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. :)