Finally*

Joshua Anthony Flowers is finally here!!! And I actually have a minute to blog about it...this is a rare moment! Joshua was born on August 1st at 12:49am. He was 8lbs 15oz and 21 3/4 inches long. He has chubby little cheeks and long toes, he is beautiful and I still can't believe we have two little guys!

Tuesday, July 31st, I went into the doctors for a checkup and I was 4 1/2cm dilated, I was hoping she would tell me to go straight to the hospital because the baby was coming but she just said that when I felt the contractions to go straight to the hospital because he was going to come quick. So we went home and texted a friend. She said that I should do some squats...so Shelden made me do a bunch of squats! We were sitting at the table talking and laughing about how I wanted a Mcflurry from Mcdonalds and then I felt my water break. I was like uhhhh.....I think that was my water!!! I was super excited and nervous because that means I was going to have this baby. We went to the hospital and they confirmed that it was my water. I was admitted into a room and we just sat and waited for consistent contractions to come. We sat there for 6 hours, walking around the maternity floor, doing more squats and watching the Olympics. Finally the doctor came in and said my water probably didn't break all the way. So he broke my water....then it was on!!! My contractions came on pretty quick after that and they came on strong! I was frustrated that he didn't break my water fully sooner because I really don't like staying in the hospital but it is what it is. I had previously talked to my doctor about going all natural without any drugs because of a previous horrible experience I had with the epidural with Micah. There is nothing that helps with the pain of childbirth that is not invasive. And I was so fearful that the same thing would happen again. So my only option was to forgo drugs and go all natural. I definitely was scared.
Because of the new hospital that was built, I had a room with a tub in it. I hopped into the tub to ease the pain of the contractions but I am not sure if that really helped. It just hurt and I started to doubt myself. Shelden was such an amazing encouragement! He was there for me through the whole process. He talked me through each of my contractions and I am so thankful for him. I really don't think I could have done it without him there. Both my parents were there in the room as well. They were so supportive and took good care of me. I am so glad they were there as well! It was time to get out of the tub so the nurse could check how far I was dilated. The contractions were getting stronger and stronger and I started to lose focus. But shelden was there to keep me on track. The nurse gave me some tricks and helped me with my breathing. There was a couple of times that I said, "Shelden, I don't think I can do this." But he reassured me that this is what I was made to do this. Finally, it was time to push and I told myself this little baby is going to come out quick! It was only a matter of about 5-6 pushes and he was out. It was such a relief to have him out! I said out loud, "Thank you JESUS!" Thank you GOD!" and then I told my dad, I don't think I am going to have anymore, I am going to adopt. He just laughed at me.
Looking back I think that it wasn't too bad, but I know that in the moment it was really tough to get through those contractions. I kept saying out loud, "I can do this, I can do this, I can do this" I just said that over and over again during my contractions. It really was liberating to give birth all natural and I am so glad that I did! It really was an amazing experience...and I am really glad it is over!
I am fortunate enough to have an amazing friend who is a great photographer. She was there during the whole labor and birth and captured it through her lens. She was a great support and I am so glad she was there. Here is a picture video she made of Joshua's arrival. Thanks Amber! You are wonderful! Just click on the link...

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Due Date*

Tomorrow is the official due date of this little baby!
I really didn't think we would make it this far...I thought he would be here by now! But what I have come to realize is that God has a birthdate for him. He has a specific day for him to be born and even though I would love to control that, I can't!
I definitely am so ready to get rid of this prego belly and meet our little boy!
Hopefully this little guy will make his arrival tonight...that would be nice! But I am prepared to go past my due date even though my body is having a hard time keeping up.

*3 Year Anniversary!*

Today is our 3 year anniversary! wooo whooo!!! I totally thought we would have baby number 2 by today but he is still in the oven cooking away! Three years seems like a good amount and sounds like nothing compared to my parents 30th wedding anniversary coming up next month! There is so much that has happened in the last 3 years, it definitely has gone by fast.
Within 3 years of marriage we have:
-lived in 4 different places (apartment, condo, my parents, and our own house)
-we had our first baby
-became homeowners
-basically remodeled our new home
-owned 6 different vehicles (4runner, honda, mazda,ranger, gmc and our passat)
-Shelden restored a '79 honda 185T (we are selling it...let us know if you are interested!)
-Shelden started his own business NewLight Co. and sold it
-I became a stay at home momma
-Shelden started fulltime at BMW/VW and got a promotion
-we became pregnant again
-had 2 different roomates (Shout out to Matt and Brookie!)


