sleeping while pregnant...or the lack there of

It is now 3:35am and this is the second night in the last 3 nights that I haven't been able to sleep at this hour. I have often heard women say they were so uncomfortable the last weeks of pregnancy, but I don't really feel that. I guess I expected the lack of comfort to be the reason pregnant women can't sleep. For me, it is just because my mind won't turn off. I never seemed to have had this problem before, actually most people would have been jealous of my pre-pregnancy sleeping habits. I used to lay down...never remember falling asleep (no matter how early or late it was or how loud it was or how dark or bright the room was)... then i would wake up in the morning refreshed. I never would get up to use the restroom or to get a drink of water. Now, I get up to use the restroom anywhere from 3-7 times in the night and I can't seem to get my mind to sleep. I guess this is the beginning of a new season of life for me in the middle of the night. I am just excited to have a different reason to wake up in the middle of the night. I would rather wake up to a beautiful baby boy than simply wake up to just use the restroom or because my mind won't turn off.

2 weeks from tomorrow I am due to have this baby. Really he could come anytime now and at the latest 3 1/2 weeks from tomorrow... so the count down continues.

It is finally April!!!!

I woke up this morning and my first thought was it is APRIL... which means this is Hudson's birthday month (at least I hope so). I only have 24 days left until his due date. I had a doctor's appointment yesterday and found out I am already 30% effaced which really doesn't mean anything but that my body is beginning to prepare for his arrival. The good news is my doctor thinks he might be small because I have been measuring small consistently for several months. Who wouldn't prefer to have a 6 or 7 pound baby over a 9 or 10 pound baby? As of this Saturday, I will be considered "full term". GOSH... I just can't wait to see him... I am sooo excited. I still love being pregnant and I don't feel uncomfortable yet just tired. I do think I am going to miss feeling Hudson's movement inside. Tonight he actually had the hiccups which Travis and I both think is adorable. We are so excited to finally see him and hold him.

His room is finally done and after several requests (especially from Grandma Collins) I am posting pictures. All we need is a baby!

This is the fabric that inspired it all and I have had so much fun I am thinking about starting a line of baby bedding...


The collage my sisters and I put together.  Summer is so creative and thought it would be cute to frame a few pages from a Dr. Seuss book...and it came out sooo cute.  The pillow on the chair was made by the same seamstress who made the bumper and bed skirt.  I just showed her pictures and drew a few pictures of what I wanted...and she made it!  I had her add the brown balls around the edges of the pillow and at the bottom of the curtains. 






Summer also thought it would be cute to make a mobile.  We cut out the birds from the left over fabric for the bedding and then hand sowed them.  I absolutely love how it came out. Also, Britt, Brooke and Summer cut out letters to put Hudson's name in the frame behind the mobile. 

The black and white picture is a picture of the Harborside Pavilion in the early 1920s.  Brooke found it at an antique shop and I love it because that is where our wedding reception was at. 


We are really excited to read all those books to Hudson. 

Gaby decorated the shadow boxes and I asked Summer to make a tree for me. 

I painted the night stand, dresser, and bookshelf.  The night stand is actually our file box in disguise and we purchased the bookshelf off of craig's list.  Unfortunately, I only took before and after pictures of the dresser.  Several people have asked what technique I used to paint the furniture, so I thought I would show you.  This is what we started with...


Then I sanded it....


Then I painted it with the same grey color from the walls. 

And then I used a dark grey on top.  I let my paint brush get dry so I could make streaks on the dresser allowing the light grey to shine through. Then we bought knobs on sale at anthropologie and we were done!

Since my original post showed pictures of the fabric for the baby's room and my room... I thought I would show you what I did with the other fabric.  I had the same seamstress make pillows and curtains which really helped to spice up our room.  Here is the fabric we started with...

This is before....

And this is after... (ps...apt 36 girls I promise I am not leaving the picture frame empty.  I just got it as a gift and I am saving it to put pictures of us with Hudson)

Baby Bump Pictures

We only have about 4 weeks left until Hudson will be here!  I can't wait to see his little face and to finally get to hold him.  Being pregnant has been such an amazing experience and we wanted to capture a few pictures before this season is over.  So, yesterday we went to a beautiful spot here in San Clemente down by the cliffs and had a photo shoot with Trever.  He is my favorite photographer and never ceases to amaze me with his creativity and talent.  Thanks Trever for blessing us with these pictures!  I can't wait for you to meet your nephew... and by the way your nephew needs some cousins;)

Shower #1

This Saturday my sisters, a few friends and my mom threw me a baby shower in Riverside.   They did an amazing job decorating, preparing food and of course, my mom made an INCREDIBLE cake!  Our friend Jessica was so sweet to describe the shower as something that looked like it came right out of an Anthropologie baby catalog (if there was one).  The shower really went with the theme of the nursery, so it just makes me that much more excited to get the nursery completed.  To see more decoration pictures Brooke just posted a few pictures from her camera. 

