Count down!!!

Dear Elijah,
This morning your daddy and I decided to go to the beach before your doctor appointment. It was so nice and relaxing to sit on the beach and enjoy the sunny day. Your appointment was fun! You moved a lot for the doctor, just showing off. The doctor thought I was having major contractions at first sight, and I was like, no that's just him moving around. Haha. She felt you and said, "Oh my gosh, that is just movement. He is so active." We listened to your heart beat and that was great. Then she checked your mommy out and told us that she thinks it's pretty close! I was so excited to hear that. She said she may even see us this weekend from the looks of it. She thinks you are ready :) Lets hope she is right, and we get to see you in the next few days!!! Maybe once you are here I will be able to wear my wedding ring on my ring finger again, and not my pinky! Haha... Since our appointment went so well we went to Denny's and got a chocolate shake for a treat :) mostly for mommy. Daddy got a salad!!!! Haha... My sisters from Las Vegas came to visit us this evening and it was so nice to see them! I'm glad they got to see you move around in my tummy and feel you moveing in there. They are on their way back to Vegas now. I better go, Mommy is starting to feel pains coming on. Nights are pretty achy for me. Love you baby boy! Hope to see you soon.

3 days shy of 39 weeks!!!

My sister Maila, me, you and sister Angel :)

Hot...

Dear Elijah,
well, today is a very hot day and tomorrow is supposed to be even hotter! Usually I would be stoked, but I am pregnant, and very hot these days. Haha... You know what is so funny? I keep on wanting to write "I miss you", but that's just funny because how can I miss you when you are here in my tummy, and I have never known you any other way. But I keep on wanting to say I MISS YOU! I think it's because I WANT you so badly and feel like I already love you so much but can't express it physically to you. Haha... So weird. It feels like you will never come, and like April is soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo far away! Hahaha... It's only like a week away from your due date, and to me, that sounds like it might as well be 5 months away. I'm so anxious to see you. I keep glancing up at a picture of your daddy and me on our honeymoon. It's crazy how much we have grown since then! Some days it feels like we just walked out of the church newly married. Then other days I feel like I have been with your daddy all my life. We have become so much a part of each other, yet I feel like I have never been more myself! It's crazy when you can treat someone who was once not family, just like you have grown up together. He has become my family, and the one person I am completely myself with. And now we are growing from us two to us three! It's going to be so cool. We will have to take you someday to where we went for our honeymoon. It was amazing, and I will never forget it. EVER! After the wedding, we moved in together into our place in Seattle. I can not believe how fun that transition was. My husband (your daddy) is the best room mate I've ever had. And I have had some amazing roomies :) Haha, obviously it's much more than a room mate, which made this whole new season in our lives so special. Now we are entering another new way of living. I feel like both times we have gone into it so peacefully. I never worried about living with your daddy as husband and wife, and now that we are going to be living as parents as well, I also feel peaceful going into this. I wouldn't want to do it with anyone else. Well I better go. Your daddy just got out of the shower and we are going to meet your grandparents for dinner. Love you. COME soon!!!!!!!!!!! Please.... But you know... whenever you think is best for you. God's timing and all that ;)

Keeping Busy!

Dear Elijah,
Since last night was such a confusing and interesting night for us we decided to take it easy and relax today to catch up on the rest we lost last night. We first went for a long walk along the ocean, and then went to the store to get me ingredients to make my first lasagna! I decided today would be a great day to have fun in the kitchen and experiment. So your daddy did home work, took a few tests, read, and got our tax stuff together while I baked and cooked in the kitchen. It was so nice, and kept my mind busy so that I wouldn't keep thinking about WHEN you are coming. Hahaha. While I was cooking I got a call from your Auntie Tiff. It was so nice to hear from her, and hear that they are praying for us over there. She gave me some great advice, and I REALLY appreciate hearing from moms I trust and who have had lots of experience, especially after a night like that! Then I got a letter from my old youth directors wife Tara, and she also had some good and funny things to say. Both of these moms went through that same kind of night and had totally different experiences. So I'm not crazy for worrying a little, but I also feel good about being able to place it in God's hands after a while. You will get here when you get here I guess. Hahaha. The other night when your daddy fell asleep with your bunny Sir Flopps A lot, I took a couple pictures before I woke him up to come to bed. I will post them on here for you to see. They are funny! I think he was smooshing the bunny though! Haha

Daddy and Sir Flopps

How I'm waiting for you :) Baking!!!

