At the Hospital!

I rarely ever "schedule" posts, but I did schedule this one because...by the time you read this, we'll already be at the hospital!

 

Please pray for a safe delivery for little Miss Kayleigh, and for the strength and energy Jesse and I will need to welcome her into our world.

We won't have any internet access while we're at the hospital, so it probably will be a few days before you get an update.  In the meantime, enjoy reading our last few letters to our little girl.

 

Dear Kayleigh: 40 Weeks, Salted Caramel Mocha Frappuccinos, and Inducing

Dear Kayleigh: The Baby Red Zone (a letter from Jesse)

Dear Kayleigh: Heartbeat

I can't believe that I'll be kissing these sweet cheeks in a matter of hours ♥

Kayleigh's Nursery

Welcome to Kayleigh's room!

Jesse's mom made the monkey quilt, and it's hanging on his childhood rocking chair--right next to our shelves full of books and toys for Kayleigh to enjoy someday.

My mom made Kayleigh's beautiful baptism gown.  I'm so excited for that day!

Sweet little crocheted pinafore made by Kayleigh's future Aunt Megan

My Papa Don made this cradle over 30 years ago.  It's been passed around the family from baby to baby through the years, and Kayleigh will be the first great-grandchild to get to use it.

We're getting close!  So excited to share our little world with our Kayleigh Girl!

Maternity Pictures

I'm remembering to cherish moments like these, because it will only be a few more days until she's in our arms.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We love you, Kayleigh Girl!

 

Crock Pot: Garlic Rosemary Chicken

I had a hankering for something savory today...and was too lazy to make a trip to the grocery store to do anything too adventurous :-)

I looked through my kitchen and saw that I had chicken breasts, potatoes, carrots, garlic, and lots of herbs, including my fresh rosemary plant growing outside.

Voila!

This is so easy, and when Jesse and I came home this afternoon, the house smelled so scrumptious.  Totally worth the 5 minutes of prep I put into this meal :-)



For two people, I used:

♥ 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

♥ 5 minced cloves of garlic

♥ 1/2 stick of butter

♥ 1/2 cup of chicken broth

♥  4 sprigs of rosemary from my plant (or 1T of rosemary flakes)

♥ Sprinkles of parsley, sage, and thyme (it's a Scarborough Fair meal!  Get it?)

♥ 4-6 Russet potatoes

♥ 10-20 baby carrots

♥ 1 T olive oil

♥ 1 t Kosher salt

♥ Ground black pepper



Melt the butter and garlic together in a microwave-safe bowl.  Coat both sides of the chicken with this yummy mix, and place in the bottom of the crock pot.  Pour the chicken broth over the chicken in the pot, and add the sprigs of rosemary.  In a separate bowl (or ziploc if you're lazy and don't want to wash another bowl!) mix olive oil, quartered potatoes, carrots, kosher salt, and pepper together and pour over the chicken.  Sprinkle everything in the crock pot with the rest of the herbs, turn the crock pot on low, and let it cook for 6-8 hours.

It smells heavenly, and when I get that big of a smile from my Handsome Man, I consider it a great success ♥

Mama Bear

 

I have fully morphed into Mama Bear mode.

I'm hibernating...

I'm eating more than usual...

I'm nesting...

and I'm LOVING it!

 

I'm so thankful that I stopped working when I did.  I was in so much pain from being on my feet for 8 hours a day (and not just on my feet, but bending low to care for preschoolers and all of their needs!) that I made it as far as I could.  But now that I'm at home, I've felt progressively better every day.  What a relief!

Everyone says to just "walk that baby out," but I was in so much pain that walking hurt with every step.  Today was the first day that I woke up and thought, "I could walk a mile today!  Let's go!"

God is good :-)

 

Today, I'm 39 weeks and 6 days pregnant.  I really wasn't sure how I would feel about reaching my due date with no baby in sight.  I thought I would have a hard time with it.  Jesse and I were both the first kids in our families, and we both came early.  I guess I was hoping the same for Kayleigh.  But surprisingly, I'm totally at peace.  She's happy in my little luxury resort, I guess.  And I'm ok with that.  I want her to grow  and come when she's ready.  Our doctors have told us that they won't let us go over 41 weeks, so that means that there is a max of 8 days before we get to meet Kayleigh.  I'm really hoping not to be induced, so I'm praying that she decides to make her entrance soon.

 

Her room is all set, our bags are by the door,

we're ready for our little girl.

Come, Kayleigh, come!

♥

So Much Pink

Every once in a while, when I'm daydreaming in Kayleigh's room, or folding her freshly washed clothes and blankets, I think to myself:

That tech better have been right.

I sure hope this baby is a girl!

Because otherwise, our little boy is coming home to a lot of pink.

New Mommy Survival Kit

A friend messaged me one day last week and asked if she could drop by.  It was my first week off of work while I wait for this baby to decide she's ready to come, and I was happy for the company.

