Yesterday I went to the doctor to check up on baby 2. I always get nervous in the beginning because I can’t feel them as much. Hearing the heart beat is music to my ears! Baby 2′s heart rate was between 155-159. Apparently that’s on the fast side…. which some studies link to girls… hmmm…. we’ll see : ) Actually we will find out for sure the last week in October. I will be around 21 weeks then so we should get a good read! I can’t wait to find out!

Baby 2 looked great but apparently the blood work showed my thyroid is a little low. I also have some weird antibodies in my blood, which I found out after I had Trey. The doctor wants to keep an eye on both of these things. They should be no problem but they just want to watch them. Good news for me is that I have only gained 4lbs. I hate when girls post weight stuff with pregnancy because I gained A LOT with Trey. I had just lost it all when I got pregnant with baby 2. I worked my tail off (Ha literally!) so I have tried to be good with this one. Looks like that plus chasing after Trey is paying off!

I am starting to show a little too. I finally feel pregnant and not just sick, bloated and fat. We are getting excited about this new addition! Can’t wait to meet him or her!

God took us through a weird situation. We were tested. Coming out on the other side, we feel as if we have renewed our commitment to serving the Lord and serving Him in Savannah! Through some things, God gave us a little wake up call. He revealed some weak areas, sin, and apathy. We are excited about what is ahead and we have new zeal and purpose in our hearts!

Good news… we are moving! Thanks for the prayers!!!! We are moving Friday actually! We found some apartment a couple miles outside of Savannah. They were a great price and had a great layout! I will post pictures when we have the apartment looking “picture worthy”.

Baby 2 is doing well. We have not been back to the doctor yet. I will go next week. I am 13 weeks which some places say is the first week of your second trimester and some sites say is the last week of your first. Either way I am feeling much much better! I am just really tired!

Trey is wonderful and full of energy!  He has been talking a lot more… nothing we can really understand just babbling. Today he seriously talked from the time he woke up from his nap, all the way to the grocery store, all the way through the store, while making dinner…. took at break to eat and then pretty until he went to bed! Mark says he thinks he might know who he gets that from… I have no idea what he is talking about : ) He also has become increasingly social (if that was possible) he waves to cars when we walk, says “Hey” to everyone when we are out and flirts with waitresses and people at other tables at restaurants. He is so funny! We love him so much!

Well we have lots to do and I better get to doing it…. boxes don’t pack themselves… unfortunately!

Well, I think we have our trade off here in the “deep South”. We have the dreaded hot summer. I tell you from June until last week (mid-August), we have not been outside that much. It is just too hot! I love and appreciate my wonderful husband who has to work out in this awful heat! I hate being hot! Give me a sweater and scarf in the cold any day over heat!

Oh well, we live in Savannah and it is hot!!! But this week we have felt some hope that fall is on its way! It only got into the upper 80′s! There was actually a cool breeze too! So we went outside!

Trey loves to explore! We have to keep a careful eye on him!

This boy loves to be outside!

And this boy loves his Daddy! Mark has been working a lot of overtime at work. It is nice to have a little extra money but we sure do miss him during the week!

Today we decided to finger paint! I guess Trey is like his mommy and daddy. He did not like getting his hand dirty that much. He liked the paint brush better!

Yes, he liked to sit on the canvas and paint : )

Our masterpiece!

This is his favorite thing to do in the backyard…. climb the two stairs to our deck. Why? I don’t know. Except it is rare that he actually sits down. Usually he tries to walk down like a big boy. He summersaulted off the top twice while we were out there. God is building tough skin in me for raising a boy : ) I actually did not freak out at all!

Afterward he got in the pool to clean up : ) Do you see those tired eyes? It was nap time!

Praise:

-A couple weekends ago my parents hosted a Support Dinner for us. We had an opportunity to share the vision for Canvas and our part in Canvas. It was so good to just remember our story and our calling to ministry and to Savannah! We appreciate those who were able to come! It is so encouraging for us to know you care and are supporting us!

- We found out we were pregnant last month. Although at first the news might have seemed like more of a prayer request, we are praising God for this little addition to our family! We know God’s timing is perfect and we can’t wait to meet this little one!

- We have seen growth and momentum at Canvas through the summer! This is so awesome! We are so proud of Doug, our pastor, and the way he is leading our church! God is working at Canvas and in Savannah!

Request:

- Finances! Things are extremely tight! Now, let me say this though. God is working in the midst. Don’t feel sorry for us because we are learning and growing in the Lord through our “trials and suffering”. That is something you can’t put a price tag on (and I really mean that). We feel sorry for you if you have not gone through a circumstance that has shaken your faith. It is only then that we can know Him more! (James 1:2)  We have confidence God will provide for us! What we are asking for us wisdom and patience. We need wisdom to know where God is leading us in regards to money. We need patience to make it through this trail!

