Checking Into My Hotel

It's 4:30 am. We are on our way to the hospital! Pray for us! I'll be posting more up-to-date info on Facebook. We'll let you know when she arrives. Stay tuned...

Happy 5 Year Anniversary, Honey!

Happy 5 Year Anniversary, Honey!

We met at the end of our first year of college together.

He knew he was going to marry me before we ever had our first conversation.

I knew within the first phone call before we ever had our first date.

He proposed to me 3 1/2 years later while I was interning at a summer camp....

.... at a waterfall. I was totally surprised.

It was fantastic.

He has been committed to me from day one.

I never doubt his love for me.

He tells me he loves me and that I am beautiful every day.

We spent our honeymoon in a cabin during his fall break

(he had one semester left of school after me).

We lived together for three months before he left for training for 10 months. We were separated the whole time minus three short weekends.

We made it to Germany to spend our 1st anniversary there-- married and living together!

He's my best friend.

In five years, we've moved 5 times, lived in three different states and 2 countries, traveled to many more, had one baby, due with the second any day now, and I don't expect the adventure to end there...

He's a great companion, provider, love, Daddy, and so much more.

God knew the one whom He had in mind just for me.

He is strong where I am weak.

I compliment him in all the right ways, too.

He's never made me feel like I am anything less than apart of who he is and he treats me like his own body (Eph. 5.).

He is gentle and tender with my heart.

I don't struggle with my body image anymore because of how God has used him to refine me and make me feel secure.

I can be who I really am and he never leaves, nor do I ever feel the threat of that happening. In fact, he has shown me God's grace because he loves me even more.

I wouldn't want to do life, parenting, or preparing to meet Jesus in heaven with anyone else but him.

I love you, honey!

Happy Anniversary!

I can't wait to spend tonight with you!

Applique All The Way

So, I've seen people do cute applique shirts all year long (like this one) and have wanted to give it a try every time I see a new blog post. I've also read how addicting it is. Oh, yes, it's true. This is so fun and so addicting.

I've been preparing a goodie bag for Hannah for "birth day" since it will be a big day for her, too. I made them matching big and lil' sister shirts. I can't wait to see them on!

Tip #1: when using letters to applique, if at all possible, use felt because it doesn't fray. Sewing around each letter is cumbersome and felt makes it so much easier because you don't have to worry so much about getting every stitch just perfect. Tip #2: when using letters, find felt stickers like these pictured below. I was going to use stencils and cut fabric but I couldn't find any that I liked and I am too meticulous anyway. I never like how my letters turn out even with stencils. Plus, they fray and it takes so much more time to sew them onto the fabric. I used Wonder Under to attach them and then (Tip #3:) sewed around each letter with a straight stich that was super close together to minimize the thread that you could see around the outline.

Another plain shirt that I bought where I thought these letters would be cute...

This is a gift for a friend.

I learned another new trick from a friend about how to go around the edges using a very close zigzag stitch around the seam. I am sure all of you knew how to do that already, but remember, I am still a beginner. That's what I did with these below.

And in other news, Hannah likes to play her bass guitar like Daddy. She has a strap around the neck made from 550 cord and dances when she jams like a rock star.

37 Week Pics

Tomorrow I begin 38 weeks. I have a feeling that we are close. I had more painful contractions today and I'm getting that burst of energy to do everything I can to accomplish last-minute things before chaos ensues. I could be wrong, but I have a feeling that we might see this baby by the end of the week or early next week. Oh, that would make me very happy and infinitely more comfortable! For those of you who ask and care, here are some pictures.

This is 37 weeks with Hannah (she only made it two more weeks before she entered the world). I think I was uncomfortable the last two weeks with her and that's it. No lie. She was 6.9. Nice and easy. I cannot even button those pants this time, let alone sit down in them.

Same week with her....

Here I am now! If I were brave enough to post the bare belly shot (which none of you are getting- okay, maybe my Mom and sister) you'd see that we are going to have a bigger baby this time. Oh, come soon pllleeaaaseee! This is gonna hurt! Plus, I am totally out of clothes to wear that fit and I refuse to go and buy more.

My MIL is coming tomorrow to love on us. Yea! It will put my mind at rest having some one here to help should we go to the hospital early. I'll keep you posted (no pun intended).

A Conversation With A Two-Year Year Old

"Hannah, how are your feeling?" I asked as I was sitting down to the lunch table.

"Um, not very good. Um, I mean good, but not higher," she said.

"Oh, so you still don't feel very good but not as bad as the past couple of days?" I asked (only a mother would understand that sentence ;).

"Yeah. But, Mommy, I feel very frustrated," disclosing some of her feelings about us fighting a short time ago.

(She was refusing to obey some of the things I had told her to do and did some things I specifically told her not to do and we still had no resolution. We were both feeling pretty frustrated at that point which is why I was surprised that she expressed herself so openly when I asked how she was feeling... we've been working on "doing everything without arguing or complaining..." Phil. 2:14-16 since there has been a lot of that happening when we ask for something to be done.)

"Why are you frustrated?" I asked.

"Um, I don't know."she said.

"Are you frustrated because Mommy wouldn't let you go outside and because I didn't want you to go downstairs while we were upstairs finishing getting ready?" trying to articulate for her.

"Yes," she admitted.

I then re-explained why I didn't want her downstairs while I was upstairs, and reminded her of my explicit instructions to not open the gate (it's not back in working order since I've painted) along with her refusal to come back upstairs to help me carry down some of her things.

"Hannah, do you know it was the wrong thing to disobey what Mommy had asked of you (Eph. 6:1-3) and that when you disobey, you will always be left feeling frustrated?" I explained.

"Yes, Mommy," she said.

"Hannah, I think that you need to apologize to Mommy," I asked.

"I am sorry Mommy for not doing the right thing." she said, finally with a softened heart.

"I forgive you, sweetie. Thank you for apologizing. And, thank you for telling me how you feel. I am glad that you told me. I love you." I said.

I was really humbled today that in spite of my frustration and delaying on taking care of this issue (I was mad!) she expressed to me how she felt because things were not right between us. I am thankful that even though Hannah is disciplined often (oh, it wears on me!), she longs for the restoration that comes from seeking and accepting forgiveness and doesn't like remaining in a state of wondering if I am still upset (which is why things need to be taken care of quickly). Repentance and reconciliation is the fruit of discipline and it's in moments like this one that I am encouraged to keep going.

The Future Of Food

Right now, on Hulu.com, you can watch The Future Of Food. This film did and excellent job of showing the very complex issues that come from genetically modified foods. I think it's safe to say that most people don't know what GM (or Genetically Engineered/GE) foods are or, at the very least, don't understand how large of a role they play in our nation's and the world's food economy.

If you eat food, you should know a little bit more about what GMO and GE foods are because, as a consumer, you should have the right to make informed decisions about what your eating. Currently, in the US, no one is required to label GMO foods. You would be overwhelmed if you knew how much it's currently in our diet from infant formula to crackers to cereal. You name it, it's there. Many other countries have had to fight a huge battle to get labeling on their products or to fight to not have GMO seed and crops be apart of their nation's food supply.

This is only ONE aspect of some things that I think should be changed about our nation's food industry and only ONE aspect of why we try to support our local farmers and eat organic foods. Trust me, the rabbit hole is pretty deep when talking about issues like this one.

After you watch the film, I'd love to hear about what you think... but, watch the film first.