Analynne Arrives

So it's been almost 3 weeks since our little princess made her debut. My due date was December 13th, and Analynne was born December 15th at 12:01 pm. 7 lbs 4 oz 20 1/4 in and beautiful.

Labor woke me up at 5 am, and we checked into the hospital a little after 8. I was already dilated to 8 cm. Labor was much faster than we had anticipated, but we are so thankful for how well it went. Both mom and baby were healthy and happy it was over! :)

We are so thankful she came when she did. The Lord was so gracious to us through the whole pregnancy. We still are in awe of God's miracle called life.

We do not deserve her, she is a gift, and our prayer is that we remember we are simply stewards of her precious life. We covet your prayers as we strive to raise her in the ways of our Heavenly Father. May she grow up to know His love and His truth.

Welcome Analynne Raine Dickson.

a month later...

Obviously I have not been up for much blogging lately. Here's a quick update!

Excited to have our stroller/travel system! Car seat was the last "needed" item!

Dresser, changing table, diaper champ, rocking chair...

Grandma finished the crib bedding. Crazy Daisy pattern was a complete (& adored!) surprise!

My beautiful Sister in law due Jan. 30th. We won't know until then if cousin is a boy or girl!

39 weeks. Analynne seems quite happy to stay away from the cold for now.

There hasn't been much going on, it just seems like I've been "busy" thinking & preparing for this new adventure. My brain is 100% occupied at all times... and it's exhausting. My apologies for the lame post!

Analynne & I were thrown a total of four amazing showers, where we were completely blessed by many friends & family. Thank you to all who have been so supportive, encouraging and excited for us! We have truly been amazed at God's provision for us as Analynne's arrival draws near.

It seems all is in place, and we are playing the waiting game. Of course there are things I can do, mostly prep for Christmas... clean, clean, clean... blog (or not). Etc. BUT... I'm not feeling up for much more than sleeping, eating and waiting. My "nesting" instinct seems to have come and gone. WAY gone. Ha ha.

Thankfully, the holidays are keeping me distracted, not to mention the many Saturday afternoon Husky games, and now the beginning of the wonderful world of Basketball. We had a great Thanksgiving with a beautiful snow fall, and look forward to a special Christmas with my side of the family at my grandmother's, (G. G.'s) this year in Duvall. It is crazy to think by that time we will have our baby girl in our arms!

Come soon little princess ~ Love, mom

New Hair-Do and Pumpkin DAY!

Good bye long, boring, pain in my rear, yucky hair!! =) Ok it's been a couple weeks but I JUST LOVE IT. =)

Before...

Adding a little highlight... love love love.

And wa la... MMMM.... hello yummy, cute, short, EASY, stylish and flattering hair!! Thank you Angela Iwanowycz, I love you! =)

Woohoo!! I hated when my long hair got "stuck" everywhere... under my purse strap, under my back when I'm sleeping... etc. NOT to mention, it was a PAIN to wash and to brush and dry... etc. yuck yuck... DEFINITELY time for a change! I don't know how you long haired peeps do it... kudos to you!

Anywho... moving on... to fun PUMPKIN PATCH DAY!!
Here is the crew. My dear Accountability Group girlies, and their wonderful husbands! Ryan & Julie Riley, Aaron & I, Jake, Sarah & Calvin Eschbach, Chris & Sarah Funkhouser.

We all headed out the infamous Stoney Ridge Farm in Everson, Wa. It was ABSOLUTELY packed the day we went... one of the last beautiful sunny days left I suppose!

I made him do this... =)

Then we got all the boys to do it... funny funny!

There were SO MANY pumpkins!!

The boys got a wheel barrow so they didn't have to carry ALL the pumpkins.

Sarah with 2 month old Calvin, Julie due TODAY with Katelyn Sage, Me, and Sarah due end of April! All of our firsts. Such a blessing to walk through this stage of life with amazing friends and women of Christ!

We headed back to Ryan & Julie's house and had lots of yummy food! Chili, cornbread, chips & bean dip, apples & carmel, deviled eggs, apple cider, and pumpkin pie! Yum YUM! After a few good hours of sticking our hands in gross goo, and carving our little hearts out...
We came up with some pretty cool jack-o-lanterns!!

Here are Aaron & I's. Pretty easy to pick out of the crowd. Tigger and our very own Eli dog. (picture doesn't do it justice) =) Good job by Aaron!!

Everyone's finished pumpkins! So fun!

Even baby Calvin had a pumpkin =)

It was such a fun day! Thankful for you guys!

Happy Birthday to my Love

Aaron turned 24 on October 16th. I met him 5 years ago... and my life was turned upside down. What an amazing man he was, is, and continually strives to be. He is an incredible husband, more than I could have ever asked for or dreamed of... and I know he will be the best daddy in the whole world.

I am continually in awe of God's grace to me in giving me such a gift as Aaron. My greatest desire is that I honor the Lord in my relationship to my husband. He is the most important person on this Earth to me. Happy Birthday... may there be many more to come. I love you husby.

Baby stuff...

Well I'm not making promises about keeping up to date anymore... it just isn't gonna happen! & then you all can be surprised when it does!! =) We've been busy busy around here getting ready for baby. Only 7 more weeks to go until Analynne's due date! YIKES!

Here is a cute little hat that I knitted... my brother in law thinks it's hilarious (not a good hilarious)... but I think she's gonna be stinking cute!! And matching booties! (I just finished the 2nd one.) This yarn was given to me by my grandma!

These are the first booties I knitted. Little red Christmas ones, for my little Christmas present!

My grandma came up a few weekends ago to help me paint the ugly green room PINK (of course!) We had to paint the entire room... it was YUCK before. Now it's a pretty pale pink with white trim and ceiling! Still need to get a new light cover thingy bobber. (whatever that's called).

I also got to spend a weekend with my mom and grandma, picking fabrics for bedding and for covering my new rocking chair! Here they are working hard while I watch! Ha ha...

Wa La! Toile covered glider and ottoman! It's a beauty... Thanks Mom & Grandma! (Or should I say Grandma & GG?!!)

These are the fabrics for the bedding "Grandma" is gonna make (my mom!). Sticking with good old black & white.... with some pretty pinks! I can't wait to see the finished product!

Analynne had her first baby shower on Oct 10th in my hometown, LaCrosse. My sister flew up from California to be there! It was so much fun, and I brought many amazing gifts home. I am so blessed to be from such a supportive and family-like community! My sister and grandma then came up to Bellingham and surprised me with my crib!! They put it all together for me! Isn't it beautiful!?! After that weekend I feel MUCH more prepared for little Analynne's arrival.

Nursery is almost ready! At least the necessities... a good rocker in front of a great view!

So needless to say... it is now hard to ignore the fact that we have a little girly on the way when you see a pink room basically right when you walk into our home! I find myself staring into the room sometimes... many changes about to come!

So thankful for the journey God has placed Aaron & I on. It is humbling to see how far He has brought us in just over 2 years of marriage, and encouraging to look back on His blessings, and His constant provision! We are praising Jesus for this opportunity to be parents, and seek to honor Him in how we love and raise our baby girl.

"My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior" Luke 1:46-47