Are We Ready?

So I am 38 weeks.  I had the craziest dream last night about delivering Levi at home and surprising Zack.  Like I could give birth alone with my hubby and daughter downstairs not knowing.  I just blame those preggo hormones for my very vivid, looney dreams.  Levi was adorable in my dream, though, and it made me that much more excited to met him.  It is hard to believe that his arrival is anytime now.  I need to get that birth bag packed...I have been putting it off, but if I am ready then maybe he will wait till his due date to come.  If I am ill prepared, chance has it he will come early.  

I did find out today that there is a chance my dad will be here with my mom on the 12th.  Yay!  How great would that be if he decided to arrive on his due date (the 13th) and both my parents were here.  That is what we are praying for.  Until then, I will just keep on being uncomfortably pregnant and reminding myself that he can't stay in there forever.  Zack is, as always, being so wonderful.  He is constantly encouraging me, telling me how beautiful I look (even though I feel HUGE), and making me rest.  I am so blessed.  

Moriah loves to pick up my shirt and kiss my belly.  She calls him her "baby bubby."  She has even started referring to Levi as her friend.  It is so cute.  She will say "friens" and when I ask her who is her friend she says "i-bye!"  I can't wait to see what she does when he is actually a baby she can see and love on.  She has been showing more interest in her baby dolls the last couple weeks and I have seen her taking care of them (diapering, pushing the the stroller, and kissing) and playing games with them like we play with her.  Yesterday she was giving her baby horsy rides on her knee and then dropping her down and saying "Doowwnn!" like we do with her.  (You know that song...Ride a little horsy all around town, you better watch out or you're gonna fall down!)  She loves it and it was so adorable to see he trying to do it with her doll.

I am so blessed with my family, and I can't wait to meet our little baby boy blessing.     

We Are In For Another Four

It's official, we are in the Air Force for at least four more years.Zack took his re-enlistment oath at the Air Force Memorial in DC. the day was so GORGEOUS but it was FREEZING out!

My sweet family.
It was so cute, Moriah kept calling "Daddy" the whole time he was taking the oath.

Can you see the President's helicopter int he background? He flew over just for our ceremony...hehe, yeah right, but it was cool that at the exact moment Zack was taking the oath he flew over us. Wonder where he was off too...

My honey affirming to serve our country. I am so proud of him!

Happy Birthday, Love!

Just wanted to wish my wonderful hubby a happy birthday! We will be spending today as a family going to lunch and enjoying watching Batman (the Dark Night) while Moriah sleeps (I still haven't seen it), followed by a night of worship and a talk on marriage at church. I love celebrating birthdays like this...and fortunately Zack does too, since it is his day. I am especially looking forward to helping him eat his yummy carrot birthday cake.
Happy Birthday best friend and love of my life!!!

Just for fun...
1. He's sitting in front of the TV, what is on the screen?
The history channel. He LOVES it!

2. You're out to eat; what kind of dressing does he get on his salad?
Honey Mustard.

3. What's one food he doesn't like?
He will eat anything (thank goodness, because my meals are not always that great but he eats them anyway, without complaint) but prefers to not eat green beans.

4. You go out to the bar. What does he order?
Coke. He doesn’t drink and probably wouldn’t go to a bar unless a band he knew was playing.

5. Where did he go to high school?
Orlando, but he says he went to more events at my high school than his. The things you do for love…

6. What size shoe does he wear?
11

7. If he was to collect anything, what would it be?
Guitar pedals. He already has quite a collection going and has started to build his own. I have one talented hubby!

8. What is his favorite type of sandwich?
Humm, I would have to say a Five Guys Burger, without a doubt.

9. What would he eat every day if he could?
Pizza or Mexican food

10. What is his favorite cereal?
Raisin-Bran but I must say that he doesn’t eat breakfast often, and when he does he doesn’t usually eat cereal.

11. What would he never wear?
Pants with pleats in them.

12. What is his favorite sports team?
He doesn’t watch sports. He is more of an outdoor-musician type.

13. Who is his best friend?
The obvious answer would be Jesus, but he tells me all the time I am his best friend. Sweet I know, but we were best friends before we even started dating.

