14 Weeks!!

Well, The last few months have passed by (some days so much slower than others thanks to the nausea!) And we have all three (Lance, Baby and Myself) made it to the 2nd Trimester!!! I would like to formally thank my husband for getting me through this time of constant "sickiness" and doing it with patience and love and consideration. He has really been a blessing and an encouragement and I could NOT have done it without him. I know we will continue to face difficult days in this pregnancy, but the Lord has and will sustain us both-- and I am so thankful for my husband. Without further ado... I think the worst of the "all-day sickness" is behind us! I have had a cold for over a week but even with that, I feel more like myself than I have in months-- and that is a nice feeling to be sure!

I wanted to share a few things from these last few months that I know you will appreciate.
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A few things that I consistently craved or that gave me comfort from the nausea:

• Bagged Ice. No kidding, we have had to have some of this in our freezer at all times this entire pregnancy. I do not think this will change. (see photo below.)
• Sour Patch Kids. Anything sour basically. Sour jelly beans, etc.
  
• Citrus Everything. Lemon, Lime, Grapefruit, wow.. good stuff.
• Spicy Food. (I know, strange for someone who is sick to their stomach.)
• Pickles. (As predictable as this one is, it's so true. Somedays I would plan my lunch around where I could get pickles and lemonade.) But not ice cream. :)
  
• In the beginning it was hamburgers. Not good, gourmet hamburgers.. but cheap, thin, hamburgers. Some days, this was all I could eat for lunch and since I knew I needed the protein, well... I did it. Regardless of the occasional nagging guilt in my head saying, "Do you want your precious child to be addicted to JUNK food? Do ya?!" Luckily this craving has just about passed except for the occasional surprise "gotta have a burger" spurt. Weird. I know!! And I am NOT a junk food eater. Anyone that knows me would tell you I am a bit of a food snob with somewhat of a "refined palate" as Lance calls it. Go figure. :)
• I have not had a cup of coffee in three months.. and I do not miss it (for now.) I still can't stand the thought of it. My mom was apparently the exact same way.
  

A few funny "Husbands say the darndest things..."

• On our way to the first OB-Gyn appointment, I was (big surprise) feeling a little woozy and Lance out of no where says to me... "You know, I think '0b-gyn' sounds like a droid from Star Wars... I do." I have to admit, he does have a point. Just the same, it's pretty cute.
  
• Lance asked me if the baby is a girl, can we name her "Pearl" so that he can refer to me as "Mother of Pearl." I said no. Can you blame me?

Honestly, there have been so many other funny things that have come out of this little adventure, but once I sit down to write them... I cannot remember. Something with the PG hormones maybe?


Here's Lance with that wonderful bagged ice...

I'm so sorry this is crooked. I cannot figure it out.






This is Him. Here's my guy.. the one who has unbelievable patience. Love him.

I was so glad that the sickness subsided just in time for THANKSGIVING!!! It was wonderful!!!



P.S. we will find out whether boy or girl on January 2nd!!!!! Any thoughts????

Some of the Reasons we drive 8 hours for just a few days...

Playing with the kids...

Mom and Dad...

The Boys... (except Dan-- where was he in this picture?)

A few of the little Darlings...

The Stuckey Women...

Mom and Dad Stuckey

Also, not pictured here: Vikki, Lyndsay, Melody, Morgan, Matthew II, Hannah, Daniel, Cassy, Maddy, Aunt Cindy and Aunt Debbie, And every other member of the Blythe- Stuckey Family. Ready or not: Here we come!!!

Long Overdue Update!!!

11 Weeks and Counting!!!

Okay so I know I've been horrible at this blogging thing-- but honestly, I have been sleeping just about every spare minute I have had. No kidding. I get about 9+ hours of sleep every night-- and that usually doesn't include me falling asleep on the couch around 8pm where I am in something slightly less than a coma until about 10pm when my sweet husband tries to wake me up with nothing short of an airhorn and then drag my comatose dead-weight self upstairs. (If you think I'm exaggerating, just ask him. :) Not to mention that when I'm not sleeping, I'm desperately trying to keep my last meal in my stomach (where it belongs.) So suffice it to say, I've been avoiding you blogging world. There, I said it. Not because I don't love all of you. But I just did NOT want to be a complaining pregnant woman belly-aching about all of my very normal and healthy symptoms. However, I am now 11 weeks and almost to that 2nd Trimester, where as far as I have heard, life is grand and we all get a little energy back. Oh, and I have also heard that in the land of 2nd Trimester: people like food. And food likes people. (gasp!) I'm looking forward to my trip to this magical land with great anticipation. In the mean time, I am trying desperately to do what I can to not be a crazy person because in spite of all of these symptoms, I LOVE BEING PREGNANT!!!! I love reading every week about how big our baby is. I love thinking of names. I love imagining her (oh alright, or his.) personality! This is the most amazing and crazy time and we are sincerely so blessed and happy.

