The End Truly Must Be Near...

Most of you probably know that Stace has been begging me/ bugging me/ dying for a flat screen HDTV for what feels like forever.

And my answer has always been one of the following:

"Absolutely not."

"Keep dreaming."

"No way."

"Hahahahaha!"

Well, Mr. Stace decided to take things into his own hands a few weeks ago. He began selling text books on Ebay that he never happened to get rid of, and he also sold a Blackberry Pearl on Ebay that he got on Craigs List last week. Furthermore, he proctored an 8-hour exam last weekend and earned $300 doing it.

IE: he raised all the money himself (in just a few weeks)!

Because he did that, who was I to tell him "no"?

So today he did the Black Friday dance and purchased his dream TV. I seriously cannot believe he actually got it! It feels like the end of an era.

He and his brother waited in line at Best Buy for more than an hour and a half (no, we didn't wake up early for shopping; we went out at about 12 PM)-- I went to nearby Michael's and got a $45 paper cutter for $10 (holla!), Ross and Pier 1 Imports-- for this one particular TV Stace has had his eye on. Finally, Stace and Berkeley were next in line and a Best Buy employee told them the TV they had been waiting to purchase had just sold out. Bummer! I felt really bad for him...he was so close...and now suddenly and all over again, so far away...

Worrying ceased quickly when the Best Buy guy told us they'd be able to ship one from the warehouse! So Stace's little baby will be here on December 1st... I think purchasing this TV was Stace's form of "nesting."

We're still unsure as to when Stace and Kim's little baby will arrive! (But there's only 9 more days til the due date!)

So, here it is. Samsung 50" Plasma HDTV. It's 3 inches wide. Now...it's just a matter of finding a place to put it in our little apartment! ha!

Just Let Me Cry...

Back in March when we were given "the news," we just so happened to have planned to leave town that same day for a mini vacation to Orlando. Friday morning we went to the temple, and there I was blessed with one of the most meaningful spiritual experiences of my life...if not the most. I left the temple that day knowing that Heavenly Father was more than aware of my heartache, and I left with a deeply-implanted-on-my-heart reminder of His unending love and concern for me. I felt as though He was right there with me while I was in the temple, comforting me as the tears streamed down my face. I wanted the joy of motherhood so badly, and yet the day before I had been told I would likely not be receiving that joy...at least not anytime soon. It crushed me.

Afterward I got a treat at the bookstore, the latest CD by one of my all-time favorite artists, Hilary Weeks, called "If I Only Had Today." I popped the CD in when we got in the car and thoroughly enjoyed tracks 1 and 2, but then when track 3 came on, I wondered how in the world Hilary Weeks had been able to write words and music that went along with EXACTLY how I was feeling. Seriously...how did she know? I wasn't sure of the answer, but goodness gracious was I grateful she did. The song was therapeutic and comforting to me as I listened. My poor husband was so patient as I replayed the song over and over again, and just cried and cried. He just let me cry.

Fast forward to March 31st: I went on a temple trip with the youth and ever since then I absolutely. HAVE. NOT. been able to find that beloved CD. It has been (and especially had been) driving me nuts, and just recently I succumbed to the fact that I would never see it again, especially after having moved since I last listened to it.

Well, this morning I decided to do Stace a little favor after I dropped him off at UF (he is proctoring an all-day exam). I thought I'd clean out his trunk for him, and in the midst of doing so I found my CD!!! yaaaay! I am so excited! So this morning as I do laundry and work on my scrapbook, I am listening to the CD again. When track 3 came on, my heart and mind were flooded with memories of the feelings I had the last time I heard that song...

I know I've written a lot about this, but lately I have been worried that I am taking this blessing too much for granted...that I've forgotten how painful it was. Time and again since we announced we were pregnant, friends and family members have talked to me about the pain, frustration and heartache they are feeling because of infertility issues. It happened again just a couple days ago. I was reminded of the pain. While I don't want to be sad (it's not that at all), I don't want to be ungrateful, and I want to retain the ability to empathize with others.

So I will rejoice in this precious blessing, and in rejoicing, I will remember how badly I once ached for it. And I will pray for those who are waiting for their miracles. Not only will I pray that they will receive their miracles, but also that they will know that their lives truly are in His hands, and He loves them dearly and incomparably. If you are one of these beautiful people to which I am referring, please remember that He has not and will not forsake you. There is a lesson to be learned through every trial...probably infinite lessons to be learned from each one. That doesn't mean it is not supposed to hurt...that you're not allowed to cry.

I just wanted to tell you I love you, and remind you of His love for you too.

"I believe that everything happens for a reason.
We're not just tossed by the wind or left in the hands of fate.
But sometimes life sends a storm that's unexpected.
And we're forced to face our deepest pain.
And when I feel the heartache begin to pull me under,
I dig my heels in deep and I fight to keep my ground.
Still at times, the hurt inside grows stronger,
And there's nothing I can do but let it out.

So just let me cry.
I know it's hard to see,
But the pain I feel isn't going away today.
So just let me cry
Until every tear has fallen.
Don't ask when, and don't ask why,
Just let me cry.

When I agreed that God could put this heart inside me,
I understood that there would be a chance that it would break.
But I know He knows exactly how I'm feeling,
And I know, in time, He'll take the pain away,
But for now

Just let me cry.
I know it's hard to see,
But the pain I feel isn't going away today.
Just let me cry
Until every tear has fallen.
Don't ask when, and don't ask why,
Just let me cry.

I've felt joy! The kind that makes my heart want to sing!
So my tears are not a surrender,
I''ll feel that way again.
But for now, for this moment...

