Bumpdate {31 weeks}

I haven't done a bumpdate in awhile! And I am excited to tell you how I have been! 

Baby bumpdate 

How Far along: 31 weeks. Crazy, right?

Size Of Baby: baby v is the size of a small melon. He is about 19 inches and is weighing probably around 3.5 lbs!

Maternity Clothes:  leggings and shirts and then summer dresses!!! Although I wish I had some maternity shorts. 

Stretch Marks: I am covered! I told my husband that by the time Seth is born I will have stretch marks up to my chest! Ha. 

Weight Gain:  I weighed myself the other day and I am up 30 pounds! Whoop whoop! 

Sleep:  I am sleeping better since I started drinking mama peaceful sleep tea.

Best Moment of the Week:   My babymoon! Husby planned an amazing weekend getaway at the lake! {I will add photos at the end}. He also got me a beautiful new wedding ring as an anniversary gift. The waiter brought out this gold wrapped present and when I opened it the ring was in there. It was so sweet. 

Movement:  lots! Sometimes I wake up from sleep from a hard jab. Haha. Martin feels it too when we are snuggling. 

Cravings: cheese and crackers! I want it like everyday.

Gender: all boy! 

Belly Button In or Out: it is now out haha. 

Wedding Ring on or Off: my original wedding ring got too tight and i had to take it off. But luckily husby didn't get this new one sized and it fits perfectly. 

Anything Making You Queasy or Sick:  nope

What I Miss: uh.... Getting off the couch normally. Hehe. I look so silly trying to get up. 

What I am Looking Forward to:  our birth class and hospital tour tomorrow! 

Nursery: we changed our idea on the nursery and I really like it! I will add a picture. It's like a sporty theme. 

Emotions:  happy happy happy! I am just so joyful about this baby! Some days I get so emotional that I am having a son and The Lord has given us this beautiful gift. I am blessed. 

What baby is up to: Seth's permanent teeth buds are formed, his brain is growing, and he is plumping up with some fat (so cute!). He is being perfectly formed in my womb! 

Bumpdates and love - Monica 

Things I have learned since being a wife.

Hello lovelies! 

I feel like I have been sooo busy but if you asked me what I have done - I couldn't answer. Hehe. 

I have been doing a lot of cleaning and preparing for baby V, since he will be here in about two months! {eee!} 

Also I have been doing a lot a lot of thinking. God is showing me so much about myself, my marriage, and my life. It's amazing - but sometimes tough. 

I wanted to tell you all a little bit of what I have learned in the past {almost} two years of being married. 

• Just because you and your spouse fight doesn't mean you aren't meant to be.  

      I always thought that if you married the person you were supposed to be with then you would never fight. You wouldn't argue. You wouldn't really disagree. I don't really know where I got this idea but it was hard on us in the beginning. I felt if we got into a disagreement that we weren't meant to be. Now that I am freed from this our marriage is happier. Yes, we argue from time to time but he is my prince! 

• Two people will not drink a gallon of milk. 

     Check the dates at the store and get the furthest date available. I learned this in the beginning and yet I STILL throw out milk from time to time. 

• Communication is speaking and listening. 

     I always knew that "communication is key" in marriage ... But the longer I am married I am realizing what communication really is. We have to speak in a respectful and loving way -- but we also have listen without taking offense. We sometimes have to "read between the lines". I will say something to my husband but mean something totally different because I am talking through fear, insecurity, frustration, and/or disrespect. When that happens our spouse (or we) have to learn to listen a more carefully to their heart. {my husband is great at this!} 

• Insecurities will arise in marriage and its best to deal with it then ignore it. 

     A lot of insecurities in me have been brought up to the surface since becoming a wife. Things that I thought I dealt with when I was younger come up again. If I allow it -- it can really affect us and our marriage. Things from body image to issues with alcohol to fear. We have to deal with the insecurities when they come up.... And communicate and listen. 

- . - . - . - 

Those are some of the things I have learned so far that The Lord is reminding me now {well maybe not the milk one... I just thought of it because I have a half gallon of expired milk in the fridge}.

