Happy Halloween!

{image via}

We are in countdown mode... only 11 days until our due date. This time next year we will have an almost-one-year old that we can take trick-or-treating. This will mean some big changes for us – normally we either go out to eat OR turn off all of our lights and hide in our bonus room watching movies.

Greeting Cards: Halloween

 

I hope you had a fun Halloween. 

Carving pumpkins. Eating candy. Dressing up. 

It is the perfect kids holiday. 

I can't wait until our little one is here and we get better at joining in on the festivities.

*This is the tenth in my series of twelve "I Love You More" cards   
that I have designed and will be posting throughout the year.
 
© Cheree Moore

Overwhelmed

When I get stressed or overwhelmed I get cranky. It's how I function. I think it has something to do with not feeling in control of my life. It's why I rarely cry. I feel out of control if I cry, so mostly I don't do it. I also try not to allow myself to get to a point of being stressed or overwhelmed – a big reason why I exercise {and have continued to do so throughout this pregnancy}.

Saturday I had a moment of cranky, out of control, overwhelmed crying. It started building on Friday. I got to hang out with my sister and we went and got pedicures – something that should have been totally relaxing and fun. And it was. Except for the fact that it wasn't what I expected – the place we went didn't have us soak our feet or massage our feet/legs for very long. I hate that something as silly as my expectations not being met can start me in a tail spin.

That afternoon, following my OB appointment, Daniel and I went to Starbucks. My order was messed up and it made me cranky {they forgot to add vanilla to my vanilla latte and when I went back to complain, I ended up with sugar-free vanilla}. Totally stupid, I know. But I wasn't in control and my hormones must have been in overdrive to make me upset.

Saturday we worked on putting together our baby swag. We are actually fairly prepared at this point, but for some reason I just started feeling really overwhelmed. I think it is freaking me out that I don't have any control over when Jack is going to make his appearance {and I have no intention of inducing if we can avoid it}. So after lunch I had a moment or two of crying and telling Daniel how overwhelmed I have been feeling. 

As a guy he just wants to fix it {which he can't}. But at least after almost 9 years of marriage he knows when to just listen and let me vent. We spent some time just hanging out in the hammock and I felt much better. 

I'm going to chalk this experience up to hormones and be thankful that these moments have been almost non existent for me. I think we would both be going a bit crazy if I had been super hormonal for the entirety of the last 9 months!

52 Books: Book 45

Earlier this week I wrapped up The Imperfectionists by Tom Rachman. The writing style of this book reminded me of the movie Valentine's Day. Each chapter follows various characters who work for an Italian newspaper. Each character's story is short and somewhat incomplete. Some of the characters show up in each other's plots, but mostly the stories are about the individuals who make up the paper. 

I am not a fan of this style of writing. It comes across as choppy and incomplete. I felt like I never really got to know any of the characters. At the very end, condensed into one short chapter, we learn what happens to each character. For me, it just wasn't enough.

52 Books: Book 44

Back in March I started reading What to Expect When You're Expecting by Heidi Murkoff and Sharon Mazel. Even though our pregnancy was planned, I wasn't truly ready to leap into knowing everything there was to know about having a baby. I needed to read it month by month to keep up with what should be going on with my body at each juncture.

The biggest thing I learned from this book is that I have been blessed with a fairly easy pregnancy. Further more it seems to cover the worst-case scenario of what to expect. Most of which I never did – no mood swings, no morning sickness, etc.

We are currently in countdown mode – 18 days until our due date. I am ready for our little guy to get here but a part of me is not ready for life as I know it to change.

Cloudland Canyon: West Rim Trail Revisited

About this time last year Daniel and I went out to Cloudland Canyon for a day hike. Unfortunately we were short on time and were only able to hike 2.5 miles. Today we had a bit more time and were able to complete the entire West Rim Trail – approximately 5 miles.

It was the perfect day for a hike – 60ºF and sunny. The trees are just starting to change color. This hike will offer some spectacular views in a couple of weeks when the colors really start to peak.

The first 3+ miles were along the rim with awesome views. The end of the hike was in the woods. Hiking in the woods has its own charm, providing lots of time to think. 

Being 37 weeks pregnant I am a bit slow, but we managed to complete the hike {with stops for photo ops} in about 2 hours. We can't wait to be able to take our little boy hiking with us. Even better is the fact that Daniel can carry him instead of me lugging him around in my belly.

bittersweet.

Yesterday around lunch time, I received a text message that I had been waiting for. One of my closest friends from high school had finally had her baby {she was four days overdue}. I was in Baby's R Us and very ecstatic to learn the news. I can't wait to go meet her baby boy in person.

The rest of the day Daniel and I went about running errands in Chattanooga and then hanging out at home.

After a long afternoon nap, I checked into Facebook and learned that a friend from college was facing the passing of her own baby boy. Five month old Ian has been at Vanderbilt fighting for his life since his birth. Sadly, Ian went to be with the angels last night. The finality of the news is heartbreaking.

I have no words. 

I pray that God will give comfort and strength to Ashley and Bob and their families during this incredibly difficult time.