Baby Room

So sometimes I like to be crafty, but only if I want to be, not if I feel any pressure to. Yuck, I don't like feeling like I should do things, its maybe equivalent to the feeling some of you might get if someone says the (whisper voice) F word.  So for a while, I didn't really feel like decorating the baby's room.  Then I did feel like decorating, but didn't want to do it alone or didn't have time, blah blah.  Lets just say it was a journey.  Where that brings us to is a few months ago when I had some dreams of what I wanted in the room. A few times it I felt like there were a million and ten reasons why those dreams weren't important or I started to loose hope that they would ever happen.  I was able to sit in the messiness of those demands and longings and it has been neat to see them come to life the past few weekends.

My color inspiration came from the starting grounds of a burnt red bed spread that I had previously.  Then came a rug and accent pillows from Target.  I'm not so much into the whole "girl=pink" theme, so I veered off that path rather quickly.

Pillow Throw

Pillow Throw

Rug

Last week our project was a dresser.  We found a junker at a garage sale in September for like $20. It was straight out of 1982 and someone had splattered wretched colored paint over it, it looked like a piece.  Luckily Rand wasn't turned off by this and could see the bigger picture.  After hours of sanding in the fall and a long break, we started up again.  We primed, painted, and picked out some new handles, and I must say, it looks good.  No before picture to show, but I'll post one of how it looks now.

The other project has been a circle project.  In february I asked my dad and Rand to cut out circles of varying diameters.  I picked out maybe 7 and found a neat printed fabric. The 8 or so other circles are like a light gray.  The plan is for them to be mounted on the wall above the Mini Crib we are still on the hunt for.  In the center of the circles will be her name in silver-wire.  Rand made it on Saturday, but it's unveiling will happen when we bring her home!

On the opposite wall are three panels.  The two on the ends are pegboard that are painted that light gray color and in the middle is the chalkboard.  I found a bunch of random picture frames, shelves, and knick nacks to hang and will be putting those up soon as well.

Mobile I woke up on Sunday and decided I wanted to make.

Its starting to come together.  We are on the hunt for a glider and a mini-crib.  It's fun to dream and offer that heart to the Lord.  He really does want to hear.  And he really does love to give.

Baby Preparation- 37 Weeks and Counting!

It was probably mid-January when Rand shared a name with me that he had been thinking about and we both really liked it! We settled on a middle name and have our boy named picked out, just in case. It has been fun to keep it a secret, but we are excited for when we can finally share it.  Names are such a weird thing and it has been weird to merge the idea of the baby that is growing inside me with an actual name...

Here are some pictures of the last few weeks.

The most exciting thing for me has been the peace God has given me from a heart of panick-- AH we need to get her room together and all the baby gear that will make us parents--- to we'll be okay, even if the room isn't all put together or if we don't have all the stuff we need right now.  That hasn't meant that I don't desire for the room to be decorated cute and to have things put together, but I feel a softness and openness in my heart towards it instead of a clutchyness.  Somedays it definitely is not that way and God and I talk about that, but overall there is a newfound freedom to decorate or not decorate.

So that brings us to today. I am 37 weeks and two days. Here are the latest and greatest updates involving pregnancy:

1. My ribs feel like they are jamming into my uterus
2. I cannot sleep very well.  There was about two weeks where Rand would help me to bed and put a pillow behind my back, in front on my belly, between my legs, two above my head, and one by  my arms.  I had been clenching my jaw and sleeping on my side awkwardly, making my jaw incredibly sore.. So I started wearing his basketball mouthgaurd from high school too. It felt like a good laugh each night in the midst of all the uncomfortablness. 
3. My belly sort of rests on my upper thighs...
4. There really isn't ever a comfortable way to sit, stand, or lay.
5. It seems I can never get a solid deep breath in.
6. I get to feel her strong kicks often throughout the day.  It is always a sight to watch her foot or butt push my abdomen out. Such a weird feeling!
7. I can feel overwhelmed at times, especially with graduate school and papers! It was nice to not have anything due over spring break, but I feel like a lot still has to get done before the baby comes. The truth I have been able to rest in has been that I will be okay even if the baby comes early or if my professors don't work with me to devise a plan for the remaining three weeks of classes that I will not be able to attend. 
8. God provided an option for insurance for us that we can afford! After a few misunderstandings, there were a few weeks where we didn't know if we were going to have insurance.  I went through and sat in many emotions, like anger, fear, condemnation before my heart finally knew that we would be okay even if we didn't have coverage.  So we officially will have coverage April 1st for baby! 

All of these things point to two things; I am feeling pretty uncomfortable and God is demonstrating and teaching my heart that he is a giver that provides and we will be okay even if ____.  Thank you Jesus

37 Weeks

Sister's Wedding in AZ

March 2nd my older sister, Michelle, got married.  I officially have a new brother, Greg!

Our flight was a direct flight out of Grand Forks, making the trip the most comfortable it could have been at 33 weeks.  We got there a week early and spent the week helping them get ready for the wedding. It felt like a pretty full week of helping, but I must say, I really enjoyed the nice weather and break! A few fun memories:

The house my parents rented did not have a T.V. It was on a rough looking golf course, though.  The kitchen had a window that overlooked the golf course and our live entertainment was often watching the golfers miss-hit.  We had a body of water and sand dunes in front of us, so it was hilarious to watch the golfers attempt to hit their ball out of the sand dunes or go for a search in the water.

