Dear Little One// 19 weeks

Dear Little One,

You are growing and learning so much!

Right now your brain is learning how to experience

smell, taste, hearing, vision, and touch

and you are about 8 1/2 oz and around 6' long.

You're getting so big!

I'm growing a little bit, but not nearly as much as you (:

I have a little bump where you are, it's not really identifiable as a baby bump yet,

but if you continue growing at your current rate I'm sure it will be soon.

And you are quite the hungry one!

I'm quickly learning that you would be quite happy if I ate all the time

and that food is the answer to almost everything.

Grumpy? Need to eat. Tired? Probably need to eat. Can't think? Eat some food.

Overly emotional? Eat. All of the above and then some? EAT!

I'm thinking you're definitely a boy....

On that note,

we got a date for your big ultrasound and we are SO excited!

My sweet child,

this time please hold fairly still 

so we don't make the midwife mad again ok?

Ok, great (:

We are so crazy excited to see your tiny self again soon,

we love you so very very much.

xoxo,

Mama

The Weekend

 Consisted of~

Lots of yummy food

including buttercream donuts and tomato sandwiches

Counting sweet baby kicks

Yard saling and having a sweet

ukrainian man have the hardest time

believing I was pregnant and keep saying

"well I guess some mama's show and some don't"

with a thick ukrainian accent of course

poor guy

More tomato sandwiches.

I am really into tomatoes right now.

Demolishing our to do list.

Although, to be fair it was mainly Husband doing the demolishing.

Vacuuming and everything! 

Intending to go to church,

but waking up sick (again. stupid cold)

so having a coffee date and talking about baby stuff instead.

Meeting our friends newest little one

and realizing that that will be us in just a few months.

Whoa.

Telling the Facebook world about Little One

and reading and cherishing the joyful responses.

Enjoying the warm weather and deciding that we really

should get chairs that aren't falling apart.

Finding chairs for free on craigslist.

Bada bing bada boom.

Lots of naps for me and studying for him (:

Baby Oh Baby!

Oh goodness, it feels so good to be talking publicly about this precious baby.

Its all we've been thinking, talking, and dreaming about these past few months (:

Honestly it took us quite awhile to feel like it was really

truly happening, this miracle that we've

been yearning and praying for for years now.

But these past few weeks Little One has been

moving and grooving like nuts so it felt like

it was time to share our joyous news.

I am nearly halfway through the pregnancy,

Little One is 18.5 weeks along and due in September.

So far baby is as healthy and happy as can be,

loves early mornings, 

burgers and rootbeer,

and the sound of Papa's voice.

We are SO excited and cannot wait for September! 

Let the wild rumpus start (;

xoxo,

lyss

GUESS WHAT?!

.... and we are absolutely thrilled!

Dear Little One// Week 18

Dear Little One,

Happy 18 weeks!

You've been moving and grooving so much these past weeks

and I'm getting a little bit of a baby bump,

so we think it may be time for your grand debut (:

We're so excited!

We've slowly been telling close friends about you

and have been overwhelmed by how loved you are.

This is such a sweet fun time for our little family

and we enjoy every day of you growing

and dreaming of the days when you will be here on the outside with us.

You are so cherished my child.

Counting the days till September comes....

xoxo,

Mama

"DON'T LET 

A BAD DAY
MAKE YOU FEEL 

LIKE YOU HAVE 

A BAD LIFE"

~unknown

I would like to paint this on my walls and on my arms.

Although honestly I'm just emotional enough lately

that a rough hour will make me feel like I'm failing everything :P

I feel so very behind on the moment.

Behind on blogging,

which is truly very important to me.

I'm still figuring out thoughts on Ireland and

I feel that I really need to finish that project before

moving on to sharing how much we're enjoying spring

among other quirky things that mark this season of our lives that I don't want to forget.

I'm behind on my home.

Which I actually think is such a lie.

Home is home.

No matter how clean, no matter how organized,

no matter how many clothes need to be washed/put away.

Home is always home.

But at the moment it feels like a monster of undone projects and guilt.

I'm behind on people.

People that I love,

 that I desire to call/write/meet with.

People I think of often and yet can't seem to find the necessary

moments to put the thoughts to words to put into the phone or a coffee date.

I'm behind on creativity.

I have no new thoughts.

Even old thoughts aren't coming out quite right.

Pictures are thoughts put into images for me

and at the moment they are not communicating well

and that is frustrating me.

Husband would tell me that means I need to communicate

more and try harder (a nice way of saying I need to practice more ;))

but instead I'm just frustrated with what I think should be there and what isn't.

I feel that this is a season of importance.

Of words needing to be said just so.

When everyone is looking at you,

THAT moment,

when it is the moment to say something so very very important

and you realize you have no words.

None at all.

Which everyone thinks is completely inappropriate,

but whether it is or it isn't it just IS.

I'll probably feel differently tomorrow.

