Weeks 20 & 21

I've said it before and I'll say it again, the second trimester really IS the best part of pregnancy. Sure the peeing in the middle of the night stinks, but thats about it. Food tastes great, bump is the perfect size (although I can't wait to get bigger), and energy is high! I'm hoping I'm like my sister and can continue this momentum until delivery!

I may or may not have completely rushed this chalkboard :) 

Week 20 is when I finally felt like I was popping, and not just chubby. This picture must have been after a big meal or with a full bladder though because I look especially bumpy.

Baby girl has started kicking everyday now! Mostly when I'm eating and never when I'm trying to get Daddy to feel her. So anxious for the day she really started flipping around enough for Nick to feel. 

This guy thinks he is hilarious. 

To Read on the Hard Days

Now that we know the gender, and the name has been announced, the reality of having a baby has hit me even more…and I truly didn't even think that was possible.

I keep remembering back to those months of trying to conceive, or even the months we spent just thinking about whether or not it was time to begin.

I remember the worship songs I would listen to on repeat as they would give me a sense of peace, even if it only lasted for 3 minutes.

I remember the nights Nick and I would pray together, asking begging God to answer our prayers.

I remember the insane amount of time I would spent reading blogs or website that would give various 'tips on conception', clinging to anything positive I could get my hands on.

I remember writing a list of everything God has blessed me with, trusting that He would continue to be faithful.

I remember reading my bible, the same verses over and over and over until I felt better.

I remember those damn ovulation tests and how they determined whether I would have a good or bad day. Yes, I am so ashamed of this..

I remember the cramps, the bleeding, and the heartbreak.

I remember letting myself get caught up in the 'what if's and Nick having to talk me off the ledge.


I write these memories down so that I may never forget how deeply we wanted this and how great of a blessing it is. This post will be for the times I feel upset about my weight, the nights where we don't sleep a wink, or for the day she colors on my couch with permanent marker..may I always remember the amazing blessing that she is, and how faithful God has been.

Dear Eleanor {Week 21}

I wanted to write you a letter during this stage of pregnancy as it has become my favorite part of it all, and I want to remember every moment of it. These past few weeks have been a really sweet time for me and your Daddy. We're on cloud 9.

I spend most of my time working on grad school work (I'll be finished the week you are due, hallelujah!), walking the picket lines as I am currently on strike, and planning your nursery. I am so anxious to get the rocking chair so I can sit in there. I have a feeling it is easily going to become my favorite room in the house. 

Your Daddy spends his days at work and his evenings in the garage building a farmhouse table for me. He is currently nesting mode, trying to get as many projects around the house before your baby shower and before your arrival. When I have grad school to work on, he cooks, cleans, and does everything around the house for me. Your Daddy is incredibly selfless and hard working. 

When we're together, we sit on the couch and talk about you. Every evening we eat dinner together and pray for you. You are constantly on our minds. So much of our time is spent dreaming about you. Talking about our future with you. Since you've come into our lives, Daddy and I have grown even closer and fallen deeper in love. More than ever, I feel so grateful that I have your Daddy as my husband. I am so honored to be his. I am so glad he is your Daddy. You are a very lucky girl. 

As for you, you are moving lots throughout the day. Your movements are still subtle, but more consistent everyday. I can't wait until you kick me stronger! I love feeling you in there. It reminds me that I am never alone and I have my sweet baby girl with me. We chat a lot in the car. I tell you all about whats going on out here and I explain all of the family members you have waiting for you. You love when Mama lays on the couch or plays music. Daddy loves to talk to you too. He asks how you are doing everyday as he rubs my belly. Sometimes he gets really close and tries to tell you secrets about me, just to make me laugh.  He loves to call us "his girls" and it makes my heart flutter every time. 

I'm praying for you, sweet Eleanor. I love you so much.

Oh, and Daddy decided on your middle name -- Eleanor Rose. Rose is after your Great-grandma Sharon Rose  (Daddy's grandma). She is one of our most favorite people in the world. Your great-grandma is full of energy and joy! Like Nana, she is a follower of Christ and so so generous. She is very loving and kind to everyone that she meets.  Daddy has lots of sweet memories of her and your Great-Grandpa from growing up and he lights up whenever he shares a story with me. Both of them have made Daddy the man he is today and we are so grateful for that. As soon as we started discussing middle names, Daddy knew he wanted you to be named after her. I pray that you would grow to be just like Great-Grandma Sharon. I can't wait for you two to meet!

Mama

Our Sweet Baby Girl

Nick and I couldn't be more excited to be expecting a baby girl. We've had a feeling since the beginning that our little one was a girl so we weren't very surprised when our ultrasound confirmed it.  Something about my sweet husband just made me know he would have a daughter. He is so tender, so protective, so loving towards me..and I just knew God would give him another girl to love on. Nick is so excited to be a Daddy to a baby girl. He is already nervous for the day when she brings her first boyfriend home and already knows she will have him wrapped around her finger :)

Before we knew for sure it was a girl, we already had our potential daughter named.  Actually, I've had her named before I even met my husband which is why I am so excited to share her name and can't imagine holding it in another 20 weeks…

Eleanor Salmons

a.k.a 'Elle'

Named after my Great-Grandmother, Eleanor Tadda

(middle name TBD)

I grew up with an amazing Great-Grandmother, who we referred to as Nana. She was the most amazing woman I've ever known. I loved every moment I spent with her as a kid and young adult. Every memory I have of her is so precious to me.. hearing about stories of her life, eating ham sandwiches on rye bread in her little apartment, spending the holidays with her in our home..every moment was magic and I would do anything to have one last chance to see her again.