Just let me cry.
I know it's hard to see,
But the pain I feel isn't going away today.
Just let me cry
Until every tear has fallen.
Don't ask when, and don't ask why,
Just let me cry.

I believe that everything happens for a reason..."

High Time for a Post

Today I have officially reached "full-term" status in my pregnancy! I am so excited our sweet little guy is almost here! I thought I may as well do some catching up for now. So...let's see...I was blessed with some beautiful baby showers in Tallahassee and in Gainesville. They were all so fun and so unique, and I was so touched by the amount of love that went into each one. It was so nice to spend time with so many people I love (and miss in Tallahassee)! They sure know how to make a girl (and a baby!) feel loved, and I don't know where to begin in reciprocating all they did for me, except by just loving them back, which I do!

Peter Rabbit themed shower!

my first glimpse of the crib skirt my mom sewed!

Meet: muh gurl :| so blessed I get to have her as my sister-in-law!

My mom and my two fabulous sisters!

One of the most wonderful people I've ever known:)

LOVE these blocks!

couldn't live without 'em!

my wonderful mother-in-law!

Gainesville hostesses with the mostesses!

Can't even tell you how much I love this girl, "my cuz" :)

I finished my full-time babysitting job on Thursday, November 5. I loved watching little Kaden and I am so glad that schedules worked out for his mommy and I so well that I was able to do that right up until she needed me, which was a month before my due date. His mom was awesome (shout out to Lisa if you read this!;) and so flexible with me if I ever needed to leave early for say, a doctor's appt or to go out of town. In fact, she even worked with me so that I got to go to the temple on what was supposed to be my last day (Friday, Nov. 6) one last time as an expectant mother/ lady without any children in the span of my existence. I'm so grateful I got to go to the temple that day, and for the spiritual replenishment that filled me. I was yearning for it, especially right before I become a mother. It was wonderful.

On Saturday, November 7, my mom came down to Gainesville for the shower and also to finish sewing the crib bumper! She did a BEAUTIFUL job and I am pretty much in love with the bedding she sewed- go mama! She even had me contribute! I sewed on the crib ties and removed the basting stitching, which, to you seamstresses out there, seems like no big deal, but when my mom told me I'd have to hand-sew the ties on, I freaked out a bit inside because I have absolutely no idea how to sew ANYTHING.

So it made me feel accomplished when I finished! (Even though I know I really didn't do much of anything...haha!)

So last week was my first full week at home. I spent time painting the six letters of baby's name on six different canvases-- and I think I can say that I'm happy with how they turned out!

I spent a lot of time nesting, in general, with Stace. (yay!) On Thursday I went to Micanopy with my friend Starleigh, a budding professional photographer, to help her build her portfolio! She wanted to add maternity shots to her repertoire, and belly and I were happy to help! We had a great time! But I gotta tell ya Starleigh (if you read this), it's a good thing we went when we did because I have been SO SWOLLEN the last couple days especially...it is quite uncomfortable, and DEFINITELY not cute! No need for the size of these feet and hands to be documented!

And since this is, in fact, the "Kim and STACE" place, I will fill ya in a bit on the hubbster's life! Well, he keeps extremely busy with his PhD program, and he is loving it. University of Florida only accepted five people into the Finance PhD program, so his class-sizes are intimate and he gets to know his fellow PhD-er's pretty well. He really likes all of them and that's a GREAT thing because they spend A LOT of time together. On Thursday, they took a NINE AND A HALF HOUR LONG EXAM! Guh-ross, if you ask me. Get this, there were only three (count em, 1, 2, 3) questions. And Stace said he wrote out a total of FORTY (count em, 1, 2, 3,...40) pages to answer the three questions! Crazy, huh!? But he is loving his program, and he's doing well! In other news, he talks a lot about big, flat screen TV's...haha...he keeps me laughing:)

I am looking forward to getting even more done this week in the baby's nursery! I was a finger-tip dilated last Monday, and I go in again tomorrow-- we'll see if it has changed since then. My official due date is in three weeks, December 6. I know he may not be here for for as long as five weeks from now, but I hope he comes soon-- that means I'll have him that much longer! :)

Belly Shots!

My sister took some photos of us a couple weeks ago (at 33 weeks) to put inside a frame and mat she had people sign at the shower she helped to throw. (That post to come!) Here are a couple she took:




And this past weekend, at 35 weeks, Stace's mom took belly photos for us. She is a great photographer, and we are grateful she took them for us amidst the rush to celebrate for Halloween and even when it began raining right as we started taking photos!

Our Bun in the Oven!

I have lots of catching up to do on my blog...ah! (Can't wait to post about baby showers!) But for now, I will just go ahead and do a Halloween post:

My dear friend Karley told me what her sister and brother-in-law had dressed up for one Halloween when they were pregnant. When she said it, I loved the idea and knew I wanted to try it! I especially liked that the costumes would cost pretty much nothing!

So, here we are as two master chefs and our bun in the oven! I shoulda gotten a closer-up pic of our bun/oven. Stace got all into the making of the oven, and even insisted on putting hinges on it! ha!


My sister's husband got baptized in Destin yesterday (yay!!!!!) so we drove to Tallahassee on Saturday and stayed the night to break up our trip. This allowed us to go to Kaitlyn Herrington's Halloween/ Pre-baby bash Saturday night. I'm so glad we got to go! Here are some of the people who were there:

Melissa as "Where's Waldo", me, Kaitlyn as a snail, and Katie as leaves with her ladybug!

We watched TWO scary movies Halloween night (one at Kaitlyn's; one back at Stace's parents' house). I NEVER watch scary movies, but since it was Halloween, I was up for it. I realized that watching a scary movie with a bunch of rowdy folks is a much better way to go about it because it lightens the mood:) It was a fun night!