Sheesh, I'll probably feel differently tonight once husband gets

home and tells me I forgot to eat dinner (:

But at this moment these words

needed to be put down,

if only to remind me that guilt is not truth

and these things will happen in time.

And to not have words

(contrary to THOSE people or the occasional person in my head)

at times is completely appropriate. 

Dear Little One// Week 17

Dear Little One,

My goodness! You put on quite the show for your Papa tonight! 

We were sitting together this evening after dinner when 

your Papa decided to try and feel you moving. 

You moved a bit, but then Papa started talking, and you really started grooving!

It was such a wonderful moment, sitting there as Papa 

talked about this and that and you responding with moving more than

you ever have before.

We love you so very much.

We love learning you.

Knowing that you enjoy early mornings

and love the sound of Papa's voice.

That you like red meat best and root beer a close second.

You are NOT a fan of being constrained 

(no more tight waist pants for me :P)

and you would be very happy if I was eating

every moment of every day.

Happy week 17 my little love,

xoxo,

Mama

P.S. Grandma sent us a box of goodies for you!
Can't wait for you to come out and see them!

 It was a quick trip but chock full of wedding stuff and catching up with the families.

It was beautiful to see how our family has surrounded Jon and Jessie

and every detail was pulled off by Mom and Dad Burkhardt's hard work

and dedication to Jon and Jessie's joy in the wedding. 

From the food to the beautiful wooden cross 

(that Dad built by hand! Have I married into the creative family or what?)

to every minute detail in the decorations, our family's hard work

and loving touch was in and on everything.

And there were so many funny little moments, 

from the DJ almost not making it in time, to the little ring bearer losing his way,

to the groomsman's adorable but humor filled speeches,

the day was filled with light hearted laughter and sweet blessings.

Like the rain that held off until just as the 

wedding party finished their pictures. 

Man oh man you better believe the whole family was praying

that rain would just wait a litttttle bit longer all morning! 

And we loved learning from Dad Beagle how to maneuver on his paddle board.

Again, how cool is our family?

We played in between the rain showers and as we finished

an absolute downpour came which was delightful in its own way.

We sat in the shelter and chatted and caught up while

enjoying the beauty of a rainstorm you can only experience on 

a balmy FL afternoon.

And we did see April!

and Mama.....

I promise, we did.

Sometimes its hard to get pictures of those two (: 

Until next time,

we love you guys!

Dear Little One//16 Weeks

Dear Little One,

Happy 16 weeks!
You're officially 4 months old now,
growing finger nails, toe nails, and the finest of hair.

Its been raining a lot here lately,
and you and I seem to have caught a cold,
so we're enjoying lots of extra cuddles and moving at a bit slower pace.
Your Aunt and Uncles and Grandmas and Granpas

and Great Grandmas and Great Grandpas and your Great Great Grandma

were just thrilled to hear that you are here! Its been so much fun to 

celebrate you in the unique ways that each person in your family loves you.

You're beginning to show the tiniest bit and that makes me so very happy (:

I'm very hungry and tired so I have a feeling that you're growing
quite a lot and may be showing yourself a good bit more soon.
So excited to see you more and get to know you better,

xoxo,

Mama

A few of my favorite things

Pictures of Husband as a chunky baby

Conversations with Patience as we prepare for the day

Cam singing "Let It Go" at the top of his lungs. The WHOLE  entire song.

How curly and wild my hair gets in FL

Dear friends telling me they're pregnant 

Marriage and marriages to be

How a Chris Rice song takes me right back to highschool

Rainy spring days promising warm spring days to come

Finding treasures at yard sales

Taking off and landing in an airplane

Whispered prayers with husband

Anticipation and countdowns

BLT's on everything bagels

Quiet early mornings

Husband, always and forever Husband  

xoxo,

lyss

Dear Little One// Week 15

Happy 15 weeks Little One!

This has been such a full trip and the family

is so happy that you are here (:

Grandma pulled out some of Papa's old toys and it was 

so much fun to imagine the future of you while

hearing stories of your Papa.

He was one adventurous and smart baby!

We can't wait to get to know you better

and see how much of your Papa's sense of adventure

and cleverness is in you.

We love you so much little one

and it is such a joy to us to see the family

fall in love with you too.

Oh! And thank you so much for not hating coffee anymore!
I'm really enjoying you growing up (;

xoxo,

Mama

P.S.  Your uncles are going to hold a meeting

and set up a vote to see what your Beagle grandparents are to be called.

So I'll get back to you on that (;

Ireland 2nd Day

Kinvarra

Cliffs of Moher

Limerick 

Blarney Castle, Cork 

Cliffs of Moher, St Peters Castle, Blarney Castle,
and lots and lots of driving (:
It was a beautiful windy day full of gorgeous Irish countryside
views and adorable little towns dotted here and there.
We ended the day by counting roads
(it was hard to tell what was a road and what wasn't :P)
to find our lovely house with absolutely incredible views
of the ocean and 12 different little islands.