Over the weekend we celebrated my favorite guy. He turned 32 and the camera didn't come out once. That is really not like me at all, I love pictures... but it was so nice to just enjoy the time with him and family and friends and not worry about posing for a picture or enjoy the fun from behind the lens. I think the traveling for the past month made me appreciate the little things he brings to my life so much more. He is a good one, a perfect match for me, and I'm thankful for him every single day. Here are a few of the things that I love so much about him.

he makes me laugh till I can't breathe and I'm crying tears of joy in the bed at night, which is also one of the main reasons I miss him a lot when he is traveling for work // watching him with his nephews now that he knows he will have a son very soon is one of the sweetest things I've ever seen, he is going to be an amazing daddy // noticing how his passion for our church and the teaching we receive there has grown so much and how freely he shares it with others, it is a true blessing to have him lead our family // the way he always makes me feel safe and loved, even in the little things, like simply rubbing my leg while we are talking on the couch after a busy day at work

Peter, thank you for loving me and for choosing me!

I'm so blessed and happy to choose you over and over again, every single day.

Here's to many more birthdays with you!!

Pregnancy Post // month six.

Seriously crazy that we are starting month seven already!!
Our little man will be here in no time and I can't wait,
we are so excited and enjoying this time so much!

Weeks 21 - 24

Some questions we've been asked

Why do you want a natural birth // this has been a pretty common question I have been asked recently after people find out that I am planning on not having an epidural. I guess the biggest reason for me is my belief that God made our bodies to be able to endure the pain of child birth and women have been doing this for a very long time. The amount of endorphin's and adrenaline that women feel during and after a natural birth is supposed to be one of the most amazing feelings and I would love to experience that. Like I have mentioned before, I would love to have a water birth, and that is not something that can be done if you have an epidural.
However, I have one goal in mind, at the end of this pregnancy I pray that our family of three will go home together. That is the most important thing to me, so if that means I need an epidural or an emergency c-section for any reason then that will be fine. The health of Solomon and my safety is all I care about at the end of the day. I will trust my midwives and doula throughout this process.

I also want to point out that birth is an amazing thing and I know things will end up the way God planned, but the way we can plan for what we want is such a privilege. I know that a natural, epidural free, birth is not for everyone and that is perfectly fine. I do not pass judgement on anyone else's decision, this is just the decision that I have made for my birth.  


Where did the name Solomon come from // Peter's middle name is the arabic version of Solomon and he has said for a very long time that he wanted to name our first son Solomon, because of his middle name. I've always loved the name and I can't imagine our first boy not being named Solomon after all the conversations we have had about it. I can't wait to meet him.
We have also been asked if we will call him Solomon or give him a nickname. We might call him "Saul" around the house but for every day purposes and for school in the future he will go by Solomon.

pregnancy littles.

I haven't made a list of littles in a while and I have missed them. I love doing this every now and then when I feel the need to share the little things in life that are making me smile. This pregnancy is definitley a big thing that is making my heart so happy it could burst but I want to remember all the little things that happened too....

a co-worker that has started calling me preggers almost everytime he sees me and asks how the babe is cooking, it always makes me laugh // reading the pregnancy books with Peter in bed before we go to sleep // friends and family touching my growing belly, some women hate this, but I love it // the way Solomon kicks like crazy when he hears his daddy's voice during our FaceTime chats while he is traveling for work // looking at all the tiny pieces of clothing that we have so far, but this little thing from my mom is my favorite right now!

can't wait to see my little peanut in this!

spring love.

Spring is one of the most magical months and I love so many things about it!

Mood boards are also pretty wonderful so I thought I would take part with 

The Circle this month and share 15 things I love about the awesome months of Spring....

even if I can't take part in all of them (cough #2 cough). 

peonies // margaritas // thank you cards (for the pending baby showers!) //

a new springy print // cute little bird houses //

sunglasses // adorable veggie rattles (for baby boy, of course) // string lights

soy candle // Esther bible study // light airy blanket

bright tote // grapes (my biggest obsession right now!) // nail polish

What are your favorite springy things!?! 

share them and link up with The Circle

total honesty.

