37 Weeks.

Happy Memorial Day! 

What a blessed people we are to live in a country with so many freedoms. Military life hasn't personally impacted me greatly, but I'm so thankful for all those who choose to serve our country! Praying for their families today. 

This week was just crazy. That word is often used to describe my weeks. Life's just all around busy! 

The highlight of the week was Tyler's cousin Casey and his family coming into this past weekend. It was our last visit together before Liam comes! We're so grateful for our families and the love and support they've shown us...especially as we prepare to become parents! It's quite overwhelming! 

We had a checkup on Wednesday and all is still good! To avoid grossing you out or offering TMI, let's just say things are...progressing! And Liam's sitting unusually low for this point in time. Exciting! He's also officially FULL TERM.

We may have a baby before we know it! Time sure is slowing down as we anticipate Liam's arrival!

At 37 weeks:

Size: Winter melon. About 18.9-20.9 inches. 6.2-9.2 pounds.

Major Happenings: Liam's now considered full term! He's practicing skills such as inhaling, exhaling, sucking, gripping, and blinking. He's getting bigger and packing on the pounds!

What's Been Happening: Just busy busy busy. Graduation time and summer are crazy for youth minister's families! We had a checkup last Wednesday and things are progressing already!

Sleep: Pretty good. My tummy gets sore from the weight. I try to wedge a pillow for support, but it doesn't always stay! Momma's getting way tired.

Miss Anything: The ability to exercise! I NEVER thought I'd say that! Ever!

Food Cravings: My watermelon craving has calmed down, but I'm still eating and loving it!

Wedding Rings on or off: This week I had to start taking them off :(:( the heat and being on my feet so much are making me swell. NO FUN. But sometimes they're on, sometimes off.

Looking Forward to: Our checkup on Thursday and the end of school finally being in sight!

Did You Just Say That?

"My feet were so swollen during pregnancy! They were as huge as your thighs!" Thank you for that wonderful compliment.

"You better be careful with all that watermelon... You're going to get gestational diabetes and go into a coma..." Well, that sounds fun.

"How much weight have you gained? With my 3rd I gained the MOST... 23 pounds! It fell right off afterward, though..." I'm done with this conversation.

"They didn't detect her Preeclampsia, so her placenta ruptured and she had to give birth to a dead baby...but don't worry! I'm sure you'll be fine." Well,  that was a ray of sunshine.

"You're really looking ready to have that baby" aka you look very fat and tired.

"I really wish we waited to have kids until my 30s...24 is way too young." I'm 23... Tyler's 25. Too late.

"You just wait...(fill in the blank)" if I hear that phrase one more time...

"You better get sleep now! You won't sleep for another 18 years..." Thank you, person #509364 to say that...

Well, well, well...here we are at the end. The comments just keep getting better and better! I'm so grateful that everyone's so encouraging about this process! Smacks head with hand.

First time parents have a lot going on in their minds. There's a lot of pressure, anxieties, hopes, goals, excitement, fears, etc. We have a lot of mixed emotions. If you have kids, you've been there. This is unchartered territory for us.

I know parenting is not all rainbows and butterflies, but really? Does anyone have anything positive to say? If you've been encouraging,  I'm absolutely certain I've looked you square in the face and sincerely said, "thank you for being positive! There's so much negativity surrounding parenting." And I truly meant it.

Some days Tyler has to remind me to just laugh at the crazy things people say to me. We'll just need to experience all of the craziness ourselves.
This morning I was thinking about a couple of verses my wonderful friend Shannon sent me the other day...
Psalm 127:3-4

"Children are a heritage from the Lord,
offspring a reward from him.
Like arrows in the hands of a warrior
are children born in one’s youth."

I will be the first to admit that I'm naturally a pessimist. That's one reason why Tyler and I are so great together- he's so positive, while my tendency is to be negative. Through all of life's stresses, I naturally see the glass half empty. I have to pray for a positive outlook DAILY. I hate not recognizing the sunshine The Lord's put in my life. All that being said, why are we so quick to lose sight of the fact that children are a blessing? Parenting is a gift. I know...easy for me to say. My child isn't born yet. However, I hope and pray The Lord reminds me of this daily. I hope to be an encouragement to new parents! I pray that every day I'll have at least one positive thing to say about Liam and about being his mommy. No judgement here, but is a little positivity too much to ask for?!

