36 weeks... Officially full term!

How far along? 36 Weeks

Maternity clothes? Some, but realizing a ton of my pre-maternity stuff works great too!

Stretch marks? Yep - The mark of motherhood and your body being no longer your own. 

Sleep: Sleeping amazing. But it is quite an effort to roll over in bed. 

Best moment this week: Getting to spend the weekend with all of Jeremy siblings. 

Miss Anything? My pride: I can't bend over to pick up really anything anymore. Thank goodness for my husband. 

Movement: So much! Jeremy and I die with laughter as we get so weirded out seeing her move across my entire belly. Or when we see her body parts sticking out of my belly. Love it. 

Food cravings: Pineapple and strawberries! Can't get enough of them. And for a while there I was craving buffalo wings all the time.  

Anything making you queasy or sick: nope.

Gender: Girl 

Labor Signs: Yep, lots of braxton hicks and contractions as my body is getting ready for our little one. 

Symptoms: Besides the massive belly and needing to pee about every 15 minutes, that's about it lately. 

Belly Button in or out? a tiny bit out.

Wedding rings on or off? On

Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy! 

Looking forward to: Moving into our new house next weekend! We're so excited and blessed by this new place, and I can't wait to start nesting and settling in. (Pictures to come soon) Let's hope Elsie Love stays in until we're settled!

Lots of Pregnant mamas at my baby shower! 

Things Your Mother Never Told You About Motherhood

By Dale Hanson Bourke

Time is running out for my friend. We are sitting at lunch when she casually mentions that she and her husband are thinking of “starting a family”. What she means is that her biological clock has begun its countdown, and she is being forced to consider the prospect of motherhood.

“We’re taking a survey,” she says, half joking. “Do you think I should have a baby?”


“It will change your life,” I say, keeping my tone neutral.


“I know,” she says. “No more sleeping in on Saturdays, no more spontaneous vacations…”


But that is not what I mean at all. I look at my friend, trying to decide what to tell her. I want her to know what she will never learn in childbirth classes. I want to tell her that the physical wounds of childbearing heal but that becoming a mother will leave her with an emotional wound so raw that she will be forever vulnerable.


I consider warning her that she will never read a newspaper again without asking, What if that had been my child; that every plane crash, every fire will haunt her; that when she sees pictures of starving children, she will look at the mothers and wonder if anything could be worse than watching your child die. I look at her carefully manicured nails and stylish suit and think that she would know no matter how sophisticated she is, becoming a mother will immediately reduce her to the primitive level of a she-bear protecting her cub; that a slightly urgent call of “Mom” will cause her to drop a soufflé or her best crystal without a moment’s hesitation; that the anger she will feel if that call came over a lost toy will be a joy she has never before experienced.


I feel I should warn her that no matter how many years she has invested in her career, she will be professionally derailed by motherhood. She might successfully arrange for child care, but one day she will be waiting to go into an important business meeting, and she will think about her baby’s sweet smell. She will have to use every ounce of discipline to keep from running home, just to make sure he is fine.


I want her to know that everyday routine decisions will no longer be routine; that a visit to McDonald’s and a 5 year old boy’s understandable desire to go to the men’s room rather than the women’s room will become a major dilemma; that right there, in the midst of clattering trays and screaming children, issues of independence and gender identity will be weighed against the possibility of a child molester lurking in the bathroom. I want her to know that however, decisive she may be at the office; she will second-guess herself constantly as a mother.


Looking at my attractive friend, I want to assure her that eventually she will shed the pounds of pregnancy, but she will never feel the same way about herself, that her life, now so important, will be of less value to her once she has a child; that she would give it up in a moment to save her offspring, but will begin to hope for more years, not so much to accomplish her own dreams, but to watch her child accomplish his; that a caesarean scar or stretch marks will become badges of honour.


My friend’s relationship with her husband will change, I know, but not in the ways she thinks. I wish she could understand how much more you can love a man who is careful always to powder the baby or who never hesitates to play “bad guys” with his son. I think she should know that she will fall in love with her husband again for reasons she would now find unromantic.


I wish my modern friend could sense the bond she will feel with women throughout history who have tried desperately to stop war and prejudice and drunk driving. I hope she will understand why I can think rationally about most issues but become temporarily insane when I discuss the threat of nuclear war to my children’s future.


I want to describe to my friend the exhilaration of seeing your son learn to hit a baseball. I want to capture for her the belly laugh of a baby who is touching the soft fur of a dog for the first time. I want her to taste the pleasure that is so real it hurts.


My friend’s quizzical look makes me realize that tears have formed in my eyes. “You’ll never regret it,” I say finally. Then I reach across the table, squeeze my friend’s hand, and wish her joy on the journey ahead.

