dance party.

This is how we're spending some of our time over here. Please excuse all the unfolded laundry waiting for us on the couch. (It can keep on a-waitin', I've got better things to do...)

42 weeks.

My sweet boy,

As I type this you're in my arms, happy and full. This is exactly the way you've made me feel the past 5 days- so incredibly happy and full of joy, love, bliss, adoration, and laughter. You are more beautiful than I could have possibly imagined. I spend hours studying your face and all of your emotions. I love your steel blue eyes, the dimple on your left cheek, and the way your lips are always slightly open.

Your birth day was the absolute best day of our lives. It was the most joyous experience and I wouldn't have had it go any other way. It was so evident that the Holy Spirit was in your room and I felt the Lord's presence in a way I've never felt it before. One day I will tell you all about it. God has been so faithful!

In some ways I feel like I know you so well. Every hiccup and stretch is exactly what I've been feeling the past 9 months. But in some ways I feel like we just met- the sound of your cries, the different expressions you give me throughout the day- it's all so new to me! But you were always Graham Lewis, my sweet-spirited, content, observant baby boy.

So this truly is the end of one journey and the beginning of another. I love being your mother and feel so blessed that God has chosen me from you, and you for me. Your daddy is especially in love and can soothe you like no other. We were all made for each other, honey! I love you so much that surely my heart will burst. Welcome to the world, Graham Lewis!

I love you more than I ever thought possible,

momma

Graham Lewis.

Graham Lewis

December 23, 2011

7 pounds 10 ounces

19 3/4 inches

Hello friends!

Meet our son! Our son! Can you believe it?!

We are home and both of us are doing really well. It was the most beautiful, incredible experience of my life and I can't wait to share about it with you. For now, I'm off to enjoy these boys of mine. I am so in love...

xo,

Kaylyn Machelle

41 weeks.

My sweet baby boy,

This is us at the end. We've been through a lot, you and me. It started with two lines that completely rocked our worlds. Then we were sick for a while, which was no fun. But the constant nausea was a reminder that you really were growing in there and it was so worth it. And do you remember when we went to Israel? It was absolutely the best trip of our lives and as soon as we got home we got to share about you with everyone we know. Since then our love for you has grown with every single day that has passed. As much as I am so ready for you to come on out already, it is incredibly surreal that this pregnancy is coming to an end and parenthood is going to start. I have a feeling it will be the most beautiful journey your daddy and I have ever been on.

So, I guess it's birth week over here. Birthdays last at least a week over here, so we've already started celebrating. Yesterday we started with watching not one but two movies by a blazing fire. Tonight we went on a nice walk with Denver and we're about to indulge in a cookie with cookies and cream ice cream on top (our favorite). Tomorrow we're going to celebrate Christmas brunch with the rest of the church staff and then we're going to walk and see Christmas lights at night. The rest of the week isnt' really planned, we're just taking it one day at a time over here.

I feel silly that I wondered if we would even make it through November, but here we are, 2/3 of the way through December. It's time, sweetheart. I couldn't be more ready for you.

I love you Graham,

Momma

still here.

Just stopping by to say I'm still here. 41 weeks pregnant. Who would've thought?

Danny sent me this really great devotional that I think we both needed this morning. I hope that it brings you a holy calm today, whatever it is that you're waiting for.

If the decision about the lot is the Lord's, whose is the arrangement of our whole life? If the simple casting of a lot is guided by Him, how much more the events of our entire life-especially when we are told by our blessed Savior, "Even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows."¹ It would bring a holy calm over your mind, dear friend, if you were to constantly remember this. It would relieve your mind from anxiety and enable you to walk in patience, quietness, and cheerfulness as a Christian should. When a man is anxious he cannot pray with faith; when he is troubled about the world, he cannot serve his Master, for his thoughts are serving himself.

If you would "seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness,"² all things would then be added to you. You are meddling with Christ's business and neglecting your own when you fret about your lot and circumstances. You have been trying to do the providing and forgetting to do the obeying. Be wise and pay attention to the obeying, and let Christ manage the providing. Come and survey your Father's storehouse, and ask whether He will allow you to starve while He has so great an abundance in store. Look at His heart of mercy; see if that can ever prove unkind! Look at His unsearchable wisdom; see if that will ever be at fault. Above all, look to Jesus Christ your Intercessor, and ask yourself, while He pleads, can your Father deal ungraciously with you? If He remembers even sparrows, will He forget one of the least of His poor children? "Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved."³

My soul, rest happy in your low estate,
Nor hope nor wish to be esteem'd or great;
To take the impress of the Will Divine,
Be that your glory, and those riches thine.

¹ Matthew 10:30-31 ² Matthew 6:33 ³ Psalm 55:22

-From Spurgeon's "Morning and Evening"

false labor + waiting for the Lord.

I thought I was in labor the other afternoon. Turned out to be the side effects from a little Sam's Club lunch date that Danny took me on. Worth every stomach cramp, I tell ya- they sure do know how to handle a foil-wrapped hot dog.

(lunch date)

In other news, we've just been waiting. When you're a ticking time bomb, it's hard to live life normally. But, we're trying... I keep making little to-do lists and playing mind games with myself. For instance, Graham isn't here yet because I haven't _________ (fill in the blank with things like "done that last load of laundry" or "scrubbed the metal track in our shower"). When I do said chore and he hasn't arrived, I am sure it's because there are other things to add. It's a nasty cycle, but hey- our house is looking good.

