39 WEEKS

Hi friends, just wanted to pop in with a couple of 39 week photos! I must say that between the long winter indoors and the pregnancy, this last month or two has felt exceptionally long- like we've been in a holding pattern just waiting for the next chapter of our lives to start. {Remind me to never be in the third trimester in the dead of winter again, please!} But we're so thankful to God to be on the cusp of all that's coming next- not just the new baby, shorts and flip-flops and my non-pregnant self too, ahh!- and so thankful that he's seen us through some of what we hope were the more challenging parts of this year. 

Needless to say, things are getting very exciting around here...not only is spring finally seeming to stick, but this little boy should be making his grand appearance any day now! And we're ready. The pre-baby checklist is done, there's already been some progress in the labor department, and with the weather finally getting better we're outside playing and walking and hoping to help things along. And another thing to be thankful for is that the month long allergy attack I seem to get here every year is just about over, praise God. I wasn't one bit excited about the prospect of delivering a baby with a massive sinus infection on top of it.

If you think about it, please pray that all will go smoothly with our upcoming delivery. Thanks a bunch, and hopefully there will be exciting news to share soon!

AMBER'S TEA PARTY THEMED BABY SHOWER

A few friends and I had the huge honor of hosting a baby shower for our dear friend Amber a few weeks ago! She's about to be a new mom to a sweet little girl, so we put together a very girly tea party themed shower for her.

The decor was simple. If it was white, gold, pink, lace, or crystal, we used it! The only thing that was made by hand {other than the food} was this open-frame twine & clothespin onesie display with circular cardstock cards for the guests to sign. Anybody recognize the same frame from Asher's birthday party?

These little bouquets were the table centerpiece and were made with inexpensive grocery store flowers;

The menu included turkey salad on croissants, toasted baguette rounds with a cream cheese pesto spread, toasted baguettes with mozzarella and tomatoes, a fruit tray, spinach quiche, homemade scones, skewered donut holes, a rosette iced cake, a Citrus Mint Cooler punch {the best punch recipe I've ever had!}, and of course tea and coffee.

We played a few simple games and had these hand decorated mason jars as prizes;

And seeing Amber open her gifts was so much fun! I think it got a lot of us expecting ladies excited for our little ones.

Congratulations, Amber!

36 WEEKS

Update: 39 week photos here, and baby Finn's arrival announcement here!

36 weeks! Wow, when did that happen? Two days ago, actually, but what I really mean is where did the time go? I'm so glad that a few of you asked for some photos, because the last ones I posted were at 22 weeks and I'm honestly not sure I would have gotten around to taking these. So thank you.

If this little guy comes around the same timeline as Asher and Silas, that means we have about three weeks to go. But whether it's three, four, five, or more {hopefully not the "more" one, haha}, it's soon! I'm slowly getting things checked off of the pre-baby to do list. So far I've taken care of the hair cut, the hospital paperwork, washing the infant car seat plus all of the baby clothes, and I've started gathering up a few things to go in my hospital bag. It occurred to me the other day that I didn't put anything on the list about prepping and freezing meals. Maybe I need to do that...but if I don't get around to it, oh well. Something tells me we'll be just fine whether I have ten frozen casseroles in the freezer or not. But either way, I'll take that burst of nesting energy any time now please!

Even though there's still plenty to do, I'm really going to try to take it easy these next few weeks. Local friends- hold me to it. I'm not good at slowing down, but I really want to attempt to be rested and relaxed and to soak up as much quality time with Thane, Asher, and Silas as I can while it's just the four of us. As excited as I am to hurry up and start the next chapter of our lives with three{!} little boys, these past months have been really, really wonderful and I don't want to wish them away too quickly!

OUR PRE-BABY CHECKLIST

We finished the nursery! What do you think?

