So it is only fitting on my last blog post that I get to share with you Graeme's room all done! Sorry what was supposed to be "healthy and fitness inspired posts" this year by me turned into ramblings of a pregnant woman, but this is what happens when life circumstances change your focus. 

Now we are just waiting on Graeme Alan Runyan to make his arrival into the world! I hope you have a Merry Christmas! And here is to a happy and prosperous 2013 for us all.

www.madisoncary.com

May this be my attitude for the new year..
Do not fear my will, for through it I will accomplish what is best for you. Take a deep breath and dive into the depths of absolute trust in me. - Jesus Calling

Danielle R.

A shower of blessings

A few weeks ago my friends blessed me with an awesome baby shower. They are very creative and sure do know how to throw a fun party! Here are some pics from the day!

The decor and yummy food!

Best friends and wonderful hostesses

Awesome golf bag diaper cake

Love for Graeme

So excited about the diaper genie

Pregnant friends :)

I really do have the best friends! So blessed by all of them helping celebrate this special time!

4 weeks and counting...

Danielle R.

Changing table makeover

This weekend I finally redid the changing table I bought at "Just Between Friends" huge consignment sale in August. The changing table was $100 and I was determined to make it cute. I probably shouldn't have waited until so late in my pregnancy to redo it given the fact that my bulging belly and inability to squat for any time period at all, made it a bit more difficult. But nevertheless, I got it done and I am so happy with the result!

Thanks to my friend Leslie, for introducing me to Annie Sloan Chalk Paint. It really is magical. No prep needed and the whole project took me a day to complete because it dries so fast! I plan on redoing many other pieces in our house with this paint and the dark waxing method, but I will have to wait until I am a little more agile.

Here are some links I used to guide me in the process -
http://www.anniesloan.com/acatalog/copy_of_How_to_use_the_paint.html 
http://www.thepurplepaintedlady.com/how-to-and-past-workshops/ 

I bought my paint and supplies at the Unique Rabbit in Lubbock, TX. You can check online to find a retailer near you.

Tools
Arles color chalk paint
Normal paint brush (they have ones you could buy, but I just used one I already had
Wax Brush
Small can of clear wax
Small can of dark wax
Cut up t-shirt (to use for wiping off wax and wiping on dark wax for the shelves because the wax brush wouldn't fit)

Pics of the process

Before

After 1 coat of paint

After 2 coats of paint

After applying clear wax, buffing and then adding dark wax and buffing

Final product

I don't know why, but the final pic in the garage doesn't look yellow, but I think it is just the lighting. I didn't do anything but add the accessories once it was in the room.

Happy Thursday!

Danielle R.

34 weeks and counting...

3rd trimester means... a growing belly (I mean it is getting hard to put shoes on big), sharp back pains, a baby kicking my rib and making it sore for over a month, swelling feet and a heightened sense of anticipation and readiness for our baby to enter this world! I have 6 more weeks to go and I know everyone keeps telling me how time will fly, but the days seem to creep by slowly at this point as we wait for him.

I was blessed by a wonderful shower by my dear friends the weekend before Thanksgiving (I hope to share pics next week). Graeme is already so loved and he definitely will want for nothing as these people took the term shower and turned it literal with gifts. I have another shower next weekend and so these are the fun things that keep my mind occupied at the moment. I am trying to relish in every moment. The hubby and I went to 2 movies last week because we hadn't been in ages. I am trying to soak in the last few moments of being a family of 2 (with 2 more furry friends).

Here are some things about my 34th week:

Baby Greame is the size of a pineapple (he feels about as prickly as one too!) But he is definitely way cuter than one. Look at those sweet cheeks and little nose :)

Biggest cravings - sweets, which is perfect for this time of year!

Things I miss the most - sleeping on my back and running

What I love most about pregnancy - feeling our little guy move around. It is an awesome feeling and definitely a gift from God.

Happy Thursday Friends,

Danielle R.

New traditions

This will be our last Christmas as a family of two under our roof. As I start thinking about the holidays, I get so excited about Graeme experiencing them for the first time with us next year. As we all grow up and get married, traditions change and new ones must begin. So here are some ideas I found on Pinterest that I hope to start incorporating as our family grows.

A Christmas Jar

A Christmas Jar is a great new tradition to help spread the holiday spirit and encourage random acts of kindness.

Consider starting a new family tradition this year, pass on the spirit of the holiday and give a money jar anonymously to someone who could really use one.

The Christmas Jar tradition started in 2005 by author Jason F. Wright with his family.

He went on to publish his family's idea in the book Christmas Jars which became a New York Times Best Selling Book and a new Christmas Classic and Penny's Christmas Miracle Jar as a version for kids.

