Numerical Data for the month of September

Here are the Kennedy numbers for the past month:

• 4 baby classes
• 1 ten year High School Class reunion-Kevin
• 3 guests to use the new guestroom
• 1 Palm Tree removed from our backyard
• 2 baby showers
• 29 years Kevin has spent on this earth
• 5 English classes Misty taught at night
• 1 extremely overpriced bill to check blood pressure
• 7 trips to the Frisbee golf course
• 1 Frisbee Kevin owes Keith for throwing his in the lake
• 4 trips to College Station for Aggie home games
• 1 first haircut for our nephew Owen by Misty's mom

• 12 pounds gained by the expectant mother (ahhhh)
• 5 loads of laundry for the upcoming baby
• 1 can of red paint for the nursery
• 3 pillows Misty uses every night, leaving little room for Kevin in bed
• 2 friends from Dubai visit Houston
• 1 book completed for this months bookclub
• 4 quilting classes
• 3 times we borrowed a friends t.v. to watch football
• 120 minutes on average Kevin spends in traffic a day
• 45 barks of warning Maggie provides daily as she looks out the window guarding the house from evil neighborhood cats, large trashcans, and blowing leaves 50 yards away.

Continuing Education

We are in our final weeks of 'Baby 101' at our delivery hospital. The classes have definitely opened our eyes to the joy and blood of childbirth. While most of the class is done with an instructor teaching, she does play videos from time to time. I find most of the videos I have my eyes closed asking Kevin what is happening, only to find out he has his eyes closed too...so I'm not so sure how this is going to work out come delivery time. Two weeks ago I may have had a slight emotional breakdown in class when I learned the baby wasn't the last thing I have to deliver. Between fits of crying and laughing, I managed to scare our instructor and embarrass Kevin (who of course stood strong by my side, letting me wipe my tears and snot all over him!) I think it was more of the realization that our baby is actually coming, and won't stay in my belly forever, and I REALLY need to get the nursery ready! Tonight we take a tour of the labor and delivery rooms and starting Friday I begin visiting our doctor on a weekly basis.

Continuing on the topics of the baby. We had a wonderful weekend full of baby showers! My mom flew in for the events and spent the weekend with us. On Saturday Kevin's family had a dual shower for his cousin and me. She is expecting a girl, while we are having a boy, which made a for a very pink and blue shower. We got some amazing gifts and it was great to see so many family members. Kevin's Granny always makes a quilt for the new great grandchild, and if you look closely at the picture you will see that in her wonderful sense of humor she put little 'accountants' all over the quilt to honor our baby's CPA Daddy! On Sunday the ladies of our church also threw us a shower. They were so kind to put it together quickly so that my mother could attend while she was in town! I was amazed at what a wonderful church family we have, when half the women in attendance were ladies I have only met upon our return to the states in July. Needless to say, this weekend definitely made us feel extremely loved and special.

Moving Right Along

Well the last few weeks we have been moving and growing in more ways than one. My belly has definitely gained momentum! And while the added inches have increased the moans and difficulty in moving around, it has also brought on additional movement! Our boy is a mover and a shaker, and it is so much fun to watch my belly and play Name That Body Part! We really like our doctor here and so far everything has been very normal and right on schedule with the pregnancy.
Our Dubai shipment finally arrived last week, providing the chairs we have so desperately needed. While picnicking on the living room floor was fun and romantic for the first few weeks, I was definitely ready to sit at the table again!
Kevin is still working for KBR and has finagled his way into a prime-time work related golf tournament. What a smooth talker! Now he just needs to get out and practice a bit to make sure his game is as good as his word. He is also on cloud nine with his new season tickets to the Aggies. And with a very pregnant wife unable to use the second ticket, he lucked out and will spend the games with football fanatic buddies instead!
I am doing really well. I spend my Tuesday mornings learning to quilt with Kevin's granny (an important skill every housewife should know!) I have also just signed up to teach English classes to both kids and adults. It is a wonderful opportunity to do what I love, plus I make my own schedule which gives me the freedom I will need with a new baby on the way.

We're Back!

We are officially back to the US and moved into our new house. It has been a crazy month of transition, but it safe to say that Kevin, Misty, baby boy and Maggie are all adjusted and happy! Kevin is back at work, driving into downtown everyday-yuck. I have started my new job as a stay at home wife and soon to be mom. And Maggie has taken her new position as guard dog extremely seriously, fending off stray cats and evil neighbors from 200 feet away. Actually, we have really great neighbors and have enjoyed evening walks in our new neighborhood. We live 2 doors down from Kevin's brother Keith, his wife, Jen and new baby boy, Owen.
Well, we may be in the house, however a lot of furniture is not! In fact we would personally invite each of you over to visit, but currently have nothing to sit on but an old piano bench and a step stool. Our Dubai shipment is due mid-August and that should help. Of course anything we could need is always supplied by Keith and Jen.
On a much grander scale, our wonderful God and Savior has shown Himself in providing for and keeping care of us over the last month as we transitioned. We continue to find support from our church with fantastic people and in-depth teaching. He has also paved the way for my medical treatment in the US. Jen's doctor accepted me as a patient, and we had an immediate bond (thanks to Jen!). The hospital is about 7 minutes from our door and we start labor classes in September. The baby is doing really well, with everything right on schedule. He is moving and kicking up a storm, except when his daddy touches my belly, when he promptly stops! Already he is a comedian!