It's coming...

Last night I felt totally crazy. My emotions were taking over and I had to speak logical thoughts to myself, because I didn't believe them.

Sometimes pregnancy does that to you, I guess.

I woke up at 1:30 for one of my several pee runs per night, and I couldn't fall back asleep for about an hour. My mind was racing, blown by the fact that really soon we will be bring a LIVE TINY HUMAN BEING home and we are expected to raise him/her BY OURSELVES. That's so crazy! I have always wanted and dreamed about having a baby, and now it's really happening. I am so excited, but last night I felt really freaked out.

I felt a strong urge to drive to my parents house, in the middle of the night, and assemble the stroller and car seat. I also wanted to wake up Kley and make him go buy diapers and wipes.

I know we have plenty of time to do these things (I hope), but I couldn't stop thinking about it. I also wanted to get up and physically measure the space in our apartment to see where we could fit the pack'n'play (since we can't fit a real crib in our apartment).

Eventually I fell back asleep, but not before having to tell myself many times that installing the car seat in the middle of the night was crazy. :)

The glorious weekend.

Yay for weekends! All weekends seem to at least have a hint of gloriousness in them, don't they? A break from the work/normal week is so nice.

Friday night we went to the Creative Arts Worship Team gathering at church, since Kley plays guitar on the worship team. Then we came home and watched the documentary Science of Babies on netflix and I fell asleep half way through. I have a tendency to fall asleep during shows...oops. It doesn't work out well when we are watching action shows (like 24 or Alias) and I miss something quite important.

Saturday morning we slept in. I love sleeping in. I slept until 9, which is WAY late for me these days. I'm used to waking up at 5:45, so even sleeping until 7 is sleeping in for me. Which will be good, I suppose, that I am used to waking up so early, with this baby on the way. :)

Kley and I tried to go to the Art Festival downtown in the afternoon, but it was POURING rain, and most of the tents were already covered up, so we didn't even get out of the car. It was also raining last year when we went there. Bummer.

So we just left and went to Red Lobster for dinner, where we happened to run into our friends Dave and Lindsay from church, so we ate with them! It was really fun. Then we went to Edge of Tomorrow with my dad. Kley always says we don't go to enough man movies, so I willingly agreed to go to this one, and I liked it! It took a bit for me to get into it, but I did like it. Very interesting and captivating.

I haven't posted about movies in awhile, mainly because we hardly watch any. One Tuesday, on my day off, I made myself watch a movie while Kley was at class. That may sound weird, but I have a hard time just relaxing. I always feel like I should be doing something. I watched The Rebound on netflix. It was pretty good. There are a few inappropriate parts, but overall it's cute.

A few weeks ago, Kley and I saw The Fault in Our Stars in the theatre. I liked it a lot, but it's definitely a tear jerker. Very sad, but also good. Some people hate watching really sad movies, but I don't. Usually there is some redeeming quality that makes it worth it, and even if there isn't, sometimes a good cry is just what a girl needs. I felt very old in the theatre, surrounded by many large groups of teenage girls. The teenagers just died- loudly sobbed, gave a huge "awww" every time the guy did something sweet, and basically were drooling as the pretended the guy was saying those sweet things directly to them. I definitely felt way past high school, even though I'm not old. Still, it was a very cute movie. I tried to reduce my crying to nice gentle hears, instead of the huge weeps coming from all around me. :) I am very glad that Kley and I do not have cancer, that's for sure!

Swollen.

As I was thinking about writing this post tonight, after a whirlwind of a day, I read these two posts from two of my favorite bloggers. (I do not know them personally, just somehow found their blogs and enjoy reading them.) Tonight, they were medicine to my weary soul, as they were both talking about the hardships (along with joys) of motherhood, and both are also pregnant while taking care of kids!

Sowing Weeds and Starting Again

Splashpad Mother

Taking care of kids is incredibly hard. Rewarding, but hard. I take care of multiple kids (the number kind of fluctuates, but right now it's 13). Most of the time, actually almost all of the time, I truly love my job and am so grateful for it. Even on the off days, I don't get too discouraged and it's usually not too hard to find the positives.

But, occasionally, there are those few truly awful days where you just want to escape and find something new. I have had two of those in the last week, and having two really bad teaching days so close together is not fun. Thankfully, they are usually spaced apart quite nicely.

