Pregnancy Progress 33 Weeks

We are in the final home stretch! It's hard to believe in just a little over a month and a half we'll be holding this sweet baby in our arms. As the baby has become more and more active I am getting more and more curious about their personality. As I tell everyone I just want to know "Who are you?" I just want to meet you and learn about you. The anticipation continues to grow daily... as do my feet, which Steve affectionately called tree trunks this morning. It sounds a whole lot meaner than it really was haha.

We went to a labor class last weekend which we both really enjoyed. Steve was highly skeptical but both of us left feeling our anxiety a little lower and full of joy and laughter from all the fun moments we shared. We have come up with our birth plan with is called "Go with the flow and likely get an epidural" Most of you well know my pain tolerance is low and I can't imagine this experience will be any different. I'm sorry if I offend anyone out there with my plan as I know I live in a community that is very anti drugs.

Our most recent doctors appointment went well. The baby sounds great and they said I'm doing great too! Love those kind of reports! Our next trip to the doctor we'll see the baby one final time before the birth! Please be in prayer for our upcoming labor. We can't wait to meet the little person God has blessed us with!

Reverend Stephen Reynolds

We celebrated Steve's ordination last weekend. It was such a beautiful personal service. Steve and I were so blessed to have the Reynolds celebrate with us as well as many of our church family members. Here is a clip and a few pictures from the service:

Baby Shower

Waddle the Baby be?? We'll just have to wait and see!

My sweet friend Kalli threw me a baby shower this past weekend with ducks as the theme. Steve and I were so overwhelmed with all of the love that was shown to us through the party and the gifts. This party made it that much more real that Baby Reynolds is right around the corner! 

The Party was just so beautiful that I wanted to share a few pictures of it with you. (And I have to say my fancy new camera did pretty good!)

Delicious short bread cookies

The Yummy and Beautiful salted caramel cake

Diaper Cake

Looks like a Pinterest perfect party if you ask me!

Party Favors

Laura and Kalli

Kate Measuring my Belly

 Sarah Our winner!

The lovely group of ladies

The inside of the cake

Thank you everyone for making this such a special day! It will be one I remember for the rest of my life!

Graduation Day

This update is obviously long over due but I wanted to post a few pictures and be able to reflect on the special moment.

I (Laura) felt so extremely blessed on my graduation day. I not only had my loving husband cheering me on but also my mom, dad, sister, grandma, mother-in-law, and father-in-law! I know I'm one lucky girl!! The day started with rehearsal and learning how to put on the gown. I especially loved the "wings" that they give you with a Master's degree gown. They are perfect for hiding a cellphone or some chap-stick ;)

Following that we took some pictures and then had a wonderful lunch put on by the school. Dr. Iorg spoke and it was powerful.

The afternoon was busy but really nice. We got some family pictures taken by the amazing Garrett Barber. (Thanks for putting up with all of us!) Here are a few of my favorites!

The graduation itself was also very meaningful. It was small and intimate. I only knew about 1/3rd of the 50 or so graduates as many had come from other campuses to join in with us. In fact I was the only person graduating with my specific degree. When It came time for me to walk across the stage little to my knowledge 5 professors who I admire greatly because of their great character and faith stood to applaud me. My family told me of this later. It overwhelmed my heart. The entire event was refreshing. It reminded me once again of the Father's great love for me and why I want to serve him with my whole heart and life. I look forward to a little over a year from now to do this all again with my amazing husband. I can't wait to be his cheerleader!

The Baby Moon

We were blessed to be able to take a weekend get away down to Long Beach last weekend. As some of  you know our original plan was to take a cruise down to Mexico, however, that fell through due to being to pregnant to travel. Thankfully for us the cruise company gave us a full refund (with no begging or pleading!). I  (Laura) shamefully admit to being devastated. I cried for a full day following the news. For several weeks following I continued to tear up a time or two. Everything seamed to pale in comparison to 4 nights on a cruise ship to Mexico. Did I mention we had gotten a REALLLLLLY good deal? We're talking about $550 for both of us to spend 4 nights on this boat and travel out of the country good deal. Finally, as I was searching through groupon I discovered an interesting idea. After many calculations (I'm not a math person so it took me a while) I proposed a new and I must say rather inventive idea. That idea was for us to spend the weekend on the Queen Mary: a retired cruise ship/WWII battle ship docked in Long Beach, CA. Steve loved the idea, so we booked. We loved it. Even though it wasn't moving it still gave us the cruise feel. We got to eat fancy meals, do a few tours, relax and of course it was all on a boat.

Here are a few pictures from our adventure:

Us with the Queen Mary.

Our cabin on the ship.

On our first night we ventured off the boat and happened  upon the Laugh factory. On a whim we decided to see a show and had a great time!

Enjoying high tea.

I couldn't get Steve to try the Caviar... he honestly didn't miss out on much.

Steve living out his dream of being a boat Captain.

Standing in a "haunted" doorway.

We hope next year we'll be able to try for the cruise again. In the mean time, however, we are so thankful we had the chance to have one more vacation just the two of us!

Baby Reynolds Week 30

At 30 weeks It doesn't seem like I could get any bigger! That being said we still have about 10 weeks to go. Our 29 Week appointment went well. The doctor believes the baby has turned upside down and is getting in place for birth. I also passed all my blood work with flying colors! (Praise the Lord!) Here is the latest picture of the growing baby belly if you're interested:

8 weeks 6 days

14 weeks 6 days

26 weeks

30 weeks

Baby Reynolds Week 26

Pregnancy progress pictures:

8 Weeks 6 Days

14 Weeks 6 Days 

26 Weeks

20 weeks