One month to go...

I really honestly cannot believe that there is only 4 weeks till I am due. I go back and forth between moments of panic and excitement. To be honest I have not had any moments of, "Get here already!!!" So far I have loved being pregnant. My little stint of morning sickness didn't last too long and I've already forgotten about it.
Mostly my moments of panic are due to not feeling I have anything ready, while still a lot of school needs to get done, and then there is the labor part that still gets me nervous. I just want that part to be over...
I have her room no where near ready, but I figure that's ok cause she most likely wont be in there for a little while. These are some ideas that I love and would like to incorporate into the room.

For the bed skirt I have some extra fabric my mom gave me left over from her quilt. I think I would like to make a patchwork bed skirt and maybe bumper. It would be pretty adventurous since I am not the greatest with the sewing machine. Maybe my mom or Johnna can help me with this. This is no where near the colors we have in her room, but I like the idea.

This is our crib. We got it at IKEA! When Ben and I took our first trip to Ikea in Germany we saw a room with this set up and loved it. We thought well maybe one day.... but I really didn't think it would still be around by the time the one day arrived. It is! I just like the natural wood. I think it is simple and classic.

We also got the matching dresser and changing table top

I would like to eventually get some of the matching shelves and have a set up like this. We have the shelf that goes across the top.




As for painting, I like this idea. I think we would do a pale purple and instead of pictures of sheep I have three panels that I am going to paint and put the initials P E A on them. Then there will be a sign above that says "Our little Sweet" I can't wait for that part!

I love this!! I am determined to make it myself though! I got a lamp shade and I just need to get some fabric and time.

Maybe one day her room will be complete! I am kind of hoping we move into a new place soon, so I think that is another major reason that I haven't done anything really with her room.

Art Care

Surviving to Thriving!

I have had an interest in pursuing a career in art therapy eventually. At least incorporating it in my therapy sessions if I become a therapist later on. So when I found out that there is a healing arts program at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Corvallis and Albany and had an employed art therapist, I was all too eager to see if I could get involved. After months of emails I finally wiggled my way in to attend their sessions titled Surviving to Thriving. While this isn't art therapy per se. It is it the closest I have gotten and I was able to sit down with the art therapist and learn a lot.

It has been amazing. The women who are attending are such special people who have gone through things that have made them beautiful, strong women I admire greatly. The sessions start off with a poem reading by one of the women in charge and then a visiting artist explains what we will be doing and what they hope each will think about and get out of the project.

The first week I attended we did these dolls. We were asked to think about the women we were that day and just let inspiration come. This is what my doll ended up looking like.

Her lips are inspired by my mom, who i remember in church drawing doodles for me and their lips took on this heart shape. I also think of myself as a person who offers words of love and comfort as often as I can. Her eyes are purple simply because I have been seeing the color purple a lot in my life lately. It is one of my most favorite colors and has seemed to make its way into important events in my life. Especially my wedding and now my first born's nursery.



The lace and the flower give a vintage feel for me and I LOVE that. I growing up in a house that was older with glass door knobs and hard wood floors I feel I was raised to love all things vintage. The shoes are a special splash that show my love for shoes. I have a pair of red mary jane flats that I love (so much so I continue to wear them even though I know I will end up with blisters when I do).

I love this program and think it is so important. It is easy to get caught up in the science of psychology at school and I feel I am constantly surrounded by the need for proof, but there are somethings that are more important than that and these women will testify of the importance of a program like this. I feel blessed to be able to sit in. Look for more posts to come on this!

Cereal

Yeah... It's about 2 am and I just came down stairs for a bowl of one of these

I cannot get enough! It may be a pregnancy thing, but I am loving me some cereal lately. Doesn't really matter what kind so long as its got some cold milk in there. I have NEVER been a big milk person either.

I remember in high school when the brother of a friend of mine would eat huge amounts of cereal in one giant bowl! I haven't gone as far as breaking out the salad bowl yet, but now it doesn't seem so crazy:)

Sisters!

Sisters!

This last week was baby shower week!

It was so much fun and I loved everyone for their thoughtful and amazing gifts!

My mom is in town for the blessing of my brother's baby girl and she was able to come to both my showers. I had a family one in Troutdale and a church/friend one in Albany. My sister Sadie wasn't able to make it to the family one and so she came to the one in Albany. As usual we got many many comments on how much we look alike. But what was unexpected to me was the amount of comments on how much older I looked that her (she is my older sister). They may have been saying how young she looked but I just kept hearing how old I looked... Regardless, it caused me to reflect on my sisters and just how amazingly gorgeous they are. So I thought I would post a few pictures of them!

Baby Sister Kezi who never ceases to amaze me with her outgoing talents and overall awesome personality. Every time I see her she gets more and more beautiful!

Little sister Kate who's shy and calm demeanor is complementary to her mesmerizingly green eyes. She too gets more and more beautiful every time I see her. I cannot believe she will be off to college next year!

My "twin" sister Sadie who never seems to age. I wonder where she found the fountain of youth or if she has frequent flyer miles to neverland saved up! Regardless I hope to follow in her footsteps :)

And I cannot forget to mention my other sisters who I love and are equally amazing and beautiful!!

Beautiful and Strong sister in law Johnna who I always could spend hours talking to. It has been a great time being pregnant together and being able to learn from her as she is diligent in educating herself in all the important details.

And Rachel! Who has a one in a million smile and is one of the most giving and caring people I know! I love being able to spend any time I possible can with her and could lose a week just hanging out.

Of course (now being pregnant and thinking about being a mom!) all these beautiful women could not be possible without our mothers! Thank you to them who gave everything to us including their complete love and devotion!