It's a GIRL!

Meet Tallulah Elizabeth Rouse! Born Thursday, June 4th at 1:58pm weighing 6 lbs 11oz and 20 inches long! 

She is precious! She is dainty! She is fearfully and wonderfully made!!

It is hard to believe that she grew inside of me for 9 months and now we get to hold her, rock her, kiss her, feed her! This was the last picture we took while I was pregnant. 

Reynolds and I walked many many miles leading up to her being born! Little did we know she would come 8 days early! 

So here is the quick run down of how she came into this world! It was a normal Wednesday... I went to work at Chick-fil-A, I grocery shopped after work, went to the Woodmen to exercise, Clint and I had supper, went to House Church, came home went to bed around 11:30, and then BAM... My water broke!!!! We were so shocked and kind of in denial it was all happening! I was in labor! But, no contractions...yet! We called the doctor and she said to not rush in, but to come on in by 3am or so! So, Clint packed his bag (mine had been packed for 4 weeks... Haha). We loaded the car! I decided I need to vacuum before we left.. Of course right? We took a selfie as a family of 3 before we headed to Greenville...

ITS HAPPENING!

So, we check in at the hospital. And we are in a room by 3:30! We see the doctor not long after that and she gives us the hard news that it is going to be a long labor, I haven't progressed at all (aka zero cm). So, they start me on pitosin and tell me to rest. Ok, who can rest while their body is being forced to have contractions? I'd like to meet the person that can do that! So, here I am! 

Fast forward 6 hours and WOW! Contractions are in full effect! Ouch! So, this is labor!? And I'm asking, "where is that epidural?!" So... They check me again and I have progressed 90%... 9 CM! So for those who don't know, your goal is to get to 10cm and then you can push, so everyone was shocked I had progressed that much! Again, I am asking a little bit more firm... "WHERE IS THAT EPIDURAL!?" 

Then enters Dr. Dalonzo, oh sweet Dr. Dalonzo! Because it was so far a long they got me as numb as possible!! Praise! I had the same amount of numbness as they give to a C section! Again, praise for Dr. Dalonzo! 

After this I can really rest. Clint goes to eat a cheeseburger, they tell us it could still be a couple of hours. Until, I feel an urge to push.... Clint comes back in, doctor is in place.... And BOOM! Lucy is born! We pushed for 25 minutes and out came the most beautiful little GIRL! I have never been more surprised and excited in my life! I was 90% confident it was a boy for the entire pregnancy! (Sorry Lucy!) 

Lucy is such a gift! We are so thankful for her! Being a mother has been the greatest and most humbling experience.  Today marks 2 weeks of life for Lucy, and it has been the sweetest 14 days of my life! Alongside of becoming a mother, I have LOVED having a front row seat of Clint becoming a Father! And he is the best daddy! He has loved and served me so well in every aspect of labor, delivery, transitioning into coming home! He is the best! And the best diaper changer!!

Lucy, our hope for you is to come to know Jesus at a young age and begin to trust him in all you do! We pray you have a heart for others to come to know Him as well! We hope that you are as girly as your mama, but as strong and outdoorsy as your daddy! I can just imagine you with a big bow in your dark hair, a bright monogram on your shirt and holding a fishing pole with your daddy rocking some cow boy boots! Oh, be still my heart!

Lucy, you are SO loved! May you never doubt that one day of your life! 

Introducing Piper Joy Kincaid

Meet Piper Joy Kincaid, my big brothers new daughter!  Stewart and Karla introduced sweet Piper on March 9th (Karla's Birthday!)  Clint and I jumped in the car and headed to Statesville as soon as we could to meet this little nugget!  She is precious in every way possible!  I couldn't help but snap a few pictures of this sleeping 3 day old beauty!

Phoebe James ran and got her camera as soon as I started taking pictures of the girls with my camera.  How precious is she!?

Life as a Pregnant Lady

So, here is a progression of the bump.  For the first 3 months of pregnancy I couldn't wait to have a bump, I literally would pray for a bump to start forming, and I would walk around with my belly inflated...  I was almost worried because I wasn't showing and I felt like I was pretending when we told people we were having a baby.  I haven't been sick, I haven't been irritable, I haven't had any weird cravings... I am not complaining!  I am SO thankful for an easy and non eventful pregnancy. It took until the 21 week mark to see a little pooch beginning to show (see below).

           14 weeks Pregnant                       19 weeks Pregnant                     21 weeks Pregnant

 
(P.S.: these faces I am making are not on purpose, I wasn't planning to share these images... But, sometimes you just have a "selfie" face and these are mine... so you are welcome!)
      
