Sam's work held their annual Christmas party on December 22nd! This was a special party for me and Sam because I was presented with 2 pink roses- one for me and one for Caroline! How sweet of his company to think of us! We ate a very delicious meal and I enjoyed all the desserts!

Caroline's Blankie Buddy!

Here's Caroline's Blankie Buddy- monogrammed! We got it from a friend this summer- thanks Fran- and waited to have it monogrammed until we knew what we're having! I hope Caroline loves it as much as we do! Just like Raffee, this blankie buddy (we'll let Caroline name it) is waiting for her arrival and sits on my night stand!

Family Christmas Fun!

For sometime now Sam and I have wanted to attend the Wednesday night church services at our church, but because of work, etc we were unable. So last Sunday I noticed in the bullentin that there would be a "Family Christmas Fun" time for tonight. So we decided that we wanted to go and it would be our chance of finally getting to go on a Wednesday night. Well tonight we got the chance to go for some Family Christmas Fun! The set up was this- eat dinner and then choose from a host of different activities and sessions to attend- we were excited!
So as we're eating and more and more people begin arriving, Sam looks at me and says, "we're the only ones here without children." I look around and see this to be true (however all the evening's events were in the Children's Ministry Building) and I'm not making the connection yet that this event was for children and their families. I noticed an older couple and point them out to Sam- they of course do not have children. So we finished up eating and then began to plan our sessions- I chose- family portrait, live nativity- yes with a real camel, sheep, baby, and more, craft on making your own nativity set, and Christmas caroling. So we head off for the first session- family portrait- we're still not noticing other childless couples, but we keep moving around to the different sessions. Finally, before we conclude our first Wednesday night church event we head to the "make your own nativity". As we're there we're noticing that at every every table there's a family and yes with CHILDREN. We didn't leave because we were in the middle of gluing baby Jesus down in raffia for straw on our manger scene. As we're gluing in the front of the room another family decides to join the craft and they head straight for our table- a woman announces- that tables taken for a family of two! I started laughing and told Sam to hurry up we'll glue/make/fold the rest of the nativity scene at home. So we leave- we get as far as the hallway and this girl- about our age- asks us if we had a good time and I laugh and tell her we did but we believe that we came to the wrong event. She laughed and said that it was fine and that at least we got to tour the new children's building- which by the way was very nice (she even commented on the arrival of our baby as to make us feel better about coming). So we head home laughing all the way. When we got home I went straight for the fridge where I post all the church's monthly events from the bullentin. The evenings event read "Children's Ministry Family Christmas Fun"! I told Sam what it said and we began to laugh hysterically and he said from now on he'd be in charge of the church event nights!
Oh, well we had fun-but the Sunday bullentin just said "Family Chritmas Fun"! The best part was we never once felt out of place and all the people were so nice to us!
Happy Holidays!

Caroline received her very first Disney World gift today! A former Leviner's Lamb, Griffin, along with his parents Wil and Rachel and oldest brother Trayton, brought back from Disney World a special pink Minnie Mouse hat with Caroline's name embroidered on the back! This was such a special treat and I can't wait to take Caroline's picture with it on!

24 Weeks

Here's my belly at 24 weeks! I can't believe I'm already this far along. I've been doing very well and I'm feeling fabulous! Caroline is beginning to be very active and I'm feeling her move more throughout the day instead of just in the mornings and nights! Its such a wonderful feeling and now Sam can even feel her move!
We've started cleaning our her room and getting paint swatches so we can match it with her bedding. I still have no idea how I want her room- stripped, polka dots, one color above the chair railing and one below. But I know that it'll come together. We're super excited about becoming parents and we know the Lord is going to bless us in so many ways!
16 weeks to go! Thank you for your continued prayers!
Love and Prayers,
Melissa and Sam

