A LOVEly week/weekend

A week ago my blood pressure was found to be a little high and the doctor told me to rest whenever I was not at work. This is not a comfortable thing to do in our house with just the couches - it's not easy to put your feet on the coffee table for long periods of time. So I called the store where I had ordered a glider/recliner/ottoman courtesy of my wonderful in-laws. I asked when they thought my chair would be in. The man chuckled at me and said, "You just ordered it 2 weeks ago and it usually takes 4-6 weeks to come in." I was so sad - this was Tuesday. Thursday I went back to the doctor who told me my blood pressure was still high and since it was probably a genetic predisposition I could either quit working or take some meds. I sold out and am taking the meds since I would rather spend time with my baby not working AFTER he comes than resting by myself before he comes. That same day I got a call from the baby furniture store saying that my chair was in!! It was a complete wonderful surprise! Saturday morning David and Mark took Mark's truck to pickup the chair and I have been sitting in it ever since! (it's not the most flattering picture - mainly because I hadn't showered yet)

David insisted that I sit in the chair most of Saturday. Earlier in the week our friends Luke and Amanda invited David and I over for dinner, "before the baby is born" she said. David insisted I rest all day before we went to dinner. We took Bentley with us to dinner since we were going to see his bestest friend Bandit. We walked in and I put Bentley down and started saying hi to Luke and Amanda and two other friends who were there for dinner. I turned the corner and about 35 other people in the living room came out of hiding and quietly said, "SURPRISE!" (So as not to raise my blood pressure or send me into labor!) I was so surprised I immediately started to cry! A plastic coconut with some refreshing drink (non-alcoholic) was placed in my hand, a long flowery wrap was wrapped around me and a purple lei was put around my neck! It was a Luau for my 30th birthday surrounded by my dearest friends! It was a fantastic surprise with great food, a wonderful home-made raspberry angel food cake and good friends. I can't believe the secret was kept so well!

Sunday I stayed home from church knowing I needed to rest for the day ahead. The church was throwing me a shower at Eden's house. The theme? Nautical. I am not the decorator type so I decided I wasn't going to stress myself out over having to decorate a nursery. My wonderfully talented friends who love to decorate took it upon themselves to find decorations and help make the room a nursery. These decorations (sailboats, anchors, liferings, etc.) were all around the house and it was beautiful! Everytime I turned around I saw something different that was so cute!

I had an idea to see if mom could come to the shower via Skpe Webcam and thanks to Rachel and MC, two persistant and talented problem solvers, she was able to connect and be a part of this wonderful day! I think I opened presents for nearly and hour and a half straight! I am so blessed to have so many wonderful people who love me! It took my car and my neighbors SUV to get it all back home. What a blessed, well dressed, clean and loved little boy we are having! Even before he could possibly comprehend it - he is loved by so many - not becaue of who he is or because of who David and I are but because we belong to the family of God. I hope these truths can be shown as he grows into his teenage years when he needs to understand it most!!

One of the favorite gifts for David is the Cubs jersey given to us by the aforementioned Luke and embroidered by the aforementioned MC.

After the annual fish fry at church following the shower, David and I enjoyed going back through all the of the gifts. Even Bentley got involved as he tried to take off with a bath rubber duck thinking it was something for him! Poor dear, he is in for a very surprising shock. I told David that we need to make him watch "Lady and the Tramp" because Jim Dear and Darling have a baby in the begining of the movie and Lady is a little confused by her drop in social status.

The baby is at 34 1/2 weeks. We are hoping he can go all the way to 40! Go baby GO!