Getting Ready!

Just wanted to post a few pictures of what we've been up to in the last couple of weeks concerning baby Demarest.

Here are the colors that I am using in the nursery:

A pale pink, a pale green, and brown. The walls are blue, so I think this will go along pretty well.

Here is what we have done on the crib so far. It's barely going to fit!






Here are the windows that I need valences or curtains for. How dark should the nursery be during the day so the baby can sleep? I would prefer valences, but if the room should be darker, then I will need to get a full curtain I think. I'm thinking about making my own, but I'm not sure yet.



Here are some pictures of us at the zoo this last weekend. We had a great time in Omaha celebrating 5 years!

P.S. My old neighbor told me it was good that I was going to help my grandparents-in-law at the nursing home with a slide show presentation from our trip to Europe because apparently I need to "get out and get some exercise". uhhhh... thanks for that. Give me some time and I won't be so concerned about over exerting myself. Oh, Ken. haha.

Happy fifth, Luke!

Luke and I will be celebrating five years tomorrow. I'm so pumped about it! It feels so special and exciting! Maybe b/c so many things are changing. Our time together will look so different when we celebrate six years, so to me, that makes this celebration all the more special. I'll write more later on what the weekend will hold, but I want to post a few pictures of his surprise for me today.

A while back a bunch of us discussed what the five year gift is according to Hallmark, or whoever made up the list of gifts for anniversaries. We all made guesses, and eventually found out that the five year gift is wood. I told Luke later that night that he didn't have to get me something with wood. It was the last thing I said before I went to sleep. He patted my head as if to say, "That's sweet. Go to sleep."
Today he called telling me he had to work late in the city (which was true) and that I should meet him for dinner at 7. So I did. Neither one of us were real hungry so we ate for under $5 at McDonalds. Then we took care of some errands Luke needed to run. I was informed from the beginning that the last thing we would do was to remain a surprise. I didn't push it to find out more. I never do b/c I love surprises. He directed me to HOM furniture where I was to pick out my own jewelry armoire. I've been wanting one for so long, it's made of wood (appropriate for year five), and it's the perfect gift---so thoughtful! He was such a smart shopper about it too! Regularly priced at about $200, it was on sale for $77. Way to go Luke!
Here's a picture or two.

Happy anniversary, Luke! I love you more and more! (He doesn't read this blog. Oh well.)

All that hard work...

OK, well it wasn't that hard, but I was emotionally invested! You wouldn't believe how often I've had dreams lately about my tomato plants dying, being sabotaged, generally being no more. It's plagued my dreams! By the way, the dreams of a pregnant woman are CRAZY!!! I've never had more vivid dreams than when I've been pregnant. I've dreamed new song lyrics, poems, prayers, and lots of oddities! I thought it was particularly absurd when I dreamed that my neighbor came and uprooted all the tomatoes and planted them in a different spot. I cried and cried in my dream. I also dreamed that my cat Pumpkin was watering my tomatoes WAY too much with a little red bucket she carried in her mouth. She filled it up in the sea that was in our backyard. She didn't like the tomatoes.



Well, today I knew something had to be done about my tomato plants. They've been getting worse and worse. Last night I looked up "brown spots on tomato vines" and I then knew that my plants had been infected with "late blight". From what I can tell it's due to the crazy amounts of rain we've received. I also think it spread so quickly b/c last Saturday I cut away some of the infected branches, not really knowing what was wrong with them, and the more I cut, the more I spread the disease. I've learned to disinfect the shears between each cut. Experience is the best teacher! I also think it has something to do with the lilac bush that is close by. I noticed today that my lilac bush's leaves are curling, and it looks like they have a white powder on the leaves. Uh oh! Not good! Apparently this is considered awful for a lilac bush, so I'll be trying to combat this fungal disease too this weekend. I hope the lilac bush doesn't die. I love that bush, and I want it to thrive and bloom next spring. We'll see what happens. My theory is that the lilac bush didn't like all the water this season (they don't need that much water at all!), there wasn't proper drainage for it, it didn't like sharing the soil with other plants. So maybe the bush got the fungus first, and then spread it to the tomato plants? Or maybe the tomatoes got it first and passed it to the lilacs? It's hard to tell, but next year I will either not be planting, or I will plant in a totally different spot. I hope I don't have to uproot the lilac bush by the end of this season.

Here are some pictures of what I found when I entered my little garden plot this morning. The blight spreads soooo quickly!

a day in pictures

A tour through my front and back yard....me before the wedding....and a few shots of Luke's cousin's wedding.





