.attitude.

Philippians 4:6

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Thank God that He has it all under control. I do not have to worry about anything because He knows it all :) This brought peace to my heart this morning. Bring on the day!!

.life.

Man oh man....life is crazy!!! I feel like for the last few months I have been running a marathon of life and its not coming to an end anytime soon! There is just so much going on and I feel like I am never fully caught up. It's been kind of an interesting journey. As much as I love to be busy and accomplishing things, I feel like I cannot do it all and it stresses me out that I am not able to balance everything...and be good at everything. Between working full time, being involved in church, hanging out with friends and building a community up here, visiting family and having family come visit, cleaning the house, paying the bills, spending time with my husband, and getting things ready for the baby to come....I am getting a little burnt out!! I find myself longing for the baby to get here already so I can be on maternity leave and have a few months off...except then I realize that I will be responsible for another human being's life, and that definitley is not going to be a restful time. Although I would rather have the responsibility of caring for my baby than stressing about work. I just cannot imagine having to work this stressful job and then come home and take care of my family....any ideas for creative work that is flexibile with a baby?! I am planning on coming back to work...but am already stressed about balancing everything...especially since I am overwhelmed already!
I am trying to not get overwhelmed because I want my baby to be healthy and not stressed inside my belly, and I try to keep in perspective the things most important. It's just crazy to me how much not only my life in changing, but also my body. Up until this point things have been a breeze, nothing to complain about at all. I just feel so lucky to be able to be having a baby. Such a blessing. It's starting to get to the point where a lot of my shirts don't fit anymore and they come to about my belly button because my belly is starting to get to that point. It's just a crazy phenomenon to watch your belly grow bigger and bigger without even doing anything. I am trying hard to just embrace my growing body and know that it is for a good reason. But it is a strange thing to tell yourself it is healthy and normal, when your whole like you are making sure that doesn't happen. Now don't get me wrong, I love that my baby is growing big and strong and being pregnant has been a great experience...but as I am approaching my third trimester and getting bigger by the day...I am trying to embrace it, rather than worrying about my size.
I am really looking forward to my vacation to southern California next week...I think it will be just what the doctor ordered. I cannot wait to have 3 days off work, bask in the sunshine, and be surrounded by great friends. It will be refreshing to the soul. I think just taking a break from reality will be a recharge for me and I will be able to come back refreshed and ready to go!
Only a little over 2 weeks until tax season is over and a little over 3 months until our baby boy joins us!!! :) There is so much to be thankful for and I am seriously so blessed...it's just sometimes life can be so overwhelming... I just need to focus on what truly matters!

.cal poly lacrosse.

My brother plays lacrosse for Cal Poly and part of their spring break trip they came up to Washington to play UW. Nick and I got to go watch him play and it was so fun!! Lacrosse is a pretty intense and physical game and Cal Poly absolutely dominated UW. The final score was 15-6 and Cal Poly definitley lead the game. It was so fun to have him up here and to be able to go watch him play! They are now on their way to Canada to play against a team in Vancouver. Good luck boys :)

.favorites.

The past couple weeks have been so much fun and so BUSY!!! My parents were visiting for about a week and then Nick's family came over last weekend and in the midst of all that we also had a ton of things going on at night during the week. It has been great...but I would be lying if I didn't say I am exhausted! This week has been slower and I am slowly catching up on my sleep. We have been really productive in getting things ready for the baby and buying all the necessary items. We now officially have the crib, changing table, diaper bag, mattress, changing pad, and about a million clothes already! This little man is going to be better dressed than me. We get the crib bedding I ordered on Friday...I cannot wait to see it :)

So I am feeling pretty on top of things with the baby right now. Work has been busy and out of control but I am managing it and starting to get some help which is a big relief. I am now 6 months along and starting to feel pregnant!! My belly is getting bigger and I am noticing that I am a little more tired after a long day, but nothing too big or crazy that I didn't expect. Cannot believe I am over half way there....July will be here before we know it.

