Christmas is in the Air!!!

It snowed on Friday night and just sent a jolt of cheer through the air, as well as a reminder of what driving in snow and icey slush will be like for the next 5+ months! But this is neither here nor there! Pretty excited for this most special Christmas ever as I wait to see WHEN this little baby will be arriving.

Today I am 35 weeks larger than life....
Best Parts:

• This little cutie kicks all the time and reminds me that they are there inside me, hanging out with us when we watch movies, eating supper and falling asleep at night. My family (well, the ones who aren't too shy so basically Kristi and Jay, have also felt this little one kicking!)
• The baby's room is coming along so well....here's a sneak preview, but there is a few more things to do before I can do a full on REVEAL!!! 
                              
  
  
• Like I said in last post, was BLESSED like crazy with tons of polka dots and loved putting the blankets around the room as well as my sweet little polka dotted sheets! Lots of sentimental things around the room...talk more about that soon!
• Bought our baby their Christmas pjs and Christmas book and on the look out for a cute little stocking for them! 
• Not much else to report. My belly's is pretty big....still have lots of clothes to wear but no warm winter jacket...but bundling up in Dan's coats when I need it. My pelvic area hurts more now that the belly's growing heavier but honestly, I can't really complain (except to Dan to get free massages). I have been VERY blessed with my pregnancy.
• Reading this book and will try to peek through the B-feeding book but not sure how much I will really "get" till I'm in it. 

                          

My take aways are to try to find a place in my head to be in control of my thoughts/fear. Try to relax and let my body do the job it was intended to do. Try to find joy and pleasure in the experience instead of my natural feeling of FEAR ANXIETY and NERVOUSness. I'm even trying not to tell people that this is how I really do feel because just having it there in my head and thoughts causes the fear to have more power than it should have. Anyways. I'm a newbie so I have NO clue what will really happen or if these "principles" will really even be able to happen but anything to help, right!!! These were recommended by my doula friend (aka Kristi's BFF Angie Stanley) and also by a random girl at one of my prenatal appointments!

• I can't wait to see how THIS will turn out too: Here's a sneak peek at the bassinet when I was a baby with my Mom and all my baby quilts:
  
  
          and here it is in progress!
• Looking forward to decorating, Christmas time with friends, baking, Family-get-togethers and Christmas movies!!!

Baby Blessings

I am 33 weeks, going on 34!!!

Well today I am just overwhelmed with all things baby. I feel kicks all the time and know that baby is on the go. I love it! I had a beautiful shower on Saturday and was blessed by so many wonderful friends and family. I always thought I'd be too emotional at my own baby shower, as I've been known to tear up at cute baby outfits at other baby showers I've attended...but my cheeks hurt from smiling!

It was a Polka Dot themed shower! I had my camera in my pocket and forgot to take pics! Luckily, I do have a few that the hostess (my sis in law, Kara) took before! Her decorations alone blew my mind, plus she got all the guests to WEAR polka dots! Such a sweet party....

and OH so many gifted polka dots too! Crib sheets, blankets, burping cloths, washcloths and a beautiful hand made polka dotted stuffie!!! I just keep going into my baby's room and sitting and looking all around! I am so close to being able to say its ALL done!!! We even hung pictures up on the wall last night! I'll wait until its all done to write a long sentimental Nursery post because believe me...this nursery is filled to the brim with sentamentality! My dear Mom has given me some baby quilts and hand knitted sweaters that I used as a baby...so we are talking a few decades of history here!!!

I just am so amazed that my baby is so loved and supported. I've been blessed so much with so many things so far and although we have spent lots of money, the things we have received for FREE or at a used price has saved us SO much!!! THANKFUL, THANKFUL, THANKFUL...that's all I can think!

Anyways, I am so blessed that I am still feeling great. I had a checkup last week and really have no complaints. I had a pain under my belly, as it must have been stretching out a few weeks back, that hurt when I walked or got out of bed...but that's doing better...a little pain by the end of the day but nothing I can't fix with a nice bath! I am getting excited to decorate for Christmas, but also not wanting to rush through these last few days. I want my baby to be healthy and come at the right time (just not LATE!!...please, not on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day).

32 weeks!!! *heading out for a Date Day with Danny!!*

30 Weeks Strong!!!

Wow! I can't believe this wee little babe is already 30 weeks old!!! In some ways I'm still getting used to the idea that our world's going to be rocked in less then 10 weeks and in other ways I still can't believe we have to wait so much longer....Christmas is going to be so so so unforgettable this
year!

