Baby life...

We have welcomed an amazing little girl into our lives and she has been with us for almost three weeks!  Sleeping two to four hours in a row is a big adjustment, but totally worth it.  This child is beautiful beyond belief, sweet as can be, makes the funniest facial expressions and the cutest squeaky noises kind of like a bird/goose.  We get to see her be more alert and awake every day and love all the cuddle time we get with her. 

Being a mom to my little girl is more than I could have ever imagined.  I am so grateful.

Photo update

We went to Powell Gardens today and had a nice time enjoying nature and taking pictures.  I got lots of walking in too which I am trying to do every day from now until baby's delivery.  Everything else is going well.  I have one more week of work until I start my maternity leave and that is oh so nice.  We went grocery shopping tonight and I just love having such good food in the house.  I have loved my breakfast meals the most and tonight we had brinner (breakfast for dinner) a delicious omelet with fresh basil, onions, hashbrowns.  So good!

Feeling good

Hey ya'll.  We had our baby shower a week ago and it was oh so lovely.  We are feeling very blessed and excited by all the extra support we have around us.  We got some great things for our little one to get to use when she joins us and she is set on the cutest clothes and hats!  Oh the hats....

The pink and black one were given to us by my mother-in-law.  I gave Matt the "I heart daddy" one because it was too cute to pass up.  And the other four were made by a friend of mine and one of my mom's friends. 
Our little one's bedroom has been put together nicely and most everything is in it's proper place just waiting to be used.

We got this cute wall hanging from my aunt and cousins, it made a sweet addition to her room.

I made this metal wall hanging a few nights ago and borrowed the phrase "Hope, Grow and Love" from one of my new favorite pregnancy t-shirts.  We are almost finished with her birthing class and already feel more prepared for labor and delivery.  I have a few more weeks of work and many more nights of dreaming about meeting this little one!

There's a baby in there...

A few weeks ago we went to visit our friends Dale and Jamee and we explained to their little girl Lili that there is a baby inside my belly.  Now if I make a funny noise because of a new cramp or elbow to my belly button we will say "there's a baby in there".  Pretty cute, really.  We were walking to our car after leaving the grocery store a few nights ago and this nice couple walked past us, looked at my belly and then said "Congratulations!"  I quickly said thank you and smiled the rest of the way to the car.  We went bowling a few nights ago and it was funny to hold a ten pound bowling ball next to my baby belly.

 Things are starting to get busy around here and although everything is going well it is still nice to take a few moments to stop and breathe.  To just stare at my stomach and watch parts of my belly raise and lower because of an active little one moving around.

We went swimming for the first time this summer! I can't believe we have waited this long, but oh did that cool pool feel nice after the temperature in my car on the way over read 108!  Stay cool, ya'll.

The three of us

We spent a few hours at the very place we took our wedding day photos to take our maternity photos.  We then went to a nearby park to get some more beautiful outdoor shots.  I love having these photos. And after a very busy week it was nice to just spend time standing next to my very cute, very sweet husband.

It was a little toasty outside taking these photos, but totally worth the sweat of course.

                                                                     LOVE this guy.

I just have to say...

Isn't it interesting when you talk to someone who always has something negative to say?  They always pick out the one thing that isn't working out for them or that everything would be great if it weren't for that one thing?  I find this irritating and confusing and I hope I never do it (I'm not saying I've never done it, but I hope I don't any more...)  All you can think about is getting pregnant and now that you are, you are so quick to complain about it?  You are dying to go on vacation and once you are there, you don't think the weather is nice enough?  You are so busy with work and the one day you are not as busy you feel bored?

Don't worry this post won't last long, I just have to say how important it is to be grateful for where you are at and to be able to acknowledge all the good in your life.  I know nothing and no one is perfect but now that we know that, let's move on!  Let's not expect everything to always work out no matter what.  Let's not expect everything to be perfect therefore you are less likely to be disappointed.

I just think we need to spend more time being grateful.  Finding the good in every day.  Finding the good in the people we come in contact with.  And this is a good reminder to us all and to myself.  We took some photos of Matt and I and my baby bump and it was so fun to just revel in my pregnancy a little bit more.  Yes it's hot out and yes I am moving slower than I ever have but it's for a bigger purpose and I am grateful for the time to slow down.  I wish a better perspective and a little more gratitude for us all.

Tales of a pregnant lady...

I thought about renaming our blog to "Tales of a pregnant lady" at least until baby is here.  Too much?  Alright, fine, I won't.  Even so, this journey of pregnancy and becoming a mother has been really amazing.  I love every little kick or punch or knee gouge I feel from this little one because it is the best reminder to just stop and be.  To just feel this little one explore her neighborhood (more or less) for now and I love it.  Even in the middle of the night when I move to my side and she doesn't seem to like it all that much so I move again, I still love it.  Because I know that this little one will be here in my arms and not in my belly (I know she's not really in my belly, but I am around kids a lot and that is what I say so deal with it).  Some days I feel like there is still a lot to be done before our little one arrives.  Some days I feel like I could go right back to bed after I eat my first breakfast (usually cereal and then an hour later I eat a muffin and a banana -delicious).  There are moments during the day I get irritated by the tiniest things that mean nothing - dirty dishes in the sink, the lawn needing to be mowed, or dust on the ceiling fans.  Other times I have a burst of energy where I clean almost every room in our house and it feels great.  And today I called Matt after I walked upstairs holding a laundry basket and I was out of breath!  All of these moments are small and add to this journey because the rest of the time I feel grateful.  So grateful that this little one chose us to be her parents.  So excited to hold her and kiss her face.  So scared to be a protective mom, but confident that Matthew will help keep me sane.  So unsure of whether I will have to work or want to work or trying to figure out all the finances that go along with being a parent.  I am so grateful.

Tips from a pregnant lady:
DON'T be rude to a pregnant lady, it's just mean and you don't want to add any extra stress because you can rest assured she has enough to worry about.
DO tell a pregnant lady she looks cute.  You will make her day.  Pregnancy is a beautiful thing and sometimes in our society we forget that.  IF you don't think she looks cute, then keep your mouth shut.  DON'T feel the need to tell her she has put on too much weight or not enough.  DON'T act like you know more about what is going on with her body than she does.