Busy, Busy, Busy

     Hello everyone out there who reads our blog!!  I am very sorry that it has been such a long time since we posted anything.  As normal our life has been happily moving along at an increased pace.  We are now in the 4th quarter of school, and as my piano teacher used to say..."PTL" (Praise the Lord!).  I cannot believe that in just about 9 weeks I will say goodbye to my little people for 3 whole months!  Of course, there will be another little person entering my life shortly thereafter.
     I had my 28 week appointment yesterday, and baby was alive and kicking!  His little heartbeat was 150!  I also had to drink a bottle full of glucose and have my blood taken.  After all of that sugar intake I got a little light-headed and my ears were buzzing.  Since I did not get a call within a day, I guess I passed my test!  For any of you who are interested, our baby right now is about the size of a rutabaga, as one of my sources tells me.  Seeing that he started out the size of a dot, I say he is doing pretty well!  We still have not decided on a name for the little guy. We have had a lot of fun laughing at some of the names we have seen in baby name books. There is one name that we are strongly leaning towards, but I will not reveal it at this time!!!
     Another news item of importance is that we will be moving to a two bedroom apartment on Saturday!  The youth group is going to be coming to help us, which will be a blessing.  I really do not enjoy living in an apartment full of boxes, but I know that in just a few days it will all be over.  I am thanking the Lord that an apartment came open for us to move into before the baby is born, because I think it would be much more difficult to do later.
      I will have to close this short update for now, but will do my best to post more in the near future.  God has truly been blessing us, and we have nothing to complain of.  Goodbye till later!
    

The Woes of Pregnancy

     Expecting a child is definitely a unique experience.  I am finding that out more and more as I progress in my pregnancy.  My experiences have been:  fun, not so fun, emotional, scarey, thought-provoking, funny, exciting, and many more!
     At the beginning, I went through the normal morning sickness.  I always wondered why they call it that, since it happened at all times of the day.  It was not a very nice time, although I thankfully did not throw up very much--I always just felt as if I was going to!  We tried to keep it a secret, but there were too many ladies in the church who could tell what my problem was before I had even passed the 8 week mark!  I guess one big clue was the night in church when I was sitting way up front and suddenly had to run out for what seemed like no reason.
     After I passed the "always sick" stage, I moved into the "feeling great, but only looking chubby, not pregnant" stage.  This was an ok stage, except for the "chubby" part.  Only half of my clothes fit me, but maternity clothes for the most part did not look right on me either.  At this point my emotions were also on a roller-coaster, which did not help matters any.  I would look at myself in the mirror in the morning and just want to start crying.  This was the time when I had most of my cravings, although none of them were really that weird.  I always craved things that were very, very spicy!!!  If I could have had Boneless Buffalo Wings every day I would have been happy.  Tyler made many runs to our only little Mexican store here in town to get me my favorite hot chips. Yummy!!!!  One day when I was in the store, I had to explain to the nice little man behind the counter why I suddenly had such a big obsession with one kind of chips in his store.
     I finally got to the stage that was nice, or at least I think it was.  The "I feel great, AND look pregnant" stage.  I felt confident when I was at the store that people would say, "Oh how nice, that lady is expecting", rather than thinking I just needed to lose a few pounds.  My cravings went away for the most part, although I still love to eat spicy food!  At this point I had to be more careful to not eat, smell, or be around certain foods.  Sometimes just the thought of something would make me sick!
     I am now in the stage where things are beginning to get a little more difficult.  I am trying to walk faithfully, but it seems as if every time I go to walk on the treadmill I get slower and slower!  Climbing up one flight of stairs now leaves me breathless.  It is getting increasingly difficult to put on my own shoes and socks.  On some mornings, when I do not have the energy to fight and wrestle with shoes and socks, I sit down and happily allow Tyler to put them on for me!!  Another problem that I have, which I am not used to, is being hot all the time.  I am normally always very cold...ask anyone that knows me real well.  That has all changed!  There are some days when I have to leave my classroom and just go stand out in the cold for a minute so that I don't feel like I am burning alive in my room.  Bending over and getting out of bed every morning are also getting increasingly difficult!
      Through it all, I have to say that I would not change anything!  Every day I am amazed anew at the miracle of life that God is working in me.  Just yesterday I told Tyler, "Isn't it weird to think that there is actually a baby growing inside of me?"  My poor husband...I don't think he ever ceases to be amazed at the things that I say!  I am so thankful for this little boy that will in 15 weeks enter our lives!
    

