9 Months Baby Bump!

This may be the last collage, because I am not sure any of us want to see me at 10 months pregnant, ugh!

I love how in the first photo, Bella is happy, has no idea whats going on.  And then in the last one she is like "what the heck is going on here".  Little does she know : )

Just a couple more weeks to go!

Feelings, lots of them!

So here we are, at 36 weeks.  I remember in late July when I first saw that little blue line.  I cannot believe now that we are just one week shy of being considered full term.  The journey has been easy going to say the least, I have felt pretty normal throughout my pregnancy, nothing exceptional or out of the ordinary to report.  Boring, I know, but I am certainly thankful that all of my symptoms have been manageable.  That must mean my delivery will be grueling!

As I head into my last month of pregnancy, I feel so much.  While I have felt unordinarily calm and at peace during my pregnancy ( I am usually one big stress case), I am now feeling a wide range of emotions.  I feel outside of myself, like, is this really happening? Even though baby girl makes herself knows, a lot : ) Thanks for all of those yoga stretches baby girl, that makes me feel like I am about to burst!   I am anxious to meet her, wondering if she will have Rafa's eyes and my smile?  Or vice versa?  Will she be ok?  Healthy, strong, and entering into the world with grace?  I am also excited to begin this journey as the 4 of us, our little family. To share in all of the fun times that Rafa, Bella, and I have shared.  But I am also feeling ambivalent, from little things like worried about my how my patience will be without sleep ( I really love my sleep!), or bigger things like how my marriage will sustain itself now that we have someone else to love and care for so much.  Or how will I be as a mother; kind, patient, selfless?  So many questions, doubts, and fears.  And no answers.

At the end of the day, I guess what is most important is that she is healthy and that she is surrounded by love and joy. Baby girl deserves the best. Always.

T-One Month!

Friends Baby Shower!

I had my Portland baby shower last weekend and it was wonderful.  Marisa hosted it for me and she did a great job.  She served a pasta bar and salad, had great games, and the afternoon was a lot of fun for me and baby.  It was great to have most all of my friends in one place : )

Cupcakes and punch...didn't get a photo of the pasta bar but it was delish!

This was one of the games, where you had to drink 4 oz of water out of bottle and whomever finished first, won.  This was so funny yet so painful!  I drank for 10 minutes and barely got once ounce down!  I'm not sure how babies do this : )

I mean, who doesn't love Madonna and 80's music?  Marisa picked this up for baby girl : )

My big helper Kayla! She helped me open all of the gifts and helped us clean up trash : )

Just me!

Here is the whole lot of gifts in Baby Girls room.  Becca helped me unload and organize it all.  Our family is so blessed with all of the wonderful gifts and help we received : )

8 Months Baby Bump!

Beach Babies!

I love these pictures!  Years and years ago, two young pups playing on the beach in their home countries, thousands of miles away from each other.  Now, together for 8 years are getting ready to welcome a new pup to the world!  I can't wait until she can play on the beach for the very first time!

What a Wonderful World - Loius Armstrong

When I hear this song, I think of you my sweet baby girl.  When I first found out that I was pregnant, it was all a bit surreal, and then one day during the first trimester, this song played on my pandora out of nowhere, and all I could do was cry tears of joy and think of you and how wonderful the world can really be.  I hope you always keep the wonderful things in your life close to your heart....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Aba0lVdE2c

Being Pregnant Is...

Never getting tired of feeling baby girl move around in my belly.  Takes my breath away every time.