23 Weeks 6 Days

Today I had my 24th week appointment! It was very exciting- I got my application packet to fill out and return ASAP for my "admission for pregnancy" before I deliver as well as the wonderful Glucola to drink for my 28th week appointment for my glucose test. When Dr. Holladay took one look at me today he said that I was blossoming very nicely (I took this as a compliment because I'm so proud of my growing belly)! The rest of the appointment was very quick. First, I was weighed- I've gained not only 8 pounds but 8 and half pounds this time. I was shocked at the fact that I gained 8 pounds during last month's appointment and now 8.5 this time- for a grand total of 16.5 pounds. Dr. Holladay wasn't concerend but told me to partake in Yoga for pregnancy (I didn't do Yoga prepregnancy but I'll give it a try pregnant- this should be very interesting). I asked about walking- again- I wanted to make sure it was safe for Caroline and he said that I might feel aches and pains but she won't! When I got home from the appointment, feeling guilty, I took a 20 minute stroll in our neighborhood. It was actually very nice although the weather was chilly- this I didn't mind so much. I tried to promise myself that I would try this walking/yoga thing- at least if I'm thinking about it I won't feel so bad then for tasting that Tastefully Simple apple dessert in my fridge (Yum! Yum!).
For the rest of my appointment Dr. Holladay measured my belly which he said was perfect- 24 centimeters and I got a flu shot (never have I had the flu but taking the shot while pregnant would be just an extra precaution).
The highlight of my visit was when I had the chance to record Caroline's heartbeat! A teacher friend of mine, Lynn, gave me this Build-A-Sound recorder from Build-A-Bear. This makes it possible to record the baby's heartbeat and have it inserted into a Build-A-Bear for Caroline. In this way I'll always have her heartbeat! Before leaving the nurses said that if it didn't record this time then next time they'll hook me up to a different machine and can get a better recording for me. Well, I was disappointed when I tried to replay it for the nurses and it wouldn't work. So I'm going to have to get a new recorder and hopefully during my 28th week appointment we'll have a recording of her heartbeat!

Caroline's Bedding

Here's Caroline's Baby Bedding! It's pink and chocolate brown! After finding out that she's a girl we began the search for the perfect bedding for our baby girl! I pondered several other options before my oldest sister, Rhonda, e-mailed this bedding to me! It's perfect. All of the other choices were wonderful but when I first saw this one I knew it would be a great addition to her room. When we thought she was a boy baby the bedding seemed much easier to pick. Being pregnant has made me very indecisive- this also includes picking out baby furniture which we've looked at over and over. Sam and I went to Babies R Us again and looked/picked out baby furniture (Sam made the ultimate decision since I couldn't seem to). We are going with the color black, sleigh crib, a dresser, and a glider rocker for now. We're still pondering the need for the adorable chifforobe and chest of drawers!

Morning Message for Leviner's Lambs

This was the morning message that I posted today announcing to my children that I'd be having a girl! Weeks before, I read the book "Our Teacher's Having a Baby" by Eve Bunting. After reading the book to them the children wanted to know what I'd be having- I told them a boy! They were very surprised to get this morning message after hearing that the baby was a boy and now it's a girl! They even liked her name- Caroline Faye Leviner!

"Children are a gift from God; They are His reward." Psalm 127:3

Today was a very exciting day for me and Sam! Not only was today our 20th week appointment but we had a little surprise during our ultrasound. We found out that we're not having a boy but a precious sweet little girl! The ultrasound tech checked out the baby's organs, bones, brain- all the major features and then she couldn't wait to tell us what we were having. This was the same ultrasound tech that said at our 11 week appointment "off the record but its a boy". As she was looking for her "parts" she said I hope that I am not going to disappoint you but you're having a GIRL! We knew at our 11 week appointment that the baby's sex was not 100% for certain so we waited until this appointment to have it confirmed! We were not at all disappointed because we were just told the most wonderful news that any expecting parent would want to hear- that is that our baby's ultrasound looks normal and the baby looks great! She weighs 11 ounces and is in the 31 percentile! She was very active during the ultrasound- I haven't felt much other than flutters but you could tell on the screen that she was moving a lot- so the 3D pictures that she took were not of her best "features", so I didn't include those here!

