Baby Hanks

Today was a wonderful day! Not only did we get to see our baby moving all around in my stomach today... but we found out the gender. I am very happy and blessed to say ITS A BOY!!!!!
We are so thrilled and blessed! We have a happy, healthy, 19 week old baby growing big and growing strong!
I have been feeling him for a couple weeks now. It is surreal. Not only did we create this human being but now I am starting to feel it! Steve hasn't gotten to experience this amazing feeling yet but he will soon! There have been two times where he may have felt a little kick but I'm sure in a short time that he wont be able to stop kicking.

The ultrasound was great! At first, He was extremely hyper and trying to do little flips. His arms and hands were moving all around and he couldn't hold still. But then, before we knew it... He was fast asleep and did not want to be moved. He reacted to the pressure but holding up both arms in front of his face and turned away. It was cute but a little annoying for the doctor trying to get measurements.
But, needless to say... he is healthy and that's all that matters.

This is his face with his little arms in front.

This is proof its he's a BOY

I hope you enjoy these videos!!! It was a lot of fun to see our baby so active!
I know the second video is a little scary looking, his mouth is open and he doesn't look very much like a human..... but I know he'll be a lot cuter by the next time we see Him!!!

New Exciting Times

We have had a very very exciting couple of months lately and things just keep getting better and better. 

Right now, Steve and I are looking for an apartment. It is hard because apartments are so expensive for what you get. So we are praying and having faith that we find one that is safe and has a good price. God has never let us down and we know he always answers our prayers. We just can't wait to get into our own home that we can start decorating. 

Steve and I have been busy. We just got a golden retriever puppy. His name is Edgar and he is wonderful. Although he is only 8 weeks and tests my patience a lot, we love him a lot and have tons of fun. He is very laid back and likes to sleep a lot (except at night of course). The last few nights have been okay but for a while we were getting up every hour. Now, I think Edgar is getting a lot more comfortable  with us which is helping him sleep. But that has been our biggest thing lately, he's our baby and takes up a lot of time like a baby:)

Speaking of babies..... the pregnancy is going great. Although I am feeling sick a lot, have bad headaches regularly, and don't have an appetite at all... I'm happy and knowing that there is a baby inside me makes it all worth it. We recently had an ultrasound which was just amazing! We got to see Baby Hanks move A TON! Baby was doing back flips and everything. We got to see the spine, arms, legs and even eyes and mouth. It was incredible and very emotional. We got to hear the heart beat too:) It was wonderful. 

The due date is April 11, 2009. 1 day before Steve's 19th birthday! 

I am technically 12 1/2 weeks along. They don't count pregnancy by conception, instead they count from the last menstrual cycle so although I have told ever Dr. that conception could not have happened before July 18 it doesn't change it so oh well. I have learned to accept and ignore it. I know the truth. Steve knows the truth. And God knows the truth. That's all that matters. And really, it makes sense... I am about 10 weeks along so the dating is only half a week off.  Oh well.

Baby Hanks is a little over 2 inches long and weighs a little more than half an ounce. :)

We will get to know the sex in November or December. We are very exciting to know because we wont have to call it "it" anymore.

We do have names picked out but we have decided not to tell anyone until birth. We think it will be fun and make it a nice surprise, plus we don't want other people opinions to change our minds on what we like. 

So anyways, I am very very happy. I have a wonderful husband who I am still madly in love with, an awesome dog and a baby in my belly!!! I am blessed. 

More Wedding Photos

Here are some of our favorite pictures from our wedding day. Hope you enjoy!

First week of marriage.

I'm sitting here in our new place with Steve and I'm thinking about how awesome God is and how blessed I am.

We have been married one week and it has bee the best week of my life. I often wonder why we waited as long as we did to get married because we are so happy. Every day gets better and better and I am so glad that Steven James Hanks is my husband forever.

This week has been hectic, emotional and fun!

The wedding was perfect. It was everything I could ever hope for and I wouldn't have wanted it any other way. The week leading up to our day was stressful of course but in the end, it was all worth it. The first thing God did was bless us with beautiful weather. The whole week before the wedding was terrible and they predicted rain all weekend. And even up to an hour before the wedding, the predictions were right. But right before the ceremony began, the sky cleared up and was beautiful the rest of the weekend. Wow. God is good.

After the wedding ceremony, we had a fun reception full of fellowship, dancing and lots of sugar!!! We got amazing pictures with the best photographer in the world: Shalem. And after the reception we went to Beluga point for more pictures. They turned out better then i could have imagined.

Then we headed to a cabin in Girdwood where we spent a wonderful weekend. It was all perfect.












So here I am, happy and completely blessed.
God is awesome, faithful and never ceases to amazing me.
I guess to sum up this week, I would have to say: I am more in love than ever, happier than ever and wouldn't want to be anywhere else in the world than right here, with my husband.

Summer Before The Wedding

13 days until the wedding- yes, we are counting down.

This summer has been amazing! We have been so busy and very stressed at times, but all in all we are really enjoying the season we are in. Getting ready for the wedding has been really emotional, for me at least. It is just such a big deal and I am happier then I have ever been. I just can't believe how blessed I am that God would bring the love of my life to me at such a young age. I know that many people have their doubts but that's fine with us. We know that we have God and love as our foundation. So when people give us negative feedback or try to talk us out of it, we let the advice go in one ear and out the other.
We are trying to live our lives completely surrendered to God and according to His will and the Bible. We know that as crazy as this may sound it really is what God wants for us and we are excited to begin the journey. We know the journey is not always easy and we are not expecting to have an easy or ordinary life. But no matter what happens, we have each other and more importantly we have God.

4th Of July

Mexico

As most of you know, Tom and Kellie took Steve and I to Mexico for a graduation gift. It was a huge blessing to be able to get away from stress and relax. It was such a great trip and we got to spend good, quality time with them. It was nice for me to get to know them more and for them to see what I am like. They treated me like family and loved me like their own kid. I am so excited to be apart of their family and looking forward to living near them.

The trip was incredible. We stayed at the nicest resort I've ever been to. With private pools and the beach one minute away, we enjoyed the sun a lot- even a little too much. Yes, Steve and I got extremely burnt. I have never burned in my life and this was just horrible. Poor Steve could barely move. (thats what we get for not wearing sunscreen for one day). Although we were in pain for most of the trip, we really enjoyed ourselves. We went into the city one day which was a fun day of shopping and sightseeing. We had a couple days of just relaxing which is always nice. We got to go to the zoo which was definitely a highlight. We saw so many cool animals and got some great pictures. We went to a Mexican fiesta one night which was a blast and then the day before we left was our favorite. Steve and I were hesitant at first but then we were so glad we went. We took a snorkeling trip and after the snorkeling, we went to a private beach which was just beautiful. It is really indescirbable. The water was a perfect blue and the beach pure white. The boat ride was a lot of fun too. It was a nice way to end a wonderful trip. Sadly, the next day we packed up to come home:( It was such a blessing to go and Steve and I are very very grateful.
Thanks again Tom and Kelling!!!