Early morning thinking.

I'm up at 5:15. I realize I've slept a solid 4 hours, so the fact that I can't quite get settled enough to go back to sleep seems okay. As soon as I start to stir, so does my little guy. His stirring quickly turns into the stretches and rolls I'm getting so used to feeling each day. Some little body part feels shoved up as high as it can go, he has the hiccups, and I'm pretty sure he is laying with his back against my right side. It amazes me still that there is a small human being growing inside of me.

We go together to check on his big sister. She has been running a fever for the past 2 days. At this point, we're just trying to let whatever it is she picked up this time run its course. As soon as I walk into her room, she stirs and her tired eyes open. "Rub my back", she says. I lay down with my baby girl and rub her back until she's almost asleep again. Ethan is moving like a wild child next to her. There is something comforting and "right" about having both of them with me, snuggled up in a twin bed in the early morning, even if it is because I'm checking on a sick child while unable to get comfortable enough to go back to sleep with the other.

It's during these quiet moments before anyone else is really awake that I am able to focus on just how overwhelmed I am with gratitude for the gift of my babies. They are the very best things that have ever happened to me and there isn't one thing that matters more to me than them, and their health and happiness.

I question lots of things. I worry about the future, I pray for our country, I try hard to live in the present and cherish all the little moments that bring smiles and laughter. I try hard to be the best mother I can be, the best wife, a good friend.

In a world that presents plenty of questions, I hold onto one simple truth. I was meant to be Ethan and Gracie's mommy. As I walk the path of motherhood, I put my faith in a powerful God who has entrusted me with their little lives and I believe that I'm in the right place and doing the right things, even when I question myself. I've never felt more content and I'm just so thankful.

House Guests.

We're enjoying a busy week with Sean's youngest brother and his girlfriend, who are staying with us during their spring break. I thought it was really cool that they decided to spend their time off with us and we're trying to make sure they have a great time.

This little girl is just loving her house guests... 

...and we feel blessed to have both Ryan and Bekah with us this week! :)

32 Weeks!

I'm 32 weeks pregnant today. I love telling people that I only have about 8 weeks to go! This seems like such a short time, especially when I break it down into days--only 56!

Things are still going well, I honestly cannot complain. It has been interesting watching this pregnancy become so different from my first. With Gracie, I had heartburn almost nightly during the third trimester and spent many nights dosing off sitting up because I was so uncomfortable. I have only had a few nights of minor heartburn, thank goodness. I'm still not sleeping well, but heartburn is not to blame this time!

I thought Gracie was an active baby in the womb, but I've since learned that she wasn't as active as I thought! Sean and I look on in disbelief at times as we watch Ethan shift and move around. I've never seen my stomach take such strange shapes... My belly button is still an "innie", but that hasn't stopped Ethan from trying to kick and push it to becoming an "outie"! Some of the things he does look so odd from our point of view! It makes me laugh so hard, but there are times when Sean just kind of looks like he's seen an alien... :)

I was around 32 weeks when I had my maternity pictures taken with Gracie. I have a few framed around the house that I just love. Since I didn't really want to pay to have them taken this time, I asked a very talented, upcoming photographer to take a handful of shots for me for free. ;) He also happens to be my husband, and while he really has very little interest in taking pictures, he impressed me with the amount of in-focus pictures he took, and with the overall composition of his shots! I guess he figured he'd better get it right the first time, otherwise, we just might have to go for round two! The above picture was one of my favorites. I did some cropping and editing, but I was surprised at how little was necessary. Good job, babe! :)

I have a 33 week appointment next week!

Happy Easter!

 We were blessed with a beautiful Easter Sunday today! The weather was perfect for all the sweet Easter dresses and sandals on the little girls at church, and of course the precious sweater vests and ties on the little men!

Gracie was thrilled to find that the Easter Bunny did make a stop at our house. He also hid a few of our Easter eggs around the house, so she enjoyed going on a mini egg hunt before finding her basket full of goodies!

After church, we went to Nana's (my mom) house for a delicious Easter meal. There was a huge ham, green beans, mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, squash casserole, rolls, banana pudding... You get the idea, we were all stuffed afterwards! Nana even had Easter baskets for Gracie and Austin.

It was a wonderful day of family and celebration. Sean and I spent the past three days reading Gracie the Easter story from her Children's Bible. I love all of the fun stuff, but want so badly for her to be able to recognize the true meaning of this holiday as she grows up.

