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! 

Baby Knows Best

I recently took a trip to Grand Rapids to see my mom and drove Mark's SUV there since I was lugging some big items with me.  On the drive in while listening to Mark's well-stocked iPod, a song came on that made Chickpea go NUTS with bomping.  I made a mental note to play it later, just to get to know it better.  On the way home I searched for the song and push played.  Once again, Chickpea went crazy the entire time the song was on.    

I finally had time to Google and read the lyrics on Sunday.  Mark asked me to read them out loud to him; in doing so, I became choked up and started to cry over how perfect this song is, considering it was Chickpea who called my attention to it:

All my little plans and schemes

Lost like some forgotten dreams

Seems that all I really was doing

Was waiting for you

Just like little girls and boys

Playing with their little toys

Seems like all they really were doing

Was waiting for love

Don't need to be alone

No need to be alone

It's real love

Yes, it's real love

Oh, it's real love

Yes, it's real love

From this moment on I know

Exactly where my life will go

Seems that all I really was doing

Was waiting for love...

Don't need to be afraid

No need to be afraid

It's real love

Yes, it's real love

Oh, it's real love

Yes, it's real love

Thought i'd been in love before

But in my heart I wanted more

Seems like all I really was doing

Was waiting for you

Don't need to be alone

No need to be alone

It's real love

Yes, it's real love

Oh, it's real love

Yes, it's real love...

The song is 'Real Love' sung by Regina Spektor, although it's actually a John Lennon original.  Check it out and tell me this isn't the most perfect song to add to my in-progress labor playlist*.  I'm in real love with it, to be sure.



*I'm looking for song suggestions to add to the playlist (cheekily titled 'Push It Real Good') that Mark and I will listen to at the hospital.  If you have ideas, please leave them in the comments section and I'll post the entire list once it's complete. Thanks!

Squeeee!

My good friend Erica is just one of about 5 of my friends who are pregnant right now.   As a matter of fact, she was the trendsetter, which means she is totally about to have that baby any minute now.  The poor thing was due on the 16th.  And as of right now, (THE 29th!) she's still pregnant.  BUT!  She's being induced today at 2pm and I could wet my pants over the excitement...she's about to have a BABYl!  I just keep praying everything goes well for her and the baby - Chickpea's first friend!  She is the only person I know who also kept the gender unknown, which means I'm doubly excited to get the notice that the baby is here.  We will finally know if it's a boy or girl.

Speaking of that, I had a dream last night that she had a boy and named him Nathan. If I had to put money on it, though, she'll have a sweet little red-headed baby girl.  Hopefully we'll know in the next day or so if I'm right!

Push, Erica, PUSH!  :o)

7/1/10 Update:
Erica JUST had her baby at 11:24am!!  I should have bet money...it's a GIRL and from what I hear, she has reddish hair! Cameron Grace came in at 9lbs & 22 inches long and is perfect & healthy. What a little butterlump!  Congrats Erica...I am beside myself with joy for you and can't wait to meet your little one.  YAAAAAAAAAAAY!

Bump Watch: 25 & 26 Weeks

Hola!  You might have noticed posting has been a little sparse around here.  Turns out getting ready for a baby takes work (more on that later)!  That, combined with the hormone-induced desire to chill and sleep - which, uh, isn't coming easily these days - doesn't leave a whole lot of time to come on here and bore you pretties to tears. ;o)

Today is actually the 1st day of my third - and LAST - trimester!  Oh my goshies, I don't think you know how happy that makes me.  I realize this is going to feel like the longest trimester by far, but I also think it's going to be the most exciting and busy.  Today also marks the three year anniversary of Mark and I getting engaged! Three years ago, I was woken up early in the morning from a deep sleep to see my sweetie on his knee with a shiny ring and red rose in hand; today I'm on the verge of waddling and have just three months until I'll be woken quite often from a deep sleep for a very different, yet equally awesome, reason.  Don't you just love how timing works?

Onto belleh pics!  Are you getting tired of these yet?  TOO BAD FOR YOU!  Hahaaaa...

WEEK 25:

I'm growing out of this shirt.  It's one of my favorites, too.  DANG!

This is what happens when we let the dogs in the room while taking photos.  They are craaaazy!

And this is what happens when I'm ready to be done with the photo op (don't you like the hands on my hips?).

WEEK 26:

 Hey-oh! DOGS IN THE ROOM AGAIN.

(See? Lucy just couldn't resist sticking her nose in it...)

How you doin'?  Welcome to my nekkid belly.  I made a comment last week to Mark about how I look bigger than a couple pregnant women I know who are further along than me and he said, "Babe, that's because you are ALL PARTY OUT FRONT!"  It made me giggle, because it's so true.

Don't be tardy to the party, ya'll.

Daddy-To-Be

Today is Father's Day, and while technically I'm still carrying our first child (one we've created together - these girls certainly do count, as well!), I already very much view Mark as a father - and an amazing one at that.  As busy as he is and as little we get to see him these days, he somehow is still magically able to meet the demands and needs that his pregnant wife and excitable puppies have.

I find myself spending a lot of time during these last months of pregnancy envisioning what it will be like to be a parent, a mama to Chickpea.  Sometimes I worry that I won't know exactly what to do, that my heart will break in two the first (and 100th) time I'm not able to comfort our little one as it cries.  I have lots of little worries about the "what-if's," but not one of them entails wondering or worrying about what kind of father Mark will be.

When I met Mark, I instantly knew I had met my equal and had no doubt he would make a wonderful father.  His tender heart, love and ability to care for those more than he ever takes care of himself are just a few reasons why I look forward to being a co-parent beside this man. I find myself daydreaming about the look on his face when he sees this baby for the first time, thinking about the time he will spend teaching and encouraging our baby from day one, and how much fun they will have together.  To say Chickpea is lucky to have the father s/he will have is a crazy understatement.  This kiddo won the Daddy Lottery, to say the least.

Mark, thank you for being such an amazing, unfaltering husband, and for giving me so much to look forward to as we venture further down this path we find ourselves navigating together. You make it all so much happier, sweeter, and more worthwhile. I hope I'm half the parent I know you'll be...and just having you by my side means I don't have to worry about much -- I know you'll always see to it that we are loved and taken care of in your quiet and gentle way. What a gift you are. We love you!

And to my own dad...

Thank you for your own quiet and gentle love over these past (almost) 34 years.  I've never doubted your love for me and that is a true gift for a child!  I love you very much! xoxo

Nursery Hint...

This weekend, my mom, her best friend Cindy, and Cindy's brother Kevin & his partner Don are coming to Lansing to help paint the nursery and do some gardening.  HOW LUCKY AM I?!  This marks the first real work to be done of the nursery and I'm so excited!

I'll be posting 'before' pictures of the room to share with you, along with progress photos along the way.  For now, though, I thought I'd show you the precious print I just bought for the room.  It sort of gives you a little hint into the look we are going for.  What do you think?

I found it on Petit Collage, and can't wait to see it on the wall that Chickpea will stare up at someday soon...

100 Days to Go!

I've been so, so busy and have about 6 posts in my head just waiting to get written...  However, I couldn't let today go by unnoticed: We only have 100 days to go until our due date!!

With each day that passes, I feel Chickpea kicking harder and more frequently.  And with that, my happiness and excitement grows.  I can't wait (although I will - happily!) to meet this little one.  As we get closer, it gets more and more real, but I won't allow myself to take one minute or day for granted - I know just how immeasurably blessed we truly are...