it's a boy!

I'm an aunt!!

Baby Doug has made his way into this world. Tuesday, August 14th, Brodi Scott Eccles was born. I worked that day at Billy Vanilly. Kelli was induced that morning. I was hoping for a busy day so that I could keep my mind occupied and not constantly thinking about what could happen at any moment in Chanute. Of course it was a slow day though, and I had plenty of time to think of what was going on. Pretty sure it was the longest day ever full of excitement and great anticipation of meeting my sweet niece or nephew.

After work, I had to make a delivery before getting on the road to Chanute. It was the worst delivery ever! First of all, I didn't know where I was going (although I did have directions!), and it was on the other side of town. So I'm driving along and finding my way, all is going well. Then I run into road construction. They didn't have it planned out very well. Me, along with several other cars, followed the detour that only led us to a dead end. We all had to turn around and find our way back out. Keep in mind, I have never been in this neighborhood before so I had no idea where I was going. I finally found my way out!

After what seemed to be forever, I finally reached the neighborhood I was looking for (and found more road construction along the way) as well as the house. I grabbed the cupcakes, walked to the door, knocked on the door (no doorbell of course!) many times, no answer. What to do, what to do! I sat the cupcakes down on a chair on the front porch and walk away. I called the store to have them call the lady who ordered the cupcakes to see if she can get a hold of the lady they were being delivered to. Thankfully it was a nice day out, so I knew the cupcakes would be okay for at least a little bit sitting outside in the shade, but not for to long. As I'm on the phone with a co-worker standing by my car, a lady opens the door and steps out onto her porch of the house the cupcakes were being delivered to. She asks if I was delivering something to her, and I explain that I had a cupcake delivery for her and pointed to them on the porch. She thanked me and I was on my way. Finally!

Then another challenge presented itself and it had to do with more road construction. I felt like I was driving around this neighborhood in circles...because of road construction there seemed to be only one way out. It should not have been that difficult to get back to the main road. But it was. All of this to say...what should have been a 10-15 minute delivery, turned into being a 30-40 minute delivery...of all days for this to happen!

Anyway, I got out and was heading back to my house to grab my stuff and go, when about this time I got the text message from Devin to be on stand by. At this point I was about to go crazy, I just wanted to be on the road to Chanute! But it was getting close to 5:00 and there was a lot of traffic...I couldn't get home fast enough. I had been driving for about 20 minutes or so when I received another text message from Devin saying Brodi had been born! :) If it wasn't for me driving I probably would have been jumping up and down! I was so excited!!!!

When I got to town, I was planning on going straight to the hospital but they were bathing Brodi and switching rooms and all that good stuff. So I had to wait some more. Finally though, after what seemed to be forever, we were hospital bound and I got to meet Baby Brodi! He is absolutely precious!

Meeting Brodi for the first time! :)

Uncle Dusty loves his Brodi!

Proud Uncle!

:)

Grandma with Brodi.

Devin and I! I had to get a pic with the proud dad!

Grandpa with Brodi!

Proud Grandpa.

Brodi gets no attention at all....:)

Brodi is one lucky kiddo!

Dad and Brodi...so sweet!

:)

Mom and Brodi! Again...Brodi is one lucky kiddo! :)

Day 2...we decided to take his hat off and get a pic with his hair. Very curious to see how it turns out! It was curly, but it is getting straighter. It was dark, but it is getting lighter. Time will tell! :)

Aunt Kaci with Brodi!

Chrissy and Brodi sharing a moment! :)

:)

Family picture with the newest member! :)

I love this...the pacifier takes up almost his whole face! :)

So precious!

Great Grandma meets Brodi for the first time. I forgot to take a picture with Great Grandpa and Brodi. :(

I zoomed in because I wanted you to see his hat! It's a giraffe....do you see it? Cutest thing ever! Good find Kel Kel!

