TODAY is our last Sunday in all eternity without a BABY!!!

I wish that for this post I had a scanner so I could put in some of Jackson's recent ultrasound pics. We got to see his face last week, and I got so weepy because I'm so excited to just see that face outside of my belly and in my arms! And that will be happening soon enough! He's scheduled to be induced on Friday, September 2, 2011. We're still hoping he'll come on his own before that, but it's quite unlikely. He's still just over 5 pounds, even though we're at 38 weeks now. So, we're hoping he's not too stressed in there and that he can handle a few more days while his lungs finalize development.
It's crazy to think about how much our life is about to change...but we're so excited! We just pray that he keeps growing well these next few days so he's ready for life in the world outside the womb!

Mike/Jackson's new Diaper motor bike

I just had to post a picture of this awesome gift from our neighbor Sarah~ She's like the most creative person I've ever met! She made this cute diaper tricycle equipped with a hand-made crocheted blanket for handlebars, a bottle for the headlight, bibs for the seat, and a cute teddy as its rider. Seriously, this is the first time I've ever even seen or heard of anything so cool! I was so impressed with her work!

Baby Shower

These are the awesome wives of LDS med school students at Tech~ and they were kind enough to throw me a baby shower! We had so much fun talking, sharing mommy and birthing stories, playing awesome games that Christina came up with, and eating amazing food from Laura, Christina, Dessie, and Katie. Left to right and back to front in this picture: Sarah Quisenberry (our neighbor), Abby Anderson, me, Natalia Wilding, Mariah Evanson, Katie Mathews, Laura (and Annie) Cope, Ariel Fisher, Rondy McClellan, Christina Walker, and Brooke Cowles. Mindy Dahl and Brittney Strebel left before the picture was taken, and Dessie Willnauer was sick and couldn't come :(

Interview at Texas Tech!!!

Michael was privileged to be invited for an interview at Texas Tech in Lubbock~ the very school he's really hoping to get into to start the MD/MBA program in May. If you can't tell from the picture...he was very excited on game day!! :) He had awesome interviews and became even more convinced that this is the place for him! We're happy to be in Lubbock. The soonest we'll find out if he's in will be on October 15th.

Singing in the Rain

On Thursday evening, after a great Infant CPR and Car Safety class together, Michael and I enjoyed running around in the POURING RAIN! Lubbock hasn't had more than sprinkles for almost a year, and we got a full-on storm--lightning, thunder, and a whole hour of downpour. The little lakes around town are all full! We had fun getting drenched and enjoying the fresh, cool evening.
And... we haven't been great at tracking belly shots throughout the weeks and months of pregnancy...but for the record, here's baby Jackson in my belly at 35.5 weeks! He's moving well and seems to be growing just right! We're super excited for him to join us, but I still have lots of nesting to do beforehand!

Lovin' Lubbock

We are so blessed to have wonderful friends here in Lubbock! Chas Willnauer organized an awesome BBQ for all the LDS Medical students and their families that are going to Texas Tech right now. What amazing people! I loved meeting everyone and talking with all of the ladies. It's always great to see Michael with Greg and Austin--who knew these boys would be together again? Not only is it GREAT to be here meeting new people, but the Lord is really blessing us and helping things to fall into place. Michael has a job interview on Tuesday (cross our fingers for no more bike shop!!) AND....drum roll please...an interview at Tech on Wednesday! What great opportunities. Soon enough we'll find out about a new job, and then (probably sometime after October 15) whether he'll be selected for the MD/MBA program at Tech starting in May. Lots of excitement around here! I'm very proud of Michael and grateful for his hard work!

Life in TEXAS!!!

Well, the whole purpose of this blog is supposed to be to keep friends and family in the loop of our lives now that we're so far away...but that doesn't work if I never post! So I told myself I would do it today, and of course the day has quickly slipped away. Oh well--no pictures and it'll be short~ but here's a brief update on our lives!

Michael is amazing to me. He's working at the bike shop, and positive as ever, he's making the best of every situation. He's made great friends with everyone there and has already had such an influence on many people. His friend Akeem even came to church with us today and had dinner with us afterwards! We are LOVING all of the missionary opportunities that surround us. We prayed that Heavenly Father would prepare us for the people we would meet here, and I truly have felt that blessing as we've interacted with new neighbors, friends, and investigators. The Church is true and it's such a blessing to share it!

I've loved having Michael around a bit more, and so relaxed this past month after taking the MCAT. We're anxiously awaiting receiving his score back on Tuesday.

As for me, I've been working online as much as possible, while still trying to get everything organized, unpacked and in order. We finally have the internet, our OWN washer and dryer (yahoo for doing laundry at our own house!), and I found a doctor. Those were HUGE blessings and answers to prayer this past week. Aside from those household type things, I've spent more and more moments staring at my growing belly and being AMAZED at the way this boy moves inside of me! I love it!

We've been soo thankful to have wonderful friends here; the Copes are amazing and so helpful. We also love our new ward members and are enjoying meeting so many new people all the time!