You know that Vick's commercial about the mom that was sick and needed a sick day. Her little girl was all dressed up with her stuffed animal and looked so confused? Well, last week I had one of those days. I didn't have the flu or felt terribly sick but I didn't feel 100%. I didn't even feel 80%. I was tired. My head was hurting. I didn't sleep well the night before and a little monster in my belly woke me up at 7AM kicking away. 

It made me think about those days in the future when I can't just roll over and snooze or call in sick to work. I have to be on it. All the time. No sick days. So, I took a sick day. That's what PTO is for anyways, right? It was so nice to sleep in till 10:45 and eat snacks on the couch while watching Gilmore Girls. Even do a little cleaning and organizing throughout the day with a late afternoon nap. It was needed. 

Total honesty, one of the things that scares me about being a mother is not having off days. I need those days as a human being sometimes. Days to just close the blinds, sleep in a little, and rest. But on the other hand, I can't wait to have a little person who needs me and wants me all the time. That will be amazing. 

Sitting here typing these words I feel his little kicks and I take that as a confirmation that he already needs me. I am his complete source of comfort and I know that won't fade for a long time. Or at least I hope it doesn't. Even if that means no sick days. He is worth it. 100% worth it!

when you lose your bible.

A couple weeks ago I was frantically trying to find my bible before church. It had been a few weeks since we were in town to actually GO to church so I couldn't remember the last time I had it. Then it hit me, I can't remember the last time I opened my bible. What a terrible feeling for someone that used to open that bible every single day. Someone who craved it, not just doing it to check something off the list of things to do. 

The last few months have been busy. It is a busy season of change... with the summer coming up and this little man growing in my belly. My mind has been boggled with plans for the weeks ahead and slightly obsessed with the new life that will be joining us in September. Of course I have been thanking God every day for all that we have. I've been talking to Him. relying on Him, singing to Him in the car, but have I been reading His word? Nope. 

I went to the "lost and found" area at church and was so thankful to find my journal and my bible waiting on me. I was so upset the whole time I didn't know where it was because I love journaling through my bible and making notes. The thought of losing that was breaking my heart. Then I felt convicted because this really did mean I didn't have my bible for three whole weeks. How could something so precious to my heart be missing from my life for that long. It only pointed out the fact that it really wasn't so precious at all. I would like to say that conviction moved me and I read my bible every day that week, but I didn't. I still made excuses and filled my days and nights with so many things to do and my bible stayed on the kitchen island most of the week.

At church we are going through the book of James. It is a short but tough book in the bible and we are truly digging into it. I've enjoyed it a lot. A few Sundays ago we talked about judgement and how we are not called to judge other believers because that is not our place. That is God's place. We all judge, we all compare, but it is a lot easier to stop pointing fingers when He turns that finger back on yourself. He was pointing at me. He was poking that hurt spot that I haven't fixed yet. The part of me that makes excuses and doesn't take the time to read His word. I'm thankful for that.

I'm thankful for His love. I'm thankful for His grace. And I'm so thankful that it will never run out, even when I lose my bible, I can never lose Him.

Mother's Day 2015.

A few weeks ago I had that moment. The "holy cow, I'm pregnant" moment. The feeling of becoming a mother instead of just feeling like I've eaten too many burritos. It felt real! Total honesty, I was sitting on the toilet for my early morning visit to the bathroom (thanks, Solomon for pushing on my bladder all night!) and I was still half asleep but obviously awake. I had this thought in my head like it was something I just learned, something I haven't known to be true for the past several months......

I'm going to be a mom.

I'm going to have a human being. A perfect mix between myself and my favorite person. My own little baby. What the heck?!?

It was so bizarre and surreal but beautiful. I feel these changes every day and I see my belly growing. I know that I'm going to love this baby with every single part of me because he will be a part of me forever. I will carry and sustain this child until they enter the world and then I will continue to take care and love him as much as I possibly can. I'm going to be a mom. I am a mom.  

I loved that we took pictures in front of my grandpa's rose bush!!

I miss him so much and I wish he could meet baby Solomon.

& even a Momma ducky celebrating with her babes!! 

