Relocation

So I should have put something on here long ago...but we have a new house on the interwebs! Here's our new address: www.otherhomesthanthese.wordpress.com

Hope you'll follow us there :)

Paden Anthony

So as most (if not all) of you know, our little man is here! I will be back to post soon about him, and how much he has stolen our hearts. For now, I'll leave you with the last pictures of him inside my belly as well as a couple pictures of this little guy who has forever changed us.

Last belly pics - 39 weeks.

And now, let me introduce...

Paden Anthony

Born 10.21.11

5:55 pm

8 lbs 1 oz.

21 inches

We are so in love.

My happy place.

So, it's finally done, or at least we'll call it that for now...sweet little baby's nursery is finito! I don't know that I'll ever be "done", but this is as close at it's going to get for now. I'm really happy with the way it came out and a lot of what I set out to do actually got done, which is a feat in and of itself. We're working with a pretty small space and I think the room was rearranged at least 5 times before I was happy with it and it's still not ideal, but we work with what we've got! It's an improvement from the basement, and that's what I keep telling myself :) I spent a good amount of time making things for the room and I'm so happy I did. The personal touches make it so much more meaningful to me, not to mention little pieces of me and Ash that are sprinkled throughout (the brown button-up shirt was his, the dinosaur high-tops were mine). I won't get wordy, per my usual style...so here goes! There are a ridiculous amount of pictures, which I narrowed down as much as I could and I'll post the rest on fb.

Just add baby :)

Catch-up

So believe it or not, the baby isn't the only thing on my mind these days! This is such an exciting time of the year, and there are some other things I want to write about real quick.

--Fall is here! Here's your proof....the leaves, they're a'changin. It's about to get real purdy up in here.

--One of our favorite things to do on weekends is to go wander through Eastern Market. We rarely buy anything (except a limeade and/or smoothie) but it's just fun to be out amongst the people as the air is cooling off, enjoying our lovely neighborhood.

--Ash ran the Army 10-miler last weekend. It was an early wake-up call to get there, but he finished in an hour and a half, which is exactly where he wanted to be and 2 months after shoulder surgery...well let's just say this wife was super proud! It was such a cool experience to watch all of these people participate and the look of sheer joy as each person crossed the finish line was something that'll be ingrained in my brain forever. I have great respect for people that can do this (we won't even talk about the people who finished in under an hour. 10 miles. Ridiculous) and maybe some of Ashley's motivation will rub off on me once baby gets here! Running is the LAST form of exercise I will ever choose to do, but I bet it's pretty cool to finish one of these races!

36/37/38 Week Baby Post

I feel like there's nothing I can say at this point that hasn't been said. I mean, we've had 38 weeks of this...well, less than that since I've been writing, but you get my drift. Basically, we're nearing the end my friends! I'm not quite to the miserable stage yet, but I can see where these last few weeks can seem like the longest. This will be a more picture-heavy post (I know, you're heartbroken), but I want to write a bit first...

---

Dearest fall baby,

God sure knew what he was doing when he picked your due date....this is my most favorite time of year and knowing we get to meet you has only been the icing on the cake!

We are getting very, VERY close to seeing you not on a screen, but as other bloggers say "IRL" (that's In Real Life). I can't even believe it! We will know who you are. Your name. If you're going to be our son or daughter. You will make us parents. You are the one that will change our lives forever (not that you haven't already), but believe me, this is big. People keep asking if we're ready and all we can say is yes....? I'd be lying if I said that it's not equal parts excitement and fear, but I think that's normal. We're as ready as one can be for something like this. We have all the necessities ready for you, just add baby....or so they say!

I'm still feeling really good for being less than 2 weeks away from my due date and everyone that is asking me when I'm due seems shocked that I'm that close. I still feel like I'm all belly....and man oh man is my belly large these days. I think I make people uncomfortable when I turn down their seat offers on the metro. I sit all day, so my walk/ride home is good for me to be up an on my feet for a little while. Although, I did notice a couple nights ago that the feet swelling has started! Nothing crazy, but I could sure tell the difference and was one more thing making us realize just how soon you're coming.

Your nursery is 98% done...we have to pick up a trash can (for those inevitable dirty diapers) and then there's one more little thing I want to make you but if it doesn't happen before you get here, it won't be the end of the world. I'll hopefully be taking pictures of the "finished" room this weekend to post...if I don't do it now, it may not happen!

