Farewell

After much thought and deliberation, I have decided to say goodbye to blogging.

How I thought I would be turns out to be much different than who I am, now. I am private. I love my life, my family, and my purpose in life right now. I love praising God for his wonderful gifts he's bestowed onto me and my family in any way possible, but this blog is no longer it. I do not want to put my life and my son out to the world. Not yet, anyway. There are far too many avenues I feel compelled to walk down right now, and blogging does not fit. It will be an adjustment, but I think it is what's best for me and my family.

I do want to give blogging major credit. It changed my life for the better in the past year. I've learned to document more of my life, which is amazing to look back on. I am so thankful for all these great pictures and anecdotes of this time in my life. I will continue documenting these special (and seemingly ordinary) days, but for now they will be just for me and my family.

Thanks, blog world. I'll think of you fondly.

35/35

Yesterday I hit 35 weeks, 35 days to go (til my Estimated Due Date/EDD)! Let me say: WOAH!!! Sometimes I still can't believe I'm going to be a mom in just a couple short weeks! I kept saying that it seemed so far away because we were experiencing "winter" and I can only imagine bringing him home in spring weather...Well, Spring peeked it's lovely face out last week, and now it feels so real!

Baby's Size: He should be about 5 pounds and change at this point...although, we really have no clue how big he actually is.
Weight Gain: I did the math wrong last time, lol. At my last appointment I had gained a total of 20lbs. In about three weeks I've gained another 2 pounds. I'm completely ok with it.
Symptoms: Normal stuff-- my hip pain has gotten significantly worse, my acid reflux is now up to about four nights a week (always around 6pm), and I finally figured out that the weird pain and numbness in my hands is carpal tunnel!! I sleep pretty well, despite the hip pain, so I'm just counting my blessings. Honestly, it's not all that bad (yet).
Cravings: With only a couple weeks left, it seems I crave EVERYTHING!
Best Moment: Spending some quality time outside walking and soaking up some sun! Reading in my backyard was especially peaceful and lovely.

So Behind!

I'm pretty behind on blogging, but I have good reason! My dad has been in town from FL to finish getting some things out of the house so we can use our space in the most efficient way possible. 

Here's a photo-dump of recent happenings:

My outfit to my cousin's bridal shower last weekend. I was 33 and a half weeks that day!

On Good Friday my brother's band played at The Note (Bam Margera's bar). Even though I was exhausted from a day of prepping for Easter, I had to put on my (7 inch platform) boots, leather jacket, and go hear him play! They were awesome!

THe other day I drove Scott to work. It was a particularly warm day, and we arrived 30 min early, so we hung out together outside for a little bit. I love random pockets of quality time together. (it was windy, so my hair looks a little gross.) Scott looks so handsome!

Tomorrow I will definitely be doing my 35 week update, but I wanted to share the last couple of weeks before it became completely irrelevant!

Easter Family Pictures

Here's what I ended up wearing for our little family picture! Last year of it being just the two (and a half) of us!

Comfort is the key when dressing the belly, now. Let me just say, I saw a million women in Maxi dresses or skirts at church! I didn't mind being in-trend, though.

Easter Basket

As a little token of my love and way to celebrate Easter, I made a little Easter Box for Scott this year. 

I started by getting one of those cute little dollar bin boxes from Target in a bright blue. Then, I spent about a week gathering different encouraging bible verses I thought would be fitting for Scott. I wrote them up on some colored paper cards. 

Final step was to put his favorite kinds of candy inside!

It was a little gesture that combined typical Easter loot (candy) with the real meaning for the season (scripture cards). Instead of saving it for Sunday, though, I gave Scott his box on Good Friday night. He loved the box, and is inspired to even make me some scripture cards! 

Candy Included: Skittles, Sour Patch Kids, Peach Rings, Snickers Peanut Butter Squares, and Peanut Butter M&Ms :) 

Double 3

33 Weeks!

Baby's Size: About 4 pounds- a pineapple ;)

Weight Gain: Holy Moly...22lbs total! At this point, what it will be will be (que sera sera).

Symptoms: Did I mention that my belly button has popped? It's not cute. Also, my first stretch mark has appeared. At first I was upset, but then I realized, woah, this is so tiny...and on my boob. No one's going to be seeing it other than Scott, and he couldn't notice it! The only other new issue I have is the shooting pain in my very low belly/pubic area. Every now and then when Caffrey's super active he'll kick super low and cause me to double over. I'm still trying to just ignore the bad and enjoy these last couple of weeks, though.

Cravings: Wendy's fries, Butterfingers, and cereal

Best Moment This Week: The nursery is continuing to come together, and my to-do list is seriously small now! Woohoo

Worst Moment This Week: Having plumbing issues at the house--yuck.

Why I love Easter

I've made it pretty clear that I love Valentine's day. The main reason I love that "hallmark holiday" is because of what it stands for: love. I love celebrating love--parental, spousal, and friendship. After some serious introspection, I realize that my biggest reason for loving Easter is because it is the ultimate holiday of love.

Scott actually proposed in front of our favorite Cross two Easters ago.

Love is a verb. I've always known this as fact. Jesus teaches us this very simple truth. Actions matter. Our words can be deceitful, our beliefs are ideology, but our actions show our character. Jesus didn't just tell us He loves us; He showed us. Jesus didn't want to be crucified. He was fully man, after all. He pleaded with our Father to give him another way. There was no other way, though. God and Jesus (as one and separate entities) gave us the ultimate gift of life through sacrifice and suffering to prove their love.

Let that sink in.

Jesus could have disobeyed God. He could have walked away. He could have said, "you know, what? I'm not going to take the wrap for all of your hateful and sinful ways. I love you, but I won't do this."He didn't. Instead, He (basically said) "I don't want to do this, and this will actually kill me, but I love you so much, I will do this for you. I will give you ETERNAL LIFE."

All that being said, there's something we need to take away from this: love is a verb. We need to use this holiday as a reminder--not just of our love with our Father, but also to our friends, family, and human-kind. When Scotty asks me to help make his lunch but I want to sleep in, I should to step outside myself and get out of bed to help my husband. When your friend asks you for help that's inconvenient, think about how helping him/her could show your love.

I hope that through this mind-cloud of a post you can take away a token about this very special time of year and how it can strengthen your relationships.