What a surprise when Kayse--who I've only known for a month--showed up at my door with this:

I was so surprised!

The fact that this sweet girl put together such a thoughtful collection of necessities for a first-time mommy--especially one she had only met a few times!--blew me away.

Kayse is definitely a new blessing in my life.  Her husband went to school with me and Jesse (he also played in the orchestra where Jesse and I met), but until they moved a few streets away from our new apartment, we had never met his bride--or their adorable 8 month old munchkin.

Everything Kayse put in the "Survival Kit" is brilliant.  From a one-handed water bottle to use while nursing, to flushable wipes, she thought of things that only an experienced mom would, and I so appreciate it!

She even made it cute--isn't it just adorable?!?

I wanted to share this idea with all of you, because I know that once I've got some mommy-experience under my belt, I'll definitely look forward to doing something like this for mother-to-be friends of mine, and thought you might want to, too :-)

Little Blessings

Things I'm thankful for today:

♥ Getting to spend 3 days last week with my college roommate, Kimmi

♥Mid-afternoon naps

♥ A lovely Friday spent at the beach

♥ A phone call from my brother today

♥Waking up at 5:30 and remembering I don't have to get up and rush off to work

♥ My parents coming over today to vacuum, dust, clean, and help me get the house ready for Kayleigh's arrival

♥Finishing up a crochet project

♥ A quiet night at home with Jesse.  Ahhhhhhhh...

♥ Season Premiere of Castle!  (is that allowed?  :-) )

 

My Last "Kids Say the Darndest Things" Post for a While

Now that I'm at home, it's going to be a while before I have more funny kid quotes to share--at least, until Miss Kayleigh can talk :-)

 

Here are some more laughs from my little spiral bound happy book:

(Remember, these children are 4 and 5 years  old.  They crack me up!)

 

Alan: Miss Betha--mmm!  Your hair smells good!

 

Jeremy: Mommy says I will be a good police officer when I grow up.

Me: Oh!  You want to be a police officer?

Jeremy: Nope.

Hallie: I know what I want to be when I grow up!
Me: What do you want to be, Hallie?

Hallie: A pet fish!

 

Adalee: Miss Bethany, Ray just punched me!

Me: Ray!  Don't put your hands on your friends.

Adalee: Not his hands.

Me: ???  What did he punch you with?

Adalee: With his butt!

 

Bryce:  (crying) I accidentally bumped Naomi's face, and now her eye hurts.

Me:  She's ok, I checked.  I know it was an accident, Bryce.  You don't need to cry!

Bryce: No, I'm crying because my mom said that if I hurt any more friends, she would leave me here and not take me home!

 

(While reading a story about a woman who goes to a well)

Me: What is a well?

Bryce:  Uhh...it's kinda like a dolphin.

 

Sophia:  Look at my pretty pink nails!
Alden:  I don't have pink on my nails because I'm not a girl yet.

 

Me: What animal does pork come from?

Sydney: A porkypine!

 

Andrew (while seated near my feet at Calender time):  Miss Bethany, I'm lucky your shoes are so beautiful!

 

Alden: I want to change the leaves' colors.

Nichole: You can't.  Only God can!

 

Riley (pouting): I did not want to come to school today.

Me: Neither did I!  Let's all just go home.

Naomi: No!  I don't want to turn into a donkey!

Miss Anne: Whaaat?!?

Naomi: My mom says that if I don't go to school, I'll turn into a donkey like the boys in Pinocchio.

 

Me: *whistling*

Jeremy: I can't do that!
Sydney: I can! *whistles*

Jeremy: Oh no...only girls can whistle.  *Sigh*

 

Me: Joshua!  Why is Bryce doing your classwork?

Joshua: *shrugs* Friends help friends.

 

Class (reciting lunchtime prayer): Thank you, God, for everything!  Amen.

Gordon:  I say "a-women."

 

Adalee (tattling): Alan said "fat!"

Alan (looks up in surprise): I didn't hear me say that...

 

Me (as Alden shows me his picture):  Wow, Alden, that's a piece of modern art!

Ethan: What's "modanar?"

Alden: A sandwich?

 

Jolene (whispers): Miss Bethany, this morning, my brother almost said a bad word.

 

Me: What does a strawberry smell like?

3 year old: A triangle!

 

Adalee: Miss Bethany, I sat down too hard and hurt my button!  (bottom)

 

Miss Gina:  Let's talk about the 5 senses.  What is something we can see?

Arnold: A TV!

Miss Gina:  Good!  Now, Elliott, what is something we can taste?

Arnold (whispers to Elliott):  I'll give you a hit: don't say TV!

 

Travis:  I told my mom to have two more babies...that way, me, my brother, and the babies could play Super Mario 4 players.

 

Riley (looking at my 4D ultrasound of Kayleigh):  What is it so dark in there?!?

 

Joshua:  Can I have some more?

Miss Caroline:  "Can I have some more, please?"

