This past month has been a VERY busy, exciting, nerve racking, but in other ways relaxing and fun month. We found out that that we’re expecting a BOY!!! Eli Matthew Cline will be here around December 7th sometime but he is CONSTANTLY reminding me that he’s there!!! He is growing so fast and is a very strong little guy (which my tummy can tell you by the growing pains it has and when he decides to stick his foot out the side of it)! At the last ultrasound they said he is overall 51% on the growth charts but 76% on length charts so his weight is average but his length is extra long, and he is looking very healthy and active. And for all that don’t know I’ll be having my TN baby shower in November (hopefully the 8th) and my WA shower when we come home sometime in January (dates aren’t set yet). We are registered at Babies-R-Us, Target and (for my TN friends) Walmart… and if you know me you can guess what colors his room is going to be…. Red, black, white and gray!!! J But trust me he’s going to be wearing all the blue and green we can find!!!
As for Emma, she started school this week…. (Yes they get out really early and start really early here)… she’s in the big SECOND grade!!! And on August 5th we went in front of a judge to finalize her adoption by Josh. She is now Emma Rose Cline and she is very excited! She also can’t wait to see her baby brother and each week she gets excited about his growth milestones. Last week she went around telling everyone that her brother was as long as her daddy’s size 12 shoe…. She’s very realistic so I’ve had to be creative in telling her what’s going on inside my belly! But other than that she’s getting big, growing up way too fast and is way too smart for her own good!! She also just got back from spending 2 ½ weeks with Bram and Papa (my parents) and had a blast getting spoiled to death!!! Everyone wonders why she didn’t want to come home, but I figured it out pretty quickly when she packed 2 suitcases and ½ of Papa’s suitcase just to bring all her new stuff home!!! She was also able to spend a couple days with Grandma Carol and Grandpa Jim (Josh’s parents) and I know she had fun down at their house as well!! She’s already been asking when she gets to go back!
On the other side of the world, Josh is hanging in there, but VERY ready to be home!! They are holding down the fort pretty well and haven’t lost very many guys this tour. One of Josh’s good friends and fellow medics died just before Josh was home on leave but he’s been the only medic that has lost his life this tour. We pray every day for all of our friends and fellow soldiers’ safety and wellbeing while they are in Iraq and Afghanistan. We are still unsure of a return date but just hoping and praying for sometime in November (or earlier) before Eli decides to join us!! Josh had a case of the “mid-tour blues”, but seems to be getting better as each day passes!! He still loves getting packages and letters. When those slow is when he decides that no one remembers him so if you have a few minutes to write or if you think of him just send him a card or email, they are much appreciated! (let me know if you need his contact info) For everyone who’s been sending him care packages, he is getting them… and they really do make his day when he gets them!! I know he probably the worlds second worst (behind me) of sending thank you’s but it really does put him in a better mood when he gets mail! But other than his little slump he’s been doing pretty well!! He’s VERY excited about not only being a daddy once in 2008 but twice! He wished he could have been here to go to court for the adoption but he’s just happy it’s all finished and he defiantly cannot wait to meet his son!!! Thanks for all your prayers and support for him over the past 10 months!
Annnnnddd now meeee!!! Haha… Well I’m here! I’m looking more and more pregnant every day and my pants are fitting less and less loosely every day!!! It’s been a pretty hot summer here (not quite as bad as last year) but I still love living here!!! I am NEVER bored and just about the time I think I might have some downtime someone calls and wants to hang out or I figured out I forgot something was going on at church or Emma comes up with something she wants to do!! I’ve been singing on the worship team at church, helping in the infant nursery one Sunday a month and also a big part of “Standing Strong” the military wives group at church which all keep me on the go a lot. I’ve been having a pretty hard time with my job lately and am keeping my eyes open for whatever’s up next (if ya’ll know anyone that’s hiring in this area let me know!! Haha!) But I’m hanging in there, just going day by day, can’t wait for my husband to be home and ready to meet this baby!!!
So I guess that’s it in the Cline world…… for now….. Hope all is well with everyone else and hope to hear from ya’ll soon!!!
Lots of love,
Josh, Kim, Emma and Eli