So what have you learned since being married or in a relationship? 

What have you learned with being single? 

Never stop growing and love. - Monica 

{leaving you with a wedding photo because I love to look back on this day.}

My birthday... And Happy Mother's Day!

Well, it was my birthday a few days ago! 

I love birthdays! Not just mine... But all birthdays. I love celebrating someone and showering them with love.

My husband totally did this! He bought me beautiful flowers, yummy coffee, lunch at Logan's, we went to a movie, and then had a romantic dinner at a local restaurant. We ended the evening with him singing me "happy birthday" as I blew out a princess candle in a Boston cream cake. (: A perfect and beautiful birthday. 

The next holiday to celebrate is Mother's Day! 

My first Mother's Day ever!!!! 

I am still in shock that I am going to be a mother in a little over two months. 

My heart is already exploding with love for this precious baby boy growing inside of me. 

So to all the mothers - the old and the new. The mothers with earthly children and the mothers with babies in heaven. The mothers with children they did not give birth to and the mothers whose children are being entrusted with other women. The mothers with babies still inside of them and the mothers whose babies are still in their dreams. I honor you and thank you for all that you do! Have a happy happy Mother's Day! 

May God bless you, not only on this day, but all year! 

Praying for ALL mothers and love. - Monica 

Bumpdate {26 weeks} and sharing my heart

Happy Wednesday!!!

I have been having such a sweet sweet time with The Lord lately.
I have been reading the SheReadsTruth devotional and participating in the Overcome The Lie challenge and its been really changing me!

I have noticed some things in me that needed to change and I am just so joyful.
Since moving here to Alabama {and probably even before} I have been putting a lot of unnecessary pressure on my husband for my spiritual walk with The Lord. I was, in a way, putting my husband as Jesus. I would run to husby instead of crying out to God. And since I put so much pressure on him -- when husby would struggle then I would struggle.

Now, I believe with my whole heart that the husband is called to be the spiritual leader..... But not the spiritual source! We, as wives and women of God, need to rely on The Lord. He is our one true source. HE is our savior. I am changing my heart in that area and running to God.

So that's a little bit of my heart.

Now for a bumpdate -


How Far along: 26w5d (yesterday) almost the third trimester!

Size Of Baby: baby v was over 2 pounds at our appointment last week. My baby app says he is the size of a cucumber (15 inches).

Maternity Clothes: husby bought me two more summer dresses!
None of my clothes are "maternity" clothes.... But just breathable and flexible clothes that I wear with a belt to show off the bump.

Stretch Marks: oh ya!!!!! Tons and tons!

Weight Gain: I actually didn't weigh myself this week but my guess would be.... 18 pounds.

Sleep: last night was bad! I didn't sleep at all and was to hungry to fall back asleep this morning. I am thinking of coming up with a evening routine to prepare my body for sleep.

Best Moment of the Week: husby feeling baby v kick!!! It still puts a smile on my face when I think about it.

Movement: lots and lots! It's such a joy to feel him.

Cravings: crepes!! Mmm! I finally made some last weekend.

Gender: all boy

Belly Button In or Out: in between... But on its way out lol

Wedding Ring on or Off: still not wearing it unless I go out.

Anything Making You Queasy or Sick: not a thing

What I Miss: sleeping on my back. Some nights I just want to sleep on my back but once I do, I feel like I am getting crushed by baby lol.

What I am Looking Forward to: I think we are going to paint the nursery this weekend and set up the crib!!!!

Nursery: blue and brown all the way!!! And I bought some wooden letters to spell out his name. Still trying to come up with more creative ideas.

Emotions: this week I have just been falling so in love with this baby boy! I am just so so excited! It's getting a little scary because time is just going by so so fast! But I am still so excited to see my little guy!

What baby is up to: baby v is opening and closing his eyes! He also gets hiccups and I can feel them! His immune system is rapidly developing too! He is our little world changer!!!

Baby bumps and love. - Monica