Week 30 and Baby Shower!

A Week of Celebration

September 9 - 15

Our little one is getting bigger and bigger. 

She is almost 16 inches long and weighs about 3 pounds.

Every week that goes by I breath a sigh of relief. I want her to stay put as long as necessary! 

In some ways I feel more nervous now than I did in the early weeks of pregnancy. 

I know I will breath easier once I get to 36 weeks. 

This week was full of celebration!

I celebrated my 24th birthday.

My husband celebrated his 25th birthday.

And I had my baby shower. 

So much joy and blessing :)

My birthday dinner was at Husk. 

It was wonderful! They even printed us special menus that said "Happy Birthday" on them. 

That was a nice touch ;)

Michael didn't realize that I have not been writing restaurant blogs. 

We have been to quite a few since I became pregnant but I have not had the drive to write them... 

He really enjoyed Husk and so I told him he could write the blog post about this restaurant. 

Coming soon!

Michael made me a frame for a floor length mirror!
I haven't had one in years and I am so happy with how it turned out.

And this shows how all my non-maternity shirts fit me now ;)

My mom did such a great job with all the details and decor. 

It turned out so lovely :)

I loved this crafty activity!

Everyone made these sweet wooden blocks for Genevieve. 

They turned out great!

My faces crack me up. I look like I am going to cry. 

Thank you to my mother-in-law for the most adorable outfit from Paris and the BEAUTIFUL quilt she crocheted for Genevieve. 

I love them both so much!

One of my favorite parts of the shower was the "Blessing Ceremony".

Just like the guy asks the father for his blessing to marry his daughter, I think receiving a blessing is a big deal. Even at my lingerie shower, of all places, I received a blessing from many of the same women as I was about to walk into marriage and become a wife. I suppose I never do showers the traditional way!

We passed around a bowl full of different glass beads. 

Everyone picked one out and came up to me to bless me as I enter into motherhood. 

Baby showers use to be full of rituals that focused around the mother to be. 

Grandmothers, mothers, aunts, and sisters would come together and shower the mother in preparation for motherhood. 

Don't get me wrong, I am beyond blessed to have received so many of the items I needed/wanted for Genevieve. It was such a HUGE financial blessing for me. 

However, the spiritual and emotional blessing I received that day outweighed any gift. 

I had 40 women in my life affirm me as I become Genevieve's mother. 

Some of these women I have known for 15 years, some just months, and then a few of my mom's friends I met that day! But that didn't matter. 

It was women from all walks of my life imparting wisdom and advice.

Blessing me with patience, joy, courage and trust in myself. 

We strung the necklace together and I plan on wearing it when I go into labor. 

I really do feel empowered to walk into the unknown and the wonderful task of becoming a mom. And to not feel alone in the transition. I have so many amazing women in my life supporting me - that is the biggest blessing!

"Birth is not only about making babies, birth is about making mothers -- strong, competent, capable mothers who trust themselves and know their inner strength" - Barbara Katz Rothman