Then there were 4.....

I am sooooo happy to say that Ellie is going to be a big sister!!! I just found out a couple days ago that I'm pregnant! I think I'm about 5-6 weeks along, and my due date is probably around November 27th :) I have an ultrasound this week to give me an real due date though. Adam and I are SO happy and feel so blessed that the Lord has given us another life to love on! It is truly a gift. Nausea has totally set in, and I'm feeling a bit sick at the moment, but here is our life lately in pictures!

Adam and Ellie in her purple room
Isn't this the goofiest face??? She's so funny!

Ellie at the play area in the mall...she loves it!

Ok, I'm not a bad parent...Ellie loves doing stuff like this! She even gets our dogs leashes and puts them around her neck!....it sounds worse than it is! Ha ha!

Adam and I on Easter....we didn't snap any good family photos! Bummer.

New bookshelves...I love the way they fill up the corner.

My sis-in-law Amanda and I...she is past her due date and we are soo excited to meet baby Cole!

Adam, Ellie, my brother Jay, and niece Hana

Ellie & Hana....not sure why Ellie looks cross-eyed ;)

Ellie and daddy outside on the swing

Our new rug & Ellie watching her little show :)

I just LOVE this picture. This is so Ellie. Climbing on EVERYTHING all the time. She has superb balance. Not bad for a little girl!

Love, K

Nothing Compares

Nothing compares to the Greatness of knowing Jesus.

I have blogged about this statement before, but it is something that runs deep in my blood. Jesus saved me from a distructive life, and gave me a hope in Him and in life. I am so thankful. I have reflected on my past few blogs. I will say that I know that I am very open & honest. I like it that way. Life isn't always peachy, and we can't pretend. It doesn't help anyone...and most of all, it makes us loose ourselves. With that being said...

I can't let my circumstances dictate how I will be from one day to the next. God put me on this earth for a purpose. Right now, my purpose & mission is to raise up my child in the way she should go. It's also to maintain a steadfast love for my Savior that doesn't waiver. All the things below in my last post still stand, but today I have decided that I need a new perspective.

It's ok to be down. It's ok to throw pitty parties for yourself every once in a while. It's ok to wish that your circumstances were different. But it's NOT ok to forget to depend on the Lord for strength to get through the day...and to do it with JOY. Not forgetting that we live here on this earth not to be satisfied & content. We are to feel like aliens. Never comfortable.

For me, being a parent has not been "comfortable" so far. So, according to my God, I'm in the right place. Feelings of inadequacy and insecurities are to be expected. I can't let it overtake me though. I don't believe that it's honoring to the Lord to wallow in my circumstances for too long. So, right now, today, I'm changing paths. This is not to say that each day won't be hard still. It's not to say that I'm going to wake up tomorrow and feel great. But I am saying that I am going to CHOOSE to live each day for Lord. Whatever that looks like each day- on my knees, with my hands raised in worship, with tears of joy overflowing, with small prayers throughout my entire day, or one long-whole hearted prayer at night spilling myself out to Him.

Because at the end of the day, all that matters is that I remembered that NOTHING compares to Him. A perfect day, a perfect baby, no breastfeeding problems, no mastitis, or a full nights sleep won't make me satisfied (well, maybe for a little while!). It's only HIM that will fill me up.

Shower Time!

Last Saturday I had my first baby shower thrown at my mom's house. It was so much fun and a BLAST to catch up with everyone! Like I said before, we received an overflow of gifts & were totally blown away by people's generosity. Here are some pictures of our day!

Alexa (aka: game planner & former roomie!)
This on explains itself :)

The LOOT!

Yep...pretty self explanatory..but what a GREAT picture!

Shannon- Proof that blog buddies are friends in REAL life too! ha!

The favors! How cute are they?! Made out of a cup, cotton bals, and tissue...amazing.

The Cupcake Cake

My Mom & I

My Sister & I

Alright...we played pictionary...guess what I'm drawing! Note: I told everyone sorry in advance because I knew the drawing would be VERY awkward & inappropriate!!! Ha ha! I was drawing "Labor"

Love, Krystle

They have arrived!

Pictures, Pictures, and more pictures!!!

