"Happy Birthday to you..."

I have meant to post these for a while...but I haven't. No excuses here-I just haven't gotten around to it. Maybe it is because I've been "nesting" like crazy. I find something to do no matter how clean or tidy everything in our house is. My husband has even begun nesting...it's actually pretty funny and I love it. He has been VERY productive lately-cleaning out closets, organizing his side of the closet (or should I say his small corner of the closet), deep cleaning the bathroom, and much more. Impressed? Me too! (not that he doesn't do anything around the house...Jon is a very good helper when it comes to chores-but this extra stuff lately has been pretty amazing). Ok, enough about our nesting....I'm sure no one really wants to hear about all that...let's get to the good stuff!

Delaney Rae Turns 2!
I posted a while back about Laney turning 2 but I didn't have any pictures to go with it. When my sister visited she gave me some and I wanted to post them on here for all to see how precious this little girl is-and how fast she is growing!

And these are just because...

Paige Sarr Turns 1!
Matt and Jenna threw a birthday party for their little girl Paige. She is already 1 year old!? Geeze...how can that be? It was a fun birthday party full of plenty of laughter and love. I always feel like part of the family when I am with the Forney/Sarr gang. I love it. Here are some pictures from that day too :)

COMING SOON!: Pictures of Delaney (and Charleigh too!) Laney is visiting for 2 whole weeks with her mommy and daddy! Yippee! They are coming to see baby Charleigh-I really wanted my sister to be here with me during all this birth stuff-and now that I know she will makes me so relieved and happy! And Laney is so excited to meet her cousin (whom she thinks lives in Auntie Jen Jen's bee bo...aka belly button) It'll be fun to watch her with my huge tummy and to realize that there is a baby in it-hopefully I don't traumatize her too much :)

2 Years

A couple weeks ago Jon and I celebrated our 2 year Anniversary! Last year Jon had a huge paper due in his class and I ended up leaving to be at the birth of little miss Paige Sarr :) So we really didn't get to spend a lot of good quality time together for our one year. This year we wanted it to be different-but seeing that I would be 8 months pregnant we weren't sure what to do. We threw out the idea of camping...but something in my head said this probably wasn't the best idea for a cranky pregnant lady :) So last minute-on the eve of our second anniversary-Jon asked if I wanted to go over to the coast for a couple of days. I had been wanting to go to the beach for a while but didn't think I would get to before the baby came. So without thinking too much about it we packed out bags (in about 10 minutes-new record!) and got on the road around 8:30pm. Our WONDERFUL friends Matt & Jenna let us stay with them. When we arrived Matt had set up a bed an everything for us. We had such a blast! Even though we didn't get much "alone time"-we had a great time and anniversary. I think Jon and I have been getting a lot of alone time together lately and we welcomed the time that we could spend with our friends :) The car ride counts as "alone time", right?

On Monday, our actual anniversary, we woke up to a cute little face-little miss Paige (sorry Jenna-you're cute too though (: ). We lounged around for a little while and then decided to head down to Avila Beach for some yummy coffee at Joe Mammas. We invited Jenna and Paige to join us (Matt was at work) and had a VERY enjoyable day sitting in the sun, crawling in the sand, eating clam chowder and ice cream, and then ending the day with a DELICIOUS dinner made by my wonderful husband. Clams in linguini in a white wine and garlic cream sauce. I'm salivating just thinking back to it! (sluuurp). We headed out early the next morning and decided that this was the PERFECT way to spend our anniversary. A wonderful day with some of our favorite people...we decided we wouldn't have wanted it any other way.

Happy Anniversary my love. I have enjoyed every second of these last two years being your wife. And I am so excited to embark on this new adventure of parenting with you.
I LOVE YOU!

Daddy in training...He's going to be such a good Dad :)

Me, Paige, and her new BFF (still cookin in the oven) :)

Next year Charleigh will be sitting next to her :)

38 Weeks

Pregnancy Highlights

How Far Along: 38 weeks

Total Weight Gain/Loss: 27 lbs

Maternity Clothes: Only when I'm wearing clothes...(TMI?) :) It has been SOO hot that I have chosen to mostly wear a t-shirt and underwear around the house. Or my "bading" suit when I go to my parents (and yes-I am still wearing my bikini...I think if I tried a one piece suit I would end up looking like one of those WWF wrestlers-and not in a good way).

