Sorry to keep you waiting....

So, the original plan was to have a picture of the ultrasound on here and reveal the name and gender of our baby. However, we've had an exciting and busy day and just haven't had time to get the pic scanned in. So we decided to just fill you all in and just post a pic later.

We are having a precious baby Boy! Brody Palermo! We aren't 100% settled on a middle name but are narrowing it down...we have a couple of good ones to decide between. We will put the pic up soon so you can see him. It is so crazy now to get to know his name and know who it is that is growing inside me. I can't wait for you all to meet him in a few months!

By Popular Demand

11 Weeks Ago....

Today, Sept 14..17 weeks and 5 days

I had to put up the first picture to prove to some of you that I am actually growing. Thought we needed a comparison. My belly has grown so much in the last week alone! And this past Monday I felt the baby move for the first time! Ever since, it has been an active little thing! I mostly feel it first thing in the morning or at night when I'm really relaxed on the couch or in bed. It is the most wonderful, crazy, miraculous thing to feel! Matt thinks he might have felt it once...not sure when it will be big enough and kicking hard enough to know for sure. Hopefully soon so Matt can enjoy this as much as I do.

We find out this coming Thursday, Sept. 2o, if we are having a boy or girl! So here are the poll results...and your last chance to change your mind. I've actually changed mine! I thought it was a boy in the beginning..but now, everything in me says girl. I don't know why..but I have this really strong feeling its a little Kinley in there! Looks like thats the most popular vote as of now:

Poll Results:

Girl: 9

Boy: 3

These are just the "official" results from the blog poll. We've had numerous people just tell us they think its a girl..and only two other people said boy. Allen & Key... and I think that was just so Matt would have someone on his side :)

Its been a while since we've done the poll and I know a few of you had to have changed your mind like I did...so if you have, let us know!

A Place of Our Own

Thought we'd leave you all hanging for a little while on the house situation :) We've been a little busy.

So here's the scoop...

For the last few months, we've been looking at houses (for fun). OUR plan was to buy a house in December after Matt graduates, or possibly not even until next May. I had tons of houses picked out in my head...of course none of them were in our price range. So we always just looked for fun on the internet.

Then..the Lord stepped in. A house that was way cheaper and smaller than what we thought we would be buying became available. At first we weren't excited about it at all..we thought it was too small for our "stuff." The Lord began to change our hearts and showed us that this what He had in mind for us. We realized we had so much "stuff" that we didn't need or even want/use anymore. We got rid of a ton of it and started the crazy process of buying our first home.

We had to get a sublease for our rental house..and wanted it subleased before school started because thats the best time to get someone to rent. The Lord provided a renter by the weekend..one day after we put the sign in the yard! This was HUGE! We had 8 days until school started..and this family needed to be in the house before then. We started immediately painting the new house, packing, and moving with help from family. Even thought we hadn't closed on the house, the sellers allowed us to paint and move in early because of the circumstances. By the following Saturday, we were in!

We've sort of settled in..but still have a lot to do. There are things without a place and the baby's room still looks like a storage room. But it is slowly coming along. We are beginning to see the huge blessing it is and how great it will be to have our own house when this baby comes. We are going to do some minor construction on the garage to make a 3rd bedroom in order to welcome guests into our home.

Come see it! Its super cute and we love it..and would love for you to come hang out!

Sorry, no pictures to post yet. Guess you'll have to come see it in person! And to those of you who are waiting for a formal invitation..THIS IS IT! Just call to make sure we're home :)

Need a place to live???

We are looking for someone to sublease our house. We have a lease until December but have found an amazing deal on a great house that we have a contract on to buy. (Another blog post to come on this blessing.) So we are needing someone to sublease our house through the remainder of our lease..and they can continue the lease if they want to stay longer. And..they can move in pretty soon if they need to..definitely before school starts. We don't close until Sept 5 but the sellers are willing to let us move in early if we find someone to rent our house. Ok, so here's the details:

House is at 101 Moss St (Corner of George Bush & Texas)
3 bed/ 1 bath/ 1 car garage
huge backyard
hard wood floors throughout
Rent $700/month

This house is so stinking close to campus! It would be great for college students or a family. If you or anyone is interested, please let us know. I can't think of anymore details but if you have any questions, please feel free to ask. You can call me 409-201-5676 or Matt 979-229-8721 or email me. Please spread the word to your friends and keep your ears open. Thanks wonderful friends and church family!!
Love you all, Matt and Larra Palermo

Oh What A Night!

We had such a GREAT time last night. About 60 ladies from our church dressed up like characters in the movie Hairspray. We went to see the movie and then went to Cafe Excell for dessert. I must admit..I was very hesitant about going. When my awesome mentor and great friend Lynsey invited me to go, my first response was no way! The thought of dressing up like someone from the 60s and parading around town was terrifying to me. However, after a SECOND email from Lyns...and some prodding from Kirby, I finally decided to go. And I'm so glad I did. It was so fun to have my hair teased and dress up like Penny from the movie. It was great getting to talk to girls that I don't see much, and getting to meet new people. Here are some pics from the evening:
My Pics
Check out Heather's blog for links to all the pics from the evening. There are some great ones!

Thanks girls for "dragging" me to Hairspray. It was a blast!

(there's a new baby post below too!)

Its Growing...slowly but surely

This pic was taken Saturday, Aug 4. I was 11 weeks and 5 days. Now I am over 12 weeks and through my first trimester. I've made it over the first hurdle..2 more to go! It has been rough..but very worth it. We thank the Lord every single day for what He has done in our lives over the last 10 months.

I love that I can't fit in to any of my own clothes...and that all the pants I wear have been given to me by friends!

So now on to the fun stuff! We find out next month if we are having a boy or a girl and we've had a few requests for a poll. So..what do you think? Boy or Girl? I have absolutely no idea..no instict at all telling me what I have inside!

Quick Update

We had an appt this morning...just a normal check up. Nothing much to report except the baby is doing WONDERFUL! We didn't have a sonogram but just heard the heart beat through my belly. It took her a while to find it so of course that made me a little nervous. But when she finally found the right spot, wow, it was amazing. It was so fast..in the 160s. Baby Palermo is growing and developing so well.

I have 2 more weeks until I'm through my first trimester and oh how I'm looking forward to that! I have been sooo sick for the last few weeks. Its so worth it..but very hard to deal with. I'm on 2 different meds to try to help with the nausea and vomiting...sometimes they help..sometimes they don't. BUT...if it means that the sweet little life inside me is growing and healthy...then its wonderful to have this much sickness. I'm just having to learn how to tough it out.

Anyways..thats about it. I'll put up a new belly shot pretty soon.