Stretch Marks and Split Pants

I swore I would never complain about any pregnancy related symptoms. After all it's been almost one year since we lost our first child at 12 weeks gestation and went through not only a tramatic emotional situation but also a tramautic physical situation ending up in the ER because of hemorrhaging.

I can remember after loosing our first child just dwelling on what a miraculous thing pregnancy

was and wishing I could back and soak in those 'wonderful' pregnant feelings (aka morning sickness, extreme fatigue, not being able to button my pants, you get the idea) that I only got to experience for a short 12 weeks.

Now, here I am having to reach for the keyboard, typing away at almost 8 months pregnant. TUMS could be considered a food group on my pyramid. Rolling over in bed is a 5 point turn, seriously. My wedding ring only fits on days that the temperature reads in the "below zero" range. My mid section, butt, and thighs continue to expand. I officially have stretch marks on my sides. I don't recognize my own belly button. I've never seen such a high number on a scale I've been standing on. My work wardrobe is getting very limited. Good thing I checked the back of my hair the other day before leaving for work because I found my hair looked fine but I had a sort of "stress fracture" in the butt of my pants...leaving my underwear quite visible. That was story #1 of splitting pants. Sad to say, there is already a story #2 of splitting maternity pants... I will spare you or should I say spare myself the embarrasing details. Brady tells me it's because the pants were made out of a type of elastic and it's "not like I split a pair of thick jeans"

Thanks honey, it's good to know I will always be beautiful to you, split pants, stretch marks and all.

Our little boy is growing inside of me. I get to feel his every movement, every hiccup. He is with me every minute of every day. The moral here is that I wouldn't trade anything I mentioned above for anything in the entire world. It's all part of becomming a Mommy and I feel so blessed God chose me to be his Mommy. I plan on fully soaking in the beauty (and occasional pain) that comes a long with these last 8 weeks.

A much more exciting note - we welcomed this beautiful new niece into the family Friday January 21, 2011. She came just one day before her actual due date.

Meet Miss Paityn Joy. 7 lb 5oz, 20 inches long and perfect. She will be loved on much by her two big sisters Taylor and Bailey. I'm so proud to be her aunt. I can't wait to see her and our lil guy grow together being only a couple months apart.

Have a good week and stay warm!

Holiday Recap

Obviously I'm a little late for my "holiday blog post" but here it goes anyway

*Christmas 2010

We had a wonderful Christmas and I realized that there's nothing quite like waking up to

Kicks on Christmas Morning

...kicks that bring with them the anticipation, joy, and dreams of new life...

Despite the business of running from party to that party, we really were able to enjoy family and friends and celebrate the true reason for the season. It was a beautiful Christmas and I can't wait for our little one to experience it first hand come next year.

*New Years 2011

Brady and I rang in the New Year with our much anticipated

Omaha "Babymoon" getaway

This weekend was a much-needed weekend away and we had an amazing time with just the two
or shall I say three of us :) We bought the last "big items" for our little boy's nursery and can't wait to get everything arranged just so.

*Baby Update

Our favorite "Christmas present" of all was the follow up ultrasound we had of our little boy on December 28. He is growing well and was actually measuring ahead of schedule. We were able to see his precious face and to say it brought tears to my eyes is a definite understatment. We praise God for our little one and can't wait to meet him in a couple months.

I think he looks just like his Daddy already and I'm so in love...

Blizzard Bliss

This weekend was supposed to be our buy-baby-stuff-plus-finish Christmas-shopping-Omaha-getaway. In preparation the house was cleaned Thursday and Friday night was spent getting everything ready. In the way back of our minds we knew there was a chance of some "weather"but we remained positive and hopeful of going. We woke up Saturday morning, Brady looked out the window and said "Yeah... we probably aren't going anywhere" This was confirmed when he took a little drive across town and couldn't see a thing.

Thanks to the gail-force winds and 9+ inches of snow, travel was not advised to say the least.

The bummed feeling didn't last too long as I was once again spoiled by my chef-husband making me a delicious home made breakfast that seriously puts Perkin's to shame :-) He's the best.

