The end

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This is it! The end is near. I'm finishing up my last work day (the rest will be vacation/leave). Tomorrow we meet with the doctor to talk about induction options, etc. and I'll be waiting and resting until baby boy comes. Pregnancy has been an adventure, but we are so excited to be on the other side of this :)

Last January Monday

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“ Just marry your conscience. Marry the one who makes you want to be a better person."
— Jay Leno

 Every day is new :)

Mentally: Baby

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 Mentally, I'm home. Physically, I'm at work. I'm just trying to be cheerful and do the best I can :) 

This weekend J and I got to see friends, I went for a lot of walks, we cooked and took it easy. Somedays I think, this is it, little man will come today/tonight, and other days, I'm convinced he'll be two weeks late. Thanfully, I trust God is sovereign and that it'll happen in his timing. Until then, I'm enjoying my walks and soaking up last minutes with J and friends and family. It's a neat time!

Team Snow

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We just might get some snow tonight! I wouldn't mind :) 

Ready

 

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I'm ready to just be home and waiting :) 

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

-Romans 12:2

Devotional content (from my Daily Reading in Experiencing God reading plan):

It has been often said that the mind is the devil's playground. There is a lot of truth in that statement as so many of the spiritual battles we fight against our enemy take place in the mind. Maybe it's the guilt of a past sin that our spiritual enemy continues to place into your mind or the cravings of an addiction that you have not fully overcome. Perhaps, he whispers negative words that give you doubts about your faith or your ability to accomplish what God has intended for you to do. Do as Romans 12:2 says today and allow God to transform your mind. Pray and ask God today to remove the negative thoughts our enemy continues to infiltrate your mind with and allow God to renew your mind and replace the negativity with clarity and purity. Let God help you fight the battle in your mind and gain victory.  

Away

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For one human being to love another; that is perhaps the most difficult of all our tasks, the ultimate, the last test and proof, the work for which all other work is but preparation.

— Rainer Maria Rilke

My mom and my two pregnant sisters (one -in law), are heading somewhere beautiful to help celebrate my brother's upcoming wedding to his sweet fiancee. I am so excited to meet some of the ladies that are important to her. We will be praying (and would love if you would too!) that we'll only be celebrating marriage on this trip.. and not a birth :)  

Reflection

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So I feel fortunate - I have one of those situations where I can decide about work after my maternity leave. I feel like I have no idea what I'll want to do. I know some moms do great staying at home, some balance working well, and others don't feel normal without going back to work at some capacity. With my due date being only 20 days away, we've been transitioning some of the things I do to co-workers. So some of my projects right now are things that are more like busy work that we just do if we have time, and are okay if I leave abruptly. To inspire me to get through them, I've been listening to playlists J put on my phone for me. One has a bunch of songs that I listened to in college, and another is the music we put together for our wedding reception. Both are super fun to me!

On a tangent, J has been on Ultimate Frisbee teams that put together songs that inspire their team mates. Really, each person picks a "pump up song". It's fun to see what does it for others. I've run to both of these playlists before, and some help me coast and some really do have me picking up the pace. Probably the most random one (that is pump up song for at least one of my brothers too), is Annie Lennox's Walking on Broken Glass. I've always loved that song! 

So, basically, music and how it affects those that listen to it is so cool! I'm really thankful for the memories that come with songs, for the availability of Christian radio, and the expression of it all.

First week

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Happy Monday!

- We found Stephanie's wedding dress :)
- The frosty mornings of walking the dogs really make it feel like wintery
- Got baby on the brain - these are the last two days before full term!
- Future nephew#1 and his momma have reached the third trimester!
-We've been cooking the last few nights and I really enjoy it

It's been such a great first week of 2013

Love on the table

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Happy Friday!!

We recently got a picture book with our wedding photos done, and my sister in love pointed out that in one of the pictures, she has a sweet face that looks a little like Audrey's above. It's so fun to notice little things on things you've looked at several times. 

This weekend I hope to get our cars clean, but the highlight is wedding dress shopping for Stephanie!

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2013

 

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Wouldn't the jar be a fun idea? Happy New Year! So looking forward to all 2013 will bring :)