Max & Kaylee

My big announcement?!?

I write this as my dear husband in on his way home for R&R!!!!

God is SO good.

Let me tell you the whole story...

When Max first deployed, we thought his R&R would be in July, so we were planning and had it penciled in the calendar. Then, about a month after he left, I found out I was pregnant with this little blueberry man, and that I would be due the end of October. He made a trip to some friendly R&R person (I have no idea who he spoke with...), to see if he could change his dates to November timeframe so that he could see the baby. The friendly R&R individual informed him that he never was due to go home in July (what?! where did we get that from then?!) and that he was scheduled to go home the beginning of November. For real?! That was PERFECT, so he left it as it was and we started planning for November, knowing it was a ways off.

As November has started creeping up, I've obviously been getting more and more excited that my husband would be coming home for his 2 week R&R. I have been counting down the days for months now and even made a paper chain last month, so I could see the progress we were making, ha! We assumed that he would make it home sometime the second week of November and that because of that timeframe and the baby's due date, there was no way he'd be here to witness our son's birth, but that he would be home shortly after.

At first, thinking about him missing our 2nd child's birth (he also was not able to be at L's birth) and missing out on the entire pregnancy had me really bummed out. There were many tears shed over the fact that he would never see my belly get all big and round, or be able to feel his son kicking and punching. But slowly, I accepted it and knew that I just needed to trust that God knew what He was doing.

The past few weeks of waiting for this baby to be born have been a little hard - there have so many times that I have just wanted him to come out already! I have found myself asking God to just give him a nudge and push the baby on out! But each time, I have felt like God was just telling me to 'Trust in Him' and that He definitely had our best plans in mind. So I kept waiting - we ALL have been waiting and wondering when this little man would be making his grand debut!

Two days ago, I get a call. From Max. It was less than a minute and from some strange number I hadn't gotten a call from, and was at a strange time for him to be calling. He, very quickly, told me that he was getting on a plane to come home, that his R&R had been bumped up, and that he would be home soon. I had to triple-ask him if he was for real! I got off the phone and started hopping all over the kitchen, while shrieking in excitement!!!! My mom came down and told me that I was going to make the baby come out and that I better stop running around, ha ha!!! I was just so darn excited!!!!

My husband is on his way home! And this baby hasn't come out! There is a chance that the baby will wait a few more days and that Max will get to see his son be born into this world! How amazing!!! After giving up all hope of this ever happening, I am still in shock at how God works and at how much He truly DOES have our best in mind, even when we don't always understand it or can't see it!

All this being said, my husband is on his way home (I know I keep saying that - I am trying to comprehend it!!!). I'll post this once he's gotten into town and will definitely have photos to share SOON!!! I am incredibly antsy to see him, to go meet him at the airport, for him and L to get re-acqauinted, to have these few weeks with him, for him to (hopefully!) experience the birth of his child!

The Dr scheduled an induction for Wednesday November 3 (that's one day after 41 weeks and my current Doc is not a fan of letting pregnancies go much past 41 weeks). So, if this little stubborn babe hasn't shown his face (although I am beginning to think he was just waiting for his daddy this entire time!) by then, we'll be having a baby on Wednesday!!! With Max there!!! I'll for sure keep y'all posted!!!

For now, I am off to enjoy my dear husband and our little family :)

I just have to say that I am FREAKING out. In the BEST way possible, don't worry!!!!!

Y'all better stay tuned for a big announcement coming up :)

Today, I am 40 weeks pregnant. Is this baby ever going to come out of me?! Because right now, I certainly feel as if he is going to stay inside of my belly forever.

Nothing new or unusual. Same dilation and effacement (ok, to be fair, I went to the Dr a week ago, so there COULD be something new....we'll find out tomorrow morning...) as the last few weeks.

It's hard to believe that this baby is actually DUE today! October 26. It's been marked on calendars for months now, so it's so crazy that that day is here now!!!

Let's hope this little man makes his big debut soon!?!

First things first - still no baby nor any real sign of baby yet - it's just a waiting game at this point. I am starting to think he's going to take his sweet time, just like L did (she WAS 11 days late, ha ha!). We hit the due date in 2 days and although the Dr keeps telling me we can talk induction, I am not comfortable inducing until after 41 weeks. I'll keep you all posted on any new progress!

