Wasn't sure

I wasn't sure whether I would ever post these, but since my blog will be morphing into the "mommy/family Cullum blog" I figured what the heck. Plus, it is the only way my family and friends can see the progression from afar.

My first picture: 9 Weeks Pregnant


12 Weeks Pregnant



13 Weeks Preganant


16 Weeks Pregnant



18 Weeks Pregnant


19 Weeks Pregnant


I have not uploaded the pictures from weeks 20 and 21, but once I get a few more weeks in I will post an update.

Our little one yawning.......

Well it's been a while since I have blogged. Over the last month I have started two blogs, but they continue to anxiously await completion. Well, maybe not anxiously.

I am making my grand return with a short, sweet video of our little dude yawning.




If you didn't know we found out Monday we are having a little boy.

We are now in the process of choosing a name, deciding on decor, searching for furniture, choosing shower dates, wonder how I will travel, and registering.

I will be 21 weeks on Monday and have already gained 22 pounds. Yep, that's right 22 pounds. I never thought I would gain so much so fast, but here's to homemade chocolate chip cookies, strawberry milk, pasta, and anything else that is considered a carbohydrate.

Labor Day Weekend in my hometown

We left Tampa on Thursday evening and drove to Cartersville, Georgia (north of Tampa) where we spent the night. After showering and eating breakfast we loaded up and were on our way to Kentucky, but not before taking a few moments to breath in the fall air and briefly discuss the perfection of the weather. We arrived in Prestonsburg around 4:00 p.m. and immediately went to Dairy Cheer, of course, for a Cherry Pepsi and an order of cheese bits (for those of you who don't know Dairy Cheer has the best fountain drinks you will find anywhere and who doesn't love fried cheddar cheese). We then went to pick my granny Betty up and were off to the hospital to visit my grandfather. We were able to meet up with my sister, Chris, and Braxton at the hospital which was a real blessing. Children can and do brighten any situation, which was the case for my grandfather when Braxton arrived. He smiled and laughed and smiled and laughed. Although brief, he was able to forget the pain and suffering for a few moments.


Saturday we prepared for our Leslie family cookout at my granny Hester's. It was a beautiful fall day with lots of sunshine and little humidity. Many of my cousins had to miss the cookout this year, but it was refreshing to see, hug, and converse with those who came. Braxton had started walking the week before, so it was fun to watch him roam about with my second cousin Avery.
















Sunday morning the weather was overcast and rainy, but I was still excited to get out of the house and go to church. Each time were home I look forward
to walking through the doors of Community United Methodist Church, because I know I am going to get more hugs, smiles, and hellos from people I have known since I was a young child. Plus, I got to hear my sister and Chris sing "In Christ Alone" and we were able to participate in the Lord's Supper which is always a blessing. After church we enjoyed Bar-b-cue with my Aunt Sandy, Uncle Brian, cousin Colby, and my dad. I was able to see my best friend from high school Sarah and her children for about an hour. They live in Danville, Kentucky but were home for a family reunion, as well.





Sunday night we ate dinner at the Compton's. I grew up babysitting Trevor and Julie, but at this point in my life they are more like my surrogate family. We always laugh a lot, eat a lot, talk a lot, and play a lot.










Monday we spent the morning with my family and my granny Betty before going to the hospital. We were able to visit my grandfather each day, but today was the most difficult. He cried, I cried, Sam cried, and then we cried some more. It was hard to leave him as each time I wonder if I will see him again. My grandfather has been the patriarch of our family. He is the strongest individual I know. The amount of courage he has shown during his fight against cancer is indescribable. Our visit was a time to cherish, but extremely painful.

We finished our trip with one more visit to my granny Hester's. As usual, it was an entertaining, fun, and encouraging visit.

I love my family and look forward to seeing them again soon!!! I also look forward to our late October visit to Lexington. Fall should be in full swing, which will be a real treat!!

Family, Scenery, and Tomatoes

Last week my sweet husband encouraged me to make the trip to Nashville to visit my family since I had been so home sick and my work schedule has been all messed up. I decided against it, at first, due to fear of driving 11 hours alone without a nap (seriously....preganancy makes me need a nap). However, by weeks end I had decided I would make the drive not only to see my family, but to eat a "real garden" tomato that I have been craving for weeks and to enjoy the beautiful green hills. I can't blame the tomato craving on pregnancy. I typically crave a "real garden" tomato year around, but am able to satisfy the craving every summer on a daily basis. Oh how things change!!

