaning of the phrase "suffer in silence." The man is a saint.

I saved and saved all my piddly allowance for months so I could buy him a super cool, 30-worthy, adult present.

I think he likes it!

It's a Big Green Egg! But since I couldn't wrap that huge thing, I made a little green egg to throw him off the trail.

We had a party! With invitations! And yummy cake & cupcakes from a real bakery!

Here are two of my new favorite people. LeLe and Katie. LeLe is a recent Auburn grad and newlywed. She is taking my job at the church. We should all stop right now and pray for her. Katie also works at the church. She is the Children's Ministry Director. They are going to miss me SO MUCH come November.

Me and J on his big day.

Nicole, Sally and Adriane.
Peter the Pirate

Men. Outside in the heat and humidity. Sorry about the fog.

More men. More fog.

The bounty of food from Moe's BBQ. They really do a great catering job. I was impressed. Their stuff is yum-o. We had pork, beans & squash casserole. And white sauce. I do love a good white sauce.

We had to eat outside, because our house does not hold 40 people.

Me and Jason (who looks positively thrilled to have his picutre taken)

Chocolate cake with chocolate buttercream icing. Nicole said it was the best cake she's ever had! (It was a bit much for me...) From Something Sweet in Daphne.

Lighting the candles in my cute shirt!

Happy Birthday to you!

And thanks to Lucy for taking the pictures!

Happy Birthday!

Today is my man's 30th birthday!

In honor of his special day, I thought I'd share something a bit personal that I know will mean a lot to him.

Once upon a time Kristen encouraged me to make a list of all the qualities I would want in a husband. We talked a lot about our "hot Christian husbands," but we didn't know for sure what we really wanted them to be like. Since there were zero prospects at the ripe old age of 22, my list was lofty and ambitious. And long! And it had to be revised several times because, at that point in life, I cared a lot about non-character attributes. I believe "owns a car, owns a house, has a 401k" were high priorities...

I really put a lot of time and energy into the list, and of course, forgot all about it six months later (when Mr. Car, House, 401k asked me out--and he turned out to be a total idiot...). I found it a couple years ago when we moved here and was absolutely floored when I read it. My Justin is my list in the flesh. A totally hypothetical wish list of attributes stands beside me everyday, and I am so blessed to be his wife. I keep the list in my jewelry drawer, so I see it often. And every time I take a second to glance it over, I thank God for the person that Justin is, and that he chose me.

Here's the list... Don't laugh {remember that it's old--And if you get bored reading, just skip on...it's for Justin anyway}.

1. Spiritual leader who challenges me in my walk with Christ


2. Ambitious and focused with direction


3. Wise & mature


4. Athletic


5. Taller than me {imagine that...}


6. Beautiful...eyes...


7. Pure


8. Funny


9. Not afraid to cry before the Lord


10. Likes me to sit in his lap


11. Friends with my friends


12. Honors me in words and actions


13. Uplifting


14. Genuine and real--no secrets


15. I can be myself around him


16. God focused


17. Leader in the church


18. Likes to play outside--even in the rain


19. Not controlling or selfish


20. Fun and spontaneous


21. Likes to sing loud


22. Plays an instrument {J can play a couple chords on the guitar...that counts?}


23. Liked and admired by others


24. Has a good relationship with his parents and siblings


25. Intelligent, smart, stimulating


26. Good with money


27. Comforting


28. Will scratch my head


29. Likes to snuggle while watching movies, especially scary ones


30. Loves me unconditionally without reservation


31. Accepts my faults and helps me to improve


32. Desires God's will more than anything


33. Lets me shop


34. Thinks I am the most beautiful woman in the world


35. Can fix cars and household appliances


36. Wants to travel


37. Appreciates the "finer things in life" {I am pretty sure I meant good food}


38. Gentle


39. Has manners


40. A servant


41. Thoughtful


42. Patient and kind


43. Trustworthy


44. Knows how to listen


45. Stable and secure {maybe this was the car, house, 401k boiled down?}


46. Decisive


47. Unselfish


48. Affirming


49. Dependable


50. Lets me stay home with the kids


51. Sensitive, compassionate, affectionate


52. Respectful and self-controlled


53. Giving


54. Attentive to the needs of others


55. Makes decisions in our best interest


56. Can cook

Happy Birthday to you, my Ju-C. I hope this year is our best yet. I love you more than anything!

