{31 Weeks}

You would think that after 7 long months of waiting, 2 months wouldn't seem so bad. However, week 30 was accompanied by some discouragement and impatience. 

I want my girl so badly it hurts.

In reality, 2 months really isn't that far away and I have plenty to do before she arrives, but I'm struggling with enjoying the present moments. I don't want to wish time away. Time that I have with Truman, time that I have to myself, and even time that she gets to spend in my tummy. I know that once she's here I will really miss that movement inside of me. So I'm going to try really hard to take it one day at a time and appreciate the season I'm in. (Knowing that it's totally impossible without the peace of Christ.)

On a lighter note, we put the crib together last week!

Little P is going to sleep in our room for the first few months, but I can't wait until she's ready to sleep in the crib!

 Beans didn't quite share in our joy...she'll come around.

31 Weeks

My cousin got married this weekend so it was fun to spend time with family and even dance a little.

 Aunt Kal likes to touch the belly.

At 31 weeks...

-I have been taking lavender baths nightly. I'm feeling more achy and crampy than usual so the warm water feels good before bed. 

-I get uncomfortable when I go out in public. I've always been really self conscious about my size (fast metabolism makes it extremely hard for me to gain weight) and being pregnant didn't really add weight it just added a large belly. People stare...blatantly...especially women. 

-Little P has definitely moved up because I can barely breathe at times. However, I LOVE feeling her little feet kicking so high. It scares the crap out of me every time, but I love it. 

-Birthing class is going great. I walk the fine line of being completely terrified of labor and thinking "I can't do this!" and having this "bring it on" mentality like it's going to be okay and I can totally handle it. Trying to gain mental strength and practice on my breathing...

-I've been playing this song every morning to get the day started. Enjoy!

Help!

Friends, I need help. 

I'm trying to track down a changing table for the nursery (preferably a cheap one that I can paint) and I know exactly what I want but I'm having NO luck! I have checked a few antique stores in Lincoln. Can anyone with some more expertise recommend any places? I would really appreciate it!

Here's my inspiration:

{Spontaneous Date}

We should have known that the two of us could not simply sit outside of a Band of Horses show without the urge to splurge on a couple of tickets...

Since the little babe came into the picture, we have had to put our own fun on the back burner to save money in preparation for her (which we are glad to do) by forgoing a Colorado vacation, bluegrass festival, and multiple great shows that have come through Nebraska. Because we didn't want to spend money on tickets to see Band of Horses, we decided to make a cheap date out of it and park outside the venue in hopes of being able to at least hear a few songs. We headed down to Pioneers Park and made a pit stop at the BEST little ice cream joint called C & L Dairy Sweet. They make lemon ice cream on Tuesdays and it is to. die. for. I'm already counting down the days until next Tuesday...

We pulled into the parking lot, turned off the car, rolled down the windows and watched as tons of people walked up the hill in excitement for the show. It wasn't five minutes before Truman said "you know...I haven't used my birthday money yet..." with this adorable, giddy smile. It took us about a minute to justify our actions before we were walking up the hill with the rest of the bunch. We couldn't stop smiling at how spontaneous we were being because it was completely out of character for us to make such a quick decision. 

Though we won't be having any more (expensive) spontaneous dates for a while, this was well worth it. This was our best date by far and I will remember it forever. Slight breeze, awesome music, kicking baby, and snuggling my man in the grass. Plus, I can't wait to add Band of Horses to the list of shows baby P has already attended. This girl is going to be born with a killer taste in music :)

(30 weeks)

Unflattering picture, but I needed proof to show my girl later on. 

Trums and I aren't huge My Morning Jacket fans. They are hit and miss for me. Some of their stuff I'm obsessed with and some of it just isn't my thing, but either way I cannot deny that they put on one heck of a show. I love Jim James' voice and he rocks out like no other--flipping his poofy hair around like it's nobody's business. 

*If any of you have seen Elizabethtown, just imagine the scene where Rucks (a.k.a. MMJ) sings Free Bird at the funeral and the sprinklers come on. Classic. *

My little miss was rocking around in my tummy all night. I had such a thankful heart as we sat snuggled in the grass--the three of us. I'm so thankful for Truman and his free spirited nature (when appropriate) and I can't wait to share more moments like this in the future. Baby P and I have been loving this lately. Enjoy!

561. Barefoot on the grass

562. Dancing silhouettes

563. Baby kicks during the show

564. Slight summer breeze

565. Loud music overtaking

566. Spontaneous husband

567. Damp skin from humidity

568. Rain drops at the perfect moment

Christmas in July {28 Weeks}

Week 28 felt like Christmas. We started making some of the bigger purchases for our gal and it made me even more excited for her arrival. I went to Colorado with my mom and her friend to get the crib at IKEA and see James Taylor at Red Rocks. It was a treat to be able to get away for the weekend, but I was really wishing Truman could have been there. (He stayed back to work...so thankful for him). 

It meant so much to me that my girl's second concert in my tummy was James Taylor. I grew up listening to him and plan on doing the same for my children. It will be fun to show her these pictures when she gets older. It was my first time at Red Rocks and I had no idea that a serious hike was required to get to our seats! 

I love that the bigger she gets the more movement I feel. 

The back aches and blurred vision aren't so fun, but it's hard to complain when I think about how miraculous this all is. 

I think we have officially settled on a middle name! Well, I'm pretty close to convincing Truman anyway. He's being pretty stubborn :)

I added a few songs to the list I play for baby P. We've been listening to a lot of George Harrison and Johnny Cash lately. She seems to be quite content :)

Have a listen...

