32+ weeks!

The title says it all - I am 32 1/2 weeks pregnant with little Miss Cora. Just about every day I find myself wishing I was closer to 'the end' of my pregnancy, or feeling like it is just going by too slowly. But yesterday I stopped to reflect for a moment. I was remembering the night I took my pregnancy test just 'to see' if anything showed up. We had been trying starting about one month before we actually conceived Cora, and I was dying to see if our efforts had come to fruition. :) We ate dinner at Red Robin earlier that night, meeting up with some friends. They had arranged the get together to 'catch up,' but, really, to announce that they were newly pregnant. I was SO excited for them! Consequently, this meant my mind was wandering a little bit to know if I was or not. It was still a few days too early to get a super accurate reading, but I made Brian stop at the Dollar Tree anyway. I took them immediately and could see the double lines, but Brian didn't believe me. :-p

There's our little story about finding out we were pregnant. I had to document this moment today though, because honestly that day didn't seem very long ago. If 7 months ago seems like days, then I guess the next 8 weeks will fly by also. *Hopefully 7* I have this desire to have Cora on November 1st. It's kind of random, but a. it's 1 week early b. it's All Saints Day c. I would go into labor on halloween night, a good excuse to not have to celebrate d. it's my older sister's birthday - so special!

That's all I have to say for now, I guess. I am so excited to have this baby girl!! UGH the thought of Ruby having a little sister melts me! The thought of nursing a new baby melts me! The thought of not being pregnant any more MELTS ME! :-)

20 Months!

My Darling Ruby,

You are very quickly approaching the 2 year mark - wow! I thought the first year flew by, but this second year is really taking me off guard. I love you so much, my girl. I've noticed your attitude changing quite a bit in the past couple of months. You definitely know what you want. If you cannot have something that you want, you are NOT happy with me at all. There have been a lot of fun things you've learned and grown in since I last wrote about you, but this new determination is really a challenge to your momma.

I'm realizing more and more everyday how much of a job it is to be your parent, to be the one to teach you what is appropriate or not, what is respectful and what is not. I find myself being reminded each and every day that Jesus' grace is sufficient for me, that his power is made perfect in my weakness. I feel weak a lot, and like I am not suit to be your mother. But his grace has astounded me more and more as I lean into him for wisdom and strength. I couldn't do this without the grace and love of Jesus.

You still love animals and babies. Unfortunately, you've caught on to how frustrated Izzie makes mommy, and you now know how to yell at her, "Izzie, stop!" It's adorable, but I know I haven't been loving toward our doggie in front of you all the time. I don't want you to learn bad habits from me. Your love and gentleness toward animals is so sweet. You not only know SO many different animal sounds, but you're learning how to say the name of different types of animals! It is so fun to watch you.

Even though you do not know that you really have a baby sister coming to meet you in a few weeks, you still know that when I ask you to "feel baby sister," you are to touch my belly. You so gently place one or both hands on my belly and wait, even though you don't know what you're waiting for. I