14. What is something you do that he wishes you wouldn't do?
Stress. I am a worrier and I can’t seem to relax at the end of the day without talking about all the things I need to do or he needs to do. It drives him crazy!

15. How many states has he lived in?
FL, CA, TX, and MD

16. What is his heritage?
Mixed. Typical American.

17. You bake him a cake for her birthday; what would it be?
Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting…YUMMY!

18. Did he play sports in high school?
No but he did take Karate.

19. What could he spend hours doing?
Playing guitar or doing research online about guitar stuff. He can’t get enough of it.

20. What's something cool about him?
He is a very passionate person. He is grounded in his faith and beliefs and loves those he cares about very passionately. He is protective and I love that.

Happy Anniversary, My Love

It has been five years since I said "I Will" to my hubby. We have been on such a great adventure since then. I can't wait to see what God has in store for us in the coming years. I married the man of my dreams and my very best friend.  He can still make me melt, what a blessing!

Thank you, Zack, for making the first years of our life together so amazing. I love you!

Just for fun...

Our first date, My Prom, March 2000

View from the mountain in CA where we got engaged, August 2003

He just asked me to marry him and told me he loved me for the first time, yahoo!

Married at last!  February 14, 2004

36 Weeks!

Well I have officially dropped. Everyone has been commenting on how Levi looks a ton lower than before. I also feel a ton more pressure than before. I had my 36 week check up this past Wednesday. He is head down, heart rate normal and I am measuring normal. I am also 2 cm dilated. These are all good things. He is preparing for birth and we are preparing to welcome him! I got two packages of baby clothes from my cousin and aunt this week, so exciting! Thank you so much for blessing us in that way. I love looking at the little outfits and wondering what he will look like in them and imagining how adorable he is going to be when I get to dress him and snuggle him. I have been having some contractions off and on since Christmas time, but none of the "real" ones yet. The car seat is in the car, Moriah's emergency travel bag is packed, the baby gear has been washed and is ready to be used. Now I just need to pack my bag and await a baby boy to start giving me some labor contractions. We are actually praying he comes on my due date, March 13, or that weekend. It would be nice if he waited till my mom was here, but babies have a mind of their own and I should be prepared for him to come early or late. Only God knows the timing of his birth. For now everything is right on track and we are doing well, as far as a healthy mom and baby goes. 36 weeks down, 4 to go! Home stretch, YES!

Baby Orajel Warning

I just wanted to pass along a very scary story.  I heard this story from an EMT in December but wasn't sure if it was for real until I saw it in the newspaper.  There was a little 16 month old boy who, after taking two doses of baby orajel, was rushed to the ER.  He was turning grey/blue and not responding.  The anesthetic in the medicine (benzocaine) prevented the flow of oxygen in his blood.  He developed what the doctors call methemoglobinemia (where hemoglobin is changed into methemoglobin) which prevents oxygen from getting to tissues.  Thankfully his case was caught very early and he suffered no organ damage.  This condition, if left untreated, leads to death.  It is a rare reaction but I was just SHOCKED that there is no mention of this possible side effect happening on the label of the orajel.  So I felt that as a mom, it is my job to help get the word out to other moms that this could possibly be a dangerous medicine for your teething baby.  I don't use it on Moriah (it triggers her very sensitive gag reflex) and I will not be using it on Levi, since I now know what the possible danger could be.  I think I will just stick to my Hyland's teething tablets, thank you very much.   

"Ahh Jeez!"

"Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."  Matthew 19:14

Moriah calls Jesus (and any Bible story character) "Ahhjeez."  It has been precious to see her grow in her knowledge of Bible stories.  I just wanted to share some of the sweet things she has been doing and saying.  

This quilt is hanging on her wall above her crib.  We bought it when I was pregnant and we took a mission trip to the Philippines.  We have never talked about it or the stories it represents.  It has been purely decoration up until now.  Moriah woke up from her nap the other day and was just looking at the quilt.  It was like a light bulb went off in her head.  She pointed and excitedly told me, "Ahhjeez!"  She knew the quilt depicted the Bible!  I can't tell you how proud I was.  I honestly think that God reveals himself to children in ways we can never understand as adults.  There is no other explanation of how she knew what the quilt was.    
Moriah reading her favorite book, her baby bible.  She will carry it around with her and just sit and read it pointing to "Ahhjeez," the apple in Adam and Eve, and the animals getting on the arc.  I love that she already has a love for God's word!  I pray it continues. 
Her baby Bible.  She also has a toddler Bible that has more stories but it is a paper book so she can only read it with us.  This one is on the hard cardboard stuff so she can carry it anywhere and I don't have to worry about her tearing it up.  

