He's Employed!

Although we are eagerly awaiting the arrival this baby, the English family got some very unexpected news today! Jesse got a JOB! He had an interview this afternoon with the US Forest Service.  We were very excited about this position he was being interviewed for, but never expected them to OFFER HIM THE JOB today! So, after he finishes out the semester and graduates, the Englishes are moving to Washington D.C.!    

When he was laid off 3 years ago, we had no idea what our future held.  Being 5 months into marriage, the "honeymoon" ended quickly and we had to deal with a very serious reality of what would happen next for us.  After applying for jobs and interviewing only to be told no, we made the decision to come back to Starkville for Jesse to get his masters degree and "wait out" the state of the economy.  It is so incredible to see the Lord's timing through all of this.  I was able to get a great job that I LOVE (and DONT want to leave...ugh) and Jesse has been excelling through his master's program. He loves the field of landscape architecture and couldn't imagine himself doing anything else now. When we found out we were pregnant back in June, we found ourselves again in a place where we were questioning the Lord's plan for our lives and again had to deal with what would happen next for us.  The past 9 months have been a big time for us to trust the Lord.  Little did we know that the day before this baby is due that Jesse would have a job lined up that would provide for our family in amazing ways.  Praise be to God!  

He is signing the official paperwork and then they will figure out a start date, but it won't be until sometime in June most likely.  We are SO excited, but it is bittersweet.  We have LOVED our time in Starkville and I love my job and coworkers and can't imagine leaving them.  We have been so blessed through the extra 3 years we've had in Starkville.  We can only trust that the Lord will provide for all of our my fears that come with this move... big city, far from home, with a 4 month old... but if we have learned anything over the past 3 years, its that we are not in control of our lives...

...so.... Come on, Baby Turner! Tomorrow is your day! We are ready for you!!!

Then and Now

Anyone remember this picture?  (Yet again, I apologize for the background items.)  This was taken at 17 weeks when I tried on the bump in the dressing room at Motherhood Maternity...

... and here we are today at 38.5 weeks!  

People have been asking for an updated picture, so there you go!  All 7.5 lbs of baby.  

Happy Weekend!

Baby Shower

Week 38 has arrived, but baby Turner has not decided that he is ready to enter the world quite yet! I really can't believe that I am just 2 weeks away from my due date of February 22!  I am technically full term, so he could come any day now, but the doc thinks I will make it to the due date.  We go back to the doctor on Thursday and I'm excited to get an update!  I have been having some contractions here and there, my lower back hurts really bad at the end of the day, and sleeping is getting hard...but other than that I'm feeling pretty good, as good as you can in the last few weeks. If I'm sitting for any period of time, you can usually find my heating pad on my lower back to relieve the back pain.  Jesse has to help me up from time to time and help with my shoes...he has been such a trooper recently, especially when I randomly get emotional...sometimes it is for a legit reason, and others for no real reason at all. Fun, huh?  

When we were in Memphis for Jill and Alan's wedding a few weekends ago, we stayed with our good friends Casey and Laura Zumwalt.  We are always so blessed by their friendship and had the best time with them.  That weekend they were so sweet to offer to take some maternity shots for us.  It's been about...oh 3 years since we have had our picture taken by professionals, so it was really fun to go out for a shoot!  Especially when it is with good friends!  We decided to walk around Rhodes College in Memphis for the shoot.  What a beautiful place! These pictures will be so special to us for years and years to come, as they were taken exactly one month before Turner's due date.  Here's a sneak peak and we can't wait to see the rest!

The very next weekend, 6 of my sweet friends hosted a shower for baby Turner in Starkville!  It was so great to see so many friends and celebrate this baby boy!  He is certainly loved by so many who are anxiously awaiting his arrival.  We have been so blessed through our friendships and everyone's excitement for our new little family.  He is the first baby in our friend group, so we are all excited and a little freaked out that we are getting to his age.  I keep telling everyone that Turner will need friends, so I'm excited to see who all will be next!!!  Lindsay Warden is already on board.  :)

The shower was at Mrs. Debbie Cooper's house.  Mrs. Debbie will be made a grandmother in July, so she thought my shower would be the perfect excuse to get her crib ready for her little grandbaby.  :)  What a perfect place to put the presents as they arrived!  So creative!

A candy pacifier tree!

Kaylan Duggar and Rachel Brocato

Elizabeth Blaine and Mary Renfroe

Emily Vanderpool and Abby Spann

Ashley Powell and Margaret Claire Walker

Kate Sherrard, Debbie Cooper, Leah Power, and Lindsay Warden (+Baby Everett)

Laura Tennant, yours truly, and Naron Brister

My wonderful hostesses!  Kaylan Duggar, Kelley English, Lindsay Warden, Rachel Brocato, Mary Renfroe, and Laura Tennant.  I can't thank yall enough for taking the time to put on this shower.  It was such a blessing!

Turner got some adorable outfits, homemade blankets, books, a diaper bag, and his carseat, just to name a few things!  He is set!  One of my favorite things from the shower were all the sweet messages for baby Turner.  Each guest was asked to fill out one of these cards:

Kelley is making a scrapbook with all of the sheets that were filled out.  Even my niece, Ashlyn, filled one out.  Some of hers made me laugh... "I hope you learn to do gymnastics." "I hope you laugh at funny jokes."  "I hope you never forget that you like me." "I hope you become a salesman."  

We sent some home for our dads, brothers-in-law, and nephews to fill out.  Jesse and I filled out ones of our own after the shower, and man that was pressure! It made us realize how much of a role we will be playing in making these wishes come true.  One of my favorites was Jesse's last one, which said "I hope you grow old with someone you love."  Melt my heart.  

So, 2 weeks to go!  Our emotions are all over the place, but we are so thankful to have each other and the support from all of our friends and family.  Please pray for the three of us as we get ready for Turner's arrival!  Love you all!