Sleep: Not so well...but I can't really complain because up until now I have slept pretty darn well. Last night I was so uncomfortable that I finally trudged my way to the recliner in the living room and slept on and off there for a couple hours. How is it that I can fall asleep anytime during the DAY-but once night-time hits I am wide awake!?

Best Moment this week: Feeling the accomplishment of finally finishing her nursery! The only thing we are waiting on is baby! :) I will post some pictures of it soon.

Gender: GIRL!

Movement: I feel any and every movement from this little girl. But I try not to complain (even when it hurts!) because I'd rather feel her move a ton than not at all. I love feeling her move around-and I know I won't be able to feel this once she is here, so I'm soaking it all up-even if she is pushing her booty into my tummy and her toes into my ribs. :)

Food Cravings: Food lately has become not so appetizing. (WHAT!?) I know, I know, I am a food LOVER-but lately from the heat and from her pushing against my tummy I just don't LOVE eating at the moment. Don't worry...I'm sure my appetite will come back with a vengeance once she is born.

Food Aversions: Depends on the day...especially if it is hot. Not a fan of the heat lately.

How's Mama? I'm doing good. Excited for the "Big Day". I am beginning to get anxious not knowing when she wants to arrive-but I guess that adds to the excitement of it all! :)

What I am looking forward to: Holding our baby in my arms...and seeing her Daddy hold her for the first time :)

Our Baby in Veggie/Fruit Terms: Baby Foley is a watermelon!

The last bits of vernix caseosa (the white goo keeping baby's skin moist) and lanugo (downy hair) are slowly shedding into your amniotic fluid. Baby's head is about the same circumference as her abdomen, and her head could be covered in an inch or so of hair.

Pregnancy thus far

I can honestly say that I have thoroughly enjoyed being pregnant. Yes, it looks like I shoved a watermelon under my shirt-but I love it. I am going to be a wee bit sad when this little girl decides to show up (a WEE bit). And this is only because I have enjoyed this life growing inside of me so much. But I know the pure excitement of meeting her face to face will overshadow this sadness. I think the sadness may stem from me not worrying about my weight or being overly obsessed (I've never been one to obsess-but what girl doesn't worry about this topic? Obsess=an exaggeration to get my point across) about how I look all the time-but feeling pretty in my own skin and embracing the beauty of pregnancy.
OR...
Perhaps it comes from knowing that I won't able to have her with me ALL the time anymore-no longer able to protect her from the "outer world"!
OR...
Maybe it is because I won't be able to feel her every wiggle; her every hiccup; her every turn.

The tradeoff of not being able to experience these any longer? Actually getting to cuddle her in my arms, kiss her face, and see her beautiful little self.

I have been blessed with a great pregnancy so far and am very thankful for it. I find myself wondering what my next pregnancy experience will be like. Already!? Yes, already. I think I was made to do this :) I'm sure these daydreams of being pregnant for forever will come to an end as my due date comes closer...and as I have a screaming baby in my arms that I can't seem to soothe (which I'm sure will happen at least once right? :)...). Especially with the growing anticipation of our little one's arrival. It's the "Will it be today? Or in 3 weeks?" stage now. And I can see how this can drive a woman crazy. The unexpected, the unplanned, and the not knowing if I will have 1 day or 3 weeks to clean my house before she comes. However I am finding this to be just as much a part of the joy of pregnancy as everything else. The unknown-and having faith in God that everything will happen when it is the right time.

I'm usually a VERY impatient person, but lately I have learned to "go with the flow" and enjoy what I have at the moment. (then again...ask me how patient I am if I am past my due date...I'm sure my impatient self will have flared up a little).