Mama's first lasagna! Hope you like it someday :)

What a night!!!

Us at Target yesterday. Trying to walk it out :)

 Dear Elijah,

The smoothie your dad made us last night :)

Well, all day yesterday was a rough one... I was nauseous in the morning hours, and then started to get practice contractions during the afternoon hours. They were pretty painful, and so confusing! I have no idea what real labour pains feel like, but the ones I had yesterday were pretty bad! They started to come more and more throughout the day. Your daddy tried to take my mind off of them, so we went to Starbucks to play cards, and he WON! So not only was I in pain, but I was mad too. Hahaha... Then we went walking around Target so that I could walk around and be entertained at the same time. Hahaha. Oh, and we wanted to get some photos printed for your room ;) At Target I got really bad ones, and had to stop walking. I started to freak out just a little, not too much, but I was concerned I guess. We finally left Target and came home. I went straight for the internet to look up "False Labour", "Pre-contractions," and all that stuff. I read and read and read, while your daddy made me a delicious strawberry banana smoothie! After I drank the smoothie we decided to watch a movie to get my mind off the contractions. That didn't really work. I became sooooooooo uncomfortable, and your daddy was timing the pains. They came and went for over three hours, and were painful but more irritating. I knew every time one would leave it would be back soon! The average time they were coming (although they were quite spastic)  was about 8 minutes apart. We called the hospital finally, and they told us not to bother coming in unless I was having some other symptoms along with the pains. So I'm glad we listened and stayed home. I do not want to be sent home from the hospital. That would be very disappointing. AAAAAgh, Elijah!!! I can't wait to see you! Stop teasing mommy and daddy :) Hahaha. Love you.

Photo Fun With Christina!!!

Dear Elijah,
A while ago I got a text from our friend Christina asking if we would like some pregnant pictures taken because she would appreciate the practice. That sounded fun to me! Plus, I love seeing other people experiment and get to have fun doing what they like to do. She likes taking pictures, and we found out today that she is very talented. The pictures came out great! So thank you to Christina for wanting to practice on our growing little family :) Here are some of the pictures she took.

 You and me are entering our 39th week tomorrow! I can't believe it! It feels amazing finishing up 38 weeks of pregnancy. I am getting pretty tired and uncomfortable, and I would think that you are too! You don;t have much room in there. I tried to tempt you with the cutest little baby girl yesterday who was at your Auntie Erica's bridal shower, but you wouldn't budge. She was a CUTIE too, and you still would not be bribed. Hahaha... Today my mom, (your grandma) took me to get a manicure and pedicure! It was nice, and now I can have pretty nails when I'm giving birth! Hahaha... The only thing is that my little toe still hurts from when I rammed it into your baby bouncer, and the lady kept touching it! OUCH! Hahaha, but thankfully it wasn't the whole time. I just had to suffer a little :) Here is a picture of you and I at 38 weeks with Alison. Alison is the youth directors wife at our church who is pregnant with their little boy as well. Their due date is about a week away from when you are due! So that's pretty cool!

 Ok, well... I'm going to go snuggle with your dad now. We just finished watching a movie and I'm sooooooooo tired now. I'm about to brush my teeth, wash my face, take some TUMS, put on my jammy's and go to bed... Love you baby boy :)

wowzeeee!

