It's Been Awhile!

It's Jim... Things have gone so quickly, it is hard to believe it has been so long since I posted. To tell the truth, I have been less focused on reflecting on the things I am thankful for, having been caught up in the whirlwind of baby Graham being born. I have so much to be thankful for and so much that I am thankful for. I can't believe that Thanksgiving is only a week away. Here are a few things I am thankful for:

116. Safe and healthy birth of my little boy

117. Staring at Graham's eyes and realizing that his helplessness and total dependence on us is a picture of our total helplessness and total dependence on our heavenly Father

118. Laughing and crying w/ my wife at the changes we are going through

119. Sweet sleep when we can get it

120. for the in-laws being here our first week home

121. For Linda and Carol being there to support and help during delivery and the first couple of days at the hospital

122. God's provision for us through wonderful friends bringing food and coffee!

123. that Graham got to meet his grandparents so soon after his birth

124. For wisdom and patience at the hospital in regards to breastfeeding and caring for our boy

125. Little moments of prayer w/ Alisha - usually tear filled asking for strength, patience, peace and rest

126. Technology like Skype so that other members of our families and our friends can meet our little boy

127. Comfy clothes and rainy fall days

128. Heat and a nice cozy house

129. Cameras to capture special moments w/ our boy

130. Strong and patient wife who cares for our son and feeds him (continually) :)

131. Good relationships w/ my in-laws (can't take it for granted!)

132. The anticipation of Thanksgiving and Christmas - and Advent!

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Waiting

This seems to be the word of the week: waiting. Anticipation. Knowing this child could literally come any day, and expecting, hoping...but nothing yet. It's been a bit difficult, as we've been looking forward to "November 1st" for 9 months, and now it's November 6th, and there's not really an end it sight yet. I'm thankful for the days I've had to rest and relax this past week, although knowing I started maternity leave from work with no baby has been a bit bittersweet at times. For Jim, he starts his 2 weeks of leave Monday, and was hoping to have the full 2 weeks with his son, but that may not happen, and he's learning how to deal with that bit of disappointment. My mom came after my due date (one day) hoping to time it as best as possible...and while she's excited to be here for the actual birth, she also knows that every day she's here and I don't go into labor is one less day she has with her grandson, which I know is so very difficult.

It's been hard for me too, as I do in fact want him here, but there's nothing I can really do about it right now (if I'm wanting this to progress naturally, which I do). So when I can see the disappointment in other people's faces every day he's not here, I feel almost responsible. I know this logically makes no sense, but believe me, with pregnancy hormones, logic doesn't matter. What has been good, however, is that even in just a few days' time, God has been using this time to teach me more about patience and His sovereignty, and for that, I am truly thankful. Knowing I really have no control over this, and knowing that God has ordained each of Graham's days from before time began, is such an amazing concept; such a humbling thing to learn. God hasn't been bound by "11/1/11" at all-He knows the exact time, day and way in which our baby boy will make his arrival into this world, and it will be beautiful, and in just the way it's supposed to be-whether that happens tonight or a week from now, it will be just as it is meant to be. We have a hope...a hope that is a confident expectation, an eager longing...knowing that at the end we will hold our bundle of joy-our son. I couldn't ask for a better longing than that.

Well...this is it!

We've hit the 40 week mark! By my calculations, today would be my due date; but according to the doctor, it's Tuesday, so I still have a couple days til then. I've been having some contractions off and on-we're starting to time them to see if it's anything consistent, which is exciting...but also frustrating because the anticipation builds and then it's like...oh. Nevermind. But that's all part of the journey I guess.

I've been really nervous the past week or so and not quite ready for him to arrive. Partly nerves about labor, and partly nerves about having a child. Jim and I have both been struggling with this I think, and it shows itself in different ways. Sometimes we spend money and don't care-like going out to eat when we really should cook at home; sometimes in letting house chores go and just wanting to "have fun", or doing the opposite-not relaxing and focusing only on working. Either way, it's avoidance manifesting itself in some form. Which equates to giving into fear and anxiety and not trusting God. We've both realized this and are learning to rest in the truth that He loves us, loves Graham and will provide everything we need, and sustain us through this change.

106. Time to rest
107. Support of friends-feeling how loved we are
108. Anticipation of the holiday season
109. Possibility of snow-even though it didn't come, the waiting was exciting
110. Gorgeous fall colors
111. Taking time to enjoy simple pleasures
112. Blue Ridge Parkway in the fall
113. Provision-in time, money and resources
114. Time spent with friends that will provide memories to last
115. Coffee and rummy games-some things will always be fun. :)

~Alisha

Slacker

Yep, that's me. It has been far too long since I posted on here! I promise, I have been keeping track of little daily blessings in my notebook (although even there-not nearly as often as I would like). As much as I am on the computer, you would think I could take a couple of minutes and add to this blog a couple times a week. We'll work on that. Especially with all the extra time I'm sure we'll have soon! (sarcasm noted)

We have been so busy the last 2 weeks, I feel like I've run a marathon. I'm sure it doesn't help that just walking from the chair to the bathroom makes me feel like I need to stop and breathe for a minute-seriously, if you ever want to increase your level of fitness in a quick manner, just strap on an extra 30 lbs of weight right around your midsection. You'll be amazed. On second thought, you may pull something, so don't do that. Besides, you really can't get the full effect of pregnancy without little feet up in your ribs, peeing all the time and maybe getting 2 hours straight of sleep before having to wake up again.

