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The beauty of yellow leaves! 35 weeks Playing around with Picasa! Both of our expressions were off so this did the trick.
Love this one of us
At the museum. One of my favorite paintings.
We were originally planning to go to longwood- but this weather was certainly more museum appropriate.

Love this background





Because of the baby's due date, both Christmas and Thanksgiving travel were out of the question. So, last week we went up to visit our families and friends for the last time before baby's arrival. It was surreal saying good bye with the thought that I will see my baby girl before I see them again. We really had a wonderful time visiting with all who could see us. Since we grew up in the same church and our parents still go to church together and even work together, when we are with one set of parents we are generally with the other set as well. That is just how it has always been for us, yet I am realizing more and more how rare that it and what a blessing it is to have our families living in the same area so that with one trip we can see them all. With N's family we went to the art museum. We haven't been there in years and that made it especially sweet. It was great seeing everyone. We really miss you all down here.

I am now 36 weeks and feeling more and more ready. Last Wednesday, at my 36 week appointment I measured to be 1cm dilated. That was a great wake up call that his girl could really be here any day. So I have gotten much progress done on the nursery and packing this week. The packing is odd though because there is so much I will want with me that I am using day to day such as toiletries and certain clothing items. There are definitely certain things that I do not use day to day, and they were easy enough to pack up.

Time has been going by very quickly these last few weeks. I want to be a more regular blogger (at least once a week) and by the time I get on to blog again I realize it has been over a week and in this case two weeks. I am thinking I should just carve out specific days of the week say Mondays and Fridays and just do it so that it becomes part of my routine and so that you out there would know when to check my blog. Thank you to all who are reading and especially those friends of mine who comment. I really enjoy being able to interact with you through this blog. VA is great in so many ways, but it lacks my dear NJ friends. I had been a stealth reader on certain blogs for years and never commented. Looking back I guess I just felt that I did not know them well enough or that what I had to say was silly. Now that the tables are turned, I have become a much better commenter because I realized that saying something even if it silly is so much more appreciated than saying nothing at all. And I do always post pics so at least you could comment on them even if it is really silly.

Monday I will plan on getting up more pics of the nursery progress.

Me...34 Weeks?!?! Better Start Packing

D, you will be happy to notice my hair is actually down :)

Husbands can be sneaky with cameras.
And the hair is back- and look I am wearing jeans. How crazy is that!
Almost there- no that face is not on purpose

There we go! The background of the rustic dock and crane was a stretch for my taste, but it is working for now and can always be cropped or photo shopped away.

I am now 34 weeks. I am simply amazed that in 6 weeks we will be seeing our daughter. She has been really busy as of recently, and I have greatly enjoyed all her sweet "dancing" as N calls her kicks and squirms. I love feeling her move. There are times that she is really moving a lot and forcefully and by the time N comes around to feel a second later the show is over. I do wonder if it is the sound of my voice that makes her stop. We have been playing Brahms' Lullaby to her. It was my favorite as a child. Many say that babies at this age can remember music. So I thought it would be a fun idea to see if her reactions to it are different than to other similar pieces.

All of a sudden I noticed that strangers were complimenting me on my wedding bands. The thought crossed my mind that it was because I just cleaned them. I mentioned it to N, and his explanation was that more people are inclined to check to see if I am wearing any now that I am toting around a baby belly. Anyone think that makes sense? Since baby, I have been extra careful to always wear them even though they are less comfortable to wear these days just for that reason. I have seen pregnant women wear their rings around their necks. I am not there yet, but I completely understand.

I gained two new commenters last post!!!-- and I plan on keeping them. hint. hint. Thank you girls! And to all those stealth readers out there, I would love to hear from you too even if you just want to make fun of my hair or smile.

About Baby

Our first Christmas together 2006


The tree in our hotel lobby

I love the simply way it is decorated
We actually went to the movies on Christmas day. Muvico is the best. Notice the shorts? That's Florida for you.