Although I could go on forever about how precious my Nana was to me, there are three attributes of her that I'll never forget. These are the three things that made her the woman that I adored, and the reasons I wanted my daughter to be named after such an amazing woman.

• Nana was a follower and lover of Jesus. Even as a young girl with no concept of Jesus Christ, I knew my Nana had a strong belief in Him and an unwavering faith. I fully believe that I came to know Jesus because of the prayers that Nana was praying on my behalf. I am so grateful for her faith as it paved the way for me to find my own.

• Nana taught me about acceptance and love through her care for my Great Aunt. Nana had a daughter (my Great Aunt) with Williams Syndrome whom she loved deeply and devoted her entire life to. Despite a lot of opposition from schools and doctors, Nana believed in my great Aunt, Lorrie, and raised her well. As a little girl, I didn't even realize Lorrie had a disability. Nana loved her that well. She accepted Lorrie and loved her as she would anyone else. This was my first exposure to a person with a disability, and I believe I learned to love and accept people with disabilities because of the love Nana showed Lorrie. My heart for people with disabilities was grown out of Nana's heart for Lorrie and I couldn't be more grateful that she instilled that in me at a young age.

• Finally, because of Nana's faith in the Lord and unwavering love for people, Nana was extremely generous. She constantly gave to people, whatever she could give. I don't believe she had a selfish bone in her body. Nana loved to help the people she loved by giving whatever resources she had. 

Over the next 5 months, this is my prayer for baby Eleanor, that she would grow to be just like her Great-Great-Grandmother, the greatest woman I've ever known.

My sweet Nana on her 95th birthday in 2008, with Lorrie in the background :) I miss her so much.

Weeks 16 - 19

People are not lying when they say the second trimester is heaven. I feel like a million bucks, I have no food aversions and plenty of energy. Sure, I have a bit of back and sciatic pain but this Mama is not complaining! 

Week 16 was when I felt like I was finally getting a bump. So young, so naive ;)  It's only been 3 weeks since this picture and I feel SO much bigger. 

 During week 17 we went to a Cubs game with our best friends, Kegan and Lory. I begged baby to move this entire week but he/she was stubborn!

Daddy thought it would be funny to edit my chalkboard when I wasn't home one night.  However, its true :( Mama bear is on strike at work, making this Babes' first strike too. BUT - the best part of week 18 was the fact that I could feel baby kicks every evening! As soon as I got home from walking the picket lines and laid on the couch, baby went crazy! I am one happy Mama to feel those little tiny flutters.

During week 19 we went to the Doctor and found out Babes' gender! We had a small gender reveal (see below) with my family and will reveal to Nick's parents tomorrow. At the gender reveal, I had each family member guess which wives tales pointed to boy or girl for me.  My Mama won, no shocker there.  Lot of the wives tales point to a Baby Girl but we shall see ;) The gender was revealed by popping black balloons with colored confetti inside.

Some pictures from our 'Fall' theme gender reveal/Great Grandmas's birthday.

Some Serious and Some not-so Serious Wishes for Baby

With our appointment to find out the gender of baby just around the corner, I can't help but dream what he/she will be like. Who he/she will look like. What their personality will be.  Boy or girl, though, there are things that I hope and pray for. Some things more desperately than others.

Baby love,

I hope…

- I hope you are healthy. Mama has heard nightmares about what can happen to you. Daddy and I pray everyday that God would form you perfectly. Whatever happens though, we love you. We think you are already perfect. We trust God is taking the best care of you in there.

- I hope you come to know and love Jesus. He will bring you more joy than you could ever imagine. He loves you so deeply, baby.

- I hope you are tender-hearted towards people with disabilities. I pray that you see them like Jesus does. I pray that you have a softened heart towards them and a call to love and serve them.

- I hope you know how much your Mommy and Daddy love you, and each other.  I can't wait to tell you our love story because its a pretty great one. I pray that we always treat each other with love and respect so that you come to expect that in your future spouse.

- I hope you are just like your Daddy in so many ways. Creative, crazy intelligent, hard-working, selfless, hilarious..the list is endless.

- I hope you and your cousin, Lucas, are best friends.

- I hope you enjoy dancing in the kitchen with me and Daddy. On Friday or Saturday evenings, your Daddy and I like to put on music, eat some appetizers, and dance in the kitchen..even if we have guests. I can't wait until we can have you in our arms during our dance parties. And I also can't wait to embarrass you in the future when we do this :)

- I hope you are like Auntie Lindsay, too. I hope you get her sense of humor, her fire for following the Lord, and sensitive heart. I've always wanted to be just like her.

- I hope you like singing in the car with me (at least when you're young).

- I hope you like Katy Perry.

- I hope you are able to laugh at yourself.

- I hope you find your passion in life. Whatever it may be. Daddy and I are here to make sure you find it, and reach it.

Babes, if all or none of these things happen, don't worry. I'll love you just the same.  God is making you your own person and it's going to be amazing. I love you more than anything.