When I grow up...

When I grow up...

I want to be a flower, so I can always smile with the sun,

dance in the rain, and fill the world with brillant color.

When I grow up...

I want to be a princess, so I can hold on to the gentleness of femininity, the mystery of the unattainable, and the history of a time, long ago.

When I grow up...

I want to join the earth, for she is constantly changing, growing, and she always knows when to let go.But most of all...

When I grow up, I want to be in harmony, with the me that I am now and the me that has yet to come-for every moment I am growing up and becoming the me I want to be.

Cantebury Renaissance Fair

Fun, Food, and Festivities. Here are some pictures of Silverton's first year having their very own Renaissance Fair. Joe's dad set up a booth where he sold swords, knives, and other medieval weapons. That's a few of us hanging out, enjoying turkey legs, yakisoba, and the scenery. Here I am, enjoying the food a little too much. My mom, dad, and uncle Dale decided to hang out with us for a little while. The guys talked weaponry, us ladies, fashion.

Emily could've modeled these in a catalog. She's a pro. I wonder where she got her love of the camera from...I just can't imagine who.

In one of the cloaks, Joe thought it was an excellent idea to point out the resemblance between Em and one famous little person. Can you guess who it was? Here's a hint... "One ring to rule them all, one ring to find them, one ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them..."Here are some more random pictures.

It was also nice to have Ella there, hiding amongst the green fabric. I can't wait until she's a little older, so I can dress her up as the prettiest, fairy princess. She will surely be the fairest and the fairyiest of them all.

32 weeks pregnant and counting...

Joe and I have really been focusing on completing Ella's nursery. She is expected to arrive in 8 weeks and I want everything to be perfect. We've decided on a sophisticated, shabby chic, country cottage type motif, with lot's of pink. It's coming along, slowly but surely, and I'm loving every moment of the decorating process. It's kind of like Ella herself. When we first moved in the room was empty and my belly barely a bulge, and now, 5 weeks later, her nursery is taking shape, and so is my belly. I can't wait until both are complete. I will continue to post pictures of both my enlarging stomach and Ella's nursery. I am so proud of both.

Me at 27 weeks, hardly a belly at all. Me at 32 weeks, quite the difference. Oh and I can't fail to mention Cosmo, he is giving Joe and I practice with having a baby.

Look at him, sometimes I wonder about this dog.

Happy 4th of July-Live list-Fairy tales do come true

BBQ with the family.
Today couldn't have been more perfect. The weather was beautiful, the mood- relaxed, and the company-superb. We (my mom, dad, brother, Joe's mom, dad, two younger sisters, Mackenzie, Cosmo, and of course Joe and I) all assembled at my parents for a fourth of July BBQ. We spent the afternoon laughing, telling stories, and getting to know eachother better. I am enjoying every moment of married life and all the gifts it is bringing to me. The gift of an extended family who has so much love, life, and adventure spending time with my own amazing family, it's kind of a dream come true. There was an awesome spread: chicken and steak chipotle kibobs, fruit and pasta salad, and corn on the cob, jazz music playing softly in the background, and Cosmo's wagging tail bouncing to and fro from person to person. Overall it was a perfect day. Exhausting but perfect. I can't wait until we can do it again.

Floating on the Willamette.
I did this today as well. It was quite interesting with my baby bulge and all. Wasn't sure I was going to make it when I first got on the float, the front end kind of sunk and I thought I was going to topple over but with the proper readjustments I was successful. It was pretty funny to watch, I'm sure, and I have to say, I got a kick out of it myself. Good Times.

What a wonderful day.

Ginger in a snap.

I have really struggled lately with being pregnant. I feel tired all the time, I hate gaining weight, and I sweat in 5o degree weather. I have become the biggest complainer on the planet. I've even thought is it possible that I have depression. This past Sunday was the worst, but since then, I have decided to take action, and make the best of the situation. My obgyn's office called today and let me know that I need to take a fasting blood glucose test, the levels of my initial test where high, and they need to rule out the possibility of gestational diabetes. With the news, I felt a sense of calm, could this be the reason for my excessive tiredness, maybe. But, I decided that instead of worry, I am going to do the right things for Ella and I. I know with more exercise, healthier eating habits, and less sugar I will feel better and have more energy. Not only that, but I've started watching shows about newborns and it's impossible to be negative when I see those big eyes and adorable little hands and feet.

To begin my change of attitude, I decided that the first thing that must happen is to change my hair color. I have returned to my old faithful, red hair. It has always been my favorite and it embodies my personality much better than all the rest. Red is the color of passion and I need my passion back. So here is the big reveal... Ginger in a snap.

Gifts my daughter has given me

Even though Ella is still in the womb, she has already given me some of the most precious gifts imaginable.

*She has given me a new respect, and has renewed my sense of awe, with the female body.

**She has given me joy, everytime one of her little limbs kicks and punches, letting me know she is there.

***She has given me the opportunity to look at Joe through new eyes. To see him as he will be-as a father. It makes me cry to think about it. He will be the most wonderful, attentive, and loving father there ever was.

****She has given me an opportunity to look at myself. To search within myself and discover what I can give her. Who I want to be. What I can share.

*****She has given me a sense of the infinite. She and I, one, dependent upon, and independent of eachother. I know it will be like this forever. She will always be my daughter.

******She has given me the title of mother. The most important title in the world.

*******She has given me fear: fear of giving birth, fear of being a bad parent, fear of not being ready to be a mother, fear for her safety and well-being, and so many more. But giving me the chance to overcome these fears and gain strength.

********She has given me the gift of tears. Sometimes it feels good to just cry and goodness knows, that's never a problem for pregnant women.

*********But most of all. She has given me the gift of love. I don't even know her and I love her. She is in all of my thoughts, a moment doesn't go by where I don't feel overwhelmed with love for her. I know she is going to be a beautiful and amazing person-she is her fathers daughter after all-and I can't wait to meet her.