One of my favorite parts may have been on Thursday.  We had picked up the flowers well, a few days early, and had to come up with a means to keep them alive.  We were scrambling and filling up the tubs in my sisters bathroom with water and the nozel for the water faucet came undone and we thought the apartment was going to flood.  Luckily, Rand was able to save the day :)

My other favorite memory was probably at the reception.  I really enjoy dances, but there isn't as much shaking that can be done when you have a growth on your belly. So I mastered the "prego" dance with a little hip shake belly rub thing that gave everyone a kick.

Golfers Trap

Creating a masterpiece

Palm Trees in the Backyard

SO EXCITED

Get it

Yes, my belly is as large as a basketball

No Rand is not pregnant. 

Most memorable part of the week. Operation save the hydrangeas 

Baby Shower

The weekend after our Duluth Trip we went to visit my parents in the Twin Cities and to go to the baby shower my Aunt Lisa, Aunt Kathy, and Aunt Jaqcue were hosting for me.  It was great to catch up with some friends that I hadn't gotten to see in a while.  My good friend Ashleigh from high school took the bus all the way up from Milwaukee to come! The last few years I have really felt a strong fondness for my family, especially my Aunts.  They are so easy going and fun to be around.  I am pretty sure almost every person there gave us at least one baby-outfit.  Baby Seay is going is definitely going to be clothed and stylin :)

Cake my Aunt Jackie made out of Diapers

Mom and I

Awesome sister Angie and I

Trip to the cities.

So over new years, we enjoyed a planned trip down to visit my parents in the Twin Cities.  It always feels like such a neat little get-a-way from reality when we get to visit.  Rand describes the Gutierrez family pace as having a little faster tempo then what he is used to. Basically, this means that we usually get to expose ourselves to a lot while we are there. Our weekend included:

The drive. Rand was a trooper and drove the whole way! My back was really not feeling so hot sitting for 5 hours :(

The giving of our Christmas gift to our parents. I really enjoy giving gifts and it was a lot of fun to watch them open.  We also had a few gifts including a bundle of clothes from my parents, sister, and cousin.  So excited for some of the outfits.

A visit with my fashionable and fun friend, Hailey and my FAVORITE place, Panera. Cinnamon something bagels, cream cheese, and a few bites of yummy mac and cheese. YES!

A new iPhone cover purchase from a neat store called Madewell and a teal earring purchase from Franchescas at Southdale Mall. This felt like a special gift because when I go home I really enjoy stopping at Frachescas and I have been on the prowl for a iPhone cover with "fun pops of color".  Rand even did some shopping and bought a new expansion for Catan and a game called Carcazon.

A visit to the newly remodeled Cassetas near the excel.  What a fun treat.

A trip to babysRus. I made the mistake of deciding for us that we were going to start a registry. This only added to the pressure I was placing on myself.  Needless to say, after 2 hours viewing strollers/car seats, I had a meltdown next to the cribs. Swearing was definitely involved. No shame. All I really wanted to do, was pick out colors and look at baby clothes is what I figured out after processing.

Games.

A really fun trip (in place of church on Sunday, YES, we skipped church!) to a state park in Eagan where we went cross country skiing. It felt so good to get to enjoy outdoor activity during winter.  I can't say that I have many things I enjoy when it is 5 degrees, but I thoroughly enjoyed this and it was a blast to do with the company of Rand and my parents.  My favorite things was probably sliding down the hills on the butt of my Skis so I wouldn't fall.

A visit with our good friends the Onyshuks in MSP and their beautiful son Jameson.

A double date with Hailey and her boyfriend John to a really neat place in St.Paul and a trip to the ice rink downtown.

A trip to the Science Museum which bought back really found memories of field trips when I was home-schooled.


A visit from my dear friend Abbey and opening a gift for baby Seay.


It is always hard to leave, especially since it was a little shorter then we had originally planned, but we definitely enjoyed it.

Rand Turns 23!

Rand turned 23 on February 8th.  We went to Fuji for dinner with his parents and then ate lemon cake at our apartment and opened presents.  He is SO old and mature now...

His Lemon Cake and Us!

Valentines Duluth Trip

For Christmas Rand gave me an incredibly thoughtful gift; A stay at a 2 day stay at a bed & breakfast in Duluth, MN with our dear friends, the Onyshuks.  I started crying.  The thing that spoke to me the most was that this would be something I would get to anticipate over the next few months AND it would be shared with Carica, who I have missed so much! We happened to select days over Valentines, so it was a double whammy of celebration.

We stayed at the Cotton Mansion in Duluth (http://www.cottonmansion.com/) in the carriage house and were directly across the hall from the Onyshuks.  Our room was incredible with a sweet fireplace and Jacuzzi and every morning they made a sick breakfast.  I have never eaten breakfast with fine china, silver, or with candles.

We enjoyed chess, walking in all the shops, yummy food, games, time with friends, and relaxation.  Rand even did yoga with me one morning... may have been my favorite part of the trip ;)

"She's Smokin" and Rand in a Heart

BOGO at Caribou

Lunch at  Neat Cafe

Valentines Dinner

Valentines Dinner

This is Rand's Focused Face

Living room of the Bed and Breakfast

Sweet Staircase

Really Neat Ceiling

Character!