Momma Pics

Today, I am 36 weeks 3 days. 

I thought it'd be appropriate to share some belly pics and an update since it's been a while.

Here are some pictures my wonderful sister-in-law, Carrie, did for me.

She really did such an amazing job.

My 36 weeks baby bump.

This is my favorite shot so far.

I should be getting some more soon so I'll be sure to add them.
And I'll be doing a little mini shoot with Mark this weekend.

I'm so, so excited about those too!

As far as my pregnancy goes, I think I'm pretty dang lucky.

I don't have much to complain about...at least seriously complain about.

I still complain to Mark about back pains and these new crampy feelings I get.

Which my dang midwife was pumped to hear about.

Haha!

Looking back on my entire pregnancy, I can't help but laugh.

I started out thinking I was going to keep one of those cool pregnancy journals to record all those fun pregnancy things. 

I planned to blog almost daily about new developments and stats.

Well, this not-so-typical pregnancy didn't leave me doing any of that. 

Seems to be the simplest thing in the world so there didn't seem to be much to share.

But please, don't throw that in my face when I'm giving birth.

I don't think I'll be that lucky to have the same type of things to say. 

I do look forward to sharing that story with you though.

Just 3 1/2 short weeks to go, my friends!!!

Our Last Valentine's Day

Alone.

Without a little precious baby

To worry about. To invade our space. To consume our time.

And to love with our whole hearts.

But don't be mistaken.

We are quite alright with that.

I did get to spend a nice lunch with my hubby.

Came home to make him a special card from little Stewart and me.

I made the card...Stu just signed it with his cute little puppy paw

(And ate of few of the yummy V-Day cookies I made for loverboy yesterday)

Got a sweet card that my honey made for me.

Picked up dinner for us since hubs isn't feeling too well.

And overall, had a great day thinking about how much love I have for this man.

The father of my child.

My forever Valentine.

I hope everyone had a very special Valentine's Day.

<3

The Rozlyn Epistles & A Merry Christmas

My Dearest Rozlyn,

Today is Christmas Day! Out first Christmas knowing you exist. Our last Christmas as just me and Papa Bear. I can't help by be overwhelmed withe excitement when I think in just 365 shore days we will be spending our first Christmas with you, as a family. I think of what you will be life in those first 10 months. I know you will exceed my expectations and wow me everyday with your presence. 

Today, on the day of Jesus' birth, I know what a wonderful gift He gave me and your Papa Bear. Never forget how great He is and He will always provide to you the greatness you deserve.

Love,

Your Mother

___________________________________

Merry Christmas everyone! I hope everyone's day is just as magical as mine will be!

Is that gas???

Or little baby kicks???

From what I've read, those little kicks start out as little flutters or butterflies.

And it's been said that this starts around 16-20 weeks.

Well, 21 weeks rolls around and I still haven't felt a thing!

But for the last few days, I've felt these strange twinges of gas, so I thought.

(I apologize if that's TMI)

So, I ignored it till last night.

I was cracking up through a movie and it was just too odd that those little odd twinges would hit me as I'm falling apart on the floor.

This is when it hit me, this very well could be my child!

Then, this morning, I woke up unreasonably early and to pass time, I decided to push on my belly.

Sure enough, those strange twinges pushed back at me.

This is the conclusion that I've come to since she kicks when I laugh:

She either has a sense of humor like her mother OR I get on her nerves (like I do everyone else with my sense of humor!).

Either way...I'm glad I can finally feel her.

I'm not sure if I can feel it from the outside yet but I cannot wait for Mark Dean to get home to see if he can feel it.

GRAND!parents

I'm not one to write about hard times or anything of that nature.

I tend to bottle all that up and pretend everything is ok.

I cry alone.

I hurt in hiding.

But lately, that has been hard.

My grandfather died last month. 

I've never experienced lose like this before.

The other day I heard Carrie Underwood's song "Just A Dream".

I cried then.

Alone in my car.

And now, I'm crying out loud.

I wrote this on my very first blog.

It sums up what my grandfather means to me.

So I realized...what the grand in GRAND!parents is really all about.

GRAND!parents are supposed to teach you memorable things - things that will guide you through life - things to build a strong mind and being - and in the end, leave you with things to tell your children but only after they learn them from their grandparents.

And I have come to realize, too, that mine are the best!

I can so happily say that my wonderful grandmother taught me to write a check, order from a catalog, and planted the love seed for the Home Shopping Network and other ridiculous home shopping programs...all this before I was 8 or 9. I can so vividly remember staying at her house and watching old sitcoms that used to be on Nick @ Nite (which are now on TV Land, maybe) and then moving onto the home shopping programs till 12 or 1 AM.

As for my grandfather, being just as wonderful as my grandmother, has embedded in me the silly love of simple science experiments and a love for maps, atlases, and road trips. I can remember standing in the kitchen where he showed me the split spoon experiment. I can remember standing at the kitchen table where he showed me how to look up the coordinates of a city in an atlas (and between my grandfather and my dad, I got it down pretty quick and owe a lot of geographical knowledge to them).

And with the love these 2 share, they created my mother, who I owe all of my being to (as if, I don't owe just as much to my dad). I envy the love that they share - that they share with each other, with my mom, and with me.

And the creator of my wonderful father - she was just as grand! Though she left while I was quite young and been gone for many years now, I can still say I learned from her. I learned how to argue and be very headstrong. This she passed on to my father first which then passed to me. And when I get the slightest whiff of some down home country cookin', I can't help but think of her - even then I didn't eat that stuff, I can still see my wonderful family sitting around her kitchen table.

Yes, they are grand! So very, very grand.
And they are the best because they are mine.

The Rozlyn Epistles

So, I've seen a lot of "Letters to..." on momma-to-be/mommy blogs.

And thought I'd join in on leaving sweet things for my dear child to see when she grows older.

So, here's my first epistle to my sweet daughter:

My dearest Rozlyn:

I am half-way to meeting you. The wait is killing me. I hope these letters to you will help me to pass the time as I wait for your arrival. It will give me time to tell you of the hopes and aspirations I have for you, sweet one. 

I want you to create your own path in life. As your mother, I want the very best for you and I hope the choices you make will be the best. I know there will times that you will struggle and fall but always know I am here for you. And remember that these challenges you will face are along your path of life to make you who you are to become. As I sit here waiting to meet you, I realize that you have already begun to create your own path...ultimately, you will be the one to decide when to make your debut. And as bad as I want to meet you, I will be patient. As long as you are safe, you are free to discover who you are and who you want to be. This means letting you stay in the womb, close to my heart as long as you need. 

Sweet child of mine, you do not the intensity of the love I have for you. And you probably never will. But this love runs deep and I know it will only continue to grow. I know because I feel it each day.

With Undying Love,

Your mother

Nursery Inspiration

In my head, the nursery is complete.

I can't say it's all my own creativity.

But building the nursery, piece by piece, has def. been a creative outlet for me.

Here's what has inspired me:

(mostly all from Pinterest)

White furniture.

Neutral walls with lots of pink!

Ruffles!!!

An adorable sidetable

And a little inspiration from Etsy, too.

White Ruffled Valance

So, I've started a few projects here and there.

We'll see how it all comes together.

I'll def. be sharing it with you when it's done!