Here we are after our 6 week ultrasound after seeing "Baby Stuck's" heartbeat!!! 164 BPM!!!! Woohoo!!!!

And here is our little perfect wonder. Sleeping all Curled up.. Just like mommy.

** More to come later this evening hopefully...

I would love to share my crazy pregnancy-isms with you!!!

She's Having a Baby...

That's right folks! The Stuckey's are going to be parents!!!

This is us with Baby Joey a few months back... He is such a cutie and has grown so fast. We are very excited and blessed to be able to go through this with our own child. As it is still quite early, please keep us and Baby Stuckey in your prayers. Please pray for health for mom and baby and and extras measure of patience and sanity for Lance with his wife's ever increasing hormones... which may or may not tend to make her a bit emotional from time to time... (hypothetically speaking, of course. We all know I could NEVER really be emotional or dramatic. )

My mom is coming to visit!!!

YAY! She is flying in tonight and will be here until Sunday!

One Year Ago...

August 25, 2007 Mr. and Mrs. Lance Stuckey

Tomorrow is our first anniversary!!! This year has flown by and it leaves us even more anticipatory for the many years to come! This coming weekend, we will celebrate in Savannah, Georgia; we are both looking forward to a couple of days away together. Thank you all for being a part of our lives this year!

Rest and Relaxation...*SIGH*

Here we are at the Red Onion Cafe-- go if you have the chance!

We recently had the wonderful blessing to spend the weekend in the mountains of Boone, North Carolina. The weekend following the crazy and wonderful week that was VBS, Lance and I were blessed by Linda and Ernie Baker to be able to stay in their beautiful cabin in Boone. Neither Lance or I had ever been to Boone and it was amazing!! We were able to stay for two nights and three long days.

Lance made me breakfast in the spectacular, large kitchen!!!

YUMMY!

God's Wonderful Handiwork!!!

Marriage-- another one of His beautiful creations!!

We just LOVED our time here! Here we are at Blowing Rock.

Here is my man, the daredevil....

UHOH. Just Kidding, we were just clowning around...

More of the Clowning...

Aloha from Outrigger Island!!!

This week we are staying busy on Outrigger Island-- (that's our VBS for those of you who have not heard!) I was given the blessing and challenge of being the VBS director this year for our church and after months of preparation and waiting, it is upon us! So far, we have made it through 2 nights and we have 3 nights left plus our Friday Family Fun Night and Luau!

Please pray for our church family and especially the children involved. Many children have been coming and we are so excited to have this opportunity to minister to them but we want to continue to bathe the entire week in prayer. The evil one has already been at work but we weill continue to focus on the Lord and HIS strength and HIS power! HE alone can sustain us and bless our efforts. So, please join me in prayer for these precious children and also for the strength and stamina of the workers. :)

I promise to update with pictures and info once we finish and recover!!!! Thank you all for your prayers!!

Birthday Festivities...

A weekend full of birthday fun!!!

Joe and Leah had us over for an authentic New Orleans Seafood Boil! We had pounds and pounds of Crab Legs, Shrimp and Corn and Potatoes! Mike and Courtney came from Chapel Hill and we had a fabulous time! We ate and ate and ate!!! Then we played Bocce Ball and then we all sat around and drank coffee and ate Hummingbird Cake! YUM YUM! Thank you so much FRIENDS!!!!

Makin' a Wish!!

The day after the Seafood Boil we went to see Batman at the Imax and then went to Shane's Rib Shack! Again, we ate good food and had lots of fun!

Little Joey in his "Party Shirt"

I LOVE this Guy!!!

Happy Birthday Lance!!!

Happy 29th Birthday, Sweetie!!!

29 Years ago today in Georgia, Andy and Carol Stuckey welcomed their new son,

Jonathan Lance Stuckey

into the world. I have only been a part of his family for one year but it has been a true blessing and encouragement to know and love him. He is a wonderful, Godly man and I am so honored to be his wife and to stand by him as Our Lord uses him in a mighty way.

Happy Birthday, my love!!!

(Stay Tuned for Birthday Photos!!!)

Mamma Mia, Here I go again...

"Cynthia Stuckey, Welcome to your Late Twenties."

