Floating...

Dear Eli,
We had such a blessed, sweet, fun, exciting weekend! I invited my cousins over for a Barbecue at our new place, and it was so much fun getting to see and hang out with my family FINALLY! I haven't seen most of them since we have been back. Yesterday around 2pm everyone came over, and it was just so nice to be around them. I've missed them so much, and it's nice to have cousins who are some of your best friends. We ended up watching a video of you that your daddy and I just got from the last 4D ultrasound we had. They were so sweet to watch it and get all excited :) They saw you, and your long legs, and cute face. I could watch that video a thousand times! Then after that we popped in mine and your dad's wedding video. They had never seen it before. We got to see your cousin Nick run down the Isle crying, Your Uncle C.J. breaking it down on the dance floor, and your uncle Oscar cheering on your daddy as he sang "I believe in a thing called love" at the reception! It's hard to believe that was less than a year ago, and now we are entering a whole other exciting time in our lives with you coming to join in on all the fun! We ended up staying up till midnight talking, laughing and of course telling funny and embarrassing stories. You will find out that your family loves to laugh ;) It was such a refreshing time for your daddy and I to be able to relax and soak in the people we've been missing. They are so excited for you to get here, and they all plan on being at the hospital when you are born!!! We are all also SOOOOOOOOO excited about another event taking place this May!!! Your Uncle Oscar and Auntie Erica are getting married, and it's coming up so soon! I'm hoping to make it to Erica's bridal shower, but that depends on you Eli. Her shower is kind of close to your due date! Hahaha. So you can't be a thunder stealer Elijah, you have to wait till after your Auntie's tea party! Hahaha.

Today, Sunday the 21st, we had a baby shower for you! It was given by the Trinity Lutheran Church women. I was beyond blessed by their love, support and generosity towards our little growing family. They all showed up with smiles and words of support. They all were so nice and gave you so many sweet gifts. I was touched by the whole thing. Then my mom, your grandma Darcie, gave a small devotions. She read about the Elijah in the bible who you are named after :) and then she read a word from the bible that she was given for YOU! She of course made me cry like I asked her not to. She gave me a book called The Power of a Praying Parent, which means a lot to me since she read it while praying for me and my siblings. I also got to talk to an old friend of mine who's name is Annalisa. She has been living in Bolivia helping at an orphanage. She spends time with little children and God has used her so much out there. Your daddy and I had been praying for her ministry over there and for the kids that God was loving through her. They don't have much, and most of them don't even know what a family is. We sometimes forget how blessed we are to have families who love and care for us. But it's people like Annalisa and others who are inspiring and let us see that God can use others to love others. He can bring people love who don't have it. I will continue to pray for the kids over in Bolivia, and since Annalisa is now home here in San Pedro, that will be a good reminder to me to never forget to pray for children who need homes and love. I am so blessed and joyful knowing that you have so many people willing to pray for you even while you are in my tummy. You are being welcomed with prayer, and I appreciate these ladies so much for that. So thank you Trinity Lutheran Church, you all mean a lot to this family. It's so nice being a part of a caring Christ centered community. And on another note, my belly button has yet to pop all the way out, and I have yet to receive a stretch mark! HAHAHA... Now that I wrote that I'm going to wake up tomorrow morning with an outie belly button and my very first stretch mark :/ heehee. Love you baby boy!

Grandma, Mommy, and Grandma!

Your Nina, Mommy and Grandma!

Annalisa (my childhood friend) and Nina!