Your room looking cuter every day :)

Dear Elijah,
Well, we went to your doctor appointment and you looked great! Measured almost 7 pounds, and your mommy is already dilated. Wooohooo ;) I'm sure you wanted to know that last part... Haha The past few nights have been sleepless, and painful with heartburn and BH contractions... But it's all worth it just thinking about you :) Your daddy and I went out to dinner tonight and it was so much fun! We talked about our first date, our first kiss, the first time your daddy held my hand. He is so sweet and very romantic. Our first date was so cute! He took me to the beach at sunset and started a fire with sticks! He brought a cozy blanket and hot chocolate to share, plus a little radio to play some tunes as we sat and talked all night on the beach. We were laughing, talking, kissing and loving this date tonight. I wanted to go out since it might be our last chance to do so for a while. We will be devoted to you for a while, which we are more than happy about :) Tonight we talked about you too, and how we both can't wait to have you in our arms. When we got home tonight we painted some cute stuff for your room. We also went out and got you a stuffed animal from mommy and daddy. His name is "Sir Flopps A lot" He is a bunny with floppy ears! So cute... Haha, as a matter of fact your daddy is asleep on the couch in your room hugging Sir Flopps A lot... It's really funny! He is tired, but won't go to bed without me, so I better hurry up and finish this letter. We have been going for nice walks along the ocean still, and having dance parties in the living room so that mommy stays active! Guess what? Mommy almost broke her toe yesterday when daddy was at work, and it hurt so bad! I was thinking it would have been funny if I had gone into labor right then. A sprained toe and a baby on the way!!! Haha... Well Elijah, I hope you come soon. This is theeeeeee most patient your mother has ever been. Seriously. Love you

You and me going strong in the 38th week!

I made this for us this morning :) Gotta keep you healthy!

Your dad playing with Sir Flopps A Lot

He was just practicing with his new baby carrier

Painting your name for your room!

Your dad painting the E for your room door :)

Are you here yet :) ???

Dear Elijah,
Hello baby boy! Well, you are looking good and healthy, you have been moving so much, and you are still so cozy in my tummy :) You have been getting pretty heavy! Yeeeeps! I feel like my back is hurting a lot more now, but I guess wether you are in my tummy or in my arms, my back just need to get stronger ;) Now more than ever I have been so anxious to see you! I have been having dreams about you, and in all the dreams you are born and look how you look in your 3D ultrasound. Lots has been happening. We are still using every day till you are here to prepare for you. Yesterday we went to pick up the baby carrier your daddy wanted from Target. We ran into a new mommy there and she talked our heads off for about 20 minutes on "new mommy" advice. I'm sure your daddy did NOT want to hear about some of it. Hahahaha... There was a lot of nursing talk, and we will leave it at that. She was nice ;) The past few nights you have been so squirmy. I have also been getting really harsh BH contractions, and there was even a night your daddy and I thought we might be heading to the hospital! But I do not want to be sent home 5 times before I really go into labor. So I am pretty practical about the pains. I figure I will be sure when you are on your way. I pray so anyway... Also, if I can sleep through some it, I'm sure it's not the real thing. Haha... I was in a "mood" the other night, and was REALLY fatigued and SO tired!!! Actually lately I've been a walking zombie! So I told your daddy... "Babe, I'm still pregnant... and I'm going to be just as pregnant tomorrow as I was today." Sometimes it feels like I have been pregnant for 3 years! Haha. Hey! You just kicked me... heehee. I got you to dance the other day. I sang to you and you were moving to my beat! I'm serious! You really were. Your daddy will softly drum out beats and sing to you too, and you start to kick to his beat! It's so funny! Oh, the other night when we thought you might come join us, we had a HUGE power outage! We didn't have power for hours, so we ended up going to your grandparents house to stay and to save our food! We got to use their refrigerator and freezer, plus it was very nice of them to let us crash there so that our phones would be charged, and our food would be saved. Your daddy has been busy busy at the Gym, and it's been fun to tag along and take pictures. I have some cool ones to show you. Love you Eli. We see the doctor tomorrow, and I'm so excited because she says we are going to take a peek at you! Yay!