Some of the children in my class this summer can be challenging. Today, I felt really swollen. Unfortunately, I have noticed physical swelling in my feet/lower legs this week due to this growing baby. I know I will get so much bigger, but today I am just feeling big and swollen.

My heart feels swollen in this mix of emotions. I feel swollen with joy, excitement, and anxiousness to meet this little one. I feel swollen with weariness/discouragement after a tough day at school and worried about possible/probable tough days ahead.

God, I pray that you can turn this swollen heart into fullness for you! I pray for energy, strength, patience, love, and encouragement to teach and teach well.

First Baby Shower!

Today was Baby De Jong's first shower! It was such a special afternoon. My best friend, Stephanie, and her mom, Amy hosted and it was amazing. It was perfect and I loved all the details they included! We are feeling mighty blessed today! Thanks to all of our wonderful friends and family who were there and definitely "showered" us today! It was so fun.

The table decorations.

How cute is that baby fruit bowl?

Cupcakes.

Baby shower!

My sisters, Kayla and Karlie.

My sister-in-law, Elizabeth.

Stephanie- so glad she was home from DC for the weekend!

Kley and I as babies. :)

Kley's grandma Shirley, SIL Elizabeth, and MIL Jana. So glad they made the trip down!

My sweet mom.

I am so thankful for today.

Second Trimester weeks 20-22.

Thankful to report that things are going well! We are so thankful for a pretty easy pregnancy and a healthy baby, and hope it continues that way! I am definitely wearing all maternity clothes, except for a few random pieces that either have drawstrings or are super stretchy. People are definitely noticing more- I have had numerous people tell me they can see the bump, I am getting bigger, or that I have popped. :) 

I have been having a lot of backaches, almost everyday, which is a bummer, but not too bad. It could be worse. I have also noticed a little swelling- I can't take my rings off my fingers anymore, and my sandals felt super tight the other day. 

The best part is that we have both felt the baby move! There were 5 days in between when I first felt it more noticeably and when Kley felt it, and he thought that was a really long time. :)  I started feeling it every so often a couple weeks ago, but just in the last week, I have felt it every day. When I lay down it moves a lot! It's so exciting and special- unlike anything else. 

Week 20

Week 21

Week 22

Saturday morning stroll and strawberry picking.

This morning we went strawberry picking with some friends from our small group. It was so fun! Definitely something we don't regularly do! I think I maybe went once when I was younger with my grandparents, but I hadn't done it in years and years. I loved it! It was a gorgeous day, and pretty fun to pick your own! Each couple had our own row to pick from.

Our group- Kley and I, Matt and Kate, Andy and Jackie, and Dave and Lindsay.

I really like this picture. :)

Fields.

Picking.

It was neat to pick them right off ourselves!

We only picked about 1/4 of a row, and we had so many! Kley was holding the basket, and I said a few times to not go crazy, but we ended up going a little crazy. We have so many strawberries! We already ate a ton, we have two huge bowls in the fridge (one for us and one for my mom), and a big container in the freezer. We paid $13.50 for all those, which was a pretty good price!

I also won the award for finding the strangest strawberry. :)

After that, Kley and I walked around Raccoon River Park, to get some exercise and because it was so nice out. I love that place. We walked out to the spot where Kley proposed to me. I can't believe that was 5 years ago already!

It was a pretty fabulous Saturday morning!

(I am also one day away from being 23 weeks pregnant, for anyone interested in knowing. :)

Father's Day 2014.

Father's Day is a great day, because I have so incredibly much to celebrate. First off, I have the best dad ever. I am so grateful to be his daughter and so blessed to have him in my life. He stayed up late and woke up early to finish his work so that he could make it to all our events. The neighbor kids came and asked him to play with them outside instead of their own dads. He is always there with solid, sound advice. He always knew when I had been crying, even if it had been a long time, and never forced it out, but gently encouraged. He has the perfect balance of teaching and also letting us figure out things on our own. He is a hard worker and completes his tasks well. He is God-fearing, does daily devotions, and isn't afraid to be bold in sharing with others. He is loyal to my mom and our family. He is full of integrity and does the right thing. I could say so many things about my dad. He's the best. Love you, Dad! Today is also his birthday, so he gets a double whammy every year!