HAHA, just kidding. This adorable little set-up belongs to another lucky mommy to be. Despite being extremely excited to meet our new little guy, we, on the other hand, have done close to nothing to get ready for him. With Asher and Silas to keep up with, an overseas move to prep for, a house on the market/the sudden slew of house related disasters that need repair, plus the usual hustle and bustle of normal life, getting ready for the baby has been on the back burner. But today I realized that he could be coming in as little as three weeks- ah! It'll probably be closer to four or five, but still, that's no time. Which means it's definitely time to get organized, and nothing says "organized" better than a to-do list, right? That being said, here's ours:

OUR PRE-BABY CHECKLIST
 

Fill out my hospital admittance packet.

Pack a hospital bag.

Sort and wash infant clothes.

Stock up on infant diapers {Silas is still in the cloth diapers and we're about to live out of our suitcases/in a hotel for a few months, not sure how cloth diapering is going to play out for a while}.

Dig out the nursing bras, nursing pads, nursing cover, and stock up on nursing cream.

Print out our birth plan and discuss it with my provider at my next appointment.

Set up a simple space for the baby in our guest room where his clothes and changing table will be.

Wash our infant car seat cover & install it in the car.

Get a hair cut.

Make sure we're set on a name!

Most important of all, spend some focused time in prayer for the safety and salvation for our baby and the strength and grace to deliver him in God's perfect timing.

 

Not too bad, right? Am I forgetting anything? 

I must say that being a third time mom to a third little boy is pretty nice. There's relatively little to do this time, especially since we're about to move and setting up a nursery wouldn't make sense. The only thing I've been unsure about is whether or not to get a double stroller, but after hearing that even single strollers barely fit anywhere in Germany I think we'll just wait and see if we can get by with our Ergo carrier. But regardless of the nursery and stroller factor, planning for this baby is so much less stressful than when we were about to have our first and literally needed everything. I bet the rest of you seasoned moms can second that, right?

17 WEEKS

I'm really trying to keep up with these weekly pregnancy photos! I borrowed these from the family photos I posted over the weekend but they're actually a couple of weeks old. Come to think of it, I don't even remember exactly what week I'm at now, haha. 18 or 19? I'll have to get back to you on that. Anyway, I've come to the conclusion that now is a good time to be pregnant. Oversized tops, leggings, and even sweat pants happen to be in style. I've seen pictures of my mom while pregnant with me and wearing huge homemade smock dresses. On the one hand, it's awesome to have custom, handmade clothes. But on the other hand, it's really nice not to need that!

And I can't tell you how thankful I am to being feeling like myself again! Waking up with enough energy to actually enjoy the day is something I'm not taking for granted right now. On that note of thankfulness, She Reads Truth just started a new daily devotion series called Give Thanks. These devotions are short and sweet and very easy to keep up with, but so full of truth and encouragement! I read through them on my phone in the five or ten minutes before I get out of bed every morning.

Have a great week!

OUTFIT DETAILS
Chambray Tunic- J.Crew {similar}
Leggings- J.Crew
Belly Band- Motherhood Maternity
Booties- Sam Edleman, via Nordstrom
Scarf- American Eagle {similar}

P.S. I almost never pay full price for anything. A lot of items from J.Crew are sold continuously, so if you keep an eye on their website you can always catch days when everything is at least 30% off, if not more. If you happened to miss my {roughly} 15 and 16 week photos, they are here and here.

A DRESS I NEVER WORE {PLUS OTHER FUN NEWS}

I was going through my closet the other day when I came across this dress. I first saw it months ago at the Gap when it was still full price, and at $69.95 I just couldn't justify buying it. But I kept my eye on it for a while, and one lucky day I walked into the store to see it on clearance for $16.99, plus another 40% off for a big promotional sale that was going on. Exciting, right?! Especially considering I almost never find a dress that I love. 

It's hard to make out the details from these photos, but the fabric is incredibly light and airy and is constructed with a subtle mix of knit and woven cotton that gives it a beautiful- almost bohemian- flair. {It's not the kind of thing I expound on much, but I truly love textiles. Everyone else in my college Textiles 300 class loathed it with a passion.} But anyway- fabric tangent over- right around the time I brought this dress home, the weather started to get cool. Then, before I knew it, it wasn't really dress weather anymore, and there it was hanging in my closet, tags still on. But in the spirit of redeeming the sad story of this loved-but-unworn piece of clothing, I wore it today! With a comfy warm sweater over top and a tall pair of boots, it's not so bad in the chilly weather.