I painted your Elijah Train today!

Can't believe we are this big!

2 days into our 38th week!

A few of My Favorite Things...

Dear Elijah,
I wanted to tell you some of my favorite things about the last 9 months!

1. That feeling I got when I saw the plus sign on the pregnancy test!!! Such a strong and joyful feeling. I loved the butterflies in my tummy and the way your daddy hugged me.

2. Knowing someone is growing inside me. I can't begin to explain what that's like, so I won't. I just love it :)

3. Thinking about what you are going to look like. Your daddy? Me? Some distant relative? haha

4. Sharing our joy about having you with all the people who love us has been amazing! Things like this (pregnancy) bring family and friends closer, and also fill places with more fun and joy. It's so great feeling loved and supported through something like this :)

5. This has created an even stronger bond between your daddy and I. I know that day by day we grow closer, and knowing that you have been growing and are coming to join our family has prompted the best moments, conversations and quality time for us.

6. Praying for you the last 9 months has been so fun! It's been a great resource in helping mommy stay close to Jesus and share deep concerns, joys, and other life experiences with my our creator.

7. I have loved the maturing that has happened throughout these months. Half of that is being a married woman now with those responsibilities, but through these last 9 months, I have tried to grow more spiritually, emotionally and mentally. It's been a very cool journey. And I still have so much more to learn! Love it!

8. Feeling you move for the first time! WOW!!! So incredible! I will always be thankful for that blessing! Then continuing to feel you move and grow has been so awesome. I still NEVER get tired of that. I love seeing and feeling you move around. I'm so glad to experience that!

9. All the down time I get while being pregnant has been so nice. I have worked since I was 15. TCBY was mommy's first job, and it seems like I was always busy, working, or going to school. Although I LOVED every moment of all of that, I have enjoyed this new season of resting. By resting I mean, having you grow inside of me and getting to get back into my hobbies. I got to crochet so many blankets and scarfs, paint, get back into photography a bit, write, read, bake, cook, and learn how I wanted to do things around the house. I am so grateful to the morning sickness for that! It made me stop for a while and learn to enjoy a slower pace.

10. All the time your daddy and I have gotten to spend together in our first year of marriage was greatly attributed to you being in my tummy! Forced me to hang home a lot more that I would have if I had not been prego! Heehee... It's been such a blessing.

Now for the things I'm looking forward to and have missed... These are my favorite things about when you finally join us!

1. I get to sleep on my tummy again! wooooohooooooo!!!

2. Wrestling around with your daddy! Which you will find out is so much fun!

3. I can't wait to have a glass of wine again. Sometimes it's nice to sit outside somewhere and drink a margarita or a glass of wine with your daddy and relax. We'll see when that will happen again ;)

4. Being able to breath again! I can't wait till I won't be out of breath just walking to the bathroom! Yipee!

5. Getting to snuggle, kiss and hug YOU! Can't wait to nibble on your cute little toes, and fingers. Your daddy says I can't bite you, but nibbling is fine :)

6. Taking you on walks in the park and by the ocean! We can't wait to take you everywhere with us in your stroller while mommy gets to participate in running and jumping too!

7. Wearing my pants! and my cute shirts that have been shoved away in my closet for nine months! Especially my new yellow bathing suit your daddy bought me! Beach here we come!

8. Getting to wear a dress and HEELS again! Yay! Mommy gets to feel pretty again. Not that I don't now, but I mean more myself, and the without a basketball shaped tummy ;) I love this look actually. I really do. Don't mind it, and your daddy says I look amazing and cute! Hehe, but mommy misses her old shape too ;)

9. Drinking a caffeinated drink at Starbucks... That would be nice here and there, although I don't mind decaf at all really. Just knowing I could... That will be cool. Haha

10. Reading to you, singing to you, playing with you, sharing you, praying with you, and sharing family time all together! Can't wait!!!

Wow... It's real...

