To Baby Shower Invitees...

Hi Everyone!

If you're reading this, then you were probably invited to the baby shower my family is throwing for the wee-one and me. Thanks for stopping by!

My Mom has been asked numerous times now what Matt, Baby and I need, or would be able to use... We decided not to register anywhere for the baby, but due to a unique living situation we do have some unique needs, so Mom asked that I write about some things that would help us out once baby decides to arrive!

Because Matt and I are living in a teeny-weeny efficiency apartment right now, we have major space issues. Our apartment is basically one open room, with a bathroom...so we're not going to be able to use any large baby furniture. We also probably won't be needing any baby toys, etc. as we have literally zero storage space.

Here is a little list of ideas that would be helpful to us and the baby...

* Portable diaper changing pad, (something that could used on the bed or the table...)
* A play pen, with an infant basket-insert
* Plastic storage containers (the kind that slide under a bed, or the stackable drawer types would be great.)
* A small portable bouncy chair that vibrates
* Nursing pads
* Lanolin and/or Vitamin E Oil
* A "Boppy"
* Bottles
* Diapers/wipes
* Diaper rags
* Diaper rash cream
* Baby tub (something to fit in the sink...)
* Baby soap/shampoo (the more natural the ingredients the better!) :)
* Wash cloths, baby towels
* A temple or ear thermometer
*Light baby clothing for the summer months (I'm thinking sizes 3 mo. up to 9 mo. to get us through June to September...)

While it's not really a pressing necessity, we would like to be able to purchase a rocking chair or glider, like this one at Target. If anyone would like to contribute to the rocking chair fund, that would be great!

Also, I would love to be able to purchase a couple of products from New Native Baby - a sling carrier and diaper bag. Any contributions towards these purchases would also be a blessing to us!

Thanks for your support and love for our growing family as we welcome the newest Freyswick. :) We love you guys, and can't wait to celebrate with you at the shower.

xo

Happy News...

Our little girl had everyone in the ultrasound room laughing as she rolled, punched and kicked as the the poor technician tried very, very hard to get some measurements. Luckily during all the horsing around, she managed to show the room she is very definitely a girl!

Being able to talk to my "daughter" and not an "it" anymore is an incredible feeling. We debated, as most parents do I suppose, whether we should find out the baby's sex or not...I'm glad we agreed to go ahead and find out. I feel closer to the baby, and much more excited about the birth now that we know. I know that this isn't everyone's experience, and I'm not advocating for one way over the other...this worked for us in our particular situation, and we are oh so grateful.

A lot of anxiety and worry has rolled off my shoulders, baby and I are healthy, and I'm getting more and more excited for labor and delivery. God is good - ALL the time.

Fall Colors

My sister, Holly, put together a lovely little bouquet of autumn 'flora' from out in the yard. I love the bold scarlets and golds - nature's last 'huzzah' before its long winter sleep...

Doing My Part

I did my duty this week, and went to the local Courthouse to vote...

I decided to go early, because there's something else exciting happening on November 4th - our 20 week ultrasound!

I have to admit, I'm much more excited about seeing my baby on election day than I am about who the next President of the United States is going to be, but it does give me just the tiniest bit of an emotional, patriotic thrill to cast my ballot in an election - even though I am thoroughly disgusted with how this election has played out, with its smearing tactics and biased media.

In the past couple of weeks, it has been hard to recognize this country as the same one I was raised to love and give allegiance to - it's a scary world that is possibly going to get a whole lot scarier... I just hope whoever God allows into the Oval Office in January will allow Americans to retain the freedoms and liberties that make us unique in the world.

Pumpkins

Sometimes - oftentimes - it's the simple things that inspire my eye behind the lens... And I love no subjects more than my family - especially when they're having fun.

It was a lovely, brisk fall evening - the light was perfect, the pumpkins brilliant, and everyone getting a kick out of getting to play with knives...

Sharpening the knives...



Quite a mess...

Drawing the face...


Lighting the candles...


Masterpieces.

October - On the Road...

October seems to have been spent in the passenger seat of our old Honda Civic Wagovan... And in beds that aren't our own. We've done a lot of driving - a lot of traveling...it's been exciting, exhausting and lovely, all at the same time. It's good to be back home, for a while...

Celebrating the Miracle That Is Her Reproductive System...

I recently helped throw my friend, Natalie, a baby shower for her third little miracle... It was a lovely, colorful morning...

Here's my kitchen, as I prepared all kinds of brunch foods...including cupcakes...

The finished products! Decorating cupcakes is so much fun...

We decorated with pansies, mums and colorful boy/girl themed collages, as Natalie doesn't know whether baby number 3 will be a daughter or son!

A lot of the gifts were wrapped in bright, autumn colors...

Baby showers are delightful and exhausting, especially when you're helping pull all the pieces together! They're always well worth the effort, though, and it was great to be a part of gathering Natlie's friends and family around her to help celebrate the miracle of new life.