Next month we will be celebrating our 2nd anniversary, and it has only been since March of this year that we have been living in our own place. I was really looking forward to decorating our house for the holidays this year and building our own family traditions. We were married the day after Thanksgiving 06, he was deployed Thanksgiving 07, and Thanksgiving 08 I will be eight months pregnant. Yes, it would be possible to go all out for Thanksgiving for the two of us. But that really does not sound enjoyable or sensible to this very pregnant one. Going back home to be with family would be an option but just not a wise one being so close to my due date. So, instead of starting our own tradition or going back home to the traditions of our families (who are by the way spending Thanksgiving together without us) we are doing something completely different but really great. We will be spending it with our church family.

Our first Christmas together 06 was spent all by ourselves in sunny Florida honeymooning. It was absolutely great but certainly did not feel like Christmas. We actually went to the movies that day and ordered room service. Our second Christmas 07 was spent completely apart on opposite sides of the world as he was deployed. I was really looking forward to finally starting our own traditions, decking the halls, listening to the best of Christmas music, and actually taking an overly cute picture this year to send to family. And then along came baby... She is due the 10th of December, yet she could easily be late a week or more. Do I really have the energy to decorate? and do I really want to spend the money on that when she is coming? My imagery of the day has turned from a made up woman in a red dress with curled hair dishing out pieces of pie to a brand new mother recovering a week after delivery just wishing for the five minutes and the strength to take a shower.

All of this uncertainty has drawn me back to the reason for the season- a BABY! Christmas is truly about God humbling Himself to be made into a helpless baby to save His people from their sins. and This Christmas as I take care of my own baby- I will not be able to forget why we celebrate this holiday and how amazing it is that God would choose to become such a helpless, messy and fragile being.

This Christmas might not have the sounds, sights, and smells of a traditional Christmas, but what better tradition could there be than having a new baby just in time for Christmas?!

Getting Ready for Baby

The Nursery- Thank you to so many of you for all the wonderful gifts. Anyone want to help put away, clean, and organize???


As it is this moment. I am not sure if we are leaving the crib in that spot and the chest and dresser are still missing from the room.

The crib from this

To this- Thankfully we did not have to put it together ourselves, and yes it is time to move the diplomas.

The closet- with games, uniforms, and weights

After hard lifting- not on my part. Can you see the indentations on the carpet?

To our sweet daughter's closet. I still need to vacuum it, and most of the items in there will be finding more permanent spaces someday.

This past week I have been making progress with the nursery. I am no where near finished, yet I am thankful for all the work I got done this week and hope that next is also a productive week.

In My 30's

30 Weeks




I am now past the 30 week mark and love being so close to seeing our baby girl. Last month the nursery furniture came, and last week we put together the cradle. It seems like I am taking the tiniest steps towards getting everything together and in its place, but we will get it all together eventually.

Finally the Beach

From last year

Yesterday N and I went to the beach together for the first time this summer- well rather this year because we are now in autumn. How odd is that especially considering how close we live to a popular beach destination. I think that well sums up how this summer has barely felt like summer to me. I suppose with being sick, then going to Europe for a couple of weeks, traveling back home, and nesting for baby- life simply got in the way of summer. I was really glad we finally went yesterday. The weather was beautiful with clear skies, lower 80’s, and no wind. So there we were lounging on our large towel reading with one of us resisting the great urge to lie on her back surrounded by several retired couples. It was lovely, and we learned that those who go to the beach after the season are rewarded with free parking :)

Church Baby Shower

I felt so loved to be showered with love, support, and gifts by our new church family. It was a dual bridal/baby shower- actually my idea, and I loved the way it turned out. Thank you all so very much!

First Baby Shower

Decorating in Action

Yummy Cake... I want another piece

My Sister-in-Law

I just love handmade gifts.

Last week, I traveled back home for my baby shower thrown by my mother. I had a really fun time decorating with a dear friend beforehand and enjoyed seeing so many friends during the shower. Thank you so much for all who came to support us and gave us such lovely presents.

26 Weeks

Do I look 6 months pregnant?


I think so











N and I just joined a local gym. Because of the morning sickness, I was barely able to eat or be on the move much for months and as a result lost weight and lots of muscle. I had become so weak that it was scaring me. When it comes to exercise, I have always been the one to happily exercise along with a DVD in my own home. I have never made a concerted effort to exercise at a gym even when I had the opportunity at college for free. I knew that DVDs were there if I needed them, but to me getting in shape was more important than ever because my daughter’s health is now involved in what I do and because I was so drastically out of shape. So, we joined a gym just as the countdown to baby neared 100 days. The best part is doing it together- as a family of three :) It really seems like going out for a date when we are off to the gym. I love being able to do the cardio machines at all different levels but still be able to be right next to each other. I am especially enjoying this time together because when baby comes we will not be able to go together. We also finally took the time to take some belly pictures. I hope you enjoy and that we keep up with them.