My dad and me as a baby.

Then, when I got married, I gained a great father-in-law. Brad is also a hard worker, loyal to his family, a respectable lawyer, full of sound advice, has a caring heart, and has loved and accepted me as his own.

Here is one of my favorite pictures of Kley and his dad when he was younger. Look at those teeth. :)

This year, Kley and I also got to celebrate Father's Day together! My brother said it doesn't count since the baby is not born yet, but we thought it did and celebrated anyways. The baby is alive inside me, and he's the father of him/her, so it counts! 

Since Kley always wants these incredibly specific things that I have no idea what they are, such as guitar parts, it's very hard to surprise him with a gift. So, I let him pick out a few of his own guitar things that he wanted. Also, in the morning I surprised him with breakfast (including bacon!), and a really cute children's book about kids loving their dads. Kley loves breakfast, and especially loves bacon, and says it's one of my greatest faults that I don't make it more, so I made him bacon for Father's Day. 

Happy Father's Day! Kley, I am so excited to parent with you very soon and to watch you be a dad- you will be great!

Musical Memories.

So, I read my friend Sarah's blog over at sarahehille.blogspot.com, did a post about songs that brought her back to special places/times, so it inspired me to do the same. I have been working on this post for a long time, and it was really fun. I went through my entire itunes song list, made a new playlist, then organized and edited that playlist.

I know, it's crazy long, so I'm sorry if it's boring, but I had a lot of fun making it. I wanted to include everything and I had a hard time cutting things out. Some songs have specific memories for me, while others I just remember listening to a lot during a specific time/period in my life.

Songs from younger days/family

ABC- Jackson 5- For some reason, my sister Kayla really liked this song, and it makes me think of her.

U Can't Touch This- MC Hammer- My dad always used to lift in the basement to this song, super loud.

Celebration- Kool & The Gang- My siblings all used to dance to this.

You Make Me Feel Like A Star- Beu Sisters- My sisters loved this from the Lizzie McGuire Movie.  

Why Not- Hilary Duff- My sister, Karlie, and I listened to this so much and thought we were so cool.

Miracles Happen- Myra- My sisters also used to dance to this one from The Princess Diaries.   

Bomshel Stomp- Bomshel and The Metal- Tenacious D- Reminds me of driving with my brother.

I'm Too Sexy- Right Said Fred- My brother, Keaton, sang this quite often.

I Want You Back- N'Sync- Have to include the N'Sync and Backstreet Boys songs.

Bye Bye Bye- N'Sync- My family was definitely big N'Sync fans.

What Makes You Different (Makes You Beautiful)- Backstreet Boys

Just Want You To Know- Backstreet Boys   

I Do (Cherish You)- 98 Degrees   

I Want To Stand With You On A Mountain- Suzy Bogguss 

Jr. High/High School/College

 

Livin' La Vida Loca- Ricky Martin   

Mambo No. 5 (A Little Bit Of...)- Lou Bega

Complicated- Avril Lavigne  

Ocean Avenue - Yellowcard- I feel like everyone loved these previous four songs, at least for a time.

Beautiful Soul- Jesse McCartney- This song is hilarious because my two good friends and I found out the the same boy from youth group texted all three of us the lyrics of this song (individually) all in the same week, to see if he could get one of us to go out with him.

The Year 3000- The Jonas Brothers- My good friend, Lauren, and I would listen to this while driving to basketball games.

Revolution- Kirk Franklin- Lauren and I's driver's ed. teacher loved Kirk Franklin.

Everything You Want- Vertical Horizon  

I Woke Up In A Car- Something Corporate- I don't remember why I even liked this song, but I remember listening to it a lot.

Iris- Goo Goo Dolls- This was my classic go-to song to cry to in high school.

Better Days- Goo Goo Dolls 

Name- Goo Goo Dolls

Let Love In- Goo Goo Dolls  

Save Tonight- Eagle Eye Cherry- I had this song, and the next 15ish, all burned to a CD, and thought I was super cool listening to it right when I turned 16 and started driving. 