After our appointment we hardly could get out of the door before we started calling our parents and close friends. Some asked if we were in shock about finding out its a girl rather than a boy. Our reply was no! We didn't care what we were having as long as the baby was healthy. This has been such a blessing!
Our daughter's name will be Caroline Faye Leviner. We'll call her Caroline! I've always liked the name Caroline and Faye is my mother's middle name! Sam now gets to rethink the whole nursery theme- he's thinking pink and brown- I'm thinking black and white with hot pink or lime green as trim! Sam has really gotten into the nursery theme- especially when we thought the baby would be a boy so now he has to rethink the color of the walls and all the art decor that he wants to paint/draw on the walls! I don't think a jungle theme will do for a princess!
I was also pleased to know that I'd gained some weight- but I didn't know that it'd be so much in five weeks- a mere 8 lbs! I saw Dr. Ridenhour today and she asked me about what kinds of things I'd been eating (I brought up the weight subject) and I told her yogurt and lots of milk for snacks. I haven't been eating sweets and I thought that eating lots of fruit would curb my appeitite but I really love milk! So she says to not overdue the calcium intake and that I could walk if I wanted to- Sam and I were beginning to start the whole walking routine but its never been established. So she says she's not worried this time but that if I gained 8 lbs before next month's visit then it'd be a bit of concern!
We are so thankful that we got a good ultrasound report! We are still praising the Lord for this wonderful and exciting news! Our next doctor's appointment is December 2nd!

Possible Nursery Theme!

Paradise by Cottontale Designs

I can't believe I'm already this far along- 15 weeks 1 day. I love that my belly is starting to grow! I have been feeling flutters for several weeks so things are definitely stretching and expanding! We both can't wait to feel the baby move! Sam asks me everyday when will he be able to feel the baby move! It won't be long- a few more weeks for me and maybe even a few more after that for him!Today I had my 15th week checkup! I love going to my OB- Dr. Holladay- at SC OBGYN. I love the whole practice- the nurses, lab techs, everyone! I'm seeing a practice at Baptist Hospital (where I'll deliver) and I am blessed to be in such great care! Dr. Holladay has taken really good care of "us" all throughout the pregnancy so far and I was especially impressed that he called my gastroenterologist twice to check on me when I was going through the C-Diff (don't forget to take a probiotic if you ever should need to be on an antibiotic). A lot of my friends, neighbors, and family (Dorothy) attend this same practice and I've heard wonderful stories about labor and delivery (still nervous about that part but not so much when I think about how well I'll be taken care of and that I'll get to see and present our little angel to you all).
Dr. Holladay was very pleased with today's visit. Baby's heartbeat was strong and in the 150's, I looked great (these were his exact words), and my weight was wonderful- still hadn't gained any but I know it'll come! I've been eating the same but drinking tons of water and milk and of course eating fruit and yogurt for snacks- I'm not much for eating sweets and besides they're not good for you or the baby- although vanilla whipped icing and cake from Publix sounds great right now- last week it was garlic bread. Although I love to drink an occasional Coke- its out of the question now and I'm so craving one! After I have the baby I told Sam I want the biggest cheeseburger and Coke from Rush's! Rhonda- I'm sure Darren won't mind doing this little errand! I go back in five weeks for my big 20 week appointment. I have an hour scheduled ultrasound- where they'll do all the measurements and get a "good look at the baby" as Dr. Holladay puts it. We'll also find out the sex for sure although the pictures show that baby's a boy! We both didn't care whether the baby was a boy or a girl as long as the baby of course was healthy, but I come from a long line of girls (I have only one boy cousin), and getting to be the mommy of a boy baby is so exciting!
I'm attaching a picture of my belly which I never thought I'd do (that's why I'm only sending it to the girls) but its so darn cute I couldn't resist and besides I'm proud of my little baby bump (I accidentally scratched my side and belly with my fingernail so that's why you see some red marks)!
Thank you all for praying for us and thanks Aunt Sue for calling Sam and checking on me this week!

I'm Growing!

Sam and I did a little shopping for baby last night. These are the very first items we bought. Raffe is baby's first toy from his mama and daddy.

Junior Crane Operator- perfect for when Sam takes baby to Blue Star!

