Bump Watch: 29 & 30 Weeks

Hi, friends!  I'm back from a busy, happy, love-filled week.  It was my birthday and my stepmom ("Yom") Carla and little sister Rachel came to visit and help get the nursery around.  It was sooooo great seeing them again, since it'd been since March since I'd seen them last.  We shopped 'til we dropped, and while I was at work for a few hours, they literally got almost the entire nursery together!  Pictures to come soon - I'll be doing a start to finish series in the coming weeks.

Up now, though, is belly pics!  Sorry I'm getting a little behind on them; it's not like I'm BUSY or anything (HA)!  

WEEK 29:

Remember when I kvetched about our air conditioner dying?  Yeah...this was taken during that time, can you tell?  What a sweaty mess I am!

Thankfully I can still be silly while sweaty my hiney off!

What do you think?  Am I getting bigger?  Some people are saying they think I'll deliver early, based on the size of my stomach.  We'll see!

This is how slow a pregnant woman thinks...I was trying to figure out which pose I hadn't done yet and Mark was actually able to CAPTURE THE THOUGHT PROCESS on film.  Nice. 

WEEK 30:

Holy frickadilly, that white shirt makes me look HUGANTIC.  Why didn't anyone tell me?!

Not like I wouldn't wear it, anyway.  How cute are those flowers that are beginning to stretch? ;o)

And this skirt is The Awesome.  It's non-maternity, ladies, and can be found at Old Navy (Fold Over Jersey Skirt) for crazy cheap right now. 

That's it for now.  I've plain worn myself out the last couple of weeks and it's officially Nap Central up in here.  See you zzzzz.....

Today, I Want for Nothing

Back in my mid-twenties, I would have given anything to wake up in the morning and think, "I have no desires today; today I am happy with exactly who I am and what I have in this precious life." Which, coincidentally, is exactly what I woke up thinking today, on my 34th birthday. 

The thing is, all of the days I woke up wishing I had more or something different are the very reason why I can appreciate the amazing life I am living.  I should really thank all those tear-filled days and those times filled with unanswered prayers, huh?  Thank you, icky days and unknown times...because you happened, I am truly, finally able to see the beauty in the world around me.

I am married to my soul mate (the most amazing person) and just 9 weeks away from giving birth to a little person we created together...  I have an incredibly loving and supportive family that has always given me reason to believe the world was my oyster and I could do anything I put my mind to...  I have many wonderful friends who make me laugh and love me just the way I am...  I have two of the sweetest dogs on Earth that make frantic little 'CLICK CLICK' noises as they excitedly dance on the wood floors when I get home from work, who shower me with smiles & messy kisses....  And, uh, I have wood floors, which means I actually have a HOME, a safe, warm (and cool - YAY!) home...  I have a job to go to each day, one that is ending on the last day of this year, which will give me some of the much-needed time I crave to spend with our Chickpea, to take time to become the mom I have always dreamed of being... And, sure, I have a ton of material things that are pretty and useful, and I have the money - for now, anyway (if Chickpea is a girl, Lord help us!) - to spend on the things we need and want.

So, yeah.  I don't need a single thing.  A dear friend sent me a text message today that said, "Think of any kicks from Chickpea today as his/her way of saying, "Happy birthday mama, I love you!"  And it made me smile from here to there.  I'm loved, and kicked from the inside, and all is right in the world.

"Dear Chickpea" - A Letter From Mama

Dear Chickpea,

It's late and way past your mama's bedtime, but I couldn't help but take a couple minutes to tell you something:

YOU ARE SO, SO LOVED. 

Today your Grandma Carole & Auntie Alicia threw us a beautiful baby shower and I was overwhelmed by the amount of excitement in the room that was filled with ladies who already love you so much.  There are so many people in this world who are hoping the best for you, that can't wait to smell your pretty little head and cover you with kisses.

I kept looking around today thinking about how lucky we both are to have so many people who care about us.  Some day you'll learn that many people in this world aren't quite as fortunate, and because of this love and guidance you will gain from the wonderful people in our lives, I feel confident you will quickly learn how to freely share your own love with those who might not be quite so blessed.  You have such amazing examples all around you and you aren't even out of my belly yet!  This realization knocks the wind out of me sometimes...you have every opportunity available to you and it's because of the unwavering support of the family and friends your daddy and I are lucky enough to know and love.

I can only think of one drawback to all of this, precious Chickpea: you better get used to lots of hugs and kisses. I have a feeling there are a L-O-T coming to you soon enough!

I love you to the moon and back,

xoxo Mama

Bump Watch: 27 & 28 Weeks

Hola!  I've been busy since I last checked in, camping for the holiday, working, and sweating due to a broken air conditioner combined with 90-degree & humid days here in Michigan.  WOE!  Mark is a dear and played the 'My Wife Is Pregnant' Card and got the HVAC company to move us up on the list to get a new one installed - for an extra fee, of course.  Saturday officially can't come soon enough.  DO YOU HEAR THAT, SATURDAY?!

Lucky for you, the following belly pictures were taken pre-time-to-sweat-my-hiney-off, so I'm looking quite fresh in them...heh.

I figured I'd post a couple photos of me in work clothes so you can see what I look like when I pretend to work (KIDDING)!

WEEK 27:

 This is one of my favorite shirts.  Coincidentally, it's actually not a maternity shirt! It's an 'Apt. 9' one from Kohl's, and I feel a little 80's when I wear it.  

 

 

It, like, totally makes me want to swing my necklace around like I'm at Studio 54. WOOOOO, grab the glow sticks! 

Look how respectable I look in this one.  Don't let that sweet face fool you - I'm totally nuts. ;o)

WEEK 28:

This is a 'Pea in the Pod' shirt that Mark bought me when he went to the maternity store with me.  I totally would not have treated myself to it, but I'm so glad he did!  Shame it's TOO HOT to wear it right now (ok, I'll stop complaining...)!

OH!  I can't believe I didn't mention the wall colors in the background of these pictures!  If you'll refer back to my last bump watch post, you'll notice the walls to the future nursery used to be a boring, pale blue.  Now?  It's a happy yet calming 'Delicate Cream' that is totally yellow so don't let the name fool you.  What do you think?  

 I think I better get outta here and go make dinner in my holy-hot house, because this round tummy be growling.  Toodles!