40+ weeks

My due date has come and gone and I'm still cradling this little baby in my womb. I've gone back and forth between feeling like I am losing my mind waiting and having complete peace about it. I have been trying to have control (my nature)... dates are floating in my mind. Nov 20th... both my sister's birthday and her middle girl, Shelby's birthday. Nov 22nd... my mom's birthday. Dec 10th... a wedding to shoot (AND my dad's birthday). All days I would like to be holding the baby in my arms instead of in my womb. :)

Every day that passes I have to continuously talk myself out of caring about WHEN he or she comes. It really is a struggle.

Recently a friend of mine went one and a half weeks past her due date. Which, you know, is tough enough... but this was her second child and her first came at 38 weeks. So in her mind she was almost a month past her expected delivery time. But her baby girl came at the perfect time. She came at about 42 weeks, small, still covered in vernix (a sign of early delivery). Her mama said "She just needed to cook a little longer." So sweet, so true.

Babies know when the time is right. (Side note: Did you know it's actually the baby that tells labor to start?)

So... precious babe still in my womb... I am leaving it up to you. I know, I don't have a choice... but I am truly trusting you and letting you guide this with peace in my heart. I know we are both in God's hands and everything will work out just fine, even if I keep worrying about silly dates.

thankful for our vets

11/11/11 At the risk of sounding cliche... I truly am so very grateful for our veterans. I love that our country honors our vets and their families so highly. The sacrifices they make reach a degree we cannot even imagine and simply saying "thank you" never seems like enough.

To the vets in my personal life, I love you and I am so very proud to be a part of your family. I am proud of the sacrifices you have made and the incredible honor you have earned. You are some of my greatest heros.

Thank you to all the vets out there who sacrifice and fight for our freedom.

autumn shots

I've mentioned my love of the changing seasons... I have been super inspired lately and it's killing me to not be able to get out and photograph beautiful faces in the beautiful scenery. So this morning as the sun was peeking through the trees, I grabbed my camera and snapped a few shots while standing on our deck in my pjs. Here are a few of my favorites:

And because I personally cannot get enough of the colors outside, I have uploaded a few of these shots to the desktop wallpaper folder in case anyone would like to use them as their desktop background like I am. :)

still here... still thankful

Yes, I am still here. I have not had a baby yet. I have, however, continued to list the things I am thankful for but the list has been building over on my phone. Here's a quick review for my blog reading friends (all pics taken w/ my phone): 11/3/2011

I am so thankful for the chiropractor. I had never been to a chiro before this pregnancy but I have seen great improvement in my aches and pains since I started going. If you are a local, check out my chiro, Dr. Likins. He will take great care of you!

11/4/2011

Today I am grateful for a flexible schedule. I've said this before... but I continue to be so very thankful for the opportunity I have to work for myself. It is not a typical lifestyle in our country... at least not with such flexibility. But I am passionate about encouraging others to do what they can to add quality to their lives. If that means living debt free so that you are free to follow your dreams or travel the world, or if it simply means to work for yourself so you have the flexibility to lead the life you want.

11/5/2011

Grateful today for a healthy body.... with all four limbs and the ability to run if I need to. Today Tommy completed the MMTR 50+ Miler and I couldn't be more proud or inspired by his accomplishment. All I can think of is how grateful I am for the ability to do whatever we put our minds to.

11/6/2011

So very thankful today for time to rest. I am also very glad Tommy is feeling good (albeit sore) and has energy after his big race.

11/7/2011

I am so glad Tommy has Mondays off. They are our personal Saturday together (since I often work Saturdays or we have events to attend)... Monday is the day we run errands and eat lunch and generally participate in productive activity together, uninterrupted. I love it.

11/8/2011

So glad that our little pups are beginning to finally come back around after Red moved back home. It has actually been a whole week since we received a little present on the bathroom floor... something that had been happening almost daily for a while there. (I know, that's a little TMI, but I am REALLY grateful it's not happening anymore.) We love these little ups and can only hope they will adjust to a new baby a lot better than they (never really) adjusted to Red.

11/9/2011

Today I am grateful for having inspiration right outside of my window. I find I am so inspired by the weather and the changing seasons. The change, the freshness of something new... I never desire to get out and photograph more than I do during the changing of seasons. I am grateful for four seasons and how much they inspire me.

More to come, I'm sure. I've plenty of time while I sit and wait for baby. <3

11/2/11 Girl's Night Out

11/2/11 - November Thankful Project

Today I am grateful for last night's Girl's Night Out. :) One of my closest friends, Carrie, came into town for the night and we treated ourselves to dinner and dessert in downtown Lynchburg. It was a long overdue get together full of intimate conversation and tons of smiles. Something I really needed.

I feel refreshed and grateful.