Raffee!

We're Having a...
Well, you decide! Look at the third picture and you can tell what we're having! We had our second OB appointment today and we were thrilled when we saw what we're having! The ultrasound tech said they can't really tell the sex until I'm 20 weeks along but off the record the ultrasound showed us what we're going to be blessed with in late March! I'm 11 weeks 1 day today and I can't believe how fast the baby has grown since our first ultrasound at 6 weeks 5 days. I had to have an ultrasound so early because of complications from antibiotics called C-Diff (google it to find out what it is- but my advice is to stay away from antibiotics). I've been very ill since early July but after this round of "good" antibiotics I hope to be well very soon! Thanks for praying for me!
I was a nervous wreck before the appointment thinking that something might not be right with the baby since I've been on a very strong antibiotic for the past three weeks. But when we saw the baby- the ultrasound tech said baby was healthy and developing wonderfully- this was music to our ears. Sam really enjoyed seeing the baby- he was grinning from ear to ear the whole time and couldn't stop commenting on all of baby's little tiny features. The Lord has truly had a hand of protection over the baby- its been a fighter since its mama's been so sick- proving it to be 100% LEVINER!

"Life's most precious moments begin...

When a baby captures your heart.

For all the wonder now and

the wondrous days to come".

Telling Mom We're Expecting

Today we had mama's surprise 60th birthday party! She was in for a real treat becuase this was also the day that Sam and I told her that we were expecting. Weeks ago I ordered special books for each member of my family- for my mom and stepdad we chose "Grandma, Grandpa, and Me" by Mercer Mayer, for my sisters and their husbands we chose "What Aunts Do Best/What Uncles Do Best" by Laura Numeroff (this book is two in one!), for my two oldest nieces we chose "The Relatives Came" by Cynthia Rylant. We are going to tell Sam's family on Wednesday, August 13th using the same aunt/uncle books for his sister and brother, but for his mom we chose "Just Grandma and Me" by Mercer Mayer and for his dad we chose "Just Grandpa and Me" by Mercer Mayer.
Before mom's party began we handed her a gift bag with the book inside. She opened the gift and stared at the book wondering why in the world would Sam and I give her a children's book! With her puzzled expression we told her to keep thinking about why we would be giving her a "CHILDREN'S" book. Still puzzled I yelled, "We're having a baby!" She and my stepdad were very surprised but very excited about having a new grandbaby! This day was very special for all of us! Happy 60th Birthday, Mom!

"Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you, before you were born I set you apart." Jeremiah 1:5.

Today, Monday August 4, 2008 I had my first OB appointment! I am already 6 weeks 5 days pregnant! I haven't been feeling great lately. Some tests were done this day and later I found out the reason why I felt so puney- I had antibiotic related illness known as C Diff. I had taken two rounds of antibiotics in early July (didn't know at the time I was pregnant because it was too early to test) and later I found out that I didn't need them after all. So instead of killing the bad bacteria in my belly the antibiotics attacked my good belly bacteria and I wound up with C Diff- a horrible stomach superbug. Anyways, I was very excited however to get to see our baby for the first time even if it looked like a bean sprout! The ultrasound tech told us that the baby looked great and that the heartbeat was 112 beats per minute- I looked at Sam at that moment and told him that we were having a boy. I know I know going by the heartrate in determining a baby's gender is an old wives tale, but it was fun to see our baby on the monitor and thinking we already knew what it was.

Ansleigh Marie Creel's First Birthday!

Yummy! I love cake!

You mean I get to dig in it!

Having my cake and eating it too!

Yoo-hoo Ansleigh where are you?

It's all gone mommy!

I am one happy baby!

Me with mommy and daddy!

Just me and mamma!

Melissa and Michelle!

We're Expecting!