The Adventure- Angels & Airwaves 

Autobahn - Anberlin  

Move Along- All American Rejects   

Just The Girl- The Click Five  

Jessie's Girl- Rick Springfield   

The Best Of Me- Starting Line 

Joyride- The Wedding   

Happiness- Eleventyseven 

Here (In Your Arms)- Hellogoodbye

Call N' Return- Hellogoodbye  

Bonnie Taylor Shakedown- Hellogoodbye  

So Much Love- The Rocket Summer

Around The Clock- The Rocket Summer 

Brat Pack- The Rocket Summer 

I'm Doing Everything (For You)- The Rocket Summer 

Love Story- Taylor Swift- This song was played endlessly by all for awhile there.

Teardrops On My Guitar- Taylor Swift- Every girl loved listening to this song, especially if they liked someone who didn't like them back.

Breathe- Michelle Branch- Somehow it came out that my high school boyfriend liked Michelle Branch, and everyone made fun of him for liking this song.

You Set Me Free- Michelle Branch

Everywhere- Michelle Branch- We would listen to this while sleeping over at Sara's house.

100 Years- Five For Fighting 

The Riddle (You & I)- Five For Fighting 

Hips Don't Lie- Shakira- This was big when it first came out. Some strange boy in Europe even told me I looked like Shakira, which is quite funny because I don't at all.

Listen To Your Heart- DHT  

Do You Know? (The Ping Pong Song)- Enrique Iglesias

Don't Wanna Miss A Thing- Aerosmith- My high school boyfriend wrote the lyrics to this song in my planner. Woah. :) 

Boston- Augustana

Oye El Boom- David Bisbal- My Spanish 4 class had 3 students in it, which was awesome. We listened to Spanish love songs and translated the lyrics. This was our favorite.

For You I Will (Confidence)- Teddy Geiger

A Thousand Miles- Vanessa Carlton- Who didn't try to learn this piano part?

You and Me- Lifehouse- I also remember crying to this song also, for who knows why. Oh high school.

Ever The Same (acoustic)- Rob Thomas 

Someday- Rob Thomas

How To Save A Life- The Fray- Kayla loved to listen to this in the car on the way home from school.

Cable Car- The Fray  

Chasing Cars- Snow Patrol

Drops Of Jupiter- Train 

Hey There Delilah- Plain White T's  

Fallin' For You- Colbie Caillat

Fall For You- Secondhand Serenade- I went to a small Christian high school, so it's funny how other couple's "songs" get broadcasted everywhere. There was one couple who had a rocky relationship and fought a lot, so this was theirs.

Linger- The Cranberries- This was another couple's song that they would play loudly in the parking lot.

Time Of Your Life- Greenday- This seemed to be everyone's "graduation" song from all over the world- make your slideshow to this song!

Shine On- Needtobreathe- I listened to this song a lot the week of high school graduation.

Kelsey- Metro Station- My freshman college friends thought it was amazing to look up songs with your name as the title. This was mine. The guitarist in Metro Station is Miley Cyrus' brother.

Mmm Bop- Hanson- One of my roommates in college had a true obsession with Hanson. I heard Mmm Bop a lot.

Just The Way You Are- Bruno Mars

Hey, Soul Sister- Train- Another roommate loved this song, so I heard this a lot for awhile.

Captureblog

Captureblog is my favorite website for wedding videos. Around the time of my wedding, I watched      these all the time. I even have a Captureblog playlist with all the songs I got from their videos. Here are my favorites.

All the Faint Lights- Steve Moakler

Hesitate- Steve Moakler

True Like Your Name- Steve Moakler

Everything's Right- Matt Wertz

Feels So Right- Matt Wertz

Back in June- Matt Wertz

Marianna- Matt Wertz

Carolina- Matt Wertz

The Ladder- Andrew Belle

Your Love Is Strong- Jonathan Foreman

Canyons- Chris August

Loving You Is Easy- Chris August

Brand New Day- Joshua Radin

Crack The Shutters- Snow Patrol 

Love Never Fails- Heath Brandon

She Is Love- Parachute   

Oldies/Michael Buble

Baby (You've Got What It Takes)- Michael Bublé Feat. Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings

Come Fly With Me- Michael Bublé  

Crazy Little Thing Called Love- Michael Bublé

Everything- Michael Bublé- This was our song in college with all of our roommates. We played this endlessly.