Next thing to add to the list:
Figure out how to take better pictures with the camera, or just get a new one that has a longer video option. Our current camera is 5 years old, and only takes 30 seconds of video. Is it possible that this camera is 'going bad'? I've found that the pictures have been blurry lately and not near as good as they used to be. I've considered that it might be me just doing a bad job at taking them, but I don't think I've changed how I take pictures.

Help me out! Anybody know of a good camera that usually provides great pictures no matter who the taker is?

Today was a crazy gorgeous day! Every time I stepped outside, and then like every five minutes during my outside time, I would utter some sort of thank you to God for such a beautiful day. 70's and breezy. It made me wonder if my mom would agree with me on how I dubbed this day a perfect weather day. I think not. She would want it to be at least 80.

I went to the school I used to work at and put up some bulletin board displays for their 50th celebration this weekend. Then I walked outside and saw how gorgeous it was a decided I would have my own little picnic by the river. I took my sandwich and banana and worshiped outside by the river for lunch. I praised God for how He gifted me with a wonderful day. I also prayed for the baby moving around and growing inside.

Here are the pictures from the last three ultrasounds.

8 weeks: (see the tiny white bean on the bottom?)

15 weeks:

and 20 weeks: (baby is curled up in the fetal position)

Enjoy the beautiful evening!

I did not want to go get the mail today! I've had so much trouble with insurance companies and hospitals billing me for things that should have been covered. Every trip to the PO Box was like a walk to school when it's raining and a huge car drives by and splashes water all over your new clothes. With all these confusions, it's required me to stay inside on the phone connected to the wall, so I won't use up my cell phone minutes, for 15-30 minutes at a time to clear things up. With a feeling of false relief I will go about my day. Next week I will be sadly reminded of the mix-up when I'm looking another bill in the face. Seriously! Why is it my job to get the hospital and insurance company to communicate with each other?

Anyway, today I was afraid to look in the mail. I was curious when I saw a little key to a bigger PO Box nestled in our box. I opened the bigger box and found this!:
Oh my goodness! How exciting! AND how cute! I love the pink envelope! "This has totally made my day!" "Thank you, thank you! I don't even know what it is. Even if it's (insert worst thing possible here) I'm still so thankful for it!" I restrained myself from opening it because I wanted to take a picture. After the picture I ripped it open and was delighted. I was beaming when I tried on my brand new church-ready maternity shirt! I had Luke take a picture a couple of hours later, after a day spent at home, so excuse the unkempt look.

So, I'm thrilled to have a lovely brown top to wear to church. This will grow with me too!

Well, here's an update!

We had an appointment on Monday afternoon. The appt. included an ultrasound. We told the lady we would really love to know the gender. We all looked intently and she showed us her reasons for being 85% sure that this little one is a...
GIRL!!!

I was told to not go out and buy pink paint, but to wait for our August 10th ultrasound when we'll get to do a video and see the baby in 3D. We'll be able to tell for sure by then. The doctor said she was noticing that the placenta is still lower than she would like, but there's still a lot of time for it to relocate higher.

Thank you, Jesus. We're so thankful for Your righteous hand that holds this baby and us in your ever-capable hands. There is no place we will go where you have not already been. There is no place we will be or feeling we will feel that you have not already known. We praise you for the length of this pregnancy so far (almost 21 weeks!), and for how long it will continue to go, and for how you are forming this baby to love you with (her) whole heart. We ask that (she) will be great for you, that (she) will honor you with (her) life from birth, and that the light and life in (her) eyes will be a testament to your unfailing love and goodness and grace. Amen.

My faves!

I thought you would all appreciate it if I shared with you what is on "My Faves" play list right now. I've taken a little break from it recently to pay tribute to MJ, but here are some of my faves. Check them out if you're interested.


"Have you Ever" Brandi Carlile
"Love" Matt White Band
"Calabria 2007" Enur
"Realize" Colbie Caillat
"New Soul" Yael Naim
"Mercy" Duffy
"Bruises" Chairlift
"You Don't Know Me" Ben Folds with Regina Spektor (one little bad word...oops!)
"Little Romance" Regina Spektor
"The Way I Am" Ingrid Michaelson
"Lucky" Jason Mraz
"I'm Yours" Jason Mraz
"Keep Breathing" Ingrid Michaelson
"Bubbly" Colbie Caillat
"The Call" Regina Spektor
"Winter Song" Sara Bareilles
"Trouble" Ray LaMontagne
"Great DJ" The Ting Tings (as heard on the "Year One" preview on TV)
"I Got A Feeling" The Black Eyed Peas
"Thank You" MoZella
"Dreams Collide" Colbie Caillat
"The Last Thing On Your Mind" The Lights
"Single Ladies" Beyonce
"Distant Dreamer" Duffy

Yes, some are predictable, and yes, they are often heard on commercials.

Enjoy! I love to share good music.