haven rose, one month

home stretch

Yesterday was one month till my due date.  OH MY HEAD.  The days have dragged but the months have flown.  Funny how that works.  Tomorrow I start my weekly midwife appointments till Haven Rose's arrival.  I'm so ready, honestly.  If I thought my physical/emotional issues during Rennie's pregnancy were difficult, this time around has made the past feel like a walk in the park. 

maternity pictures and six years married!

Recently, my lovely sister, Natalie, traipsed around a local park with us capturing beautiful family moments as we celebrate adding another sweet baby to our tribe.  So, get ready for a picture OVERLOAD (not joking), since I had a really hard time whittling down which ones to share.  :-)

the blimp is back (and other little happenings)

Well friends, May is off to a flying start with crazy weather changes and a calendar full of birthdays and anniversaries.  The days can seem long, but the weeks are flying (this seems to be the new norm).  My sweet man turns twenty-eight in less than a week and next Saturday is our sixth anniversary!  I can't believe it, yet I can... it feels like we've been together forever, so six years can sometimes seem too short a time since we said "I do".  ;-)  I'm so incredibly thankful for the ever-growing relationship we've been given and can't wait to see what the coming years hold!

letting go and embracing

april blooms... maternity outfit post

april favorites

~  my daughter's windblown hair.  it smells like sunshine.

~ tiny children in rainboots.

~ warm breezes.  it doesn't entirely feel like spring yet, but maybe we're getting close?!

entering (i mean, halfway through) march... maternity outfit post

Baby HR Gender Reveal!

before and after the ultrasound!

One week ago, Andrew and I traveled through fog and rain to find out how our baby was doing and also to discover HR's gender!  Because our midwife lives two hours away and I also had a regular checkup along with a chiropractic appointment, it turned into an all-day affair.  What a fun time  for just the two of us to see and celebrate our new child!

instagram...

Once upon a time, a twenty year old bought this tunic a week after finding out she was pregnant with her first child. It was the dead of steaming hot summer, but she knew it would be perfect for the cold months when her bump would be very visible. One week later she gave up her baby to heaven.


About two years later she would have worn this top with her second pregnancy more often, but the timing just wasn't right seasonally. She welcomed her rainbow baby and prayed for at least one more child.


Two years later, she threw on this tunic for church, caught her reflection which showed the story of yet another life beginning and she cried. She cried because she will never not miss her first child. She cried because her two year old is perfectly, blissfully sleeping behind her. She cried for thankfulness as her hand instinctively touched her growing middle. She cried for the pain and beauty of her journey so far. She cried because God is gracious and answers prayer from the deepest corners of the heart.


<3

halfway to holding you...

Dear HR,

Today I'm halfway to meeting you! And, as if to mark the occasion, you kicked my hand for the first time today!  It startled me and made me so excited.  I love you so much!!!   Just one more week till I can call you by name.  <3

~ journal exerpt

little life update

Happy 2018, my friends!!!  What a year 2017 was and the next twelve months are already filled with so much adventure for our growing family (the biggest change being the fact that our family is, indeed, growing!).

Merry Christmas!

a bigger step

Where's the baby?

There it is!

Oh my friends.  In the last little-over-a-month since my last post, so much has happened!  Andrew and I met with a doctor (as I shared we would).  This was what we thought was our big "next step" towards growing our family.  Little did we know that as we set up tests and researched fertility drugs that a new life was already growing inside of me.  *tears!*  God has graciously given us the gift of our third child after ten months of trying to conceive (our only baby to be conceived within what is considered a "normal" range).

the next step

"Today is a good day for a good day."
Spent the night in vivid dreams of being pregnant again. The best dreams are the hardest to wake from. My doctors appointment to start the journey of hopefully discovering why it is hard for us to have babies is one week away. Last time we scheduled this kind of appointment I got pregnant before I had to go. That didn't happen this time. It's frustrating. It's scary. It hurts to keep hoping that doctors and tests won't be our reality. It's hard when you have a list of beautiful baby names you might not get to use. But today (as I sniffle through the hard that is allergies) the birds are chirping and Rennie is here and tonight is date night and I am beloved. Even with all the ick surrounding it, this is a day made by God. It is worth enjoying.❤

~ my instagram six days ago

serenity faye's birth story

How is it possible?

My baby girl turns one tomorrow.

A couple months after her birth I wrote the events of her arrival but never shared.  Since this is the day one year ago that I started showing early labor signs, how fitting is it that this precious story is finally told?

Hope this post is a blessing and encouragement!

*happy* mother's day

a baby for christmas

Just two days till Christmas.

Just a couple of days from when my world was turned upside-down... twice.

Both times by a baby.

renniebird... three months (a wee bit late)

Okay, more like a week late.
I know I keep saying it, but it bears repeating:  Time.  Is.  Flying.

one month

My darling girl is one month old!

Serenity has turned my world completely upside down (hence the lack of blog posts!  My apologies...).  She is an absolute joy.  She loves snuggles and is learning how to laugh!  Her favorite times of the day are definitely when she is nursing.  ;-)  I am utterly, hopelessly in love.