I'm not having the best luck with sleeping these days. I have to sleep sitting up because everything seems to be so cramped in my belly that as soon as I lie down, I get weird pains that I just can't ignore. I wish we had a big, comfy recliner or something, but instead I just prop up on pillows and do the best I can.

I really feel like I shouldn't complain these days. I feel great and while I'm noticing some of the more unpleasant things about being 38 weeks pregnant, I'm so very grateful for how lucky I've been through the process. I feel like I say that all the time, to everyone that asks, but it's true and I just don't want to take my experience for granted.

Your birth day is fast approaching and little one, I just.can't.wait.

---

And now for the pictures!

These are somewhere around 36-37 Weeks...

And 37-38 weeks...

It's hard to believe we're so close to the end! I can't wait to introduce this little lady or gentleman to the world.

Friday Happiness 10.7.11

In an effort to ignore work for a little while longer this afternoon, as well as kick this weekend off right…things that make me happy on this beautiful Friday afternoon:

-Pandora – it gets me through every day that I sit in front of this computer (except when I’m at a client…then it’s sadly unacceptable).

-The thought of a big, juicy hamburger in my future (hopefully) not long after baby makes its appearance. It’s been a long 9 months without my beloved burgs.

-Being told “you’re the most laid-back pregnant lady I’ve ever met”. If you know me well, you know that laid-back does not always describe me. I’ve felt lucky to have extreme peace about this whole process and apparently that leaves me way more stress-free than usual. I’m a lucky pregnant gal.

-Our pumpkin-spice latte date with the Mayo’s tonight – a ritual we started last year. We pick up our favorite fall drinks from the ‘bucks and then head to the Jefferson memorial. No tourists, just cool, crisp air and quality time with good friends.

-$20 shoes from Old Navy that make me feel like a new woman (I realize this goes strictly against my “no cheap shoes” happy thought…ah well. You win some, you lose some.)

-Feeling really good for being a little over 2 weeks out from my due date. I thank God for a mostly easy pregnancy – I know others aren’t so lucky.

-Marking things off of my “to-do” list at work before starting my leave. Clean break? Yes, please.

-Plain and simple, all things fall! Boots, scarves, pumpkins, leaves, breezes. I love it all.


Enjoy your weekend lovely people!

impact.

As you all know by now, the world lost a great mind yesterday. Steve Jobs, a man who single-handedly changed technology and the way we live, passed away at a much-too-young 56 years old. Now, I obviously didn’t know this man personally but my heart hurts for his family and friends because I can honestly say the impact that he’s had on me in the hours since his death have been substantial, so I can only imagine the impact he left on those who knew him on a personal level.

He was the speaker at a Stanford graduation ceremony in 2005 and quotes from that speech have been littering the news and interwebs since last night. He was a profound presenter, not afraid to talk about his past and the fact that it greatly lacked the glamour most would expect. There were so many things that were said that just hit me in the gut and for the sake of wanting to remember what I’m feeling in this very moment, I want to visit some of his quotes that hit hard.

“Again, you can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something — your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life.”

Talk about terrifying. As someone who so desperately wants to see how every decision I make will play out in the long run, I’m constantly reminded that having that luxury is an impossibility and so much of life is following the direction we’re given. Now I can’t say for certain what religion Steve Jobs believed in, or if he believed in one at all, but I can say that I know my God is great and if we are obedient and put our faith in His plan…He can do greater things than we’ve ever imagined. It’s our nature to want to control and know everything there is to know – why do you think things like the iPhone have so dramatically changed our lives? We have an infinite amount of information at our fingertips, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. So while I can’t connect the dots looking forward, I do trust that they will connect in the future and I feel grateful to know that I have a God big enough to create masterpieces with the dots in my past.

“The heaviness of being successful was replaced by the lightness of being a beginner again, less sure about everything. It freed me to enter one of the most creative periods of my life…I'm convinced that the only thing that kept me going was that I loved what I did. You've got to find what you love. And that is as true for your work as it is for your lovers. Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it. And, like any great relationship, it just gets better and better as the years roll on. So keep looking until you find it. Don't settle….It made an impression on me, and since then, for the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: "If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?" And whenever the answer has been "No" for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something.”