Growing More than Just My Belly

Neither N nor I have ever been devoted gardeners, yet growing plants really does bring me joy. So this first summer of ours in our own place, I really wanted to grow something. Growing tomatoes came more naturally than other plants because both of our families grew tomatoes, and I LOVE them so. We bought three small plants. Two of which grew cherry tomatoes and the other grew another small variety. I was not sure if they would ever bear fruit because we were growing them on our small balcony which never gets direct sunlight. My goal was not to amass a bountiful crop but simply to be a gardener. Our three little tomato plants were far more helpful to me those first three months of pregnancy than I ever had anticipated. For at least 5 minutes out of the day I was forced to feel well- well enough to care for them. Care for them I did- not perfectly at all yet they grew. Their scent was very helpful to me. Everyone speaks of the wonders of mint, yet I was also growing mint but it was the scent of the tomato plants that calmed me. I am curious if a healing property was in the scent of it or if the memory of the scent was what I found healing. I knew I would be going away to Europe for three weeks, and I was disappointed at the thought of their producing fruit without my being there to share in it with them. I eagerly looked for my first tomato before I left, and I found the tiniest green tomato perhaps a millimeter wide engulfed in its yellow flower. I was delight to have caught sight of the first fruit. By the end of the season I was quite surprised with how much fruit could grow from such a small pot getting next to none direct sunlight. And I also remembered that I really do not care for the taste of cherry tomatoes. At most I personally ate a dozen, yet I had completed the task I set out for myself- to garden.

Preparing for Our Daughter

A few of my favorite white dresses

Adorable also comes in other colors
A picture of our crib to be
My "dress" diaper bag thanks to my mom

Stroller

Car seat

The last few weeks have been filled with the busy excitement of preparing for our little girl. It has been such a joy preparing for this little one while also thinking upon the future with the many more we will hopefully be blessed with, Lord willing. From the moment I saw a friend's nursery set, I simply feel in love with it. I didn't think we could get it, but we could! I am so delighted with it!!! It will be here in a few more weeks, and I am very eager. Our nursery theme is white. Are you surprised?? Everything from the furniture to the walls to the bedding to the curtains will be white accented with silver and crystal accessories. Most of the travel gear I am going with will be black such as the stroller, car seat, carrier, and diaper bag- so that it will be neutral for both of us using it and easily coordinated together, and they will work with future children. My favorite color of baby clothing is white. I also really like nautical themed dresses.

It's a Girl!!!

Me and My Daughter


When we found out that our little one was a girl, we were very surprised. I just thought it would be a boy. She has come a little earlier in the birth order than I expected, yet at least we can start with all the girlish fun asap. I have had a blast shopping for the most adorable little girl dresses. My favorite color to dress her in is white. With all the pretty dresses out there, it would be very difficult to only dress her one color, but her wardrobe so far is about 50% white.

Our Little Kicker at 20 Weeks 5 Days

Profile


Profile and Foot


Arm and Leg



This week I went for my official twenty week ultrasound. It went really smoothly (all the measurements were normal) and was the best time I have had in a while. Thankfully my tech was super sweet and knowledgeable. I really did not want to leave and was extremely grateful that it went so well. Now that we know the baby's sex, the best part is calling it by its proper name among the two of us anyway. Now when N calls he sends his love to the two of us by our names, and it really is so very precious in my ears. Next week, I am hoping to get through a lot of work on the registry. This past week we bought a few big items that could not go on the registry. Even though we know what I am carrying, it is still important for those big items and little ones too to be neutral for the next babies to come. It is difficult because so much of what is out there is sex specific, and I feel as if I am going against the grain in the attempt to be neutral. Staying away from pure blue or pink is not just for practicality but also goes with my personal taste as well. My favorite baby color is white, and if I had my way I would dress baby in nearly all white.