Dear Elijah,
Yesterday mommy was sitting on the couch resting and looking through some photos. I came across one of your 3D ultrasound pictures, and started crying because you were so cute! Hahaha... I couldn't believe I was looking at your little face, and that you were just right there in my tummy! I got so happy just knowing that I was pregnant. It happens a lot actually. All of a sudden I just think about you, and I get butterflies and so much joy! But that picture touched me yesterday so much that I teared up thinking about holding you finally. I'm so happy and excited to share my love with you. Last night you woke mommy up by pushing up into my insides and it knocked the wind out of me! Then I was trying to get into a position where I could let you have more room, so I sprung up and straightened up, and you started to squirm around like crazy trying to find a good position. Once you calmed down, I was able to lay back down and try to sleep. It was such a crazy feeling! Lately you have been digging into my sides and up into my ribs, then pushing my ribs out and up! It hurts, but I can't help but laugh when it happens. This morning your dad was eating cereal next to me on the couch, and I sprung up yelling "ouch!" He looked at me and told you to calm down, and stop hurting mommy. Hahahahahaha. It already begins. We love you. Can't wait till you are ready to join us out here :) Below are some photos mommy took just thinking about you :)

Squirmy...

Dear Elijah,
These last few weeks have been the coolest in regards to feeling you. Since you are so big now, I can feel your every movement, and actually see it! I see bumps race across my tummy and get butterflies being able to feel and see you. I NEVER get tired of that. I can sit and watch my tummy for hours. :) I always feel like no one else ever sees how much you move and change the shape of my tummy! You are so SQUIRMY! Although, I was so excited you actually did a show for your Nina and Uncle C.J. the other day at Starbucks! They actually saw you warping my tummy and moving around so much! It's pretty amazing when other can share that with me. Saturday morning I started feeling pretty bad Braxton Hicks contractions, and also a lot of pressure in my lower stomach! It was crazy, and thankfully I'm not very jumpy, and didn't just assume I was going into labor. Hahaha... I let them come and go throughout the day. They were pretty uncomfortable, and sometimes painful, but I just didn't think it was anything to be worried about. I'm sure when the real ones hit, I'LL KNOW! Hahaha... My brother and sister on the other hand are not that calm... They were sure I was going into labor there at Starbucks. We were all laughing and talking, and then I make one move or uncomfortable face, and they both look right at me asking if I was ok, and if I was having contractions! Hahahaha. They got their cell phones out and started timing my pains. It was hilarious! Needless to say I did not go into labor at Starbucks, and I got through the night just fine :) Gotta love family. They care so much, and it's very sweet.

Last night I mentioned to your daddy that I wished I could just lay on my tummy! I was craving tummy time. Hahaha... I was on our bed saying, man I can't wait to lay on my stomach again, it's been so long, and it's crazy how you take those things for granted! Next thing I know, I walked into the living room and your dad had made a pillow contraption so that I could lay on my tummy! Hahaha. I was so surprised and so touched that he did that! It made my heart melt, and I tried it out, and it was so nice to be in that position for a while! So I got to rest facing down which is something I haven't been able to do for so long! I was a happy camper!

I have been more active the past few days trying to keep my mind occupied with other things. Your daddy and I have been spending time with friends and family, getting out for walks along the coast, going to starbucks to play cards, and last night we had a very fun impromptu game of Boccie Ball with Your grandma Diane and grandpa Jim! We played Dusk Boccie, and your daddy and I finally won against your grandparents! That was a first for us. Every other time we have played with them, they have won. But last night we did, and it was so fun! Hahaha... We did a celebrations dance :) We were those annoying winners people like to throw things at. Heehee... But we were just so excited to actually win! Plus, it was our first time playing with our new set. I got it for your daddy on Valentines Day this year, and we hadn't been able to play yet. So it was pretty cool breaking them in :) Ok, well your daddy just got home from work, and I need a hug, so I'm going to go attack him. Love you Eli :)

Such a sweet husband!

SO NICE!!!