Making room for baby!!!

So that room that has been empty in our house since the day we bought it 4 years ago, is officially "the nursery"!!! There were times along that four years that I almost gave up on it...trying to come up with other ideas of what to do with it...a workout room, a craft room, a second guest bedroom, an office....hum???? The possibilities seemed endless, right? But now it's what it was meant to be...the nursery. Demetrius and I had so much fun decorating and making it just right for our little Jonah. We got the awesome idea of creating a "treasure island" theme from Gladys. We started with a simple plan and ended up with an incredible little room. The mural we painted turned out really cute, at least we think so. We hope Jonah will love his room for years to come!!!!

Baby shower

Well, my long awaited baby shower has come and gone. I had the most amazing time ever. It was such an emotional and joyous time for me and Demetrius. We've waited for the day for so long. It was amazing how much love we felt. I feel so lucky to be surrounded by such wonderful people.

The gifts were amazing!! We are now well prepared for our little man to join us. I got everything on my registry plus some!!! Jonah already has quite a wardrobe.

I just hope everyone who helped and attended the shower...and to those that couldn't attend but whose spirit was alive and well that day know how much I appreciate them.

Oh, happy day!!!!!!!!!

Nesting Syndrome

Okay, so I know they say that this "nesting syndrome" kicks in towards the end of your pregnancy but this week I feel like it has hit me early...maybe my regular OCD-ness caused this phenomenon.

I have gotten so much satisfaction and joy (oddly enough) from cleaning, organizing, and preparing the nursery (along with several other spaces in the house) for our permanent guest who isn't expected to arrive till Feb.

I'm so excited to finally be able to use that empty room in our house that we always called "the nursery" anyway. But now at least we know that name is appropriate and not just our wishful thinking.

Demetrius and I are currently adding our personal touches to the room and so with every nail we hammer, every bow we tie, every stuffed animal we display, our anticipation only grows stronger.

6 months down, 3 to go!!!!

This week is a milestone...I'm 6 months pregnant!!! I can hardly believe I've come that far. In fact, I'm still getting used to this whole pregnancy thing. Every day is something new, some new emotion, some new feeling, some new experience. I do feel a whole lot better than my earlier months but unfortunately I'm not going to be one of those women that brag about how great their pregnancy was. Now that I do know that there seems to be a healthy little boy growing inside of me, all the episodes of nausea, growing pains, and uncontrolled anxiety seem worth it at the end of the day. I'm already just so proud of my little Jonah, who didn't get swallowed by a whale but is instead safely in "Beaula Aunty's stomach" as so eloquently put by Radha. Besides all the gripes I might have about being pregnant, the great part about it is it feels like your birthday every day!! Every one I know just gushes over me and makes me feel special whenever they see me...and even though I know it's only because of this precious cargo I'm toting around, I love it anyway. My shower is scheduled just a few weeks away and our happy news has probably reached many by now. So although I can't wait to meet my little boy, I'm going to try and enjoy these last few months...I know I'll never be able to duplicate this feeling in the future, no matter how big of a meal I might eat!!!!! See you soon, Jonah baby!!!

A New Day Has Come

A New Day Has Come by Celine Dion

I've was waiting for so long
for a miracle to come.
Everyone told me to be strong,
"hold on and don't shed a tear".

Through the darkness and goodtimes,
I knew I'd make it through.
And the world thought I had it all...
but I was waiting for you.

Hush now...I see the light in the sky.
Oh, it's almost blinding me.
I can't believe I've been
touched by an angel with love.

Let the rain come down and wash away my tears.
Let it fill my soul and drown my fears.
Let it shatter the walls for a new son,
a new day has come.

Where it was dark, there's light.
Where there was pain, there is joy.
Where there was weakness, I found my strength
all in the eyes of a boy.

