bumpdate: 29 weeks

This week has been a big week for us and the babe! We have gotten a lot checked off our to do list and are getting as ready as we can for her arrival.

We started our week with a trip to "Babies R Us" to test out all the items on our registry. We did our registry online, but we wanted to see and touch everything in person, so it was a good excuse to check out the big box store. We walked up and down the aisles pushing buttons, rocking in the rockers, testing the swings and playing with the toys. We spent most of our time in the stroller/car seat aisle. I wanted us both to push the stroller and fiddle with the car seat to make sure we were both happy using them. I chose the same brand (Chicco) that my sister has so I've seen it in action and used it a few times, but Alex is a novice.

He pushed the stroller up and down the aisle, tested the breaks, checked out the cup holder and made sure it was sturdy enough for his little girl. He tried several times to knock it over and it stood up to his tests, so the stroller is a go! The car seat was also given the Alex test and passed. My favorite part of shopping with him was when he called the car seat base a "docking station."

On Tuesday we met with a pediatrician, because according to all the what to expect websites that's what you're supposed to do with your first kid. We got a few recommendations and the same name kept coming up, so we chose to schedule an appointment. We asked him all of the questions we could think of and that we had googled. He was patient, kind, has all the right credentials and answered everything in the ways we were looking for. We feel like he will be a good fit for us and our little one to come!

On the way to the appointment I asked Alex if he had any specific questions he wanted to ask and he had one. Alex's question was, "If the Sorting Hat was going to sort you into your house at Hogwarts, which house would you be placed in?" Unfortunately he chickened out and didn't ask it, but that may become an interview question when we hire our next employee...

Yesterday we had our first birthing class at the hospital and it went well. There are four other couples in the class and all of our due dates are within a few weeks of each other. We went over the basic's of anatomy, the stages of labor, etc. We also practiced breathing and my birthing coach, aka Alex, had to practice massaging my back, I didn't complain.

The instructor also encouraged us to be reading and talking to the baby so she'll learn our voices. She said that rhymes are always a good place to start. On our drive home from the hospital I was trying to remember my Mother Goose nursery rhymes, but Alex had a different idea of rhyming. He sang, in it's entirety, the theme song from Fresh Prince of Bel Air, beatboxing and all. This little girl is going to be cultured...

Next week I'll post a bump picture, until then just picture normal me with a beach ball in my shirt. It's basically the same concept :)

december in pictures

We had a very busy and good December. To me December means spending time with family, board games, watching Christmas movies, baking, wrapping and celebrating. I spent more time doing those things than taking pictures, so it's a bit light on pictures but we had a great month!

 This year we went to the Way of Lights with our high school students

Christmas cookie baking at its finest

Merry Christmas from Moose

Sisterly bonding and lounging

Blair family dinner at Rare

Instagram's way to end the year was to compile your "best nine" photographs, here are mine.

 

Happy New Year!

2015: our year in review

This year was a great and busy year for us. I'm sure I say and think that every year, but this year it's especially true. We started the year with several celebrations of birthday's and milestones, we hired our first employee at the office, we went on some very exciting adventures and crossed 9 States off our list, we said a hard goodbye to my Grandpa, I ran my fourth half marathon, Alex (finally) got glasses and can see, Alex's parents moved just a block away from us, we got to celebrate the weddings and engagements of dear friends, we got a new roof and Alex's dad refreshed and repainted the front of our house, we pushed ourselves outside of our comfort zones, we grew our business and last but certainly not least we found out that we're expecting a sweet baby girl! Phew, that's a lot!!

I say we, but I know full well that God has provided every opportunity, experience and event for us and for our good. Not that this year has been all sunshine and roses, there have certainly been challenges, disappointments, struggles and arguments. It's easy to list the good for the public eye and sweep the bad under the rug, but we live a real life and I don't want to perpetuate a lie that we have it all together. We rest in God's goodness and He is who we find our hope and identity in, so when we do have hardships we turn to Him and when we have triumphs we turn to Him.

I don't think we have any New Year's Resolutions this year, but 2016 looks like it will bring many firsts for our little family and a lot of excitement and new challenges. I cannot wait until the arrival of this little girl and to see how God will use her.

Here are just a few of our photographed highlights:

celebrating Amanda's birthday

completion of my 4th half marathon

Alex soaking in the Pacific

hiking in Oregon

checking out Beale Street

spending time with all of my siblings in the same place

bowling with some of my favorite tiny humans

waiting for the fireworks on 4th of July

we found out we're having a baby!!!

Riedle family vacation in Florida

some brotherly love at the Bishop wedding

exploring the Grand Canyon

watching the Cardinals play in the NLDS

last but not least, this little pup posing with our Christmas tree

I hope you had a Merry Christmas and that you have a wonderful New Year!

bumpdate: 28 weeks

Hello third trimester!! We only have a little ways to go before we get to finally meet this sweet little babe and I cannot wait. The last few weeks have flown by with the holidays and festive busyness. I hope the next few months go as quickly.

I had my 28 week appointment with my midwife today and both the babe and I are doing well. I passed my glucose test and thankfully I don't have to worry about gestational diabetes (hallelujah!). Other than that, she is growing right on track and her heartbeat sounds as strong as ever. I am so thankful that this pregnancy has been so smooth this far.

We have decided to deliver at Gateway Memorial for a lot of reasons, one being that they have a birthing tub and other area hospitals don't offer/allow water births. We still need to schedule our birthing classes but we do have an appointment to meet with a pediatrician next week.

I am still full of energy and feel great. Although I'm much slower, I've been able to continue running and "athletically walking" -that's how I convince Alex to join me on the trails, running sounds less enticing to him and my fast walking speed is his normal speed...it's a win-win. Moose is just happy to be outside when it isn't raining.

There is a rumor that you lose your second trimester energy somewhere in the third trimester and I'm not looking forward to that...we still have to finish her room and I have a to do list as long as my arm to complete before she arrives. Here's hoping I can get it all done!