Updating

I haven’t been so good at keeping my posts updated lately. Bottom line – TOO busy. This is such a busy time of year for us, it seems. And holidays are coming up fast, so…no rest for the wicked – I mean the weary! (LOL) But, just to keep those of you updated who are STILL hanging in there with me and checking my blog (bless your hearts), I feel like taking the time to write a little bit today.

Pregnancy is really something. I am in my 26^th week (in my 6^th month, nearing 7, according to the pregnancy “bible” – What to Expect When You’re Expecting). It has truly been a joy so far. It really has. I have been blessed with *almost* a complete lack of sickness. At the beginning I felt kinda rough from time to time, but I honestly cannot complain after knowing what my mom went through with my brother and me. I am so thankful! I know it is because my mom has been praying since Josh and I got married that I would not be sick like she was if - and when - we got pregnant. So, major shout out to my mom! So thankful for her, and that God hears and answers our prayers. He is gracious.

Our little man, Jaxon Joshua, is growing by leaps and bounds. He weighs about 2 pounds now. He is a wiggle worm, which Josh and I are so thankful for. It helps us know he’s ok. We are absolutely thrilled to find out what his personality will be like. Like Daddy? Like Momma? Or a perfect mix of both? OR totally different than either? We shall see! We’re just thankful God is allowing us to borrow our little Jaxon boy for a while. What an honor and a precious gift. We talk to him a lot. He can hear us now. Sometimes he even reacts. I tell him every day, “Daddy and Momma love you more than anyone else in this world ever could, but God loves you even more than we ever could.” Gotta teach ‘em early!

Dear Jaxon,

Momma can’t wait to hold you! It is hard to believe that I could love someone so much, whom I haven’t even personally met yet, but I do. Your daddy and I love you more than anyone ever could. But God loves you even more! Wow! I can’t wait to spend time rocking you, feeding you, reading to you, bathing you, playing with you, staring at you…I could go on and on!

Your room is coming along. We think you will LOVE it. It is so cute and so different – unlike anyone else’s. Daddy worked hard and made you some pretty cool wall art. He is still working on some things. Your daddy is awesome, Jaxon. You will ADORE him, like momma does. He adores you already!

Daddy and momma are excited make our family a family of 3. You will be such a wonderful addition!

Your grandparents, uncles, aunts, great grandparents, great aunts, great uncles, cousins, friends…(this list could go on forever)…are SO excited to meet you as well. Get those cheeks ready for some kisses, big guy! You are loved.

Everything we do, we talk about how fun it will be to do with you! Can’t wait to snuggle up with you, tickle you, play outside with you, watch some Batman with you (that was for daddy), watch some Mountaineer football and basketball with you, take you to your first football and basketball games (hopefully next year!), teach you how to talk and crawl and walk…oh boy, it is going to be TOO FUN! And we will be there every step of the way!

               So, keep cookin’ in there, big guy. We love you SOOO much! You will be here before we know it!

XOXO ~Momma

Check back for more pics and more posts – hopefully soon!

It's Been Awhile...

WOW. I have taken quite the “break” from the blogosphere lately. For some reason, I was completely lacking inspiration and desire to write and share for a while. I feel like the urge is returning, though. And boy oh BOY do I have lots to share. What a busy and exciting last few months and weeks I and my family have had!

First of all, we found out baby Shackleford is a HE. Jaxon Joshua will be making his appearance in late January. Josh and I are ecstatic. Our baby boy is going to be such a joy. He already is. My sweet cousin did the ultrasound for me in her free time, but unfortunately couldn’t give me pictures, because they were out of paper. I will be having another ultrasound in a couple of weeks, though, and will get some pictures to share then.

I also have had some changes in my job lately, and they are for the better. Praise the Lord for His goodness! I have seen Him move in mighty ways regarding my work schedule and how it will cooperate with taking care of my sweet boy. For about a year now, I have been working 50 hours a week in the engineering department at Phillips Machine Service. It was a great job – kind of monotonous – but a great job, nonetheless. I was thankful for it. Josh and I worked together, and we truly enjoyed that. We have always loved working together. When we found out baby Jaxon was coming, Josh and I began to pray that the Lord would make it clear to us what His plan was as far as my working after baby was here. I have always known I wanted to work in some capacity, even when I had kids. I enjoy contributing to my family. I did know, however, that I wanted my number one priority to be my family – my baby. Josh and Jaxon need to be my focus. And they are and will continue to be. So, we prayed – Lord, make a way for my work schedule to decrease. I need to be home more often when baby arrives. And He began to open doors. About the time I decided it was time to talk to my boss about what I’d like to change within my work schedule, my former position, which I enjoyed much more than the engineering department, opened up again. Immediately Josh and I thought – OK, Lord. We’ve prayed. We feel this opportunity could very well be You opening a door for us. And I went to talk to my former boss. I explained to her the situation, what I wanted, what I needed, and asked what she thought. SHE WAS ALL IN. So, thanks be to God, I will start out with 3 months off when Jaxon arrives (not fully paid, but Josh and I have been saving for that time) return to my job after, working 4 - 10 hr days. I will be off on Wednesdays with my sweet boy. That will break the week up nicely, I feel. And, EVEN BETTER, she said she was willing to allow me to work part time later on, if Josh and I decided we could handle that financially. Our prayers were answered and we were blessed – praise the Lord! God is BEYOND good and gracious to us. We are so thankful for His guidance. His plan is truly best. We look forward to seeing Him continue to work and bless us as we follow His will. My dream is to work 3 - 10 hr days. Please pray with us that the door will open for that to happen at some point.

Last but certainly NOT LEAST, I had the privilege to travel with my parents to Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, last week to see my brother, Daniel, graduate from OSUT (basic & AIT training combined) and become part of the United States Army National Guard Military Police force. What an experience! I couldn’t be any more proud of his accomplishments. His Platoon, the 4^th, was chosen as the honor platoon for the training class and he was chosen to be on the color guard, and MORE. He did so well and grew spiritually during these last 5 months. We are so very proud of him. I will post some pictures, and perhaps some video, of the graduation and family day in the near future. Haven’t been able to sort through them yet.

SO - with all that said...it's been a crazy busy few months. And it's only going to get busier from here! Stay tuned...