Despite "no travel advised" thanks to 4-wheel drive and my non-scaredy-cat-husband I did make it out to my parent's house to enjoy some Christmas baking with my Mom and Sister. The morning and early afternoon were spent making marshmallow balls dipped in caramel and rice krispies, ritz cracker frosting cookies dipped in almond bark, holiday wreath treats, sugar cookies, and star cookies to name a few. We had a little mishap with the garage door somehow being left open for quite some time which resulted in a blizzard in my parent's garage and a few choice words being thrown. It's funny now.

I will admit it.

I had a nostalgic feeling that afternoon.

My Mom, Sister, and I were scurrying around in the kitchen licking out batter bowls, nibbling on some left over chocolates while finishing up with baking and cleaning. My sister and I failed to keep our growing baby bumps clean as they somehow got cookie batter all over them. My Dad, brother in law Lee and Brady were all having some male-bonding time watching TV in the living room.

That's when the feeling overcame me. The "all-the-stars-are-perfectly-aligned-and-life-is-oh-so-good-be-sure-to-take-it-all-in" feeling. I couldn't help but think, this has to be exactly what God had in mind when he designed families. The blizzard somehow took away the normal hustle-bustle of everyday life and we were forced to get back to basics. This resulted in a day I will remember for years to come, a day where I felt incredibly blessed with the hand-picked family God gave me.

Brady and I did venture back home again and spent the rest of the afternoon and evening bundled up staying warm and cozy on the couch. Words can't describe how much I loved being snowed in with my two favorite boys and sweet puppy Maya. It was a lazy, relaxing day full of taking naps and sipping on hot cocoa and munching on freshly made goodies.

Have I mentioned lately how much I love my life?

Turns out being snowed in was just as fun, if not more fun than our planned getaway.

What I Love About You

already.

You give me a reason to constantly be smiling.

Feeling your kicks, swooshes, and rolls in my tummy makes your Mamma's heart giddy (and Daddy's too!)

You are my constant reminder of how fragile, precious, and beautiful life is.

You have caused your Mommy & Daddy to fall even more in love.

You make me dream baby boy. Will you have dimples like Daddy? Will you love chocolate as much as your Mommy? I can't wait to meet the person God created you to be.

Pictures by 'Picture This Photography'

Happy Thanksgiving

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Hoping you find yourself surrounded by those you love the most this Thanksgiving Holiday. Remember to take time to step back, look at all God has blessed you with, and give Him thanks.

It's A ...

BOY!!!

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Psalm 139:13-15

You are such a little stud already. Your Mamma and Daddy loved watching you on that screen for an hour and a half, you are beautiful. The ultrasound tech warned us that we might have our hands full since you wouldn't hold still for long enough for her to get all the pictures she wanted :) You are already our little 13 ounce rock-star. We have never been so in awe, or so in love. We praise God for you little one.

We're Halfway Baby!

The thought was once again sparked in my hard-to-concentrate- ever-wandering-pregnant brain.

Pink or Blue...

However, the context was anything but baby related. It was marriage related. The thought was sparked during our second session of studying the DVD series "Love & Respect" by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs with 8 other couples from our church.

Needless to say, it was hard for me to focus on pink and blue in relation to marriage while feeling my now 20 week old baby 'jamming out in my belly' the entire time.

We hope to find out the baby related pink or blue verdict on November 16... 9 short days away. I say "hope" because our child could already have some of its mothers 'spit-fire' personality in it and decide to keep it's legs crossed and keep us in suspense for the next 20 weeks. I am frequently asked if I have any "maternal instincts" as to what gender the baby is. The short answer is "no". The medium answer is that what I think changes by the hour (currently feeling just as much pink as blue). I will spare you the long answer. (Count your blessings!)

Why do I find myself in such a hurry to find out? Why do I wish that time would move along faster some days? Why can't I just live in the moment and enjoy the one in a million feeling of my baby dancing in my belly. I will never again be 20 weeks 1 day pregnant with this child. I need to savor every day of this miracle. I know I am going to look back on this time and wish it would have slowed down and I'm going to kick myself for wishing it would go faster. Truth is pink or blue related to pregnancy really doesn't matter. God already knows and what God chose is right and perfect and we will find out in His time not ours. Whether that is in 9 days or in another 20 weeks.

My point is this. Savor the mundane, think of what you would miss if it were gone. Enjoy every minute. Look for the beauty. Realize just how fragile, precious, and beautiful your life is. Bask in God's goodness and glory and thank Him for everything, always.