Belly pics...32 weeks!

Here ya go Linds!

My sis has been wanting to see my belly and asking for pics for a few weeks now. It is hard having her live so far away during this ever changing and growing...exciting time! Can't wait to see you Linds when Josiah is born!

Getting really big! I had to use a hair band today to close my MATERNITY pants...it's pretty bad when your maternity clothes quit fitting, I am so close to being done that I don't want to buy anymore either...so I am going to see how long my expanders and belly band will last me...hopefully I can make it work! Eeek!

We worked on the nursery this past weekend...it is getting so close to being done! I will post some pics when I get it finished. Just have to add a few final touches and it will be complete. All our preparations seem to be wrapping up and close to being finished, I even talked to one of my sweet girlfriends today about her plans to come see Josiah when he is born...it's all getting so close! 8 wks until D-date! Maybe he will come a few days sooner rather than later?! =) One can hope right? I am going for an ultrasound next week just cause we are wanting to see him again, but we should be able to tell if we are still on target for the due date. I'll keep ya posted...but right now, I am off to my nightly longed for bath and bed!

Baby Shower Numero Dos!

Last weekend some sweet friends of mine from the Christian Surfers group through me a baby shower! It was precious and I had so much fun...again!

Sweet Hostesses:

Susie (she is pregers too), Kat, Laura, and Lara!

Laura made a beautiful prego cake and it was delicious too!

Susie made a picture board of Jay and I when we were babies so we could imagine what Josiah might look like! There is a glare so it may be hard to see....

Cute little candy favors they made!

Emily's decorative contribution! So sweet!

I got several handcrafted especially for Josiah gifts...everyone was so thoughtful!

Sweet friends from Vineyard church...some of the crafty gift givers right here!Ashly and Blayne, Ashly was a coworker of mine before Blayne came along, she gave me the gift I am holding above...basket full of toys!My sister in law, a coworker of mine, and then some girlfriends from Calvary Chapel....and sweet little Caelan! It was so fun having people from a bunch of different areas of my life all together at once!At home after the shower going through all the loot! We thought we needed to try on some of Josiah's hooded towels, he will get a kick out of these pics some day...goofy parents! Thank you everyone that came! I was overwhelmed with everyone's thoughtfulness and love!

As for an update on me....belly is still growing. I plan on taking more pics to post soon. I am feeling pretty good, got the heartburn under control with Tums and avoiding spicy foods, and fatigue is there for sure but I am sleeping better lately now that the heartburn in under control. Josiah is super active and starting to do the stretch thing that can kind of hurt sometimes! I can feel his little hand, elbow, heel, whatever it might be pushing out so I gently rub it until he draws it back in. It is pretty sweet, I don't think I'll ever cease to be amazed by his precious little movements...even when it's a stout kick to the ribs...I just love the experience of his little activity inside of me. Jay and I are enjoying our childbirthing classes and got to tour the hospital Thursday night... it seems surreal that we will be there in just 2 months or so. We can't wait, it is getting so close! I am having lots of fun washing Josiah's clothes, blankets, etc., putting shower gifts up and decorating the nursery...I am busy nesting! Life is good, we are so blessed, and our God is so faithful! We constantly are humbled and amazed by His faithful provision for us. Now if I could just learn to REST in Him more, it's a work in progress but I am growing!

Girls weekend, Baby Shower, and Belly Pics -28 wks!

So...I have lots of updates and pics to share! First off, here are some pics from my weekend with my girls in Dallas. We had such an awesome time as always and managed to pack in live music at a coffee bar Friday night, a trip to the farmer's market Saturday morning, followed by a baby shower luncheon for me and Josiah, and a relaxed evening grilling out by the pool at Hilary's apartment...oh and... two movies a game of Cranium, and of course lots of soul talk and laughing until we cried! Me, Mere, Hilary, and Sarah
It was the first time they had seen my prego belly in person and they all got to feel him move! Hil was my roomie for 2 yrs in college!Good times...Mere making us laugh!Sarah and I at the restaurant for my baby shower!

After a swim!

I love my girls...thanks besties for an awesome weekend!

Next....this past weekend I had my first baby shower! A group of precious ladies from my home church hosted the shower and it was surfer baby themed! They went all out and it was SO cute! My cousin's wife Jen gave a blessing to Jay, Josiah, and I...there couldn't have been a more perfect person to give it. I have always looked up to her and Bret and admired what wonderful parents they are, needless to say hearing words of wisdom and exhortation from her was very dear to me. Then my sweet sister prayed a powerful prayer over us, it was precious and moved me tears! (Surprise surprise...I asked for tissue before she even started!) I was overwhelmed and humbled by the whole day, so many people came and sent gifts...we were blessed beyond measure and showered with so much love! Thank you everyone for sharing in my joy and blessing us with such generosity! Here are some pics from the shower....

Before the shower

Pics of some of the hostesses...the ones wearing lays!

If you blow this up you can see it is magnets of Jay and I and a laughing baby!

A few pics of gifts

All of my family gathered around me while Lindsey prayed! Check out the J.A. B. intials framed on the mantel...they made them for us to match his bedding! I love them!What a fun and sweet day! Later that evening we also had a lingerie party for my cousin Bethany...it was lots of fun and we all got to wear PJ's!

Finally, here are the updated belly pics...28 wks (and four days to be exact)!

