2nd Trimester Thoughts

Most women say they can't believe how fast their pregnancy comes and goes - and now I truly believe it.  My second trimester has been wonderful and full of fun new things, and I just can't believe in just a week it will be over!  As I enter into my last stage of pregnancy, I have found myself a little fearful of what's ahead.  All of the sudden the fact that there is a PERSON inside of me seems very real - and that there is only one way out!!  While that is a little bit scary, I am encouraged daily by Baileigh's little kicks and punches that remind me of the little daughter that I CAN'T WAIT to meet!  

At my last ultrasound, we got a great picture of the little cutie's face.  She was very active, and we even got to see her smile, swallow, and hiccup.  We can't get over how cute she already is!  We were given the final confirmation that she is...a SHE, which was a big relief!  Just a few days after my ultrasound (coincidentally, on our 9th year anniversary as a couple), I went to the fabric store to get the fabric for her bedding....here's a little sneak peak:

These are the "In Progress" pictures...more to come in a few weeks!  Even though it looks like a mess right now, I am starting to see it come together and I can't wait to see the finished product!  Cody and I have had lots of talks lately about what we think her personality will be like.  The one trait we both seem to agree on, is "bubbly".  Of course only time will tell, but for some reason we both think we will have a cheerful little girl who loves to smile and laugh, and is full of life - and behaves ALL of the time...right???  So with that being said - I couldn't image her nursery being anything but colorful!

As fast as the first and second trimester have flown by, I'm sure the third will go by even faster.  Next month I have my baby shower and birthday, then its Thanksgiving, then Christmas, then New Years....then BAILEIGH!  It will be a very busy couple of months for the Nelsons...so keep us in your prayers!  I'll wrap this up with a few pictures that Lindsay took to use for my baby shower invites:

Auntie Kate and Uncle Doug are home!!

This past week was a long time coming for our family!  For the past year, my sister Kaitlin and her husband Doug have been working as teachers in South Korea.  On Labor Day, they safely returned to the U.S.  I am so thankful to have my sister back, and thankful that God protected Kate and Doug for a year and brought them back safely.  Our family feels complete again, and now I'm even more excited for Baileigh's arrival and to see her get showered with love by all her Aunties!  What a lucky girl to have so many great women to look up to - reminds me of one of my favorite few verses in the New Testament: Titus 2:3-5:

" Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good.  Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God."

Each one of my sisters, my sister-in-law included, have such unique personalities and strengths and have so much insight to offer our little girl.  Lindsay will teach her how to not take things too seriously, and to roll with the punches that are thrown at you in life; Kaitlin will teach her so much about this world and tell her stories of all the things she's seen and done; Jenna will teach her how important it is to be silly and laugh a lot - and how to be beautiful on the inside and out; and Courtney will teach her how to stand up for herself and be a strong woman.  Above all else, they each have such a great testimony of God's great and never-ending love for us to share with Baileigh.  I know that each one of them will contribute to Baileigh's personality in such a special way, and I am so thankful to have so many ladies love on my little girl.  I look forward to watching her mature over the years and fulfill all the good plans that God has for her.

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." - Jeremiah 29:11