Happy Birthday, sweet Noah!

(1 hour old)

(2 months old)

(4 months old)

(6 months old)

(11 months old)

Noah Talmadge

(December 29, 2008)

Oh my, how time does fly!

We can't believe it's already been a year!

You've brought so much joy and life to our little, growing family!

How blessed we are to have you in it!

You are such a precious gift from our loving Saviour!

Happy Birthday, sweet baby boy!

Our little pear

I'm 15 weeks now with sweet baby #3, and am starting to show. Actually, my belly began popping out around week 11 or 12. That's what happens when you have 3 babies in less than 3 years, I suppose. Good thing is I still haven't even reached my starting weight with the last two! Bad news is my winter maternity clothes are two sizes too big since I was wearing them in the last few months with Noah (at which time I was as big as a house!) I'm still so glad I lost all that extra weight this summer. It really has made the beginning of this pregnancy much easier so far. I usually have sciatica by week 10 or 12, but not even a sign of it yet. I really don't even feel like I'm carrying any extra weight yet. It's nice...and helpful when I now have two little boys pulling on me all and begging to be picked up all day long! :) Coming soon...photos of our sweet little pear! We'll find out the gender on January 19th! I was thinking it was a girl for the longest time, but recently have decided that's probably just wishful thinking (not that I don't absolutely love and adore my sweet boys!) I started getting sick at week 11 (Thanksgiving) in the same exact way I did with James, so who knows?! We'll just have to wait and see! I'll keep you all posted!

New Year's Resolutions

I have a lot of them this year, somewhere around 25 or so already. And of course, one of them is to update our blog...weekly, possibly daily. We'll see how that one goes. Until then, I apologize to all the family and grandparents viewing this hoping to see pics. We have tons of them, but we've all been sick since before Thanksgiving and I've barely been keeping "my head above water" this month. It makes me so sad too, because December really has to be one of my favorite months of the year and we've hardly been out to enjoy it with others and truly appreciate all the wonderful Advent activities our little city has to offer. Hopefully I'll catch up soon...on everything!

Our Little Kidney Bean

After going in every week for the last 4 weeks, I finally had my first doctor's visit and another ultrasound today. All the other visits were just for blood samples to check my progesterone and hCG levels. There wasn't much to the appointment, since we've done this so many times in the last few years. I talked to Dr. K for a short time, more just catching up than anything else, and then they drew more blood and I got my H1N1 vaccine! All-in-all it was a quiet visit...and boy do we like those quiet visits! Our little one is 14. 8 mm (the size of a kidney bean) and the heartbeat was 171...a very healthy little thump, thump, thump! :)

It's as if I don't know "how it happens" and each time I'm reminded just how much I'm not in control! You'd think by now I would get used to the fact that my body is just odd and doesn't work like the "normal" one it's compared to every time I enter the doctor's office. I'm amazed every time I get pregnant. I've already been to the doctor for lab work 5 times since I tested positive on October 9th! Although I have no problem "getting pregnant," I'm still technically considered a "fertility phenomenon." (My hCG & progesterone numbers for all 3 pregnancies, as well as "normal" levels are listed below.)

We really were trying to wait until at least January to get pregnant again, if not a little later. I wanted to lose some more weight to be starting off at a healthier point (fortunately I lost all my post-baby fat plus an additional 12 pounds and am starting out lighter than I was when Aaron & I got married.) I also selfishly just wanted some time not being pregnant or nursing while getting to sleep through the night and even plan a one night get away with my hubby.

Once again though, God had a different plan (and I don't say that lightly!) We were loosely trying to follow the Natural Family Planning model, but I'd only had one cycle so that was pretty difficult to do (and for all you true followers, I wasn't taking my temp...just relying on an online calculator.) I figured I'd start doing that with my 2nd cycle. According to the charts, I should have been clear based on a 31 day cycle (which is what I've always had prior to this cycle.) When I took the pregnancy test, I based it on that and the only time I could have possibly conceived in the month (we have 2 kids under 2 so there isn't much time for that!) Based on those dates, I would have conceived on the last possible logical day giving me a due date of June 19, 2010.