- In regards to the money, we need to move! We signed a two year lease on our place. When we signed it we thought Mark would be working 3 days in Atlanta and 4 days here. He was set up for a raise and this house only about $50 more than our previous mortgage. We made the best decision at the time. However, things changed. Mark’s job situation did not work out, as I think most of you know. Anyway, long story short, we asked the landlord if there was a way to get out of lease. They decided to put the house up for sale. Basically, a win for both of us. Although there has been good traffic on the house, it is still for sale and we really need to be somewhere cheaper. Please pray this house sells or we allowed out of lease contract! We want to honor God in this decision and are trusting God in the timing!

- Yes God is working in Savannah but be sure the enemy working too! Please pray for our team! I know God has great plans for this church and this city because of the spiritual opposition we have faced! Pray we stand strong and stay grounded in the Word!

We love you all! We can not begin to tell you how much we appreciate those who pray for us, encourage us, and financial give so that we can continue God’s work in this city.

As always for more about the week to week goings on of Canvas Church check out our pastor’s blog: www.douggarvin.com

This pregnancy has not been much different than Trey’s. I have been really sick, more nauseous this time than throwing up. I ended up getting some nausea meds from our doctor. This helps a lot! We have a doctor and love her! I was so nervous about that but she is great! I am a couple weeks shy from being out of my first trimester… very exciting!

I have been asked many times rather I want another boy or a girl. I think Mark wants another boy (since they will be close) but I can honestly say I don’t care. Of coarse I would love a girl but I am so used to being a momma to a boy I don’t know what we would do with a little girl : )

Here are pictures of the  little one (these were taken at our 8 week appointment). He/She still looks kinda like a blob but if you look closely you can see little arms and legs : )

Playing football with Uncle Luke. I wish I could have gotten video. He and Tanner were so cute!

All sandy!

Naptime at the beach. Aren’t they sweet!

Wagon trail.

The cutest dinosaur I’ve ever seen!

Hanging out with Luke and Nomi (and baby Jack).

Pictures at the beach. I love this one!!!

We had lunch with his birthday buddy Miss April!

After Daddy got home we went to the mall, ate Chick-fil-a and played on the soft play. He had so much fun!

After the mall we went and got ice cream and played in the play room.

So it’s offical he is one! I love this age! He is so much fun!

He got a wagon from his Mimi and Pappy. He loves it!

He got a castle slide from his Grandaddy and KK! He had so much fun climbing the rock wall and sliding!

Opening presents!

Sand castle cake!

After his first bite of cake! He liked it!

Eating cake with his foot.

Giving Auntie Mol some cake. So generous… : )

After a little too much cake.

Time for a bath!

Happy Birthday baby boy! We love you!

I have more pictures coming of the party but for now here is a video of him eating his cake….

Not only was it Mark’s first Father’s Day but he was also ordained tonight! The service was beautiful! Our dear friend Buddy Reeves gave a wonderful charge to the church to pray! Our former Pastor, Mike Woods, gave a eloquent charge to Mark to walk in a manner worthy of the gospel. And our pastor, Doug, gave an awesome message about the call of ministry. (We love Doug! We were so glad our friends and family got to hear him speak! We were proud to call him our pastor!).

Trey has been running a fever the last couple of days so we decided not to take him to the nursery. He sat with us for a little while. I think he thought the service was all about him because he made quite a show! Even when he was escorted to the back lobby he made his presence known to everyone…. oh that boy…. so crazy. By the end he was hungry, cranky and tired. This week up in Atlanta has worn him out! He is done! I expect him to sleep all the way home tomorrow!

It was so humbling to receive the prayer and encouragement from dear friends and family. It was just good to be encouraged and to see everyone! Buddy spoke a little about encouragement and he was right… sometimes it is like a cool drink of water on a hot day. And let me tell you Savannah is hot in more than one way! We feel refreshed and re-energized to go serve the city of Savannah! We love you guys! Thank you!

I am so proud of Mark! He is a man of God! His character is tried and true. He is honest, trustworthy, respectable, hard working and faithful. He loves the church! He loves doing ministry. He loves people. He is a wonderful Daddy! And loves me with all he’s got! I was proud to stand beside him as his wife and partner in ministry! Of course my husband has faults, but I know in his heart, his one desire is love God and love others in a way that they may know Him.

We love you Mark! We are so proud of you! Happy Father’s Day ~ Trisha and Trey