38 Weeks, Growing and Ready!

"A million tomorrows shall all pass away 

ere I forget all the joy that is mine, today"

Being 38 weeks pregnant, uncomfortable, waiting expectantly for our little girl, and trying our best to prepare for her arrival, I feel the internal struggle of truly enjoying today.  Each day brings its own joys and sometimes tears.  Either way, it is important to fully embrace life and what each day brings.  This is especially true when it comes to time with Zach.  Before we know it, we will be sharing our attention and love with our sweet bundle.  Although I know it will be innate for us to love her, I want to make sure that we revel in our time together now before change.  We are thankful that we have made it this far with a healthy pregnancy and hope to end it with a healthy mom and baby (please be praying...due date is June 9)!

I just realized I have not taken my "official" pictures of the bump since 33 weeks!! Here is the most current (WOW!) at 38 weeks.

Now, it is time to kick my feet up with the hubby and the in-laws on this long weekend and enjoy our time together! Luckily, they are very accommodating to my current "state." Happy weekend to you and yours!

Capturing the Baby Bump

When you get to share your pregnancy with those you love, it opens up a new depth to the relationship.  Especially when they show excitement, love, and interest in your baby.  It was surreal when my best friend Shell came to visit to see my baby bump and spend some pre-baby time with me.  Shell has been a true friend, one who loves when it is difficult to love, helps spread contagious laughter even when life isn't so funny, and one who knows how to see the best in people.  I have learned how to laugh harder at myself because of her.  She brings the silly out of me...

 She is a dynamic soul...crazy fun and can literally laugh in any situation. But, at the same time, she easily dives into the hearts of those she loves and is present in the mess of life with others.   We have been through so much together and I am so excited that she already loves my little girl.  Honestly, something changes when you get pregnant.  Life and relationships don't revolve around me anymore and I feel so excited for Baby L that she has Auntie Shell to love her.  It truly adds a new depth to my friendship with her because my heart is now intertwined with my little one.

 While she was here, I was so lucky to have her take maternity photos of me and of Zach and me.  She is an amazing photographer, seriously talented!! Check out her blog, you won't be disappointed: Remnant Photography. I LOVE the pictures she took of us and cannot be more thankful to my dear friend Shell for capturing the baby bump and our love.

Can you feel the love?

Make a wish! I hope you have a wonderful week!

Nursery: Stage Two

I am at a loss for words...in less than a month (hopefully), I will be holding my little girl.  Lately, my emotions are on the surface as I daydream about holding her, seeing what she looks like, hearing her voice/baby noises, and most of all, seeing Zach with her.  I am overwhelmed with the joy and love that I know will be more than present when she comes.  There are times, however, where the reality of my life changing can be stressful or the thought of anything going wrong creeps in.  I get nervous.  Zach has been my rock as anxious feelings occasionally bubble to the surface.  He has been calm, stable, and grounded...just what I need.  He won some major points on Mother's Day by bringing me breakfast in bed and a sweet card/gift.  He always surprises me and loves me so well.  He is my best friend and love...I am one lucky girl and so is our baby.  With so much love surrounding me, I don't know why I even bother with anxious feelings.

I am on a mission to get the nursery completed this week.  I have had so much fun watching it slowly come together.  If you didn't read the post for Nursery: Stage One, check it out.  You can see how much progress we have made.  Hope you all love it so far!

 First of all, let's talk about the chandelier! Isn't it so pretty?!? I love it.

And her crib and bedding are exactly what I wanted...sweet, soft, and sophisticated.

I love the blankets and quilts that people have made for us...you can see the one hanging on the crib above, and the two on the chair below. We are hoping to recover this chair in white soon as well...pink is okay for now though!

 

Baby L needs her own little pink chair too! And the matching mini pillow and white, soft blanket make it a comfy place for her to sit when she gets a little older.

Here are a few more details in the room.

 Let's hope I can get everything else completed and post some final pictures on the blog for all of you to see before this baby gets here :)

April Showers Bring May Flowers

Spring time in Colorado sometimes still feels like winter.  This year, it has been unusually warm and Baby L has been showered with love (and her mommy too).  I am so thankful for the people who are surrounding our little family and who love us.  I especially love it when people share with me their respect and love for my husband and his soon to be daddy status.  He is going to be a wonderful daddy.  I can't wait to see him with her and fall even more in love with him over it.

Here are a few pictures from my baby showers...I loved the details and adorable touches at both showers.  To those who helped and attended or showered us with love, gifts, support, and words of encouragement, THANK YOU!  It means the world to us.

 A few more fun pics from the showers...me and the college girlfriends and of course, my mom being crazy funny :) She makes me laugh!

The last few weeks have brought on more discomfort but also some fun with one of my best friends Michelle! Since it takes a lot out of me now to do much, she was gracious enough to enjoy low key time with me...and this is the only picture I have of us during her visit in CO! Go figure! Shell is a dear friend and I will post more about our time and our friendship when I post my maternity pics (she is an amazing photographer!).

This picture captures how weird we are together...so fun! Ha!

 At 36 weeks (what? wow I cannot believe it!!!), I am feeling sentimental about my baby girl and enjoying the change of season.  I love seeing new life grow all around me.  Not only are my flowers starting to bloom, but I know my Baby L is gaining weight and growing inside of me (36 week pics coming soon).

I hope you are enjoying the May flowers and that you are reminded of redemption and new life! Let's take in each day and what it has to offer.  It can be so easy to jump ahead in life and not enjoy what we have right in front of us. 

34 Weeks and Nesting

I cannot believe how fast this pregnancy has gone.  I am already 34.5 weeks and feeling "pressure" (ha! no pun intended) to get my nesting to-do list completed!  I waited way too long to sign up for a birthing class...they are full!! AAAH! Not sure what to do!?  I am dying to meet my baby girl but not so sure I want to know too many details of labor and delivery before it happens.  Besides, isn't everybody's experience different...who knows what Baby L's birth story will be?  I have read some books on the stages of labor, relaxation techniques, and "normal" labor stories...Guess we will see if this comes back to bite me in 5.5 weeks! 

At 34 weeks, I am feeling slow and achy everywhere.  Baby L is definitely an active little girl and is filling up every space she can inside of me.  It is getting more and more surreal that we will soon have a little girl in our lives!  I find myself dreaming about her at night and daydreaming about her during the day.  I didn't take a 34 week picture so here I am in all my belly bump glory at 33 weeks...I will try to get a 35 week picture up next week.