         21 weeks Pregnant                      23 weeks Pregnant                       25 weeks Pregnant

It has been SO fun to be pregnant!  Due to positioning of the baby and the placenta (aka: the life sack for Baby Rouse) I wasn't able to start feeling flutters and kicks until about week 22 and NOW Rouse Mouse is VERY active, especially after I over indulge in chips and salsa/guacamole/queso OR orange juice!  We are still patiently waiting for the day that Clint can feel his son/daughter move and kick around in their little nest!  With 14 weeks left (YIKES... yes 14 WEEKS left!) we know Clint will feel them soon!

Pregnancy is one of the most beautiful things I have ever gotten to be a part of.  The Lord has reminded me of some of His sweet truths through all of this.  That He takes things (aka our faith and Baby Rouse Mouse) that are the size of a mustard seed and grows them up to be used by the Lord in a unique way.

"Then Jesus asked, "What is the kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it to? 

It is like a mustard seed, which man took and planted in his garden. 

It grew and became a tree, and the birds perched in its branches."

Luke 13:18-19 

 How remarkable is it that this baby we will hold in 14 short weeks began as the size of a mustard seed? And right now, it is the size of a head of lettuce!  So, our prayer for you little Rouse Mouse is that you would grow STRONG in the Lord and that you would be used in a mighty way so that people may come to know Jesus through you.  Grow little mustard seed grow!  Grow mighty and strong!

Gosh, and how can a pregnant lady with raging hormones not weep when she reads this truth from Psalm 139 (from The Message):

"Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out;

you formed me in my mother’s womb.

I thank you, High God—you’re breathtaking!

Body and soul, I am marvelously made!

I worship in adoration—what a creation!

You know me inside and out,

you know every bone in my body;

You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit,

how I was sculpted from nothing into something.

Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth;

all the stages of my life were spread out before you,

The days of my life all prepared

before I’d even lived one day."

So...in all of these changes of my body and gaining of pounds and curves I have never had before, I choose to celebrate the work the Lord has chosen for me to do in being a part of this new creation and life inside of me.  Would you pray for a selfless heart for me today?  

Thankful for each of you!

Rouse Mouse's First Photo Shoot

Meet our baby!

This was by far the most incredible experience of our lives.  There are no words.  The closest comparison I can think of is walking down the aisle and seeing Clint for the first time on our wedding day.  But, you've never seen them before.  It truly is love at first sight.  We don't know our babies hair color, eye color, or even their gender, but we know baby is healthy and growing strong!  And, we know that we love this child more than anything in the world!  So, yes... this is the appointment where we would have been able to find out the gender, but Clint and I decided to keep it a surprise until June 12th.  It was difficult to see the ultra-sound nurse turn the screen and watch her face as she discovers the sex of our baby.  Leann and God are the only 2 people who will know, they didn't even write it in our chart or tell our Doctor.  Speaking of Doctor and doctor offices, we LOVE Greenville OBGYN.  It has been SUCH a blessing to be patients here.  It is obvious the staff loves Jesus.  The Doc we saw Friday prayed for us, he spent 15 minutes with us just encouraging us, his wife is on YL staff in Greenville, and knows and understands our life.  Such a gift!  My favorite advice that Dr. Gay of was that I am made to be pregnant, this is not a sickness.  The Lord and my body were made for this.

So meet little Rouse Mouse!  Look at that profile and little nose!  What is your prediction?  Boy or Girl?  Do you think this profile looks like Clint or Mary?

So, we don't know who this baby will look like... but... I can guarantee they will love Chipotle.  Greenville JUST got a Chipotle.  I mean, you can say that we planned our pregnancy around their Grand Opening... Before or After each appointment Clint and I have a lunch date here.

First picture of a family of 3! (Minus Reynolds of course, which would make us then a family of 4... Reynolds, you will always be our first 4 legged baby!)

Here is a video of the ultra sound.  SO many tears of joy!  

"Mom and Dad are getting me a Human!"-Reynolds Rouse

Reynolds has had some very exciting news that he couldn't wait to share with the world.... He is getting a HUMAN!

Yep, that is right!  You may have already heard the big news!  But, Clint and I are having a baby in June.  June 12th is our official due date!  It is hard to believe that as I type this there is a human inside of me the size of an avocado (and boy is this mama to be LOVING some avocados during pregnancy!) Clint and I have LOVED our almost 4 years of marriage with just the three of us, but we can't wait to raise a child together.  I love Clint Rouse so much and can't wait to watch him be the father to our children.

