a shower of texas love

in early july the bump and i headed to texas to love and be loved on by family and friends {doctor hubby wasn't able to make the trip} ...we braved the texas heat and i was sure i would be returning to pa waddling back with kankles! we made it back last week and have much catching up to do...

first off...the most precious & special baby shower i have ever seen! {so i'm a little biased!}

my mom's dear friends and 2 of the most precious and creative gals i know threw us a gorgeous, love-filled, most thoughtful, oh boy baby boy shower...in texas!!

{ the lovely hostesses ... ms. rebecca and jennifer with the mommie-to-be }

the shower was so lovely and no detail went without thought...from the so sweet vintage loved decorations...

to the so tasty boy bootie baby cake...

to quite the spread of tasty eats...

and the so very thoughtful and generous gifts for our little mister...

to the precious friends and family that spent the morning loving our little boy on the way...

{ momma-to-be with the mister's lala and noni }


{ kensi and her new baby sister harper - 3 weeks and so tiny! }


{aunt chichi, mommy, and lala }


{ "hubby-side" ladies ... and the mister }

it was so special to have so many near and dear friends & family there that i don't get to see very often...so many of them have played such a vital role in hubby and my life. so to have them celebrating with us as we grow into a family of 3 was such a blessing!

a pound!?

24 weeks...is.going.by.so.fast! the mister has gone from a mustard seed to a bit over a pound now {according to the books}...and that...blows.our.minds! i remember the week it felt like a triumph to find out he had made it to the size of a brazilian nut! he's tipped the scale! one pound...so tiny but at the very same time so big! ...and to think he will double in size over the next 2-3 weeks!

this pregnancy has been far beyond what i could have ever imagined. i used to wonder what it would feel like to be pregnant...it is so much more. i look down at my growing belly...and i realize that somehow all at once my "foundation" dreams...are coming true. all i ever wanted was a god-fearing, humble, caring, and over-protective husband to raise a family with...how can i be grateful enough to have been blessed with these dreams and yet so much more.

i know he has a lot more growing to do...that the miracles of it all are just beginning...and we have many more prayers to give for him. prayers that he continues to be healthy, that he always has a thirst for the word, that he always has a heart for the lord, that he has a sense of humor, his daddy's smarts, his momma's patience...and that he doesn't have the colic! ;) ...among many things!

i don't ever want to forget... the feel of his kicks, the feeling of never being alone, his head/feet/arms/elbows from outside my belly, the amazing closeness of God's hand, and what it feels like to be growing a miracle. i'm so blessed to be carrying him...and that isn't something i take lightly or for granted each and everyday.

really pregnant

"you're really pregnant!" -my hubby...in almost a question form! needless to say from his reaction coming home one day last week...i have popped {again!}! i always get a kick out of those moments from him that it seems to further sink in that we are having a babe! it is such an innocent and so very sweet reaction. reactions...that i never want to forget on the realizations that its becoming more and more real...for us both!

a recap

we've been busy enjoying the summer with friends, parties, and family!! since i can't seem to bloggingly keep up with it all {yes...i made that word up and added it to my dictionary!} i'm gonna just recap a few of the highs over the past week and few days! i hope everyone is enjoying their summer!

- hubby had a wonderful to-be-father's day! i can't wait to watch this man take on the role of daddy to our little mister! and to top it off he received news of his first published paper!!!! so proud!

- we had a final party for the 3rd year residents and a farewell to our precious friends moving on to practice! we are so blessed to have all these friends as family while we are so far from our own!

- we welcomed hubby's parents for a few days and showed them the town! it was so nice to spend some time with them! hubby had to work half the time they were here...so they were such troopers as i dragged them around town showing them our favorite spots!

hubby was able to join us over the weekend and we took in a pirates game {my first!}

- to top off the month...hubby just completed a very strenuous 2 month rotation...trauma! i am most proud of him taking on this second year rotation at the last minute as a first year...and excelling with flying colors! his days started at 4:30am and lasted anywhere from 6:30-9pm {and a few times even later}. i am most excited to spend time with him again and he is anxious to catch up on his zzzzs!

- one year down!!! hubby transitioned from 1st year resident to 2nd year resident today! so many congrats to all our other resident friends on this transition up the totem pole!!!

rare finds

my mom is the queen of fab finds! check out her latest...that once again i was able to benefit from! she sent us the most gorgeous sterling silver napkin rings for our anni. oohhh...how i love silver!!! oh so lovely!

they are going to look gorgeous with these fabulous treasures she also sent...vintage white napkins with our monogram on them!!! {not to mention she also ironed them for me!!!}

i love them and will love setting my table with them and be reminded of a thoughtful momma and 5 years as a mrs.! what a rare find mom! thank you so much!!

5 years of adoring

5 years ago i married the man i adore. i couldn't have picked a more perfect-for-me soulmate to spend life's up and downs and inbetweens with. i sure do love this man and will adore him always...and i know i will simply be smitten with him being our baby's daddy! and as the family we started 5 years ago is beginning to grow this year i can't wait to continue to see God's blessings pour over us in ways we never thought imaginable!

20 weeks in love

we are so very in love with this little mister growing and juggling around in my belly. as always its hard to put into words the feelings that seem to be beyond my words. the emotions that far extend the outward vocals that usually explain such elated-ness {see makin' up words now.}

i have felt this loss of words before...almost 5 years ago. our wedding was fast approaching and again i was at a loss for the sheer emotions of blessed, so very blessed, thankful, adoration for this man, and almost denial...its the feeling when you realize all of your dreams are coming true...and its moving fast..so fast...and you're just along for the ride...the sweet ride!

a wonderful reminder

i recently came across this poem by mother theresa. to say it came at the perfect time would be an understatement {ok...a month ago would have been sheer perfection!} i can't explain how much many of the verses touched me and was the reminder i needed...hoping at least one of the verses speaks to you too...

people are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered;
forgive them anyway.

if you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;
be kind anyway.

if you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies;
succeed anyway.

if you are honest and frank; people may cheat you;
be honest and frank anyway.

what you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;
build anyway.

if you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous;
be happy anyway.

the good you do today, people with often forget tomorrow;
do good anyway.

give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough;
give the world the best you've got anyway.

you see, in the final analysis it is between you and God
it was never between you and them anyway.

heartfelt thanks and a round-up

so many thanks for the well wishes, blessings, and ecstatic congrats on our growing little mister! we are so excited and it is such an amazing feeling to "know" that he's a he and he is ours.

i didn't mean to take a blogging hiatus...kinda happened i guess. we've been busying folks around here...

-searching for fabrics for the mister's crib and cradle
-shopping and growing his closet with tiny things
-registering and researching the numerous things on the baby market today!
-working on wedding plates for lovely brides!
-marked the "halfway to parenthood" point! {do we look ready?}

-the mister got his "fur"st freind {courtesy of his LaLa} ...do you not love that face!!

-grilled and sunned out with friends

-lots of belly rubs and the newest : he kicks! and.it.is.the.most.amazing.feeling!!!

{19 weeks here}

-lots of parties celebrating...summer, birthdays, and graduation

{ oh...there were a few questions about the name game...mister has a name. he has actually had it for quite a long time...but we won't be sharing until he makes his debut. it will be a delivery surprise! on another note...i haven't yet decided if i will share his name on the blog since its open to the world wide web...this nervous and protective mommy is very leery about sharing info online about our newest bundle. but at the same time i want to be able to share with my priceless bloggity friends. any ideas? }