flying by...

Wow! I can not believe that July is almost over! It seems like summer just started a couple of days ago! We have had a very fun and busy summer. My sister and her little boy Landon,2, have been staying with us since the end of May and I am going to miss them tremendously when they move back to Arkansas in a couple of weeks! It has been great having them here and getting to spend some much needed quality time with them!

Rushing has been swamped this summer with youth camps, youth mission trips, youth fun days, youth parties, youth...you name it he's been doing it! He has LOVED every second of it and can't wait for more fun during the school year. He leaves with a team of youth and adults tomorrow to go to Texas for a week long mission trip. Please be praying for this group, that they will allow God to fully have control in their lives and their actions.

Elijah has been growing like a weed this summer! We are currently at 28 weeks and 5 days! I can not believe that he will be here so soon!! At our last doctor's appointment he was about 2.14 ounces and in the 87th percentile! We are going to have one big healthy baby boy! He has been kicking me so hard, Rushing felt him give one of his 'big' kicks last night and his eyes got huge...he was so shocked that Eli kicked that hard! I could sit for hours watching my belly move back and forth as Elijah tries to get comfortable...or just tries to keep me awake. :) It's one of the greatest feelings in the world. We can not wait to meet him and pinch his chubby little cheeks :) Please continue to pray for his growth and that we will have a safe delivery!

baby boy...

It's a BOY! We are super excited about our little boy already! His name is Elijah Paul and I already know he is perfect :) We LOVED getting to see him during the sonogram today, he is a feisty little fellow! Although he also kept propping his head with his arms, stretching out his little legs, and yawning...he just wanted to relax! It was so fun to see him and think about his already developing personality! He is right on schedule to be born on or around our due date of October 11. His heart beat was 160 and he weighs 9 ounces.

Rushing and I had already decided that we knew it was a boy, so it wasn't really a surprise to us! As the sonogram tech got me ready she asked what we thought it was and we said 'boy' and after 5 seconds she said 'you are absolutely right!' I couldn't believe we saw him so quickly....he wasn't being shy at all!! Our next appointment is scheduled for June 14th, please keep praying for a healthy little boy!

Rushing and I also celebrated our 2 year anniversary tonight by going to P.F. Chang's for dinner. We had a great time...and can't wait for year 3!! We also stopped by Target and bought our first boy item!

We move into our new house 2 weeks from today...I better get to packing! :)

15 weeks and counting :)

I can't believe I am already 15 weeks along with our little 'gummybear'! The first trimester was pretty interesting to say the least! I'm not sure who coined the term 'morning sickness' but I think 'all day sickness' would have been a better term....thankfully the nausea and upset stomach have gotten better and I am getting my appetite back, yay! I actually lost weight from my first appointment to our second one...but I'm sure that will change soon!

We had our second appointment this past Friday and it was wonderful! I LOVE hearing that little heartbeat and I can't wait to hear it again! Baby's heartbeat was 150! Our next appointment is May 14th and we will find out if we are having a boy or a girl!! I can't wait! What's your vote? I'm interested in seeing what people think we are having!

Life in Mississippi is still going great. We are busy busy busy, but it's a good busy. I LOVE my class of 2 1/2 and 3 year olds...they are special! Not a day goes by where they don't make me laugh...I really need to start keeping a journal of their funny sayings and give them to their parents in a little book...I would like something like that, wouldn't you?

I have also started working with our preschool children's church (Elevate JR) on Sunday mornings. I am the 'director/coordinator' and it's been a blast so far! I love watching children worship the Lord and learn more about Him. It's such a blessing!

Rushing and I went and saw my family this past weekend. We left after my appointment on Friday, arrived at 4pm and spent the rest of the afternoon/evening with them. Then we got to hang out with them on Saturday and left around 6 pm...we arrived home at midnight Saturday night and I am still feeling the effects of my lack of sleep! Although it was a short trip I am SO glad we got to see my parents, sister, brother, little nephew, and my granny! I love my family so much!!

Well, that's not much of a post, but that's all I have right now! It's 9:15 pm and I have 15 mins to get a shower and get in bed...I'm trying to make it there by 9:30...we'll see how that works out!

we're gonna have a baby!

Yep, you read correctly! I'm pregnant! It all seems a little surreal and dreamy...and so exciting! I am currently 10 weeks along (11 weeks on Tuesday, yay!).

This is baby at 8 weeks!

I will never forget February 2, 2010. I was only a couple of days past my cycle...but I decided to go ahead a take a test. Over the previous couple of weeks I had convinced myself that I wasn't pregnant....so when I took that little test and saw the two pink lines I almost fainted. I kid you not...I literally almost passed out. Previously, I had it all planned out how I wanted to tell Rushing that he was going to be a daddy. I was going to buy a sweet little gift and card and on and on. Well. In the shock of the moment I called him. Yes, that's right. I called him 5 mins before his staff meeting. Nice wife, right? :) I'm sure that's what he thought. He was excited too and handled all my surprised and happy tears very well. He's good like that. :)

I had also planned on how I wanted to tell our parents...but alas, we ended up telling them over the phone as well! Everyone was thrilled and surprised and all the other happy feelings you can think of! Rushing's side of the family will be getting two new babies within a month of each other! Caleb's (Rushing's brother) wife, Morgan is also pregnant! I also have 2 cousins who are pregnant and a couple of friends! It's in the water ladies, watch out! :)

On March 3rd we had our first doctor's appointment. I thought my life changed when I saw the two pink lines...but that was nothing compared to the joy I felt when I heard my baby's heartbeat and saw his/her little gummy bear body on the screen. I can not even explain the love I have for this little tiny baby already. I cried and cried...and I'm sure I will cry some more. I'm amazed every day at how big God is and how he has molded our bodies so perfectly to have children...it's unreal. I'm just in awe of who He is.