Now for the awesome timing of God....

I went in today for more labwork. My progesterone is low again, but high for me (10 rather than 2 on the first check!) However, it only went up by 1.1 points after two weeks of being on twice a day progesterone supplements, so Dr. K ordered an ultrasound for today and bumped the supplement up to 3x a day. I went in thinking I was 6 weeks, 5 days pregnant. Turns out, I'm not that far along. It's only a few days different, but it means my cycle would have been closer to a 35 day cycle which is just crazy!

I'm actually only 6 weeks, 2 days pregnant and due on June 22, 2010. The heart rate was 111 (should be 99 or more at this week of pregnancy) so all looks good. I saw that sweet baby jumping around, but boy was it small. Even smaller than the last two and I've always had early ultrasounds. This one was really hard to see! I'm just thankful I got to see it and that precious "thump, thump, thump" of it's sweet little heart!

I'm always amazed to see God's timing in life's biggest (and smallest) moments. I waited and waited and waited to meet Aaron and get married and start a family. But when it happened, it happened quickly and here we go again...hurry, hurry, hurry! I'm still trying to understand His ways, but what a fun ride it's been as He continues to teach and guide me. I know I've said it before, but I can't help but say it again. It may be tough for a while, but what fun it will be for all these sweet babies to grow up so close together.

Look just below the arrow in the far right corner of the black circle! That's the beauty of a steady thumping heartbeat! I already love this precious miracle!!!

Baby 3: (Conceived on September 29, 2009)

Friday, Oct. 9, 2009 (10 dpo): hCG: 20.2 / progesterone: 10.6

Monday, Oct. 12, 2009 (13 dpo): hCG: 123 / progesterone: not checked, but supplements started on 10/9/09

Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2009 (21 dpo): hCG: 3,492 / progesterone: 11.7 (told to start supplements 3x's a day)

James: (1st Pregnancy, January 2007 to September 21, 2007)
12 dpo - hCG: 36 and progesterone: 4.2.
14 dpo - hCG: 57 and progesterone 3.2
16 dpo - hCG: 120

Noah: (2nd Pregnancy - Conceived on April 6, 2008 / Born on December 29, 2008)
Friday, April 25 (13dpo) - hCG:19

Tuesday, April 29 (17dpo) - hCG:229 / progesterone: 21 (already began supplements)
Tuesday, May 6, 2008 (23 dpo) - hCG: 5,149
Wednesday, May 7, 2008 (24dpo) - hCG: 9,391 (24 days from ovulation)

Guideline to hCG levels during pregnancy:

hCG levels in weeks from LMP (gestational age)* :

• 3 weeks LMP: 5 - 50 mIU/ml
• 4 weeks LMP: 5 - 426 mIU/ml
• 5 weeks LMP: 18 - 7,340 mIU/ml
• 6 weeks LMP: 1,080 - 56,500 mIU/ml
• 7 - 8 weeks LMP: 7, 650 - 229,000 mIU/ml
• 9 - 12 weeks LMP: 25,700 - 288,000 mIU/ml
• 13 - 16 weeks LMP: 13,300 - 254,000 mIU/ml
• 17 - 24 weeks LMP: 4,060 - 165,400 mIU/ml
• 25 - 40 weeks LMP: 3,640 - 117,000 mIU/ml
• Non-pregnant females: <5.0>
• Postmenopausal females: <9.5>

Progesterone levels also can have quite a variance at this stage of pregnancy. They can range from 9-47ng/ml in the first trimester, with an average of 12-20ng/ml in the first 5-6 weeks of pregnancy.

Old & New

I promise to update photos for past events soon! Life has just been crazy lately, and with the holidays coming it isn't likely to slow down anytime soon! Until I get to that, though, I wanted to post something new!!! It makes it all real again. Enjoy! [Next post will include the "new(s)!"]

