"I Am His Daughter"

I just published a Gospel ABC board book for Baby Girl! You may remember that I did one for Julian for his first birthday. Well, tomorrow Heritage Makers is discontinuing the making of board books, and I knew I needed this special book, personalized for her, as well. (When we have more kids...well, we'll cross that bridge when we get there!) It was a bit difficult to do the book for her without having any pictures of her yet, but I tried my best! haha! I figure I can modge podge some in there if I feel the need to:)

Tonight at mutual, one of the things we did with the Young Women is practice the songs they'll be singing at girls camp. We'll be singing both a spiritual song and a "fun" song. The spiritual song is called "I Am His Daughter" and it was on the 2010 EFY CD. As I sat there singing it with our girls tonight, I kept having to fight back tears at the line "He is my King, and My Father. I am His daughter." The love I felt in my heart wasn't necessarily the love I feel & know that is there between MY Father and I...it was like I was feeling the love between my daughter and Her Father in Heaven...more, a knowledge of how much He loves her. It was beautiful. I am overwhelmed at the tremendous blessing and honor it is to be bringing one of his precious daughters into the world. She is His daughter. And He loves her so much. One day she will sing the words, I'm sure, to this song or songs just like it. I don't know how I will be able to hold it together when that day comes.

Listen, really listen, to the beautiful song here.

I. Can't. Breathe!

Did you know that during pregnancy:

• You need more oxygen, and your body adapts to meet this need in several ways. An increase in hormones directly affects your lungs and stimulates the respiratory center in your brain. And while the number of breaths you take per minute actually changes very little during pregnancy, the amount of air you take in with each breath increases significantly. Later in pregnancy, as your growing uterus puts pressure on your diaphragm, your breathing might feel more labored. (Source.)
• Progesterone changes the body's sensitivity to carbon dioxide. Normally when you breath, as the carbon dioxide increases, you need to get rid of it. So as your body becomes more sensitive to it, you will feel the need to breath off carbon dioxide. Moreover, this can leave the pregnant mother feeling winded and short of breath. (Source.)
• In your second trimester, pregnancy hormones (the usual suspect) cause your respiratory center to increase the depth and frequency of your breathing, making you feel like you're sucking wind after nothing more strenuous than a trip to the fridge. In the third trimester, your expanding uterus and baby get in on the game, compressing your internal organs and keeping your lungs from fully expanding. (Source.)

I. CAN'T. BREATHE!

Last week when I was 27 weeks. As of two days ago, I am 28 weeks and have officially entered my 3rd trimester! Baby Girl's a-comin'!

A GOLDEN BIRTHDAY!!!

Today is Stace's GOLDEN BIRTHDAY!!!!

Yep, he's 27 years old today: June 27th!!!

I made this balloon birthday wreath and hung it on the inside of our bedroom door after he'd fallen asleep last night so it would be the first thing he saw when he got out of bed! I got the idea here! I loooove how very festive it is!

Stace has been doing well with his healthy eating habits for a while now, so I wasn't sure if it would really make him "happy" to have a birthday full of calories (which is what I'd instinctively assume had it been any other year). Thus, I balanced out this outrageously over-the-top fattening cinnamon toast from Pioneer Woman with strawberries and blueberries. Surely eating the fruit canceled out some of the calories in the butter, right? :/ (Note: I felt a little sick all day after eating this toast...it was like starting my day out with a super sugary sweet pastry...Stace really liked it though. I'm just warning you in case you want to try it:)

I told him I had three ideas for his cake (I've always like to try out a new recipe and do a special cake for his birthday). I didn't tell him what kinds they were, but I told him one was healthier (strawberry shortcake & red velvet layers), some super fun cupcakes (cupcakes make portion control easier), and then...probably the most fattening cake ever but it would probably be the most delicious (such is life...).He said he didn't care on his birthday! So this cake I made!

(I used buttercream icing instead of vanilla, and Reeses instead of Heath bar because Reeses are his favorite and because buttacream is best in my book.) I type this as he's out for a run. I told him he might wanna run hard! ;) (And to burn some calories for me, too!)

Before we went out to dinner to his favorite place (aside from Longhorn Steakhouse), he opened up his "iDad"

and got to take a glimpse at his cake!

It's been a wonderful day! Happy Golden birthday, my love!!!

Things On My Mind...

We got home from a last-minute, whirlwind vacation last night to visit my family up in Michigan, to see my dad's (finally-not-undergoing-renovations-anymore) house on Lake Michigan, and rounded it out with a few fun days in Orlando with Stace's family. It was a great trip!

I went to Target today to get pictures printed to send to my dad, stepmom and my aunts and uncles along with some thank you cards...that was a big headache...I'm never using Target photo printing again. I've used Wal Mart before and it's always been easy and the pictures turn out great. Well I thought I'd give Target a try (because I'd much rather go to Target than Wal Mart any day!) for a second time today-- I also tried over the weekend in Orlando-- and...let's just say, never again and leave it at that:) UGH. I just threw our last load of laundry in the washing machine and Julian's busy catching up on his sleep. I'm feeling a little bit overwhelmed. So many things going through my mind. I thought I'd write them down...that usually helps me feel better...more calm, cool and collected.