It definitely has been one change after the next, I used to look for things to settle down and level out in our life but that really hasn't happened. Our lives are about to change again as we are anticipating the arrival of Joshua Anthony Flowers. The last few nights I thought there was a chance he was coming but obviously he is not here. It still is a little surreal that we will have 2 boys running around. I really feel like a mom now that I will have 2 kids, it is going to take me to a whole new level of selflessness. I really had no idea what our life would look like together when we said "I do" three years ago. I was just so ready to be married to my best friend and share everything with him. I had no idea we would be on our 2nd child by now and living in our own place. I am so thankful for the tough times that God has taken us through. I am thankful that we both fight for this marriage and to love God first. God has weeded out insecurities and selfishness in us and is continuing to weed out more things. I am so thankful for my husband, he never ceases to amaze me with hidden talents and random knowledge he has. I am so proud of him for working so diligently at his job. God has taught him so much about himself through his job and I love watching him grow. Shelden is such a great dad, I can see in Micah's eyes how much he adores Shelden. No one can make Micah laugh like his daddy does. I can't wait to see where God will take us in the next 5, 10 and 15 years. It is such an adventure to obey God and I am so very thankful that my husband fears and loves the Lord.

 Dating '08

 the night he proposed

 our wonderful wedding day

 then came Micah

now we are waiting for Joshua to hangout with us...



Love me some Labor*

No! I am not in labor yet!!! But I know I will be getting there soon!!! Last week we went to the doctor and he said I am already dilated 2cm and that the head is low. Also, he said that the baby will probably come in a couple of weeks. This week I found out that I am mildly anemic. Which makes sense why I have been so tired lately! It is totally my fault though because I have been really really forgetful about taking my prenatal vitamin. He prescribed me to taking Iron twice a day and my prenatal vitamin everyday and said that will get my blood count back up in time for when the baby makes his debut.
I have been looking up different pain medications for when I go into labor. I am kind of disappointed because all I have found is the epidural, spinal tap and morphine. I am so fearful of getting an epidural again. I had horrible side effects from it and my first week home with Micah was awful! I could not take care of him the way a new mommy should be able to. My doctor keeps reassuring me that it is only a 1% chance of getting spinal headaches (which is what I suffered) with an epidural. But I cannot see myself getting one again! I really don't want such an invasive pain medication. So out goes the spinal tap because that is more invasive then the epidural. And I really rather not be doped up on morphine, plus that will affect little baby. Really, my only option right now is going all natural, and honestly that still scares me a bit! I know my body was made to do this, God made me strong enough to take it but I am still a little bit nervous. I am nervous that I will go to my default and quit in the midst of pain. I am so good at quitting or not giving my 100% in the middle of something difficult. Luckily, I have a handsome and awesome husband that is willing to push me to my best potential. He reminds me all the time that I am strong enough to deliver this baby without drugs. And I know he will do such a good job of coaching me and encouraging me through laboring.
I am excited to have this little guy! Honestly, I am excited to not be pregnant anymore! But I am more excited to add another flowers boy to the bunch. I am excited to see how Micah reacts to this new little baby in our home and how they will grow up to be best friends. Well, we are praying that they will be best friends!
Almost there!!! Praise Jesus!

You are Not Alone*

I was praying yesterday for our Generation Church, which is our youth group we help out with. I was asking God for something to share with our group of kids. The night ended without the chance of me being able to speak about it and it is still on my heart today.

One of the enemies biggest lies that we believe is: "You are Alone."

God wants you to know that you are NOT alone! I've previously struggled with loneliness, especially during the newness of being a stay at home mommy. I felt like no one was around and unfortantely twisted it to blaming my husband for not being home enough. Yet, he was working and making the means for us to own our first house and feed our first baby. I know what it is like to feel that depression and frustration of "no one" being around. I just wanted a friend. I just wanted to talk to someone. I did not want my husband to go to work and I wanted him to come home early. I would get so frustrated that he had to stay later at work. I finally came to realize that his customers are the ones paying our bills. There is no other income.

Satan wants us to believe that we are alone. When in fact, we are not. Do we realize how many others are feeling the same way? What if all us lonely people got together, then we wouldn't be so lonely right? Satan works by creating a gap between people. If he gets people out of relationship with each other then he is on the right path. Just like with Adam and Eve, Satan made a way for a gap between God and his people (ultimately by lying to them). God made us for relationships.  "How good and pleasant it is when brothers live in unity."-ps 133:1 We've all grown up with a "best friend" or a group of close friends. It's fun sharing life with those people and you find yourself wanting to be around that person or people all the time because it makes life richer. So why wouldn't Satan attack that part of our life? He wants us to live seperate lives where there is no vulnerability and where its easy to put on a facade when you walk out the front door. He has won when we close ourselves off to others. He has won when we put on our fake face to impress others. Satan does not want us to stand up together, because there is strength in numbers. It is harder for the enemy to bring you down when you are supported by a friend.

