what does God have in store for 2011...?

i never truly felt fulfillment in something until i became a stay-at-home mom. knowing that this is what God designed me for and that He would bless me in ways unimaginable as long as i gave it my all and praised Him and thanked Him for the ability to serve my family. so...with that in mind, here is my #1 new years resolution. TO BE THE WIFE AND MOMMY THE LORD HAS CALLED ME TO BE. A GODLY LOVING MOTHER TO MY CHILDREN. AND A SUPPORTIVE LOVING WIFE THAT SERVES HER HUSBAND COMPLETELY AND WHOLEHEARTEDLY. i truly believe if i can accomplish this without any doubt or laziness or selfishness getting in the way, than this next year will be the best yet!


among my other resolutions, we have, dressing more "mommy like", but on our budget its so much easier to just throw on an old college t-shirt and jeans. we'll see if this one holds. i'm also determined to keep up with my blog...at the very least on a weekly basis. another is, find a creative and smart way to make some money...i have many options, it's just a matter of choosing one and going for it. and i really want to try harder to spend less time behind the camera and more time enjoying the kodak moments...especially since i will have 2 kiddos now.

i pray this year will be better than the last, that its full of joy and peace and love and protection and comfort from up above. HaPPy NeW YeaR!

feeling impatient

as the new year approaches, so does our new baby! i'm ready to pop this little guy out and show him just how much his mommy and daddy and big sister love him. i went to the doctor a couple days ago when i was at 35 1/2 weeks, and he said i'm 1 cm dilated and he thinks the baby is about 6 lbs. so i'm close. but not that close. so it begins, we are implementing "operation i'm impatient so i'm going to start doing things to induce labor". except for caster-oil. that i will not try. we'll see if anything works for us this time around. with our daughter...we had no such luck. so, we will just have to wait and see. i'm praying that God wants little Jacob to make his appearance in the next couple weeks rather than make mommy wait until the end of January. but, if i have to...he's worth the wait.

it's over already...???

well, another Christmas has come and gone....sigh. i love the holidays. i'm always a bit sad when they are over. this was a wonderful holiday season, i must say. and Christmas was probably the best i've had in a long time. there was lots of baking, much gift giving, singing and making memories! Christmas dinner was amazing! my mother-in-law outdid herself and made beef wellington...yep. it was superb, Gordon Ramsey would be proud. and the best part was, i got to enjoy it and then sit around and relax with family the rest of the day. my hubby and i decided there would be no jumping from house to house this year. i'm too pregnant to drive around visiting all the relatives that go along with a divorced family. i loved it. this was the first time in years, and i mean, years...i've been able to stay at the same house all Christmas day. i got to experience the full enjoyment of Christmas day without being on a preplanned schedule. we spent the morning eating breakfast and opening presents (unrushed, i might add), then we cooked until the guests showed up early (as always), we sat, thanked the Lord for everything He's done for us and blessed us with then we proceeded to enjoy the feast, that was followed by the traditional sit around talking/napping, and we finished the night off by playing games until everyone had to go home...the family enjoyed frosty the cheese ball, our gingerbread houses looked amazing, and the weather finally got cold! it was a wonderful end to the year!

nesting...

okay...i know i'm only 34 weeks, but the nesting instinct kicked in hard core this last couple weeks. so hard core that i had to go buy dreft so i could wash everything. after i washed everything i had to hang and fold all the clothes and blankets and i even put the whole bed set together. i feel much more at ease now that it's all done. its so weird how the nesting feeling is so strong and when you finally give into it and just allow yourself to nest, it's like all is right. there's peace. ...then your husband throws his jeans and shirt on the floor and its like everything is turned upside down. what's wrong with me!? i don't remember nesting like this last pregnancy. it's so bad, i even have to organize everything in the car before we can drive off. seriously. and every night, everything has to be in it's place before i can even consider laying down. it so weird. this baby needs to come soon or i am going to drive everyone nuts.

baby Jacob's bed

B is for BABY and BLUE and BOY and BROTHER

i recently had my baby shower! it was so pretty and so simple and so perfect. i couldn't have asked for a more relaxed and more wonderful baby shower! the food was so good! my favorites of the party were the finger sandwiches shaped like baby bottles and onsies. yep. i know, amazing! i have my mother-in-law's wonderful talents to thank for that. as well as the beautiful cake and super cute ornament favors you see behind me in the above picture! she did all of that! oh! and she painted all the little cutesy boy stuff from the car shaped piggy bank to the cute little truck that might become the base of a lamp for the nursery. i'm so blessed! my mom was a wonderful host and she really outdid herself in color coordinating the Christmas tree to match the baby shower colors, and creating a matching "banner" out of blue/brown/cream onsies and wooden initials. she was so gracious to open her home and make it so beautiful for the shower. i loved being able to just sit back and sip on the homemade wassail, which was amazing by the way, and just watch everyone have a good time celebrating the joys of a new baby in a festive holiday fashion. i have to say, i loved having a baby shower amidst the holidays, it allowed for a whole new level of baby shower creativity.

yes, those are rattles made out of mini cupcakes! my mother-in-law is so talented! and isn't the truck super cute!?

baby Jacob will be here before we know it!!!

click here to see all the pictures

reality is kicking in

today i sat on the edge of my bed for a second, staring at the wall, realizing that in a matter of weeks our family will no longer be made up of 3...we will be 4. and not only that...but my hubby will be leaving soon. i wouldn't say i am feeling overwhelmed at the moment...not yet at least. ha ha that was humor. it's just all so surreal to me. the idea that i will be responsible for not just one child, but two. and that both little lives will be depending on me to teach them in the way God calls me to raise them, and all the while trying to be a godly role model to Kailyn and a patient mother to Jacob, while trying to find time to rest and clean and write sweet nothings to my hubby while he's away. wow...i'm out of breath just thinking about it. that's why i am so thankful i have the Lord in control of my life and His promises to me. i could not even begin to fathom the idea of trying to do all of this on my own...

"and let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart." Galatians 6:9

"trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths." Proverbs 3:5-6

"but seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. sufficient for the day is its own trouble." Matthew 6:31-34

...i am so thankful to be surrounded by such wonderful loving family and friends. they are a support system that is truly a blessing and a gift from God. i can't believe how close we are to meeting our new little baby!