21 and 1/2 weeks

Here is me at 21 1/2 weeks pregnant. I am finally looking like I am pregnant and not just that I ate too much Moe's! It is so fun to see my body change and to feel Ava moving inside of me. God is so good and I can not wait to meet Ava in just a few short months!

Finally! The 19 week pictures of Ava

I finally scanned the pictures we got at our 19 week appointment, when we found out that we were having a baby girl and her name is Ava Elizabeth. Here are three pictures. The first picture is a picture of her little face. I think she has my nose. The second is a picture of her hand. The third picture is a picture of her back and spine. There was a fourth picture showing us that she was a girl, but I am already teaching Ava about modesty, so I will not be showing that picture.

I am now at 21 and a half weeks and boy is Ava moving around a lot! She seems to move alot when I drink orange juice, eat candy or a dessert and when I am listening to country music! It is so fun to feel her move around and respond to my voice and touch. She is not big enough or making big enough movements for Adam to feel her yet, so for now I am enjoying this special mommy and daughter bonding time.

We are having a.......

Adam and I are excited to announce that on March 9th Miss Ava Elizabeth Cooler will be making her first depute into the world!! We went to the doctor yesterday afternoon and had a very extensive ultrasound and were able to see that we will be having a precious little girl!
My mom (Grammy) and Adam's mom (Grandmommy), were both in attendance to find out that who was growing in me was little AVA. During the ultrasound we got to see the four chambers of the heart, the heartbeat, spine, bladder, kidneys, brain, legs, arms, fingers, and toes. It was absolutely amazing. Ava is truely "wonderfully made" in the image of God! After the ultrasound I met with the doctor and got the all clear from our little excitement on Friday night. He said I probably just over exerted myself and just need to take it a little easier. (Easier said then done). Once we completed our doctor's visit, Adam, me and mom headed to Babies R Us to start registering. I will have to say I did pick alot of pink, but I also choose neutral colors for the basic stuff, so all those who know me as the "pink princess" should be proud!

I am still overwhelmed with knowing now WHO I am carrying in me. It is incredible to think that God already has all the plans for her life written out before she has even taken a breath! (Ephesians 2:10). God is so very good to us and Adam and I feel so blessed to be given this opportunity to parent this precious, precious child!

Thank you all for your love and support, especially those who where on their faces before the Lord for us in trying to concieve and on Friday night, when we thought tragedy was about to happen! Thank you, Thank you for all of your love, support and prayers! We are so blessed!


PS: One of my mom's in my class are making pink cupcakes and that is how I am going to tell my class. Pictures will follow later in the week!

A Little Scare

On Friday night we had a little scare...okay a really big scare. I was over at my friend's Kelly E. house for a birthday party for Kelly S. We had just eaten some yummy lasagna, salad and bread. Kelly S. had just finished openning up her presents and we were just laughing and having a good time. I went to the restroom and there my scare began. I called my doctor's office and the nurse on call told me, after I explained my symptoms, that the best thing for me to do would be to go on into the Emergency Room. I had to go to the ER instead of Labor and Delivery because the hospital does not consider an unborn child a baby, until 20 weeks and I will be 19 weeks on Monday. So we went to the ER at Kennestone Hospital at 10:00 pm. Which was quite an experience. They got us back quickly to a room, had me put on a lovely hospital gown and hooked me to an IV for fluids. After a while the doctor came in, who looked like Warrick from CSI Las Vegas! He exammed me a little and asked me some questions. I then went and had to have a full exam and everything checked out great! Then they wheeled me on a stretcher, in my beautiful hospital gown, to recieve an ultrasound. Once in ultrasound, the tech looked at the baby and saw that everything was great! (Sigh of relief). We were able to hear the heartbeat (which made me bust out in tears), see the heart (including the 4-chambers of the heart), the brain, bladder, little arms and little legs. Our baby is perfect! She asked if we wanted to know the gender of the baby. Even though it was 1:30 am at this point, I resisted because I am going back to my OBGYN on Monday for a planned appointment to find out the gender. My mom and Adam's mom are both coming to experience the excitement. So this weekend I am just taking it easy and thanking God that all went well and that the baby is still doing great.

On the way to the hospital the two verses that came to my mind were, "The Lord is my rock, my strength and my salvation, I will not be shakened." and also "The Lord giveth and the Lord, taketh away, blessed be the name of the Lord." I was not sure what the outcome was going to be, I just knew that the MIGHTY GOD I serve already knew the outcome and I just prayed that no matter what happened God would be glorified through me and through my child. Thankfully, the outcome was wonderful and me and my precious baby are great!

PS. I never knew I could love someone so much, that I have not met yet nor know their name!

