and then...

After an OB appointment, I went home to make dinner. It was a my nightly routine for my third trimester: get home, feed and take the dogs out, start dinner, and drag my tired self to the couch to watch some Family Fued. Seriously, I watched SO much Family Fued those last few weeks of my pregnancy that I haven't really watched it since?! Well anyway, I got a text from Aaron, he was going to be late, someone took him out to lunch at work and he wasn't hungry. That left me with a double portion of tortellini. I ended up eating most of it. Ridiculous but true. And this is where Everett's birthday story starts. It's hard to believe it's been nearly a year since that night my water broke, since our little mister made his way into our hearts and lives, and a year since we just "became" parents.

pregnancy

I loved it. Really. Everett's been an easy baby since the womb. We found out I was pregnant on July 3rd. In the picture below we were actually at Chester County hospital to celebrate our newest little nephew, Philip Riggs, the day we found out!

I was sick for about the first 10 weeks, but nothing crazy. I was tired a lot during the first trimester because I was taking 2 grad classes and coaching girls soccer for the high school that I teach at. Add in the start of the school year, and I was exhausted. My second trimester was just as busy, but I had a lot more energy. I coached until mid-November because my girls won first place in the District and went on to the second round of the state playoffs. I was so proud of them- but utterly exhausted by the end of the season. When soccer ended, I finally looked pregnant and felt like I could enjoy it!

Getting back from Christmas break was difficult. I still had 8 weeks left until baby boy's due date and had lost all of my energy. Some days I barely made it home I was just that tired. Add in another weekend grad class (what was I thinking?) and I was really looking forward to March 8th! We had a ton of major winter storms that dropped a couple feet of snow on us. Those snow days provided some much needed relief from my daunting schedule; however, also provided some extra anxiety for me because I was trying to fit in as many days as possible before our little boy arrived. I wanted to take the rest of the school year off and needed to make it within 5 days of my due date!

Tuesday March 2nd was like any other day. I went to school and taught my kiddos with my super swollen ankles and belly. I remember having a discussion with a colleague telling him that I thought I'd go late.  haha Steve was probably looking at me thinking I was crazy! During our conversation I also realized that I had the exact number of days in needed take the remainder of the school year off. I guess I was nervous and wanted a few extra days incase of any other winter storms. I left school that day fully expecting to be back there teaching about Japan's economic miracle the next day. Little did I know...

photo shoot

A friend of a friend is starting a photography business and needed to build her portfolio. One way she wanted to build her portfolio was to get a maternity photo shoot, so I jumped at the chance for free pictures and more documentation of my growing belly! I am full term in the pictures (37 weeks) and wondering if this belly could really get any bigger?! Denise got some great photos despite the fact that Aaron and I were probably less than perfect models, laughing often (I know you're surprised) and trying not to pose awkwardly ;) Below are some of the great photos that Denise took:

our little family of four... soon to be five!

love!

one of my favorites

big belly:

loving our little man already :)

34 down, 6 to go!

She's not fat... she's pregnant

Being pregnant has had it's funny moments. People really say the craziest things... just last week a student made a comment about the end of the year and I said "well Brendan, I won't be here" and he said why? Then somehow at 26 weeks pregnant I shocked him by telling him that I was pregnant?! I said "well Brendan, did you think I swallowed a soccer ball?" haha he must've thought so! Over Thanksgiving, we met our friends Steve and Helene Norris for coffee and Steve proceeded to introduce me to his brother as "not fat, just pregnant" haha A woman that I work with actually made 3 comments in one day about my growing bump! I don't really mind the comments, and they always make for funny stories later ;)

I did want to add some pictures of my growing bump for my friends and family that live far away that haven't seen me in the past few months. So here is your baby bump update:

21 weeks

22 weeks

24.5 weeks

26 weeks

it's official... make that 3 windles...

On March 8, Aaron and I are due to have our first baby! We are so excited about our little one and can't wait for his/her arrival. Who am I kidding- Aaron is rooting boy all the way ;) Either way we are so thankful for God's amazing blessing to us and can't wait to share in the journey with our friends and family.

the morning we found out

our baby at 11 weeks