Week 27

Eli, we have officially started week 27 and are in our last week of the 2nd trimester. That means only 3 more months till we get to meet you!! However, it feels like we already know you. You're quite the funny little man. You kick and kick and kick and then as soon as your dad puts his hand on the bump you turn shy. Its like you and your dad are always playing a game of hide and seek!! This week we also quit measuring you from "crown to rump" and started measuring you "head to toe"! I know that doesnt seem like a huge deal but it means you're growing like you should and that you actually have your 10 very perfect little toes!!!! You're now 15 inches in length...longer than a foot and weighing in at just over 2 pounds! And trust me I can feel every bit of those 2 pounds with every kick and punch! Under a hundred days and getting more anxious with every one of them!!!!

My Hunky Crafter

My husband is a wonderful wonderful man who puts up with all kinds of my zany ideas! Seems like we always have some sort of project going around the house, most of which require much more work on his part than mine!!! My latest idea, which I saw while flipping through my 1000th baby blog that day, was to make our own toy boxes!! I have to say I think they came out pretty amazing, and they look super great in Eli's room! Aaron built the boxes out of finished birch plywood while I painted, pretty superb use of stencils wouldn't you say?? Please also notice our comfy new chair we just added to the room. I think this purchase was more for Aaron than Eli, but hey thats why you have kids right...built in scapegoat!!

Week 25

Eli,

You're growing like a little weed in there. You're now 9 inches long and weighing in at more than 1.5 lbs. Capillaries are forming this week and filling with blood to keep your little organs healthy!! Also your tiny little nostrils are opening and getting ready to breath, and your vocal cords preparing to scream! Cant wait to hear you cry for the first time...after that we're gonna have to have a heart to heart! Your daddy and I have been getting the biggest kick out of your movements lately. Last night we were shining a flashlight at you, and boy did that make you respond like crazy!!! Then today your dad put his ear to my bump and said he could actually hear you swimming around in there. Now I have a cute little pair of swim trunks ready for you when you get here but until then get plenty of practice....the pool is waiting!!

Baby Registry

This is where it is time for some much needed input from you!!!!

Natalie has been so gracious to write me a whole blog of her top 10 absolute must needs for a new baby! But for the rest of you, please let me know what is a must have in the baby world, and what is entirely overrated!!

Deal of the Day

I have been looking for cute hooter hiders for when Eli gets here and I have found some really cute ones for a great deal!!

Check out Uddercovers.com and enter the code "cute2" at check out. Thats right you get it for free, all you have to do is pay for shipping!!!!

I havent ordered yet, but for your moms who have breastfed before I would love to know what you think of these particular covers. Am I supposed to be looking for something in particular in a nursing cover or will any ole one do?

Featured Crafter

My mom is quite the crafty lady and the craftiness has increased even more so with her first grandbaby on the way. She can make anything and though I did not inherit this gene I did do my best to help make these sweet little bibs. Eli is going to look so great with these little animals around his neck : )!! Also yesterday was her birthday so shout out to her, best mom ever award!! I couldnt ask for a more wonderful mom. I love you!

Deal of the Day

Now I know H&M stores are few and far between in the US but if you're one of the lucky few to have one near year its time to hit up the baby section!!

These are the deals....Steals :)!!....that I came home with! Thats right, a whole outfit INCLUDING BOW TIE for only $6. Happy Saving!

Week 24...

Eli,

This week you are weighing in at 1.5lbs and are 8.5 inches long, but by the way you kick me it feels like you already weigh about six pounds!! In the last few weeks my bump (you) has started showing a ton. I now actually look pregnant instead of just like a I have had a lil too much chocolate!! Up until now you have been almost see through with very pronounced bones, but this week...your lil rolly polly rolls are starting to form. Thats right, you're getting a lil fat on your tiny little self. Not to mention your bone marrow is developing and you will begin producing blood on your own. Even though I cannt feel it yet you're in there making all kinds of breathing movements. You're not actually breathing...just practicing. The first time you'll actually take a breath and inflate those lil lungs are when we meet you in May :)!! Your face is also complete now with all the perfect little eyebrows and eyelashes and 2 lil eyes, a sweet little nose, and a perfect little mouth!!! And even though you dont have any pigment in your hair yet, we know you're going to have beautiful brown hair. Only 16 more weeks in there Eli...but dont worry its just as warm outside in Arizona as it is in there!

and he shall be called....

