warning: this is going to get personal

My mind has been busy the last little while, reflecting on a lot of different things. Now, please bear with me as I clumsily write my thoughts while I have a few quiet moments (minus my favorite little baby grunts in the background).

This month has had me thinking of some of the things I'm grateful for. With my dad's birthday on November 3, a lot of that thinking has been of him.

I'm not one to share personal happenings with many people- having people's attention is a hard thing for me to handle- so when my dad passed away last July I only told a few of my closest friends and two of my teachers. It was just my way of avoiding attention.

It's time for me to get past that. I want Max to know how much I miss his grandpa; how often during my pregnancy I thought about Dad teaching this little baby and getting him ready; how much I hoped Dad would be there to usher Max into this world. 

I'm grateful for my dad's constant teaching, although, he may not have ever known that. I'm grateful for his quiet example. I'm grateful for his faith in the midst of trials, his living testimony, and his willingness to do hard, and sometimes demoralizing things. I'm grateful that he taught me to love this country that he had served so well. I'm also grateful for his crazy dance moves, his huge fake smile, and the way he loved his grandkids. I'm grateful for my dad and I miss him every day, but what a blessing to know I don't have to feel that way forever.

That's my message for the day. I know it's a little sappy, but I'm not going to apologize for it. Now, give your parents a hug and kiss when you see them next!

the view from here lately

I know I promised a new post far too long ago (sorry about that). So here's a peek of what we've been up to the past little while:

Along with baby prep, we went to an awesome concert (courtesy of two door cinema club), baked our first pumpkin pie, visited the delightful hocking hills, and handy dandy Rick helped our cars out by giving them each an oil change.

We're loving the weather that promises fall (and all of the treats that come with it). I think we're about as ready as we'll ever be to welcome baby any day now!

Tomorrow I'll be back with more, but for tonight, I just have to say that by four weeks from today we should have a baby. That's right- our due date is exactly four weeks away- CRAZY! Bring on baby! 


And now, until tomorrow,

stripes!

We did it! How many tries does it take a pregnant lady to correctly tape off a wall for painting, you may ask? Well, around here, it took six or seven redos to get it right (and that was all on the last 2 pieces, because Rick was helping me with the others). I mean, seriously. But it actually ended up being really funny after the fourth or so, which might have had something to do with the night of sleep in between.    

Other nursery developments:

We're getting closer!

We got a great deal on a crib from my brother and sister-in-law before we moved, but when we tried to find a way to ship it, the cost made it out of the question. I was sad to give it up, but we got our new crib this week, and I'm excited about it too. Woohoo!

As you can see in the last picture, we have a small library, but I'm hoping to keep it growing. What are everyone's few favorite children's books?

showered

all of these are gifts, courtesy of the lovely ladies in our ward- take a look at that pile!

Yes, ma'am, a baby shower! And my word for the day is cute. The middle picture is of some of the decorations that were at the shower- book page windmills. Danelle, the incredible hostess, let me keep them. They'll be staying right in little man's nursery. Fabulous decorations, delicious food, and darling new friends. Really, I couldn't ask for anything more. Thanks, ladies! 

M...

is for Maxwell

And I sure hope this baby ends up being one, because I spent way too much time on this "M" poster idea for it to go to waste. All of the things in the poster are supposed to start with "m", so if you can't figure out what it's supposed to be, feel free to send suggestions my way. I'm not afraid to admit there are definitely some questionable ones (like the owl on a stick- did anyone think "mask"?).

Up next: Cleveland, Kirtland, and a stripey wall. For now...