Well, last night before youth group I got a bigger perspective of why he hasn't arrived. I was introduced to a new teenage girl and I noticed she was on the brink of crying. One hug was all it took to let out the tears and we spent the next 40 minutes in my office talking, praying, and reading Scriptures together. I left that divine appointment full of the Holy Spirit, and realizing that if I had gone into labor before that moment, I would have missed out on some big Kingdom work that God still had for me.

So, I'm resting in the fact that there is more yet to do. Maybe it's memorizing more Scripture (like the one below). Maybe it's conversations that I've yet to have. Or maybe, just maybe, it's because I need to scrub the outside of the cupboards and the inside of our trashcans. Yep- that's it.

xo,

me

40 weeks.

Graham,

Happy due date! This date has been such a dream in my mind this entire time- it's hard to believe the day is actually here. But you sure fooled me, little one! I was certain you'd be an early baby, but it looks like you'll be making your appearance on the later side of things. Of course, there is still plenty of time left in today in case you prefer to be right on time- just like your momma.

I thought I was going into labor this weekend. We were at a Christmas performance and the singing was so extraordinary and powerful and I could tell you were enjoying it. Then started the back pain. (Oy, the back pain...) It came and went in waves...and then it just went. Oh well, it was good practice for the real thing! Which, by the way, I am so ready for.

At some times I am perfectly content- enjoying this last bit of unity that you and I share. There are other times that I am completely miserable and willing to do anything to get you on outta there! One big lesson I have learned throughout these last 40 weeks is that my body truly is not my own. In fact, I have zero control over almost everything. Thank you, my son, for teaching me about patience already. I know you will be worth every minute, hour, and day that continues to pass by.

I love you so much,

Your Momma

a Christmas date.

Last weekend Danny took me (and two of our dearest friends) out to dinner and to a play. It was freezing but oh, so perfect. We saw A Christmas Carol at Victoria Garden's Cultural Center. (For those of you locals, did you know VG's had a CULTURAL CENTER?!?!?!) It was the best $18 (per person) we could have spent for such amazing Christmas entertainment. They're playing this weekend and tickets are still available! What better way to celebrate than dressing up all fancy, eating good food, and watching a classic come to life before your eyes. There is no better way, I tell you!

PS That Christmas sweater there (the one with reindeer and Christmas trees) was purchased at the start of our night. Danny has been itching for one for years! He got a compliment on it immediately, and then the guy started telling us about an ugly Christmas sweater party he was going to the next night. What does that mean!??!?!?! Bah humbug! He still wears it with pride.

(This spring they're playing Wizard of Oz...I'm thinking YES!)

roasted chicken.

Let's take a break from baby watch, shall we?

This is one of my favorite dinners- roasted chicken! For some reason this always terrified me, but now it is one of our basics around here. It's so easy and so delicious. Here's the how-to!

-Buy a fresh chicken from your local grocery store...typically will cost between $4-$5, depending on your size!
-Heat your oven to 475 (yep- that's hot)

-Rinse chicken thoroughly and pat dry

-Set in your dish breast-side up

-Rub kosher salt into the chicken breast - I usually use about 1-2 T

-Use your fingers to separate the skin from the breast (near the neck) and slide in fresh or dried thyme

-Sprinkle with fresh ground pepper

-Roast for 45-60 minutes, depending on size

-That's IT!!!! So easy!!!

This time we added potatoes, carrots, and onions straight into the pan and it was delicious! We typically eat half of the chicken and use the other half for chicken salad, chicken pot pie, etc.

Enjoy. :)

(Sorry to my sweet vegetarian friends- I love you!)

39 weeks.

Baby boy,

We had a really magical weekend out here. On Friday your daddy took me out on a date! We also did a little bit of shopping and walking around. We came home and laid on the couch and I fell asleep early just like normal. When your daddy took us to bed we had a beautiful conversation about how much we love each other and how joyful we are that you'll be here soon. Saturday we did lots of stuff around the house like putting up lights and doing grocery shopping. We ended the day by going out to dinner with our friends and seeing a play- The Christmas Carol! It was so fun to be out in the cold celebrating the Christmas season. I knew I would love having December as your birth month- everything is so special and wonderful! Yesterday we went to church and your daddy played the guitar for the last time this month, so he'll be good and ready for whenever you arrive. We also did a lot of walking and playing with Denver and we had a nice, romantic dinner at home just the two of us.

Did you know that you're the talk of the town? Everyone is asking us how I'm feeling and if I'm "ready". (The answers are great and YES!!!!) There are a lot of people out here who adore you and can't wait to hear the news of your arrival. You're such a rockstar already! Instead of constantly wondering when you'll make your grand entrance, I've decided to really focus on spending special time by myself and with your dad. I must say, though, he thinks you'll be here by Wednesday. I sure hope so!

I'm enjoying these last few days of having you in my tummy. I'll miss being pregnant with you so much. I love wondering what that little bump on my right side is (a foot? a knee? your little bum???). I love feeling your every move. I love knowing you're safe and sound. I've loved it all, my son. But as much as I love you and these last 9 months we've experienced together, I know my love for you is about to grow exponentially! Come out when you're good and ready!

I love you to the moon and back,

Momma

December.

Welcome, December!

Please bring me my baby sooner rather than later!

Love,

one pregnant momma