I hope it was a blessed day for all!

Thanks to the gas prices...

The car stayed in the garage today. Filling our SUV up with gas yesterday was an uncomfortable reality check. I'm going to have to start conserving every last drop. My "just because" trips here and there are going to be limited, and my frequent visits to our neighboring cities will just have to become less frequent. I'm not totally oblivious, I've noticed the rising prices, but I had yet to see exactly what it would take to make an empty tank full again... and it was just a tad more than I would have guessed or hoped for.

We spent the entire day at home today. I am usually one who likes to get up and go. I enjoy taking Gracie and experiencing all the fun that our surrounding areas have to offer (I made stops in four different cities yesterday, if you include our starting and stopping point, home.). Whether it's the sometimes crazy afternoons we spend crammed into a Chick-fil-a booth with Gracie's cousins and my sister during Nana's lunch break, or the solitude found while sitting with my girl on a bench overlooking a quiet pond, I cherish the moments we live while out.

But sometimes, it really is nice to just stay in pajamas (or if you're Gracie, run wild in nothing but Tinker Bell undies...) and soak up the carefree moments of a day at home. We completed an Easter craft this morning, I managed to finish 4 loads of waiting laundry, a good friend stopped by for a visit, and we read and played and took a leisurely walk around the neighborhood... and I'm left feeling very satisfied and relaxed after ignoring the "go, go, go" urge.

I'm not sure what to expect with the gas prices. It's kind of scary to think about how high they could creep over the summer months... Everyone relies on gas and I can't imagine how it's affecting monthly budgets, especially the budgets of those with longer commutes to and from work! I remember being a brand new driver paying for my own gas when prices per gallon were barely over $1. I'm thinking there is no better time than now for me to turn "home" into the place to be, especially with this growing belly and Ethan's due date just 60 days away!

West Virginia Wedding.

We've had a busy few days! We spent this past weekend in Charleston, West Virginia visiting family and celebrating with my cousin as he said "I do". The wedding was as sweet and beautiful as I knew it would be. Their vows brought happy tears to my eyes as I thought about my own, which were spoken almost 5 years ago now.

Their reception was so much fun! We enjoyed good food, great company, and the entertainment of two gorgeous blondes, who took it upon themselves to get the party started on the dance floor. Gracie and another cousin's daughter, Kensi, brought many smiles when they started dancing together long before the first dance was announced. Then, the girls literally danced the night away! We discovered that Gracie is more of a lone dancer. She likes to do her own thing, a partner would only smother her creativity. ;) She seems to really feel the music and lets her body movements follow. I tried to hold hands with her to dance, I tried to hold her and dance, but she preferred to be on her own. Her daddy did get in a couple of dances with her though, and by the time we headed back to our hotel, I think we were all exhausted!

I found it interesting how Gracie (who can be very reserved around people she doesn't know) wasn't intimidated or really affected at all by the many adults dancing around her. She brought a little something extra to a special evening for her momma.

This was my first visit since my Papaw's funeral. I had been nervous for weeks over how I would feel and respond to his obvious absence. While it was bittersweet, having something to celebrate was huge in how I was able to handle those emotions, and Gracie was just another reason to smile and focus on all that was in front of me.

Quick 30 Week Appt. Update

I don't have anything exciting to report, but I did have a great appointment this morning. I always enjoy having Gracie there with me. She loves to look on as the nurse takes my blood pressure and is so curious about everything in the exam room. I'm measuring right at 30 weeks and we heard that strong little heartbeat that is the highlight of each appointment. I've gained right at 23 pounds so far, and actually lost one pound from the last weight check a month ago. All of the advice from my doctor was helpful and I'm back on track where that is concerned.

My next appointment is in 3 weeks and I'll begin weekly visits once I hit the 36 week mark... I still can't believe this baby will be here so soon! I think I say this every single day!

We now have a place to change Ethan's bottom! :) 

I found these storage bins on clearance at Kohl's, which was exciting to me not only because they happen to match the room, but because Gracie has the very same bins, just in a different pattern. I originally bought them along with two hanging closet organizers, one of which is now living in Ethan's closet. I like organization and accessibility when it comes to my kids' things!

His nursery is painted, the furniture is in place. Once I hang a few pictures and find curtains, his room will be finished!