:: 25 Weeks ::

I realized that I've been pretty horrible at updating pregnancy pictures on my blog!

Last night Josh and I attended my staff Christmas party and got all dolled up for it... the perfect time to take some pictures! :)





I'm officially 25 weeks today! 15 more to go... makes it sound pretty close! Baby N is moving a lot lately and I fall more in love with this little one with every kick, stretch or roll. Josh and I are both getting pretty excited to meet our Baby and can't wait until March!

I've been feeling really great over the past while, which I am so thankful for! And my belly has grown so much in the past month so I look definitely pregnant not just chunky ;)

It's incredible, the journey that pregnancy takes you on. My mind often strays to how much my life will change and what it will be like to be a mother. I know I'm headed for incredible change in every way! I am thankful that I truly feel that God has prepared both Josh and I for this next step - we both feel as ready as we can be! We know there will be MANY moments of the unexpected and there's no way we can truly be prepared for the love we'll feel, the amount of work we'll do, or how much our lives will change. But we have fantastic role models in our lives, and many people to turn to in times of celebration and uncertainty. We also have a most loving Heavenly Father who will guide us in our journey of parenthood!

I am ever so grateful that I get to travel this journey with my husband and best friend. I have full confidence that Josh will be an AMAZING Daddy to this baby and any other children we are blessed with in the future. He demonstrates such a love and gentleness with me, and is already proud, protective and captivated by our baby as it grows within me.

My heart is overwhelmed with thankfulness!

:: Has it Really Been 10 Years?! ::

This past Saturday I attended my 10-year high school reunion. It's funny... high school seems like a very distant memory to me, yet I don't feel old enough for it to be 10 years since I graduated! When I was 17 and finishing grade 12, thinking about my 10-year reunion felt like such a long time away, and that I'd be "old." Well, a lot has happened and I've changed a ton in the past decade, but I'm thankful to report that I don't feel old at all! :)

I wasn't sure how I felt about the whole thing and only decided a couple weeks ago that I'd go for sure. I enjoyed high school - being on the volleyball team, having a constant social outlet, learning and being challenged everyday (or, most days at least!) However, most of my life was lived outside of high school - my best friends were from church, I played rep softball that kept me very busy, and I worked part time from grade 11 on. Since graduating I've only kept in "real" contact (as in, not just on Facebook) with one friend - and she couldn't attend the reunion because she had her baby on Thursday!! (A big congrats to Nadia and Andre - more on that to come :) )

The evening turned out better that I expected. It was a relaxing evening with door prizes (I even won one!), appy's, punch, a cash bar and friends from the past. There weren't too many awkward conversations - just a couple - and it was fun to see everyone, how they've changed and what they're up to. About half of our class showed up, it was a good turn out!

So another milestone in my life has now passed - my 10-year high school reunion. I wonder if we'll get together for our 25th? :)

:: Bumper Cars or Fizzy Pop ::

Last Friday morning, I think I felt the Baby move for the first time!! It was at work, and I felt a "different" feeling in my lower abdomen. You know how bumper cars move around, bumping into things then moving backwards and bumping into something else - but it's still quite soft because of the rubber padding? That's kind of how it felt! Weird, I know! It also had a fizzy feeling, like pop (soda, for my American friends!)

Then I had a crazy busy weekend - Happy Thanksgiving!! :) - and didn't feel anything.

Today, back at work... Baby seems to be active!! I've been feeling movement all morning, and it's so amazing! Completely distracting too, I just want to sit and feel the movements of our sweet little Baby :)

I looked at my Baby Ticker thing (on the right panel of my blog) and see the baby on there turning in circles non-stop!! Makes me laugh - if that's what the Baby is doing, no wonder I'm feeling him/her!!

I know I need to post a picture... especially since I've popped in the past week or so! Josh took one on Friday evening, so I will have to get that up here. I will try, really soon. But, I'm in a wedding this Saturday and have lots to do to prepare... so please be patient with me :)

:: Denial ::

So, I'm in denial. Right now it's mostly about moving! I'm a little sad about leaving Josh and my first "home" and also about all the work it'll take to do so! Our new house won't be ready in time, so we're moving in with my parents for awhile. We are very grateful for them opening their home to us, and their generosity. And there's also the unknowns and adjustments that will have to happen. But it also means more work, as we sort through what we'll absolutely NEED there and what can go into storage. But it'll happen soon... because it has to! We need to be out of our condo by October 9th at noon. Which is a Friday, so I'll have to have my part done by Thursday evening, and the place cleaned. But there's a bright light at the end of the tunnel... we'll have our first house soon, and it's brand new!! I can't WAIT to live there :) And after living with my parents, we'll only appreciate it that much more ;)

