{15 Weeks}

 Another fun week in Central City. I brought Truman lunch a couple of times and decided to keep him company in the tractor. It was so much fun to learn about the details of planting (I have little knowledge when it comes to farming) and see my man in action. I must admit, he is quite a stud when he's covered in dirt :)

 Wore my Palladiums on the farm!

 Spent the warm mornings on the deck. I'm so ready for summer.

 *Not actually driving the tractor* Wouldn't want Lanny to see this and have a heart attack!

 Beans was intrigued by the dirt bikes.

 Anth and Trums took the bikes for a spin.

 Beautiful view from the deck.

 My man.

 Had to snap a pic of the 15 week belly. It's partially legit! I officially have a bump but it still continues to grow throughout the day.

I have been so tired this week. I feel even more exhausted than I did in the first trimester. It might have something to do with working longer hours at the coffee shop--my body may not be used to it yet. Haven't felt any movement from the baby yet (that I'm aware of) but the doc said because of the position of my placenta I may not feel it for a while. Dreaming of what that moment will feel like :) 

New cravings have been lemon drops candy (which is really strange because I've never been a huge lemon fan), chicken fried rice, and pretzels from the Pretzelmaker. I'm hungry for lunch by 10am every morning and I'm constantly eating throughout the day. It's great to have such an appetite!

I have been looking forward to this weekend for quite some time. My mother and her friend are taking me to Kansas City to do some shopping and have a girls weekend. I can't even remember the last time I went shopping so this will be such a treat. When I decided to quit pursuing my dream of becoming a fashion stylist, I kind of put my wardrobe on the back burner to focus on other things. I'm really excited to get creative again with my style and embrace my growing bump. My goal for this pregnancy is to buy as little maternity clothing as possible and find ways to dress my bump with normal clothing. It will be a challenge but I'm up for it!

Baby Faeh can hear music in a week so I plan on spending the next few days creating some killer playlists.

Have a happy weekend,

Jord.

{Week 14}

 A week in pictures...

Baby Faeh's first concert at the Avett Brothers. Couldn't hear yet, but there will be a lot of banjo palyin' on my tummy pretty soon!

 13 Weeks

 

Week one of farm life has been good to us. We are settling into somewhat of a schedule and loving a simpler life. Beans is also loving the farm.

Anth and Beans have become quite close.

Lounging on the hammock during a beautiful evening.

14 Week belly. Again, it tends to grow throughout the day so my large belly in the evening is more a result of my constant eating :)

Peace.

We attempted to eat the top of our wedding cake just so we could say we did... it wasn't so great.

Headed to Lincoln for our 14 week appointment today! So excited to hear a little heartbeat.
J.

{The Two of Us}

5 jobs + 3 moves + 1 sold car + 1 baby = our first year of marriage.

This has been the most difficult and most joyful year of my life so far. I said "I do" knowing Truman very well and knowing realistically that marriage so young meant a few trials and it certainly has been a year of trials but the Lord has provided over and over again.

Life with Truman has painfully exposed some sin in my life that I didn't know existed prior, but most importantly he's shown me that it's okay when things don't go as planned and that there can be joy found in any circumstance. He has taught me that you choose happiness (even though I hate when he says it when I'm pouting!) and that no matter how hard the circumstance it is most important to stick together.

I love that we're different (in so many ways) but I love that we're still able to share interest in things like music (that is how I fell in love with him in the first place!). Being a wife has shown me how important it is to encourage your husband and serve him selflessly. And though my sin causes me to fail on a day-to-day basis, I find it so amazing that God's grace gives me the chance to wake up the next day and try again. And I will every day for the rest of my life. This next year I am looking forward to staying home and caring for my husband and child full time. There is nothing more satisfying to me than serving my family and I am thankful I have the opportunity. 

Here's to many more lessons learned, more snuggles on his chest, more jam sessions in the car, more babies :), more deep and honest conversations, and an ever growing love for Christ and each other. 

