Preparing for Penny

Well the count down is on, 

We've been preparing for her arrival and our get ready list is getting shorter and shorter.

Since in my mind this is my last pregnancy I don't feel too rushed for her to be here, I'm having the usual issues I have this stage  -some pain in my hips and weird sleeping patterns but I want to soak up and enjoy this time for what it holds. I really do like the anticipation and excitement of not knowing yet when she might arrive and how her birth story will unfold. If she follows the same timeline as brother and sister she will be here later this week but she may carve her own path at her own pace and that's okay too. 

These sweet friends hosted a beautiful shower us last month.
Amy and I have known each other pretty much our whole lives and Katie and Annaleise have been friends of mine since our OC college days, which I'm realizing was 16 years ago this fall that I started my Freshman year!!

These salted caramel cupcakes are AMAZING and it was so sweet for them to thoughtfully prepare so many of  my favorite foods and beverages (They even had a Dr. Pepper drink station!) There were so many little touches that made this day special like the beautiful handmade bunting banner that one of my dear friends that is out of town sent for the shower and is now hanging over her crib.

Even some of our out of town family were able to join us to celebrate, Jen and I are pregnant at that same this round - fun to get a picture together, Cousin Ian is due in February.  

Ava was pretty excited to have cousin Allie in town. (I keep a little journal on my night stand of funny things the kids say and the other day I was flipping through and saw where I asked about a 3 year old Ava what she wanted to be when she grew up and her answer was first a mommy and second an Allie) I still remember the day Allie and Chloe were born and being there for their births, now they are both getting old enough to baby sit my babies, surreal in so many ways!

With taking this extended time off work, I've even had time to get most of her room prepared. After a great debate I decided Rhett needed to stay in his crib so Penny got some new furniture for her room, Ryan of course being Ryan found a steal of deal on when the kids and I were out of town one weekend and it's been fun to get her room prepared, Pink, White and Gold themed. 

Our moms' were in town for Grandparents Day at Ava's school the other day and since I didn't have much baby stuff left on the to do list, they helped me deep clean my entire house! which was so kind of them to lend that kind of practical help before we start this next busy season with adding a newborn to our mix. 

I've had time to squeeze in some one on one time with each of the kids in the past few weeks, Ava and I spent a day together the other week at the mall and Rhett and I to the zoo last week for a just me and him date. 

So the main thing left it seems on the get ready list is to settle on a middle name, other than that I'd say we are ready when you are baby girl!

a full circle moment

These pictures carry so much meaning to me, They are taken a year apart and while I hate the pain and suffering it took to get from one picture to the other for someone I hold dear, they are a sweet reminder of enduring hope and a journey of faith that has inspired me and been important on my own spiritual walk. 

The first picture was a girls night out with two very dear friends - friends you do life, friends that have known you through different seasons, that lift you in prayer in a way only they can because they know your inner struggles and the desires of your heart. Friends where warm and deep conversation fills you up regularly and laughter is also just as soul filling and easily visited. I am deeply grateful for God's provisions for relationships like this in my life, I have several in my village and it's certainly something I treasure greatly. 

On this particular night we were having a soul to soul life state of the union chat and we spoke of loss of babies and children and the openness and desire of my friend for a forever child in whatever way God saw best to provide - fostering, adoption or biological. My friend has such an open and enduring faith for God's plan for their family that I have been inspired by, yet time and again they were hit with loss after loss on all fronts and it was so hard to understand why this painful journey just kept continuing and the waiting and the continued losses were getting so very hard and exhausting.

So many many many prayers I know went up through that season and journey from many. On this night I prayed one of the boldest prayers I ever prayed. I get a little too cerebral in my prayer life - I know God has the full picture and I don't, so often I don't know what outcome to pray for, certainly not time tables and often my prayers are swirling of I don't know what to pray, please bring strength, comfort and surrender to your will - whatever it may be. But I know there is scriptural examples for bold and specific prayers and this night I prayed a more fervent prayer than I had prayed in a long time - please let the wait be over, please by this time next year let my friend's forever child be in her arms in whatever way is best for that to be fulfilled. 

Fast Forward a year to the picture below - notice those tiny toes! My friend found out she was pregnant the same fall. The pregnancy wasn't an easy one and an earlier than expected delivery that also made for some continued challenges but she is here and beautiful and this moment was such a special full circle moment. My friend's mother heart will always carry all her children with her the ones that came before and of course this little one. I don't understand all the ways God works, why some prayers are answered in certain ways and others are answered in other ways. I know that's part of the mystery, struggle and wonder of faith but when I look back at August of 2015 I don't want to forget the power of this moment or the meaning it holds. Certainly there is truth that everything has season, that there is a time to mourn and a time to dance -and this moment is certainly a time to celebrate what the Lord has done.