Getting closer.

 Our bedroom is officially "baby ready."  I knew the feeling I wanted in there, from the curtains to the bedspread to the seating.  Jake's Mom made the curtains this week.  Truly, the finishing touch. I found a few yards of burlap and some beautiful lace at a garage sale. With the two combined, it's exactly what I was thinking.  It's special too having her handiwork surrounding us. I told Jake the other day that I can hardly wait to hole up in this room for days on end with our new baby! xoxo.

   My Mom is usually here the first few nights after our babies are born, "until my milk comes in", (LOL, doesn't that sound sexy)?  She sleeps with the baby and brings it to me to nurse through the night.  If it's fussy she will give it the tiniest amount of formula from a baby spoon.  I trust her.  She's been through this way with her own 8 children and with over 20 grandchildren.  She knows what she's doing!  How grateful I am to have her loved poured out this way.   Also, my man will be taking a few days off work!  I cannot wait to have him around day and night, to welcome our baby, lose some sleep together and get to know this new soul....and the children are super excited to have so much time with him.  They told me this morning that they will make me coffee and waffles and bring them to me in bed!  Ok, well if you insist!!  


We're welcoming a new baby, I'm no fool, it's a TRANSITION for sure, but in the grand scheme of things, these first few newborn weeks are SO SHORT!!  I know that I will sleep again, (something that scared me with my firstborn...wondering if I would ever be able to get a good night's sleep again.  I remember just crying with anxiety when I was able to get some sleep because I KNEW I'd be woken up again and I could hardly handle it)!  Is it any wonder that one of the final labor phases is called "transitioning"?   

That is a mini pack-n-play. When I was pregnant with Tyler we lived in a small one bedroom apartment so instead of registering for a full size one, we picked this one.  It's been one of the best things we've used for our babies.  It moves easily and fits nicely anywhere.  This is by far my favorite placement of it.  Fridge nook to Baby nook.  I have a feeling that when I'm not "wearing" this baby, it will be in here during waking hours. 

Um, I'm having a baby.

any day. 

technically not until the 24th of june or later....but, THAT'S SO SOON!!!!  Sometimes it just HITS me!  

Especially staring at a massive inflatable pool that's lodged in the doorway to the nursery!  It's quite the sight!  We'll fill it when I go into labor, so for now it's just inflated and ready to go. 

I'm so excited to feel those first few real contractions come on....because it means the baby will BE HERE BEFORE TOO LONG!!  Work yes, labor yes, one of the most intense experiences, YES, but SUCH GREAT REWARD on the other side!!!!

"there is power that comes to women when they give birth, (AND IT DOESN'T MATTER WHERE OR HOW).  They don't ask for it, it simply invades them.  Accumulates like clouds on the horizon and passes through, carrying a child with it.  Birth can silence our ego, and for the moment, we feel ourselves overcome by a larger life pounding through our own."  

~a wise birth by penny armstrong~

I've gone a bit collage crazy the last few months. 

Here's one in the downstairs bathroom.

I really like the way collages look, they keep the other walls clean and focus your attention on one area, giving your eye a break in other places.  

Speaking of breaks.....

Jake and I went away for 4 days and 3 nights a few weeks back.
Our 10th anniversary is in September, but we wanted to do something "baby-less" so we stayed at this darling cabin nearby and ventured out from there.  We traveled all over Lancaster County and beyond, eating, shopping, walking, taking in the sights and sounds!  IT WAS BEAUTIFUL. 

If you're in the area, here is the information if you too would like to rent a night or two at a local place.  It's a perfect little getaway!  

 Our favorite spot. 

inspiring antique shops, this was my favorite. 

cannot wait to return.

This was what we came home with. 

A sign that we feel sums up our past almost TEN YEARS together!  

xoxo.

Well, I better take a nap. Or maybe I'll just eat some monster cookies. All three kiddies are sleeping after walking here all morning.  I haven't been sleeping that great at night, between bouts of heartburn and potty breaks!  

The house is clean and the laundry is almost done, (it never truly reaches an end).   I get a little wacko about keeping things in order when I'm this close to having a baby.  It's stupid, but it's what I do.  You'd be hard pressed to find a crumb around my house!  Told a friend this morning that I guess it's my way of controlling, (my space) what I can't control, (wanting to go into labor tonight)!  

I'd like to put together some flower arrangements as well, being surrounded by new life, there's nothing like fresh flowers to create that.  Also, my nails need to be painted.  That would be nice too.  Pink on one foot?  Blue on the other?  Or maybe just a french manicure so it can go either way! 

"Flowers whisper "Beauty!" to the world, 

even as they fade, wilt, fall."

  ~Dr. SunWolf~