Gladys, my sister

This past weekend was a sweet memorable time for me. My mom and baby sister, Gladys, came down and we got to spend a lot of laying around, doing nothing, quality time together. It was so great...so satisfying...so comforting. I sometimes forget how lucky I am to have such loved ones around me. I know I will never say, "I am alone" in my lifetime, which is such a reassuring thought since I know so many people say this everyday. Gladys has been working weekends for so long that I forgot what it felt like to just "hang out" with her. We are so very different but yet so alike. She may come off as being aloof and spacy at times, but if you look deeper you will see a heart of gold. This past weekend made me think of earlier years when Gladys was younger. She adored me...she was the cutest, sweetest little girl I knew. I thought with age all this was gone forever but I realized that although she has grown and changed, she's still the same little Gladys I fell in love with many years ago. We're connected on so many levels and if there is anyone whose soul is identical to mine it is hers. I love you, sis...I hope she knows this always and forever. And thank you, mom and dad, for bringing her into my life.

(Glady, don't forget you'll always get to say you were the first to feel your niece/nephew move inside their momma's tummy!!)

Autumn arrives...

Okay, my very first post...here goes.

So here I am the most lucky and blessed woman in the world...17 weeks pregnant and feeling pretty good. The first trimester was tough but I made it through. And here I am still going...pretty amazing.

Every day is a gift and I know this after what I've gone through in the past...I try not to think negatively. But I've always been the cautious type...just trying to protect my heart I guess. Everything does feel different this time though...no problems, no worries.

My marriage is stronger than ever (gosh, we've been through so much together...how can we not be partners for life??) No one can ever fill his shoes...and I can say I feel pretty confident, he feels the same way about my shoes!!

As the seasons change...the cool brisk air, the falling leaves, the smell of autumn, I'm forced to succumb to the same nostalgia that hits me every year at this time. It's not a "bad" feeling, it's just a sweet bitterness of the thoughts of yesterday. I'm starting to feel little pokes now and then and it's a pretty good reminder that someone is along the ride with me this go round.

My whole life is about to change...and I think that thought intensifies this "feeling of nostalgia". I can't help but think of what a whirlwind my life has been. I think about all the great times and all the great disappointments, some even heartbreaking. It's funny how so much has changed, and yet so much is still the same.

I'm not sad about being pregnant...gosh, I fought too long and hard to get where I am. I just feel...I don't know...don't even have the words. Maybe I should just blame it on the hormones, right? I guess maybe I feel like I'm losing my youth...(which I actually lost a very long time ago)...but now I'm going to be some one's "momma"!!! It's all different.

I'm so scared...which is pretty normal, right...other mommies, tell me, am I right?? My life is so free now...you know? I eat when I want to eat. I sleep when I want to sleep. I bum around and watch trash TV for hours. I cuss like a sailor at any given occasion. I go shopping and spend money on myself without feeling guilty. I vacuum at 3 in the morning. I make love with the bedroom door open.

And, now, the thought of what I have been dreaming about for years, is coming true. We're going to have someone that is exclusively ours...how exquisite of a thought is that??? But am I going to lose myself...lose all the freedom I have??

I hear all these beautiful stories how becoming a mother changes you...how it's the most satisfying and exhilarating experience. And I believe them but I'm just scared right now. I haven't completely connected with this creation that's growing inside of me. I know something is going on down there and my monthly dr's visits reinforce this, but I am waiting for that moment when I am going to lose all my fears and know that everything is going to be okay...does that moment ever come?

So as September clouds me with thoughts of the past, thoughts of my youth, I am trying to look beyond to the sunshine that is promised ahead. Until then, my prayers continue for protection of this body that carries this baby and strength for this heart that carries this soul.

So after trying for several weeks now to start a blog page for my own family, I have finally figured this madness out...although I'm still learning all the little details, I feel like I've accomplished something huge!!

I would like to thank Jodi and now Jennifer for their wonderful blogsites for being my inspiration! Hope you enjoy my page as well!!! God knows I love to talk and I have much to say so stay tuned for more!!