I made the 11 hour journey on Tuesday arriving in Tennessee around 5 p.m. I usually 100% despise driving through Georgia, which was no different during this trip, but once I reach the Tennessee border it all changes. The scenery is breathtaking and I often wonder if Chattanooga should be our next home (actually I know nothing about the city except it has beautiful scenery). It just relaxes me!! I feel closer to home. I love all of the green trees that seem to be painted all around me. The mountains are a place of peace, a place where I feel closer to God, a place I treasure.


I had 2 hours of driving left after arriving in Tennessee that passed rather slowly. Around 6:30 p.m. central time I arrived at my parents house, whom had no idea I was coming. They were very suprised and excited to see me. I hugged dad, I hugged mom, and then I ate a GARDEN TOMATO. Then I ate another one. Then another one. YUMMY!!!!!!!!! We sat around the table and chatted while I ate several of my dad's home grown tomatoes, soup, and a PB & J (one of my pregnancy staples).

The first few hours I spent in Nashville was worth the 11 hour drive. The mountains, the beautiful green open spaces, the hugs, the conversation, and the TOMATOES!!!! I knew it would only get better.....


-I'll write about the rest of my trip when I return home.

In other news.....

I sometimes wonder why I blog on blogspot instead of just posting a note on facebook since that is where most people read my link, but anyways....

There is more of an explanation to the overwhelming emotions that have been manifesting "themselves" as homesickness................we're PREGNANT!! That's right. You read correctly. I know, it's crazy. Unexpected. Kind of. Scary. Kind of. Exciting. Most days. True. Almost 9 weeks true.

We began telling our family and close friends a week ago, but realized it is difficult to personally contact every person we wanted to tell before going "public." So in true 21st century, techno-age fashion we are delivering the message to the rest of the world over the internet: WE ARE PREGNANT. I guess I should say, "I AM PREGNANT and SAM is the daddy." Okay, that didn't sound right either. I'll continue to think about that while realizing all of you know what I am saying without further explanation.

Now, my blog can turn into an "all about my kids" blog, which may or may not be more exciting than my current postings. Only time will tell.

3-0!!!

This past weekend we celebrated my 30th birthday that was actually on Monday August 10th.

Sam invited a few girlfriends over for breakfast on Saturday morning. He had planned to cook for us, which he did, but their husbands wanted to assist him. So our friends Kindra & Vipul Shah and Angela & Justin Neiderer joined us for waffles, fruit, bacon, and eggs. It was a great time to have some girl talk, as I have really missed sitting down with my girlfriends in Lexington and talking about anything and everything.







We then went to Angela & Justin's where we hung out by the pool for a few hours and had more girl talk, while the guys tossed some disc back and forth in the water for a few hours.

Later that evening Sam and I ate dinner and he took me to see the musical "Respect" at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center. It is musical about the transformation of women throughout the ages. Initially I thought it would be to feminist, but turns out it was pretty good and very funny/entertaining.

Sam's family usually eats lunch every Sunday at Sonny's, but since it was my birthday I got to choose where we ate. I choose Crabby Bill's, so that I could get some Crab legs. It was a nice change and the Crab legs and hush puppies were great. My mother-in-law had made an ice cream cake (Graham cracker crust, peanut butter ice cream, more Graham cracker crust, cookies and cream ice cream, Graham cracker sprinkles with chocolate chips on top=YUMMY), so we sang happy birthday and ate some cake, which was fabulous.

Monday morning, Sam had written a couple of Dr. Seuss like poems leading me to my gift that was hidden somewhere in the house. After a box of Hot Tamales, a bag of Pull and Peel twizzlers, searching through many shoe boxes, I found a new pair of Oakley sunglasses. I had asked for some earlier, so I was very excited to finally get a new pair.

I don't feel any different being 30! This year has brought so many changes that turning 30 is just a "drop in the bucket." I will say my birthday celebration was fun and thoughtful, but it was hard. Not because I turned 30, but it was hard to be so far from my family. You would think these feelings of homesickness would be fading, but during this birthday "they" showed up in full force. I received some cards and some calls on Monday, but when I read my mom's card, talked to my cousin Allison, received my parents gift, and received my sister's gift I sobbed. It's so strange, because I don't usually see them on my birthday anyways. I lived 3 1/2 hours from my sister and parents and only 5 minutes from my cousin. However, there is something about knowing you can get there for the weekend that changes everything. Deep down I just miss them.

I know my 30th year will bring many more changes, but I hope this time next year we have had lots of visitors, this place feels more like home, and God continues to develop long, lasting friendships with our new friends in Tampa.

My last week of Digital Photography II is coming to an end, so I thought I would share a few more shots. Once again, I learned a lot. I am sad it will be over, as I am unsure when I will get to take another one.