I keep re-reading that first part – “the heaviness of being successful was replaced by the lightness of being a beginner again”. I think we all know that feeling. Remember what it was like getting ready to go to college? Sure, the unknown was scary, especially for those that moved away from home, from comfort, into a world of newness. But do you also remember the excitement that came with that? Knowing that this truly was a fresh start, that you had the world in the palm of your hands? It’s not a feeling that lasts long…soon it’s replaced with the stress of homework, exams, learning to be a “grown-up” and the feeling of excitement with that new beginning is quickly diminished. This is what I think of when I read his quote. There’s just a great intangible feeling that comes with even the thought of starting something new that is so very different than the “norm” you are used to. Makes me want to find that feeling and bottle it up…get excited every morning about what lies ahead.

The second part of this has to be the most gut-wrenching for me. If you know me personally, you know that my job, where I have been “successful” based on American standards (I’ve moved up, made a good name for myself everywhere I’ve worked, built a solid resume) , is not something I love. If I lived by his motto of “if today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?”, I probably should have changed something long ago. I think back to how I ended up where I am and sometimes just get sad that it took me so long to find my passions in life. I have no one to blame but myself – my parents gave me every opportunity to explore my creativity, to learn and grow, to find those passions but because I always lived in my “box”, I was always too scared to really and truly explore. I can say that with time and maturity, I have learned to get out of my box a little more, a little at a time, but I can also say that this husband of mine has played a big role. There’s no fear when it comes to his outlook on life. “So what if you take a picture and it’s bad? Take another one, it’s the only way they get better.” “If you don’t know how to sew that bag, then learn.” With the amount of knowledge on the internet, there’s nothing off-limits to him and I’ve watched him teach himself how to do simple things like properly hem a pair of men’s pants to build a motorcycle from the ground up. It’s so awesome to see just how perfect he is for me – I needed someone to get me out of my box, and he pushes me and challenges me on a daily basis to become a better person. There again, is God connecting the pieces of my past, bringing me and Ashley together, weaving our lives in ways we never knew.

“Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.”

Way to call us all out, Steve. I think so much of the world (myself included) makes decisions based on what other people are going to think, thereby denying our gut and what we know we need to be doing. This is applicable on so many levels that I can’t even pinpoint where it resonates the most for me. When it comes to my job, I often get blinded by the fear that if I turn my back on what I do, I’m throwing away a lot of hard work since college and of course that’s a mistake, right? But what was that about connecting dots from the past? Oh yeah, everything plays a part, has a role, serves a purpose. So if/when the day comes that I do decide to follow my gut and leave my “safety net”, that’s something I will hold on to with all of my heart.

Steve Jobs has left an imprint on so many people and on our society as a whole – they were comparing him to Thomas Edison on the news and wow, to be compared to the guy who invented things like the motion picture camera and the light bulb….that’s big. While I know that he was just a man, he was a man who followed his dreams just wasn’t scared of failure. I don’t think it’s fair to discount the profound words he had to share. We are all just one person, but that doesn’t mean our ideas are too small to create change.

I know on some level it seems silly that I just spent the time writing an entire post devoted to this guy when 24 hours ago all I knew about him was that he invented this device (among others) that is considered such a “necessity” in this 21st century. Quite honestly, that’s ok. It sometimes takes the death of a brilliant person for people to truly appreciate the brilliance they brought to the world.

I’ll leave with one final thought: this is obviously a time of great transition for us. We’re daily looking to the future and wondering what the new “norm” will look like. A friend/pastor from back home twittered this not long ago that really put things into perspective…. “God has a marvelous way of bringing his children great opportunities brilliantly disguised as impossible situations.” It was a good reminder that while some things truly appear impossible right now, it could very well be an open door (that Satan likes to line with fear) for me to explore some of the feelings I’ve talked about in this post. What does that mean? I haven’t the slightest clue, but I can assure you, nothing is off-limits.

If you’re still here, kudos…this was a long one! My prayer is that you love with all that is in you, appreciate the people around you, and live the life that God has so graciously given you…to its fullest. We only get one life here, and while eternity with the Creator is going to be amazing (like, woah), I want to do my best to make sure life on this earth is everything it can be, and then some.

