Happy Saturday, sweet friends! I always love the month of February because of Valentine’s Day and the spirit of love - but even more so this year, as we have an extra little valentine on the way, too!
“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” // Romans 8:38-39
Earlier this month, I was asked to create the most precious nursery design for my dear friend and neighbor for their second baby girl, Emmy, who will be here any time now! Jessie wanted the words “You are loved beyond measure” to put up in her room and I loved these words so much because it is such a simple and beautiful daily reminder for us all - that we are each loved beyond measure by our Heavenly Father. Such a beautiful gift and words we all need to be reminding ourselves and our loved ones of!
Now to recap on this “month of love” a little bit more….
At the very beginning of February, I had my big 24-week appointment and got to see even more precious photos of little baby Judson at my “bonus ultrasound” (since he did not want to show his front side at the last one…lol)! The doctors said that baby is looking perfect, I passed the glucose test (hallelujah!), and that at my next appt (which is actually next week!), I will officially be in the third trimester - sooo crazy!
Judson was an absolute angel for the ultrasound tech and she kept saying how stinking cute he was! It was such an answer to prayer that he let the doctor see everything she needed to see this time and it was a really fun experience! And she even got some of the coolest photos of his tiny little feet and legs!
In the ultrasound photos (see above), she said that it is pretty much impossible to get both feet in the ultrasound like that - so that was really special, too! And the photo of his leg was so cute and she said that he looks like a little athlete already and then we were both laughing so hard at the photo of his little boy part - she was like, “yep definitely a boy!!" - lol!
This was one of those days where I truly felt the Lord’s loving hand over every single detail and I’m just really grateful for this baby boy growing inside of me - and the peace that the Lord has given me when I am tempted to fear.
When my mom came down to visit the day before this appointment, she surprised me with the sweetest wall art piece with the same prayer that we grew up saying as little girls, and I am so excited to hang it in our nursery as the most special keepsake and meaningful words to teach Judson!
We are constantly praising Jesus for these sweet blessings and are getting so excited to meet this growing baby boy - who I can pretty much feel moving all the time... to the point where we can even see little kicks and movements on the outside of my belly now!
These are some really special memories that I hope and pray to always remember…and I think Red is pretty excited to meet his baby brother in just a couple months, too!
And with it being the month of “love,” I am so very thankful for my forever valentine, today & everyday! And so excited and grateful for (almost) 2 years of marriage (our anniversary is later next month) and all the sweet memories to come as we grow our little family!
Wes and I got to spend Valentine’s Weekend down at the beach and it was the sweetest little getaway – full of yummy treats, gifts, and flowers that Wes surprised me with, too! I am one lucky girl to be loved by this sweet man!
We have been told to soak in these last couple months “just us two” before the baby gets here, and we are trying to do just that! It’s so wild for me to think that I am already 6 months pregnant and that baby boy’s due date is less than 100 days away (90 to be exact)!
It was so fun getting to see the baby stroller (Judson’s baby gift from my mom and dad) all put together the other weekend and every time I walk by and see it sitting in the nursery, it all starts to feel more and more surreal!
And to top it all off, two of my best friends here in the Spartanburg area threw me the sweetest safari-themed drive-by baby shower last weekend for some of our local friends. It has been so much fun to share this season with these besties (we are all three due one month apart – March, April, and May – as you can see in the photo!) and I can’t wait for all of the fun memories to come raising our babies together – and with so many other sweet friends, too!
Baby Judson has already been so showered in love by our sweet friends as well as so many of you who follow along with this EMC page, and we are SO unbelievably humbled and encouraged by all of your kind gifts, love, prayers, and support!
Some of the precious girls in our college ministry at church even made these handmade gifts for Judson - this hand-sewn crib mobile and hand-painted ultrasound – that truly made me tear up! So so sweet.
We are so grateful for all of the love and kindness that so many have shown to our growing family during this exciting season. Pregnancy has been a really special season for me (probably my favorite yet) and a gift that continually leads me to the feet of Jesus.
I even got to go visit my high school bestie back in Charlotte, NC earlier this week and we had the sweetest day together – full of sunshine, a picnic lunch, and all of the snuggles from her precious new puppy – Obi!
Annie and I kept saying how special and refreshing it is to be with “old friends” - and it’s SO fun getting to share and rejoice in such sweet seasons of her getting a puppy and me with a baby boy on the way!
And now that I am #27weekspregnant and less than a week away from entering my third trimester of pregnancy, it is all becoming so surreal to me that we are going to be adding a baby boy to our family so soon! It is crazy how much we already love this little boy, and so comforting to know that he is loved even more by Jesus - for all of his days!
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.” // Isaiah 43:1
This month has definitely been such a reminder of the Lord’s loving kindness and faithfulness, and my prayer is that we can continue to spread His message of truth and love to all of those in our lives, too!
You are so dearly loved - beyond measure - sweet friends! Never ever forget that!