.waiting.

Here I am at almost 38 weeks pregnant and I am finally getting to the point where I am done being pregnant and ready for this next phase. The whole pregnancy has been great and I couldn't have asked for it to go better, but now as my belly is growing bigger and bigger and nothing seems to fit anymore, I am ready for this little guy to come out!!
I am trying my hardest to not mentally check out from work and life, but as I am getting prepared for the baby, I am having a hard time focusing on anything else. I am working for 2 more weeks...through the end of next week, which shouldn't be too bad because we have Monday off next week, Thursday is my birthday and then Friday will be my last day before I start my maternity leave. Then if he hasnt come yet, I will have a few days off work to just relax and get all the last minute things in place :)
I just got back from the doctor and things are looking great! I am currently 2 cm dialated, 50% effaced and he is at a station -2...which is great because that means his head is wedged in my pelvis and not going anywhere until delivery! So that was awesome news :) But man oh man...those cervical exams HURT!! I had heard mixed stories from people on them...some saying they hurt and others saying they dont....but all I know was that it was not pleasant. Nick was a trooper and went to the appointment with me and was even in the room when they did the exam...I'm sure that was an experience for him. I am excited for his support while I am in labor!!
So here we are only a little ways away from meeting our son and I am getting so anxious and excited. As much as I am mentally done being pregnant, it is so worth it to keep this little guy healthy and growing strong inside of me. I think we are all ready at home and I started to pack my hospital bag this weekend so only a few additional things to throw in there and we should be good to go. I got to packed my "going home" outfit, and got to put normal clothes in my bag...because when I leave the hospital...I won't be pregnant anymore!! Woo Hooo! I know I will still look pregnant and have the weight to lose, but it will be so nice to put on clothes I havent been able to wear in months :)
Keep praying for a quick and safe delivery and a super healthy baby!!!

.sibling bonding.

This past week my sister Ashley and her husband Joel came to visit! They haven't been up to visit us since we moved here and it was so much fun to get to hang out with just the 4 of us! On Sunday when they arrived, we spent the day touring downtown Seattle and going to Pike Place market and showing them all the different parts of Seattle. It was pouring raining and pretty cold, so we weren't able to show them the city at it's finest but we did get some beautiful fresh flowers from the market and show them some of the neat parts of the city. We made a delicious meal at home and had fun just hanging out and watching a movie.

On Monday both Nick and I had to work but Ashley and Joel were able to go take a ferry across to one of the islands and get to be more adventurous and tour around. That night we got some pizza for dinner and then did some shopping. On our way home from shopping the sun decided to make an appearance right in time for sunset, so we drove around in Kirkland and found this beautiful little park right on the water and watched the sunset. The view was amazing and I could have sat there forever and just reflected on things and watched the sunset. I took a few pictures, but Joel has a majority of the good ones on his camera.

On Tuesday night we had tickets to the Mariners game, so after work we headed down to Safeco field and watched the Mariners WIN!!! They havent been doing all that great this season but last night they won against the Cubs and it was a beautiful night and a great game to watch.

They headed down to Portland this morning to visit some other friends and I already miss having them around :( But it was so fun having them visit and spending time together. Next time we see them, our little man Parker will have made his appearance into the world!!!

Here are some pictures from the little park we found....

.napa girls weekend.

Over memorial day weekend my mom planned an amazing trip to Napa for the 3 of us girls in our family. It started out as kind of a "last hurrah" before there are tons of kids running around and a chance for all of us to just enjoy hanging out and relaxing (especially before I have a newborn on my hands!). But after a wonderful weekend we are planning on making this an annual trip and leaving the kids at home with the dads! Isn't that how it should work ;)
I flew down from Seattle on Friday after work and we then drove to Winsor, CA which is in the Napa/Sonoma valley of California. It was so beautiful there. I lived only a few hours away from wine country for a while, but never went there to spend any time. I fell in love with the quaint towns, the slower pace of life and the rolling hills with vineyards everywhere. Apparently it looks a lot like Italy.....which is a dream of mine to visit!!
We spent most of our time there laying by the pool, walking around the little towns, shopping, going to the farmers markets, playing games and watching movies. It was so fun to just have the 3 of us girls and to really get to know each other. Now that both my sister and I are married and more at the same place in life we are really able to relate a lot more and its fun to hear my mom tell stories and give advice as we try to navigate being "grown-up".
It was such a blessing to be around my mom and sister and I feel so lucky to have them in my life!!! Thanks mom for a WONDERFUL weekend...I cannot wait for next year :)