From http://www.squidoo.com/christmas-jars 

Advent Calendar Activities

Our holidays center a lot on family activities. Instead of gifts and goodies, I printed little cards for the advent pockets. Each one lists something we can do together each day. Some have “choose a special Christmas goodie” though. Most of the activities are ones we already attend or do anyway, so it’s a no brainer to include them. 

               

From http://kimmccrary.blogspot.com/2010/12/activities-advent.html

CHRISTmas Ornaments

Make 25 ornaments with the names of Jesus with your children and hang a new one on the tree each day in December. Directions on how they made theirs are here http://www.iammommahearmeroar.net/2011/11/christmas-kojo-designs.html 

             

What are some traditions you have started that you love?

Danielle R. 

All things boy

So I am writing this on Halloween and I am super distracted so you are going to get some of my random visions of why I am super excited to have a little boy! To be completely honest, I still get a little jealous when I pass by the baby girl clothing section, but these little treasures that I found on Pinterest make my heart so happy to focus on all things little boy!

Super Graeme

Lookin' oh so fly

Oh booties

Food trucks

Super hero gang

Country clubbin'
(thanks to my co-workers, Graeme already owns this outfit!)

Danielle R.

Birthing Leotard

Another several things marked off the list! 

We went to a child birth class last weekend. We got all of it knocked out in one weekend  (which i highly recommend over having to go for 6 weeks) so we will be ready whenever our little guy is! I can definitely say that I will have the best coach. Steven took his job seriously and I even got back rubs when I was practicing breathing like it was a real contraction. He also kept the mood light by using his photos from his iPhone as my focal point (the pups made a lot of appearances). I can also say that we had the most fun in class. We laughed, a lot! Some of my favorite comments from my coach during the session, “we are going to need to get you a birthing leotard” (as many of the pictures pictured women in leotards for some reason) and after the teacher telling us that during a certain point in labor that is when you may hear your wife use words that she has never used before, Steven’s comment “oh I know what’s coming!” We laughed about what techniques would and wouldn’t work to relax me and how a sudden burst of energy and a weird desire to clean the floor would not give him any indication that I was in labor since I do these things normally. The class definitely helped ease my fears about the whole labor and delivery. I feel like everything is such an unknown for new moms. Here’s to praying for a quick and easy delivery! 

The pictures were better in class because they were actual photos, but you get the idea...

A typical birthing leotard

I also finished collecting all of Graeme’s letters and bought a mattress! Now it is just waiting on a baby.

This weekend we are headed to Ruidoso, NM for a relaxing babymoon get away in the mountains!

Danielle R.

Things I have learned recently as a pregnant woman

• Don’t sit down with a full bag of baked Cheetos and expect it to end well
• Stop someone if they say, “this isn’t normal, but I knew someone who had {insert some crazy labor and delivery story here}”
• Just wear yoga pants
• Learn to sit down and relax and realize it’s ok that the junk drawer is not organized
• Women who are pregnant and those going through “the change” experience very similar symptoms
• Wear tennis shoes and be ok that your cute boots don’t fit over your calves right now 
• It’s ok to cry for no reason
• A supportive and patient husband is worth gold
• Making grunting noises while doing routine tasks is “normal”
• Savor this time (I’m still working on this one)

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I feel like the majority of these could apply to anyone at any stage of life. Thanks for "listening" to my random ramblings. I hope to have a nursery update next week and a 3rd trimester pic :)

Baby product overload

Never did I think an industry was so overrun with products! Gosh there are like 1,529 different types of strollers. Pretty much right after we found out we were pregnant I started researching the best products for baby. I wanted to share with you some resources I have found to be very useful!

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1.)    Consumer reports

An online subscription is $30 a year and it is so worth it if you plan on making a lot of purchases in the near future. They rank everything from TVs, to vacuums, to cribs. I started my search here. They don’t have ratings for all baby categories, but it was a good start to find out what is top rated for safety, quality and price.

2.)    Baby Bargains book

I feel like the title is misleading because it offers more than just websites and ideas for saving money on your little one. In the back it has tons of different categories, to name a few – baby monitors, diaper pails, play yards, and about 80 pages on strollers (no joke!). It grades them A-F and even tells you the prices! I got my copy at Barnes and Noble.

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3.)    Online reviews

I take these with a grain of salt because just like most consumers, people tend to complain when they don’t like something, but rarely do people take the time to boast about things they like. So realize that many of these reviews may be negative, but they can be helpful when combined with other research.

4.)    Ask a fellow mom

Nothing has been more comforting than to have fellow mom friends give me advice or answer my questions. Realize that everyone is different and something that worked for their baby may not work for yours, but it is sure nice to have some guidance along the way!