Thanksgiving & Positive Thinking

I must admit that my hands shook out of fear and disbelief for almost an hour after I saw the positive reading on the pregnancy test, but today my heart is so full! I've decided from this moment forward to try and find the positive and not complain too much during this pregnancy! I am so very grateful to our gracious God for all these sweet babies! What an incredible blessing He has bestowed upon our growing family! I realize it may be difficult for a few months, and apparently so do all our friends and family. But, what's a temporary trial for a lifetime and house full of joy?! I can't wait to hear the joyful noise of pitter-pattering little feet and sweet giggles as these three precious babies grow up together! I always wanted a house full of babies. God just has a different idea for the timing of them! Praise You, God, for picking me and Aaron to parent these wonderful creations of Yours! Thank You for slowly teaching me to let go of the things that aren't important and grasp the moments and people that are! I may be sitting surrounded by a mountain of laundry that needs folding right now, but boy did we have fun making cut & paste fall trees and handprint turkeys this morning and eating fast food breakfast in the parking lot of McDonald's!

And then there were 3!!!

"3 babies under the age of 3"

Coming to a neighborhood near you this summer!

Due: June 19, 2009

Local Reviews

SHOCKED!!! - Tally D. (baby carrier & elated mama)

ALL RIGHT!!! - Aaron D. (proud papa)

You're going to be busy!!! - Aunts, grandparents & friends

Happy Birthday, sweet baby James!

I can't believe it's already been two years! Your daddy and I love you so very much! What a precious blessing you are from God! I'm amazed every day at all the new things you're learning and how much you've grown! My baby's becoming a big boy before my very eyes!

Catching Up & Counting Cousins

Izzy
Izzy, James & Mimi

Nick

Noah, Hunter, James & Samuel

Izzy

Nick

Shaun, Courtney & Henry

Aidan & Olivia

Cooper & James

Mason & Aunt Katie

Noah & Aunt Becca

James & Olivia

Mason & Noah

Cooper, Uncle Mark & James

Soooo...I have a lot of catching up to do on here! Although I don't feel like we've done much this summer, we've apparently been busy (or I would have found the time to update!) I've been doing a lot of sewing, and we've spent a lot of time at the pool although not as much as I'd have hoped. We made a quick jaunt down to L.A. (Mobile & Atmore) and took a short day trip to Auburn a few weeks ago to pick up a bookcase and visit with my cousins and were then in Jackson, MS last weekend to meet our newest cousin/nephew, but other than that we've been homebound for the most part...

...and now the summer is almost gone! My first clue to that was a call I got a few weeks ago...from James' new teacher! YES, I said teacher! My baby is going to school in September...CRAZY! It's just two days a week in the mornings and while most people call it MDO, it's still school to me. The other clue was the arrival of our new nephew/cousin Henry! Aaron's little sister Courtney (and husband Shaun) just had their first baby boy (see previous post.) She was due August 12th, but delivered him on August 7th (which also happens to be my sister's wedding anniversary...Happy belated Anniversary, Erin & Blake!)

Henry makes boy cousin #7 for James & Noah! If you're reading this and know anything about my family, you know that I'm the oldest of 6 and the first 5 of us are girls. Aaron has 2 brothers and a sister and cumulatively between the two families, boys have won out so far! On my side, there are 3 boys and 1 girl (all ages 4 and under with the last 3 being born just months apart!) For the Dettling clan, there are 3 boys (soon-to-be 4) and 1 girl...bringing the grand total (including our two boys) to 9 boys and 2 girls! Olivia (July '08 - Ashley's daughter), Mason (November '08 - Erin's son), Noah (December '08 - our 2nd) and now Henry (August '09 - Courtney's son) will all be less than a year apart! It's been a busy couple of years for our families (and I'm pretty sure we aren't done yet!)

Easy Cousin Math:

3 (of 6) Reynolds' children + 4 Dettling children =

5 Dettling boys, 1 Dettling girl, 1 Sirmon boy, 2 Harris boys, 1 Mendoza boy & 1 Mendoza girl

(For added fun, sing in "Partridge in a Pear Tree" fashion OR try saying that 5 times fast!!!)

P.S. Most of the photos are from several visits home and to Jackson between March and August!