Needless to say...Brodi is one loved baby! :) We are all happy to have him here! I am one happy aunt and I can't wait to see him again! It was hard to come back to Topeka Wednesday night, but soon enough I will see him and hold him again! :)

the waiting game.

I would consider myself to be a pretty patient person. But there are times when I know something is about to happen, but I have to wait for it to happen.

There are many things in my life that are changing/about to change...and it is all happening so fast. But it's to the point where so many things are changing in so many ways, but not at the moment. I guess I am kind of in the middle between what was and what will be! I feel like I am playing a big waiting game. Trying to be patient. And mostly trying not to burst from excitement about what is to come. So what kinds of things am I waiting for?

• The biggest thing: I am going to be an aunt very VERY soon!!! My little niece or nephew (also known as Baby Doug ;)) could be born at any moment...literally. I am checking my phone every 5 minutes anxiously awaiting that phone call. I can't even begin to describe how excited I am to meet Baby Doug! I am hoping he/she will make their appearance at a time when I am not working so that I can be there...so today or tomorrow!
• Students are making their way back to Topeka!! Yesterday I saw international students out walking around everywhere! Made me happy. And throughout this week, people will be making their way back to the Chi Alpha House and I am so excited. Their are some familiar faces coming back, as well as some new faces. Can't wait to have everyone here!
• Chi Alpha will be starting back up.
• School will begin.
• Cooler weather is coming hopefully in the somewhat near future....fall is my favorite season! And after the summer we have had, I have never been so excited for fall to be here! 

In the meantime, I will keep waiting in anticipation for all of these things and more to happen! It is most definitely a season for change and I couldn't be happier about it! But while I am waiting, I am enjoying myself and the last days of summer by spending lots of time with friends.

Orange Leaf and movie night with Taylor!

Erin Grieve, me, and Taylor. We went swimming. It was 90 degrees outside. It was beautiful! And then I got  sun burnt. It was a fun afternoon though!

Ariona and I sitting out in the rain. :)

Story for the above picture: God is so good. I really wanted to go sit outside because it was so nice outside! But I wanted someone to go sit outside with me. Literally, a minute or two after thinking that I get a call from my friend Ariona. She had just got done having coffee with a friend and wanted to hang out. So I asked if she wanted to come over and sit outside with me. Her response: "Yea that sounds perfect!" Yes!! So she came over and we sat outside for a couple of hours. And it rained a little bit off and on....it felt so good! It turned out to be a lovely evening! Thanks Jesus! :)

Also...just a side note...I had to edit the last picture....in the original one, I seriously look like a lobster. I didn't realize how burnt I was until I saw the picture. Thankfully it doesn't feel as bad as it looks! 

Good afternoon with the lovely Stefa! :) So thankful to have her as my friend. 

While this waiting game continues on, I continue anxiously awaiting all that is to come. But at the same time, I am very much enjoying what is happening in my life right now. I never want to be so caught up in what is going to be happening, always living in the future, that I miss out on what is happening in my life right now. Yes it's good to have things to look forward to, but when we are constantly looking forward to the next big thing, we are missing out on opportunities that we have now, right in front of  us. And right now, among other things, I am so so thankful for the incredible friendships God has placed in my life and the time I get to spend with them! I am truly blessed.

july.

Boy...my life has been busy! It's so easy to get caught up in this busy thing called life and put off other things, like my blog!

Last post I promised a post about the "stinky cheese" sermon...and I will get to that. And there is another post I want to and will write (just for you Stacy! ;)), but for now, I wanted to share with you what I have been up to! It has been so long, that I can't even remember what all I have done since last time. So to figure it out....I went to my pictures album on my computer to find out what I have been up to. haha. This is why I love pictures! :)

The month of July has been....or I mean was...can't believe it is August! Time flies. Anyway...to finish my sentence, the month of July was a busy one, but it has been a blast! Chi Alpha (a campus ministry I am involved in) has a firework tent each year. All the proceeds go towards the ministry! It's a busy, exhausting, and hot week but always a lot of fun! This year I wasn't out there as much as I was last year but I enjoyed it when I was out there!

