11:00 am Mass

Rich and I normally go to church at 5:00 on either Saturday or Sunday but every once in awhile those times don't work so we end up at the 11:00 am mass on Sundays. This mass is the youth mass with the youth choir which is great because it is more of a contemporary and "fun" mass. And everytime, without fail, when we go to the 11:00 am mass I end up in tears (well ever since I have been pregnant.) The songs get me every time and I think with the extra hormones I just end up in tears...good tears, but still tears. Normally Rich is there with me and squeezes my hand or gives me a smile and they stop but yesterday he was on the plane back to Hawaii so I went by myself and the tears kept coming. I just couldn't stop thinking about how blessed we feel to be bringing a baby into this world. Rich and I both grew up in families with strong faith but these past few years I feel that our faith has really grown. I have really relied on my faith during this pregnancy and again just feel so blessed and know that God has an amazing plan for us and am just so grateful. When we were at Rich's church last Christmas they were passing out small pieces of paper with a prayer on it. I took one just to be polite but didn't really think anything of it until later that day when I sat down and read it and it really resonated with me and I have said it twice a day ever since. It has helped me so much and really has given me so much strength. I thought that I would share it here just to give thanks and to pass it on if it resonates with anyone else as well. http://www.ewtn.com/Devotionals/novena/jude.htm We are looking forward to passing our faith on to Joseph and instilling our Christian values with our family.

36 weeks

Just the Two of Us

With less than 30 days to go until Joseph arrives Rich and I have been trying to make the most of our last month of "just the two of us." We know that our lives are going to change, and change for the better, but we are enjoying our quality time together right now. This past weekend we took a little staycation to Waikiki and we have been making a conscious effort of keeping the tv off during the weeknights to enjoy our last month together. Tuesday marked one month until I will have to get induced (although we are hoping that he comes naturally before then) but to commemorate the one month mark we did make a countdown chain, as I mentioned in a previous blog entry. Rich had the idea of putting a word on each link that came to mind when we think of Joseph (which I about melted at that idea-he is going to be such an awesome dad) so that is what we did. We each took 15 links and wrote a word on each link and then put them together and now we have our baby chain on our stairs, watching it get shorter and shorter each day.

Not that much farther to goClose-up of our countdown chain

Waikiki

View from our hotel room

Always Prepared

There are many things that I love about my husband but two of the things that make the top of the list are his sense of humor and the fact that he really thinks things through which in turn always makes him very prepared for anything he does. He is an Eagle Scout and the Boy Scout motto is to "Be Prepared" so as an Eagle Scout he of course goes above and beyond this motto.

This brings us to getting ready for the birth of our son. Rich is beyond excited and of course has been an amazing support throughout the pregnancy. We had our second childbirth class this weekend which we have both found very informative. I have been doing a lot of reading about giving birth and talking with Rich about it all but it has been great for both of us to go through the classes together which then gets us talking about even more things related to the upcoming birth. After class yesterday we stopped to run a few errands and Rich told me he needed a clipboard. I figured it was for work so we picked one up. Later that day he showed me why he needed the clipboard...

He says that he is now ready to time the contractions and keep track of them! He is working on typing up a "checklist" of the different stages of labor and what to do during each stage. He actually said that he may give it to our instructor because he thinks many people (especially the guys) would benefit from this :). I love my Eagle Scout and feel so blessed to be married to him.

34 weeks pregnant

33 weeks pregnant

Pop!

What I used to run before getting pregnant has now become my walking route. I walk the same route 6 days a week around the same time every day (at least during the work week) so I tend to see the same friendly faces and cars driving by. I have always been a happy athlete as Rich calls me. When Rich and I would run together I am always saying hi to people, and sometimes encouraging them, as I would run by-he used to tell me I am not running hard enough but I would justify it by saying I am a vain runner and like to have people around me because it actually makes me run faster. I know, bizarre...anyways...earlier this week I was walking and this man who I see often walked by me and says to me, "I am just waiting for that thing to pop!" as he takes his hand and explodes it in the air. I laughed politely and said, "Not quite yet" but for the rest of my walk I was cracking up-people say the strangest things! I am still feeling great and hoping that I can keep walking right up until little Joseph arrives (and then I can't wait to start running again :)

32 weeks

A Fabulous Day!

Thank you to all my friends and family for a fabulous baby shower this past Saturday. It was absolutely wonderful and I appreciate all of the thought, effort and love that went into planning it. My dad and I were laughing because you don't hear about many baby showers being held at a brewery but it couldn't have been a more perfect place. The Kona Brewing Company was where our wedding rehearsal dinner was held and it was so nice to be there to celebrate baby Joseph. Plus, I loved that a few of the girls had a few beers! We're into single digits now...less than 9 weeks to go! Thank you to all of these special girls and to all of my girlfriends and family on the mainland as well!

And yes, my boobs are huge and I love them! Ha ha ha!

Starting a Baby Chain

Did you ever make the countdown to Christmas chains when you were younger? Rich said this weekend he is ready to make one now for our countdown! I was 30 weeks this past weekend so ten more to go...almost to single digits! Yeah! And we know he won't be late since I'll be induced before my due date because of the gestational diabetes (if he doesn't come by then) so we definitely have less than 10 to go. Can't wait! Here is a picture of me at 29 weeks. I didn't get one this past weekend-was at Kailua all day on Sunday with Laura and even though I am still wearing a bikini I didn't really want a picture documenting it all.

P.S.-We have definitely decided to call him Joseph (his middle name)...or Baby Joe Joe as Uncle Mark calls him or of course Li'l Nugget as Uncle Brian calls him :)

There's Something in the Water

Between April 2010 and December 2010 there are going to be 6 new babies in our group of girlfriends here in Hawaii. I also have four other fabulous friends who are on the mainland who are having babies during this time frame as well. There is definitely something in the water! I am so grateful to all of my girlfriends (pregnant now or not) who have given me advice, support and lots of love during this time. Definitely looking forward to the years to come filled with birthday parties, sporting events (specifically football games and wrestling matches according to Rich), and all of the other things that we'll go through together (whether near or far!)

Here is a picture of Steph (due September 10th), Jenn (due November 16th) and me (due November 28th) at our pool this past weekend!