Sweetest thing ever...

I am only taking a minute to write this because I have to get back to studying for my final on Friday. I typically walk in the evenings in my neighborhood and there is always a little family in their front yard playing. The dad and mom are outside with their 3 little boys and they are playing something different every time I walk by.

On a side note:I like to think I have kept my emotions in check during this entire pregnancy (with the exceptions of a few blow ups here and there), and I thought I was going to start crying right in the middle of my walk when I heard what this little boy told his daddy.

Anyway, tonight I was walking and I put my music on pause because I wanted to hear what the little boy (who is about 4- 41/2) was saying. They were playing baseball and the dad said, "Okay, I want you to hit this one as hard as you can. I mean really hit the ball hard. Okay?"
The little boy replied with the cutest response ever! He said, "Don't you worry daddy. I am going to make you really proud of me!" I almost lost it! I can't wait to hear baby Cash say something like that to his daddy. Too precious!

My baby daddy is so funny...

Noah and I were talking about packing my bag for the hospital and what I should pack and wear and blah blah blah. He refers to my hospital bag as my "to go bag". Like I am planning on what meal I am going to bring with me to the hospital.

The conversation continued...

Me: What are you going to wear? Angie (my sister-in-law) told me about Caleb (Noah's brother) wearing a plain white t-shirt to the hospital. When they took Luke's (my little nephew) footprints, they put his little feet on Caleb's white shirt. Then when they had Brady (my other little nephew) he wore the same shirt and put his footprints on it as well. Would you want to do something like that?
Noah: I am probably just going to wear scrubs.
Me: I don't think you have to wear scrubs unless I have a C-Section.
Noah: Oh really?!? Good, I was afraid if I had to wear scrubs then all of the ladies at the hospital would think I was McDreamy or something.

Cash's boot mirror is finally done!!

After the very long process of finding boots, cutting boots, cutting a frame, stapling the boots in the frame, hammering the nail heads in the boots and waiting for a glass company to cut the mirror....it is done! I am so excited to have this thing done and hung on the wall of Cash's nursery. Thanks to everyone who helped put this beast together and it brings a vintage cowboy feel to Cash's little bedroom.

Big big day....

Today was a very special day for Noah and me. It is our 1 year anniversary and I am officially 36 weeks. which means we have less than a month to go. So much going on, but I loved every minute of it. We kept our day pretty low key considering that we may not get many more low key days in the future :) We went to church...went to lunch...went to Target...did some housework...watched a movie...and ate the top layer of our cake from a year ago! I must say, the cake was not as bad as I thought it would be. But it was for sure nothing to brag about. Noah and I have had a lot go on in our first year of marriage...started PT school...he started a new job...moved into a new house...oh yeah and that whole having a baby thing! I would not have picked any other person in the whole world to spend the first crazy year with and I look forward to the next 70 (that's right Noah, I said 70.)

Here are some pictures from the cake adventure this evening. My friend Kassie came down and took these pictures with my iPhone so I am sorry about the poor quality. (Someone stole my camera out of my truck so I am saving up for one of those fancy high tech cameras.)

And last but not least is a belly bump update. 36 weeks down and 4 more to go (if he decides that is when he wants to come.)

Surprise baby shower...

I have the best classmates in the whole world. I really do. A bunch of sleep-deprived grad students living off of student loans got together to throw me a wonderful surprise baby shower. I was completely caught off guard and was blown away by all my classmates who were a part of it. I got some wonderful things, but the most amazing thing I took away from it was realizing how blessed baby Cash is already. There are so many people that are wanting to meet him and wanting to be a part of his life. It brings tears to my eyes when I stop to think about it. I am so lucky to have the encouragement and support of so many classmates and I am so excited for them all to be a part of Cash's life.

Thank you to everyone who helped with the shower and for those who came. I am so thankful and blessed to have each of you in my life.

Erin

P.S. When my friend Matt gets around to emailing me the pics from the shower I will post them.

Dear Baby Cash,

We are about to embark on the last month of it just being me and you, by ourselves in our own little world. And I have to tell you, you have been an absolute joy to carry around over the last 9 months. You have given me minimal problems and countless days of excitement and anticipation...
I can remember waiting patiently to start seeing my baby bump...and then it came.
I can remember waiting patiently to feel you move....and then you moved.
I can remember waiting patiently to find out if you were a boy or girl....well you know how that turned out.
I remember waiting patiently for the first time you would move so you daddy could feel...and then you moved for him.
And now your daddy and I are waiting patiently for your arrival....and we will continue to wait patiently until you are ready.
Don't be in any hurry to come just because of us. We want you to be good and ready. And when you are we will be here waiting on you with a childlike wonder and more love than you will know what to do with .
We love you and think and talk about you every single day.

Soon enough we will meet.

Love,
Mom

One fine day???