Days Away from Change

The hormones of a woman are a powerful thing, this is not a secret. I can say with all honesty that I wasn’t prepared for the ups and downs that come with that special kind of hormones that overtake the body once a lady is sharing it with another human being. These pregnancy hormones have a mind of their own.

I’ve felt pretty in control of my emotions over the past few weeks, but I’m back in a different place today and in the interest of trying to remember every little thing about this experience, allow me to ramble. I am having such a hard time articulating my feelings as of late – I’m so very, very excited to meet this little person but I also feel like I’m going to be really sad when this part of the process is over. Once I got past the yucky first trimester, I’ve been very lucky to have a really easy pregnancy. At almost 37 weeks, people seem surprised to still see me making the walk to the dog park (almost) daily and Ash likes to point out that I’m still “fully functional!”. Sure, there are times when I’m uncomfortable, but overall my body has handled this whole process very well. That being said, I know I’m going to miss being pregnant. I love feeling these kicks, having the baby with me 24 hours a day, forming this bond that will be like no other. When you consider my due date (October 25), I have been pregnant for 2011 almost in its entirety…that puts everything into perspective to me. When we found out in February that this little baby was growing, October seemed SO far away, yet, here we are with October just waiting to make its appearance in less than one day.

As the leaves have started changing colors and the temperatures start to drop, I know the time is here for change. Not only in the small things such as seasons (we’re quickly approaching my most favorite time of year!) but man oh man, is our life about to change. I think the magnitude of what’s coming has started to hit and there are fleeting moments when I’m terrified (that’s normal, right? Please say yes) but when you hear things like “you’re about to see what true love really is”…how can we not be excited??

I feel like I’ve said all of this before, and that I’m all over the place but I think that pretty sums up my brain these days. There’s something about crossing over into October that holds great weight for me…it’s no longer “we have a couple more months!” or “we have one more month!”. Instead, it’s “THIS month, baby will be here!”

This video, while great, certainly didn't help my emotional state this morning. It's amazing, and I hope to remember these tidbits of information as we move into this next phase of life.

Happy (almost) October. I hope this month brings you joy, cool air, all things pumpkin, and a grateful heart for all you have in life.

To my October baby – we’ll see you soon, in the flesh, in our arms.

32/33/34/35 Weeks

Where has the time gone?? Am I really sitting here 35 weeks pregnant? Whew, I can't even keep up these days.

Just need to get some thoughts out, even if they aren't as coherent as normal :)

--babycakes, I feel like I'm running out of available real estate for you these days! Each day I feel like there's no more room, yet you continue to grow and move and groove, which are all good things.

--In your gestational life, you have now experienced more natural disasters than your mama did in her first 26 years of life! Feel free to mark off "earthquake" and "hurricane" and keep those little fingers crossed we don't have to experience them again. I'm not a fan of the disasters, especially of the natural type.

--Your nursery is *this* close to being done. I go in there and just smile. It hasn't come together just like I envisioned, but most parts are better. I can't wait to share it with you!

--This week we will have your carseat and your stroller...we're a little last-minute but I guess the procrastination panic hasn't kicked in for me yet! Carseat will be installed within the next couple weeks and then we'll be one step closer to being ready for you!

--Next week marks the 4-week countdown. I can't even process that.

--I suppose I should pack a bag soon?

--We find out next week if you're still breech in ma' belly, and if you're still on track to be a big ol baby! I want you to be big and healthy, but just not too big, k?

--My job has seemed to suck the life out of me these days. There's a light at the end of the tunnel but let me tell you, little one, nothing would make my heart happier than to be able to stay home with you in some capacity. It's in the Good Lord's hands, and I tell myself every day that it will work out, it's just not in our timing.

--Heartburn. Every night. Worth it for you.

--I feel like I say this every time I write these, but I can't wait to meet you and with each passing day and week, I can just feel the excitement building. I can't believe that one week from this Saturday is October. As in the month that you are potentially, probably, more-than-likely, going to be born! No longer in my belly, but in my arms. I can't wait for the day.

