my week in iPhone photos

^^^FINALLY got caught up on ironing! Usually we just pull from the pile and iron as we need it, but trying to get on top of things before Maverick makes his arrival.^^^

^^^now having appointments every 2 weeks! Can't believe how close its getting!^^^

^^^had lunch with my Dad and Jeremy and Papa Angelos in Bethany.  Best. Pizza. Ever.^^^

^^^newest close-up of Maverick Jude^^^

^^^said goodbye to some good friends that are moving to Boston!^^^

^^^Jeremy and I bought a car that Maverick can fit in! We are so excited.^^^

^^^Week 30! On the downhill slide now!^^^

^^^movie night in bed with Jeremy watching Catching Fire since I finished the book!^^^

^^^started washing baby clothes this week! So fun getting things ready.^^^

^^^made some yummy crockpot potato soup to go along with the chilly-er weather we've been having! It hit the spot!^^^

happy 4th of July!

We kicked off the 4th of July week with the Mustang firework show and SuperFreak concert! We saw them last year and they were awesome again this time! My sister and her new husband and our friend Sam joined us. It was lots of fun!

Then on the 4th we had hamburgers with my family at my parent's house, and then headed over to my cousin's house to celebrate Aden's 4th birthday! Lots of fun with family and friends!!

^^^such a wonderful birthday for a wonderful boy! He is definitely a little firecracker! We love him so much!^^^

You can read about last year's 4th of July here! I hope you all had a safe and fun time with your friends and family celebrating our wonderful country!

my week in iPhone photos

^^^made a homemade cookie cake for the first time, and it was delicious! I definitely recommend this recipe!^^^

^^^two "fun" parts of the beginning of the third trimester! I swear this heartburn is crazy, I'm always chomping on some TUMS right after dinner, and as soon as I get into bed. Also, did the glucose test this week... it wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be.  Just the after taste burns!^^^

^^^registered at Babies "R" US, and decided these signs should be mandatory in every parking lot!^^^

^^^free Icee day at 7-11 was a must have on a H-O-T day!^^^

^^^this is Jeremy showing my Grandpa what a "selfie" is, ha!^^^

^^^went over to Ft. Smith to find out that Baby Keenen is a baby boy! I'll become a mother and an aunt within a couple months of each other... fun times!^^^

^^^fun dessert in Ft. Smith^^^

^^^28 weeks already^^^

^^^enjoyed a morning with nothing to do but sleep in, drink coffee, and catch up on my shows!^^^

^^^lunch selfie with the family^^^

^^^Maverick's newest additions to his room that is slowly starting to come together!^^^

^^^cute tiny baby socks :) ^^^

^^^enjoyed a family walk last night!^^^

growing baby and belly part 2

^^^25 week bump^^^

How is it already the first of July?? I feel like I can barely keep up with how fast time is flying by! I know I say that in every single post, but I mean seriously... we're already halfway through 2014. That's crazy! 

So, all this talk about the second trimester being such a breeze, as actually turned out to be pretty true... most days.  Weeks 16-21 were the BEST.  My energy was back, I was comfortable at night, wasn't getting up to go to the bathroom constantly, I actually ate a few meals and felt full afterwards. Then came week 22. I don't know what happened, but EVERYTHING changed.  I haven't slept through an entire night in three weeks, it feels as though Maverick is literally dancing on my bladder when he moves-- which is all the time-- making for frequent trips to the bathroom, my back hurts so bad just about all day long, and this whole new thing of crazy intense heartburn as soon as I go to bed is for the birds.  I tell myself daily, "only 15 more weeks... I can do this!" 

Maverick has discovered my ribs now, and that is one strange feeling! I can usually massage/push him back down-- which Jeremy finds so rude for me to do to him--- and he will move back down at least for a little while.  His kicks are getting stronger and stronger everyday! They are visible now from the outside, even with my shirt down. It's the strangest and most amazing thing watching your stomach move all on its own, and knowing that little baby inside there is letting his presence be known.  I've also noticed that he is responding to certain voices and my touch. A few times I'll put my hand on my tummy, and he will find it and start kicking so hard against it. Maybe I'm annoying him, but I like to think its his way of saying "hi mom! Thanks for carrying me around. I'll see you soon!"  

I feel like we found out I was pregnant, I blinked, and here we are at just over 6 months! We are so ready to meet our little guy, we just can't hardly wait! I know Jeremy will be glad to get his bed back to normal... my four, sometimes five, pillows needed to get a decent night's sleep totally defies the laws of sleeping in a queen size bed with another person. But he sure is a trooper, and so helpful, and does whatever he has to do to make me comfortable (including a few nights of moving to the couch--which I'm not sure are entirely for my comfort or for his ha!)  I'm trying hard to enjoy these last few weeks of it being just Jeremy and I.  Life is about to change so much, and while I'm so excited for all of those changes, it is a bittersweet feeling knowing that our newly wed stage, late night food or movie runs, spur of the moment trips or date nights are coming to an end.  These have been such fun times, and I want to savor the rest of the time we have left to just be us.  

But in the meantime, I hope Maverick can hear his Pa talking to him each night before we go to bed. I hope he can hear us talking about how excited we are to be his parents.  I hope he likes hearing about all the ideas I come up with for his room.  I hope he hears it when so many people tell me that they can't wait to meet him. I hope he likes hearing his name said over and over again because we just love saying it so much. And I hope he can feel how happy we are that he is coming into our family.  

Because one more blink, and that day will be here. And I just can't hardly stand the waiting. 

growing baby and belly

20 weeks!! I feel like just yesterday, we found out we were having a baby, and already we have reached the half-way mark.  Time is moving so quickly, and while I'm so excited to meet Mav, I feel like time is passing TOO quickly.  If pregnancy goes this fast, I can only imagine how fast it will go once he is finally here! Is it pathetic that I'm already sad about him growing up?? I just want to enjoy every moment, and keep him little forever.  With each passing day, my love for little Maverick grows, and I am humbled by the opportunity to be his mommy.

 Pregnancy these days is much better than before.  Around week 13, my sickness was completely gone.  About week 16, I finally felt some of my energy return.  And week 19, finding out it was a little boy growing inside me has just made this so much more real.  He is very active, and moves most of the day.  His strongest little kicks are usually in the afternoon or once I get into bed at night.  Jeremy finally got to feel him move a couple of weeks ago, and that was just so much fun! The only real "cravings" i've had usually pass after I've eaten whatever it was that I wanted-- so nothing real consistent.  However, chick-fil-a, chips and queso, sonic hotdogs, popcorn, grapes, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and Jeremy grilling burgers ALWAYS sounds good.  But to Jeremy's delight, I have been pretty diverse in food choices, so he's not eating the same things over and over.  

Here's some of our newest pictures of Maverick Jude.  He's already such a little cutie :)

Excited for the weeks to come!