• I need to make something for a certain someone's birthday coming up...
• Stace's birthday is this Monday and I really want to do a cute gift basket for him. Having a hard time finding what I want to do.
• Why has a certain relationship in my life changed recently? I miss the way it was. It's weird now. I keep thinking it will get back to normal...just being the way I have always been. Doesn't work.
• I only gained 2 lbs on our 2 week vacation! Sometimes I feel like I gain 2 lbs per day when I'm pregnant, so I'm slightly stoked about this victory!
• I'm so grateful for my sister-in-law Beth. She keeps me sane, makes me laugh, and loves unconditionally. Not sure what I'd do without her.
• I miss my friends in Tallahassee. :*(
• But I do love & am grateful for my friends here in Gainesville
• Baby Girl is not going to have a name. Stace and I CANNOT decide on a name. Nothing seems to fit quite right...yet. It's so much harder this time!
• I feel her move ALL the time...it's awesome:)
• I love her so much already.
• I need to finish this 14x8 painting on plywood by tomorrow night...but it's too hot to work on it during the day!
• Just looked over the immunization record I was given at Julian's appointment the day before we left for vacation. The record does not show he received the MMR shots...this makes me nervous. Hurry up and call me back please, nurse!
• One time I told someone that I don't think there's anything I do in particular that has contributed to Julian being so smart. I didn't give myself any credit at all there...and I want to take it back a little bit. Yes, he's really smart, but I am also a really good mom. That's one thing I can say I am good at. Please don't misinterpret. I don't want to sound conceited (even though I know I probably already did and there's nothing I can do about it)...honestly, that's something I have always struggled with: knowing what my talents are and feeling like I was really good at anything at all...but the one thing I can say that I know I am good at is being a mom. One thing. I feel like that's allowed.
• I sure love my sweet boy so much. He is so full of love and joy and silliness!
• Facing an internal dilemma today over going to the gym.
• Need to pick up that fabric at Joann's and get to work on our pelmet boxes!
• I don't like it when people say they'll do something and then chronically never follow through.
• Did you know Stace and I had to buy diapers for the first time ever a couple days ago?! We got down to one last diaper the night before we left Michigan (because I didn't pack enough, not because we didn't have enough at home). Stace's parents have always been so generous and loving towards us. They always make sure we have enough diapers and wipes. We are so blessed.
• Ohp! Boo Boo's up. Thanks for listening. :)

Us this past weekend in Orlando on Father's Day with Stace's family:)

Julian's 1st Day of Nursery!

Today was Julian's first day of nursery! Our lesson in Young Women ran a little over so I didn't get to talk to a nursery teacher, but Stace did and they told him he did great! Where there's food, friends and toys, he's usually good to go.
Getting a warm welcome from our sweet friend Jenn:)

Making himself quite comfortable right away...

Stace went in between his classes to snap a picture. Here he is getting his hands "washed" with hand sanitizer right before snack time.

After church and ready for his nap! :)

I remember the first day we took him to church like it was yesterday. And here we are...onto another milestone and into nursery he goes! I didn't know what to do with myself during Sunday School today...no reading baby books or passing out snacks? This may take more getting used to on my part than his! But I know he's ready for it and I'm looking forward to getting that spiritual uplift during Sunday School that I will get for at least a few more months.

Happy nursery days!

Happy 18 Month Birthday Little One!

My beautiful boy turned 18 months old on Thursday!

He makes me wonder who I was before he came. I know life was truly wonderful before, and I know I knew who I was before...but life really is so, so much sweeter with him in it.


It's hard to convey how in love with him we are. I know every mom out there knows exactly what I'm talking about.

Happy 18 month birthday, Little Boo Boo. Every day, we can't wait to see what you'll do next.

*Pictures courtesy of Julian's Ma-mommy (Stace's mama). Isn't she amazingly talented? The color pictures were taken a few days ago, and went straight from the camera to the computer: no editing whatsoever! The black and white one was taken in about a month ago.

Excited to Teach...

I am teaching the Young Women this Sunday and I was excited to find out I'll Be Teaching this lesson: "The Blessings of the House of Israel."

This is a topic I've always been very intrigued by, but I have never fully understood the concept, the phrasing, the gathering, etc due to my own lack of studying it. Having the opportunity to teach means I have the opportunity to learn more about it, so I'm excited! It's funny too because just last week, I found this little gem! I was so excited about this find, I emailed it out to lots of my family and friends who I thought might also appreciate it. However, I had no idea I'd be teaching on it a couple weeks later. It is so neat how things like that happen sometimes:)

Anyway, I better start prepping...lots to learn and soak in over here!