So for those of you wondering what it would be like to have a large family, this is what happens when that large family starts making their own family! My mom went from 0 to 6 grandkids in 2 years! Fun times! Christmas will be intersting, fun and LOUD this year! :) And I wouldn't have it any other way...

Happy Birthday, Mimi!

Happy Birthday, Mimi!
(August 19, 2009)

We love you very much and hope you have a wonderful day and year full of joy!

You are a kind-hearted mother-in-law, adoring grandmother, and loving mom! We are extremely blessed to call you mother. Thank you for all your prayers and all you do for us!

Love,

Aaron, Tally, James & Noah

Welcome sweet Henry!

It's late and we just returned after a long drive up from Jackson, but I couldn't wait to post the good news. My sweet sister-in-law Courtney (and her hubby Shaun) had their precious baby boy yesterday. After 3 long years trying to conceive, 1 miscarriage, at least 4 IUI treatments, 6 weeks of bedrest, countless hours of prayer and 13 1/2 hours of labor (2 of which were pushing).......we witnessed a miracle yesterday! I am so proud and in awe of my amazing sister (who needs the in-law part...I'm lucky to be able to call her my sister!) I'm humbled by her strength and their love for one another and this sweet baby! What a wonderful blessing God has given us in her, her adoring husband and her newly born angel baby...

Welcome to the world, sweet nephew!

Henry Jackson Sirmon

August 7, 2008
7:04pm

7 pounds, 7 ounces

21 inches

All I want for Christmas (in July)...

...is my two front teeth!!

Almost a month behind, I thought tonight would be a good time to post new tricks and stats for my growing baby boy! Noah will be 7 months on Wednesday, but has accomplished great feats this month. He's so much quicker at everything than James was!

6 month check-up: 18 lbs, 8 oz and 28.5 inches

June 29 (exactly 6 months) - 1st tooth

June 30 - 2nd tooth

July 25 - 3rd & 4th teeth

July 27 - 5th tooth is trying to pop out and 6th tooth is showing

Big boy crawled for the first time on July 9th, but really got the hang of it by July 16th. He's unstoppable now! He also acts like he's going to pull himself up to a standing position any day now. I'll be sure to post when he does!

Other fun facts:

• His voice is deeper than James'!
• He smiles AND giggles a lot!
• He loves fruit, but hates and I mean hates veggies...which makes
  me sad, because James loved all foods. But I refuse to give up...try, try
  and try again!
• He thinks his big brother is very funny.
• He hates the carseat and pretty much anything else that constrains him. He loved the Baby Einstein seat for about a day. Now he only lasts about 8 minutes in it max without pitching a fit! James spent hours in it happy as a lark when he was the same age!
• He plays well by himself, but when he's done, he's done and everyone knows it!
• He sleeps on his tummy and has to be woken up in the morning. I scratch his back, say his name and nothing. He just squirms and curls up even tighter. He's sleeping about 12 hours straight at night, and I already have visions of having to pull him out of bed by the toes when he's 12!
• He loves his daddy, but I definitely have a "mama's boy" in him and I can't help but secretly LOVE it! James has always been daddy's little buddy! It's my turn for the love! :)

merry B events: Real Life Inspiration: A Birthday Party That’s All Business … Monkey Business!

This was too fun not to share! Dawn Ey, a friend and neighbor, owns a children's party business here in town. She asked me if she could borrow some photos from James' 1st Birthday party for her blog. I was flattered she wanted to include us, but had no idea how cute the write-up would be. Fellow blogging friends and followers, I hope you don't mind that she used a few of our "party guest" photos. Thanks for the flattery, Dawn! Glad you enjoyed the celebration of our baby as much as we did!

Click on the link below to see what she wrote and get ideas or help for your next party! :)

merry B events: Real Life Inspiration: A Birthday Party That’s All Business … Monkey Business!

Happy Birthday, dear friend!

Today is one of my oldest & dearest friend's birthday! We've been friends since the 1st grade because our last names were one letter apart! Thank you, Mrs. Ferrill for giving us assigned seats! Happy Birthday, sweet friend! I love you like a sister and am so thankful God put you in my life and kept you there all these years!