Joshua (slaps forehead): Ugh!  I always forget that little word.

 

Miss Gina: What does it mean when men and women get married?

Rachel:  That they're going to have a baby!

 

Riley (to me): Why are you wearing lipstick?

Jiahao: Because she has to wear it to look pretty!

 

Rachel (sits up during naptime):  I can't sleep!
Me: Why not?

Rachel: My sheets don't match my pillowcase!

 

Caleb (on July 5th):  I heard fireworks last night!   It was louder than when my mom cracks an egg.

 

Valin: ...and we can be married!
Sydney: Do we really have to be married?

Valin: Only if we kiss...

 

Anna: What song is this? (listening to my Disney CD)

Me: "Chim-Chiminey" from Mary Poppins.

Anna: That's not Mary Poppins!  That's a man!

 

Madison: Miss Bethany, you're a princess castle!

Me: Why?

Madison: Because you're as up-in-the-air as one!

 

Sydney: We don't have dogs or cats at my house because my dad is allergic to their hair.

Valin: But...your dad has hair on his face...

Sydney: *gasp* Maybe he's allergic to hisself!

 

Miss Denise (shows a picture card): What is this?

Class: Apple!

Miss Denise: Good!  And what sound does "apple" make?

Class: /a/! /a/! /a/!

Miss Denise: Great! What about this? (shows another card)

Class: Bird!

Denise: Yes!  What sound does "bird" make?

Class: Chirp! Chirp! Chirp!

 

Miss Ana: What does a king do?

Bryson: He cooks for the queen.

Stephanie: No!  He just sits in his magic chair.

 

Me: Madison, why isn't your homework in your folder?

Madison: I don't know!  I guess the leprechauns took it!

 

Eric: Miss Bethany, what happened to your tummy?!?

Me: It's growing--there's a baby in it.

Eric (wide-eyed and horrified): WHY?!?!?

 

Elizabeth: Miss Bethany, you can draw trees?  Wow!  You're a good drawer!

 

Sophia:  Yesterday, I went to Chuck-in-the-Cheese!

 

Me: Alden, go get a napkin and wipe your mouth.  You have food all over your face.

Alden:  I know.  That's what I ate for breakfast.

 

Caleb: I really am a superhero...just... nobody knows it yet.

 

Jiahao: That man outside is smoking!
Alden:  Oh no!  His lungs are gonna look like a barbeque.

 

Caleb: Rachel, you and I should get married anytime.

Rachel: Why?

Caleb: Because, boy plus girl makes sense.

 

Riley (pointing to the belt I was wearing just below my bust): Why is your belt all the way up there?

Me: I have to wear it up high because my belly is too big for me to wear it around my waist.

Riley: You should just take that baby out so that you can be skinny again!

I'm Still Here :-)

It's been a long road, but after a month of living in our new apartment, we're finally settling in!

Sorry to have been off the radar for such a long time...between being in my last months of pregnancy, working full time, and the move, I was in survival mode.  Moving near church meant that I was moving away from work, so the drive was taking me 40 minutes in the mornings, and an hour in the evenings.  I had just enough energy to come home each night, tackle a box or two, and then crash.

And let me tell you: moving from a 3 bedroom house to an itsy bitsy apartment is quite the challenge!  (Especially when you're adding a baby!)

 

But God is good, and we're definitely counting our blessings.  It's woooonderful to be so close to Jesse's job.  He can come home now for dinner between his workday and his meetings, he can ride his bike to work, and I feel so much safer knowing he's less than 10 minutes away when I need him.

Plus, God blessed us in a big way with friendships!  The whole time we lived in our old house, we were pretty isolated.  Living half an hour away from church meant that it was difficult for people to come visit.  Of course, our friends came out for things, but inviting people over meant a big time commitment on their part.  Now that we're close, I'm foreseeing hosting lots of things in our future--and we've already begun!  Our College and Career Bible Study is meeting in our living room every Wednesday night.  I love it.  Jesse and I have always loved having people in our home, and now, when Kayleigh arrives, I'll still be able to join in because I can just put her upstairs when she falls asleep.

We now live within 10 minutes of all of our church friends (except for one, but Emily is marrying Matt in a few months, and then they'll both be nearby!), and we're within a five minute walking distance from two couples.  What a blessing!  We're loving all of this Christian fellowship!

Last Friday was my last day at work.  I went as long as I could (up to 38 weeks!) and now I'm so thankful to be  home.  My two full days at home so far have been wonderful.  I picked up my college roommate, Kim, on Monday, and she is staying with us until tomorrow before she heads back up to San Francisco.  It's been so much fun to have her here and get to spend time with her.  The last time I saw her was in January!

And it's so good to rest.  We're getting closer and closer to Kayleigh Girl's arrival, and my body is wearing out.  I'm so thankful to get to sleep in in the mornings instead of rushing out the door at 6:55, I love being able to take a nap if I need it, and being here when Jesse comes home makes me so excited to get to do this all the time.