25 weeks

This past weekend we hit 25 weeks pregnant!! Wahoo! Wow, it is starting to go really fast; about 100 days to go until our due date. We are looking more and more forward to it everyday. It has been a nightly ritual now when I get in bed to lay down and little baby Fever starts going crazy!!...kicking and punching, it almost feels like there should be 5 of them in there. It is so much fun feeling it move around so much during the day as well, and when I look down it is almost kinda freaky that I can actually see my belly popping around everywhere, but I love it! :) I have not been sleeping as well lately because I am starting to get pretty uncomfortable, and having to get up to go to the bathroom usually 3 times in the middle of the night. Other than that I have been feeling really good. Thad and I just celebrated our 2nd wedding anniversary on tuesday and we are getting ready to move in less than a month. So we have been pretty busy; I am really looking forward to more space and being able to get stuff ready for the baby. We started our birthing classes, and we absolutely love it! We are taking a Bradley Method class with Lakeisha Holloway, a childbirth educator and doula here in town and have been learning so much already. It is an 8 week class where we learn about proper nutrition, relaxation and breathing, exercises, positions in advanced first and second stage labor, how to handle pain, coaching techniques(for Thad), energy saving techniques, planning birth and postpartum, and also preparing for a new family, baby care, and breastfeeding. It is a small class with just one other couple who is also planning for a homebirth. It is such a blessing to have an opportunity and community like this to share and learn from. Here are a few recent pictures, taken at 25 weeks and 3 days. The belly is really popping out there...:)

One with the shirt...and a naked belly......and this is a scary one!!...you can see the mark above my navel is where I used to have my belly button pierced. I am definately popping out, and have lost my waist.

Mr. and Mrs. Coulson

The past month flew by so fast, my little sister just got married a week ago and WOW!... it was a beautiful day!!! She looked absolutely gorgeous, and the love between her and her husband shined all night. I did a lot of reflecting in the past month as I approached the end of may for her wedding, and as the matron of honor (it was a true honor), I got the privilege to give a toast to the new couple. I thought it would be super easy, and I usually have no problem getting up and talking in front of people like that....but this was really different. I had so much to say for I am one of the only people that have known her since the day she was born!...and yes I was 3 1/2, but I did keep a few images in my the back of my mind from that day. She has always been my best friend...even through our teenage years. :) We always went through the same struggles and joys together and even as my little sister I really look up to her a lot and value her opinion...and now after getting back from their lovely honeymoon in Mexico, Mr. and Mrs. Coulson are now starting to work together for a student ministry at the University of Northern Iowa leading and discipling students on campus. I am so excited to see what God opens up for them.
Here are a few pictures I wanted to share of this special day. I realized after this night that I did not take enough pictures, for I was always so busy as the matron of honor...so here are just a few shots. enjoy.

Beautiful bride looking out the window

...and the back of the dress...stunning!

Me, sis, and mom...the bridesmaid dresses were very pretty, if you look closely you can see baby :)
On the way to the reception...haha, I love this picture!

Mr. and Mrs. Coulson
May 24, 2008

I love you guys!