I love you, Truman Faeh, and by God's grace I hope to show you that every day. 

**Music is really important to Truman and I. We have shared so many memories dancing in our living room, going to shows, and laying around with the record player on. I compiled a playlist of us. Our favorites, songs that are a perfect description of who we are together. You can have a listen on Spotify if you'd like! I posted my current favorite below, as well.**

{Broke & In Love}

Listen here!

Think About the Two of Us - Tim and Nicki Bluhm

You and Me - Penny & The Quarters

No One's Gonna Love You - Band of Horses

If It's the Beaches - The Avett Brothers

Harvest Moon - Neil Young

Did You Come Here - The Wheel

April Come She Will - Simon & Garfunkel

Nursery Inspiration

Since we are in transition between Lincoln and Central City, I've been blessed to have a few days to relax and get excited about little details for baby Faeh. With my recent growing pains, the nurse told me to do my best to stay off my feet so I took advantage of this time to plan my babe's nursery.

I don't consider myself to be a master decorator, but I find a lot of joy in being creative and using my style as an inspiration. (And thankfully I have people with the decorating talent to guide me in the right direction, *cough* Shanda :)

Since I'll be decorating on a very small budget, I plan on making a lot of things myself using natural products like branches, feathers, rocks, etc. I'll be making the mobile out of hanging branches and feathers.

I plan on hanging antlers above our rocking chair and I have a wonderful sister-in-law who is on the lookout for me :)

 We found the perfect (and cheapest) crib that will fit right in with the natural theme.

 I love the idea of rocks painted with metallic gold. Again, cheap!

 Ah, the leather pouf. So expensive. I'm going to have to do some hunting to find a cheaper version.

 My favorite project will be to wrap branches with natural and metallic string and mount on the wall above the baby's crib. Such a neat way to spice up a room!

I'm having a lot of fun planning for the future and finally feeling like a baby is on the way. Though all the decorations and crafts are fun, I will be perfectly happy with a healthy baby in my arms.

Cheers, J.

{13 Weeks}

Not much of a baby bump yet (unless it's due to bloating) but I'm hoping within the next few weeks I'll have a round tummy to show! At week 13 I'm still a little sleepy, but my energy levels are up compared to the rest of the first trimester. 

I have had a large appetite and I'm very thankful for it. I become a mad woman when I'm craving something and I won't rest until I have it. Cravings lately have included...

-Pickles

-Celery & Cucumbers with Ranch

-Popcorn and M&M's

-Green apples with caramel

-Cereal and milk

-Buffalo wings (or anything spicy)

-Noodles & Company 

-Baked potato from Wendy's (conveniently located right behind our house!)

We had a bit of a scare over Easter weekend due to some abnormal cramping. The nurses were a little concerned and wanted to see me to make sure everything was okay. It was a really difficult time for me--not knowing if these cramps were an indication of miscarriage. It was the first time during this pregnancy that I realized this baby will never belong to me. I felt some sort of entitlement like there was no way I could lose my baby, but I have to learn to give up control. The possibility of loss is never gone...not even after birth and if I don't learn how to come to terms with that now it will drive me crazy.

I am so, so thankful for this gift. My goal for the second trimester is to live less in fear and more in pure joy of each moment.

Week 13 was a rough week, but I got to see my baby sucking it's thumb so all is well :)
PLUS baby Faeh's first concert will be The Avett Brothers tonight so I'm a pretty happy mama.

Cheers,
Jord

A Farmer's Wife

I have always been someone who needs control and plans in my life.

I don't deal well with change and I almost always mentally break down when I can't see what's coming in the future.

Well, the Lord must have been laughing the day I said "I do" because he knew it was going to be one heck of a year for Truman and I. There have been more changes than comfort, less plans, and more surprises (hello baby Faeh) than I ever could have dealt with without a graceful husband and a comforting God.