Just James

Wearing the sweet shirt Nana had made for him!

(17 months)

(19 months)

As I look through photos on our desktop, I realize that I will NEVER be able to scrapbook all of them (maybe not any of them.) Our blog has become our virtual scrapbook, and so I continue to add miscellaneous photos that I don't want to forget. Enjoy!

Not Enough Noah

I just found some photos Aaron and I have taken of Noah, and realized that my little guy doesn't get enough face time on here. He's definitely a mama's boy, and I love it! Growing like a weed, he weighed 17 lbs, 12 oz and was 28 inches long when I took him to the doctor two weeks ago for an ear infection. He's rolling both front to back and back to front now, sitting up for short intervals, laughing at everything (especially his big brother) and always has a smile for anyone who'll look his way. I never thought I could have a happier baby than James, but I'm beginning to think it is possible and that baby is Noah! We love him dearly and are so thankful for both our sweet boys! James prefers him to me asking for him all day long..."OH-A", "OH-A" and gives him big, sweet open mouth kisses. (I'm guessing that's how we all stay sick around here!) :)

Mercy Prayers

A sweet friend turned me onto this website for prayer. I just read yesterday's lesson tonight, and it spoke multitudes to me. As I think of those around me suffering in ways I cannot fathom and those unaware of the consequence of their actions, I'm often too quick to judge. What a blessing to be reminded that God has the perfect and complete answer for every situation both in and out of our control! I thank Him now for sweet prayers of mercy and prayers of hope that He will hear and do as He sees fit.

Prayers of Mercy
Posted: 09 Jun 2009 01:01 AM PDT
by Katherine Kehler

“…but God, being rich in mercy…” Ephesians 2:4

Not long ago, I was looking through my library and noticed a book I had read several years ago. It was a compilation of the best writings of Catherine Marshall. I decided to re-read them and God used one of the articles to teach me about “mercy” prayers.
Often we forget that God’s love is unlimited. When we notice weaknesses in the lives of people we live or work with, we can become impatient. We wonder why they don’t apply the Biblical truths that would surely help them live more consistently. We pray for them (maybe) but seldom do we remember God’s mercy and grace.
After reading Catherine Marshall’s book, I began to pray “mercy” prayers. Just a simple prayer like, “Lord, have mercy on ________.” Many times we don’t even know how to pray, we just know something is not right. But God, who knows all things, knows exactly what the situation is. When we pray, “Lord have mercy,” He will intervene and answer our prayer in the best possible way.
For years I prayed for two wonderful, little girls who were not being raised in the ways of the Lord. Many nights, I would pray, “Lord have mercy on those two little girls, they didn’t ask to be brought into the world.”
Then things began to change - God had mercy on them. Today, through amazing circumstances, their mother is following Jesus, they are living in a stable environment and the girls are lavished with love. God cares and loved them more then I could possibly imagine.
I encourage you to begin praying “mercy” prayers when you notice problems in people’s lives - it so much better than being judgmental or critical.
Lord Jesus, You’re loving and Your mercy endures forever. Even though our own love is often so shallow, when we intercede for Your mercy on the lives you bring across our path, You will answer. Thank You so much! Amen.

You can comment on this devotional online at:http://thoughts-about-god.com/blog/2009/06/09/kk_mercy/

James' 1st Date

Ready for some racing!

Be careful standing up, James! The pack mule may tip!

Sweet AB

Whatcha' got there, James?

Future Crew Chief

AD: Whatcha' doing James?

James: Just checkin' out AB's sweet ride, Daddy!

AB & Ben

Look AB, I'm so strong I can hold this big ole' radio above my head like this. See?!

MORE CARS...and yes, that's the #8!

Ok, Dad! It's time to go!

THE END!

Ben invited Aaron to Barber Motorsports park for a day of racing, and the two thought it would be fun to take the kiddos along. AnnaBeth & James enjoyed their first date, with chaperones along for the ride. Looks like they all had a good time!