Think Pink!!!

Chase and I had our 16 week appointment yesterday and found out that we are expecting a sweet little girl!!! We are beyond thrilled! It was such an amazing experience to get to see our little one again--we hadn't seen her on an ultrasound since 8 weeks (she really didn't look like much more than a blob then). She's sure been doing lots of growing in there! As we watched the screen, we could see her move and squirm around, even though I can't feel it yet. She looks like a baby now and we could see so many of her cute little features. I can't wait to kiss her little nose, hands, and feet in (hopefully) July!

Profile

Arm

Cute little foot

In the weeks leading up to us finding out, Chase and I tried to think of a creative way to tell our families. When in need of some creative inspiration, where else to turn to but to Pinterest? There were so many cute ideas, but we decided to bake cupcakes and put the corresponding color of frosting inside them. We had everyone bite into them at the same time to reveal our baby's gender. Everyone had to guess 'boy or girl' before they could find out, and I have to say that I was extremely impressed with the results! Everyone (except Jake) guessed girl---I guess we have some really intuitive people in our family! The cupcakes were by no means gourmet, but I think it was still a fun way for us to tell them.

Oh, Pinterest

Initial reactions

And again

Why, yes, that is a frosting mustache...

Now, on to the next big question.......what is her name going to be? We haven't really started the process of narrowing the list down. So, who knows when we will get that question answered....wish us luck!

Thanks for reading,

Caitlin

"Fearfully and Wonderfully Made"

I thought I would write a little celebratory post to commemorate the beginning of the 2nd trimester. I can't believe that I'm already a third of the way through this amazing journey! I am hopeful that any day now my morning sickness will go away for good....(seriously, please, PLEASE go away!)....and that I will get some energy back. I really can't complain that much--I have medicine that helps to manage the sickness and although it makes me even sleepier (can you imagine?), I can take a nap whenever I need to.

I have certainly started to "pop" and after my wardrobe options have significantly dwindled (I was down to one pair of pants that still fit), I found it necessary to go shopping. Yes, everyone, I have purchased my first pair of maternity jeans...and worn them. That felt quite strange, to say the least. I was amazed at how many options there are for maternity jeans: full panel, half panel, low-rise, no panel. It was a very confusing experience. But, after trying on about 20 pairs, I finally narrowed it down to a low-rise pair (I can't handle the panel yet....it's just too weird).

I also wanted to share with you what an incredible blessing this child has already been to us. This baby is truly an answer to prayer. I have been completely amazed by the artistry of God's creation. Every week, I read in books and online about the progress that our little one is making. Did you know that Baby Burnette already has fingerprints?  Or that he/she may already suck his/her thumb?

At 5 weeks, Baby's heart began to beat.

(Keep in mind that pregnancy is dated from your last menstrual period. So, you would be considered around 2 weeks pregnant at the time of conception and 4 weeks by the time you get a positive pregnancy test. 5 weeks would only be about 3 weeks from conception!)

At 6 weeks, Baby's eyes started to form, as did his/her liver, lungs, and stomach.

At 7 weeks, Baby was about the size of a blueberry and his/her sweet hands and feet were forming.

At 8 weeks, we had our first doctor's appointment. We got to see Baby and hear his/her heartbeat for the first time! It was such a relief to know that Baby was doing alright and everything was going well. Also this week, all of his/her organs, muscles, and nerves began to function and taste buds started to form.

At 9 weeks, Baby's tiny fingers and toes were visible.

At 10 weeks, Baby started swallowing and kicking, although I can't feel him/her yet. Fingernails and peach-fuzz hair started forming, too.

At 11 weeks, Baby had all of his/her parts--even down to his/her tooth buds. Baby's main task now is to grow larger and stronger.

At 12 weeks, Baby's reflexes began to develop and synapses in his/her brain are forming rapidly. Baby was about the size of a lime.

At 13 weeks, Baby has fingerprints.

During this week (week 14), Baby makes facial expressions and his/her eyebrows are starting to grow.

Can you believe how sophisticated and incredible our little miracle is? What an amazing God we have! I am often reminded of Psalm 139 and David's eloquent words:

Psalm 139

Search Me, O God, and Know My Heart

    To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

 ¹ O LORD, you have searched me and known me!
² You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
   you discern my thoughts from afar.
³ You search out my path and my lying down
   and are acquainted with all my ways.
⁴ Even before a word is on my tongue,
   behold, O LORD, you know it altogether.
⁵ You hem me in, behind and before,
   and lay your hand upon me.
⁶ Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
   it is high; I cannot attain it.

 ⁷ Where shall I go from your Spirit?
   Or where shall I flee from your presence?
⁸ If I ascend to heaven, you are there!
   If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!
⁹ If I take the wings of the morning
   and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
¹⁰ even there your hand shall lead me,
   and your right hand shall hold me.
¹¹ If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me,
   and the light about me be night,”
¹² even the darkness is not dark to you;
   the night is bright as the day,
   for darkness is as light with you.