This was a very exciting day for both me and Sam! We found out today that we're going to be a mommy and a daddy! In anticipation I wanted to know right away when I'd become pregnant. So I starting testing and took my first pregnancy test on July 9th! I told Sam to not be disappointed if it were negative because a lot of couples don't become pregnant on their first time of trying. So after taking the test and waiting the desired 3 minutes for the results it read negative. So a couple of days later, still hopeful that I could be pregnant, I took yet another test and it was also negative. Oh well, I said to myself it'll be when its meant to be! On July 13th I decided to take a third test. I took the test gave it a glance and thought surely if I were 10 days along it'd be positive. After glancing at it and seeing one very dark line I thought okay we'll try again next month and laid the test on bar in our bathroom. Little did I know that on the 14th I'd be in for a happy surprise. On this day I woke up and happened to walk over to where I placed the test and took a double take! To my surprise there was a very dark line and a very faint 2nd one. YEAH! I immediately called Sam at work and told him that there was for sure a second line. He was so excited and said, " Phew, I've got to sit down". I told him that I'd take another test to be sure. I called my sister, Rhonda, next and she said that she already knew that I was pregnant (apparently I described some symptoms to her earlier in the week). So, to be sure, I went out and bought two more tests all of which returned negative. I was a little disappointed because one test showed pregnant and these were telling me that I wasn't. But I still had hope becuause I know there are more false negatives than false positives!!
So today, July 19th, after an all day make up session with my oldest sister Rhonda in Spartanburg, Rhonda, Kelsey, and I drove to Myrtle Beach where we'd be meeting Sam. After being three days late I couldn't wait to take yet another test. I had a cheap one with me so I took it and saw another more revealing second faint line. I told Sam that he had to get me to Walgreens to get me a real one- the digital kind that say "Pregnant" or "Not Pregnant". In excitment I put the other test in my pocket and we were off to Walgreens to buy the "real test". The pregnancy tests were locked in a glass case at the particular Walgreens that we were at so as the girl was unlocking the case I showed her the test in my pocket. She said, "looks positive to me"! We came back to our condo, I took the test and within a minute we saw that I was defintely pregnant! Sam started jumping around saying "we're going to have a baby". It was such a sweet moment for the two of us! We can't wait to see what the next nine months are going to bring for us!!

Melissa and Sam enjoying the ride!

Melissa and Heather!

Sam!!

Mommy and Daddy to be!

Raven and Koto!

Melissa and Sam

Supper Club- 7.11.08
Last night was a blast! We had supper club hosted by the Callahans, who are expecting their very first baby December 3rd! This was going to be a very special supper club occasion! Heather and Travis found out on July 9th what they were having and they were going to reveal the sex of their baby to us last night when the "supper club" arrived at their house. In a very special presentation they told Raven, Koto, Sam, and I that they're having a baby girl and her name would be Morgan Kate (well we knew the names they picked out for either a boy or girl baby but we didn't know what the baby would just yet be)!! Raven and I assumed it would be a baby girl according to the ultrasound picture Heather posted on her blog on Thursday! We were just thrilled and happy at the same time and screamed in excitment when the baby's sex was revealed! Then for supper club the Callahans took us on Lake Murray in their boat to eat at the Rusty Anchor! It was so much fun and very delicious!

Rhonda's hot and smiling!

Mom, Homer, Kelsey, PC, and Woody!

Dylan and Blake eating and loving the ice cream cake!

M and M!

Scottie, Candi, Collin, and Maddie!

Daniel, Kayla, Kelsey, Blake, Dylan, and Adam!

Kelsey, Melinda, and Keith!

On Saturday, for July 4th weekend we went to my parents house in Chester! It was many celebrations into one! We celebrated Independence Day, my sister Rhonda's birthday, my niece Kelsey's birthday, and my stepsister Tracey's birthday! We cooked out burgers and hotdogs (yum, yum) on the new grill on my parent's new deck and ate lots of desserts. We had icecream cake made by mom and other treats including snow cones made especially for the children. My parents had all but two of their grandchildren present. It was so much fun eating, relaxing, and catching up with everybody. We even had some animals in our midst- ants, flies, spiders- the usual, but mom and PC have quite a few animals that you like to have around including Homer- the dog and Woody their horse! We had such a good time and I was glad that we were all able to come together and celebrate the many special occasions in this month!