Ok, onto the true business of this post. We are moving. Yes, it's true. And we always knew it was coming - we were here, living with my parents through this deployment, but had always planned to move around the time that Max would be getting back (don't get your hopes up, his return is still a ways away...). Well, moving time has come upon us much sooner than we may have anticipated, but it's a good thing. We'll be moving within the next month or so (which is why this baby needs to hurry up and get here!!!!)!

I have some questions and could definitely use whatever suggestions/tips/advice anyone would be willing to throw my way. We are doing this move on our own (because we were married after he got his orders, there is no help from the Military) AND I have never lived on a Military base before (in fact, I have only been on base a handful of times - it feels like a whole new world to me!).

What kind of things should I know? Any advice on moving? Any suggestions for moving with two small babies? Any tips for moving on base? What documents/items should I have accessible along the way? What should I know? What should I have prepared? Any packing tips? I would love any suggestions!!!

39 weeks preggo today. I tend to forget how big my belly is, until I either see it in the mirror or in a picture - and then I go, "WHOA!". Ha ha!

Nothing new is happening - Doc appointment tomorrow - we'll see what his report is.

And until the little blueberry man comes, I'll be here, trucking along, hanging out with my lovely little L, enjoying our time together before her brother makes his big debut :)

{Sneak Peek of L's 1-year photos by the lovely Keely}

Happy Birthday to my dear Eliana!!

It's hard to believe that L is 1-year old today!! How fast a year seems to fly by!

It feels like just yesterday I was here, meeting our daughter for the very first time:

And experiencing L meet her daddy for the first time, in person:

I can barely believe how little she was!!! And how much she slept and cuddled with me!

It has been a crazy year filled with lots of lessons, challenges, "firsts", laughter and joy.

Eliana means 'Yahweh (or My God) has answered' and I am so thankful that He entrusted her to us, to teach us that He does answer, that He is faithful and that He has much bigger and better plans than anyone of us could ever dream or imagine or put into place.

I have been blessed beyond measure to learn what it means to love, raise and parent Eliana - I get so overwhelmed with love and joy when I look into her little face (even when she is testing her strong-willed/stubborn temperment on me!!!!).

Everyday with L is filled with smiles, lots of laughter (mostly on my part - she likes to crack me up and will go to great lengths to be funny - wonder where she got that from?!?!), 1-year old slobbery smooches, funny faces and lots of learning what it's like to see life from the perspective of a child.

Happy Birthday dear daughter

- my only hope is that our next years are filled with just as much laughter, love and joy.

Great-Grandma Marilyn put it perfectly when she said that she couldn't imagine her life without Eliana in it. I think that sums it up quite nicely for your daddy and I as well :)

I read this verse the other day while doing my Bible study. At that very moment, I need a reminder such as this, and thought I would share it:

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."

Joshua 1:9

I need to engrave this verse on my heart for always.

Baby news?! I had a Doc appt last Wednesday - was a good 3cm dilated and 80% effaced. Also, he said that (this might be TMI) the bag of waters was bulging. He said all of this was very good progress and that he expects it to be soon.

BUT soon is relative!!! It could be in the next few days or the next few weeks!!! I've been having on/off contractions, but nothing regular. We'll see what happens. I'll keep ya posted!

38 weeks preggo today. Feeling pretty good. Tired (as usual), but getting to bed earlier is most definitely helping that out :)

I feel I am getting slower - I tried to walk fast to give something to Mama D the other day, and she laughed so hard at my "waddling" - ha!

Nothing new at the Doc last week, but I have another appointment tomorrow, so we'll see what he has to say!!

I am getting more and more excited to meet this little blueberry man! Any day! But for sure, he'll have to be here within 3 weeks (the Doc will induce right around 41 weeks if there has been no appearance yet, so the end is definitely in sight!!!!!)! Woot!

Our lovely Ms. L has her very first birthday coming up in a week (I don't know if I can quite believe this!!!). So yesterday, we celebrated her special day with family and friends, at her 1st Birthday Party!

I had a lot of fun putting it together - sending out invites, planning food (appetizers/munchies), making some interactive "games", baking a cake and having everybody come over. I think L enjoyed herself as well - why wouldn't she?! She had all her favorite people over to play with, she got lots of balloons to "oooh" at, she got to tear wrapping paper apart and she got to eat cake - how could it have been any better?!