ELI....

My whole life I have thought and planned exactly what you would be called, but what I didnt plan was that your dad would want input. Silly me! He loves you as much as I do, and therefore I guess he should get a say. We thought about naming you Joshua, Hunter, Jackson, and a myriad of other things, but we have ultimately decided that you will be our sweet lil baby Eli. Sometimes your daddy likes to call your name just to see if you'll kick. Lets just say you dont like to cooperate much. I think you take after him alot in that way...you hate to be the center of attention. But oh just wait...everyone is so anxious to meet you, and you will always be the center of attention around here. We love you baby Eli...now what should your middle name be???

My Sabbatical

So I decided to have one last hoo rah before the lil bambino gets here, and set out to see as many of my friends as I possible could while I was back in Texas. So it begins....

Jill...oh my old roommate, im not going to lie you were the best person I ever lived with....until Aaron!! but I still miss hosting our "family dinners" and cannot believe that you're already a mom hosting your very own real family dinners these days. Jolie is so adorable and I cannot wait to introduce her to our lil man!

KLO...first of all her real name is Katharine, which I must admit sometimes I dont even think about, like when Erin walked up and I went to introduce you as KLO, (sorry) so on my blog here you go...your real name!! It was so great to see KLO and her beautiful new ring. Her and her sweet fiance are planning their wedding. I could not be more excited for her. I know how much she loves him, plus it gives me an excuse to fly home and see her for the wedding! Here is to planning and well doing some studying on the side!!!

Patrice...I miss our Tuesday meetings more than you know. Thank you for in 1 hr just reminding me of Gods love and his sovereignty! You are a beautiful woman.

Erin....even though we still talk alot it was really great to see you in person. To have deep discussions over soup and salad and sorry about the cookies, I still dont know what went wrong with that. Congrats once again to graduating from Seminary. I am so proud of you and cannot wait for the day when your name is a household name, and you come to speak at my camp!!

Lindz...we always have such a good time when we're together! and somehow it always manages to revolve around shopping ;)!! haha, oh well Aaron loved all the little clothes. One more semester girlie...then it will be party time all the time for you...and baby time all the time for me!! haha

Haley...when I first met you I had no idea how similar our lives would become. Im so excited for you and Luke and absolutely cannot wait to meet him. Its great to see you happy and to get to share with you what life is like outside the easy world of predictability. Heres to not fighting with our husbands because love and life are greater!

April....YOU'RE GETTING MARRIED!!!! I could never have guessed freshman year that we would be having such a big year in 2011. I'm fighting hard not to post a picture of your dress on here because it is so beautiful!! I cannot wait to be there for your big day and to stand there with you as you and the man you love express your vows. We managed to have a great time despite my (cough cough) rigid attitude towards making decisions! We're all so proud of you.

Allison...it was so great to see you. So much has changed. Your house is beautiful, your husband is wonderful, and you're so very much in love. Not to mention you're a great cook! Now get on the baby train so we can raise our kids together :)!!

22 Weeks

Sweet baby boy, you are moving like crazy these days. Your dad even got to feel you move for the first time on Christmas Eve. He loves to know what you're doing all the time, and loves to read to you at night. You have made it almost all the way through the gospels and will begin tackling the old testament soon!!

You especially like to move around when your daddy is talking, and get as anxious as I do when hes at work. You sleep through the night which is wonderful, and I hope that is the case when you get here!!

You are the size of a spaghetti squash, at nearly 8 inches, and weighing 1 whole pound!!!

Your eyes are completely formed but there is no pigmentation yet. I think you're going to have brown eyes just like me and your dad (at least until like 3 years ago, we'll fill you in on that later!).

We're now in the second half of waiting for you to get here, and we cannot wait to meet you!!

Happy New Years lil one!! We're looking forward to celebrating with you next year!!

December 14th

For five months now I have listened to Aaron tell me every day how we were going to have a son. We even started asking health professionals what they thought I was going to have based on the sweet heartbeat and the way I was showing. Lets just say like everything else in pregnancy everyone had they're own little way of "knowing" what I was going to have. But now we know!
After what seemed like FOREVER, we finally got to find out the sex of our baby on December 14th, 2010. And....

Aaron was right!! We were anxious before but now that we know we're going to be having an incredibly handsome son we cannot wait to meet our baby boy!! See you in 4 months!!