If we were only moving, that wouldn't be so bad. But I am also a bridesmaid in a wedding coming up on October 17th! So there are dress fittings, showers, hair trials, the stagette, rehearsal, etc. And I could write a whole post about my dress but I'll just say that it's already too tight and there's still 3 1/2 weeks 'til the wedding! At this stage of pregnancy (15-18 weeks) that's a little nerve wracking. I'm praying the seamstress can work a miracle and that on the wedding day, the dress fits. But it weighs on my mind.

And have I mentioned that I'm trying to grow a little human here? ;) So my energy level isn't fantastic and I'm finding that things are quite as easy to deal with as they usually are. Hormones... who knew.

So yup, denial it is. And I just live by my Day Planner, doing life day by day. Making sure I don't miss doctor's appointments, birthdays, anniversaries, hair appointments, house stuff, wedding stuff, family events, Thanksgiving... you know, the usual! :)

:: Heartbeat ::

I heard the most incredible sound on Tuesday - the sound of our tiny baby's heartbeat. I've heard that it's one of the best parts of pregnancy, and I'm not left disappointed! So incredible to hear that tiny sound coming from within my own body. I marvel at God's plan to create life and His faithfulness. I think on that, tears swell in my eyes, I am in such awe and am incredibly thankful. Oh, how I love this little one!!

Josh was with me at the doctor's and I loved seeing his face as he listened to his baby for the first time. The look was so tender and filled with amazement. I know his love runs deep for me and this life within me, and I trust him with us both, completely. I simply cannot wait to watch him journey in his role as a Daddy, I know it's such a desire of his and I have no doubt he will be incredible.

My doctor shared that once you pass 12 weeks and hear the heartbeat, the chance of miscarriage are tiny. I know there are no guarantees, but that was sure music to this mama-to-be's ears! Our peace about this pregnancy has been so present, and I am thankful for that. Oh, and my due date is now set for March 18th! It's changed 3 times now, so I just think that it'll hopefully happen that week sometime :)

Thank you Jesus!! You are so good.

:: Approved! ::

Josh and I have been approved for our new mortgage!! What an answer to prayer this is!

That leads me to answering another question... yes, we've sold our condo! My Dad has become a realtor recently so we hired him for his first listing! He did an extraordinary job - we had 8 showings in 10 days, and were listed $20,000 higher than with our previous realtor with whom we didn't have any showings! Well, that 8th showing proved to be the winner and we settled on a deal in one day. The thing the new owners were most stuck on was the dates... so we have to be out by Oct. 9 at noon! Yup, less than one month from now.

We found a place that we fell in love with, and really felt that it met our needs right now and for the next few years to come. I can't wait to start our little family there! It's a coach home across from a future pond and park, and we will have a two bedroom basement suite, plus a one bedroom coach suite above the detached garage to rent out! The extra income will make this move affordable to us and (hopefully!) allow for a smooth transition when I go on mat leave in a few months (which, I might add, I am SO EXCITED about!!) This particular home was slightly higher in price than we hoped, but the reasons why were reason enough for us to try for it.

And as of yesterday, we're officially approved! God is faithful and knows the desires of our hearts.

So, will the house be ready for us by October 9th? Absolutely not!! :) The house is being build right now, and it's great fun getting to chose accent colours and such, and I look forward to seeing it all come together. But this also means that Josh and I are moving in with my parents for awhile! Could be interesting times ahead :) We are very grateful to them and for all the help they've given to us to make this move happen.

Please pray for us as we pack up our place and chose what to bring with us to my parents and what to put into storage. At times it seems a little overwhelming, all the changes to come in the next few months, so please pray for God's peace as my most important role right now is to stay healthy as this little one grows inside me! Please also pray that we find the perfect tenants for our rental suites. And, on that note, I would LOVE any referrals! If you know of someone wanting to rent, please let me know and I can get you more details. Thanks!

I look forward to this exciting journey with my incredible husband and baby on the way. Life is an adventure, that's for sure!

:: Prayer - Thursday 12:30 pm - Join in! ::

My friend Crystal has called us women of God to join together in prayer. For our families, loved ones, community, etc. To read her post, click here.

God has called us to do even MORE powerful things on earth than what Jesus did when He was here... that thought is incredible.

Let's get started!!