"God sets the lonely in families" -Ps 68:6
God does not want you to be alone. It says in his written word that he sets you in a family! But that doesn't necessarily mean that he will physically pick you up and transport you and drop you into a perfect family. He definitely could if he wanted to but...sometimes this loneliness feeling needs to be fought by the one feeling lonely. We need to pick ourselves up and take our eyes off of ourselves and go be a friend to someone else. I was reading today in the Message Bible, Matthew 7:12 "Here is a simple, rule-of-thumb guide for behavior: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you, then grab the iniative and do it for them..." We got to get out of ourselves and go help the ones who are truly lonely. We have to remember in the darkness of feeling alone that, "its not about me!" We have the power within us to rise up against the enemies lies. God lives within us therefore we have the power to say no to the lies and yes to the truth! This is one thing that God has been teaching me since I've been in high school. I need to go and be a friend to someone, not complain and feel bad for myself that no one is being a friend to me. Unfortunately, I still learn that lesson from time to time. But let's be to others what we want them to be to us. What a revolution for relationships in this world if we were to help others, the way we would want to be helped. The Word is so rich with relevant truth for today!
 Proverbs 11:25 says, "A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed."
Thats some good stuff right there!
In our loneliness, let's be generous! It almost doesn't make sense but God's word is true and he keeps his promises. If we step out of our lonely mentality of thinking and give to someone else we will be refreshed. I don't know about you but I love that feeling of refreshed!

God wants YOU to know that YOU are NOT alone!

33 weeks and counting!

Yes, it has been quite some time since I've been able to post! It has been a fiasco trying to get hooked up to our wireless internet in our new place. So I am thankful that we finally have wireless internet...oh first world problems right?

We got another ultrasound today, which is always amazing to me. It's crazy that there is a little being stuffed inside my belly. And man is he stuffed!!! He weighs slightly under 5lbs. Talk about a chunker!!! We got to see his face...kind of...on the 3D ultrasound, I think him and Micah will look alot alike. The ultrasound predicted that my due date will be July 31st, instead of the original predicted date of August 3rd. Praise Jesus for that! Time is going by fast, as always! I look at Micah when he is running around like a crazy man and think, oh my goodness...there is going to be two of them!!! But by God's grace I'll be able to raise these little guys! I don't know how its going to work out but it WILL work out!

Being at home with Micah has been the transistion of a lifetime. I am becoming a different person, in a good way, I really feel myself stepping into a Mother's role. I don't think I am like most moms and sometimes I get insecure about that but I am confident in how God wants us to raise these little guys. We are super laid back with Micah, in the way of letting him figure out how things work...like gravity. This little boy always has bumps and bruises. He has learned the art of falling, he knows how to lift his head up when he falls on the ground so his head won't hit. So smart this kid! I was shopping at my favorite store, TJ Maxx when I, the defiant to rules mommy was letting Micah play in the bigger area of the shopping cart. No he was not buckled in the top part of the basket facing me, with his legs through the holes. He was standing up, cart surfing and pulling clothes to his face. He reached out for a dress and stumbled a bit...believe me this kid was not going to fall out but the lady in the aisle gasped with horror as she thought he was going to plunge to his death. She kept gasping as he was falling and getting back up within the basket. Oh man, I thought she was going to call CPS on me! Sometimes I think people see us and think we are crazy or too laid back, but then I think about it and I love watching Micah figure out how to do things on his own. I won't always be able to be there for him. He has a healthy independence about him and I like that. I don't want to be a helicopter parent but I am sure there are ways we are. He is such a smart little guy, who loves to figure out how mommy and daddy do things around the house.

My prayer for Joshua is that we would not compare him to Micah. We love Micah so much and think the world of him, of course we think he is super smart and super cute. He definitely is a fast learner and has met milestones a little earlier then the average. But Joshua could have a totally different temperment and personality. And I don't ever want to speak bad things over him, I don't ever want him to feel like his older brother is better then him in anyway. Joshua will be such an amazing man of God and will be different then Micah. They both have a high calling on their lives and I need to remember that while I change poopy diapers, listening to crying and go crazy from not sleeping very much.

Raising Micah has showed me that I had so much more capacity for selflessness. And now with Joshua soon to make his arrival, I am sure there is a whole other level for selflessness that I will have to make room for.

Micah's 1st Bday!*

A couple of weeks have past since Micah's 1st birthday. I still can't believe he is 1 years old and only getting older! He is such a blessing to me and even though there are times where the child drives me nuts, I can't wait til he wakes up in the morning so we can hangout. He is my little buddy. His determined little personality comes alive each day. And he can't get enough electronics and mechanical things...he will sit for a while trying to figure out how things fit together and come undone. I know every mom says this about her child, but he really is smart! :)
We had so much fun celebrating our little boy on his birthday. Daddy made some bbq chicken and we had our first official get together in our new house. Of course he got tons of presents and he tried some cake. Because he is a boy, and a rough one at that, he had a black eye on his birthday and a matching scratch across his cheek (made for some sweet pics). Two days later after his bday he touched my hair straightener while it was cooling off, so he had a nice 2nd degree blister on his thumb to go with his black eye and scratched face. I didn't want to take him anywhere because I was afraid someone might call CPS on me.
I love that little guy with my whole heart. And I can't wait til his brother comes along in late July/early August. They will be two peas in a pod, getting in trouble together and being crazy boys! Micah will be such a great big brother!

 getting hair done by daddy...he cut his hair a few days earlier!

 Probably the coolest present he got...lil powerwheels from auntie larissa..he rides the thing everywhere except he doesn't know how to turn, so he runs into the walls all the time!

The day we brought him home from the hospital...I can't believe he used to be this small...now he is my big 1 yr old monster!!! :)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MICAH LEE!!!