Haven't Met You Yet- Michael Bublé- My freshman roommate played this all the time while she was waiting to meet her man. :)

How Sweet It Is- Michael Bublé- This was our cake cutting song at our wedding.

Crazy Love- Michael Bublé- Our first dance song at our wedding.

You Make Me Feel So Young- Frank Sinatra- I love this song, and it's also in the movie Elf.

The Best Is Yet To Come- Frank Sinatra 

Fly Me To The Moon- Frank Sinatra  

Ain't No Mountain High Enough- Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell

Fun, Fun, Fun- Beach Boys   

I Just Called to Say I Love You- Stevie Wonder

Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)- C+C Music Factory- The first song played at our wedding dance.

This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)- Natalie Cole- Another winner, and made even better because it's in the movie A Cinderella Story (staring Hilary Duff- my sisters and I really loved her.)

Here Comes The Sun- Bob Khaleel- From The Parent Trap.

How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You) - Marvin Gaye

Chapel Of Love- The Dixie Cups- Also from Father of the Bride, one of the best movies of all time.

Love- Nat King Cole 

Footloose- Kenny Loggins- Lauren and I danced in my bedroom to this.  

Do You Believe In Magic- The Lovin' Spoonful- Also from The Parent Trap. 

Brown Eyed Girl- Van Morrison- In our wedding slideshow.

Country

Beautiful Mess-  Diamond Rio

Chicken Fried- Zac Brown Band

Everyday America- Sugarland  

Good Morning Beautiful- Kenny Chesney  

The House That Built Me- Miranda Lambert- Reminds me of going back to the house I grew up in. We moved when I was 15 (same town, different house)

Lost In This Moment- Big & Rich

Stay With Me (Brass Bed)- Josh Gracin 

We Weren't Crazy- Josh Gracin

Hell On The Heart- Eric Church

It's Good To Be Us- Bucky Covington

Long Time Gone- Dixie Chicks- Lauren and I used to belt these lyrics on the way to basketball games.

I Loved Her First- Heartland- Father/daughter wedding dance song.

What A Beautiful Day- Chris Cagle- I listened to this on repeat a lot back in the day, dreaming of my future husband.

Lookin' for a Good Time- Lady Antebellum

I Run to You- Lady Antebellum

Our Kind Of Love- Lady Antebellum

Love You Outloud- Rascal Flatts- Rascal Flatts is an all time favorite.

Here's To You- Rascal Flatts 

Life Is A Highway- Rascal Flatts 

Mayberry- Rascal Flatts 

Why Wait- Rascal Flatts

Where You Are- Rascal Flatts 

Prayin' for Daylight- Rascal Flatts

Cool Thing- Rascal Flatts

Oklahoma-Texas Line- Rascal Flatts 

Break Away- Rascal Flatts 

Summer Nights- Rascal Flatts

Days Go By- Keith Urban- Probably my favorite country song ever.

You're My Better Half- Keith Urban

Sweet Thing- Keith Urban

I Told You So- Keith Urban

Kiss A Girl- Keith Urban

Worship

You're Beautiful- Phil Wickham- Walked down the aisle to this song.

Safe- Phil Wickham

True Love- Phil Wickham

Nothing But The Blood of Jesus- Fernando Ortega

Come, Thou Fount Of Every Blessing- Fernando Ortega

Yearn- Shane & Shane- Kley taught me to drive stick to this song.

When I Think About the Lord- Shane & Shane

Before the Throne of God Above- Shane & Shane- Kley loves this song, and my good friend, Lauren, also had everyone sing this at her wedding.

We Love You, Jesus- Shane & Shane

He is Exalted- Shane & Shane

Lift Me Up- The Benjamin Gate- I remember listening to this on repeat on my portable CD player at my grandma's. Jeremy Camp's first wife, who passed away, was the lead singer of this band.     

I Have Been There- Mark Schultz- I loved this song and wanted to play it at every Jr. High Bible study because I thought it was so amazing.

Audience Of One- Big Daddy Weave- One of my favorites- I listened to this so much in high school.

Upbeat

Gone, Gone, Gone- Phillip Phillips

Best I Ever Had- Gavin DeGraw

Break Your Heart (Feat. Ludacris)- Taio Cruz- Listened to this in college with my roommate Shannon a lot.