It was so much fun to see everyone who came, but I wish I just had more time to spend with each person.  It is hard living an hour away because many of the girls who came I haven't been able to see in months.  I could have sat all night with each girl just talking and catching up on life.  And I was totally overwhelmed by the generosity and wonderful gifts that were given.  I just felt so blessed to have so much love and support around us in this new season of life. When I went through all the gifts with Travis it really made it feel more real that this baby is coming soon. 

Thank you for all who came and for all of those who helped put the shower together.  You will never know how much it blessed us. 

The incredible cake my mom made (she even made the flowers).  She is now doing wedding cakes, so let me know if you need her info. 

A picture of a few of the little touches around the room. 


Some of my best friends from college. 

My pregnant friend Kharvena...we are only 3 weeks apart and both having boys.  It has been fun to talk with her about all that we are experiencing.  

Natalie and the oh so famous, London.  

And Gab... hopefully one day "Auntie Gab" 

Two of my favorite friends and their moms. 

The adorable Kim and baby Evan.

32 weeks... only 8 more to go!

I will be 32 weeks pregnant tomorrow which means I only have 8 weeks to go before the big arrival of our son. We spent last weekend painting...well Travis painted the room and then I went in with a mask to do the edges. Then on Monday we spent 3 hours putting a dresser together! We still have a lot to do, but it has been fun getting the nursery ready. Due to our busyness I have neglected this blog, but I promised Amy I would post more recent pictures. So here you go...

Travis painting the room...it is funny how when you begin a painting project it seems like a lot of fun. I should have taken a picture of him at the end of the day because I don't think I would have captured the same expression.

Here I am posing as if I am really painting the room, but hey I did spend a few hours doing the baseboards and edging.

Travis and I went to a baby shower for a friend last weekend. He was the only guy there...haha...you should ask him about it:)

Here I am almost 32 weeks pregnant!

And poor Denver...you can see how happy she is in this picture. She had surgery and lost her girl parts and her claws ;(....And she isn't very happy about her "necklace".

my best friend

In light of Valentines day, I thought I would post a picture of my best friend.  I won't get too sappy with you all, but I do want to say how thankful I am for Travis.  He has been an amazing husband and I love him more and more as time goes on.  

This weekend I was also thinking about how Christian husbands are to lead their wives and love them the way Christ loved the Church.  Christ laid down his life for the Church and ultimately gave his life for us.  For a husband to love in this way his strength must come from the Lord.  I believe the act of laying one's life down is often found in the everyday little things.  So, I decided to make a list of just a few of ways Travis does this for me.  

 

-He takes out the trash without ever having to be asked

-I am always his first priority in regards to his schedule

-He is never too busy to just stop and hug me

-He places my needs before his own at the end of a long day

-He took care of everything when I was sick at the beginning of this pregnancy...which includes doing the laundry, cooking, cleaning the house and grocery shopping

-He would rather spend money on me than spend money on any of his own wishes

-He always puts toothpaste on my toothbrush and lays it out along with a cup of water and my vitamins at night

-He finds my cell phone wherever it may be and always makes sure it is plugged in at night

-He prays for me

I could make this list much longer, but I will save that for Travis.  However, I never want to take for granted the blessing he is to me.  I think he is going to be an amazing father and I can't wait to watch him in this new role. 

DIY Workshop

My sister is hosting a DIY {Do It Yourself} workshop to learn to design your own flowers.  It is going to be a really fun event and you can use what you learn for all kinds of different events.  For more information visit her blog.  It might make a fun mother/daughter date or a girlfriends day out.  Here is a sample of what you would learn...

Travis Ryan is playing tonight

Travis is playing tonight at a church in San Diego and it is going to be aired live over the internet. If you want to enjoy a time of worship in the comfort of your own home, check it out. You can go to his blog for info.  http://www.travisryanmusic.com/wordpress/ 

Our son's name...

Many people have been asking what name we are going to give our son. Unless we see him and decide the name we have picked is not fitting for him, we are going to name him....

We have loved the name Hudson since we were dating in college and Ryan is Travis' middle name.  Hudson is always the name we would talk about when we would dream about having kids together.  After researching names, we just kept coming back to it.  Plus we love the story of Hudson Taylor and the impact he had in reaching people for Christ.  We hope and pray our little Hudson will come to know the Lord at a young age and impact his world for Christ.  

Thanks to Chris Hofschroer for the pictures! Chris took these pictures for us a couple of weeks ago when he and Amy came to spend the weekend with us.  We had just eaten breakfast at one of our favorite spots across from the pier and on our walk home Chris snapped a few shots on the beach.  We really love and cherish the Hofschroers.  

Summer "the creative one"

Many people are inspired and blown away by sister Summer's creative.  Really she is probably the most creative person I know.  She just started a blog about weddings and her ideas for weddings.  If you are getting married or know someone who is, you should check out her blog. She is best known for the flowers she has done for weddings, but she also often helps brides create a unique and beautiful design for the overall feel and look.  She really is amazing.  

So, I am officially introducing you all to...

http://greylikesweddings.wordpress.com/