weekend update!

We had a wonderful weekend in Des Moines and I don't have one picture to show for you!  As these weekends always are.. they are quick.  and wonderful.  and so special.  So I was too busy soaking in all that special to take one single picture!   You can check Lisa's blog here to see some of the photos she took at Landon's 3rd birthday party!  Luke, Leyton and I headed down Friday and joined my parents at Ryan and Lisa's house.  So, just use your best imagination to picture the fun weekend we had.  Highlights include:

downtown Des Moines holiday promenade, exploring the local shops, getting treats, listening to caroling and finishing off at a German restaurant. fun.

Chaotic and so fun birthday party with tons of kids, gifts and cake.  

I love parties!  Especially little kid ones!

Shopping and the mall with the girls.  Seeing my dear friends Lindsay and Angela and they're adorable boys!  so good to just see their faces and enjoy these new babies!

Twilight movie with Lisa.  whew... stressful.  

church, lunch with my friend Rachel and the long drive home!

Like I said.. wonderful! 

Update on the baby front.. I'm 36 weeks pregnant and have less than a month to go!!  what?!  I can confidently say that I'm so so ready.  No, the room isn't ready and clothes aren't washed, but... I can't wait to meet this little mystery baby and to be done being pregnant!  This is getting extremely tough.   I don't remember it being so difficult with the first pregnancy, but then again, I didn't a 20 month old to keep up with!  ugh.  New development over the weekend.. my hips hurt and pop and.. spread? all the time.  It's quite painful.   I just feel large and tired all the time, so I really hope this next 4 weeks goes super fast!  

But the good news is, I can start to relax quite a bit from work and keeping up with all the photo editing!  I still have more to do (Christmas cards!) but I can actually relax during the boy's naps and have some time to myself between all the Leyton chaos.  I'll take it!   I cannot wait for this holiday week and for Thanksgiving day with our families.. with everyone coming to our house! 

baby bed..

I am so incredibly grateful to my dear friend Suz who is letting us borrow their baby bassinet for our upcoming baby!  It is beautiful.  and perfect.  and adorable.. and for our baby!  With Leyton, we just used the pack n' play in our room for a while, but to have this is such a treat!  It's in our room ready to go, and I can't believe that soon a mini-baby will be in there!  

thank you a million Suz!  You are such a sweet friend.. I miss you too much :(

prayers.

As these days and weeks are narrowing until we meet our sweet Christmas present, every little moment practically brings me to tears.  I picked out some adorable outfits today for the girl or the boy that will make its arrival.. I will show pictures, but I just cry looking at them!  I am so overwhelmed lately by an immense feeling of just being blessed.  Luke and I have so much to be grateful for, so much to thank God for.. it's just incredible.

I got to hear the little heartbeat again today (140s!) and I was once again struck by how real this is all becoming.  We are about to welcome child #2 into our lives, whether we're ready or not!   And just like I did last time (here) I would love to ask for prayer in a few areas concerning this upcoming change..  If you are the praying type, which I hope you are.. would you mind lifting us up in prayer?

1. For a healthy baby!  For perfect development, no medical complications.. for all of its little body parts that are forming as we speak.

2. For the delivery.. specifically, for me.  I can't help but be a little freaked out about the whole thing.  It wasn't too long ago that I had to go through such icky, horrible pain (let's be honest! it was bad!).  Yes, the reward is amazing, so that will help me get through it but I'm scared!   So, please pray that everything goes so smoothly with the labor. 

3.  For the doctors and nurses that will be with me during the labor.  That God would hand pick each one of them to be just what I need.. to be supportive and encouraging and to help me through this!

4.  For Leyton!  I know everyone says child #1 is really what makes this new transition.. interesting.  Please pray that he adjusts so well, that he won't be too jealous for attention, that he would be gentle :) and that he behaves well for Luke and I!  I know he is in for quite an awakening, but pray that he does well.

5.  For the first month, specifically, in this baby's life.  For a healthy development... that he/she feeds well and sleeps well and is super happy!  :)

6.  I added this last time, and it still seems fitting.. probably always will.  But pray for Luke and I financially!  To be able to adjust to the added expenses that another baby brings.  We know the Lord always always provides!!


Thank you so much.. we know that we wouldn't be anywhere without God's grace and faithfulness and we want Him to lead our entire lives.. especially in the life of this new little miracle!

Sincerely,

Luke, Kristen & Leyton.

the view from up here..

this is what I'm looking at these days!  

 Week 34 is in full swing with a baby the size of a cantaloupe taking up all the room it can in my growing belly!  This week in the life of the babe.. the fat layers are filling out, making him/her rounder.  The nervous system is maturing and the lungs are continuing to mature.  It's just incredible that babies being born this week have no major health problems and do just fine!   That really is amazing..  it's almost 5 pounds now and I have 6 weeks to go!  wow..

Normal life around this house.  Tons of dreaming, planning and organizing.  Or, at least that's what I want to be doing.  Which doesn't help when I have too much photo work to do!  We still haven't quite decided on a middle name for the boy yet either, so that's in the works.  oh fun stuff :)

Until next time!

changes.

33 weeks is here and almost gone!  That means I have 6.5 to go.. holy cow!  It's so fun to read back through this blog to see what was going on in my head during this stage of baby #1.  Pictures of my 32 week belly here.. 33 week update here.. so much preparation!  Baby showers, nursery preparing, diaper bag shopping.. all so fun!   It is crazy how different this time is.   It makes me a little sad, to be honest.  I was able to be so focused on the upcoming arrival with #1, but this time it takes all my energy just to get through the day with my sanity still intact.  I'm so excited just the same, the anticipation is mounting day by day.. I just want him/her to get here.. with me ready?!

I forgot this update (see.. different!), at my appointment last week, everything was measuring right on time.  The baby is facing down, with a steady heart rate in the mid 130s.  Deepens my boy suspicions.. :)  I will now to go the doctor every 2 weeks.  Have I mentioned that I love going to my doctor?  She is so wonderful, so encouraging and it's my time every few weeks to just think about this babe.  Even if it's just for an hour.  That heart beat is mesmerizing!  Just a miracle that there is a life growing in there that we get to meet in 6 short weeks!

Oh, and here is the shopping I am doing!   Double stroller!  I have a couple options I've been browsing, but yesterday I got to try out my friends City Select.  whew, it's wonderful.  We may break the bank a little, but this may have to happen. 

skeleton babies.

and.. our attempt at getting a pictures of Leyton and I together!  whatever..

 

he won.  clearly.

lil' poser

We had a great Halloween weekend around here!  It consisted of a very fun housewarming party with a bunch of friends.. so fun to see everyone and all fit in our house! :)  We had some great food (pulled pork sandwiches, little smokies, pumpkin pie dip & apples, chips & cheese, candy corn cookies.. and!  homemade root beer complete with dry ice)

Then last night we hung around our house, got a couple treat-or-treaters at our house, but then decided to do the rounds just on our immediate street, meet the neighbors and grab some candy!  Leyton loved it!  He was really getting the hang of walking up to eat door, grabbing one piece (and not 10).  He just didn't want to let any out of his hands.  so cute.  But it was really fun to meet some people we haven't met yet before everyone hibernates during the winter! 

 

 

 

and I just had to include these photos because it cracks me up.  first time he really realized he should pose for the camera.  And my mom and dad love this because when I was his age, I was notorious for the lean pose.   my little guy!