Celebrating this Mother's Day was something special. I feel the weight of the day now but not only the weight of happiness. I feel the crushing sadness for those women that want to be mothers. I know some of these women, I love these women, and it hurts. I can't imagine the amount of weight that they feel on such a special day. I never want my excitement and joy to over shadow the amount of love that I feel for the women that are going through this struggle. I am thankful for the blessing that we have but I know that God has a plan for all of His children and sometimes His plan is hard, but the one thing that I know about His love and His plans is this, He will only give you what you can handle with His loving support and guidance. That is true. I hope you all had a wonderful weekend and a beautiful Mother's day with those special women you love!  

to my baby boy.

May 1, 2015

Dear Solomon,

Sweet baby boy, I'm still so shocked and excited that you will be our boy. Like I have said many times, I always thought I would be a momma of boys and I am so thrilled about it.

I feel you moving and dancing more every day. You love music, and when it is turned off you start kicking away, like you are asking for the music to come back on. I'm starting to think you will be an amazing drum player one day. At church a few weeks ago, after the worship was completed you did this, banging away - as if you were asking where the music went. I couldn't help but smile and rub my belly in hopes that you always love to worship our Heavenly Father. I pray for your heart a lot. I pray that you will be sweet and kind, that you will yearn for our Father's love. I pray that your name will mean something to you. Solomon means peaceful and I hope that the peace you will feel in your heart will come from the Lord. The best kind of peace we can know.

I also pray that my heart will be able to lead you in that direction. I want it to be evident that God is first in our life. I want you to know that I love Him. That your Dad and I both need Him every day. I hope that the love that your daddy and I have for each other will mirror the great love of Jesus, and that you will know our love is true, but also know we are not perfect. Through all of the lessons ahead I pray that we all show grace to each other and ask God for forgiveness every chance we get. Just like you, we are sinners, and this is our first time around with this parenting thing. We will learn, and we will love you!

I'm so looking forward to September so I can finally hold you in my arms. I can kiss your cheeks (oh man, the number of kisses you will get from me, sorry in advance!) and touch your fingers and toes, and love on you with all my heart. I can't wait for that magical moment when our eyes meet for the first time.

Love you to the moon and back,

momma

a pink filled morning.

Last weekend was a baby shower, this weekend, a bridal shower. Obviously, one of my favorite things to do in our house is shower our friends with love!!! It was so fun to open our home to Jen and her family and friends. I had a blast meeting some new people and planning this shower with such sweet women. The excitement that she had on her face the entire morning was contagious, she is a glowing bride for sure! 

the bride and all the hostesses! 

We had so much fun loving on Jen together!!

The food and drinks were the perfect combination for a morning brunch

and I loved all the sweet details around the house. We had the lucky man that

will marry Jen give us some of the things he loves most about her!

And like all showers, we got to watch Jen open all her gifts.

I love seeing the excitement during these moments!!

Both the Moms and the bride!!

Goals // 5.15

April Update

1// Clean out the junk room to get ready for the nursery! - not sure what I was thinking??? The last month was literally the worst time to try and clean out the junk room! May is much more open for us so this little task is moving on to the next month.

2// Host Easter lunch at our house. - Easter 2015 did happen at the Eliya home but we didn't take a ton of photos. Sad, but it was such a wonderful day with family! I love this tradition we have every year at our home. It is so special to me!!

3// Give Katie and baby Wyatt a shower! - we did and it was wonderful! I posted all about it early this week so you can see and read more about it HERE.

4// Finish the Ezer Study. - our group had to extend the last two chapters of the book to next week but it has been so wonderful to have quality girl time with the women that I have grown to love so much. The depth that it has added to our friendships has made my heart so happy and thankful.

5// Meet our new baby nephew! - oh, baby Jonah. I love him! Being an aunt is such a fun thing and I'm so happy that I married into such a loving family. I love them and I love their babies!

6// Help Peter in the garden. - well, Peter was out of town some during April so I most definitely helped Peter in the garden, HA! We have a couple of chickens that like to get out of their run/coop area. They also love to dig up the garden and eat our growing lettuce, which makes us want to eat them! Seriously, they are driving us nuts right now, but we are still thankful for the eggs.

 

May Goals

1// Clean out the junk room to get ready for the nursery!
2// Enjoy my first Mother's Day and love on the Mothers in my life!! 

3// Complete a 30 Day Arm Challenge.

4// Celebrate Peter's Birthday!

5// Enjoy Memorial Day off of work.