I am still here!

Hey guys, I am so overdue for posting - you'd think I'd have a lot to post about (and I do) but I haven't gotten around to sharing my thoughts or daily activities....

I am 32 weeks pregnant! Woohooh! Today I am choosing to stay grateful, There are lots of aches and pains I could choose to complain about but there are more things to be thankful for and focusing on those things makes life so much more enjoyable and beautiful!!! One main example: my healthy baby girl! Everytime I think about holding her I cry...I cannot wait to meet her and love on her!!

I feel like I have SO MUCH to do in 8 weeks - mainly a lot of reading to do. 1 of the books I am currently reading:



I am so thankful for Josh, he has had a special little grace for me these last couple months and for that I love him even more than usual! When I wake up in the middle of the night and I cant sleep and I am moaning and groaning and wiggling around, he rubs my back and asks me if I am ok and if I want him to rub my back till I fall asleep - WHAT A SWEETHEART! I just love my husband to pieces.

I will leave you guys with a few pictures from the maternity photo shoot my sister did when we were at the beach a couple weeks ago.

oh hey third trimester

I am so overdue for an update - Ive been wanting to show off both my vintage and newly purchased treasures in my nursery but it's not finished yet so you'll have to wait. 

SO - I AM 29 WEEKS PREGNANT -- YAY!

We had an ultrasound on Monday to make sure my placenta was moved up (it was low at 18 wks) and thankfully it was! Everything was excellent. She was weighing in at approximately 2 lbs and 11 ounces, (give or take a few because they have no way of being sure :)  my fluid was good, she was developing perfectly and everything was just great and it was all music to my ears! I was measuring in at 30 weeks (I've been a week ahead every time which is normal) but I keep telling myself any time before Sept 12th! I am due Sept 2nd but I'd rather think I'll be late than early - otherwise I'll feel miserable waiting! Although, I cannot wait to hold her these days. I am feeling a little anxious to see her! I started to cry the other night because I was just wanting to hold her so bad....then again, I also cried because the laundry basket didn't match the nursery anymore and I didn't want it in the room if it didn't match (kind of insane, Josh sent me to bed immediately). It is still sitting the in hallway....

Here she is, she looks a lot like her daddy but I can definitely see some of me in there.

My mom came this weekend and we had SO much fun looking for vintage keep sakes and other nursery things. She brought this with her for Elloise, this will be her "coming home" outfit!!!

In other news, I have been enjoying my baby bump. I can't imagine being bigger though - even though I know I will.... 29 weeks and counting -- so excited about my baby!!

grandparents

Today I have been thinking about my Grandparents. My moms parents both passed away when I was pretty young. I have few memories of them that I cherish (mainly of my grandma). I remember little things like taking naps with a hand sewn blue pillow with floral patch work. I slept with that pillow up until a year or so ago. I swear it still smelled like her every time I held it. I lost it during the move from my old house to Josh and I's house. Apparently it still makes me cry thinking about it......*tears*
I remember one time after she had a stroke mom and I were at the house for some reason and I was sitting on the couch holding that pillow sucking my thumb (I think I was 5) and she said to me, " you know sheila, you can have that pillow now." I remember feeling like it was important as I sat there looking at her in a wheel chair (I had never seen her in one before).  I was so happy to have that pillow. Awhile after that I remember going to her funeral and not really understanding anything. Needless to say, I loved my grandma Lehman and she was a wonderful woman and grandmother.

grandma with my sister, brother, and cousins

grandma and pappy with my aunt and uncle

My grandma and pappy Strite (dads parents) are still around and loving life :) They have been married for over 50 years! Grandma has been catering for the last 30 years and she is an amazing cook. Every time I visit home I go see her and she always makes me something delicious! She has cooked my pappy a hot breakfast every single morning since the day they have been married (unless they are apart which is almost never). She has a true servants heart and I love her and pappy so much. I am so thankful for them and everything they have been to me.  They are wonderful grandparents and great grandparents. I can't wait for them to hold Ellie for the first time.

Grandma in her teen years. Everyone says I look like her!

gram and pap with me at wesley's rehearsal dinner

grandma and will

gram and pap with ashria :)

at Josh and I's wedding

These next 3 pictures have a little story behind them. When I was in 7th grade I hand sewed a pillow and I asked my grandma to stuff it for me. Over time we had forgotten about it and it got put away and we both forgot it even existed. I never thought about it in my life since that year I had given it to her. At my bridal shower she sent down a gift for me with my mom. I figured it would be some cooking stuff...ect.

