Decor Ideas for Brooklyn's Room

John and I want to put a really beautiful quote on the wall. I thought I had found one that was perfect:

She will fill our lives with sunshine...and our hearts with love.

until I saw this today:

For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways. Ps 91:11

and so now I'm torn. The first one is great, but what's beats scripture? Nothing.

Oh Baby.....

I can't stop wondering what you will look like. Will you be blonde, like mommy? Will you have green eyes like daddy? Right now you are moving and thumping my belly all around. Are you trying to get comfortable or am I feeling little reflex kicks & punches?

There are so many things I'm wondering about you and who you will become.

I get by with a little help from my friends....

So Saturday this marvelous baby shower was thrown in my honor. I was tickled and humbled by the effort of my friends Paige, Krissy & Lisa. I know they worked hard to put it together and to me it went off without a hitch. Fun times, fun times! And a huge thanks to my mom and sister for the fabulous cake. The only problem with it was that I couldn't get enough into my face! =)

The turn out was amazing. Women came from near and far to help us prepare for the arrival of our little one. I'll never forget my friend Kailah having come all the way from Jacksonville, FL to represent a group of online friends that I've made over the last 2 or so years - most of whom I've NEVER met in person. Their group gift was so touching...a scrapbook album filled with pages made by each girl and ready for me to add pictures of OUR sweet girl. Words for this gift escape me.

There were so many other memorable gifts but more than that, the people who were there to support us really surprised me. There were women from my workplace that I don't even know very well. There were women who are only connected to me by being relatives of my friends. And there were many loving women from my church. So rather than focus on who wasn't there (my own extended family) my heart is warmed by so many friends who love and care for John and I.

Things to NOT worry about during pregnancy!

I nabbed this list off BabyCenter.com:

"Don't stress if you can't get everything done that you had planned each day. The baby won't know if the housework isn't done!"

"It's okay to tell co-workers that you're not interested in their advice. Every pregnancy is different."

"Remember, every problem has a solution, and confiding in someone who's close to you or who you think can offer help or support is a step forward. Don't be afraid to talk to your partner, OB, or midwife."

"Don't stress about how you look. You're performing a miracle — growing a person inside of you — and that's a fantastic accomplishment."

"If you trust your OB, let her do her job and follow her recommendations; if you don't, find a new doctor who you do trust. You should never be afraid to call your provider with big and small problems."

"Don't stress about tough times with your partner. A baby tests any couple's relationship."

"Don't stress about things like food or weight. Just be sensible. There's no need to give yourself an anxiety attack over the pint of ice cream you just finished. Take it as your special reward for everything you've accomplished so far in your pregnancy, and move on."

"If you're doing everything in your power to make healthy choices, don't worry so much. Women have been having babies since well before we knew what to do and what not to do."

"Mothers-in-law don't know everything!"

"Don't stress too much about things in the environment you think might harm your baby, like standing too close to the microwave or pumping gas. Remember, the vast majority of babies are born healthy."

"Don't worry about labor. It is what it is. Just educate yourself on your options, and be ready to make informed decisions. Beyond that, just take a deep breath and go for it. It's not as bad as you think it'll be."

"Don't stress about how the baby is fending in the womb. It's a roll cage, but your baby is probably comfortable in there."

"Every little twinge doesn't mean something is wrong."

"No matter what decisions you make, someone will always disagree. Try not to let the negative comments upset you, and if you're really worried about something, talk with your doctor or a nonjudgmental friend."

"There's no such thing as a stupid question, especially for first-time mothers. Being pregnant and birthing a child are unique experiences, and a woman will never know what it's all about until she's actually done it herself."

"It's okay if you don't have everything ready for your baby. Newborns don't need a whole lot in the beginning."

"When I accepted heartburn, back pain, lack of sleep, and moodiness as a normal part of pregnancy, they didn't seem to bother me as much anymore."

"If you're worried about being a good mom, you probably have nothing to worry about. My husband keeps telling me that bad mothers don't worry about whether or not they'll be good moms."

"I had never really been around children, and I made mistakes, but as long as you love your baby and are careful with the important stuff, you can't harm him or her with small mistakes. You'll soon get comfortable with the routine."

"Don't stress too much over all the "rules" pregnant women now have. A bath warmer than lukewarm won't lead to disaster. If you accidentally eat a soft cheese you're not sure is safe, there's no use worrying after the fact. Our mothers had fewer restrictions than we do, and we turned out fine."

Daddy is a Song Writer

And a very funny one at that!

He penned these lyrics as if I were singing to Brooklyn to the tune of "She'll be coming around the mountain when she comes."

There's a cutie in my utie, Get her out.
There's a cutie in my utie, Scream and shout.
There's a cutie in my utie, I can't wait to pinch her booty,
There's a cutie in my utie, Get her out.

Daddy is as funny as a man can be,
He makes mommy have to laugh and have to pee,
Daddy is so very funny, that I have to scream "Stop honey!"
Daddy is so very funny, you will see.

Brooklyn Bassett is the name that we do like,
If you really think it stinks then take a hike,
Brooklyn Bassett is so awesome that the other names we tossed em'
Brooklyn Bassett is the name that we do like.

They'll all come out to see her two by two,
But the only things she does is sleep and poo,
She is beautiful there sleepin' so these memories I'm keepin'
We love you little honey, yes we do.

Pre-Natal Mother's Day

I totally did not share any of the events from Mother's Day. When I came home from church that Sunday morning, John and Bean had a nice surprise waiting for me: a card and some "I Love Mommy" bibs and burp cloths. John swears Bean put him up to it and that he had really no say in what was done that day, except to help her write the card since she's...well...currently incapable of holding a pen. He's so cute.