Our trip to Big Sur last July.

Things I love about being pregnant...

It cracks me up when I feel like the majority of the things I read on pregnancy forums I'm a part of are lots of mamas complaining about all the side effects and negative parts of pregnancy. I rarely see people sharing all the amazing parts of it, so I thought I would share some of the things I love about being pregnant. Let me just start by saying that while your body no longer belongs to yourself, and Yes, there are a lot of not-so-great side effects of being pregnant, it is also the most amazing thing ever. And I have never felt better in my life! I've been blessed with such a great pregnancy, and tell Jeremy I could pop out 10 more of these if it's this great!


I love...


Getting to feel my baby girl moving inside of me, and feeling her respond to my touch. 


Daydreaming about what she'll be like and all the fun things we'll get to do with her this summer.


That I have a valid excuse for asking my husband to run to the store all the time for my cravings. He is SO good about blessing me that way, at any hour of the day or night, too. 


All the adoring looks I get from people as they notice Elsie popping out of my belly, ever so roundly. 


The smile that crawls across my face, every morning when I wake up and see my big belly, and remember that it is true...not just a dream. 


The amazing connection and love that has only been deepening between Jeremy and I through my pregnancy.


That I get to have other people paint my toes now, because I can't reach them. 


Belly kisses with my other pregnant friends. One of them who's having a boy, and we've already set up a marriage with Elsie. 


Having people open the door for you all the time, and everyone being extra helpful and warm.


Strangers, whether it be at Farmer's Market or the craft store, coming up and rubbing my belly, telling me how happy they are for me. 


That if Jeremy is ever gone, or working late...I never feel alone, because my baby is attached to me. 

What an amazing life this is. I seriously can't get over God's goodness over us, and feel constantly in awe of what a gracious Father He is. Something my friend Jade did while we were living in Uganda together, that I picked up and love doing is writing 'Love Lists". It keeps our hearts turned towards gratefulness, and our eyes on His beauty and blessings.

Today's Love List ::

: Waking up next to my husband, and feeling my daughter moving inside my womb.

: Making pancakes with lots of fresh berries (what I have been craving like mad the last few weeks) for breakfast.

: My gorgeous Mom and sister coming down for the day, and having a delicious lunch with them and dear friends!

: Celebrating Selah Bentley's first birthday today. She is a miracle, and God's love and redemption are evident through that beautiful little girl.

: Walking on Butterfly Beach with my hot husband, and watching the sun set. In awe at God's creativity and how generous that He would let us live in such a gorgeous place.

: Dreaming with Jeremy about the future, and praying about the places God might have us go.

: That our little bubs is safe and healthy. And right on track with her growing.

: That I have such incredible friends surrounding me here.

: And that at the end of this amazing weekend, I get to go back to a job I absolutely love, work with people I adore, and with kids that hold my heart.

Elsie's parents...

Our kids are going to be little toeheads!

twenty seven weeks...

How far along? 27 Weeks

Maternity clothes? Yep! My hot husband surprised me with a maternity shopping trip to LA this week!

Stretch marks? Some - The mark of motherhood and your body being no longer your own. Still rocking them with a two piece at the beach, though!

Sleep: sleeping great! Except some pregnancy insomnia, in which I should do pregnancy jazzercise or something. I wish Richard Simmons did a prego workout. 

Best moment this week: The relief we felt when we heard Elsie’s heartbeat, after a scare, and getting our little home a bit more ready and decorated for the baby!

Miss Anything? Being comfortable. And Sushi! 

Movement: Yes, praise Jesus! She’s been moving like crazy the last few days and I can see her move a ton on the outside, like a big wave. 

Food cravings: Strawberries and blackberries! I’ve been eating oatmeal with berries everyday! Yuummm. Also coffee ice cream. 

Anything making you queasy or sick: Watching Napoleon Dynamite tonight. 

Gender: Girl 

Labor Signs: No, but starting to feel Braxton Hicks as my body starts to exercise for labor. 

Symptoms: Tailbone pain, and quickly tired at the end of the day, but other than that I feel amazing!

Belly Button in or out? Flat as a pancake 

Wedding rings on or off? On

Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy! 

Looking forward to: My maternity photo shoot with Chelsea Steller, and decorating more for Baby!

Elsie is weighing about 2 1/2 pounds and is over 17 inches! She’s started blinking and if she did decide to make an early arrival (although we’re hoping she’ll stay nice and cozy for a while), her lungs are strong enough to work for themselves. She’s getting bigger and bigger everyday, and we keep falling more and more in love with her.