 ¹³ For you formed my inward parts;
   you knitted me together in my mother's womb.
¹⁴ I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works;
   my soul knows it very well.
¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from you,
when I was being made in secret,
   intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
¹⁶ Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
in your book were written, every one of them,
   the days that were formed for me,
   when as yet there was none of them.

 ¹⁷ How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
   How vast is the sum of them!
¹⁸ If I would count them, they are more than the sand.
   I awake, and I am still with you.

 ¹⁹ Oh that you would slay the wicked, O God!
   O men of blood, depart from me!
²⁰ They speak against you with malicious intent;
   your enemies take your name in vain.
²¹ Do I not hate those who hate you, O LORD?
   And do I not loathe those who rise up against you?
²² I hate them with complete hatred;
   I count them my enemies.

 ²³ Search me, O God, and know my heart!
   Try me and know my thoughts!
²⁴ And see if there be any grievous way in me,
   and lead me in the way everlasting!

 

Praise God! It is humbling to think of how intricately God designed us--we are His 'masterpiece,' created in His own image. I am in awe as God knits away. I can only imagine the joy and inspiration that will accompany getting to see our beautiful baby with our own eyes.

Only a couple more weeks until we know the gender of Baby Burnette! Feel free to leave a comment and cast your vote as to your best guess : )

As always, thanks for reading and love to everyone,

Caitlin

One Plus One Makes Three?

Can you guess which one of us is pregnant?

I guess it's about time I updated this thing, huh?

For those of you who haven't heard the news yet (possibly those living in the frozen tundra of the Antarctic, or in the remotest parts of Timbuktu), Chase and I are expecting a little Baby Burnette this upcoming summer--July 23rd, to be exact!

Needless to say, we are so excited and can't wait to be parents! Now, the next big question is....boy or girl? We are definitely going to find out ASAP....hopefully in 5 more weeks at our 16 week doctor appointment. We are on the countdown.

Please remember us in your prayers as the baby grows and the pregnancy progresses.

On Sunday, Chase and I celebrated our 2 year anniversary. It's hard to believe, isn't it?! I am so incredibly thankful to God for Chase--he is the most amazing husband. I'm so excited to experience 2012 (and all the years to come) together. I know it's going to be challenging, but also very rewarding. He is going to be the best daddy!

Happy (belated) New Year, everyone!

Caitlin

Going with the Flow

For those of you who don't already know, Chase got sent back to the Lake County Captains on July 29th. He got the news while the Indians were on a road trip, so he had to fly from Winston-Salem, NC to Cleveland, OH with only the stuff he had packed for their one week trip. And he's been living off of that for over two weeks now (He did make a trip to Wal-mart for clean socks and underwear, tho). Haha!

This news put us in kind of a bad position, because we were only a couple days away from August, and in order to get out of paying rent for that month, we had to be moved out before the 1st...and Chase wasn't coming back to Kinston. We had to make a quick decision that I would not be going to Ohio with him for the month left in the season--it just didn't make sense for us to move all of our stuff up there and get an apartment for such a short period of time. So, I was going to pack up our stuff and take it back to Georgia.

What would we do without family? After I got the news, I called a person I knew I could count on--Mom. She and my brother, Ian, were able to come up on SUPER DUPER short notice to help me get moved out. Aren't they just amazing? They drove up to Kinston Friday night, and we packed up the cars, cleaned the apartment, and were on our way out of town by lunch time on Saturday. I don't know what we would have done without their help! (Except maybe be out a month's rent!)

This kind of lifestyle can be very difficult. It was heartbreaking to find out that I wouldn't be seeing Chase in 3 days, like expected, but that I really didn't know when I would see him again. I realize that may seem a little dramatic, but in the moment, before I had time to process anything, it felt like my little world was ending.

But don't worry, because now, I have a ticket to go up and visit him on August 31st. It still feels like forever away, but at least I have a date to count down to. And I am in Georgia, surrounded by our wonderful family and friends, who are great sources of support and distraction.

Please pray for us as we are apart--that is never easy. And pray that Chase's little bag of clothing lasts him until I can come up-haha!

Going with the flow,

Caitlin

taming the terrible tongue tirade (complete with tongue twisters)

Those of you who read this blog regularly know that I normally don't rant and complain often. And those who know me also know that I don't get angry very often. And yelling...that just doesn't happen...ever. But, there's been something that is bothering me lately and this is a good outlet.

It's hard for me to think of another profession in which one performs almost entirely in the public eye like Chase does every day (maybe a politician would compare). While it can have its good moments--others are quick to congratulate when you are doing well, it unfortunately has its downfalls, too.

 It seems more and more that people are coming to the games, not to cheer on the team, but for entertainment. I know that is what baseball is about--fun, games, entertainment. However, when that entertainment becomes making fun of and taunting the players and coaches, I believe that crosses the line. And we are not talking about kids--these are grown men and women. It seems that there is little respect for the time and effort these players and coaches put in and the level of skill it takes for them to compete here.