2o more days (if all goes as planned- HAH).
Could be 1 more, could be 25.
I will try to enjoy the remaining days I have left enjoying this pregnancy and preparing for her arrival. Saying farewell to one chapter and moving on to another. She will come when she is ready-and there is nothing else I can do but wait.
(or walk, eat spicy food and bounce on my exercise ball according to some people)



**************************************************************************

I love you Charleigh. Your Daddy and I can't wait to meet you!
Whenever you decide to show up we will be waiting with open arms.
Our hearts are already overflowing with love for you-I can't even begin to imagine how much that love will grow when we hold you in our arms.

-xoxo,
your mommy

Maternity Photos

A couple weeks ago I had not one, but TWO, wonderful photographers taking maternity pictures of me! What a lucky girl I am! My two VERY talented friends, Jenna & Jamie, took me out to a photography spot that Jamie uses a lot (it was a little creepy...I'm not gonna lie...but turned out to make for some really awesome photos!) I wish I could put them ALL up, but I will restrain. Here are some of my favorites.

Photos by Jamie Nickell Photography

Photos by Jenna Sarr Photography

Belly Update-36 Weeks

Photo by Jenna Rae Photography

Pregnancy Highlights

How Far Along: 36 weeks

Total Weight Gain/Loss: 27 lbs....I think. Give or take a pound. I haven't been very hungry lately so my weight gain has slowed down quite a bit.

Maternity Clothes: Everyday. And have now moved into Jon's white undershirts. They are comfy and long enough for this big belly :)

Sleep: Still sleeping pretty good-it's getting harder to roll over though :)

Best Moment this week: Finding out that her head is down...I have been having a fear that she will be breach. Ick. But my Doctor assures me she will more than likely stay head down from here on out. AND getting her nursery done :) (pictures to come soon!)

Gender: GIRL!

Movement: Still lots! My stomach looks like a tidal wave sometimes! She has her own little dance parties in my tummy!

Food Cravings: Ice cream, Popsicles-and Peanut Butter Moo'd smoothies from Jamba Juice. YUM!

Food Aversions: Depends on the day...especially if it is hot. Not a fan of the heat lately.

How's Mama? A little nervous about the big day and when it will get here. Also excited to meet this little girl and see what she looks like.

What I am looking forward to: Holding our baby in my arms...and seeing her Daddy hold her for the first time :)

Our Baby in Veggie/Fruit Terms: Baby Foley is a honeydew!

Baby's skin is getting smooth and soft, her gums are rigid, her liver and kidneys are in working order, and her circulation and immune system are basically good to go. Her lungs are the only organs that still need to fully mature, but every day she gets a little closer to breathing on her own.

My Husband

I am so very proud of him. This was supposed to be posted about a month ago-but time has yet again run away from me. On Saturday May 7th my husband graduated from college! He had actually finished in December-but the ceremony for him to walk wasn't until May. He looked so handsome in his robe and hat. (Ok...maybe not so handsome with the hat on..) When I saw him walk out with all his fellow classmates I started to tear up. I'm sure the pregnancy hormones were NOT helping at this moment. I saw all the work and effort he had put into the past year with school. I have never met anyone who honestly despises school work more than my husband-which makes me that much more proud of him and what he has accomplished. There were times where I think he wanted to lock me up in a closet for pushing him to not give up and to do his best :) But it was all out of love-and I have grown to respect this man so much in the time we have been together.

Jon is such a hard worker-and will finish whatever he starts, even if it is the last thing he wants to do! I am excited to see what God has in store for him in the future. Anyone would be lucky to have him as part of their work team. I see how deflated he gets from applying to so many jobs and not hearing back from most of them at all or getting those "thanks, but no thanks" letters from others-but I know there is such a special place for him! I have to remember that God's timing isn't always our timing :) That's a tough one to grasp sometimes-and I just have to keep encouraging Jon (and myself) to have faith and believe in what God is doing. He obviously has His perfect timing-and we are especially seeing this with our little girl on the way. What a wonderfully awesome God we serve-and I wouldn't want our lives in the hands of anyone else but Him.

So, Jon, my love- I am so very proud of you. (And I know your daughter will be too-she was kicking through the whole ceremony-I think she was cheering you on). I knew you could do it (even if you didn't think the same at times). I am excited for what God has in store for you and our lives to come. Congratulations! You definitely earned it.