As soon as I opened it I recognized the pillow and was flooded with so many emotions!! I couldn't believe it! She had stuffed the pillow for me. It is so special to me. Expecially since I lost my grandma lehman's pillow!

I love my grandparents so much, they are so precious to me and important in my life and my heritage.

happy mothers day

I cannot believe I am a mother...well, a half mother - - I'm about to seriously be a real life mother... I have looked forward to being a mom my entire life. I never knew the emotions that came along with motherhood. I am already beginning to feel the change happen in my heart, emotions and spirit.  Being a mother is such a blessing and a burden at the same time. Not a negative burden, but a healthy burden. Once a mother - always a mother....then a grandmother....mother mother mother......my name will soon switch from sheila to mom. I will be responding to MOM - woah!
I am so excited to begin this next phase of  my life. I get so overwhelmed by the love I feel in my heart towards my unborn daughter. I cannot even imagine how I will feel when she is in my arms....the thought of her literally brings tears to my eyes. I love her so much already....

speaking of moms and motherhood.......

I love my mom so much!

I couldn't have asked for a better mother. Thanks for all you have taught me and for loving me no matter what. I love you, you have helped make me who I am. You have always supported me and encouraged me to be greater.

 

I love you mom, I look forward to many more adventures together 

Elloise, I love you...you've changed my heart already. I can't wait to begin our journey together as mother and daughter. you are already the sunshine in my life. I love you with all my heart.

bundles of joy

Today I've been thinking about how I am thankful for my husband, family, and nieces and nephews. I am especially thankful for my baby girl growing in my belly and I tear up at the thoughts and fears I had of not being able to be pregnant and my journey to get to where I am now. I'm so glad she's safe and healthy and I am so thankful for everything she is and what she will become.

she was only 18 wks here. now shes 22 weeks. I want another ultrasound!

My nieces and nephews bring so much joy to my life and tears to my eyes because 4 of them live 7 hours away :( they grow and change so fast and I hate missing out on so much. Here are some pictures of my sister Selena's babies. They are so beautiful!

Jadon

Ashria

Jesi

 Here's Wes (my brother) and Laura's son Will! He's 1 year old and he looks just like his parents!

 My newest niece and nephew additions are Carmen's kids (Josh's sister). They only live 1 hr away so its not as bad :) Ive been seeing them a good bit lately. Bailey made the sweetest book for Ellie with hand drawn pictures in it....*tear

me and Bailey :)

Slade and Bailey

 All my nieces and nephews are so excited about meeting Ellie :) especially Ashria and Bailey

here's a picture from baileys book *tear*

bailey hugging ellie :)

 And of course nothing would be the same or as wonderful without my husband Josh. I say it all the time and Ill say it forever - he is the best thing in the world to me :)!! I couldn't imagine my life without him. He makes me laugh every day and fills my heart with love.

summer goodness

I potted some plants! I LOVE these pots I found at homegoods! I kind of want some more now...

this adds so much color to my front porch :)

Josh had to drill holes in the pots for the water to drain

I potted this too. I can see it from my bedroom window every morning :)

As I had mentioned a few posts ago, I bought another thrift store project for Josh and I. I have to say real quick, Josh is such a great helper - I always have projects for "us" and I know it drives him crazy sometimes (especially when they are every week) but he always ends up helping me with a smile on his face :) maybe not at first but after awhile! haha. I just love Josh so much. I enjoy him every single day and we see a lot of each other! He is my best friend and the best husband I could have asked for. I am so thankful for him all the time!!!
Back to the project, I have been wanting a little table and 2 chairs for our deck since we love to eat outisde! I found this awhile back for $80 and had to snag it! I have seen things like this several times and passed the opportunity thinking I could get it for cheaper and 80 was the lowest I've found.
We reupholstered these yesterday. I bought outdoor fabric but then put vinyl on top so it would protect it from rain and stains. Its way better to have a wipeable surface!

Before

After!!!

the whole set : so cute! I still want to paint the white a brighter color

One last thing, Our rose bushes finally started to bloom! This makes me so excited! The other project Josh and I want to do it re-do our front flower bed. Well, its not really a flower bed...it has 2 yellow rose bushes and 3 ugly bushes next to them. We want to pull out everything except for the rose bushes and re soil and plant flowers and jasmine. Hopefully the jasmine will grow up the front of our porch - it will be so beautiful!