The hubby and I registered this weekend because our October is very packed! I wish I would have gotten a picture of the husband with the scanning gun. He had a lot of fun and sometimes I had to rein him in (or just double check everything online when I got home)! But we had so much fun and I was glad I did the research beforehand. I highly recommend taking a list as not to be too overwhelmed in the process. I wrote down my top 2 or 3 choices in each category so I could see which one a.) the store carried and/or b.) which one I liked in person. I also recommend creating the registry online before going to the store so all you have to do is print off the barcode at the registry kiosk and hand it to customer service so they can program your gun! Then ready, set, scan!

Make a list and check it twice!

Danielle R.

I cannot believe that I am 2 weeks away from starting the 3rd trimester! The weather has been so beautiful lately that all I have been daydreaming about is taking walks and going to the park with our little boy. I am so anxious to meet him, but I am also enjoying the new feelings that come along with being pregnant. I know it is God's intention for mother's to get to create a bond with their babies before they are even born so I don't want to wish this time away either. Right now I am relish in the fact that it is Pumpkin Spice Latte time at Starbucks and that my belly is growing every day1

I cannot believe that I am 2 weeks away from starting the 3rd trimester! The weather has been so beautiful lately that all I have been daydreaming about is taking walks and going to the park with our little boy. I am so anxious to meet him, but I am also enjoying the new feelings that come along with being pregnant. I know it is God's intention for mother's to get to create a bond with their babies before they are even born so I don't want to wish this time away either. Right now I am relish in the fact that it is Pumpkin Spice Latte time at Starbucks and that my belly is growing every day1

Fruit/Veggie

Ear of corn (in length 8.5 - 12 in)

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Weight

little over a pound

Baby Changes (Source: BabyCenter.com.)

He gained 4 ounces since last week, his brain is growing, his taste buds are developing, his lungs are developing "branches" of the respiratory "tree"

Best Moment this Week

Going to my first prenatal yoga class. It was awesome. I loved being able to learn how to do yoga poses with a bulging belly and meeting other pregnant women. My lower back feels so much better and my arms are sore today which I like :)

Gender

Boy! Graeme Alan Runyan

Movement

I still feel little flutters, mainly in the evening. No big kicks or punches yet... I am so eager to feel these! I think a couple of weeks ago I felt a subtle one. It is so hard to tell because I just had a cookie and I was wondering if that was me digesting or him telling me MORE!

Food Craving

This week it has been a pizza buffet! My husband and I went to 2 different places in Midland last Friday night only to be disappointed that they didn't have buffets on Friday. So I met some friends at Mr.  Gatti's this week and it was awesome. Sometimes you just need a little bit of every kind of pizza and dessert pizza too! We were astonished to find out that it is $10 for the adult buffet!

Sleep

I sleep pretty well. I tend to have crazy dreams. I love my sleep and get at least 8 hours a night. I would like some naps in the afternoon, but I don't have time for those. I do find myself going to hard on the weekends and then crashing on the couch. I am still not used to not being able to do everything that I used to.

What I am looking forward to

My 30 week appointment so we can see him again! And feeling him kick and punch :)

Symptoms

Weird emotions, crying more often, being tired and impatient (ok maybe that one isn't new). A growing belly and appetite!

To Do

- paint room

- put together crib

- find a changing table

- find a bookshelf

- find a different letter for his name G R A E M E

- hang up letters and pictures in his room

- find side table

- find awesome toy chest (this wasn't even on my list, it just happened)

- register... one of the things I am looking forward to the most!

- birthing class in Oct. (can't believe it is that soon!)

- get a mattress for his crib

- and a whole host of other things, but the things above are the immediates

Danielle R.

Children are God's Blessings

As the reality that I am indeed growing a little person inside of me continues to become more visible every day (hence see pic below - look at that belly). I have an increased awareness that not only are we going to have a baby in our family soon, but also that God has blessed us with this wonderful task of raising him up to be a man of God. 

"Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him." Psalm 127:3

23 weeks!

This past week I have focused on praying for Graeme and the person that he will become. Here are some verses that have guided my thoughts and prayers.

Paul's prayer for the people of Colosse, Colossians 1:9-14
This is a great prayer to pray for people when you don't know the specifics of what they need.

⁹ So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. ¹⁰ Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better.

¹¹ We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy, ¹² always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light. ¹³ For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, ¹⁴ who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.

Isaiah 44:3
God's promise to us
For I will pour out water to quench your thirst and to irrigate your parched field.
And I will pour out my Spirit on your descendents and my blessing on your children.

3 John v. 4
My thoughts as a mom and God's thoughts about us, his children
I could have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.

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In continuing with Kendall's Mumford and Sons thoughts this week....

In these bodies we will live, in these bodies we will die. Where you invest your love, you invest your life. - Mumford and Sons, Awake my Soul

Danielle R.