Rainy Days

It's January.. and the year we meet our GIRL!!

It's rainy today, but I'm good with that!  I'm kicking my swollen feet up after a long stretch of work.  And it's looking like my working days before Lycy arrives are coming to a close.  

I'm almost 32 weeks along.  Getting big, but SO still loving the fact that I'm carrying our baby.  

Here's some news about Lucy's room.  My parents refinished my Grandma's dresser and Tim put the sealer on and moved it in!  I think the antique drawer-pulls look fabulous ;) 

Then my amazing husband went to work hanging up multiple items on the walls calking floor boards, moving furniture..it was SO much work.  I'm grateful he helps me do the not-so-fun tasks on the "list."  He's my hero.

We hung up a shelf that will become her book shelf.  My dad got it from an antique sale and my parents refinished it. I'm SO impressed with all the work they've done.  Lucy is already spoiled and oh-so loved.  

Then there's my diaper bag Tim bought me when we first found out the test was positive!  I love it :)

Here's a close-up of the crib bedding.  We bought it on super sale three years ago when we were hoping for a baby... And now it's going to be put to use (once she's sleeping in her crib). :) 

Next up I have a shower on Saturday that the "moms" and my sister are throwing.  I can't wait to hug those ladies :)

Then my sweet sister-in-laws are throwing a shower in February!!! I love them.  Each of my sister-in-laws are mommies and give the greatest advice and most thoughtful gifts.  And Asena is hosting, so I know it will be such a lovely time!  

Tim and I think the greatest reason to celebrate is Lucy.  God blessed us with a child and we can't express how thankful we are.

Cheers!

Baking

It's a mildly snowy day in Portland... So I thought I'd reminisce on some warm, yummy memories... BAKING!

This Fall I've gotten into baking again.  Little by little.  On night shift I would do it as therapy when I couldn't sleep.  This last year, however, I have filled my days with other things (gestating, being a significant one).  :) 

So I've made a pumpkin roll, pumpkin muffins, some baked apples, assisted my mom in her famous apple pie a raspberry pie (SUPER delicious), made some almond whipped cream for hot cocoa (yum!!!).... Not really that much now that I've listed them :( 

Hopefully I can bake some chocolate chip cookies today in between dishes and laundry.

Here is a photo dump of some of my favorite things...starting with the inside of the apple pie that caved in (I used 2 kinds of apples... It was still yummy!) 

What have you been cooking up?

Cheers!

Lucy's closet

Lately I've been organizing Lucy's closet and getting ready for her arrival... In about 14 weeks our sweet girl will join us!

We have an older home with small closets, which is good because it helps keep us "minimalists" ;)

We don't have a bunch of clothes, but some.  I wanted to organize the sizes and found an Etsy store with $5 "closet dividers" for a nursery.  I think they're pretty cute! 

Grandma Sally has been giving us little gifts for Lucy when we see her... I love them!  A thrifted 12 month fleece and 3-6 month pink sparkly slippers... And I can't wait to see her in them!

We bought a small organizer with pull-out sliding drawers from IKEA.  The thing just SNAPPED together in 5 minutes.  When does that ever happen with IKEA purchases?!  So far it houses some random diapering items and nursing supplies.  Once we get the dresser in the room I'll reorganize.  

Well that's all for now :) cheers to DECEMBER!  

I love the chilly, cozy season!

25 weeks!

I'm 25 weeks tomorrow and certainly growing each week :)

There's some swelling in my feet at the end of my long shifts and LOTS of back pain... But I found a back support from Motherhood Maternity!  It works wonders!! 

I'm feeling Lucy love more and more, and some mornings I see her move in my belly :) It's amazing!  Tim and I can't wait for him to be able to feel it!

We have set up pieces of our nursery and I love being in there :)  We have her crib up, and the closet is mostly ready for her things (and already packed with some goodies!).

Our cloth diaper stash is complete!  

The picture  below is of my last purchase. these are "all-in-one" cloth diapers from Bum Genius called Freetimes.  They have inserts sewn in so I'm hoping for ease of use by Tim and myself. We purchased 37 of them on MANY sales (since Tim's brother and sister-in-law told us they have 50+... I purchased a couple more than I thought I would).   

We also bought 3 "pocket" diapers for night time to add more absorbency.   24 Cloth wipes and  2 wet bags should be coming SOON from Nickie's Diapers... Yeow! 

We will start with disposables on Lucy as a newborn and see when she will fit into the cloth diapers.  I hope before I'm off maternity leave :) 

Looking forward to her coming, but there's lots to mentally and spacially prep for still :)

  Thank you, Lord, for this most amazing gift!

22 weeks!

Well... Almost 22 weeks :)

There is LOTS if movement and it can catch me off guard... Especially when I sit down.

I'm feeling bigger by the day.

Here is me at 21 weeks and 4 days 

Tim put up the crib last week so we could put things we've borrowed in it :)

I can't wait for Miss Lucy... But I'm a little thankful for the prep time.  And that I'm still sleeping (albeit with MANY potty breaks)!!!

We have our stash of cloth diapers and averaged $11.70 per diaper (I used lots of sales).  I'm hoping we get the hang of it before I'm back to work... I think we can do it :) I bought Tide Original Powder and have instructions on the washer.  

We just started our Birthing Classes last night... Very entertaining to see my cute husband get all if the info. He is quite attentive!

That's the update!

Cheers!

19 weeks and our baby is...

We'll I'm just past 19 weeks (almost half way there!) and we had our sonogram a bit early last week to make sure all is well with our baby.

So far it all looks beautiful!  It's amazing how God has created this life inside me.  Even though my belly is growing, I still wasn't sure if there was a baby in there still!  

Baby K at 18.5 weeks gestation!

Once the ultrasound tech placed it on my belly we got to see Baby Kurkinen turn and flip and suck on her hand!

Whoops! I guess the secret is out!

Baby K is a GIRL!! I was SO surprised, and Tim was too! 

We went to a marriage retreat this weekend and came up with a name we love...

Lucy Louise :)

Cheers!

17 weeks PLUS!

Well, today I am 17 weeks and 2 days pregnant.

It's miraculous to lay down at night, have Timmy hand me the doppler and we can listen to... my heartbeat, my heartbeat...BABY KURKINEN'S HEARTBEAT!!!!  Such a gift.  Thank you, God, for this child.

Signed up for our birthing classes a wee bit early (because they had no dates yet for 2014, and I needed to get it on the calendar).

Our 20 week ultrasound is scheduled for the week after Tim's birthday... 3 weeks and 2 days away :)

Slowly we're getting things ready around the house.  Mostly for Tim's "open house birthday" but also for peace of mind before we add to the family.

Right now I'm going to sit on the recliner and hopefully snooze a bit with Maggie, our "borrowed Scotty dog" from my folks.  Since our fence is in need of repair, Piper had gotten out...so he's having a vaca with my parents and we have their sweet napping hound.  She's a good snuggle buddy.

I'm making a list of things to be grateful for.  It feels like a good way for me to focus on the positives.

So far:

• Part-time!  Hello!
• Tim's new job position
• Sweatpants and wool socks
• A healthy baby

God provides.  I'm going to trust Him because He's worthy.

Cheers!