4th of July of course in my family is the day we go to Gridley, which is where both of my parents are from. We have a lot of family that live there. Every year they have a big celebration and since I can remember, we have been there just about every year...if not every year?! I don't remember missing one, but I don't always remember things so there is a chance that could be a lie! ;) Anyway, they have a big 2-on-2 basketball tournament, which if you know my brothers at all, they don't miss it!

Cousins vs. cousins. Devin, Damon and Derek are always on a team (all cousins on my mom's side). They usually win the championship. Then Dustin and Brad (also cousins but on my dad's side) are on a team. They were the only team to beat Devin, Derek, and Damon, but unfortunately they didn't make it to the championship this year....again. They will have their time though! I know it! :)

Silly brothers who always dress alike. That day wasn't so bad but look at the shorts and socks...

After the tournament we always walk to my aunts grocery store and have a soda and chat for a bit. Then off to Grandma and Grandpa's for some lunch! And grandpa got a new puppy and he is so adorable!

His name is Buster! :)

Moving on to....the baby shower!!!! July 22nd we had Kelli's baby shower! Me, Chrissy (Dusty's girlfriend) and Shana (one of Kelli's good friends from school) all hosted the shower! We all live in different places, so for months we have been sending email after email to prepare for the big day! And it was a success! Everyone seemed to enjoy it. Baby Doug sure does have a lot of family and friends that are very anxious to meet him/her! The date is getting closer and closer! I am getting very anxious to meet sweet little Doug! I love being an aunt already! :) Here are some pictures from the big day!

The beginnings of the fruit baby stroller!

Cupcake maker=awesome!

Shana making some dip stuff....delicious!

This kid was a big help getting things set up and ready! Thanks dusty! :)

Chrissy and I wearing our awesome aprons!

I love this so much! See the baby??! 

Diaper cake that Shana made!

Loved the cake! Kelli's aunt made it.

Peanuts and M&M's.

Sign in table.

Dad also was a big help setting up! Thanks!

The makers of the fruit baby stroller!

Mom!

The hostesses! Chrissy, me, Shana.

The fruit baby stroller up close.

Thanks Aunt Debbie for finding the picture and showing me! It turned out pretty well. I was impressed with us! ;)

Food table....lots of food!

Drink table! Tea, lemonade, and water with oranges.

Shana with Kel Kel

I am SO blessed to have such an amazing sister in law!

Chrissy and Kel. 

All four of us!

Grandma and mom to be!

The cute and soon to be parents!

Kelli with the cake!

Great Grandmas (Devin's grandma on left, Kelli's on right!)

Some of the baby shower attendees!

Getting ready to begin the party! :)

They got lots of great things! Like I said....Doug has lots of people anxious to meet him/her. The baby won't be spoiled at all! ;)

To end the month I tagged along with a good friend of mine, Ariona, to good ol' western Kansas! It was.....well western kansas! It was a lot of fun. The best part of the weekend....we found a sunflower field. But not just any sunflower field....it was huge!!! So of course we had to stop on our way back since we were in a hurry and almost late to the wedding (the whole reason for the trip!) on the way there. So after the wedding, hanging out with friends, and good food, came the much anticipated stop at the sunflower field. If you know me, you know that I get excited about lots of things, it doesn't take much. So just imagine my excitement about this sunflower field. And you know me, I had to take my camera! We ended up having a mini photo shoot! Here are some of our pictures!

I love this picture and the next....couldn't decide which I liked best!

Taking in all of God's beauty! 

This isn't even the half of it!!

And now that it's August....I am staying busy getting things ready for back to school here at the house, working, and spending time with friends! Life is good! :) I will try not to wait so long in between posts next time. Then I don't have to cram so many things into one! If you made it all the way to the bottom of this post....kudos to you! And thanks for taking the time to read it!!