thankfullness

Let me just begin with saying, the Lord has been so so good to Josh and I. My heart is SO full of adoration in his goodness...Im actually crying as I write this and its not just pregnancy hormones!! :) We have been blessed in so many ways in the last month! I will share a few.....
#1 Josh has a job again and he is doing the very thing he loves to do and even more! we have been praying for a long time now and we just recently started praying specifically and the Lord just threw this on our laps out of no where! I cried when he called me - I was like what?? this is so wonderful! I Immediately felt the Lord say "there's even more goodness to come, this is just the beginning. I told you I'd take care of you"
#2 We have been given a white gliding rocking chair (which is exactly what I have been searching for) and it has been passed down from two wonderful loving women who have used it...I know the holy spirit is going to be with me as I am rocking Ellie in it.
#3 Speaking of Ellie - we found out we are having a beautiful healthy little girl! UGH my heart is so full of love for her already I am bursting at the seams! Her name will be Elloise Baldwin. Ill tell the small story about what her middle name will be later :)
#4 Long story but since Josh and I are self employed we definitely owed in taxes. We knew we would get a tax break with getting married and buying a house but we still owed a big chunk of money. Anyways, with taking money from other areas that were saved for other things we had almost enough but we were still short a good amount and we weren't sure we would get money in time to meet the deadline. We of course prayed for money and opportunities to come in and not even a week later we received a check for the exact amount we needed....again...I cried and my heart was so full of thankfulness!!!
#5 I had bought a petunia pickle bottom diaper bag when they had their sale for Relief in Japan and when I got it in the mail I didn't like it...it was shiny and just not what I thought it was so I put it online with all the 100's of other PPB diaper bags that were being sold for less than I was willing to sell mine for and in 2 days someone bought it! I was like what??! I thought for sure it wouldn't sell! Another long story short two sweet friends found out which one I wanted (which costs more because its not on sale) and said they would buy it for me as a gift! AGAIN I thought - what?! It touched my heart so much!
#6 One of my clients brought me two gifts for my nursery, one is a vintage baby scale from the 1920's with a basket on top (it is soooo cute) and an old window that is weathered and painted white (which I also had been wanting for the nursery). She gave me these things out of no where? I was so surprised and felt so blessed!
#7 Another friend of ours let me use her moses basket that she had for her baby. We had been needing something to keep Ellie in when we have her in our room for the first 6-8 weeks but didn't want to buy anything because we knew she'd grow out of it so fast. She again just offered it to us on the spot! It has handles on it too so we can just take her around the house in it! Its perfect!
#8 My parents bought us our crib! I had been looking since I found out I was pregnant and I wanted a grey one but they are all like $800 or more. I kept waiting and finally found one in my price range and it was exactly what I wanted and mom and dad bought it for us! My parents bless us in so many ways I could write a list for days. I am so thankful for them everyday and am so touched by who they are. They make me want to be amazing parents and because of their example I know I will be with the help of them, the lord, and all of our amazing friends.
#9 I cant forget to mention, my cousin gave me a bunch of her maternity clothes and they fit perfect! She gave me a whole tub full of them, and my other friend has given me some pants and skirts that fit too!
I feel so overwhelmed with love from friends and love from the Lord. There are so many more ways we have been blessed but I said I would list a few and it got to 9....
I have always loved giving gifts and have always tried to be a big gift giver, I end up going a little above what I plan on spending because I love giving gifts! Josh is the same way, we both love to give. Whether its having people over to cook for them, having a listening ear, having them spend the night if they are out of town, offering to drive, buying lunch for people, or offering a helping hand, we always try to give big within reason/budget. Soon I will be a Millionaire and be able to give in even bigger ways than I have dreamed of. It will happen, I believe it. I will always dream big.
All that to say, when people give to me it makes me feel so loved because thats how I like to love. I always feel so surprised every time someone gives to me without expecting in return. It is one of the biggest ways I feel love and I think thats why the Lord loves to give to me and Josh. He loves to give to all of us. It's the most amazing thing to me. He cares about the little things, I know for a fact he does because he gives us those little things that we specifically want. He cares about the diaper bag I want or the rocking chair I want. He cares about all of it because he loves every part of who I am and he made me the way I am. Does he want me to blow money on the $650 stroller I want? probably not :) If I had the budget for it would it be wrong to do so? In my opinion, no. The "lack" mentality is something I will always stay far away from. I don't think the Lord wants us to have that mentality. There is so much in him and so much he is waiting to give us or is already giving us!

*a special thank you to all who have given to us at any point in our lives. I love you all and you have blessed my life so much.

*oh my gosh, I just finished writing this blog and Josh said someone literally just handed him a check because they wanted to bless us?! I am gonna have TEARS for days! Thank you, thank you, thank you! This completed the list with number 10!