La Madd Friends/Family...

So, I don't get very many opportunities to show off our friends all at once, but was able to get a picture with most of them in it!! We were all at a BBQ at our friends' house in Palau and I had everyone strike a pose. We have been overwhelmed by the blessing of friends we have made while living here in La Maddalena! We will not soon forget many of them and some of them we will keep as life long friends!! One couple in particular, not pictured here, has become so much like family, I think we sometimes forget they aren't blood related!!

This is and has been our support for 2 years. Some have been here for all of it, some have just arrived and some of our friends have already left for new adventures. However, through good and bad Dallas and I have been greatful to this place for at the very least being stationed around such great people!!

Introducing Baby Gipson...

Well, not much of a showing, but we have our first picture of the baby!!! It looks like a cocoon, but we know it is a baby. The picture doesn't do it justice, because when we saw it you could actually see the three sections of the baby-the head, body and feet!! The baby measured within 4days of what they have as far as weeks pregnant(8weeks 6days) and they say mom is very healthy!! Tomorrow I will begin my third month and am feeling great! I get pretty tired, but no nausea!! (knock on wood) I thought I had put on some weight, but nope, no weight gain to date!! The doc seems to think with my activity level I will gain only baby weight. We'll see! Lets just pray that the weight goes ONLY in the belly!!hehee!!! (doubtful)

We did see a faint heartbeat, but this early it was hard for us to tell without the doc pointing it out. The doctor, because he is a close friend and wanted to keep me comfortable, just did the abdominal ultrasound which made it even harder for an untrained eye this early on to see, but we finally did. He was able to count the beats and the baby's heart is beating very strong!!! Praise GOD!! Three more weeks until we are in a "safe zone"!! We moved my next scheduled appt to 5 weeks out, so the week of the 20th of October we will have another appt. We are so lucky, because we are good friends with our doctor, he is going to give us another ultrasound and picture. Normally he doesn't give another until the 20th week, but he said for us he would!! So look forward to more ultrasounds and hopefully one that looks more like a baby!!!

More exciting news-they are pretty sure I will be able to stay here with Dallas until the end!!! When we heard that we thought, there isn't much else you can tell us to ease our minds! All around it was a great appointment!
Needless to say Dallas and I are very excited!!!

Here goes....

Hey all!! Well, my friend Sarah gave me an awesome idea of starting a blog to stay better connected with people as we move around the globe and as our lives change. I thought it was a great idea! I can only imagine this will be interesting for each of you as I try to figure this whole blogging thing out. With all that said...

As many of you know Dallas nad I have been living in La Maddalena, Italy for the past two years. It is a beautiful place! We literally feel as though we are floating on a rock in the middle of the mediterranian! It really is great! We love it, however, we will be glad when we are stateside again with our friends and family!

We are due back in the states in February of 2008. When we arrive I will be about 7 months pregnant with out first baby! OH MY!! I am only 7 weeks along at this point and am praying for a healthy baby and pregnancy. I don't have my first appt to see/ hear the baby until Oct. 9th. So, until then, you will have to deal with the picture the digital read out that rocked our world..."pregnant" and no turning back!!

My hopes are that this blog will give everyone back home the ability to share in this time with us since it is a joyful time in our lives!! It is going to be an interesting 7 months as Dallas helps the base here close and we both prepare to move for the 4th time in his 5years with the Navy! So, hang on and enjoy the blogs as we continue to fill you in on the lives of the floating Gipsons!!