20 weeks!

Well, I’ve been a blog slacker! Haha! I have friends who blog like… 3 times a week and I just don’t know how they do it! The last few weeks have been really busy, but also very exciting! I have a lot of fun, new things to share!

Nick and I found out about the gender and were absolutely floored! We both had no doubt that our little bump was a girl.  We even walked into the ultrasound appointment saying “aww.. I can’t wait to see how cute she is!” The ultrasound technician was like “Well, you’re OBVIOUSLY having a boy!”  Both of our jaws dropped, and Nick shot one arm in the air and shouted, “YES!!!!!” haha! The rest of the appointment was a bit of a blur.  We both were euphoric at the thought of having a sweet baby boy. Here's a little picture of him! He got the Baker nose (mom lives on!): 

We decided we wanted to tell our friends in a creative way.  We made cupcakes and had one filled with blue frosting.  When we found out I was pregnant, I started a journal to remember all the details of my pregnancy and to write letters to our little guy.  I was so excited Matt Russell got the cupcake!  I can now use the journal to document all the many reasons Nick and I love Matt!  Our son will be interested to know that daddy was in a band with Matt for several years!! ;-) We love you, Matt! We can’t wait for our little guy to grow up loving you, too!

So---I’m 20 weeks! Halfway there! Let me get you up to date:
Total weight gain: 8 lbs! So far I’m on track! This is a big accomplishment for me.

Food cravings: Rice, tomatoes, and popsicles (I blame Jen Becker for this one… her influence has made me love all things cold)

Gender: BOY!!! Yay!

What I miss: sleeping on my back. Thankfully, I can still sleep very well on my side!

Best moments of this week:  Nick wrote a letter to the baby—it made me cry (most things do, nowadays).  Also, Nick and I are going house hunting this weekend- I will be eyeing possible nursery rooms.  We will finally be a little closer to home (God is good!)

Milestones: the halfway mark! Annnd buying the first little thing for the nursery.

The last few weeks have been and adventure, to say the least.  I’m so grateful for a loving family, supportive friends, and the world’s best hubby (Our anniversary is fast approaching!). 

Memories for Mother's Day

Shortly after my mom passed, I was overwhelmed with worry that I would forget some of her many “isms”.  I diligently wrote down what I could remember in the back of the journal she wrote for me.  I know, this sounds like an easy task, but for the last year of her life, she wasn’t quite herself, so I had a challenge before me.   Some of my favorites include:

-The way she could blow bubbles with her gum (constantly), without it every leaving her mouth!

-Her leg would shake furiously if asked to sit still in any circumstance (dr. office, church, weddings...she was a hot mess!)

-Her nostrils would flare when she laughed uncontrollably

-I wish I could accurately describe the noise she would make when something wasn’t quite going her way…something along the lines of, “ahrrggg!”

-How she would ask me to finish her hair in the back-it frequently liked to gravitate westward

-The little face she would get when she accomplished a task she took pride in (wrapping a gorgeous-looking present, finishing a scrapbook page, examining a flawlessly ironed shirt)

-Her “you’re in trouble” face that she would flash to us in public situations, lest we  get embarrassed by being called down

-How frustrated she would become when eye makeup wouldn’t stay on her face. Haha!

  

 

I know that these qualities are things that only close family and friends will understand, but they were definitely the things that made me love her more.  She was so weird, in a good way! 

Last year’s Mother’s Day was a very difficult day for me.  I chose to be bitter and sulk in self pity over the loss of such a wonderful mom.  This year is different! I am choosing to celebrate her: a mom who would selflessly give herself for the well-being of her children and husband.  Nick asked me what I wanted for Mother’s Day…and the only answer I could think of was an ode to my own mother. 

In conclusion, I invite you to join with me in this celebration.  This Mother’s Day, I want more than anything to read YOUR memories of my mom. I want to share them with my family and celebrate a life dedicated to Christ.  Your memories of her can be funny, sentimental, from the past, or more current…I don’t care!  I just want to spend Sunday feeling overwhelmed by God’s peace, by joyfully commemorating a woman I will always look up to.