.young wedding.

Way back in April, Nick and I went down to Southern California for vacation and to watch our friends Jessica and JY get married. Nick played baseball with JY at Biola and they have always been good friends. The wedding ceremony took place in a beautiful church in downtown Pasadena and the reception was in her grandma's backyard. It was a gorgeous backyard and the way they set everything up and decorated was beautiful!!! The weather was great and it was so fun to get together with friends and celebrate their wedding. Nick was in the wedding and it took place 5 days before the April 15th tax deadline so he was only able to be there for the rehearsal and wedding but he had a blast hanging out with all the Biola Baseball boys again. I love weddings because they get everyone back together again!!

.preparation.

I decided that I wanted my blog to be more "real"...to be more authentic and to speak my mind. I want this blog to be honest and raw and give you a little insight into what I am thinking, experiencing, celebrating and struggling with. So here's my first post with a little more vulnerability than I have shared before...

It's officially 30 days from the day little Parker is predicted to make his appearance into the world. I am anxiously awaiting his arrival and cannot believe that we are so close. Everyday as he is moving around in my belly, I am in awe that this little tiny person is being created inside of me. So unbelievable that God chose Nick and I to be parents to this little guy and he has been forming and creating him to be our son. It's kind of an overwhelming thought thinking that Nick and I are going to be responsible for another person and that God has given us the responsibility to teach him and grow him to be a man of integrity, that respects himself and others and has a fear of the Lord. Sometimes I feel ready and prepared to take on this huge responsibility and other days I feel like I am so inadequate and have no business raising a child. I guess it is just another reminder that I cannot do anything on my strength alone and that I am going to have to rely on God's strength to raise Parker.

I get so excited thinking about what color eyes he is going to have, what color hair, holding his little hands and feet, how much is he going to weigh, is he going to be tall, what is it going to feel like to hold my son for the first time....and these are just things I will discover about him in his first few minutes of life! I cannot wait to watch him grow and see his personality develop as he gets older, go watch his tee ball games and teach him to read. The list is endless about the things I cannot wait to find out about little Parker man. But I also get nervous thinking about all the things I cannot control and protect him from. What if he gets made fun of at school, what if he has some sort of health complication or learning disability, what is someone hurts him, what if I don't do enough early on to socialize him with other kids...is he going to have a hard time making friends. And the list could go on as well...but I am choosing to put these worries into God's hands, knowing that I have no control over those things. I am choosing to be positive and relish in the blessing that having a child is going to bring.

I am also really excited and nervous to see and watch Nick and my relationship develop. As soon as people find out you are pregnant, they always make comments like "Oh man, your life is about to completely change" and "You better spend time with your spouse now, because they will become a stranger once the baby comes". I always try and brush it off when others say these type of things because I know that life is about to change (hello...I am growing a person inside of me) and I know that the dynamics of Nick and my relationship will change since it will no longer be the two of us, but I feel like our love and relationship is going to be taken to a whole new level. This baby is going to be something we created together and watching the way Nick already loves this baby so much, makes me fall more in love with him. I know that life will get stressful, and tensions will be high when we are sleep deprived, but I also think we are going to have to rely on each other in new ways and loving this new baby will only make us love each other more. We have already spent a lot of time preparing to make sure we make each other a priority and that we make our marriage number one, and I cannot wait to watch the love of my life become a Dad and share his love with his son.
We are almost ready for his arrival and have all the material things we "need", but I still stress that we do not have everything he is going to need. I am constantly asking friends and reading blogs and websites about all the "necessary" items to have for a new baby. I know it is kind of a ridiculous fear, especially since Babies R Us and Target are right down the road. I will just send Nick or my mom on a little trip to the store if there is anything missing :)....but I think we are more than prepared and there will probably be so many things we have that Parker never even uses. I guess it is better to be prepared than not :)
So here we are 30 days away from his due date and I am beyond excited for this little miracle to make his way into the world....(hoping he comes a little early!!). So come on little Parker....your mom and dad are ready and waiting to see your beautiful face and hug and cuddle and kiss your little tiny body! Thank you Jesus for this miracle!