Nick is still busy busy busy with tax season and I look forward to Sunday's because that is pretty much the only day I see him at this point. But he is working hard and I am so proud of him. He NEVER complains and I seriously admire that about him so much.

I am really looking forward to a trip to southern California in April to visit with my best friends and go to JY and Jessica's wedding. The weather is supposed to be beautiful and I am seriously looking forward to relaxing and laying out in the sun. It's going to be a great few days with friends and am so lucky and blessed to have these people in my life still...eventhough I live far away! Golden Spoon here I come :)

Other than that, I have a few baby showers in May and a girls trip to Napa with my mom and sister and then June will be here and I will be nesting and getting ready for the little babe to join us. He had the hiccups the other day and it was such a crazy feeling. So fun though to know that he is just reminding me he is here with me.

Here is my super cute Petunia Pickle Bottom diaper bag that I am so excited about :)

A cute little man outfit we picked out for baby Dietzen!

.happy 14 year anniversary.

The title of this post may be a bit misleading as Nick and I have only been married 2 1/2 years....but today marks the anniversary of something that has greatly affected Nick's life and mine as well! 14 years ago today...Nick was hit by a car and flown 40 feet in the air while crossing the street. He was miraculously saved and able to be my fabulous husband. I cannot imagine my life without him and am so thankful that God had bigger plans for his life. I am so thankful for him everyday and for his attitude towards life and ability to view everything in a positive light...because he has experienced first hand how quickly it can all be taken away. So HAPPY 14th Anniversary of life Nick....I LOVE YOU!!!
Here is a picture of Nick doing something he LOVES!!! It makes me so happy that he is alive and able to enjoy it all!

.5 1/2 months.

So here we are....5 1/2 months...22 weeks :) The last few weeks have flown by and I cannot believe how fast things are going with the pregnancy and it's really exciting because that makes me realize how quickly our little baby is going to be here. My belly is continuing to get bigger by the day...I looked down the other week and couldn't believe my belly was that big...it seems like it just popped out of nowhere! I have been feeling great still but as my belly is getting bigger I am realizing that some things are becoming a little more difficult and some of my clothes are no longer fitting. Up until this point I was wearing all my pre pregnancy clothes and a few maternity clothes, but now I am having to buy some new shirts because all my regular shirts come to about my belly button now :) We are working on getting the nursery together and I am having a tough time deciding on some crib bedding...but hopefully in the next week or so I will have that decided so that we can start painting and getting all ready. My parents came to visit this past week and it was GREAT having them here. It was fun to be able to share my pregnancy with them and show them pictures from the ultra sound. I am so excited for them to be grandparents and meet their little grandson this summer!! Nick's parents are coming this weekend so it will be fun to have them around. I haven't seen them since Christmas so it will be nice to spend some time with them.

Here are a list of some of my biggest surprises about pregnancy that I have observed until this point...

Biggest Surprises...

-how different each pregnancy is for everyone

-how long it took for my belly to show and now how quickly it is growing!

-how much fun it is to have a person growing in your belly...I thought the fun started after the baby got here...but I am loving pregnancy so far

-people's opinions and thoughts about your pregnancy...they are all so different

-how good I feel and how much energy I have (people had me scared that I was going to be bed ridden for the full 9 months)

-how hungry I can get if I don't eat every few hours...I can go from not hungry at all to stttaarrrvviiinnnggg in a matter of minutes. Have to keep snacks with me all the time

-haven't really experienced pregnancy cravings or find food that I have to eat up to this point

**sorry for all the posts on my pregnancy...I am trying to keep a journal of everything I am experiencing this pregnancy so that I remember it all :)

.dawn + dave {sneak peak}.

Here are just a few sneak peaks from the wedding this weekend. I have SO many to look through and edit but wanted to share a few of the pictures from this beautiful wedding. The venue was beautiful as was the bride and it was so fun to share in this special day with them!