Take some time today to encourage some new parents. I'm sure they could use it! I'm so excited to meet Liam! Please don't rain on my parade!

So, lay it on me...what are some parenting joys we have to look forward to?

36 Weeks.

Well, well, well...Here we are again. Another week under our belts! I can't exactly wear belts anymore, but you know what I mean.

Last week was another exciting one! We took some maternity pictures with a friend who is starting up her photography business! So, if you're around the Williamston area, check her out! Here are a few shots from Stacys Shots Photography:

Last Tuesday we had a baby shower at my school! I'm so thankful for such incredible coworkers. My related arts team gave me a watermelon for a card to continue to satisfy my craving! haha! LOVE IT.

We were so blessed by all the gifts we received! Everyone's anxiously awaiting Liam's arrival!

We left on Friday after school for a mini getaway! This was our final road trip as a family of 2. Wow! Of course, we had to stop on the scenic highway to document!

We went to Chattanooga to take maternity pictures with a friend of mine who actually used to take pictures of me when we were in middle school. She used to practice with me and say, "I want to be a photographer one day!" Look at her now! Here's a picture she actually took of me in middle school...isn't that special?!

Not only that, but she also shot our wedding!!! We just think it's so special that she's been a part of capturing some huge moments in our lives.

We got to stay with my precious Aunt and Uncle and my parents came to meet us! I'm telling you...this was SO GOOD for me! That was probably the last time they'll see us without Liam! Here are some shots from our maternity shoot with Mary Lauren:

I have a STUD of a husband. That's all I've got to say about that! :)

Sunday was awesome because I was given the opportunity to highlight Compassion International during our service. I'm NOT a public speaker and kept telling the Lord that I did NOT need to get up there. But, He wasn't listening to me...I'm SO GLAD he doesn't listen to me and my insecurities because all 25 child packets I had at the table were taken! And other kids online were sponsored through this event, too! PRAISE GOD! This organization is amazing, and I love the heart of it. I've sponsored my child since 2008. 6 years! Her birthday is actually June 16th, Liam's due date! Is that not the coolest?! She's so excited that he could come then! I'm so grateful to be part of an organization helping meet children's needs and sharing the Gospel worldwide. Amazing!
Here's my sweet Judy:

I love that face!

At 36 weeks:

Size: Honeydew Melon. About 17.2-18.7 inches. 4.2-5.8 pounds.

Major Happenings: This once poppy seed is now huge! God is so awesome. Liam's just about ready to breathe on his own! His liver and kidneys are in working order. 

What's Been Happening: Maternity shoots! Too fun. We're one week away from full term! Also, another wonderful baby shower!

Sleep: Eh.

Miss Anything: Well...I waddle now. So, here we go.

Food Cravings: Still loving that watermelon, y'all! Juicy goodness.

Wedding Rings on or off: ON! Getting very snug.

Looking Forward to: A checkup on Wednesday and every week after that! WOW.

35 Weeks & The Nursery!

Wow! We've made it to 35 weeks. 2 more weeks until Liam's full term! #overwhelming!

We had a checkup on Thursday, and all is well, still! Thankfully! His heartbeat sounds great, and our doctor wasn't concerned with anything from the ultrasound. Thanks be to our great God!

This weekend was Mother's Day weekend, as we're all aware. After we slept until the mid afternoon Saturday (not ashamed), my sweet husband helped me finish up the nursery! Then we had a date night, which was much overdue. It's been way too long! He took me to Macaroni Grill. Holy yumminess! That bread, though. In that olive oil, though. I almost bit the waitress's hands off when she took half a loaf that was still on the plate...you know she put that in the TRASH! Shame shame shame. I almost cried. She was so cute, though. I said something about being pregnant and she was like "I WONDERED! I offended a lady the other day who had just had her baby when I asked if she was pregnant. Never again." She was fun! I also discovered that Tyler has a secret gift...he can WIN at any of those stupid little games like tic-tac-toe and make-a-square-out-of-the-dots ( I don't know the technical name...). He got me every time! He's a genius.

The pups love a good sleep-in Saturday...

 Macaroni Grill with my favorite! He's kinda creepin' in this but so cute!

After dinner, we ran to buy a basket from Target and then made a stop at Spill the Beans. Spill the Beans is a great local coffee shop in Greenville. Every time we go, he gets coffee, I get ice cream. Such a treat!