These pics are from our Philly trip, so I was 32 weeks, almost 33. I look the same now, but you know, bigger :)

A Weekend in Philly

Over the Labor Day weekend we took a little trip - a babymoon if you will - up to Philly. Shu had never been and at only a 2 hour train ride away, it was long overdue! We spent the first day doing the "touristy things....you know, Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell...all of those things that just had to be checked off the list before we did a little more exploring. We built our very loose itinerary around suggestions from our twitter and facebook friends and thanks to all of those suggestions, we had a great weekend! I was definitely feeling the exhaustion by mid-day that first day and we actually ended up going back to the hotel and napping before a delicious dinner. I'm no napper, but I could have fooled anyone that day. This body just can't keep up like it used to! It was a great little, much-needed, getaway and I'm so glad we did it. I love that man of mine and while I'm so excited about this baby, I am going to miss the seemingly unlimited time I have with my baby daddy. Now, on to what you really want....some pictures! There are tons more, but blogger doesn't like the size of my files, and it's just easier to dump them all on fb, so this is only a handful. I tried to get all the wordiness out of my system at the beginning of this so consider my lips zipped from this point on.

In the interest of spicing things up, today I take my inspiration from this lovely lady. I’ve been uber stressed these days (blame it on the j-o-b) so instead of focusing on those stress factors (see yesterday’s post), I want to share some things that are putting big ol’ smiles on my face!

Here comes the word vomit….

--good talk with the hubs this morning about future plans for my work situation. I believe the words that were said were something along the lines of “I would much rather make big sacrifices for you to not work, or at least find something very low-key, than to spend the money on a nanny”. I couldn’t agree more, my love. Won’t happen tomorrow, but we have a unified goal that we’re moving towards and I couldn’t be more excited.

--meeting this awesome gal in person yesterday, after she so graciously sent her husband back into Target to buy me some Missoni tumblers (yes, he was already in the parking lot!) Love meeting great, new people here in our awesome city, who are willing to do random favors for people they don't even know!

--java chip frappuccino – yes, that’s silly. But these drinks are giving my powdered donuts a serious run for their money in the “biggest pregnancy craving” debate.

--hearing baby’s hearbeat this morning! Always a great sound.

--talking with my doctor, whom I LOVE with all my heart, and her just being awesome. So blessed to have ended up in her care. As weird as it is, I would love to be her friend outside of the office, but I feel like that could be difficult when she goes back to being my GYN in a few weeks. Not sure I can “hang” with someone who’s all up in my business once a year. (TMI? Maybe.)

--Morning walks with Ash. I love that we walk to the metro and ride together in the mornings and most evenings. It’s great chat time and I’ll miss it dearly if/when it has to go away.

--Shoe shopping, for only comfortable shoes. Again, silly, but when you end up at work with bleeding heels because of cheap flats, comfortable walking shoes become a priority.

--Sweet people on the internet. So many of these “famous bloggers” seem untouchable because they have such a big following, but when they take the time to comment on your blog or respond to you on twitter, it helps remind me that they are just people. And these are very, very nice people.

--it’s Thursday! Which means one step closer to the weekend.

Have a great day, my friends.

Let's get real

In response to this challenge, I’d like to share some things from the heart today. I always feel like I’m honest here, but hormones are a-ragin’ these days so I’m kind of all over the place.

--I feel so incredibly guilty that I haven’t done a baby post since like 29 weeks? I’m 34 weeks now, and have so much on my brain but can’t seem to find the time to sit down and write (and/or take pictures, edit said pictures, and post them).

--There are days I’m scared. Scared of what is to come, how our life is going to change forever, scared we’re going to be terrible parents.

--The other days, when I’m not scared, I sit and imagine having this little, squishy baby that is ours to love and raise to the best of our abilities. God is entrusting us with this life, and that’s heavy, but He never gives us more than we can handle.

--The head-butts to the ribs that I feel every day….are getting exhausting. I know my body will never be the same as it was before this precious baby, but I’m ready to not only have this guy/gal on the outside to love and hold, but I’m ready to feel a little more like “me”. Remind me to laugh at this statement in 6 months when I realize the “old me” is long gone and I am, at that point, a completely different person (hopefully new and improved).

--I’m worried about money. Aren’t we all? Adding this baby to the mix only amplifies that and I know God will provide, but I just want to make sure we’re making the best decisions we can. Living in one of the most expensive cities doesn’t help, but here we are and we will make it work, dang it.