A Note from Mary

     Hello, everyone!  It seems that the last few posts have been written by Tyler for some reason or another.  Normally because by the end of the school day I don't really feel like doing anything other than going home and sitting in complete relaxation.  Of course that never happens, but a blog post is still the last thing on my list (especially since we don't have internet at home).  Today has been a quiet day for me, since 4 out of my 8 students were not in school, so I feel as if I have a little more energy.  I may even go home and do a good workout!!  Well, a good workout for a lady who is expecting, that is.  I tried to continue my aerobic walking, and Tyler had to put a stop to it since I was hurting pretty badly the next day!  Now I do my cute little exercises and walk to help me stay in shape.
     I really am just writing to put my two cents in about our life the last few weeks.  I know Tyler has already posted the exciting details about us finding out that were are having a boy.  While I was waiting for the ultrasound technician to measure the head, heart, kidneys, feet, hands, and on and on, I almost started crying!  I said to myself, "Mary, now why in the world are you getting ready to cry?  Why do you have tears in your eyes?"  I guess it is just because I got sentimental thinking about the fact that I really, truly am going to be a mother!  I think I was also a little frustrated that it was taking her so long to tell us if the baby was a boy or a girl!  Oh well!  I have had many sentimental moments since I found out I was going to have a baby!  At times I have no idea why in the world I am crying.  Tyler has gotten used to that!
     A week from Saturday we will be celebrating our 1st anniversary.   I cannot believe that!!!  There are some days that I still feel like I should be in 7th grade!  I think there are some days when the people around me also think I should be in 7th grade!  I have realized that if I am going to be a mother I have got to start acting a little more "put together".  Just when I think I am getting over being a ditz, I have another "Mary Moment" as I like to call them.
     Another matter of importance to mention is that we are now almost half-way through the 3rd quarter of school!  I cannot believe how quickly the time has gone by.  I am certainly looking forward to May!  My kids are sad that we will not still be in school when the baby is born, but I assured them that they would be able to see him on the first day of school!  All but two of them voted for a girl, but I think they survived when I told them that it was going to be a boy!  My 3rd grade boy still pipes up once in a while and says, "Mrs. Brock,  I think your belly is getting bigger". I just have to smile every time he says that!  I certainly am at the point where no one can mistake that I am expecting.
    Now that I have rambled on about nothing, I will close out this little "note".  I think the reason Tyler does not allow me to post is because I cannot follow one train of thought. At least when I do post, everyone knows that it was me, and not Tyler, the man with the organized brain.  So long for now!

Newest Update on Baby "Brock"

     Well, today, we went for our 20 week ultrasound! The best ultrasound out of the 9 months of pregnancy! Normally, I do not care about the wait in the doctor's office for the nurse to come, but today was a different (very different) story! There I sat in the waiting room like a little 2 year old waiting for his birthday! I was squirming, sighing, and thinking that the due date was going to come and go before the nurse quit stuffing her face in the back or using her gift of gab!
     Well, finally, the nurse came and took us back! They weighed Mary (don't worry I know better than to tell her weight, especially on a blog for all the world to see)! She thinks that she looks fat, but guess what I think, she looks as beautiful as the first day I laid eyes on her!
     Then the count down started! Not until my Birthday, not until Christmas, not until the new year, but until we would find out if our baby is a BOY or GIRL! Well, the nurse look around, measured a ton of things, printed about 6 foot of pictures for the doctor and then finally, she decided that she would try to find out if the baby was a BOY or GIRL!
       Well, being a Brock baby and with Mary (Johnson) Brock being the mother, the baby was being a brat and very stubborn! The baby kept moving the wrong way and would not cooperate! The technician kept moving Mary's head up and down, moving her to her side and then finally, Baby "Brock" decided to let technician take a peek! In the words of the technician, "I am 98% sure that it is a BOY!
        Of course, we were both very excited! Actually on the way to the appointment, I told Mary that I had a gut feeling that it was a girl, but obviously, you can see that I have problems with my gut! But I am not in any way disappointed! Praise the Lord! You never know the Lord might have others plan in mind, but I asked the technician about her success rate of being right with the gender! She said in the 6 years that she had been at that Doctor's Office that she could not remember being wrong! So only time will tell the truth! But at this point, the Brock household will be preparing for a boy! That is a MAN'S MAN...a tough boy...not a little pansy!!
        As for our household, we are doing great! God has been blessing us beyond measure...more than we desire! We are praying right now about moving into a two bedroom apartment and dreading the move! Sorry for the delay in posting on our blog! Thank you again to our faithful readers! Until next, this is the "Rushmore Report"...reporting to you somewhat live from South Dakota!

