Surprise!!

So....there's going to be a new little piglet around Pig and Paint! Yep, you read that correctly -- Brian and I are expecting -- a baby, that is -- not a pig. I'm approaching 13 weeks along and the estimated time of arrival is January 1st. Who knows if I will actually get to deliver my little bundle of joy on New Years Day, but you better believe I will be clinching my cheeks until Christmas Eve services are over (for those of you just tuning in, Brian is a worship pastor, and Christmas Eve is pretty much THE most important work day of the year for him.) Though, rest assured, he is working on a backup plan just in case my cheek-clinching plan doesn't work.

You may have noticed that there has been a significant lack of food on Pig and Paint lately. Brian's been doing most of the cooking for the past several weeks, bless his heart. Cooking has flat-out grossed me out. And it breaks my heart. I feel like I didn't really get to give food (or wine!) a proper good-bye. I just bailed on my beloved food, without any notice -- holding my nose all the way.

I've been lucky though. The queasiness has been manageable, and I learned that if I kept food in my stomach, I would feel better. As soon as something (anything!) sounded appetizing, I'd scarf it down (or send Bri to the store) without a second thought. I'd like to give a shout-out to Costco cinnamon-raisin bagels with cream cheese, croissants around the world, pineapples (you know who you are), candied ginger, and of course, who could forget unsalted Saltines (there really is something fundamentally wrong with that). Without you all, I would have starved.

In case you haven't noticed, we don't take ourselves too seriously around here. Our child is destined to a life of dork-mania.

You may have also noticed some of my posts and projects have been a little shorter and sweeter (ok, just shorter). I have literally been EXHAUSTED for the last several weeks -- I feel like I've been sleep-walking my way through life. The good news is I am perking up lately, and finally getting my energy back (until the next surge of hormones hits and then I go back into hibernation).

Stay tuned, because I'm sure I'll be sharing tid bits here and there about how things are going. Brian and I are absolutely overjoyed! Our 8 and 11 week ultrasounds were incredible highlights in my life -- at 8 weeks, getting to see that yes, there is a growing baby in there with a real heartbeat, and later at 11 weeks seeing the likeness of human form and hearing the heartbeat. We praise God for our little miracle! :)

Cheers!