Jennifer at www.jenniferlaurenphotography.blogspot.com sent me pictures today! I said that I would post them when they came, so I'm fulfilling my blogging duties to all of you readers...whoever you are.... (happily of course!). They all turned out soooooooo great! I can't wait for the next go-arounds when I am even bigger... I just love the desert scene. So fitting since we are in Arizona. It's nice to capture Arizona's beauty. A desert really can be beutiful!

P.S. I finished one project for Ellie's room last night :) Can't wait to post it...probably tomorrow. Hope everyone has a VERY happy Wednesday!

Love, Krystle

A Starting Point

I have finally starting brainstorming nursery ideas! I have 3 months left, and a tight budget, so I looked for things that I could easily make with my girlfriends. I'm into not having a theme for a few reasons; 1) It's too expensive for us!, and 2) I am getting lots of things that will be "used" (furniture & such), and it's too hard to try to put something together using other people's randomness.....of which I am totally and completely thankful for, so no one take that the wrong way!
ANYWAYS, here is my starting point. Let me know what ya'll think and give me some pointers if you have some :) I'd love feedback.

I love these wall stickers...so fun! And only $36 bucks!

I want to make 2 0r 3 sheet sets like this with different colors & white polka dots

I like both of the hanging decorations on these walls...I may incorporate a little of both somehow...hmmm...

These little circles with the different patterns are a MUST for me to have in her room...So cute! And cheap!

I want to spell out her whole name in these fun letters w/the polka dot ribbon in different colors

-That's what I have come up with so far............YAY!!!! What do you guys think?

As of Late

This past weekend brought a lovely wedding. Seriously. One of the best that I have attended. And I'd have to say that the highlight was definitely when they announced "Mr & Mrs. Hawkins" at the end. Normally this would be exciting, but not that monumentous of an occasion. You see, our friend Kiel loves Star Wars. Oh yes. When they announced that they we're officially married, he grabbed her arm in his, stood up tall, and waited. THEN, the star wars theme song-you know- dun dun dun nun dun dun dun dun- CAME ON and they walked away to THAT!!!! It was seriously the proudest moment of his life. I have no doubt. I cried through the whole ceremony, then laughed so hard I cried at the end!!! Very awesome. Here are a few pictures.

Our friend Kiel is also over 7 feet tall!! Holy cow! She will NEVER have to worry about how tall her heels are :) Lucky!!!

We went to hang out with Adam's parents after that, and I got a few more pictures of my Ellie Belly! I'm only posting one because I feel like I look too fat in the others :) He he!

Last night, Adam and I had some friends over, and he made a ROCKIN' chili. All by himself. Pretty impressive. It's so cute when he is in the kitchen. The dogs stay in there and hang out with him the whole time. I love it!

Look at how cute they are!!! They will always be our babies :)

Lastly, but certainly NOT least, my dear friend Jennifer is going to be taking some professional pregnant pictures of me this Saturday. I am beyond excited! I didn't know if I would ever get around to doing any, and she was SO generous to do this for Adam and I. Stay tuned for those photos!!!

January 14th & 16th

Hellooooo friends! January 14th & 16th are pretty exciting here in the Porter home. I would like to share why...

First of all.....drumroll please.....


THIS SHOW is coming back on! I know it's a recap and everything, but who even cares?! Just to see all my Lost buddies on the big screen again could quite possibly make me pee my pants in anticipation :) So, everyone tune in! And if you haven't seen Lost yet & experienced the Awesomness of the show, you have exactly 1 week to catch up....and don't fret my friends, it IS possible to watch all the episodes to catch up. It's SO worth a week of no sleep!

Ok, onto January 16th. I have to admit that I am even more excited about this date. Since Lost is not real life, as much as I would like it to be, THIS is. And this girl's life & story has inspired me to NO END. I feel so blessed sometimes to be a part of the blogging world. The people that you find (or stalk) can change you. Stephanie Neilson & her husband Christian, former Arizonians who now reside in Utah, were in a terrible plane crash in August of this last year. They have been recovering now for months, and she is going to FINALLY be back to post a blog on January 16th! She is an amazing mom & wife, and I'm so excited to actually read something that SHE posted! I have been reading her archives, and her sister and others have been reposting her blogs, but on Jan 16th I will be a proud follower of her actual postings. And seriously people, you must read her blog. It's amazing. And don't feel bad if you go way back to years before and read all her posts. I did. And it was awesome. And worth it. Her link is on the side of my page on the right hand side under "Pray for The Neilson Family". So check it!