Thank you Lindsay for taking this beautiful photos for us!  You are such a sweet friend and such a talented photographer!  311 Photography <---Check out her blog!

Proud Parents to be!

 Dear Rouse Mouse, 

These two people CANNOT wait to meet you!  You have no idea how loved you are already.  We have heard your heart beat twice.  Your mom and dad were so excited to hear it the second time, that we recorded so we could listen to your little heart each day as we pray for you as you enter the world.  14 years from now if ever you are doubting how loved you are, I hope we can remind you of December 2, 2014 when we got to tell the world you were making an entrance in June.  There was a flood of texts, "likes", "comments", phone calls, tears, and screams of joy!  You are so loved little one!

Love,

Your Mom

#YouWereMarriedForThis

Malibu.  Malibu.  Malibu.  The most beautiful place on the planet.  Malibu.

Clint and I had the great gift to travel across the country to British Columbia to Young Life's camp, Malibu Club.  Not only were we able to be in this beautiful place, but we got to sit, talk, and focus on our marriage.  IT WAS INCREDIBLE!

So, it is kind of confusing... So, is it Malibu, California or is it British Columbia?  Where were you guys?  But, this place is the most remote place on the planet.  To get to this beautiful place you have to 1) Fly to Seattle (roughly 8 hours of traveling) 2) Take a 2 hour bus ride to the Canadian border 3) Go through security and all that jazz 4) Get back on the bus for an hour and a half ride  5) Get on big ferry boat to Vancouver (1 hour at sea)  6) Get back on the bus for a 2 hour ride to Egmont, Canada  7) Get on water taxis to take you to camp (another hour and a half at sea)

But, nothing beats this view pulling up the Princess Louisa Inlet...  Am I right!?

This is Malibu.

 

The beauty of this place is evidence of the Lord's Creation.  The mountains declare His majesty.  There is speechless grace and creation everywhere you look.

The whole camp feels like a tree house.  It is built on rock, so you are always walking on boardwalks.

Here is main street with the store, the club room, the coffee shop, and dining hall.

The beauty of this place is humbling.  But, the true beauty we found spending a week at Malibu was the gift we get to take home: our Marriage.  Our Marriage is the #1 thing we can investment in.  Our Marriage refines us, teaches us, and points us to our maker.

SO thankful for this week to be completely disconnected and off the map to focus on what matters most: Jesus and Clint Rouse.  I still cannot believe that this man who was placed on my Young Life Team in 2006 is now my husband.

The Post When My Dreams Came True

So, I have always been fascinated by photography.  I love taking pictures of people and capturing emotion to be remembered.  I purchased a Nikon D40 when I graduated college in 2009 and have always had the dial set to the green auto square.

So, fast forward to moving to Kinston.... Clint and I met Josiah and Lindsay Corrigan who instantly became dear friends.  Little fun fact, Lindsay is a photographer (an incredible photographer!)  And she was on the look out for a new assistant to help with her shoots, so of course I told her PLEASE!  I did everything but get on my knees to beg for the opportunity to learn from Lindsay... She took me as her assistant!  Which now has led to being an intern with 311 Photography! Check out Lindsay's blog here:  311 Photography.

Last month Lindsay allowed me to purchase one of her cameras that I have made the deal with myself to keep it on Manual and become comfortable with setting the aperture, shutter speed, ISO, white balance, ect!  Then, to add to the excitement even more... I got to shoot a Senior Shoot with 3 of my sweet Young Life Senior girls!  Lindsay trained me through out the shoot how to choose lighting, how to pose, and how to capture images that Mimi, Charlotte, and Sallie would treasure.

Here are a few of my favorite images of these beautiful girls!


Meet Sallie Sylvester... This girl can make me laugh until my sides hurt and has the best stories.  I am so thankful that we have been instant friends for the past year and a half!  This is Richlands finest right here.... She will be attending Ole Miss (or as of now that is what she is thinking) next fall!  Love you Sa!

Meet Charlotte Snead.  This girl is as sweet as sweet tea with a side of Bo Berry Biscuits.  Isn't it obvious why Char was the homecoming queen this year at APA?  She is not only just beautiful on the outside, but SO beautiful on the inside!  I am so thankful for your gentle spirit and servant heart Char!  Love you friend!

Meet Mimi Piner.  I love this girl right here!  She is my go to girl for all things Young Life.  She can lead a skit with no problem or serve 600 campers a meal at Crooked Creek with no sweat.  I don't know what I will do with out you next year Mimi.  I am glad you will be close and hopefully at N.C. State next fall (now that's my girl right there, GO PACK!)