Beach Trip 08

Doc (my dad) and Hudson chillin on the beach



The lighthouse at Folly Beach.

Hudson braving the high seas with a little help from

Uncle Adam.

Grammy and Doc at the beach (my mom and dad)

Carri and I with our baby bellies!

(Carri is due May 3rd and I am due March 9th)

Brad, Carri and Hudson, building a sand castle

While at the beach we celebrated Me-Me's

birthday. Hudson REALLY enjoyed the

birthday cake!

Me-Me and Bob-Bob walking on

the pier.

Bob-Bob giving Hudson some advice

Adam and I on the deck of our house. It was a

bit windy!

Carri, Brad and Hudson on the deck

of the beach house, where we stayed.


We had a fabulous time at Folly Beach with the Family! My parents, brother and sister in law, Hudson and my grandparents Me-Me and Bob-Bob were all there! Even though the weather was not great but for just about two days, it was still wonderful hanging out and spending time with my family. On Saturday, when we were all on the beach, playing in the sand and the ocean with Hudson, I took a step back and with a lump in my throat told God just how thankful I was for the amazing family He had blessed me with. It was one of those once in a lifetime moments in life where life is just ...perfect! I can not wait until Baby Cooler joins this incredible family. He or She already has so many family and friends that love them. Bless the Lord all my soul and all that is with in bless His holy name!!

Furman versus Delaware Game

On the first Saturday of Fall Break Adam and I were in Greenville, SC for the Furman/Delaware game. It was so great to be with friends and family for a great day of tailgating and football. My parents, brother, sister in law and Hudson where there. Also, our family friends the Heaths and the Haithcocks enjoyed the game with us. The Heath's girls Courtney and Lauren were there with their husbands and daughters Ivey and Campbell. Courtney, Lauren and I used to play "My Little Ponies" during the games when were were little! Oh the memories!


Adam and I at the Furman game (16 weeks pregnant)


Baby Cooler's tailgating chair is ready for next
year's season!


Hudson is chillin with his ladies!
(Campbell, Hudson, Ivey)

September 11th

The Flag drapping the Pentagon

NewYork City after 9/11

A plane hitting one of the Towers

The second plan heading towards Tower 2

Since today marks the 7th anniversary of 9/11, it has caused me to reflect. I can still remember where I was, what I was doing when the first plane crashed into Tower 1. I was 24 years old at Southeastern Seminary. I was in the library doing some research for a paper before I had to be in class. That is when someone said that a plane had crashed into the one of the towers on the World Trade Center. Many of us thought it was not big deal because just a few weeks before a young man had run his small personal plane into a building in NY so we thought it was some sort of copy catter. But, it ended up being so much worse then that. All of us in the library gathered around one of the main TV's in the library to watch the coverage. Then we saw the second plan hit the tower and heard that there was still a third plane that was unaccounted for. Later, that plane went down in Pennsylvannia.

While watching the coverage of the tragedy, the news people said that one of the planes that had hit the towers was on its way to Boston. That is all I heard, but I knew that my brother was suppose to fly to Boston that week. I frantically called his office and his cell phone. When he finally answered the phone, I actually dropped my phone! When I picked it back up and heard his voice I just lost it and started bawling and crying hysterically. Being the "sensative" brother that he is, he asked me what my problem was and why I was so upset. I told him I had heard that one of the planes that had crashed was heading towards Boston. He said that was sweet that I was concerned but he was fine and was not actually scheduled to fly out until later in the week. Which actually ended up being cancelled. At school that afternoon we had a special prayer service and prayed for those who had lost family members, the President, Guilliani and others involved in the tragedy. 9/11 defined my generation! We are forever changed because of the events that took placed that day. I thank God each day when I am saying the Pledge of Allegiane at school, that we live in a free country and I am thankful to all those who are continuing to fight to keep us free ( Thanks especially to BRENT!! ).

14 Weeks!

I went yesterday to my doctor for my 14 week appointment. They did some labs and gave me the results of the labs that I took at my 10 week appointment. All of the tests turned out really good. The ones that needed to be positive were and the ones that needed to be negative were negative. I have gained a little bit more weight, and I am now at a woppy 111 pounds. Which is the heaviest I have every been in my life. Even including the freshman 17 that I gained when I went off to Gardner-Webb. The doctor also used the doppler to let me hear the heartbeat. I am very glad that my sisiter in law, Carri told me not to freak out if the doctor could not find the heartbeat right away. It did take him a few seconds (which seemed like hours) to find it but it is just because I am carrying a little low right now. The heartbeat was great at 154-158. I asked the doctor did that mean boy or girl and he said you can not tell by the heartbeat. Which I said was right, since the doctors told my mom I was going to be a little boy! Adam and I will find out October 13th what we are having. That is, if the baby is moving around and we can see. Which I don't think will be a problem since the baby was already very active at 10 weeks...surprise, I have an active child!:):) I feel so blessed that everything is going well so far and just continue to pray that the baby grows healthy in me until or after March 9th!!

