Becoming Mommy: 23, 24,& 25

I am behind again!! Sheesh. We've been decently busy these past three weeks, so I am sorry for yet another late post. This will probably be the last post before we enter the third and final trimester of pregnancy! How exciting. We have had a few check-ups (all good) and have spent some great quality time together as a couple! We have been blessed by sweet timing, and last week we had four days together to just relax! 

And here are some bump-progression pictures! First one is at 24 weeks, 2 days, the second is 25 weeks, 5 days. Andrew is at 25 weeks, 5 days in the last picture.

Cravings: Slurpees and Hotdogs. I haven't given into the hotdogs, but I have had a couple of slurpees! This girl is not gaining favor with her grandpa if she continues the hotdog mess ;)

Aversions: Nothing! But I still notice little things that make me nauseous, but I think they are just weird associations with my early pregnancy days.

 

Baby size: Grapefruit- Cantaloupe- Cauliflower

Recent Emotional Feelings: I have been much more moody recently. I notice myself getting more hyped up about little things, and I am starting to get really stressed. I will be working two jobs up to the beginning of June, and I keep thinking I am just not going to have enough time to finish everything by the time she gets here. I know that is silly and everyone says I'll be nesting in the last few weeks which will give me superpowers to get everything done, but I am a planner. I like having things done in advance and getting to just make small changes last minute.

Recent Physical Feelings: I have felt pretty great! I have gained 10 pounds, so I am starting to feel that more and more. Socks are ridiculously hard to get on. Clothes are still no fun at all. Nothing fits WELL. It's getting old not looking cute.

Things I’m most looking forward to in pregnancy: I'm really looking forward to maternity leave, mostly to ease my anxious mind about all the things that need to be done. Also, I am really really looking forward to our baby showers!! I have awesome friends and family all joining in to plan a couple, and I couldn't be more thankful for all their efforts already!

Things I’m most looking forward to when baby arrives: I'm really looking forward to looking back and saying "I don't even remember life before this girl!". I know everyone says to make it a point to stay a couple and all, and honestly I don't see that being a huge problem. People gave us the same warning when we got married: "oh, nothing will ever be the same. It's not about you anymore. He might be sweet now but you just wait a few years down the road..." I think people giving this negative advice usually have grounds in their own lives for it, but it is all usually rooted in a jealous heart. I barely remember life before marriage, and we dated for 5 years before we got married 2 years ago. The people I admire most have found creative ways to keep their marriage priority while raising healthy children. Ultimately, we are aiming to please Christ in our lives, not other people.

Best moment of the week: We had some beautiful days last weekend, and Andrew and I were able to work in our yard. I think it was a part of my nesting-self that enjoyed this so much. I cleaned out our flower bed while Andrew mowed. Although I got a little poison ivy from it, it was worth the Vitamin D boost and energy output!

Andrew’s Shining Moment: The day after we started gardening, I really wanted a couple of plants. I was dying to get them in the ground and make our home a little more naturally beautiful on the outside! Well, we went to three different stores and couldn't find a single plant I wanted (I have very specific plans... I want to actually keep my garden alive now, not just plant something pretty, haha). So at our final destination, Andrew decided he'd find the seeds, but I wasn't satisfied (stupid hormones). So we went on another journey for an unknown item to cheer me up! We never found it, but later that day, Andrew told me he wanted to get my pretty new gardening gloves to help make me feel better. Even though we didn't buy anything for the garden that day, it was really sweet to see how much he was looking out to please me in my silly hormonal state!

Becoming Mommy: 21 & 22

Weeks 21 and 22 have been so fun! I have been so blessed these past couple of weeks by friends and just great quality time! Week 21 started off with attempting to walk out lil miss Aurora Breelynn with her momma Tianna! But that didn't work, and as they say: she came when she was ready... kinda. Meeting her was such a joy, and we love her like our own! Except, we know she does have a mommy and daddy who love her even more! Every time I hold her, Jane starts kicking, and I believe she knows her future bestie is sitting on her. At least that is what I tell myself ;) Aside from meeting baby girl, these past weeks were fantastically sprinkled with a few beautiful, sunny days! Andrew and I celebrated our two year wedding anniversary (although that day was rather nasty, and we saw each other all of maybe 2 hours because of work). We were able to celebrate it over the weekend and mostly just relaxed each other. We are blessed, and I believe we all need to take more days to truly soak in God's goodness because so often we focus on the "curses" attached to our blessings.

Cravings: Bananas with nutella! I have had plenty of these lately, but maybe the nutella counteracts the potassium in bananas because my leg cramps have only intensified and become more frequent, haha.

Aversions: Nothing. I can even eat onions. *hallelujah*

Baby size: Pomegranate- Papaya

Recent Emotional Feelings: I have been more emotional lately but nothing extreme. I have really just been so excited and doing my best to savor pregnancy instead of just looking to the future with baby girl. She's already here in such an unique way, and I need to cherish that! I have realized that there will be days I am downright discouraged and would rather have her quietly kicking away in my womb than throwing tantrums or having fits around the house! She's being so beautifully perfected by the Lord Himself, and I don't need to rush that process even a little bit.

Recent Physical Feelings: I have felt great! Unlike many pregnant women, I sleep super well every night (until I wake up with those nasty leg cramps, haha). I just have realized that I need a lot of sleep to function well. Resting alone doesn't help anymore, I need real sleep! It gets frustrating living with a man who can get 5 hours of sleep and work a 12 hour day with energy left over, but I realize that he's just superman, and I'll never be him. :)

Things I’m most looking forward to in pregnancy: I really look forward to packing our hospital bag! I can't wait to get all those things together and pretend I'll be going into labor at any point. I am convinced I'll be late to deliver and will probably pack and re-pack that bag a million times just to keep myself occupied, but I can't wait.

Things I’m most looking forward to when baby arrives: Please don't get me wrong, I absolutely love both of my jobs. But I can't wait to be a mommy and concentrate my time more at home. I love making meal plans and actually making the meals. I even LOVE LOVE LOVE grocery shopping (which I know will be made much more difficult with a baby). I love doing domestic things and keeping a *mostly* tidy house. I do love that I'll still have the privilege to work one of my jobs outside the home once baby girl arrives, but I am so thankful for its flexibility and the priority I will be able to place on my husband, my girl, and my home. It will be such a blessing to focus so much of my time and energy on our home!!

Best moment of the week: I know people are going to be annoyed at my incessant bragging on her, but the best moment of the week was probably holding Rory for the first time. Her parents are such good friends of ours, and Andrew and I are both SO blessed to have them in our lives that being with them during this time has been so amazing. We admire them both and look forward to watching God use all our lives for His glory. And sheesh, have you seen lil miss thang???? She's gorgeous!!! The Andrews already have this girl on lockdown from the boys. Any. Boy. Ever.

Andrew’s Shining Moment: Well, Andrew finally getting up the courage to hold Aurora was adorable. But beyond that, he took the time to completely clean out Jane's room and even set up her crib AND organized her closet! I came home from work to all that and was so in awe. He did such a great job and showed how much he loves his baby girl and me by doing all that.

And here are some pictures of the nursery beginnings!
 

My good friend, Maddie (who is expecting baby Ellie right before Jane arrives) has been making this for her Janey girl! I absolutely LOVE it!! It is going to go great above baby girl's crib!!