One, Two Step- Ciara featuring Missy Elliot- Listened to this, and the next one, with Sara in high school in the car.

Rich Girl- Gwen Stefani  

Replay- Iyaz

Say Hey (I Love You)- Michael Franti & Spearhead

Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)- Kelly Clarkson- One of my favorite running songs.

Whatcha Say- Jason Derulo- Stephen, Lauren's husband, played this a lot in the car in high school.

Your Love Is My Drug- Ke$ha- My favorite dance song from our wedding. So fun.

Live Your Life (feat. Rihanna)- T.I.

Tik Tok- Ke$ha- Kley jokes that this song is about my life.

Dynamite- Taio Cruz

Fire Burning- Sean Kingston

Do You Remember (feat. Sean Paul & Lil Jon)- Jay Sean

Eenie Meenie (feat. Sean Kingston)- Justin Bieber

Roar- Katy Perry- Another running favorite.

Call Me Maybe- Carly Rae Jepsen- Another running favorite.

Catch My Breath- Kelly Clarkson

Misc.

Big Yellow Taxi- Counting Crows & Vanessa Carlton- I've always loved this song, and it's from Two Weeks Notice, which Lauren loves.

The Remedy (I Won't Worry)- Jason Mraz- Again, always been a favorite.

There She Goes- The La's- From The Parent Trap, and if we have a baby girl, I want to play this for her a lot.

Say- John Mayer

Collide (acoustic)- Howie Day- Stephanie and I's song that we would always play and think of the other when we were apart.

White Fences- NEEDTOBREATHE

Keep Your Eyes Open- NEEDTOBREATHE

Movies

Blue Eyes Blue- Eric Clapton- Runaway Bride

Never Let You Go- Jakaranda- The Parent Trap

Gumption- Hans Zimmer- The Holiday

Cry- Hans Zimmer- The Holiday

Dancin' In The Moonlight- Toploader- A Walk To Remember

Rock & Roll- Eric Hutchinson- Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2

Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds- The Beatles- I Am Sam

Everyday People- Sly & The Family Stone- Definitely, Maybe (I actually hate that movie, but like the song)

The Luckiest- Ben Folds- About Time

Life is Beautiful- Vega4- My Sister's Keeper

When You Say Nothing At All- Ronan Keating- Notting Hill

Count On My Love- Liz Phair- No Reservations

Hear You Me- Jimmy Eat World- A Cinderella Story

I Love You- Martina McBride- Runaway Bride

You Can't Hurry Love- The Supremes- Runaway Bride

Come Away With Me- Norah Jones- Two Weeks Notice (it's actually a different Norah Jones song in the movie, but I like to believe it's this one)

Weight Of The World- Chantal Kreviazuk- How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days

Kley

Come On Get Higher- Matt Nathanson- I listened to this the whole month we were apart when I was in China.

Better Than Wine- Derek Webb- One of the first songs Kley played me in the car when we started dating.

Free Fallin' (Live)- John Mayer 

Half Of My Heart- John Mayer

Bold As Love- John Mayer

Something Like Olivia- John Mayer  

Gravity- John Mayer

Slow Dancing In A Burning Room - John Mayer

I Don't Trust Myself (With Loving You)- John Mayer

Neon- John Mayer- We listen to a lot of John Mayer- one of the music choices we agree on from his ipod. :)

Goodbye My Lover- James Blunt- We don't really like this song, but I remember laughing a lot one night while we mocked this song and sang really nasal sounding like him.

Cannonball- Damien Rice

I Miss You (acoustic)- Simple Plan 

I Won't Give Up- Jason Mraz

You and I Both- Jason Mraz- We listened to this song a lot in the car in college.

Ice Cream- Sarah McLachlan- Another favorite from our beginning dating days.

I'll Be (acoustic)- Edwin McCain

Live at ACL pt 5 (I Feel Like Throwing It Up)- Trombone Shorty- Kley really likes this, and I always think about him.

The Scientist- Coldplay- Kley loves Coldplay.

See You Soon- Coldplay

Yellow (acoustic)- Coldplay

Sugar We're Going Down- Fallout Boy- We would always sing this really loud on car trips when we were getting tired.  

Untitled- Sigur Rós

Your Hand In Mine- Explosions in the Sky- We have listened to this in the car a lot over the years.