So much...

Sometimes I seriously feel like I have so much to do.  Anyone else out there feel like that?  Like, I could work ALL DAY, EVERY DAY, and use every second to the fullest, and things would still be hanging over my head taunting me!  Today was one of those days - and I have literally been working on school/house things from 4:45 (when I got home from school) until this minute (it's now 9:50), and I still have to finish writing a script for the 2nd grade music concert and write my sub notes for tomorrow.  And those are just the urgent things!  I could also make the meal plans for our big family weekend, pick out pregnancy picture clothes, hang baby room decorations, file taxes, and...and...and...

But here's the best part.  None of it really matters. :) 

I'm working to continually remind myself that the IMPORTANT should always take precedent over the URGENT.  I know that God is teaching me this lesson as we're getting very close to our due date.  I asked my mom if she had any parenting advice for me, and she told me this poem...

"Cleaning and scrubbing can wait 'til tomorrow,
For babies grow up, we've learned to our sorrow.
So quiet down cobwebs, dust go to sleep.
I'm rocking my baby, and babies don't keep."

So, quiet down to-do lists...stress go to sleep...I'm going to hug my husband and meet with my Lord, because they are IMPORTANT.

I think I need to work on my rhyming skills?!

Other Items, in case you're interested:
1) I have my 34 week appt. tomorrow!
2) I think I've had my first braxton-hicks contractions.  Oh boy!
3) I get to have a baby shower on Saturday!!!  So excited!
4) My birthday's on Saturday!!!  And I get to have girlfriend time!!!  So excited!
5) I get to see (almost all...miss you brother!) both sides of my family this weekend!!!  So excited!
6) Chris and I have planned 4 pre-baby dates (one of which is a birthday date tomorrow!) :) It's really fun to have such great times to look forward to!
7) We're entering crazy concert season at school, but I think today was the "turning" day.  At the beginning of the day I didn't think we'd ever put on a good show, and by the end of the day I knew we'd be fine. :)
8) Chris and I are becoming members at Cornerstone!
9) I'm helping to lead worship for a women's retreat coming up, and am pretty pumped about it.
10) We've been asked to mentor a group of college students heading to India for the summer...so exciting!
11) I think MAGIC DAY is coming soon!  For those of you that don't celebrate Magic Day and live in the Midwest, watch for it...it's that day when you suddenly look out your car window and see that LIFE is EVERYWHERE...it's kind of like magic!  Or like Jesus, either one. :)

Off to write my script!

FOR CHRISTINE - Pregnancy Update :)

8 Weeks...

18 Weeks...

20 Weeks/"Reveal" Date...

23 Weeks

26 Weeks...

28 Weeks...

31 Weeks...(and a little blurry!)

32 Weeks....this morning!

One more 32 weeks. :)

 
Okay Cousin Christine, this one's for you!  Official pregnancy update!

I feel GREAT!  It's really fun to look back and realize how fast this time has gone.  I remember being at 8 weeks and thinking my body had changed so much...and then thinking the same thing at 18 weeks and every other milestone since then!  Here are the big milestones I think of as I look back on this pregnancy.

Week 6-9 - Morning Sickness and extreme exhaustion.  Only 3 weeks, pretty great!

Week 16 - Felt the first movement!

Week 20 - Found out it was a BOY!

Week 23 - BIG growth spurt, definitely started to feel like a pregnant lady :)

Week 28-32 - Another BIG growth spurt, am finding myself fully immersed in the 3rd trimester

Week 30 - Started seriously nesting and realizing that life is going to COMPLETELY change!

I have a strange personality characteristics that often prevents me from understanding the "consequences" or "end result" of my actions.  (does that make me similar to a child?!)  Because of that, change usually doesn't feel scary to me...that is, until I find myself in the midst of it and haven't processed ANYTHING that's happening!  Getting married didn't feel scary, and then I find myself crying as we drive away from the wedding because I miss my family!  India didn't feel scary, and then I dealt with 3 years of pretty intense culture shock while we were there and afterwards.  Getting pregnant didn't feel scary, and lately I've realized that "oh wow, God has given us a SOUL to care for in this lifetime!"  Big stuff, but I never really understand it until I'm already committed. :)  I think I actually prefer it that way...it lets you be fully immersed in the experience you're in!

On the physical side of pregnancy, I've gained about 24 pounds.  That's more than I had expected at this point, but I feel really healthy and the doctor says that's a good amount for me to have gained.  My blood flow is officially 50% higher than when I started the pregnancy, which feels CRAZY to me!  I can tell my ligaments are loosening, as I've had some back pain, and my balance is definitely off...although, I think it's always been off, so not much transition there!  I've had some occasional heartburn, and am starting to have moments where I'm really uncomfortable, but that usually only lasts for 30 minutes or so and then I can get back in the swing of things.  I've been sleeping really good (sometimes still all the way through the night!), and am feeling UNBELIEVABLY blessed through all this!

