Bennett's nursery!

Still needs some finishing touches but for the most part it is done and ready for our little man's arrival!

Our newest addition is the glider/recliner that Grandma Chris and Grandpa Dale got us! So comfy and many hours will be spent rocking and sleeping in it!

My Grandpa Clyde made this airplane. I am thrilled to have it hanging in my little boy's room! Wish Grandpa was here to meet him.

Thank you Grandma Shirley and Grandpa John for the amazing crib! 

Notice the elephant backpack hanging on the closet door - love it! Thanks Cody for making sure Bennett will be prepared to carry his own stuff! :)

Bennett Keith Rafacz, the shower invite for the shower my mom and sister threw for me in Tucson, and a little bit of Arizona (three javelinas book)

Chalkboard art and books for our future reading nook. The little horse finger puppet is from Kim and Sierra from when we found out we were pregnant the first time.

Couldn't get a good picture of the banner  but you can see the snow on the ground outside!

Stocked closet!

Thanks to everyone who helped contribute towards preparing us for our baby!  All the gifts, hand me downs, art projects...they have all really made his nursery go from a room with some baby stuff in it - to Bennett's room!

34 weeks and 5 days

Getting there!

When I go into work in te morning it seems like everyone is always telling me how different my belly is shaped!  It seems like he is sittin lower in my belly.

Everything seems to be doing well with us! Only have gained 19 pounds as of today.  My belly is going through phases of getting really hard (but doesn't hurt) which apparently could be Braxton hicks.

Chris helped me take this other photo :) him being creative taking the photo into the mirror too. Muliple views!

Can't wait to meet baby Bennett in a few weeks! I wonder if he will have hair - if so what color. If his eyes will stay blue. Who he will take after. 

I'm so excited to hold him in my arms and to know this whole journey was worth the pain and heartache. I know God has a plan for my life and I need to keep that in mind more often.

33 weeks and 5 days

Baby Bennett is moving so much! I can't believe how crazy it feels sometimes!

I can tell he is growing bigger cause my stomach is starting to itch - which means I am slathering in the cocoa butter to try to prevent stretch marks!

32 weeks and 5 days

Only 7 weeks and a few days til Bennett's due date and we have gotten busy with getting his nursery together.  My mom and sister are in town (came to virginia for our cousin Maddie's bridal shower which I will blog about soon) and decided to stay a few days with us to help me "nest."

Here are some updates of the belly as well as Bennett's room so far! More pictures to come.

I asked Katie to make us something that looked like chalkboard art for Bennett.

B is for Bennett!

My work decided to have my baby shower while my mom and Katie were in town and we were able to use a lot of the decorations from the shower in the nursery, which is amazing!  We are going to hang the model airplane that my grandpa Clyde made in the corner near the "clouds" in the corner.  Also notice the toy box has chevrons and elephants on it! So perfect!!!

The bed isn't made in this picture but my friends Vickie and Amanda made this banner.  I love how it adds so much color to his room

In front of the changing table with baby girl Virginia - crazy eyes!

All my hand me down shoes! 

Bennett (and myself) is one lucky baby!!!

Katie also made these elephant silhouettes to hang (which we haven't hung yet). Love love!

31 weeks and 6 days

I haven't been feeling well so I almost didn't get it of bed to take my weekly photo. 

Morning sickness has struck again 3rd trimester and it hasn't been kind to me.

In other news, we had a tummy check appointment today and Baby Bennett is right on track. He finally is head down (which is way more uncomfortable than I thought it would be) and he loves kicking. 

30 weeks and 6 days

Happy New Year! I hope that 2014 will be a better year than 2013. 

Chris took my picture today next to the flowers he brought home for me for our 3 year courthouse wedding anniversary on December 30th.  My little shadow Virginia is standing next to me with bright ghostly eyes!  

We have been pretty busy with just having gotten home from Christmas in Tucson and having our flight home messed up once again.  I really do have the wort luck flying ever!  Also - a few days ago I stubbed my toe on the bathroom door and it's totally purple and is likely broken... Which I feel bad because I had given Katie such a hard time in October when she said she broke her toe and no one believed her until the next day when it turned purple.

Christmas in Tucson was a nice change. Wonderful weather and it was great to catch up with friends and family.  

Thrilling to see my mom and grandma's reaction to feeling Bennett kick inside me. I really do love feelin him move! 

Here are some phone pics I ended up taking! Enjoy! Sorry there aren't more!

UofA basketball game

Christmas movie night with Sierra, Erik, and Cody

Sierra made these paws to sell and donate the proceeds to a cat shelter in Tucson. We bought one and so did my mom.

One of Kim and Brian's pups - Scout

Riding horses with my dad

Olive and my dad having a cuddle moment

GG making stuffing

Duncan looking like Kilroy

Sierra wrote down the instructions for reindeer food for my mom. She made quite a feist on Christmas Eve!

Erik's Christmas present!

Chris made me my orinament this year with help of Sierra

Cody made me a special stocking... Instead of "my 1st a Christmas" he wrote my 29th Christmas :)

Christmas dinner at GG's

Dad spending pictures to Katie

Emma tasting her frosting while her easy bake oven creation was baking!

Dad taking more pictures!  My mom looks amused

Meanwhile, my Chris was in the other room playing a board game (Lego type game) with Marissa, Ben, and Jacob.

Group photo by the orange tree

Went to see the Vaughans!  Bob and Kora

Aunt Margy, Biscut, Bob and Kora

Grace made me a rainbow loom bracelet 

Sierra made us a pot holder

Cody making another bracelet for me

Erik watching the production

Grandma Shirley and the kids working on my pot holder

Hike (walk) to the dam at Sabino Canyon

29 weeks 5 days

We are in Arizona for Christmas. It has been really nice to be home but I think I caught a cold while traveling and I have been out of commission for the past few days. Finally feeling better but not all the way back to normal. We have had a great time so far spending lots of quality time. Makes me realize how much I miss having family around. 

Here is my weekly photo in my parents backyard. I wanted a cactus to be in the background and my mom felt more comfortable without me climbing up the waterfall.