29 more sleeps

is anyone else completely blown away by the fact that (in theory) we have less than 30 sleeps until we meet little c? just checking.

disclaimer: this post may induce information and photographic overload. it has been a big week in our little lives. a very big week.

on thursday, my sweet, sweet husband turned thirty-six. i try to say this to everyone i love on their birthday, but i hope he knows how grateful i am he was born. it still amazes me that he somehow made it to little ole lubbock, texas from littler ole glouster, ohio and ended up at my cousin-in-law grant's house for a poker game on the same night as a family cookout (thanks for being a multi-tasker, grant) when they had too few poker players so grant begged me to play and i knew how to play well enough to end up with jared as the last two players in the tournament. however it happened, i am so very glad that it did. i feel like my heart is knitted more closely to his everyday. and that is such a blessing.

we celebrated at west crust pizza with the padres and one set of hermanos. it is a very jared place.
please don't try to figure out what cam is doing in this picture. it could rob you of hours that you will never get back. i think he is trying to show us what gallo looks like when he eats an all meat pizza (no chicken, of course) named "the beast."
jared's rec sports friends threw him a baby book shower on his birthday. isn't that the best idea ever? he came home with a darling basket full of books. lots of people inscribed the inside cover with reasons why they chose that particular book. some folks wrote sweet messages for little c. i l-o-v-e it.

jared's friend brett's inscription for this book is that it is never to early for little c to learn about good sportsmanship. hee hee.
peter gifted us with one of his family's faves, which happens to be a favorite of mine as well.
classic dr. seuss from scott. one for mom and one for dad.thanks to the lovely men and women of rec sports, our little nursery shelves are filled to the brim. too fun!
that photo reminds me that i need to cover the outlets in the nursery. i wonder how many sleeps we have until little c is crawling? sorry, i digress.

on friday, student health services took a turn showering us. and man, did they ever shower us. it was an embarrassment of baby riches.
i am blessed to work with sweet people who took the time and care to make things for our child by hand.

allison made us a darling animal print reversible shopping cart cover with a carrying case. who does that? allison, that's who. and she offered to babysit in her card. unfortunately for her, she recently told me that she allowed her nephews to eat an entire sleeve of thin mints. each. i seriously question the judgment of someone who is willing to waste the delectable thin mint on the unsophisticated palate of a child. we'll see.
just for the record, i attempted to convince jared that it would be completely blogtastic if he would allow me to photograph him trying out the shopping cart cover as it resembles a giant diaper. no dice. you'll have to use your imagination.
judy quilt-stitched an adorable winnie the pooh blanket. the kids in her family will not let the blankets she's made for them out of their sight. i am certain little c will be equally enamored.
the good folks from radiology and the lab made this heartbreakingly cute diaper cake. they wrapped the diapers in towels and onesies to mimic fondant. and it had a little naked baby figurine attached. i never want to disassemble it. do i have to?
sweet reception ladies gave us this little blankie, which is sure to be a fan favorite.
raylene's gifts were strung along a clothesline with tiny little wooden clothespins. cute, cute, cute.
we are so incredibly blessed to be surrounded by people who give far beyond what we deserve.

and speaking of blessings, today's message was reminded us that "God is faithful." apparently, the closest translation of the Hebrew word for "faithful" in many of the verses we looked at today is "pillar." in part of the message, our pastor talked about how many people base their perception of God on their experience with their earthly father. and too often, people have earthly fathers who are less than faithful. i am so overwhelmingly thankful that i have been given a pillar in my Dad. i don't know that i ever thought about it this way, but if i did base my perception of God on my Dad's character, it would be easy for me to believe that i can trust God completely, that He is for me, and that He loves me without condition. again, i am so incredibly blessed to be given far beyond what i deserve.