We have gotten all of our fun classes out of the way - breastfeeding, parenting, childbirth, and we're feeling pretty ready for this!  I'm reading a few books (breastfeeding, what to expect over the first few months), talking to lots of people about their experiences, and meeting with our doula this week to talk through a birth plan and expectations/dreams.  And obviously from my last post, we're working on the baby room!  We've had one shower so far, and have 2 more scheduled for the weekend of March 31st...and after that we can figure out what else we need and get this baby all prepped and ready to come!   Holy buckets...

Chris and I had a huge planning session last night about our future - crunched numbers, talked about financial goals, long-term plans, etc.  Some (what felt like) huge decisions were made, so I'm kind of reeling this morning...but I'm really looking forward to going this new time in life. :) 

Ultimately though, I feel like I understand God differently through this.  My heart has changed SO MUCH over the last 32 weeks, and I can hardly wait to meet this stinker.  I'm learning what it means to sacrifice for and care about someone else above yourself...in a different way than in marriage.  I know I'll learn that lesson over and over in the coming months and years, and am so excited to grow and change and commune with our sacrificial Lord in new and different ways than I would ever be able to if I wasn't becoming a parent. 

And last, it's been really interesting/neat to see how God has added and molded this experience to our India experience.   India made me a minimalist - seeing families of 5 (including an infant!) ride around mountain curves on a moped really challenges your concept of "need".  I was NOT looking forward to all the stuff that comes with kids...but God has brought me to a beautiful place of acceptance and excitement.  I will continue fighting the temptation to value material possessions, but am also letting myself feel blessed by the gifts of others and enjoy providing for my baby.  Still processing, but it feels like a much healthier place to be than where I was.

I still have fears - change doesn't scare me, but lack of change terrifies me.  More to come on that later I guess...but for now, it's time to start Day 4 of Spring Break! 

Spring Break = Relaxing?!

I'm ON SPRING BREAK!!!!

I've been looking forward to this week since the semester started, and it's finally here!  I love my job, so I wasn't looking forward to necessarily being away from my job...but I have been SO looking forward to having a big chunk of uninterrupted time to be able to get things done.  My "Spring Break To-Do" list has gotten progressively larger and more overwhelming over the last 2 months, but now that it's here, we're attacking it whole-heartedly!

Saturday was ridiculous - and by ridiculous I mean AWESOME!  We got so much done - moved furniture, assembled furniture, started hanging trim around doors, organized drawers, did 7 loads of laundry, cleaned the house, worked on some school programs.  I was thoroughly exhausted by the end of the day (I'm definitely feeling the 3rd trimester right now!), but it was so worth it! 

A little thing - but we've got ourselves a shower caddy. :)

I kind of went crazy with a roll of shelf liner.  Example #1...Notice all the baby clothes!!!!!

Example #2...

Example #3...Amy, aren't you proud?!

Moved our old bookshelf into the baby room to make way for some new bookshelves that will be coming this week!  Right now, our library is in the hallway. :)

Chris ROCKED LIFE and started putting trim on doors...6 doors and a window done!  Way to go babe!

The start of a decorating project for the living room...

Another little thing...but our table finally has something on it!

 


Over the last 3 years we've basically tagged every spare penny for paying off our debt.  We're scheduled to be done either in May or early June...so in light of that (and the incoming/upcoming new arrival!), we've backed off a little bit and bought some items for the household.  Those purchases, combined with a family baby shower last week, have led to lots of fun changes in the Farley house! 

Old dresser (found on the side of a road and re-painted when I started college!)

New dresser!

BOB Stroller...somebody pinch me!  Thanks Tom and Yvonne!  Couldn't be more excited!

I've been saving all my piano money for a couple of months to buy a new camera before baby comes!  I'm still using the old one though...I need time to just mess around and figure this one out!  Is it goofy to take a picture of a camera?

And it's only Monday!!!!  While lots of my "to-do's" won't ever be seen (concert programs/prep, thank you notes, shutterfly photo books), it's feeling SO good to slowly check things off.  More to come later, but things are a-changing in the Farley household!

And with that, I'm off to start today's "To-Do's"!

Farley Family Baby Shower

The Farley Family threw us a sweet baby shower this last weekend!  They were so generous, so thoughtful, and it was so fun!   Having showers definitely makes this whole baby-coming thing seem much more real...bring on the babe!

Yummy Food...

Cute baby napkins!

Aunties!

Now baby will know Jesus and have clothes to wear!

IOWA FAN!

Can you tell I'm excited?!

Our little guy's going to be SO cool!  Just like this diaper-riding stuffed bear...

WHOA Baby Ben!

Mommy's getting some practice in!

Lookin' good daddy!

Decorations for our baby!

Bring on the babe.