I also got some really great cards from my mom and mother-in-law.

It's kind of weird for me though because I don't feel like a mother. Yeah, I'm growing life in me as we speak but for right now it is more like a biological process than a maternal thing. I don't have any control over what is happening. My body has taken over and is doing what God programmed it to do. Now once the baby is born and I've had a chance to do some mothering maybe I'll settle more comfortably into the title of Mother.

It's still sweet thought...all the effort they put into making my day special.

Child Birth Classes - not for the faint of heart.

So on Saturday John and I took a child birth class. Yeah yeah, I know we were there to learn how to prepare for THE BIG DAY but I have to say that while walking into the room my first inclination was to size up the other preggies.

"Wow, my feet are literally the most swollen! I was hoping to lose that contest. But wait...my belly is not the biggest. SCORE!! Am I the first one to head directly to the snack table before even putting down my purse? No wait, she just did the same thing. Okay, I'm good."

How did the class go? We learned a lot about how long labor lasts. Yay. I always thought it was between 8-12 hours so you can imagine my surprise when the instructor said "Between 12-24 hours." What?! I think at that point I whispered to John "Oh that's it...I'm out!"

We learned about what positions or conditions a baby would have to be in to necessitate a C-section delivery. We learned about breathing techniques, different drugs used to ease the pain of labor, what to pack before heading to the hospital, when to actually GO to the hospital. Oh and don't let me forget the "no way they just showed THAT" delivery videos.

What did I take home from this class? Questions. Can I actually do this? Am I going to scream and carry on like those women in the videos? The dramatics seem highly unnecessary. Am I going to hate John, even for a nano-second, for his role in all t his? Am I even going to want to have a 2nd baby after this?

The answers I came up with are this: Yes, I can absolutely do this! I doubt I'll do much "carrying on" with a glorious epidural. And if I do, who cares??? No, I won't hate on John even for a fraction of a nano-second! (It takes two to tango.) Our baby will not be an only child. At least not because I'm too chicken to go through delivery a second time. I'm tougher than that!

All in all John and I are continuing to pray for a safe, healthy, drama-free, textbook non-Caesarean delivery. Feel free to join us!

Dad’s get the furry end of the lollipop on Father’s Day!

A long time ago a friend of mine observed that sermons preached in church for Mother’s Day seem to celebrate the enduring selflessness of mothers while Father’s Day sermons seem to shake a disapproving finger at dads for their immeasurable failures. I noticed recently that it isn’t just in church that men are bombarded to do the right thing, take care of their own and just man up!

Today I received an email from Family Life offering resources that will equip fathers to “…step up to the plate for the sake of your marriage and family, and for the spiritual legacy you leave them” and reminding them to “…clearly understand the incredible impact of your leadership in the lives of your children and grandchildren.” I don’t know about you but if someone bought me this study series as a Father’s Day gift, I’d be a little offended that they assumed I didn’t already know the importance of my role as father, husband, spiritual head of my household, protector, warrior, champion of my wife’s heart, hero to my children, etc. Don’t get me wrong – we can all use a little reminder of our role in God’s Kingdom. But ON Father’s Day….really? That’s when you want to publicly shame the men into “stepping up to the plate”? That’s when you want to remind them of how truly far from the bull’s eye they are? I don’t get it. This message will NEVER be conveyed in our house.

Another thing I hate around Father’s Day is the implication that all men do is walk around in slippers and sit in an arm chair sipping coffee, remote in hand, flipping between golf and fishing while on a break from the honey-do list of things to fix around the house. I notice this because I’m a scrapbooker and card maker. You’ll be hard pressed to find a set of Father’s Day stamps that DON’T have an image of golf, tools, a recliner, some argyle or slippers. So you are saying that men are THAT one dimensional? It’s the impression I’m getting and I’m sure if I see it then the husbands and fathers around us see it too. That makes me SAD!

I can think of a thousand things each day that I want to thank John, my dad, and my father-in-law for contributing to my life. And my aim is to help Brooklyn realize and appreciate all these wonderful things too!

Time for the big reveal....

of our daughter's name:

A Few Good Things

Last night at dinner the waitress asks me when I'm due. I think "Oh here we go again with the 'you'll be miserable in August' comments from a stranger." My fist of death starts to twitch under the table. When I tell her my due date she says, "Wow, that is a hot time. But YOU'LL DO FINE! You'll forget about it before you know it!" She lives to see another day. I will remember her positive words forever.

On Monday I took an extended version of the glucose test that would screen me for gestational diabetes. This consists of fasting for the day followed by a very unfun 3.5 hour visit to the blood lab where they draw blood 4 times after giving you this orange sugar water that you have to drink quickly. *gag!* You can do nothing but hang around their office. No, you can't leave to go shopping at the plaza next door. No, you can't go home and take a nap. No, no, no, Rebecca! You just sit in the office and try not to burn off any glucose in between blood draws. I brought a book, a laptop & some cards to write out which made the experience more tolerable. So anyway, John and I and several of our dear friends, family and my coworkers prayed that my test would come out negative. Well the nurse called on Tuesday and confirmed that I have NO DIABETES! If anyone ever doubts the power of prayer...I'm here to tell ya that God DOES hear and DOES respond to our cries. Know this.

On Sunday my in-laws threw me a baby shower. Wow, what fun! Bean has soooo many cute outfits to wear now! All the guests were so sweet and it was great to spend time with several ladies I hadn't seen in a long time. The food was fabulous, the games were perfect, the decorations were adorable and I think everyone had a great time. I know I did.

As for me, my belly just keeps on growing. I feel more huge than I look. The weight gain is up to 15 lbs now. I think that is fine and the doc hasn't mentioned anything about me gaining too fast or slow. All is well.