Third Trimester weeks 27-30.

I don't know about others, but I personally was super excited to hit 30 weeks! I feel like that is a big milestone! At first I felt like nothing had really happened to write about in the last weeks, but actually quite a bit happened! Week 27's picture was taken in Branson on our family weekend trip, which was really fun. Week 28 was taken on the day I headed up to Minneapolis and got to see some college friends and go to my old roommate's baby shower. I also had my second and third baby showers in there, which was a huge huge blessing and so much fun!

Pregnancy wise, I have been doing pretty well, which I am so thankful for. I am still working full time, so I am really grateful to be feeling so well. I am starting to get pretty tired after working a 10 hour day full of kids, but it's okay. My feet have still been swollen (they basically are constantly swollen now), but it's gone down since the humidity hasn't been too bad recently. It's actually been a super nice summer to be pregnant- not too hot or humid! My back has been hurting, which isn't fun but it's tolerable. Baby is also pushing into my ribs a lot, and I have been feeling much harder kicks now! I also feel like I have been more emotional recently. There are also a couple other minor things that I would be happy to discuss with pregnant friends, but don't need to announce publicly. :)

Thankfully all my doctor appointments have been pretty good also. They say I am measuring right on track and baby is doing great, so that's wonderful news! The only hiccups were that my hemoglobin levels were low, so I have been taking an iron supplement each day to raise that. I also failed the initial glucose screening test (where they test for gestational diabetes), so then I had to go in for a three hour test where they drew my blood four times to test further, but thankfully I passed that and don't have diabetes!

I feel like I have recently been getting bigger (obviously), and since I hit 30 weeks I am getting really anxious to meet this little one!

Week 27

Week 28

Week 29

Week 30

Teacher Devotion.

Today was our inservice day at school! I was so excited, because the Early Ed. only gets ONE inservice day each year, so it's really special to have our own meetings, time with coworkers, and time getting our classrooms ready for our new classes (even though we teach all year, we still have big "transition" periods of kids just like a regular school year).

I actually asked if I could share a devotion today in our meeting, which is unlike me. I don't typically like speaking in front of groups, but I was feeling a bit overwhelmed with trying to prepare for a whole room full of new kids immediately after coming off of a tough(er) summer, because I had a classroom full of kids with many clashing personalities. I figured what better way to battle discouragement than by proclaiming/speaking encouragement?

I shared Colossians 3:23, which talks about in whatever you are doing, do it as if you are serving the Lord, not men. I also shared Matthew 25:40, which talks about how whatever you do to serve others, you are also doing for the Lord. I know these verses are pretty popular, but were convicting and encouraging for me this week.

I also read Jen Hatmaker's Dear Teachers Everywhere, which is a blog post she wrote last year for Teacher Appreciation week.

I ended with listening to Casting Crowns new song, "Thrive." I really love the lyrics to this song, and thought it was a great song to kick off a new school year. Also, it was a really neat connection that this song is kind of our "school song" for the year, which I had no idea about before this morning.

I am so blessed to work at my school!

Year Four.

Today is our fourth anniversary. I am so blessed by our marriage and so incredibly grateful to be a part of it. The way God orchestrated us coming together and has paved out our path has been and is amazing. I can see His love for me and others so much better since getting married. I have certainly learned a lot and am trying to become more selfless. Certainly not everything is always perfect, but I know that Kley is perfect for me. There is no one else I would rather be with and I look forward to seeing him at the end of each day. I am so excited to watch him become a dad very soon. I am grateful for the many ways in which he loves me. 

Kley, I am absolutely in love with you and can't wait for all our journeys ahead.

Treasured.

This weekend was/is a great relaxer after two really busy weeks with lots of activity. I got to hang out with my family a lot this weekend because Kley was studying/taking this big ethics test he had to take. It worked out nicely, because my sister leaves for college again on Tuesday. (Where did the summer go?)

This morning we went to the farmer's market and it was really great. It was perfect weather- not hot at all, and I got to walk around with my family and get lots of tasty fruits/vegetables for cheap. Great morning!

All in all to say that I really love weekends like this because I got to spend a lot of time with my family, and tomorrow I will have Kley back after his test, so we can spend some time together! Kley has been working really hard this year with school, and I am so proud of him.

I treasure these moments. Thank you, God, for my family. I am immensely blessed.

One of my favorite gifts ever.

My Grandma Schut, actually handmade us a baby blanket! That is so special to me and I am so excited for our baby to have such a sentimental gift. Thanks Gram!

Third Baby Shower!

Yesterday was my third (and last) baby shower. I am so grateful to have had three amazing showers. We feel so incredibly blessed and loved. Wedding/baby showers are just unlike anything else- you are so "showered" with gifts and love! What a special time. Our baby is so loved already!

This shower was thrown by Lindsay, my good friend from church. This one was mostly girls from our church group, small group, and two of my college friends were able to make it. It was a lot of fun! 

Lindsay did a great job with an alphabet theme.

ABC cupcakes.

She also had the most delicious lunch!

The table decorations- flowers and blocks. I loved the blocks!

Diaper tower.

Gifts.

The group.

Opening a few gifts.

My sister, Kayla, and Lindsay.

The group! I'm so glad so many were able to join!

Brittany, my friend from college, and I.

What a fun shower filled with blessings!

Second Baby Shower!

I was so blessed to have a baby shower this week, hosted by the lovely ladies I get to work with! I am incredibly blessed by my job and the amazing women I work with. It's such a good environment, and I have made some really great friends!

The shower was hosted by Lauren, my co-teacher, and Jacque, my former co-teacher/boss. It was so much fun!

It was a yellow/orange theme with some giraffes. So cute!

Drink station.

Food!

Lauren made the best cupcakes.

Jacque made this baby out of the cutest onsie with giraffes on it stuffed with diapers.

Gifts.

Games- we all had to create a baby item out of play-doh.

Opening a few gifts.

The group!

My mom and sisters.

My mother-in-law was also able to come- so special!

Jacque and Lauren.