Feeling Lucky and Loved

OK, so normally, I'm not the bragging type...but I simply must take a moment to gush on my amazing husband, Marshall.  Not only has he been my best friend for many years, but he has been the most wonderful partner since we've been together.  We've been through many of life's obstacles together, and each experience has brought us closer in love.  This pregnancy has perhaps been the most significant life event, and through it all, Marshall has been the most attentive, thoughtful, loving, and considerate husband he could possibly be.  I just wanted to share some of the things he's done to make me feel so special...and how blessed and proud I am to call him mine!  So - if you're the jealous type - now might be a good time to just close this window :)

• He puts on my socks and shoes for me every morning.
• He cleans the house without me even asking!
• He makes salads for my lunch, and even puts the croutons in a ziplock bag so they won't get soggy.
• He'll go out to get frozen yogurt when I'm having a craving and already in my PJs.
• He talks and reads to the baby, and loves to feel his movements in my belly.
• He puts up with all my lists and helps me get baby preparation tasks accomplished.
• He understands when I can't control my emotions, and gives me the best hugs.
• He makes delicious dinners and cleans up afterwards.
• He's scooped and changed the cat litter for the last 35 weeks and hasn't complained once!
• He traded loofahs with me because the one I bought was really scratchy.
• He plays with my hair and rubs my feet.
• He tells me I'm beautiful, even when I'm feeling huge and frumpy.
• He takes the time to tell my family how much he loves them too.
• He's been to every doctor's appointment and ultrasound, even when it wasn't convenient.
• He's painted the nursery and playroom, and put together strollers, swings, and pack-n-plays.
• He works so hard to provide for his family.
• He is truly ecstatic about being a daddy :)

So what brought on this sudden flood of emotions?  On top of the daily little things like those above, a gift box of beautiful flowers was delivered to my kindergarten room today...with a very sweet note - from baby to me (see photo below).  Here is what the note said:  "Dear Mommy, I wanted to say I love you and can't wait to meet you too!  You're going to be the best mommy in the world!  See you soon!!!"  I know our little boy will grow up learning some valuable life lessons about how to demonstrate true love...we are both so lucky to have Marshall in our lives.

He's Got the Cutest Little Baby Face

We've waited 15 long weeks to see some new images of our little man, and today - at 34 weeks and 6 days pregnant - we had another great ultrasound and update!  The baby weighs in at 5 pounds, 5 ounces!  He's apparently going to put on another 1/2 pound each week, for a grand total of about 8 pounds by D-Day if he keeps growing at this rate!  This little guy is quite a thumb-sucker too, which we remembered from a previous appointment.  He kept putting his thumb, fingers, and even his fist in his mouth - all with his left hand!  Maybe he'll end up being a lefty like his daddy :)  He kept his right hand in front of his face a lot, and we could actually see him rubbing his eyes.  As of today, he's head down and looks quite cozy.  We also confirmed that this baby is DEFINITELY a boy (as seen in the last photo).  Everything looks perfectly healthy and normal, and we feel so blessed.  I hope you enjoy these latest photos of our little bundle of joy!

The Nursery is Complete!

After much thought, preparation, and love from family and friends, our baby's nursery is finally complete!  We absolutely love the apple green and teal blue colors, and the woodland theme is very special to us as it is something that has made us love this house so much.  When we first moved in, we were in awe of all the trees and wildlife right in our backyard...we saw lots of deer, rabbits, squirrels, birds, and even a turtle!  But what really blew us away were the owls that we would hear when we had our windows open in the spring .  We later found out that the owls we were hearing were barred owls, which make a specific call and answer back when called to!  They were one of the reasons we chose this owl and woodland theme for our nursery (not to mention that owls seem to be everywhere these days!).  We chose some fun fabrics and Grandma Kimmie made all of the nursery bedding for us - it turned out so cute!  The cradle used to be my cradle, and somewhere I have a photo of myself as an infant, sleeping soundly in it.  Aubrey and Chris made and put up the tree on the wall, a gift for our baby shower.  It really completed the room!  Marshall painstakingly sanded and stained the wood on the hutch to match the crib and dresser.  I also painted the window above the crib, and the two paintings above the changing table.  We are ready for our baby boy to arrive, and can't believe he'll be here in just 6 short weeks!  I hope you enjoy the photos below of the finished nursery!

A Lovely Baby Shower

Kimmie, Erin, Aubrey, and Melissa hosted a beautiful baby shower for me this past Saturday.  The theme was blue and white, and the decorations, balloons, and flowers were absolutely amazing!  The food was really cute too, and delicious of course :)  Kimmie made "Baby Boy Rothwell" banners and a sweet diaper cake as well.  It all just blew me away!  There were about 15 guests, including my mom and sister who came to Charlotte for the occasion.  Everyone brought lovely gifts, and I am so appreciative!  This little guy will be well-dressed, that's for sure!  I'm so thankful for everyone's hard work and thoughtfulness.  I feel so special and loved, and I know that baby will feel the same!  Here are a few photos from our wonderful afternoon.