Spirit Week 08

My class in their "Soul Man" outfits!

I won the sword last year, but had to give it to my friend Shaun this year. Her class, 5th grade, won.

Girls Bible having school on the floor

WACKY TACKY DAY!

Look a Like Day

This week was SPIRIT WEEK!! It was a blast. Tuesday was American Pride Day, Wednesday was Western Wear, Thursday was Look a like day and Friday was Wacky Tacky Day and there was a "cheer off" at the end of the day. On Friday, we also had "school on the floor", which is exactly what is it sounds like, we have school on the floor. The children love it, but it is a little difficult to get up and down from the ground when you are pregnant. This year my class did a dance/cheer routine to the song "Soul Man" by the Blues Brothers. It was hilarious! Even though we did not recieve the Spirit Sword, the prize for winning, the kids did a fantastic job and looked great doing the performance. I was very proud of the children in my class because they come up with the concept and the costumes all by themselves. Spirit Week was a blast so, I am including some pictures to give you a little glimpse of the excitement that went on.

Labor Day Weekend

This labor day weekend we had a weekend full of family and fun! It started off friday night arriving late friday night in Beaufort, SC at the Comfort Inn Suites. On Saturday I was able to meet 45 of Adam's family members that live in the low country. We had a great lunch and then Adam's dad showed us all around the beautiful city of Beaufort. On Sunday morning we went to church and actually ran into so friends from Greenville that have now moved to Beaufort, the Kinghorns. After church on Sunday morning, Adam and I climbed back in the car and headed to Townville, SC (near Clemson), to have a lake weekend with my family. Kathi, Rick, Lisa, Brent, Isaac, Nathan, Brad, Carri, Hudson, Me-Me and Bob-Bob and mom and dad were all there. It was great to be there with family and get parenting/birthing advice from all of the mothers. As I drove home tonight I was so thankful to God to be loved by so many people. It makes my heart full to know that I am about to add another wonderful family member to my incredible family

Teaching 6th grade!

Wow! I never would have thought that I would love teaching 6th graders but they are my heart now. I have a fabulous group of 6th graders this year. This week I told them that I was pregnant and that I would be leaving in March to have a baby. They were so cute in their excitement and questions? Are you having a boy or a girl? What are you going to name the baby? With that question they had some opinion on what I want to name my child! Are you sick? But over all they were great and happy for me. Even though their teacher last year left half way through the year to have a baby too! Oh well, that is what happens we newly married women teachers...just a fact of life. Thankfully I did not have to explain anything about the "facts of life" when I told them I was pregnant. Whether they still think a stork brings a baby, mom and dad just magically get a baby when they get married or their parents have already told them. Either way, I don't care, as long as I was not the one explaining!

As I teach 6th grade and I can't help to think back to when I was a little six grader at Greenville Middle school with my tight rolled jeans and my NKOTB buttons on my jean jacket and my 6 inch bangs! I think about how insecure I was, how I worked so hard to recieve everyones approval. I think about how hard I had to work in school to be successful and felt like a failure so many times. I think about how boy crazy I was and how dumb I acted to get the attention of a boy that did not even matter. I look back at my life as a little six grader and thank God that I made it through and that I am now a happy, well adjusted, married, pregnant 31 1/2 year old. God has been so very gracious to me each and every day of my life from the time I was in six grade until now. I think God for incredible parents, family, brother, new friends, old friends! I think God for amazing memories and experiences I made at Marietta Baptist Camp, Edwards Road Baptist Church, Gardner-Webb University, Southeastern Seminary, First Baptist Woodstock! God is good all the time and all the time God is good!!

As I wait and pray and seek God as this little grows inside of me, I pray that I can use all of the experiences I have had and all the influences that have poured into my life to become the best mother I possibley can be. In fact I was telling a friend the other day, that if I can be just half the mom my mom was to me, I would consider that successful. I pray each day that God helps me lead and guide this precious child in the way that HE has already laid out for him/her. From the time we started trying to have a child, up until now, I have given this child to God. He or she is not mine. I am but a clay pot that God is using to carry and care for His precious creation!

Here is Abbey at 10 Weeks

Since we just posted a picture of Baby Cooler at 10 weeks, I thought I would post a few pictures of me at 10 weeks pregnant. My stomach is really not growing out the front, but my hips and waist are sure getting wide! Even though I am only about 10 weeks along, I am already in either drawstring pants or maternity pants! Enjoy!