But on a totally different topic {and getting to the real reason I got dressed up and got the camera out}, I have a little announcement. This isn't exactly new news, but since we haven't made it Facebook/social media official, here goes...

Yaaaaaay! Our newest family member is 16 weeks along and we're so thankful to God for our little deployment baby. He or she took us quite by surprise, but not always knowing what's right around the corner is what makes life such a thrill!

MANGER BABIES

"Is there ever a good time to have a baby?" How many of you fellow moms {especially Army wives} have found yourself asking the same question?

A little bit about our family timeline: Our first little boy Asher {updated birth story here} came five weeks before my husband's temporary out-of-state move from Georgia to Kentucky. While I was less than thrilled to relocate to a hotel room with a newborn for four months {especially after working tirelessly on his nursery}, there was no deployment or training that separated our family during the time of the birth. And in the Army, that's a privilege.

Then came my second pregnancy. This baby was anticipated not long before our move from Georgia this past month, which meant this child would also be spending a lot of time in transitional living and hotels. My first reaction to this was dread. "Again?" I asked myself. But it turned out that the good Lord had other plans for her or him.

A few months later, we were blessed with a third pregnancy! And what would the future hold for the birth of this little boy? You guessed it...yes, another hotel! And a Dad who's scheduled to be away for training during his birth, immediately followed by another out-of-state training course lasting the rest of the summer.  Let me just pause for a moment. I'm not exactly laughing out loud, but I can't help but chuckle to myself. "Again, Lord?"

So, I'm approaching this June with a little bit of trepidation. We've just arrived at our new duty station at Fort Drum, New York, after living out a suitcase for the last month. And we'll continue to live out a suitcases for at least three more weeks. Then, two months after getting settled in a new house {and when I'm about three weeks away from my due date in June} Thane will go away for pre-deployment training. 

When I'm admitted to the hospital for delivery, he'll be flown home and likely be back with us the day after the baby comes. But this isn't the complicated part. A couple of weeks after my due date we will all be moving down to Fort Belvoir, Virginia, for a six week training course he's scheduled to attend there. The great thing about that- it's where all of our family is! A once in a lifetime opportunity to spend an extended period of time close to them all! The not so great thing- another difficult out of state move and upheaval right in the midst of welcoming a new baby to the family. 

Where Do I Deliver? So, do I stay in New York with our two year old toddler and attempt to deliver alone? Or, do I move in with family in Virginia a whole month earlier than already planned {after only being settled in New York for two short months} and spend three total months living out of suitcase again there? Frankly, both options stink.

News Flash: I'm Not the Only One Who's Been in this Boat  But in the midst of these pressing questions and unknowns, another delivery story comes to mind: "And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn." {Luke 2:7}

Sigh. The hammer of conviction has fallen once again {just as it did regarding our housing situation}. Here I am, so consumed by my own greed for comfort and convenience that I hardly remember the story of the One who give it all away for us. God Himself, wrapped in flesh and born to die for the salvation of our souls, began His humble human life amongst the dirt and smell of animals.

Mary Delivered in a Barn. Joseph was the midwife. And Mary! How quickly I forget that the mother of God incarnate delivered her own Son not even in the modern day equivalent of a hotel, but an animal stall! With an inexperienced, likely terrified husband for assistance {picture the average guy here- my husband would have passed out mid-catch}. In addition, she had no medical care, no clean home or perfectly decorated nursery, and no relatives or acquaintances nearby. What must she have been thinking in the final days of her pregnancy as she journeyed over open terrain on a donkey towards a place she'd never been with little to no money or provisions? And then, in the midst of labor, when there was no space in the inn and an animal manger was the only option? 