Thanks Farleys!  We had a great time, and love you all lots and lots. :)

Holy Hormones!

I can hardly believe it, but I'm officially into my 3rd trimester!  I haven't posted much about pregnancy, mostly because it has FLOWN by shockingly fast.  I'm just now realizing how few pictures I've taken, how much still needs to be done...and mostly, how ready I am to meet this little guy!  He's moving SO much lately - mostly at night from 7-10.  Sometimes we'll just stare at my stomach and giggle at the funny alienesque movements. :)  He had the hiccups for the first time the other night, and that was especially fun.  It was just such a human thing to have...makes me realize that there is a small PERSON inside of me!  WHAT?!?!

Over the last couple of weeks I've been experiencing some more intense hormones, which has been interesting. :)  I've been surprised at how stable my emotions have been throughout the pregnancy, but right on cue I became weepy and crazy at the onset of the third trimester.  I've really enjoyed learning what's going on in my body - to understand the process feels empowering, and less like everything is being ripped out of my control (even though it really is!).

We've also been going to classes (parent, childbirth, breastfeeding) and reading books (birth partner, breastfeeding, childbirth) - whoa education!  I wanted to get the classes out of the way early, since March and April will be really busy with school and concerts and getting things ready for me to leave all summer.  It's been really fun to go together and then just talk about our reactions/emotions to the information we just learned. 

Mostly though, I'm changing and transitioning slowly but surely as I grow my "mommy heart."  It's amazing how differently I think of baby stuff and baby conversations and all the extra things I want to know.  When it's for someone you love so much, it suddenly looks and feels VERY different. :)  It's not all-consuming or anything, but it's definitely on my mind more than expected!

And so - a few hormone stories!

1. I've been SERIOUSLY nesting, and since I have had a very little amount of free time, it's felt a little frustrating, as I haven't been able to actually get much of anything done!  Last Wednesday night we had set aside a little time to move things around in the "baby room"...but we needed my dad's help.  He wasn't available like I had hoped he would be, and I just LOST IT!  Crying, feeling so helpless, I told Chris I just needed to go lay in bed and cry.  That lasted about a minute until my nesting instincts kicked in again and I found myself scouring the bathroom cupboards and labeling every box in sight.  Chris came in, had a good laugh, and we rearranged the bedroom over the weekend instead. :)

2. Friday after school my mom and I did some errands in Ames, and then decided it'd be fun to meet up with our men for supper.  Mom talked to dad, but I couldn't get a hold of Chris...for a long time...because his phone was off and went straight to voicemail.  If any of you know Chris well, you'll realize that this was, in fact, COMPLETELY abnormal.  In the entire 6 1/2 years that we've been married, I don't think Chris' phone has ever run out of batteries.  He has a work charger, a phone charger, and two home chargers.  He often plugs my phone in for me, as he can't stand for any phone to be uncharged!  At first I didn't think anything of it, but the more I thought logically (and YES, it was logical!), I couldn't figure out why his phone would be off.  I e-mailed him, knowing that he would check it if he was at work, and still hadn't heard back from him 30 minutes later.  By this time I had dropped my mom off to meet my dad for supper, and was trying to decide if I should just go home or go look for my husband on the side of the road.  I opted to go to his work office...and by the time I found him (safe and sound!) in his office, was a complete wreck. :)  I cried for a good 15 minutes, made him feel sufficiently awful for forgetting to plug his phone in, and thoroughly exhausted myself.  Good times had by all!

It's all worth it though. :)  Bring on the babe!

Cookie Love

This post has been a long time coming...sometimes it's easier to just put things off than write about them.  However, Cookie lived her life celebrating, so I guess it's about time to celebrate a life well lived!

We first met Cookie and Dave in Boondocks, Iowa at the most po-dunk truck step you will ever see.  We were living in Webster City and had signed contracts to work at Woodstock a few months earlier.  After signing, we discovered that some close friends of Chris' aunt and uncle had previously worked at Woodstock and had just signed up to work there again the coming year.  They were driving through on I-35 to visit their daughter in Minneapolis...would we like to meet up?!

Of course we said we would, so set up the where and when and looked forward to asking some questions of people who knew what in the world they were getting themselves into!  We settled into a booth to wait...and a few minutes later, Cookie came BOUNDING into the room with the biggest smile I'd ever seen.  Literally, she danced up to us. :)  It was perfect.

We became fast friends with Cookie and Dave, and ended up booking our flights over to India together.  Lots of google chat conversations about packing and logistics later, and we were off on an adventure!

Cookie and Dave are about as adventurous as you can get - they've lived in the bush in Africa, the Indian mountains, and biked across the country.  They are both Mennonite, have a wonderfully refreshing lifestyle, and are completely (what I can describe as) "free".  They are who they are...period.  And I LOVED learning from them!