--Speaking of making it work, I don’t want to work after the baby gets here. I never thought I would want to stay home with our kids, but with d-day 6-ish weeks away, that feeling gets stronger every day to be able to stay at home and spend time nurturing and teaching it the way of the world, or at least what I know of it. Sadly, staying home is not in the cards for me right now, and you can bet that’s a hard bite to chew when we are staring down the tunnel that is child care on the Hill. It’s expensive, y’all, and it hurts me now to even think about paying out the amount of money that it would take for full-time care, for someone else to get to enjoy these early years.

--I’m obviously in a weird place right now, feeling a little overwhelmed with what is to come in the next few weeks. But, I can honestly say, deep down….I’m at complete and total peace with everything. We serve a big, big God and He can do anything.

--Little one, I love you so much already. We finally got a rocking chair in your nursery last night, and I found myself doing what I’d always heard other moms talk about….sitting in that chair, feeling you move inside me, looking forward to the day when I get to hold you in my arms. I know there are many sleepless, frustrating nights ahead, but I have this strong feeling that the joy you will bring to our lives will make it worth it!

And, since we’re all here, I’ll give a little update on baby (and we’ll call this a Lite 34 Weeks Post). Two birds, one stone. Bam.

At the last sono (2 weeks ago), they estimated baby was already 5 pounds. At 32 weeks, that’s WAY bigger than I expected, and the doctors seemed rather surprised by that too. It was transverse (meaning sideways in my belly), so we may be looking at a c-section for a couple of different reasons. My mom is convinced they’re off on my due dates, and I’m a couple weeks further along than we’re all thinking, and that we won’t make it to Oct 25, but somewhere in mid-October (too all of my friends with October birthdays….maybe you wouldn’t mind sharing your special day?? We should start our bets now.) We have another sonogram in 2 weeks to see if it’s still breach and see if I’m still measuring big, and then we’ll go from there.

I’m still feeling very good – some heartburn issues at night, but that’s really my only complaint at this point. I feel so lucky in that, outside of the 1st trimester, this pregnancy has been great! I was worried how my body would handle it, and overall, it’s held up really well.

My belly pics are lacking these days, so here’s one I just snuck in the bathroom at work – I don’t think I realized how low my belly was until looking at this! Weird.

And here are a couple of my faves from a quick maternity shoot I had with an old friend (she's amazing if you need pictures!!) These were from when I was about 29, almost 30 weeks.

I know the early part of this post probably sounded depressing, but I think I’m just so overwhelmed with work (that’s a different story, for a different day) that it plays into everything. I’m so grateful for this gift we’ve been given and I’m so grateful to share the journey with Ash as I know he’s always here to take care of me, and ultimately, our little one. I couldn’t feel more blessed, and I’m longing for the day to hold this baby in my arms and for our lives to change in the best way possible.

Coming soon - nursery pics (we're SO close to being done!!), and our babymoon to Philly over the Labor Day weekend.

Hope you're all having a lovely week!

showered, part 2.

We have been more than blessed with our friends here in DC; they have truly made this a home for us and I thank the Lord above for them every day! It's never been a situation of replacing those dear to us back in TX, but quite the opposite. Our life is only more full and our hearts have become bigger for those that have become our family here.

Two of my very close friends, Emily and Sara...

...worked tirelessly over the past couple of months (since the day after we all saw HP7.2 together!) to pull together a fantastic surprise shower for us. Ashley was in on it too, and was an integral part in making sure I didn't question things as well as get me where I needed to be when I needed to be there. I was 100%, completely and utterly SHOCKED and, as is the norm these days, cried of course. It meant the world to me that these people who have been in our lives a year (and some even less!) would give up their time to throw us a party, sacrificing their time on a Sunday afternoon, and making us feel truly loved.

You can tell how much time went into this in the details and all of the homemade desserts and decorations.

It was a book-themed party, which was absolutely perfect. I definitely don't ever want anyone to think they have to buy us gifts, but I can say that my favorite part of all the gift-giving has been the books! It's like I get a walk down memory lane with each book received and I can't wait to spend time reading these books to our little bit, hopefully creating special memories like what me and Ash have.

Ladies (and your respective gents) both here and in TX, I can't express my thanks in a way that fully expresses how I feel. I am overwhelmed with the love that I feel from all over this country. I know this baby is coming into a messed up world, but I can rest easy knowing that the family and extended family (that means you, friends!) that are a part of our lives will help make this little guy or gal's life the best it can be. Thank you again, from the deepest depths of my heart!