Family Photo Shoot, including maternity at 32 weeks

On August 17th we did some family pictures to print and frame for Grandma and Grandpa's 35th wedding anniversary!

Here is a series of Quinn excitingly talking about the zoo: the penguins jumping in the water, the rhino rolling in the mud, the polar bear playing with his toy, etc.

Sawyer- 2 weeks old

Dear Sawyer,

Today you are two weeks old!  You are the sweetest baby.  Usually content, a good eater, sleeping away most of the day.  You sleep pretty well at night, just waking up once and twice to eat.  Today you got your tongue clipped :( I'm hoping that it helps with breastfeeding, which is still painful on the left side, but that could also be because of thrush which we have meds for. 

I love you so much.  When I have the chance to sit quietly and look at you while you nurse or sleep in my arms, I am amazed at how God created such a tiny, complex, perfect little person inside of me.  You were truly knit together in my womb.

My favorite Psalm says it all.  It's my prayer for you each day.  That you would know the Lord and how precious you are to Him.

Psalm 139: 13-18

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.  I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.  My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.  Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.  How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them!  Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand— when I awake, I am still with you.

I love you, always and forever,

Momma

GAP Model

Seriously.  You are way. too. cute. 
My little hipster.  Good things you are stylish enough for the both of us, I'll stay in my sweats. :p

39.5 week midwife appointment

Almost time little boy!  Quinn is still loving seeing Midwife Sheila and Midwife Katie every week and getting to help take Mommy's blood pressure, and listen to your heartbeat on the fetal doppler, and play with the stethoscope.  Today I said that she looks like a midwife in training, Daddy says she will be a brain surgeon.  :)

Baby Sawyer's Room!

Here are some pics of your nursery prep and completion. :)

Cider Hill Apple Farm

We went to Cider Hill last year and we really enjoyed it and wanted to return.  Well this year it was even better so I think we've found our yearly place to go in the Fall.  We went with Grandma, Grandpa, Uncle Mitchell, Alyse, Mommy, Daddy, and Quinn.  Let's just say kettle corn, cider donuts, hay rides, apple picking, pumpkin patch, ducks... Yay for Fall!

39 weeks!

Dear Baby Boy,

We are ready for you to come whenever you are ready!  Daddy and I finished your room yesterday.  The house is fairly clean.  I don't have much packed in the hospital bag but I'm sure I can throw things together when the time comes.  I really hope that you decide to come within the next week or so and not stay in forever there like your sister.  We are all very excited to meet you!

Love,
Mommy

So here we are again in the strange period of waiting, except this time there is even more to not be able to plan for, like who will take care of Quinn.  It all depends on the day and time of day.  I know it will all work out, we have tons of friends and family support, it's just the weirdest feeling to be waiting for this epic thing to happen and have no idea when it will happen (within a three week span) or how it will all go down.

I'm feeling ok.  The worst part is that I've had a soar throat for the last week and have not been getting much sleep, mostly bc of that.  I'm uncomfortable but only because I want to be able to bend and move and pick up and carry Quinn.  We went to the apple farm this weekend which was on my list of things I really wanted to do as a family before the baby came.  I am planning on taking Q to Deanna Rose Farmstead one last time tomorrow.  Then my weeks are free for the baby to come, except for Jude's birthday party on Saturday. :) 

Of course I am praying to go into labor on my own so I can labor at home for most of it and go into the hospital when I am ready.  Praying to not be hooked up to anything, free to move around, and that labor and pushing would be "quick" and somewhat peaceful.  Praying for a healthy, beautiful baby in my arms and a smooth transition into breast feeding.   Thank you Lord for this miracle that you are growing inside of me.  Thank you that Quinn has been sleeping well at night and taking nice, long naps. Thank you that she is so excited to meet her brother and that she will be a big helper. Thank you for the amazing blessing of a family and a love that is anchored in You.