We had a little party this weekend...more pictures coming!

Shop Till You Drop... Literally.

A couple weekends ago I headed off to Birmingham to do a little shopping with the Sims Sisters. What started as a quick trip to the city for Lindsey's baby shower quickly turned into a well-planned shopping extravaganza for Lauren. She had money to spend, and Lucy and I were more than willing to help her spend it. Being a personal shopper is so fun!! And exhausting...

We left Fairhope at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday morning. We stopped at Chick-fil-A for breakfast, and made it to Birmingham just in time to eat lunch at the new O'Carr's in Cahaba Heights. YUM-O!!! (most of the weekend revolved around food...) Lauren had never had their chicken salad before. Poor Lauren. She is now just as sad as I am that there is no O'Carr's here.Me and Lucy had fun trying on all the stuff we would probably never buy... Lauren had wads of cash. That must be nice. She got so much cute stuff!!

We had dinner at Surin West downtown (Super Crunch and Crab Angels, of course) and went back to the Summit for some dessert from Cheesecake Factory. TO GO. Notice that it is very dark outside. By this point, I thought for sure the baby was about to fall out right in front of Anthropologie. We didn't check in at our hotel until 8:30 p.m. I was about to collapse. Now a word about the Hampton Inn... I really really love the Hampton Inn. Their pillows are nice. Their beds are so comfy. Even their free breakfast is pretty darn good. I might could live in a Hampton Inn if I had to.

We woke up early on Sunday morning, ate at the hotel and got ready for more shopping before Lindsey's shower.

Lucy let me fix her hair. A mini-me! Isn't it beautiful? I do love a good poof.

Here's Lauren with all her bags...

And here's one of the v. cute shoes we all bought at Target! Our Target is lacking a bit.

I would like for someone to buy me this headband from J.Crew. It was $40, and I just couldn't justify that, which was really surprising. Usually when I am in Birmingham something inside me clicks, and I instantly revert to Single Emily who doesn't care about price tags and frequently blows entire paychecks on frivolous purchases. Maybe it was because I spent my last $20 on the purple shoes... Darn that Dave Ramsey.

We grabbed a quick lunch at Jason's Deli (a first for Lauren & Lucy) and finally made it to Lindsey's baby shower. It was so fun to see Lindsey with her pregnant belly! I can't believe that two girls who once had a serious yelling match over cleaning out a cooler for hunch punch are having kids. It is very surreal. I hope our boys will be roommates at Auburn and never ever drink any hunch punch.

Please notice that Lucy took down her poof. What a stick in the mud.

And when we finally got home at 9:30 p.m. on Sunday night, I thought I might die. For real. On the drive home I started having some sharp, shooting pains that I was pretty sure were not supposed to be happening. I described them to Kay Bostic, who immediately freaked out and said I should go to the hospital. I got home and in the bed, and they subsided. Since I already had an appointment with my OB scheduled for the next day, I decided to forgo the trip to the ER. He had to check me (which was quite painful...I wasn't prepared for that...), and he said everything was just fine. And that he could feel the baby's head. So apparently home boy is hanging out as low as possible without falling out. There is plenty of room for him in there...if I were him I'd move up a bit...stretch out... It would make 12-hour shopping days easier on both of us.

Say Hello to My Little Friend!

I decided to be a bit domestic today and clean the glass on our front door. This is one of those chores that I never think about, and so it probably only gets done maybe twice a year. Unless it gets so bad that Justin can't handle it, then he will do it himself.

I even took off the grapevine wreath and set it to the side for maximum glass cleanliness.

I was adjusting the bow when I discovered that a pesky little lizard has made himself at home within the loops.

I screamed and ran inside.

And repeatedly tapped on the glass to make him go away. He didn't.

An hour later, here he is chilling in my wreath. Sorry the picture quality is poor... I wasn't willing to venture outside to take a good one... Lizards kind of freak me out.