Making a bit of Christmas.

We aren't doing too much this year in the way of decorting or gifting, as we are pregnant and leaving for my parents' house on Christmas Day, but we did get an oh-so-sweet-smelling tree and feeling a burst of energy, I managed to make 7 kinds of Christmas cookies over the span of two days to give to a few friends. Hubby has had this week prior to Christmas off work and school, and I wasn't tutoring. It was lovely and peaceful to spend that time together cooking, cleaning, playing board games and doing a bit of baby-planning.

I think I was wondering how to balance myself while hanging the lights...

I really enjoyed getting back to baking and creating these delicious, holiday family-favorites.

We wish you all a very blessed and joyful Christmas season. May the Savior's birth fill your hearts with an abundance of peace and love.

3 years.

3 years...this past year has been one of much growth for us as we continue to learn, pray, communicate and forgive in this vocation of marriage, while also enjoying so much fun and laughter. We celebrated last night with dinner out, and then shared dessert and coffee under the moon and stars at the beach. We realized that this would be our last anniversary as merely a couple, as we approach the date when we will be a family. We talked about the changes that will take place to ourselves as individuals and as a couple, resolving to make time to nourish and listen to each other amidst the expected distractions of a little one. Although I am a million x a million times excited for, and ready for this baby, this anniversary was slightly bittersweet for me. We have had so many wonderful, uninhibited, carefree, wrapped-up-in-each other times these past 3 years with just the two of us, times that we will not have in quite the same way in the future. More than anything, I am so grateful for the time we did have alone; God in His wisdom knew it was needed to provide a strong, trusting, loving foundation for us both to lean on during the upcoming years. Now, bring on the baby(ies)!

Love you, hubby.

A time of waiting.

Although this has been a busy Advent season for me thus far, with my tutoring job, helping with our church's childrens' Christmas play, and getting my choir ready for Christmas Masses, I have been fortunate to remember to reflect on the correlation between Advent and pregnancy. Advent is a time of waiting and preparing for the Lord to enter anew into our lives and hearts. It is a time of much anticipation and wonder at the saving gift from God the Father that descends to earth in the form of a tiny, helpless babe. It has been a blessing to also reflect this year on the Blessed Virgin as a pregnant woman; her possible joys, discomforts, uncertainties...but her never-failing trust in God and perfect obedience to His will for her life. What an example to all women and especially mothers-to-be! This for me, so far, has been one of the most challenging experiences in my life, with emotional ups and downs, doubting myself, physical changes, etc.; and to realize that Mary experienced some of the same things with such trust and grace has been an encouragement. Of course, being free from original sin, I'm sure she handled things MUCH better than I, but knowing that she underwent this same journey into motherhood, enables me that much more to turn to her for her prayers and guidance during this time. It has been a beautiful blessing to be pregnant during Advent, and I am thankful for the promptings to contemplate these things at this time, instead of focusing on my tiredness or discomfort. I have tried to remember to humbly say with Mary, "I am the handmaid of the Lord; be it done to me according to Thy word." Knowing, as witnessed time and time again, that He has designed the perfect plan for us and for this little boy, provides me with a huge amount of peace despite the looming unknowns of parenthood. :)

25 weeks.

Finally starting to feel a little more like myself, except getting used to a certain protrusion. Andrew loves seeing my tummy grow...that's a good thing, as it only gets bigger from here on out! Time to start catching up on all I didn't do during my period of nausea...a bit of organization needs to occur around the home.

Friendship, baby bellies, and smiles.

This past week, I stopped by to visit my dear friend Christine who is also pregnant (with a girl!) due in about a week. We were determined to capture both of our pregnant bellies together and were happy to get these photos. We've spent many an hour conversing about mothering and babies, and have been blessed to share in this experience at the same time. Enjoy the happiness and fun! Got a few shots with hubby too.

A friend should be one in whose understanding and virtue we can equally confide, and whose opinion we can value at once for its justness and its sincerity. ~ Robert Hall

When did all this happen?!?

It's been a wild ride up to this point!

"When we consider the blessings of God—the gifts that add beauty and joy to our lives, that enable us to keep going through stretches of boredom and even suffering - friendship is very near the top." Donald W. McCullough

Almost 22 weeks...

...and falling in love with our little boy.

20 weeks.

Hard to believe we are halfway there!

The bump is coming along!

We love you, little boy; keep on growing.



Blues and greens and cars and trucks.

Little One,

Today we discovered that you are a BOY!!  We are so excited to know your gender. Well, Papa was a little reluctant at first, as he thought it would spoil a big surprise at the end, but I want to know as much about you as I can during this pregnancy, and so we decided to find out, and we are SO glad we did! Your uncles and aunts were quite surprised, as most of them were 100% sure you were a girl (to even out the boy-girl ratio amongst the grandchildren thus far). Up until last week, I had no feeling one way or another, and this week suddenly had a strong feeling that you were a boy. And so you are! A very healthy and active one as evidenced in today's ultrasound. Recently, your aerobics have prompted us to nickname you "little monkey." We are so looking forward to having an eldest son, and we love you very much and pray for you every day. Many of our friends are praying for you too! Keep growing.

 

 

(Side note: My cysts remain, and so in 2 weeks I will be going in to have them diagnosed. Please keep this in your prayers - surgery has been mentioned - not the most desired thing for me during a pregnancy.)