OK...not complaining, really. I have loved being pregnant. (I have some friends who may hate me for saying that) Only in the last couple of weeks have I started to get really uncomfortable, between the lessening space in my womb and the lessening space in all of my shoes as my feet stay puffy. But overall, it's been a great experience, one I think I'm going to miss, even though I am also really looking forward to holding our baby (and sleeping on my back, and drinking a glass of wine among other things). We've finished our birthing classes and, thankfully, Jim feels more prepared/less anxious about the experience now, although I may be more so. I hadn't been scared of labor at all before now, and I don't think I'm so much scared as I am nervous of the unknown. But, as I am reminded by lots of people, millions of women do this all the time, and I know my body is designed for this. (thanks Eve)

So, onto the list...

96. an overabundance of blessing from family and friends-3 showers in 3 weekends, we are truly blessed!
97. God's provision in so many small ways-an old bank broken open provided enough money to buy crib bedding, a boppy cover and changing pad cover!
98. Opportunities to be used to show grace, and that not of ourselves-good conversations with family
99. Crisp, cold fall mornings!!
100. Apple picking-one of the many reasons I love the area we live in
101. Restored/renewed relationships with friends
102. Seeing good friends who live too far away; thankful for friendships over miles
103. Music. Pandora, specifically. It sounds silly, but being able to listen to such a wide variety of good music for free is so wonderful.
104. My husband. Creative, hard-working and such a help during a time when just standing up tends to sap my energy some days!
105. Early, quiet mornings-waking up with the day

Off I go-time to get ready for the work day!

~Alisha

32 Weeks!

Hello baby!

I can't believe I'm 32 weeks already...time is flying by, and it won't be much longer now. Jim and I are both incredibly excited to meet our little guy, but also incredibly nervous. I find that I fluctuate between just wanting him to be here, and freaking out because I feel like we're never going to be ready, and it's going to change everything, and we don't know what we'll be like as parents...and on and on and on. But then I remember-this child is God's, not ours. We're being entrusted to take care of him and love him and help him grow, but God is much more concerned about his well-being than we could ever be. So we'll be fine. One thing I am looking forward to...being able to bend over again.

~Alisha

Graham's Nursery

I decided to put up a few pictures of Graham's Nursery. This picture below was taken right after we got our crib and before we really started working on the nursery. It turned out pretty differently by the time were done. Enjoy!

We painted the walls a bluish grey below the chair rail and a grey on top. We took a few decorations from elsewhere in our house and bought a few to create his little room.

The boat in this picture we bought a few years ago at Target. At the time it went very well with our nautical theme we were planning to implement in our attic, but it fits much better in Graham's room. The rocking chair was given to us by my parents, and is the same chair that my parents used to rock me in when I was a baby. The table was a black end table that we didn't think went very well in the room because of it's color. Instead of buying a new table at $50+ we decided to re-vamp this one by covering it in some leftover fabric and bought some rope from Lowes for $0.47 p/foot. (4 feet was just long enough despite what I thought we would need).

The photo collage was a mixture of new and old frames. Some of these we had sitting in our attic and we bought the silver ones to make a cool combination of old meets new. The rectangle and oval frames and the mixture of styles makes it an interesting focal point. The light we made from an old wire basket and used fabric to sew a liner for it. We then attached the liner with kitchen string and a large-eyed needle.

My mother in law helped us when she was here by making these awesome curtains (which I didn't take a very good picture of now that I am looking through them - hopefully I will take a better one soon). They reminded us of sail cloth when we bought the fabric and we used the extra fabric to make the liner for the light fixture in the picture above this one. The globe, mirror, and moulding squares were all elsewhere in our house.

This dresser we found a year or so ago at an antique shop in Roanoke. We painted it with the same paint as the chair rail and moulding in the room and we really like how it turned out. We also found the oar for $5 at a shop in Salem. I used a staple gun and some wire to make hangers on the back to put it up.

The shelf was given to us and we painted it with the same paint as the dresser. The oil lamp was another decoration we took from elsewhere in our house. The blocks we found a year or so ago and I had to buy them - I love blocks! I actually made the sock monkey as well (my first attempt at knitting in the round) and we bought the little candle sticks and round frame.

The 'G' hook Alisha found in Charlottesville at Anthropologie. I wasn't sure about it at first but really like it now (she was right). On the floor (you can barely see it in the picture) we found an amazing wooden alphabet block board for about $3 in Appomattox. Again, we bought this about a year ago and have been holding on to it since then. Alisha wasn't sure if we would use it for a girl's room, so I was pretty excited that we were having a boy as I thought it was so great.

This has been a lot of fun and we saved a lot of money by doing so much ourselves and repurposing furniture and decorations. We are so blessed and thankful for God's provision and abundant blessings in allowing us to decorate this nursery for our boy.