This is a preview pic of our maternity photo shoot that Nick and I did last week. I will be sure to post more as we get them :)

.love like crazy.

I heard this song on the radio a few weeks ago and I am obsessed with it! I just love the message and hope I love like crazy just like this song says :)

Love Like Crazy

By: Lee Brice

They called them crazy when they started out

Said seventeen's too young to know what loves about

They've been together fifty-eight years now

That’s crazy

He brought home sixty-seven bucks a week

He bought a little 2 bedroom house on Maple Street

Where she blessed him with six more mouths to feed

Yeah that’s crazy

Just ask him how he did it; he'll say pull up a seat

It'll only take a minute, to tell you everything

Be a best friend, tell the truth, and overuse I love you

Go to work, do your best, don't outsmart your common sense

Never let your prayin' knees get lazy

And love like crazy

They called him crazy when he quit his job

Said them home computers, boy they'll never take off

He sold his one man shop to Microsoft

They paid like crazy

Just ask him how he made it

He'll tell you faith and sweat

And the heart of a faithful woman,Who never let him forget

Be a best friend, tell the truth, and overuse I love you

Go to work, do your best, don't outsmart your common sense

Never let your prayin knees get lazy

And love like crazy

Always treat your woman like a lady

Never get to old too call her baby

Never let your prayin knees get lazy

And love like crazy

They called him crazy when they started out

They've been together fifty-eight years now

Ain't that crazy?

.parker with grandma and grandpa berceau.

A few weekends ago while I was down in California for a girls weekend with my sister and mom, but was able to go home to my parents house for a few hours on Monday before I flew home. We were able to catch a few images of my mom and dad with my baby belly....not the most flattering pictures of me but I am glad we were able to get a few pictures while I am still pregnant with my parents. Gotta capture all the memories because the next time I see them I will have a newborn!! Only about 5 weeks to go :)

.simple woman's daybook.

...Outside my window...

a cloudy sky that looks like it could rain at any minute

...I am thinking...

about how great of a weekend I had with my mom and sister in Napa and wishing that I could go back

...I am thankful for...

my husband, my family, my family-in-law, my baby growing in my belly, friendships

...From the kitchen...

not a whole lot! haven't been home enough to cook...but tonight is tacos :)

...I am wearing...

my new banana republic khaki zebra print cardigan, tank top, jeans and flats

...I am creating...

the baby room! all done painting, now just need to put the chair rail up and hang some shelves and decorations

...I am going...

to Spokane this weekend to visit with family and see the Jenkins family who will be visiting from Southern California

...I am reading...

Babywise-trying to learn about feeding and schedules and hopefully getting our baby to sleep through the night

...I am hoping...

that summer comes sometime soon!!! the weather is really getting me down...I would love some sunshine and warmth anytime soon!

...I am hearing...

the clicking of keyboards all around me at work

...Around the house...

baby stuff everywhere!!! since we are painting the room and continue to be blessed by gifts, there is baby stuff coming out of everywhere...lucky little guy!

...One of my favorite things...

spending time with my husband after not seeing each other for a few weeks. it feels like home....so blessed!