I shot with Whitney Tampien of FLAT 4 photography and Jamie Lindelof of Lindelof photography. It was a blast and we all learned a lot!

.it's a...BOY.

It's official....baby Dietzen is a BOY!!! We had our ultrasound on Thursday 3/4/10 and got to see our little man. He was moving around like crazy in my belly. It was AMAZING being able to see our baby. We got to see all the bones, the 4 chambers of the heart, the left and right hemisphere of the brain, his fingers and toes. It was unbelievable. I cannot believe this little miracle is growing inside of me...it is completely surreal. Nick said it was like a little webcam into their lives :) Everything looked great and he was healthy and right on track for all of the growth measurements. Now only 4 months until we get to see him again...but the next time we will get to hold him!! I cannot explain to you how much this makes me stand in awe of our Creator. The fact that just by simply living everyday, this baby is being knit together in my womb and growing like crazy makes me think of how amazing God is. I just cannot even begin to fathom how creative and amazing God is. I also feel like I am getting a small glimpse into God's love for us, his children. I already love this baby more than I can explain, and God's love for all of us is like that except magnified! How amazing!! I am just speechless at this whole pregnancy and whole process. I have loved this process and cannot wait to become a parent and meet my little mini man...a little Nick. He is going to be so handsome!!! :)
My appointment was on Thursday night at 4:00pm and when I came into work the next morning my co-workers had decorated my cube with Congratulations signs and another co-worker brought me in this adorable blue baby blanket. It was so sweet. This little baby is loved already :)
Nick and I are going to register this week at Babies R Us and get started on the nursery as we have time. The weekends are already filling up so fast all the way through May! We have only a few weekends between now and then that we will be home...so we gotta get moving on this baby stuff in order to get it all together in time!

.simple woman's daybook.

3.4.10

...Simple Woman's Daybook...

...Outside My Window...

A cloudy day with rain showers every once in a while

...I Am Thinking...

About the little baby in my belly and the fact that we get to find out the sex of the baby in a few hours!!!

...From The Kitchen...

Ravioli with spinach and cheese

...I Am Wearing...

Black jeans, a grey tshirt and a zip up sweatshirt

...I Am Creating...

The baby room and getting the house all decorated

...I Am Going...

To California next month for a wedding and so excited to have some warm weather and sunshine shared with my best friends that I miss so much :(

...I Am Reading...

"Babywise"-a book about healthy sleep habits for the baby. Hoping that this book gives me a little training and sanity into life with a newborn.

...I Am Hoping...

That the baby is in a position where we can find out the sex of the baby today.

...I Am Hearing...

ESPN radio in my headphones. My husband has rubbed off on me and I love listening to sports talk radio now :)

...Around The House...

A totally clean house! Spent the weekend deep cleaning and I love it!

...One of My Favorite Things...

Feeling the baby move in my belly. Just the last week I have really been able to feel the baby move and I love knowing that my little baby is alive and well in me!!

.half way marker.

We made it! We are half way through the pregnancy and so far it has been great! Nothing to complain about :) I am loving having this little life growing inside of me and now that I can feel the baby it makes it so much more real. We find out on Thursday the sex of the baby and I am counting down! Now the real planning begins....I already have a lot of stuff picked out for the room, I just need to know if it is a boy or a girl and then we can get started. I cannot wait to get the room put together.
I feel like I have already started the "nesting" phase. I know it is a little early, but I am so anxious to get the house all settled. I have been shopping all over and getting all of our rooms decorated just how I like so that once we do the baby room, we will be all ready for the little critter to be here!
I am seriously amazed at how blessed we are to have a happy home and a little baby on the way. It brings me to tears thinking that God chose this baby for us to have. Something we definitley do not deserve but he has allowed us the priviledge of raising this baby anyways. I am so grateful. My heart is content.