28

This year, my birthday/Christmas list says a lot about my life right now. Usually, I ask for an assortment of clothes, gift cards and jewelry, but this year is a little different. Here's what my list says about me:

- Someone to write grad papers and take an administrative law test for me: "HEEEELP." (Actually, this wasn't on my list, and now that the semester is over, I can laugh about it. I honestly considered asking/bribing/paying lots of cash to someone to do all that work for me.)

- A steam cleaner for my carpet: "I'm in nesting mode, but bending down to scrub spots off of my shows-every-tiny-spot carpet is not in the cards right now." (How do those spots even get there in the FIRST PLACE???)

- Cute flats/Toms: "I will be sad if I get a really cute pair of heels and can't wear them for more than an hour without getting swollen feet or losing my balance and falling over."

- LOTS of books (this is not an out-of-the-ordinary gift request for me, however, perhaps I should share my list):

Knuffle Bunny is my absolute favorite. In fact, on our first date, David took me to Barnes and Noble (lots of brownie points for that one) and I showed him this book.

How could you not like this book? It's about a pigeon....driving....a bus.

Such a beautiful book.

I'll admit, I don't know a lot about this one. But I found it and fell in love with the illustrations (the dog looks like Remus) and the name. The title makes me laugh every time I say it!

So that's my list. It certainly has a different feel to it than my lists in years past. However, I will say what I've said to David for the last week. It means more to me to be done with the hardest semester of grad school that I've ever had to endure, to have a job that I love, to be healthy and surprisingly comfortable for almost 7 months pregnant, to have a freshly-painted room for Elysen that is filling up quickly with gifts from friends, to have my 2 sweet dogs who are so happy to see me every minute of every day, and to have my greater-than-great, sweeter-than-sweet husband who I love so very much. I am far happier this year on my 28th birthday than I have been on any birthday before, and far happier than any list of presents could make me.

"My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God, my Savior, for the Mighty One has done great things for me - holy is His name." (Luke 1:46-47, 49)

You and Me

Elysen,

Two nights ago, you made your mother very sick for the third time just because you didn't like something I ate before bedtime. I am making a mental note that sugary things apparently give you (and me) an upset tummy when it's close to bed. On those nights, I wake up and you are bouncing around like crazy. I almost woke up David just so he could see my belly moving around, but since it was 2:45, I figured I'd let him sleep.

You move all the time. In fact, Dr. Birch had a hard time catching up with you at our last appointment to get a measure on your heartbeat. It's the most amazing thing. I don't think I really understood that I was pregnant until I felt you move and kick. From that moment, the other things I'm busy with (grad school, teaching, evaluating teachers) seemed to become less and less important to me. You already have spunk and spirit, and I love that about you. We know several couples who have recently suffered miscarriages, so feeling you move will never be something I take for granted even if it wakes me up. I know it's the thing I'll miss the most about being pregnant with you.

Every night I pray that God will give David and I the wisdom to be your parents. We know that this is a difficult world in which to raise a Godly young lady, but we also know that He will guide us if we keep our eyes on Him. We talk about you every night before bed - wondering what you'll look like (I can already tell from the sonogram that you have such a pretty profile) and what your personality will be.

The house is changing! We are busy getting your room ready. My mom is making some beautiful crib bumpers for you out of some fabric that I painstakingly picked. And, of course, it's December now so we've decorated everything for Christmas. This is my favorite time of year, and I'm usually sad when it ends, but this year, I have you to look forward to! February is coming so fast, and I know I won't be able to believe it when it's finally here.

Right now, I am just loving the fact that you are my Elysen - no one else gets to carry you, no one else gets to feel you squirm (though lots of family has felt you kick), no one else gets this amazing miracle. It's just you and me right now, and I love you with all of my heart.