Mother's Day was sweet. I'm at the awkward stage where I'm like...is it weird if I celebrate Mother's Day? Am I even considered a mom yet? I know Liam's alive in me...so surely yes? But do I count yet? So I felt extremely awkward standing in church when they asked the moms to. I didn't stand the first time; I stood the second. The struggle is real. But man...I was emotional! I just kept thinking about our baby boy and how precious he already is. I kept praying that God would enable me to be a godly mother. That's what I want our baby boy to know me by- a mom who loves and fears the Lord...first and foremost!

I'm basically a beached whale...

Mmmm I just can't wait to kiss his sweet cheeks! So now...onto some fun stuff. We FINISHED THE NURSERY! Yes! yes! yes! I can hear the hallelujah chorus now! So...here are some before and after shots for you. Enjoy!

So this room BEFORE was our junk/guest room. It was this baby blue color that I did not enjoy:

We gave it a little paint job...

Added all our STUFF.

And finally completed it this weekend...

I love some of the details...

This is a painting one of our amazing students did for Liam.

At 35 weeks:

Size: Coconut. About 17.2-18.7 inches. 4.2-5.8 pounds.

Major Happenings: Apparently my uterus has grown 1,000 times its original size. How disturbing is that? His hearing is fully developed, and he responds best to high pitched noises. That opera we were practicing in the car Saturday night (to be like the singer in Macaroni Grill) must have been LOVELY to him. ha! 

What's Been Happening: Church softball games and hanging out with youth. I love our youth girls so stinkin much! I hung out with some of our high schoolers Friday night and had a blast. I'm so thankful for this ministry God's called us to!

Sleep: It's been okay. We bought a couple of fans because I'm so HOT all the time! And our house doesn't hold any cool air in this heat.

Miss Anything: My old, active body. But that's ok! All for a good cause!

Food Cravings: WATERMELON. Still. We bought #8 after our doctor's appointment Thursday...excuse me...I bought it. And didn't tell anyone I was going to.. hehehe.

Wedding Rings on or off: ON!

Looking Forward to: Seeing this sweet boy for the first time!

34 Weeks.

This week's been crazy! As you know, we had an ultrasound Wednesday, and that went very well. It was so great seeing that little peanut of ours again! He's just precious. I can't wait to snuggle him.

Other than that, we had church softball last week, as well as Tyler's last soccer games. Friday we went to Relay for Life (and ate an extremely yummy funnel cake!). Shannon and I had to take a "bestie pic" because we matched so perfectly! It was a great night remembering those who have lost their battle with cancer and celebrating those who are still with us. I really enjoyed being there!

This weekend, some of Tyler's family came to town! His mom, brother, and brother's girlfriend loaded up and headed our way Friday evening. Saturday morning we took them to the Jockey Lot because Cassidy had never been. She understands why I call it the Janky Lot. ha! But Tyler just loves that place. The Grandma's Homemade ice cream made the whole trip WORTH IT. YUM. I may go back every Saturday just for some of that (and then leave as soon as I get it)!

The ladies went to get pedicures after our Jockey Lot excursion. This was AMAZING. My toenails belonged at the Jockey Lot because they were JANKY, so this outing was great! Plus, those chairs are GREAT for a pregnant woman's back! It was so worth the price of admission.

We grilled out on Saturday night and had a family board game night. They came to church with us the next morning, we ate lunch, and they headed back once again. Those trips are always SO QUICK. hmph. I'm still thankful for them, though!

At 34 weeks:

Size: Butternut Squash. About 17.2-18.7 inches. 4.2-5.8 pounds.

Major Happenings: He's apparently urinating a pint a day. Then drinking it, I guess! So weird. He can hear me, so they're encouraging me to sing him lullabies :) So sweet!

What's Been Happening: Some of our family came into town to see us! Tyler finished up soccer, and now we're in the midst of church softball.

Sleep: Depends on the night. There are some rough ones! But for the most part, I've been sleeping okay!

Miss Anything: Reaching my toes to paint them! But, that predicament does mean going to get a pedicure every once in a while :)

Food Cravings: WATERMELON. I'm working on #7 all within the past 3 weeks.

Wedding Rings on or off: Still on. I take them off when I go on walks, though. I can also tell what I'm consuming is affecting the swelling!

Looking Forward to: Another check up on Thursday!