Best things so far:

• We have been faithfully attending our pre-natal classes for 4 weeks so far. And I am so thankful to have someone walking through this information with us. We have been pretty overwhelmed with the labour videos, and I get VERY weak in the knees at anything "medical-ish" (could NEVER watch Rescue 911) so some of the vids have left me feeling a little unsure and alot SCARED. But thankfully, every time there is "THAT SHOT" of the mama and daddy holding this precious little one and I can't help but cry. Its the baby that makes it ALL worth it, right!!!!
• We were given a few sleepers from our sis who just had a baby so was weeding through her clothes and it was a relief to know that our baby will have lots of duck and pooh sleepers if they do happen to come early! They are very cute and I can't imagine what our baby will look like in them, but at the same time I'm looking forward to having gender specific sleepers as soon as we know what our baby will be!! I can't wait to hold them and finally know!
• I went to a Mom to Mom sale. I felt very grown up, and VERY overwhelmed! You should have seen the strollers and baby wearing that was going on in there. I didn't really buy much. I am thankful for the peace of buying used items through FB and Kijiji where I can look at my leisure, but I guess I don't necessarily always get what I want that way! 
• We are both thinking so much more about raising our baby and talking through lots as a result of our classes and baby books and observations from our own interactions with children (past and present). Its exciting and unnerving knowing we are so different but I read a beautiful quote from a book the other day that brought tears to my eyes: 

"To excel in parenting, protect your marriage." 

(Babywise, pg.27. Ezzo and Bucknam)

Of course we both don't know what it will be like when we have a tiny human to care for every moment of every day, but I truly long to make Dan a priority. I absolutely LOVE being a wife. I think it is the best thing I have ever been and as much as I want to be a great Mom, I feel like my number one job after Loving God is to Love Dan and show my children that he is the most important relationship. I have alot to learn. So maybe in a few years I can build more upon this when I have actual experience.

• We are still thankful for a healthy heartbeat and our appointments are now going to be every 2 weeks. I'm starting to feel more strain under my belly as it's growing lots now! My Dr. recommended to keep walking, having warm baths and trying stretching/pre-natal yoga. All of which I find helps. Dan's advice is to wear comfy shoes...this is not really easy for me as I don't really "dig" the style of sneakers, but I have to admit it is WAY comfier when I do. 
• I am getting closer and closer to having more things to set up in our nursery, but as of now...its pretty empty! 

28 Weeks Large!!!

So my little one just keeps loving kicking and moving and I say, Bring it on! I love to feel the kicks and know that this one is healthy and just stretching in there! I got back the results of the Glucose Test and breathed in relief that I passed!!! We have not made too much progress in adding anything else to the baby`s room! We did buy a used pack and play and lots and lots of LEGO at 2 different yardsales! Those are two important things, right! We got a great stroller with an infant car seat too and I am looking forward to trying it out next Spring! So hard to imagine....

Best parts so far:

• I have loved the steady movements and sometimes I can even feel the little body part briefly! 
• I love collecting little things for the baby and getting ideas of how to decorate. I found lovely material for curtains, just haven`t actually bought it yet.
• I love seeing Danny with his nephews and neices. And can't decide if I think we are having a boy or girl! 
• I love watching him play with the boys, and they just ADORE him. The first thing they say when I walk in is "Where's Danny?" We had a sleepover with Jonah and Levi last Saturday and Dan and I learned a little about our parenting styles that night....it was a little rough at times but we had a great convo on Sunday. I am already aware I may be a bit controlling and helicopter-ish and Dan tends to encourage independence and doesn't like schedules or boundaries in play time...lol! He also is encouraging me to put all the colors of Lego together in one large bin...not sure if I'm ready for that yet, but I can see his reasoning! LOL.

• But I also love seeing him play with his neices. He's so good at pretend. He gets right on the floor and pretends to be a cat. Last weekend we were at a soccer game with these girlies and one of them wanted to crawl on the field during half time looking for "Easter Eggs" and Dan joined in on the fun. I guess you could say my heart melted in a million pieces watching him play. He is so sweet and gentle with them and I know he will be such a great dad to a little girl as he has always encouraged my self confidence and deals amazingly well with all the emotions I carry inside! 

 

• Either way, we are both excited to meet our little one. I got a shock and wave of fear/anxiety last weekend when I held my little nephew Matthew for awhile. I still can't believe we are going to be parents and keeping this baby! It will not be going home to someone else after a sleepover or a night of babysitting....I can't believe that I will be a Mama and Dan will be their Daddy...Dan on the other hand was so excited and was saying how he wished we didn't have to wait so long for our baby to come! He sure looks good holding a baby! 
  
• Our little one is the size of an eggplant. I still haven't felt sick although I had a crazy cold for the last week or so. My back hurts a little each night but I get lots of back rubs, baths and use my trusty Magic Bag as needed. I have collected lots of maternity clothes from FB swap pages and kind friends and realized I had no idea what size I should be getting so some of my summer clothes weren't even used. I just got a bag of treasures from a girl and everything fits so that's great! I am enjoying subbing and have got so many well wishes from other teachers and little ones asking me if there is a baby inside my belly. So thankful for work. Honestly, it almost makes me cry sometimes when I think of how thankful and happy I am to work. I am glad I love going to work and that I am so grateful for every day I get to work. 

This past month I have been excited to hear and see a few other girls who are also in all different stages of motherhood and looking forward to learning from so many mothers in my life, especially my own Ma. I am so glad that I have so many wonderful examples and pray that I will be exactly who the Lord wants me to be as I raise this precious little one. 