After arriving in India we quickly discovered a common love of hiking, and formed a core weekend hikers group.  Without Cookie I would have been the only girl - but 55+ year-old Cookie was never one to be left at home!  So we stuck together and explored our Indian mountainside week in and week out. :)

Our first 5K hiking trip...just got our feet wet!

While this is a picture of Chris and Cookie, it was usually she and I walking/talking through the long kilometers.

The "girls" at a small shop after an especially long hike...fanta has never tasted so good!

While hiking was a major enjoyment for us, we also SERIOUSLY enjoyed exploring the long shopping bazaar in Mussoorie.  Cookie and I could shop with the best of them, and spent many a day looking at fabric or visiting the shops down in Dehra Dun looking for "just the right item". 

One of my favorite trips with Cookie and Dave was when we went to "Happy Valley", the Tibetan refugee village outside of Mussoorie.   Cookie LOVED taking pictures, and I can distinctly remember her snapping away at anything and everything.  We got to visit a training location for Tibetan artists, and I remember her being fascinated.   And of course, what's a trip to the far side of Mussoorie without a ride on the man-powered ferris wheel?!

Cookie making one of her usual faces while riding the man-powered ferris wheel. :)

Some of the best times, though, were just hanging out.  Making suppers, watching American T.V. episodes, playing games, singing songs, looking through pictures...it was all just so easy.  We've never connected so quickly and easily with another couple.  It was very special.

One of our favorite evening activities was making Brinner - Breakfast for dinner.  It was one of the few American meals that could be easily made - so we made it!  They'd make the trek down the mountain or we'd trek up, everyone would pitch in/share what they had, and we'd enjoy a true breakfast feast. :)

Some time during the spring semester at Woodstock Cookie began talking about some "gut" or "bowel" pain she'd been having.  She got it checked out at the local hospital, and then went down to Dehradun, but the doctors reported that she had "irritable bowel syndrome".  I distinctly remember Cookie reporting on her pain to our house church one day, saying that she may end up going home for treatments...or maybe to die.  At the time I wondered if she was just being dramatic, but looking back I'm amazed at how God was preparing her heart even then to accept what would come.

About a month after we left India, Cookie was officially diagnosed with cancer.  They did a surgery in Delhi, but realized that she needed more extensive treatment so they packed up and head back to America.  We got to visit them twice in Kansas after they got home - once over Christmas break (where we helped butcher a pig and played lots of Settlers of Catan!), and once to see Cookie's art show (something that had been on her bucket list - she had her own photo gallery up of all her sweet India pictures!).

The two couples at Cookie's India art show...

Cookie with Chris' aunt Kathleen

So pretty :)

Totally wiped.

And then...at least it seemed like that quickly...Cookie died.  But mostly, Cookie lived.  She talked so much about living the best life she could in all areas of her life...and one of those areas was her death.  We only knew Cookie for about 2 years, but she SO deeply impacted us, and I think about how I hope to be like her some day.  She was adventurous, gracious, joyful, giving, accepting, hard-working, energetic, loving, caring, and hilarious.  Always up for the next thing, but never wishing for something that might have been. 

Love you Cooks. :)

Car Pay-Off Party

We paid off our second car!!!

Mom and papa decided to make a sweet cake and we all had a celebration supper.  Good times!  We're working on our last student loan, and are on schedule to be done with all our debt (other than our Webster City mortgage) some time in early June!  Yippee!!!

Thanks for the celebration mama!

Our fun "road to financial freedom" cake!

Mom's the queen of poetry. :)

Cross 'em off baby!

YAY!!!!

Some Random "Funness"

WICKED!

Maria Lovin had a great idea to buy a group of tickets to Wicked for her birthday - 25 people and an awesome group of girls later, and we were off for a fun night at the Civic Center!  I had already seen Wicked in Chicago, but it was SO much fun to see it again!

Definitely my favorite musical...

Supper beforehand at Maria's house

The whole group...what fun to spend time with girls that I don't get to see very often!

SMALL GROUP!

We joined a connection group through church last semester, and have LOVED being a part of this group.  Last semester the group was made up of four couples (left to right): the Heckethorns, Allans, Lubbers, and Farleys.  We were so sad to see the Heckethorns leave to go to nursing school after last semester...but are excited to have a new couple join this semester!  Community is a real blessing!

AMY'S SENIOR RECITAL!

For those of you that don't know, my sister is TOTALLY awesome!  She had her senior recital last semester and rocked it...so talented!  Proud of you sister!

Papa waiting patiently for the show to start!

Amy is so good at acting the part!

And she looks good, huh?!

Can you tell we thought she was awesome?!

Cute!

Some teachers and friends from UNI

Some of Amy's fan club!

The whole Stellmaker crew...Matthew even flew up for the event!  What a supportive, awesome brother. :)

And what's a family picture without a lot of goofy?!