It is the hardest thing to sit in the stands and have to listen to people criticize and belittle my husband and his teammates when what I really would like to do is to ask them to be quiet (rather impolitely), inform them that the person that they are referring to is my husband, and tell them how much more entertaining it would be to watch THEM go down on that field and try to hit the baseball! I mean really...do they honestly think they could do a better job that these players? Because they way the carry on, it sure seems like it.

But, that would not be very Christ-like of me to do or say. So I just sit; I try to tune it out.

Baseball is a hard game to play. Even the BEST of the BEST are lucky to succeed at getting a hit 30% of the time. Therefore, it's very easy to get frustrated and upset when you are failing more than succeeding; especially when you have silly (and sometimes drunk) people yelling at you whenever you don't.

USA Today--The hardest thing to do in sports: getting bat to meet ball

I would like to think that this issue may be the worst at this level-being that hardly anyone has a loyalty to a minor league team and so those who come mostly do for the entertainment/social aspect. In college ball, as well as in the bigs, most go to support "their" team, or they at least feel some sense of respect for the players.

I know there will be criticizing and taunting at every level of athletic competition. Competition can certainly bring out the worst in people, can't it? Whether Chase does make it to the Big Leagues, or if it's our son or daughter playing T-ball, I'm sure we will have to face it in the future. That doesn't make it alright. And this sort of disrespect for other people is certainly something that we will NOT want to teach our children  (Lord willing that we have some one day).

Alright, enough with the angry rambling. It's not all bad--it's sweet and endearing to hear the little girl behind me say "Oh, I like Chase, he's cute!" (not so sweet and endearing if the girl isn't so little), or hear the boy on my row scream, "Go Chase Burnette!" when he is up to bat. I hope these children won't learn to disrespect the players from adults that may be sitting around them in the future.

Please, the next time you go to a sporting event--whether it be your child's soccer game, a high school football game, or a Braves game, show respect for the players and coaches by minding your tongue. And teach your kids to respect them, too. Just because the players are competing publicly, they shouldn't become targets for public ridicule. How would you feel if the player being taunted or criticized was your child or husband?

James 2: 2ff English Standard Version

"2 For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. 3 If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. 4 Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. 5 So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things...8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. 10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water?"

Thanks for reading my little diatribe. It sure feels better to get it out there.



And now for the tongue twisters : ) This post needs something to lighten it up.

Even though this has nothing to do with anything...here we go, take a whack at these:


Ed had edited it.


Give Mr. Snipe's wife's knife a swipe.

Red leather, yellow leather.

The sixth sick sheik's sixth sheep's sick.

Betty Botter bought some butter,
"But," she said, "this butter's bitter.
If I bake this bitter butter,
It will make my batter bitter.
But a bit of better butter -
That would make my batter better."
So she bought a bit of butter,
Better than her bitter butter,
And she baked it in her batter,
And the batter was not bitter.
So 'twas better Betty Botter
Bought a bit of better butter.

Three free throws.

If you need even more practice taming that tongue of yours, you can click here.



Love to everyone,
Caitlin

Elise is a S-E-N-I-O-R?!?

Luckily for Chase and I, Elise rode back to Kinston with us after Niki and Chandler's wedding to spend the week. It's hard to believe that she is now a senior!  As a means of celebrating that accomplishment (and trying to keep from being bored) we had some fun around town taking some senior pictures. Elise is so special to me and I loved getting to spend time with her doing this. She is so sweet, generous, and absolutely BEAUTIFUL inside and out--the best little sister ever! I love you, Elise! 

Here is a preview of some of the pictures we took--enjoy!

 

Busy Bees

Well, it has been a busy couple weeks for us! Visitors, trip home, and Niki and Chandler's WEDDING!

In May, the Crafts stopped by to see us on their way to the Outer Banks. It was truly wonderful to see them! Holly came prepared with her cameras (Yes, camerasss) to take pictures-she is a wonderful photographer! We have missed them and all of our Chestnut Drive family so much! Thank you for coming to see us!

Also, Chase's grandparents came up for a spontaneous visit a couple weeks ago. We really loved getting to spend some time with them and enjoyed our talks! We are so glad you decided to come up!

I got to come home for a little over a week prior to Niki and Chandler's wedding. It worked out perfectly because Chase was going to be on a road trip for most of that time anyway. It was so nice to spend lots of time with my Quinn and Burnette families. I wish I had taken more pictures, but there's nothing I can do about it now... : ) One day while at home, we met my Mimi and Papa and cousins, Aaron and Austin, for a picnic lunch. Even though our original plans for a picnic by the pond were dashed by construction work, we still had fun.

Then, the highlight of the week at home was (of course) the wedding! It was absolutely beautiful and I am so honored that I got to be a part of it. Chase and I are just overflowing with happiness for Niki and Chandler. We love you! Again...wish I had taken some pictures....




You will just have to use your imagination when reading this post : )


And I wish I had gotten some pictures of Chase and I in our wedding attire...I believe that's the only time I've seen Chase in a tux (the men wore suits for our wedding)...not sure how long it will be until that happens again.



I know I have been bad about posting. I will try to be better, I promise!

Love to everyone,

Caitlin