I am excited to see what God has in store for my little sweetie who already seems to be sensitive to Him.  

ABC's

Moriah has loved singing her ABC's for a long time but she now likes me to say them and she repeats them. It is so cute! She comes up to me and asks "ABCD?"  So we say them, over and over and over until she is satisfied.  Zack took this video and I think it was the third or fourth time in a row she asked me to say them for her.  She can't say W but she says the rest. When we get to W she just says "no." I can just see her soon being able to say them all by herself. Pretty good for a 16th month old!

35 Weeks and Getting Pampered

Well, I only officially have 5 weeks left before my due date!  My appointment this week was cancelled due to snowy roads but I have another one next week so I am not worried about missing it.  I will be seeing the midwife every week starting next week.  

I am feeling very pregnant.  It is getting to the stage where I have trouble catching my breath sometimes (he likes to be all up in my ribs and lungs).  I have also been having problems with my right hip.  I broke it in the 8th grade while cheerleading.  It bothered me some with Moriah's pregnancy but nothing compared to now.  Some days I am in tears at the end of the day, it hurts so bad.  By morning is is fine though, so I am thinking it is just me being on it all day and all the extra baby weight (which is staying pretty low, almost exactly what I gained at this point with Moriah).  I am praying that after he is born it doesn't hurt any more.  There is nothing they can do for me now, since I am pregnant x-rays and such are out of the question.  So, I will just take it in stride as one of those things that will fade away after I see my baby boys face and it will all be worth it!  

My to-do-before-baby-comes list is getting smaller and smaller, thanks to my wonderful hubby.  We still have some shopping to do for him (so fun!) but if he were to grace us with his presence early, I feel prepared for him now.  The cradle is up and all the furniture has been rearranged.  I have all his little clothes ready.  I can't wait to meet him!  The last couple nights I have even been dreaming about giving birth to him!

Today I am being spoiled.  I received a rose and sweet card last night, just because Zack loves me.  I love surprises like that!  He just came home from work and kissed me and pulled it out from behind his back.  Ahh, he still makes me melt.  He got me a prenatal massage package at a local spa in the fall but I have been waiting till I was hugely pregnant to use it.  The time has come. =)  I get to go and get a massage, manicure, and pedicure.  I am even going to make a day of it and get my hair trimmed and eyebrows waxed before my massage.  I can't wait, and Zack is excited to be spending the day with Moriah.  This will most likely be the last time I get some "alone" time for awhile, since I will have Levi attached to me for breastfeeding.  I am so thankful for such a thoughtful hubby who set it all up for me!  I can't wait!  Thanks Zack, you are seriously the best hubby ever!!!  I love you!       

Dad/Papa Blessing

My dad has business up our way quite often. It is such a blessing to get to see him! Moriah loved every minute of his time here. It is nice that his work will pay him to come see us (really they pay him to come work, but since we are here he adds an extra day when he comes). He left last night and when Moriah woke up this morning she was asking for him. It is precious to see how much she loves her Papa!

Giving her Papa "knucks."

Snuggles

Helping Papa work.

So cute, she crossed her legs just like her Papa did.

Thanks for visiting us Dad, you are welcome anytime!

 

There's No Place Like Home

Moriah picked out her own shoes today.  She found one in her bin and asked me to put it on for her.  I told her she had to find the match for her other foot and she dug in her shoe bin and found it.  They were given to us by some good friends.  Moriah is LOVING them today!  I think it is the red sparkle that draws her to them, she is a true girl.

We are stuck inside today (it is FREEZING!) so she is enjoying her time with her toys, drink, phone and lovely red shoes.  Not to mention her Papa is here today!  She adores him and is having a blast spending time with him.  I will post pictures of them together later.  

"There's no place like home, there's no place like home!"