That's right blogging family, it is time for another birthday. On Monday, I entered into the sphere of "late twenties"--- The next milestone birthday is ahem.. 3-0. WOW. But, I must admit, this was one of my favorite birthdays. Seriously, this was my first birthday as a Stuckey and my sweet husband bent over backward for several days to make me feel so very special! I honestly cannot remember a more fun birthday since the Little Mermaid Birthday Sleepover Extravaganza many many moons ago. Although, this particular birthday was a bit less "Disney Princess" and a little more grown-up. Which isn't a bad thing at all. :)

I made myself a 3-layer Fresh Lime Chiffon Cake and I had a lot of fun doing it. Which is pretty surprising. For someone who sees cooking as the quintessential purpose of having a kitchen, I must confess that baking often stresses me out. Honestly, for those of you who do not believe me, ask Lance. He has talked me down from the culinary cliff's edge, many a time. This particular time, Leah came over and she and Joey watched me and gave much appreciated assistance in the cake baking process. So between Lance, Leah, Joey and these fabulous new Williams Sonoma Goldtouch Cake pans that my wonderful mom gave me as a birthday gift, the cake was a yummy, limey, success. YAY!

On my actual birthday, Lance and I had a lovely dinner at Maggiano's (Thanks for the gift card, Evan and Christi!) It was simply amazing. We ate way too much and even brought leftovers home for the next day. I love this particular restaurant because they do everything with excellence but they are not snooty. :)

The World's Best Creme Brulee. Oh my Word.

If it had not been my birthday, this picture would be slightly embarrassing.
However, please note the 2 spoons. I did not do this on my own.

Very Full, Very happy Stuckeys

Displaying my new Apron and Potholders, also courtesy of my Mama. :) She's got style!

Courtney and Michael Sexton. They are such good friends to us.. and a very cute couple, don't you think? :)

Soooo, the only candles I could find were the 2 and the 5 from last year, that somehow did not get used.. so we added one more to make 26. :) And, we finally got to get our Crystal Cake plate out of the, "we know we wanted to get this from our registry, but we don't have room for it right now in our small apartment" closet!!!

Me and my little buddy Joey. He is such a doll.
(P.S. I'm not really this Ghostly White color.. must be the flash.)

Courtney and Cindy


So all in all, it was a very good couple of days, Lance took me to see Mamma Mia on Saturday afternoon-- and it was really fun! Monday began with a fabulous breakfast with my lovely work ladies! Linda made Monkey Bread like I have never had before and we all sat around and welcomed the day with breakfast and coffee and monkey bread and fruit!!! It was truly a treat! Thank you all sweet friends and co-workers! And then--I had a virtual car picnic with Heidi all the way from Florida to celebrate-- which was a treat as well! We sat in our respective cars and ate ChickFila and talked on the phone just like we were in the same car together!

I received many calls and cards from Family and Friends and I was certainly reminded of how blessed Lance and I are to be loved by so many wonderful people! Thank you all so much!!!

P.S. Lance's birthday is just 'round the corner, so I intend to post about how HE was made the center of attention, so keep your eyes peeled for that!

And we're back!!!

Funny Face-Offs!

The Poole's-- still newlyweds!!

An impromptu picture of some of the Blythe's: my dad, Lance, my brother Daniel, Ava, Deanna and Elayna!

It's amazing how funny something like Bubble wrap on your foot is. :)

Uncle Lance needed to be helped to smile!!

Fourth of July Fun!!!

We had a wonderful time in Florida this past weekend. We spent several days with family and were even able to have a couple of quick visits with a few friends. The time went by way too quickly as usual and I'm already a little homesick. Also, my camera battery had a convenient habit of dying on a regular basis while we were there so there are limited pictures. I don't have any of the actual 4th for that reason, which is a shame because all my nieces and nephews were around and were so very fun and cute! They are all getting so big and sadly, it makes me realize how much I am missing of their lives. Then again, I know we are where we should be. Oh, if I could be two places at once, I think I would. I'm already looking forward to the next time, which may just be Thanksgiving. Our lives our full of rich blessing in NC, but we sure love and miss our families on a regular basis.

Sweet Deanna reading with Uncle Lance.. she is such a big girl now!!

A quick visit with Heidi--- always a pleasure. We went to Cracker Barrel and Publix Grocery Store.. Two of our favorite things!!!

Dinner at Barbara Jeans' on the Intercoastal in Ponte Vedra Beach with Lauren and Jamey-- so fun!!!

A Nighttime stroll on the beach--- until the fireworks started-- and by fireworks I mean huge streaks of lightening and thunder.

Ava and Grammy (Their excited faces!)

ME and two of my girls!!

I'm not sure what was happening in this picture-- but Lance does not look happy or comfortable. They love him as he is like a big tall jungle gym!

Painting Time!

Ava and Me..

So mom had just taken Deanna's hair down from Braids.. this explains why she looks like a baby lion. so cute!!!!