Just when I thought I could sit back a coast for a little while...plans changed. 

Due to many different circumstances, Truman and I have decided that it is best to move back to the farm so Truman can help his dad during the Spring. This was a quick decision (we didn't have much time) so I'm sad to say that I've had a few breakdowns along the way, but I know it's best for our family at the time. It's very humbling to have to move in with your in-laws and admit that you need help. I'm so thankful that we have this option and families that are so willing to help us when we need it. 

Slightly terrified of what the next few months have in store for us, but very excited to play the role of "farmer's wife" and live at a slower pace for a while.

Lord, you keep us on our toes, but you always provide.

Cheers,

Jord.

Easter Preparation {Holy Week}

Easter is one of those holidays that comes around and strikes me with it's reality. 

I always leave church feeling so emotional and grateful, but regretful that I didn't spend enough time preparing and digging into it's meaning. 

This year I really wanted to soak it in. I wanted to feel the pain and passion that Jesus felt. I wanted to feel the sorrow of my sin. I wanted to feel the joy of my salvation. 

I want to feel these things year round, but I thought Easter was the perfect place to start.

Ann Voskamp, an author I have a huge respect for,  had a few book recommendations that I purchased and absolutely loved. 

1. Reliving the Passion by Walter Wangerin Jr.

2. Devotions for Lent 

I also recently came across an amazing worship album (thanks to Truman's friend) that I plan on repeating all week. Chelsea Moon with Uncle Daddy created a wonderful album of hymns with a folk twist. As I have mentioned before, it is very difficult for me to find quality worship music and when I do it's like gold. My favorite song to play around Easter time is "How Deep the Father's Love for Us". Each word is piercing and beautiful--never failing to remind me of God's glory and amazing love.

I have the entire album below for your listening pleasure, I hope you take the time to listen and praise over the victory of our sins.

Cheers,

Jord.

Weeks 9 & 10

I have been very blessed so far in the first trimester. Most of my symptoms have been fairly minor when I compare stories to other women. Little to no nausea and barely any morning sickness (praise God!!!). The first few weeks were the most difficult. I just felt yucky and different. Thankfully at week 7 I started to feel so good that I called my nurse to make sure that I was okay!

I felt so good, in fact, that I decided to go to Costa Rica with the family (which is something I wasn't planning on doing when I found out I was pregnant). Though I was incredibly tired the whole time, I'm really glad I went. We even snuck in our first baby bump (or lack thereof) picture. 

Can't wait to tell Baby Faeh that its first tropical experience was in my tummy!

(Week 9)

I was so ready to get back and hear my little babe's heartbeat at 10 weeks. There truly is nothing more beautiful than the sound of life. We waited at the doctor's office for over an hour and it was complete torture. The whole time I was trying to remind myself that if something was to go wrong it was a part of God's plan. I needed to prepare myself for the possibility of no heartbeat. Truman could tell I was nervous (he says I talk about stupid things when I'm nervous) so he was making fun of me the whole time. 

The nurse came in with her little device to detect a heartbeat. Those few minutes laying there waiting for a heartbeat felt like hours...and there it was. A faint little heartbeat. I looked at Trums with tears in my eyes and took a huge breath. Reassurance. Thank you, Jesus. We went into the ultrasound room to meet our OB. With barely even a hello she rubbed the cold jelly onto my tummy and said "let's see this baby." I appreciated that :) Within seconds we could see this tiny little profile of a face. It started to move it's head and tiny arms back and forth and we just sat there in silence. Totally speechless. Watching our baby stretch its growing arms. I was crying (of course) and I remember being hit by the reality of God's design. It is beyond words.

(Week 10)

(My belly isn't actually that big yet, I was just SUPER bloated, woops!)

We are trying to ease Beans into the idea of another baby around the house. I think she's still processing :) She took one sniff at the ultrasound and ran in the other direction.

Feeling real blessed.

Cheers, Jord.