'Tis the Season to Be Busy!

     Hello everyone!  Well, truly, 'Tis the Season to Be Busy and also Jolly'! In the Brock's household, it has been very busy! However, in all the hustle and bustle, God has remained good to us, just as He said He would! Since it has been a while since we updated you on the our lives, I would like to just let you know what has been happening these last few months!
     As many of you already know, at the beginning of October, Mary and I found out that we are going to have a baby! A BABY! Needless to say, my first reaction was shock and I pinched myself a few times to see if it was a dream or reality! (You know dreams can seem pretty real, at least until you wake up!) Then my mind began to flood with many questions, thoughts (both scary and good) and many prayers to God!
     Because we were in shock and disbelief, Mary went to have her blood tested to see if it was truly a reality! And the test came back positive, Mr. & Mrs. Tyler Brock are going to be parents! (I think the thing that scared us the most is the fact that a little Tyler or little Mary (more scary than Tyler) was going to be running around like a Comanche!) HAHA LOL!
     At 8 weeks, Mary had her first ultra sound to see our little one! It was so neat to see our little baby, even though the extremities were barely visible! We could at least see that it was a baby! Here is a picture from the ultra sound!

 It is a bit blurry! (L to R) It is the head, trace of left and right arms and then lower extremities! Cute!

After all the shock of a baby, in November, our church had the 32nd Anniversary! Pastor Whitecar was our main speaker at the Mission Conference! The conference was very good, especially being able to see Pastor Whitecar and his wife! The Lord also worked on Mary & I's heart about some things through the messages! 

       As of this week, Mary is 12 weeks along! In the last few weeks, Mary has been feeling very, very sick! To the point that we thought that there could be something wrong with the baby! So the doctor had another ultrasound done today! God is SO GOOD! There is nothing wrong with the baby! Today, Mary went to have the ultrasound and as you can see the baby (we say "he") is doing good and has not skipped a beat! 

 A side profile of the baby! (R to L) Head, hand by his face and rest of body!

 Another side profile! (R to L) Head, a little more detail on the hand and faintly, the lower extremities!

A little blurry! But same thing without the hand by the head! Very cute! (It is because of Mary! Oh yeah, brownie points for me!)

While the nurse was measuring the baby, he was so cute--he kept raising his hand and moving around! Praise God for a healthy baby!

      We had a great Thanksgiving with my parents and some of my mom's family! Of course, I ate a lot, but I was very good about eating before Thanksgiving and I went back to my good eating habits! 

       Surprising enough, Mary & I went "Black Friday" shopping! (Neither of us like to shop!) At Midnight on Thursday, we went to a couple of stores! They were not too crowded, but we did "Man shopping", which is go in, get WHAT YOU NEED (nothing else) and leave! We heard that Walmart and Best Buy were a zoo! Then Friday morning, we woke up about 8:00 and went to finish our shopping! FYI: If you are going to shop on Black Friday, after the rush is the BEST time! We still got everything that we needed! And almost all of our Christmas shopping is done! PTL! 

       The school is doing well! Right now we are working on our Christmas program! This weekend, Mary & I are going to get our Christmas Tree for our FIRST Christmas together! AWW! 

       Well, that wraps up our life these last few months! It is pretty normal with a few interesting, exciting days! During this Christmas season, DO NOT get all "wrapped" up with the hustle and bustle of the selfish world...Remember Christ is the Reason for the Season! Share a smile, show Christ love to others and God will bless your Christmas Season!