Wind and Twilight

I just love the weekends. I look forward to Friday afternoon when Dan walks in the door. I usually feel excited around that time of day but even more when I know we both won't have to work for 2 days! We had a great weekend of visiting and Dan got to play tons of vids with his best friends. We got to eat a delicious and I mean DELICIOUS FEAST! at the lobster suppers...here's what I ate: 2 fresh warm rolls, seafood chowder, mussels with butter, a few bites of potato salad, a full 1 lb lobster, and cherry pie with icecream for dessert.....um....SO SO FULL!!!!! It was so so so amazing though. I have never had such a luxurious meal. I have never gone on a cruise or been to a resort where food is served so extravagantly...sooo this was what I imagined it would have felt like if I ever had gone on one!! Yes I have had a million yummy homecooked meals, but this was just something unreal!!! Anyways, we had a good weekend...and now its Monday.

So as I sit here on a Monday evening. Here's what is happening in my home. My best friend is relaxing with a little game of his newly bought Video game. I am in the kitchen reading a bit of my Tim Keller book on Mark (Jesus the King)....and my deck sliding door is open. All I can hear is wind blowing through leaves (with a few gun shots from the game too, incidentally breaking through the peace!!) and I can't help but think that this moment is just a small breath of "fresh air" literally and metaphorically into our work week.

We are blessed and so thankful for our little, quiet life together. Sometimes I see it as a lazy life. Sometimes I see it as a busy life. But it is our life together as Erin and Danny. The presence of our baby is here (I can quite literally feel this little one pressing up against my stomach and kicking away) but for now we have a very peaceful existence. We get enough sleep each night, we can walk out the door with a moment's notice and we are even more in love then we were one year ago when we said our vows.

I pray to remember these moments. I love this guy so much it hurts. I am thankful for how God lead us together in our "old age" and when I think of how old we will be some day at our 30th or 40th anniversary...or as we joked this weekend---we hope we won't need wheel chairs to get into our children's graduations....we are truly blessed to have each other in this little life, right here. right now.

I just feel so blessed and thankful and pray that I will appreciate this stage of life even as I am quickly approaching another one in less then 3 months (EEEK!!!)

wish I could capture the sound of the wind, but this little pic will remind me of this evening. 

A beautiful morning to blog

This is the first official week of school. I have my badge, log in, and WILL to work, just haven't received THE CALL!!! I can't wait for my first day back, and looking forward to seeing all my friends from last year and meeting all the littles that are joining the troops this year!

But...today is not my day to work. I do have an important Dr. appointment and not looking forward to the GLUCOSE Diabetes drink/test today! But really excited to see and hear how the little baby is doing! I know that there's a TON of movement so that is wonderful to feel.

This was sitting on my table after my darlin' husband made lunch for me on Sunday!!

So we are now heading towards FALL! Its truly in the air, and although that is true, it didn't stop Danny and I from heading to the beach for the past 4 nights! We were safely protected with our amazing new blow up boat, which we flip over so we both fit. I think some of my favorite moments at the beach were this weekend. Just the two of us, floating and talking and enjoying the view. 

Thinking a lot about the next season in our lives...not Fall or Winter, but the one that we will be in FOREVER. To be parents. To be responsible. To be able to love and care for another little human. Its overwhelming and exciting and in some ways so hard to even comprehend what is coming for us. Yesterday Dan read a sweet little article to me that popped up called 28 Rules for Fathers of Sons and just hearing him read it made me so excited. I truly believe Dan was meant to be a Dad. I am so thankful that we are doing this together because he has so many qualities that I don't have. I think our kids will be so blessed and will adore him (as so many kids do---my nephews a PRIME example), I am so glad it is with HIM that I get to learn and grow as a parent with. 

Its amazing seeing how God changes us and leads us and is so involved in our lives. I am so blessed and am aware of the blessings I've been given. 

What a good life!!!

When my whole house has clean floors (well the top floor, anyways), fresh sheets and blowy wind coming in through every window....thats one of my favorite feelings!!!

It's a little dreary out today, but I keep hoping to have one more swim! I bet the waves are terrific!! Saturday mornings are my fave. We usually have a yummy breakfast, and take turns making it for the other! Today I cooked up some bacon, eggs and peanut butter toast! I got to read in my bed, which is another one of my favorite feelings!!! I am so happy and at peace right now...except that one moment Dan dropped a small pile of dirt on the floor! LOL! I handled it pretty good though, and he quickly cleaned it up!!

Today my bebe is 26 weeks old!

Dan made some major progress last weekend on their room, and mama is on the lookout at all times for adorable little things to add! Here's the progress so far:

This room was the UGLIEST room of the house by far! It had a bit of mold in the corner, these NASTY blue curtains and insanely gross flooring! Last March I primed and painted it during the break and we got an INSANE sale on the flooring a few weeks ago!  Dan worked hard and did it all by himself in 2 afternoons! It looks so so good! I'll put up more pics once we get the furniture and finishing touches put in!! Can't wait to see this little baby's face in their own room!