So far this has been a pretty good pregnancy. I have definitely had my 'all day sickness'. I'm not sure why people call it morning sickness. That's a lie. :) Every day has been different and I never know when it'll hit...so I just take one day at a time and thank God for His little blessing. I know that all the sickness and nausea will be worth it in about 6 1/2 months...

Rushing has been so good to me. He has put up with my getting sick throughout the day, my moodiness/crankiness, my paranoia about every little thing, my talking baby names constantly, and my craving Olive Garden salad and waiting for 45 mins on a Saturday night at 8:30 just so I could have some. I'm so blessed.

My next appointment is on April 16th and I can't wait!!! Please keep us and baby in your prayers!

In other news, I started working at our church Child Care Center. For the past 4 or 5 weeks I have been a floater...but starting Monday I will be the teacher for the older 2s class! I'm really excited and am praising God for this more full time position!

news...well i guess it's news :)

Check out this awesome blog for some great reads, tips, and funny stories! Wish her a Happy Blog-iversary!

This time last week we were asleep at Rushing's parents house resting for the long drive to Mississippi. I can't believe we have only been here one week. It feels like it has been longer! I guess that is a good thing. We are slowly but surely getting settled.

We have so far gone to a Sunday night service and a Wednesday night youth service. Rushing has been to his first staff meeting and we have had lunch with the staff a couple of times...they are a hoot! I have also gotten to spend some much needed quality time with my friend Lindsay and we have spent some time with new friends too! We are SO excited that we have friends who are our age here! We had dinner at Joy and Jerry's house tonight and met new friends Sabrina and her husband Shawn or Sean not sure of the spelling. We had a great time! We are very thankful that God is blessing us with new friends already.

I am pretty sure I am going to do the substitute teaching thing for awhile. I went to the offices today, turned in my resume and now I am just waiting to be approved. Then, I will have to fill out the paperwork, get background checks, attend a workshop and then I'll be good to go! I'm excited!

Well, that's really all that's going on in the land of the Crazy Mayes'...but we'll keep you posted with updates!

Oh wait! Big news that I meant to share earlier! I am going to be an aunt again!! Caleb (Rushing's brother) and wife, Morgan are expecting their second! Their firstborn, Emma, will be 1 on Feb. 1 and they are so excited for kiddo #2! :)

Blessings!

getting settled...

Well, we did it. We packed all our stuff, cleaned the apartment, loaded the moving truck, and drove to Brandon, Mississippi where we got to unload and unpack all of our things. You would think that since we just moved to Texas 6 months ago I would have gotten rid of some of our useless stuff....but for some reason it stuck around. Maybe I will be able to 'toss' some stuff in time for our next move....but hopefully that won't be for a while. At least a year. :)

Seriously though. We are really enjoying our new little town. Coming from a super small town in Arkansas and then moving to the BIG city in Texas I think Brandon is just the right size. and I am LOVING all the trees again!!

Rushing is the student director at the FBC and he loves it! Today was his first full day at work and he has hit the ground running! We have met quite a few of the teens and they all seem pretty cool. They have all been introducing themselves and are really excited that we are here, which is always nice. :)

It's also awesome that we are sooo close to my Lindsay! I am so glad that God has brought us close to each other again. I have really been missing all of my best friends from college.

I am still looking for a job. Well, let me rephrase that. I started looking for a job today. Our church has a child care center and I talked with the director today. She doesn't have a need for a classroom teacher, but possibly for a floater for the 3 and 4 y/os and maybe for after-school kids. I really enjoy working with pre-schools but I would LOVE to be able to actually be a children's minister again. I know I am being selfish. Anyway. I am thinking about doing the alternate teaching route...which means I would take the Praxis tests, go through an 'education' program for a couple of months and then I would be able to teach in the schools. But...I would be at the bottom of the 'hiring totem pole' because obviously actual certified teachers would get a job before me. So, I am thinking about going to the school district tomorrow and applying to be a substitute teacher...then I would get my foot in the door and get my feet wet. So, we'll see.

Just keep us in your prayers and we try to figure out life in Mississippi! :)

belated Christmas post! :)

I still can't believe that we are moving again. I mean I believe it when I look around my apartment and see all the boxes and empty shelves....but it's exciting! We had a slight change of plans and will be heading out Friday morning, so please keep us in your prayers! We have an apartment waiting for us already, so that is wonderful!!! God always provides, doesn't he? :)

On to other things...I never posted about our Christmas!

We had family Christmas with Rushing's parents, the girls, Drica (a friend from Brasil) Caleb, Morgan, Emma and some of Morgan's family. It was pretty crazy with so many people in the house, but we had a great time! We taught Morgan and her family and Drica how to play WAHOO and Drica won, but only due to the fact that the game was lasting FOREVER...I'm not a sore sport or anything :)

a few of the people at the Mayes' Christmas

Rushing and I had our Christmas on Christmas

Eve morning before we left for Arkansas...

Every year my parents get us matching pjs...my mom even used to make ours when we were little. :) (other than the fact that i look like i'm

12 i love this photo) We had a great Christmas with my family as well. My Granny came over Christmas morning and we ate breakfast, opened gifts, and then ate an awesome Christmas lunch. Then, we pretty much just hung out all day and were very lazy which was nice. I also got to spend some quality time with my super cute nephew, Landon.

The day after Christmas we went to Hot Springs for the Jones Family Christmas. I wish I had taken more photos and that blogspot wouldn't be so tough to load pictures onto because we had a BLAST with the Jones clan. There are SO many of us and it is always crazy when we all get together, especially with all the 'new' kiddos running around! After a great weekend, we headed back to Texas and here we are...a few weeks later packing to move to Mississippi! :)