INTRODUCING...

We have finally decided on finalizing our little guys name...

John William Paulk

A name that I know will be shortened to a variety of different things.. J Will, JW, J Dub, JP, and whatever else his friends decide to call him.  However, his Mamma will call him John William or John Will.  This was a name Brett and I had from the beginning.  We struggled in finalizing because we know others with similar names, and because it's a long name, and 'William' can be kind of hard to say.. Brett wants to make sure that while our son is playing ball his name can be called out easily for his coaches :)

But, he is John William, I call him that every day, and love every move he is making inside of me!  Where did John William come from? ....

Johnny David Gentry

My wonderful Grandfather!  I mean look at him, does he not just scream so much fun?? Ok, so maybe goof ball- but oh, I wouldn't have wanted to know him any differently!!  So obviously, John, is coming from him.  I had the honor of living with this grandfather (and my amazing beautiful Grandmother, Marja Gentry) when I was a newborn and my parents were finishing our house (right behind theirs) and then again for a few years at the end of highschool and beginning of college.  What a blessing.  My grandfather passed away late January 2006 at age 67, I think about him often and when I think of my grandfather I think of so many wonderful things.  He was a very joyful man, and would always put a smile on my face.  He never met a stranger and was always ready to spread the good news of our amazing God.  I see pictures of when he was a little boy living in Cullman Alabama- always having dirt on him from playing hard and doing work around the house. I've seen pictures of he and my grandmother from highschool- and wheeeewww- what lookers were they (and my grandmother still is!!)  I always knew my grandfather as a hard worker and provider for my grandmother.  They would've celebrated 50 years of marriage the year he passed away.  What love they had for one another and a wonderful example of marriage they set for me.  They knew what is it was like to live with very much as well as with very little- yet, either way, still very humble and generous people. He took pride in anything he did and if his name was going by something, the job would be done right.  There is even a building named after him in my home town in Florida.  He loved his family and would do anything in his power he could for them.  He and my grandmother raised 3 beautiful children to know and fear the Lord and be active in the community.  My "Grand John" and I shared many inside jokes that I can't wait to share with our John Will, and when I think of the name John, it brings me great joy to think of this wonderful man!!  Another bonus of the name John is that there are many John's on Brett's dad's side of the family as well, so we'll be gladly carrying on that tradition as well!  John- a beautiful reminder of some pretty great men!

and then there is...

William Eldridge McCraney

Oh, Mr. Bill (Grandaddy)!!!  This was Brett's maternal grandfather who I was blessed to get to know for the beginning years of mine and Brett's relationship.  Mr. Bill passed away in mid June of 2008, he was 76 and he and Mrs. Mary David would've been married 57 years.  Yes, another power couple!  Mr. Bill would do anything for Mrs. Mary David!  Mr. Bill was the quiet type- but buddy, you better listen when he had something to say because I promise you it would be worth hearing!  He was very compassionate and an upstanding Christian man doing so much for the Kingdom- but never wanting fuss or recognition for himself, he gave all glory to God.  A hard working man, always providing for his family never finishing until the job was done.  If someone had a need, Mr. Bill would fulfill it.  He had high expectations of people because he saw the good and potential in everyone.  For those out there that didn't feel like they had a father figure of their own to follow they would follow Mr. Bill, and Mr. Bill would gladly reach out to them and teach them.  I hear Brett is alot like Mr. Bill, in many ways I know, and in some I don't completely know because I wasn't around in the younger years.  One thing I know they have in common is that there is no time to just sit still.  There's always work to be done, people to help, or cake to eat :)  I remember being at Brett's house and Mr. Bill would just come in, see what was going, grab a piece of cake that Mrs. Sharon had just made, and then smile and say, "Well, guess I better mosey on along".  He always called me "Miss Crystal" and I loved it. Also when I think of Mr. Bill I think of him NEVER missing a ball game of Brett's (or Brian or Ashley) he was always there in his red, white, and blue, and always the proudest fan- in every sport, rain or shine!  Mr. Bill was very good with his hands, much like Brett, and always had his engineer brain going, he could fix just about anything and would gladly do it for you.  Although Mr. Bill wasn't my biological grandfather, I had no doubt he loved me as his own, and I'm proud to be part of his family.  

I would be very honored and a very proud mother if our son has the qualities of his name sakes.  And of course there is the name Paulk... the name I was very proud to gain when I married Brett.  Being Mrs. Paulk makes me smile.  I'm so blessed that God chose Brett to be my partner here in the world.   Brett is so kind and loving.  Hard working and dedicated.  Strong yet very gentle.  Compassionate and giving.  He is the leader of our family,  he loves Christ and seeks to know Him more and more everyday.  I can't wait to see Brett interact with our John Will, and to teach him all he knows.

Ok, ok.. enough of the sap :)  We'll blame it on my hormones!!

So, how is John Will?  Had an appointment yesterday (I'm now 26 weeks!)  and everything looks great with John Will!  His heart rate was at 148 and I'm measuring right on track at 25 inches, my blood pressure and weight gain she said was great as well ( at least the doctor thinks that!)

he is now the size of an English hothouse cucumber- 14 inches from head to heal.  He's approximately 2 pounds, give or take a few ounces.  He is also a wiggle worm- and I still love it!!  I can now see my stomach jump when he kicks and punches and does flips.  Brett has also seen it, although sometimes it looks a little freaky, it is so cool and exciting!!  At yesterdays appointment I also had my glucose test..  I didn't pass it, so I'll be going back next week to take the 3 hour test and then we'll go from there.  They all told me it's very common to not pass the first test, but to do fine with the 3 hour one, and that I didn't fail the one hour test too badly so I shouldn't be concerned.  And, I'm not.  That's weird for me, I tend to be a worrier- but with this I'm not.  As I should not be about so many things.  God has blessed me with a great pregnancy so far, and a healthy boy inside of me, if for some reason I don't pass the 3 hour test God will take care of it, and I am still so incredibly blessed.  I'm very thankful for my doctors office and all the staff there.  They are so kind and so patient, and always positive!  Thank you Partlow, Harbin, and Poist (and especially Dr. Ray and Mandy) for such a great experience every time I have to come into your office!!

That's all that's going on with the Paulk's for now, I'll update next week on my appointment!