Day 230

All packed up and just waiting on someplace to go...

Day 229

Today (for lack of much else to do), we celebrated Izzie's 5th birthday. Bailey was pretty happy about making (and eating) cookies and "helping Izzie blow the candles out." She even made Izzie a card and wrapped up a bone for her. Now if we could just go ahead and celebrate someone else's birthday, I'd be a really happy camper!!!

Day 228

Bailey came home from her grandparents' house the other night and excitedly informed us that G-Pa had a "golden tooth!" She said the same thing about my mom's teeth a while ago and David and I had to laugh. Of course, she is talking about golden crowns on their back molars. But to hear her speak of the "golden teeth" is as if they won a prize. Here's my goofy girl showing off her lack of golden teeth!

Day 227

37 weeks and still hanging on! By a thread though! Today I have made peace with the fact that Baby Max will make his debut on God's time and not mine! I can't believe I made it this far and know that every second he spends inside the womb (although excruciatingly painful for me) is better for him! So this morning I drug out some maternity clothes that don't even fit anymore (that's a whole other can of worms!!!) and took a pic much like the one I took at 37 weeks with Bailey. Funny that I actually went into labor the night that I took this picture before- will it have the same effect this time???

37 weeks pregnant with Bailey!

37 weeks pregnant with Max!

Day 226

So I was looking through my stack of ultrasound pictures today and dreaming of what my little man will look like! (You'd think with almost 40 pics, we'd have some idea!)

I also started thinking about what type of man he will become, which got me thinking about 2 more deaths that have devastated our community lately. About a week after hearing the news of the death of our friend Melissa Maggio, I learned of the death of two of my high-school classmates as well. It was a sad, sad day for all of us who were blessed to know Jonas and Rob.

Lt. Commander and Navy SEAL Jonas Kelsall (on the left) joined the military after graduation and became one of the first members of SEAL Team 7. I regret that I did not know Jonas well, but remember him in high school as a humorous and hard-working young man. He was a star player on our high-school soccer team and went on to bravely serve his country with the SEALs.

Jonas, along with Chief Petty Officer Rob Reeves (right) were killed August 6 when their CH-47 Chinook helicopter was downed by a Taliban rocket near Kabul, Afghanistan.

I did have the privilege of knowing Rob since we were about 3 years old. Rob the kind of guy everyone wanted to be friends with. He had a kind heart and was a loyal friend. He was known for his humorous outlook on life and his sense of adventure. Rob attended LSU for one year and then enrolled in the Navy and served with the SEALs for 13 years. He was a part of the now-famous SEAL Team 6.

Both of these men hold a special place in the hearts of those who knew them. Although no one truly knows the details of their life and missions with the SEALs, you can be assured that both of these men died doing what they loved best: proudly serving their country. I can only hope that my sweet baby boy will have half of the courage that these two heros had!