{For My Girl}

Behind That Locked Door - My Morning Jacket

Muskrat Love - America

In The Sweet Bye and Bye - Johnny Cash

Little Bitty Pretty One - Thurston Harris

Man of the Year

Today I celebrate my other half.

If there were a Man of the Year award it would belong to Truman. 

He has been through many difficult jobs and a prolonged school year yet still manages to laugh richly and love me well. I am so blessed to have a God-fearing husband with a sound mind and a heart for others. He teaches me grace and never fails to show it at my worst moments.

So here's to you, babe. 

We love you and are so thankful for the man that you are.

Happy Birthday.

 

-Your girls

{27 Weeks}

It feels SO good to be in the third trimester (well, not literally--I could do without the back pain, leg cramps, and sleepless nights) and know that we are less than 3 months away from meeting our girl. 

You know how most people have a really busy wedding season? Well, for us it's baby season. So many women in my life are pregnant and due in the next 2-5 months. There must be something in the water this year :) Either that or we just suck at the Natural Family Planning thing, ha! Although it's torture to watch my friends hold their little ones before me, I'm so excited that little P and I will have a lot of people to share this special time with.

My sister-in-laws threw me a beautiful baby shower last weekend. Driving home with a trunk-load of diapers really put things into perspective! They used inspiration for the nursery to decorate so there were lots of branches, feathers, and gold jars scattered around the tables. I'm so thankful for all the hard work they put into it. 

As I've said before, I am loving my current "housewife" role as we transition back into Lincoln. We had a few friends over for dinner so I took the opportunity to make use of my Pinterest board and serve some fun summery drinks. Non-alcoholic, of course, but still delicious!

Strawberry-Basil Soda (I used mint from the garden instead)

(recipe here)

 

Strawberry Peach Limeade

 

(recipe here)

And if I haven't bombarded you with enough recipes yet, I tried a new cookie recipe and it was a huge hit. Plus, it made a TON of cookies so I shared with just about everyone I know (which is my favorite part of baking).

Toffee-Almond Cookies

 (recipe here)

I'm a personal believer that one can only be productive in the kitchen with the help of a killer playlist.

I decided to whip out my college freshman favorite, M83, along with some other tunes that forbid you to stand still (and possibly thrust that baby bump back and forth...). Baby P was digging it. She has good taste.

Enjoy!

{Move}

Reunion - M83

Paradise - Coldplay

Pull My Heart Away - Jack Penate

Feel It All Around - Washed Out

Midnight City - M83

Keep The Car Running - Arcade Fire

New Theory - Washed Out

Eyes Wide Open - Gotye

Too Young - Phoenix

Wake Up - Arcade Fire

Hurts Like Heaven - Coldplay

Hold Out - Washed Out

Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall - Coldplay

No Cars Go - Arcade Fire

So Near - Penate

{Weeks 25 & 26}

I truly had no idea that I would be moved back into my own home at 26 weeks.

Plans changed (story of our lives) and we decided it was best to head back to Lincoln. It feels SO good to be home again. I took things for granted like tidying up the house on my free time, walking Coco around our neighborhood, and making dinner for Trums. Returning to my daily tasks has given me such a thankful heart.

During week 25 I took some time to organize my little gal's clothes. She doesn't have much yet (and I'll probably keep it pretty basic the first few months) but I couldn't stop smiling as I was hanging her tiny little things on tiny little hangers...Beans helped. 

We came home a few weeks ago to our out-of-control garden. Seriously, it's embarrassing. I had NO idea our cucumbers would take off like that and I let them grow on the ground so they would be fat and juicy. Well, apparently it's working because we enjoyed our first cucumber of the season!

We weren't very patriotic this year because we spent the 4th of July moving our stuff back to Lincoln. However, I celebrated America by indulging in a red, white, and blue Starkiss from Dairy Queen. I didn't even know these things still existed! I used to eat them all the time as a kid and I was randomly craving them the other day. I was embarrassed to ask the DQ employee if they were still available, but when she said yes I screamed like a little girl.

We spent this last weekend at my family's cabin at Harlan lake. We always have a great time with them and it was fun to lounge around in the sun all day.

(26 Weeks)

Can't believe I'm approaching the 3rd trimester!
I love the hot and humid weather (seriously I would take it every day of the year if I could) and always dread the coming fall, but I have to say I'm pretty darn excited for October. I was in Hobby Lobby the other day and they were setting out their fall decorations. Usually that makes me so angry because I want to hold onto summer for as long as I possibly can, but I got butterflies in my stomach at the realization that fall isn't too far away...and I'm totally okay with that.

Pregnancy updates:
 -The belly button is starting to protrude! I'm such a weirdo but I've been looking forward to this all pregnancy. I think it's so cute.

-I officially have the "linea nigra" (line down my belly)

-My belly has grown significantly and I can now feel her whole body adjusting as opposed to just little kicks. It is so much fun to sit and watch her move back and forth. I felt her tiny little foot pressing out above my belly button yesterday.


-The little stinker still has her hands up next to her head. We couldn't even see her face at our last appointment. We have to go back to the hospital to meet with the specialist next week so I'm hoping we'll be able to get a better look then.

-I passed my glucose test!!! The phone rang last week and I prepared myself for bad news, but they said my test came back normal and my hemoglobin was a little low...going to be more intentional about getting enough iron these next few weeks. 

-I have been craving starkisses from DQ and ice cream from Ivanna Cone so if anyone in Lincoln wants to indulge with me let me know!