breaking waters(quite possibly).

Yay for 40 weeks & luscious watermelon!

-a.

soonish.

1.summer light.
2.her space.
3.spring tulips. 
4.peaking green.
5.the womb. 

loving Christ.

I love my husband.
I married the best man. I truly did. Every moment with him is a wonder. God is such a good gift giver. There is such peace in marriage. Nathan and I were talking about different moments during our courtship last night. All of them seemed so funny and special. We laugh at the two people that we were before. We were so silly. Those memories are gold though.

I've been learning more and more about being a better wife. During this pregnancy, my husband and I have both grown up so much. He especially has developed into this wonderful inspiring man. Every morning is better. He is an encouragement and complete joy to be around. His embrace is comforting, and his words profound. He makes me want to be a better wife. As my belly grows, so does our love for one another. Life is not perfect, but it is blissful. The house still needs to be cleaned and bills need to be paid, but having someone to help makes these things so much more enjoyable. I am beyond excited about our little family. We still have so much to learn about life, and I wouldn't want to do it with anyone else. The excitement of being a mother is overwhelming and joy-filled. God has been so good to our little family.

The verse in Proverbs 31...the one about 'she does him good, and not evil all the days of her life' has been running through my head over and over. I am for the good of my husband. I am to love him in all of his shortcomings and all of his learnings. I am to love him like Christ loves me. Marriage is the most beautiful poem in life. Loving my husband feels so right. It fits. After years and years of searching for something that fit, I have found it. Being a wife and mother. With this calling I have never felt more at peace in my life. The joy that God has given me in these things is unspeakable. I cannot explain the depth of heart in being a wife...and I can hardly fathom the happiness that comes from this impending motherhood. The calling of my life is to serve Christ. To love and adore Him, and draw closer to him day by day. This is how it happens...when I love my husband...when I serve him, I am loving Christ. When I touch my child, and she moves in the womb, this is loving Christ. When I forgive and continue to love despite the circumstance, I love Christ. It is our actions during the day, how we treat one another, how we speak to each other, how we hold each other up above ourselves...this is loving Christ.

If you are looking for the secret to growing close to Jesus, you are in the midst of it.
Life and how you live it.
This will bring you closer to Jesus.



-a.

22 weeks

This was 22 weeks.
I'm 23 weeks this week. Nathan took these. He did such a fabulous job. Baby n. is getting so big! I can't wait to meet her.
-ria

in a pregnant woman's mind.

Today Nathan and I had a sort of 'doctors' appointment. A nice man, that reminded me of Mark Driscoll, pricked my finger to measure my iron levels. I am ALMOST up to par. He said I better be eating my greens and possibly even go get some liver. I've never had liver in my life. Maybe it's good. He wrapped a bugs bunny bandaid around my middle finger and we called it good. Then Nathan and I ran some monetary errands and I dropped him off to meet with his computer science buddies. Smart cookie he is. People are so nice to you when you are pregnant. I can't get over it. Seriously. It's kind of fun. I wonder what having a baby is going to be like. Ha. I do feel like I am coming down with a cold though...which is not good. I still have 8 days for my flu shot to fully kick in. Did you know I spent an entire afternoon looking for a preservative free flu shot and I only found three? After calling every single store that supplied flu shots in the area, I found one. It was a serious God thing. They should have been gone, because I had to wait an hour for my hubby to come home and get me, and then take me all the way to target. I got one though. Also, my husband bought me a nice pair of mittens and brought me a sample from the starbucks up front while I waited for the prick of dead virus. I think the finger prick this morning was worse than the flu shot, but maybe I'm wrong.
I love being pregnant though. Baby n. kicks all the time and it is pretty heartwarming and thrilling. Daddy felt her kick for the first time Saturday. She is getting strong.
I'm going to get my haircut next week. Kind of nervous about it. What if the stylist wrecks my hair, and I have a meltdown in front of her because I'm pregnant? I have faith though. Hopefully I'll look like a pregnant supermodel by the end of the appointment. I mean, I already do, but this should make me more 'supermodelisious' for my hubby. He thinks I'm pretty dang sexy. He is pretty dang sexy. Does this mean we are going to have a pretty dang sexy baby?

Ok. I've got to rest my eyes a bit. We are having quesadillas and steamed vegetables for dinner tonight. Kind of excited I can eat cheese now that I am pregnant.
O, and I gained 1 pound. Not bad.
loves,
ria.

a baby.

Many of you know this. That I have a new life growing inside of me. The reality has been magical, and I cannot begin to express the joy in my heart. Baby n. will be beautiful and gracious and kind. I cannot wait to be her mother. I am at the end of 20 weeks now. If you wish to send me any advice on being pregnant or being a mother it will be most readily accepted. Write to me here.

More on pregnancy later. I have loads of pictures I want to share with you.
Soon soon soon.
Much love,
ria. (and baby n.)

p.s. I love my husband.