Today was the first day that I have felt pregnant since I have actually been pregnant. I felt okay when I woke up, but as the day went on I grew really, really tired. I also had my first encounter with swollen ankles. I didn't notice anything all day and as soon as I got home and sat down to finish writing my thank you notes I look down to see the kankles of the century. Not to mention that I have been making more trips to the bathroom just to find out that hardly anything comes out. Why is it that when I go to the actual bathroom to go pee not much happens, but when I am sitting in bed studying and sneeze, what should happen in the bathroom instead transpires in the bed?? I know it's gross, but after how I have felt today I just don't care. But on a more positive note, if you ever need to know where the bathroom is in any place or room, just ask me. I seem to have a 6th sense for this these days :)

Good thing tomorrow is another day.

Baby Cash update...

This picture is of Cash and I apologize for the terrible quality. If you look close you can see his sweet little face (its a profile picture).

2 weeks ago, Noah and I went to the Dr. to have an ultrasound to see how baby Cash was growing. It was so great to get to see him again and I was really excited for Noah to see him because he hasn't been able to go to an ultrasound since week 12 or something.

Everything looked great! He has 2 eyes, ears, hands, feet, and kidneys! 4 chambers in his little beating heart and a lot of hair. I didn't think that you could even see hair in an ultrasound, but the technician said he has a good amount of hair already. (I have to admit, Noah and I are really curious about what color his hair will be). The technician also broke some news to us that made Noah one happy papa! She informed us that Cash has big "boy parts". When she told us this, I looked over at Noah and he had the biggest grin on his face. She also told us that Cash has big cheeks! How cute!

This picture is of Cash's umm...boy parts. As a future mom, I can promise that I won't post any more pics of his "goodies", but since he isn't here yet I figured, "What the heck?" If you look close you can see the little arrow pointing to his "taters" as Noah calls them. Only 6 more weeks and we get to meet him. Ahhhh!

Water works...

Well... it happened. I have done so well these 33 (almost 34) weeks and I thought I might make it my entire pregnancy with no issues. I was sitting up in bed the other night studying and I sneezed. And yes.... I peed a little. I haven't had this happen since that one incident quite a few months back (you know what I am talking about). Anyway, I sneezed. As soon as I felt it happen I got up, uttered a minor curse word, and waddled to the bathroom. Noah asked me what was wrong. I gave him a stern look and told him very matter of factly, "I peed on myself!" He could not help but laugh at me, but he learned from the last time this happened and said, "Well that's okay." He also had to throw in a, "That's a little gross."

Looks like you can teach an old dog new tricks!

P.S. This happened about 2 weeks ago and it hasn't happened since. (I just felt the need to share that in case someone thought it was an everyday thing or something.)

There has been a lot going on over the last couple of weeks, so this blog is going to be a bit of "catch-up". Let's see......

1. I think I have officially stopped running. Those of you who know me, know how hard it is for me to give that up! I haven't been hurting or uncomfortable but I have to stop so many times to stretch my calves and quads. I also have been running a lot slower lately so it makes me wonder how much I am really getting out of running these days. I am still walking though. Trying to do at least 3 miles a day at a pretty decent pace, but it is just so much more boring!

2. I had my second baby shower this last weekend! It was super cute and I absolutely loved it! My friends Kassie, Tori, Meghan, and Laura put on one of the cutest baby showers ever! There was so much food and some super yummy punch that had a momma duck and a baby duck that were floating in it! I have some creative friends. The cake was fabulous and the decorations were to die for. I will post some pics when my source for the pictures emails them to me (hint hint Kari!) It was such a special day and I am so thankful for everyone who showed up and hung out! It was overwhelming the number of people who want to be a part of Cash's life and I am so excited for him to meet everyone!

3. Cash's nursery is almost done. I can't wait to get that room finished so I can start thinking about other things. Man, decorating a nursery for a baby who could really care less about what it looks like is a hard job! The only thing that we have left to do is hang his mirror above his dresser and the "C-A-S-H" letters above his crib. Here is a picture of the boot mirror that is going above the dresser. It is not totally done yet, but it should be done this week!

This next part is to Cash:

Just so you know, there were a lot of people who helped with this project. The idea for the mirror came from your Aunt Angie. The boots were bought from Goodwill and the Salvation Army and a few boots came from your Nonni (my mom). One of the pairs of boots are your dad's work boots and he was so proud to have them on the mirror. Your Papi (Noahs dad) helped to put the frame together with your dad. Your Aunt Angie and I worked on nailing the boots into the frame while your cousins Luke and Brady did there own hammering nails in and screwing screws in with their own special tools. A lot of time and love went into this mirror and I hope that you can appreciate that one of these days.

4. Just wanted to post a few belly pics from this week. This is me and Cash at just about 34 weeks. It is crazy how fast this time has flown by, but we are getting more and more anxious to meet this little dude.