Mike's Golf Adventures

Hello, Mike here. Since coming home I have found many things have changed from the way they were prior to my latest venture to the middle east, but my love of the game of golf has endured. I bought a used set of irons with some money I made on Craigslist and family provided the rest of the money needed to finish out the set. Since getting my clubs together I've had the opportunity to play pretty often with friends and co-workers at some of the most beautiful and difficult courses in the world.

One of the first courses I played is one of my all time favorites! Klipper at Kaneohe Marine Corps Base has been rated the best military course in the world. Holes 13-15 line the ocean and remind me of just how lucky I am to be able to live in Hawaii.


Today I had the chance to play a course named Ko'olau, which is touted as the most difficult course located in the United States and the third hardest course in the world. I have to say it lived up to the hype with its jungle atmosphere, narrow fairways and rolling hills. We had a great time and lost a few dozen balls along the way.

Magic!

So we went for our second ultrasound yesterday and like magic another baby appeared on the screen! That's right--we are having twins!

Here they are--our beautiful babies...that in my opinion look like little upside-down schnauzer's

I believe last week that the doctor we had just wasn't very thorough--she went in, found a pregnancy, took a picture and then we were done. The doctor this week took a lot of time and really searched around. I noticed before she said anything when she was kind of poking at one, another pregnancy appeared...i literally gasped and she looked at us and smiled and I was like "there's another one in there isn't there?" The next few minutes were full of excitement and nervousness all at the same time. I could hardly breathe as she was checking to make sure both had heartbeats. Both do have strong heartbeats and were measuring at 7.5 weeks, right on target. With the first sigh of relief also came lots of tears and laughing as we tried to let the news sink in. We are so excited about our little "puppies" that we haven't stopped smiling yet!

Here are there individual heartbeats:

Baby 1 at 156 beats per minute

and Baby 2 at 168 beats per minute

...this really explains my own constantly racing heartrate--there's twice the babies to pump all that blood for!

Hawaiian Word of the Week

Hapai; pronounced Ha-Pie

meaning-- to carry; pregnant

pidgin example- Wat. Hapai?

english translation-Is she pregnant?

pidgin example- Jess stay hapai fo 6 weeks already.

english translation--Jess is 6 weeks pregnant.

That's right. If you haven't already heard Mike and I are having a baby. As some of you know it has taken a few years now to get here and now Mike and I realize how really blessed we are to have been given this opportunity to be parents. We are proof that God is always in control and his timing is perfect in every way.

Our first ultrasound was yesterday--we were able to see and hear its little heart beating and we got our first picture. Although to you it will just look like a little dot we are so excited to watch this little miracle grow into a beautiful baby!

Thanks to the military for being cautious and taking such care of us, we will be getting to see our little one every week for awhile and really get to see the growth process. I will try not to bombard the blog with ultrasound pics every week but i will keep you updated as things change. Our estimated due date is Jan. 6 2010.

Also I would like to wish a congratulations to a few other newly expecting mothers out there--My high school friend and college roommate, Dee Edwards Belvin, due late September--My college design partner, Lacey Carothers Pegram, due around Thanksgiving--and my good friend here in Hawaii, Hillary Sweatland, due one month before us on December 6. Love you guys!

Renee's Rockin' Baby Shower

This Saturday I hosted a baby shower for my friend Renee, who is 34 weeks pregnant--almost there!

This is the first baby shower I have ever thrown and I had a great time doing it. The plan was simple-- lots of pink and black, some yummy food, a few good games and some great friends.