Here are some photos from our celebration:

I (and Auntie Aimee!) put together these cute paper banners that were hung around the living room, on the back of L's highchair and on the front door. I think they turned out well!

I jokingly call this our "daddy shrine" - we hung photos of L and her daddy from the kitchen light - she loves to look at them, point and make silly faces at him - it's cute!

Oh. And obviously the little blueberry man was not feeling the 10.10.10 love going on, so he's still cooking away in this massive tummy of mine :)

It has come to my attention that there are some skeptics in my midst (A-HEM to a certain current London traveler...), who don't believe my sewing projects are for real.

SO, I have finally finished up all but one project (a new diaper bag tag) and have proof that I HAVE indeed been working on them!!!

I made pacifier clips for the little man (although some of them can also be used by L):

Here is the extent of my nursing cover! I am SUPER excited about this!!! It wasn't hard at all to make - just took time! And the tutorial I followed (Breastfeeding Cover Tutorial) was GREAT and easy enough for me to follow! Now I won't have to use a blanket when we are out and about, with the fear that the baby could pull it off while nursing and expose me! Here is the finished product, hanging up:

I know it's hard to see the print because it blends into the carpet, but you can see the general idea of it:

And here is the back. It was optional, but I included a piece of washcloth (on the lower left side) to wipe little mouths and a pocket (on the lower right side) for sticking miscellaneous things (AKA boob pads):

Here is a close-up of the fabric. I love it! Little blue swirls on dark brown! SUPER cute!!!

I made 6 bibs for the little man. They were also super easy to do and the tutorial (Baby Bib Tutorial) was also easy for me to follow along with. Here are the first two:

The second set. I LOVE the elephant!

And the third set. I didn't realize how much I loved the blue fabric on the left until I had put the bib together - I almost wanted to make more in that fabric because it turned out SO cute!!!

Sew there you have it! My completed sewing projects! All ready to go for whenever the little man (no new progress yet!) decides to make his big debut!!!

And because I can't help but take lots of pictures of Ms. L, here is one from the other day, when she was playing in the leaves:

Today, the little blueberry man is said to be "fully cooked" and would no longer be considered pre-term: I am 37 weeks preggo!

Last week at my (now)-weekly Doctor appointment, the Doc informed me that I was 2cm dilated already. Although that might not mean anything in terms of when the little man comes, it DID still fill me with hope that it might be sooner rather than later. Either way, I have, at most, 4 weeks to go, and then they would induce this little babe out of me.

If I had a say, I THINK that he'll either come the 10th (because how cool would 10.10.10 be for a birthday?!?) or the 25th. Any other guesses?!?

I have been having Braxton-Hicks contractions for the past week and a half. Sometimes they even last for over an hour before subsiding. But nothing regular has started yet, so it's become a little bit of a waiting game! I have been walking almost everyday - which seems to bring on some contractions. And yesterday, Ms. Aimee decided to make it her goal to coax this baby on out - I was going up the stairs 2 at a time (looked like a crazy...), I was bouncing on the exercise ball, we were telling the little guy he was welcome to come now (one website said we needed to make him feel welcome...ha!, and was told to keep eating LOTS of spicy food! All I DO know is that this little guy will come out when he is good and ready!!!

I have been feeling pretty good. Really tired by the end of each day. I am still sleeping pretty well, which I am so thankful for. My hormonal, emotional state is faring much worse than my physical self - I have been a bit "on the edge", or as Mama D would say, I am just plain "pissy" - oops - better work on being more kind and not letting my emotions get the best of me!

Everything is ready for the little man to come. We even got the 2nd crib up (pictures to come soon, of our new and improved room set-up!!!!). And I completed all my sewing projects (pictures ALSO to come soon!!!), which I was so proud of!! My hospital bag is packed, the instructions for taking care of L are in the drawer and the calling list is posted in multiple places! Although I will never fully feel "ready" for this baby (who ever can feel absolutely ready for such a big change - especially when you don't know fully what to expect?!?!), I am as ready as possible. And am doing my best to trust that God has it all in His control - because He does. I just keep reminding myself that God is for me :)