As for an update on how I am feeling...still pretty good, the 3rd trimester fatigue has definitely set in and I am needing lots more sleep like I did in the first trimester again. It could have something to do with how busy I have been lately too! I now carry TUMS with me at all times because heartburn has become a frequent companion of mine. And still having some difficulty sleeping at night. In spite of all that, I still feel like I don't have much to complain about...I have really had a great pregnancy...this is just the normal stuff so I hear! =) We started our childbirthing classes last week and got to watch some very graphic videos of births...yikes! The nursery is almost complete minus hanging shelves and pics on the walls, clothes are washed in the closet, there is a bassinet in my bedroom and a pack n play in our living room... it's all starting to get so real!

4:38 am

Yes...it's true...and I've been awake since about 3:30am or so. The past two nights I just can't seem to sleep all through the night. I am not uncomfortable, just can't sleep. It may be partially due to hunger, last night I didn't feel hungry so I just tried to lay there and go back to sleep, but tonight I did so I just ate a snack and now feel wired. God's way of preparing me for nighttime feedings maybe?! Josiah seems to be getting more active at night now too, although I think maybe I am just noticing it more b/c I am laying there awake whereas normally I am sleeping through his little movements.

FYI- I passed the gestational diabetes test and am not anemic! Woo hoo!

Tomorrow I am off to Dallas to see my precious girlfriends, Hilary, Sarah, and Meredith! I can't wait to see them, we are going to have so much fun. I am sure there will be lots of pics to come from this weekend. I guess I am going to head back to bed and see if I can go back to sleep for an hour or so. Good morning to any of you mommies who are up reading this already! =) Just a short time until I join you!

Only 99 days to go!

Wow! I can't believe the count down is under 100 days now...I think it is going to fly by from here on out. Or at least I hope it does, I always hear pregnant mom's talking about how the last few wks seem to just drag on forever, I can see how that could happen too. You are big, uncomfortable, and anxiously awaiting the arrival of the most precious little gift of life you've been waiting so long to meet! I have been trying to pass the time quickly in mind by thinking through all the fun stuff I have to look forward to over the next month or so. Next weekend I go to Dallas to see my precious girls from college. The week after that is a big one, I get my shot of Rho Gam on Tuesday, start our Cradle Club (childbirth and preparation classes) on Thursday, my First Colony shower is Saturday morning, and Saturday evening is my cousin Bethany's lingerie shower. I will probably spend the next week recooping from all the activity, and then August 9th is another shower that the sweet gals from Christian Surfers are throwing me. August will be busy with finishing up the nursery, finishing my cradle club classes, finding a pediatrician, etc. By then I will be seeing my OB twice a month!Come mid September I will be seeing her once a wk! So...it's all getting close!

I took the 1 hr Gestational Diabetes test yesterday and will find out tomorrow if I passed or not. Since I am hypoglycemic I am interested to see the outcome. I'll let ya know! Belly pics to come soon from those who have been asking! I can tell I've grown, mainly my belly has moved up as my uterus has grown, it takes up almost my whole torso now. In fact, as I am writing Josiah is kicking me in the ribs....not painful but kind of awkward feeling. He is constantly moving these days, I am aware of him all day long. He gave the doctor quite a show yesterday. She was starting to ask if he was moving a lot while she was putting the dop tone on my belly. As soon as the words left her lips he started bouncing my whole belly, the doc said, "Wow, I could see, feel, and hear that! That is one happy baby!" I just love my little guy!

2nd piece of nursery furniture!

Jay's parents surprised us this evening and brought over their baby gift to us...our changing table! Yay! It is so pretty and looks GREAT in the nursery. Debbie even brought the changing pad and cover and some diapers to start stocking the table with. We are so excited! Here are some pics of the table...
we forgot to get a pic of the gift givers...Debbie, that means yall have to come back over and take one! It is so fun having furniture in there now, can't wait to get it all done and ready for our little man!

Fam time and the "Best Chair!"

This weekend was lots of fun! Friday we went to dinner with my parents and Lindsey and Jason to Joes BBQ in Alvin...if you've never been there you are missing out! The guys really enjoyed the ribs...Linds and I did too, it was kind of sick how much carnage was left on the table after the five of us finished our full of all you can eat ribs! You can kind of see the pile in the pic below, but it was just beginning here!

Saturday the guys played golf while us girls shopped and had lunch, we had a blast! Then my parents brought over their baby gift to us...our first piece of furniture for the nursery....our rocker and ottoman! YAY!!! It is the "best chair" ever...super comfy and glides so smoothly, and coincidently that is actually the name of the chair. We are really excited about it and love the way it looks in the nursery. We can't wait to rock Josiah in it. Actually, I got up Sunday morning and rocked in it for about an hour...so technically...he is already reaping the benefits of this magnificent piece of furniture...and so am I!

Saturday night Kayla, Lance, Betho, Linds, and Jason all came over and we grilled out in between shower storms, played games, watched a video of Josiah and caught up on much needed cousin time! The pic below is of my twin cousins, Kayla(top left) and Bethany (bottom left), sister Lindsey (top right) and me. I miss the four of us spending time together so much and hope we all end up living in Houston again someday. We all talk of how much fun it would be to all live on a cul de sac and raise our kiddos together!
Jay and I didn't plan it...but look how color coordinated we are! Well, that's all!