A testimony. A resource. A memoir.

Two Weeks. Two little bitty, dragging along, weeks until we get to meet you. BR #2, holy moly I can't wait. Last night, I was having contractions so hard that I almost made your daddy take me to the hospital.... but of course, about after an hour they completely subsided.... phew and darn all at the same time! I just can't wait to see your sweet face!!! I have had the nastiest little cold this week, and it just stinks not being able to take anything... aside from it I am feeling great, so I really hope it curbs soon. We were at the doctor the other day and heard your precious heartbeat (right at 150bpm) when I realized that for the past few days I have not been able to taste or smell anything. I know that sounds weird that I just realized it, but apparently there was something awful coming through the air conditioner and daddy couldn't handle the smell.... me, nothing. The night before I had lasagna for dinner and thought it was absolutely bland.... should have figured....

So, we need to perfect them still, but little girl can officially now wear PIGTAILS! When did my baby become a big girl? I just can't get over how quickly she is becoming more like a toddler and less like a baby.... oh the joy she adds to our days :). Silly poop.

This past week we celebrated Halloween with your big sister and our small group... it is SO fun to imagine next year when you will be here, too. I can hardly wait to figure out what you will dress up as, I get butterflies thinking of you and Eleanor playing together and using your imaginations, and really I cannot wait to meet you. Cannot. Wait. To. Meet. You. Daddy and I were talking about you the other night... we both are just completely at a loss as to whether or not we think you are a boy or a girl... we both had opinions with Eleanor (I always knew she was a girl) but I just truly don't have a feeling either way and haven't most of this pregnancy... some days I actually forget that you are definitely coming SOON and we will know! I walk by your bassinet everyday and just day dream what in the world it is going to be like.... I just cannot believe you will soon fill it. Eleanor is SLOWLY learning that it belongs to you, along with a few other things... she loves to say ...

Last night our small group from The Door Church hosted a little neighborhood halloween party.... lesson learned, pass out flyers when hosting said event the day before when it falls on a school night... we had a GREAT time, but wish we would have had more trick or treaters! They surely came, but unfortunately the masses arrived once it was too dark outside for kids to enjoy the bounce house, etc. We did pass out TONS of candy and everyone from our group brought some kind of snack / dessert for adults and kids to grab... I just am really NOT the best historian, at all... but here are a few pictures of our night... What do you dress up as when you are 9 months pregnant? Of course... JUNO. BJ had the great idea and played the part of Bleeker. Eleanor, well she was an orange tic-tac to go alongside of the theme.... creative much? Eh, we tried. Wow... I look frumpy AND huge. Awesome! When the party started, Eleanor went straight for the ice bucket, where she probably played for ...

I knew you would be, Eleanor, but you are quite the talker. It seems from the moment you awake until you go to bed you are babbling about something..... 3/4 of the time I have absolutely no clue what you are saying, but every once in a while you surprise us with the words you know: Momma, Daddy, bye-bye, hi, lalo (hello), puppy (sometimes you say ruf-ruf), wa-wa (water), mee (milk), more (you also sign this), peece (please - you also sign this), tattoo (thank you - you also sign this), agh du (all done - you also sign this), no, i no no (i don't know - my very favorite thing you say right now!! you shrug your shoulders at the same time... where did you learn this?!), nanana (banana), nigh-nigh, shees (shoes - your very favorite thing EVER), bubble, baby (you say this often - hopefully that means you know what is coming), money (monkey), haaa (hot), bea (bear), hop, dees (this), ap-puh (apple), gee-bees (green beans), bees-bess (black beans), poon (spoon), turtee (turkey), chich...

We made it.... I am officially a STAY AT HOME MOMMA!!! I had my last wedding this week (which really was so incredibly bittersweet!) and I have officially transitioned to my new position of Momma, full time. My last wedding was truly such a fun, sweet final project for me... and praise the Lord, I felt great the entire time! Mind you, Sunday I was exhausted, but there was no fear that BR #2 would be making an unscheduled, premature arrival. Sunday evening I spent some time with the ladies from our small group... it was so incredibly refreshing and encouraging. Momma and Daddy are so blessed by the community that we have found through The Door Church, and are so excited for the relationships that the Lord has formed already in just the short time we have been there. Having the opportunity to get to know, support, love, and be supported by other families in the same life stage as us have been nothing shy of a complete answer to prayer. I also went to the doctor this past week and a...

BR #2, this week Momma thought you may have made a surprise appearance... not something that I was hoping for, although I cannot wait to meet you. No, it came on quite strong while working a wedding (one of my favorite weddings I have done thus far!) and I literally thought by the end of the evening I may end up in labor and delivery! Talk about Braxton Hicks!! Good news is, you obviously stayed in... good job, punkin! We also took family pictures this week to make sure that we captured your big sister, right now... and of course, my belly. I can't wait to see them and hopefully we got a few that we can use in your room of this growing belly. Next time we have a picture session, YOU will be in them - how exciting!! It is hard to believe that your due date is so rapidly approaching, and yet it truly cannot get here fast enough. I am "nesting" to some degree still... in that I am wanting to completely sell off every last piece of furniture that we have to start making o...