Moral of the Story: it's about Jesus, not me.  I have to let go of my plans, preferences, and even fears in order to embrace Jesus. Not just His gift of salvation, but His very life. Which was not one of comfort or convenience, but of self-giving love and sacrifice. Lest we, as believers, forget our calling: "For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren." {Romans 8:29} How quickly I forget that He has a perfect plan, and He will bring it to pass in whatever way conforms us to His image and in whatever way brings the most glory to Him.

So, I will affectionately call both of our little boys "manger babies", not that I fancy their births worthy to be compared to Christ's, but out of a bit of good humor and tribute to Him. I have no clue how things will work out with this upcoming delivery in June, but I trust that He was a plan. Why should I should be anxious? He has done more for me personally as well as us collectively than we can ever re-pay Him for. In light of His great sacrifice {compared to our miniscule inconveniences} may we never cease to thank Him and trust Him in all things!

20 Weeks Pregnant {Halfway There!}

Maternity Wear / Top: H&M / Jacket: Target / Pants: Old Navy Maternity / Necklace: thrifted / Shoes: oldies

Thanks to a friend and our family photo session swap, I finally have a few non-self-portrait shots of myself! {You know how it goes, the person who loves to take all of the pictures is never in any of them.} These were taken a couple of weeks ago at 20 weeks pregnant, and I'm not sure if it was her photography skill or just my outfit, but it's barely noticeable. But appearances can be deceiving. Or at least I feel huge.

This pregnancy is flying by compared to the first. Life is busy this time. Not only does Asher keep me on my toes, but being in the middle of another Army move has my mind very occupied. I think I like it better this way. Pregnancy with Asher was wonderful for all of the newness of it. This time is wonderful for the sake that I'm not just waiting and wondering and then waiting some more to be a new mom, but enjoying our family of three along the way.

And boy does it feel good to be halfway to the finish line. I have to say that doing the first trimester twice in the last eight months has been a little taxing. But I'm so thankful to God that this little boy {another boy!} appears to be thriving. I don't think I'll ever take a healthy baby for granted again. Thanks be to Him for teaching me to be grateful in all circumstances; the ones that fit "our plans" as well as the ones that don't. One thing is sure, His sovereignty and faithfulness proves itself time and time again.

P.S. Don't let me fool you, this was the first and last time wearing heels during pregnancy, ha!

ORGANIC STRETCH MARK REPELLENT

At 18 weeks pregnant I finally picked up another container of Spectrum's Organic Virgin Coconut Oil. You can buy this at your local grocery store in the cooking-oil aisle. I used an entire jar during my first pregnancy based on the recommendation of my mother-in-law. The results? Not one single stretch mark! {Sound the chorus: haaaaaallelujah!} The best thing about it is that it's totally, 100% organic- so organic that it's edible! And it smells heavenly, just like coconut flakes. I rub it on once at night before bed, once I have an old t-shirt on that I don't worry about staining with oil. My fingers are crossed that this will do the trick once again... I'll wish good luck to all of us expectant mammas. Do any of you know any other good products or tricks?

One more thing- this is also a great product to try on your child's dry skin...again, it's 100% organic and healthy with no unnatural chemicals to worry about.

P.S. Not getting stretch marks is not a genetic thing that runs in my family {like I hear it is in some}.

Hubby's Personalized Pregnancy Announcement

When news of our third pregnancy came {praise the Lord!), I wanted to throw something fun together to announce it to Thane. I didn't have much time to plan, but made this whimsical little display out of things we already had on hand.

It was early October, so I used the orange sticks from Asher's nursery- in keeping with the fall season- and some balloons left over from his birthday the previous year. I ran out to the store in search of a celebratory drink and found Virgil's Orange Cream soda {we're big fans of the original Virgil's cream soda}.
 

As you can see, I made this kooky branch-balloon display and hand made the announcement cards with a pencil and card stock from my craft supply. Unfortunately, he had no clue he was supposed to open and read them one at a time, and I was too excited to remember to tell him! But he knew what was going on immediately, so I guess they were more for show than anything...

All in all, it was a fun, free {except for the cream soda}, memorable way to share the news with Thane! What about you? I want to hear what you did?