2015: A Year of HOPE. 2016: A Time for HOPE.

If there's one word that carried me through 2015, it's hope. Thinking back on this time last year, we were so ready for a new year after a year of losses of loved ones and our first baby. New Year's Eve is not usually a favorite time for me - for some reason it makes me sad to say farewell to a year and be nostalgic - but saying goodbye to 2014 was easy to do. 

Fast forward a year. 2015 is coming to an end in a few hours, and it has been a a good year and a year of hope for many reasons. We entered the year praying God would provide a way for us to become parents, and He did. We prayed that this pregnancy would "stick", and it did. And although we have had so many ups and downs over the last 15 weeks, we focused on different verses of scripture that centered around one recurring theme: hope. Through all of the trials lately, we have remained hopeful. The Lord has great things in store for us and for our baby girl, and 2016 will be incredible - I just know it. 

So with that, I'll leave 2015 with the announcement of our baby girl's name: Hope Annette. Because we can all use a little HOPE for 2016!

Blessings and hope to you all in the new year! 

The Hamiltons  

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

- Jeremiah 29:11

Merry Christmas, baby!

Wishing you joy on this Christmas day and everyday! 

Love, 

The Hamiltons 

Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. - Luke 2:11

How in the world it's already December 18, I have no idea. This Christmas season has just absolutely flown and I feel like we haven't really done the Christmas-y things we usually do! (Other than watch Love Actually: that is a must. Anyway.) We've been so busy with work, making progress in the nursery, and a smattering of Christmas events that I would love to have a weekend to just relax in our own home, sit by the tree sipping hot chocolate and watching Christmas movies but I don't think it's in the cards this year. Maybe next year when we have a 10 month old?? (HA!)

ONE. 
Being in my third trimester, I didn't have the energy to put up alllll the Christmas decor I normally do. Notably absent: our second Christmas tree, aka the "fun" tree with all our random ornaments from over the years. Truly, it was more the thought of me taking everything down at 36 weeks pregnant that sealed the deal for fewer decorations than normal! But here's our tree and stockings: THREE little stockings this year! So exciting.

TWO. 
Christmas Cards are my FAVORITE! I hope this tradition never, ever goes away. Or goes to an all-eCard format. Oh, the horror! Our cards are en route from Shutterfly as we speak and I plan to bust them out over the weekend.

Our cards and Advent calendar/tree

THREE. 
Parties, parties everywhere. Between company parties, cookie swaps, book clubs and family stuff, 'Tis The SEASON for sweets and overeating. Gotta say: living gluten free definitely removes a lot of the temptation!

FOUR. 
The nursery is really taking shape! I can't wait to get it all done, but for now I'm happy with the progress we've made in such a short amount of time (about 5 weeks). All the furniture has arrived, it's painted, I've found a rug I don't hate and the decor is starting to come together. When it's done, I know it will be my favorite room in the house.

FIVE. 
Here's a sneak peek at our maternity photos (that doubled as our Christmas card shoot). It was fun to document this sweet season with a pregnant belly and I know we will cherish these photos forever! Will share the rest soon :)

ENJOY the last week before Christmas and remember the reason for the season!
xo
KH

Linking up with

 April, Christina, Natasha and Darci! 

32 Weeks | 33 Weeks

32 WEEKS

How far along: 32 weeks

Baby Size: the baby is about 19 inches and 4 pounds

Weight gain: up .5 pounds from last week; up about 9.5 pounds overall

Maternity clothes: yessss

Stretch marks: not any from pregnancy, I don't think

Sleep: getting up to tinkle about every 2.5 hours. It's very disruptive. 

Best moment this week: we started our weekly appointments this week, complete with a weekly BPP (biophysical profile) to make sure she's doing all the things she should be doing in there. And she is!

Looking forward to: getting the rest of the nursery furniture

What I miss: not much

Movement: lots of it

Food cravings: none

Anything making you queasy or sick: nope

Gender: GIRL!

Labor Signs: nope

Symptoms: tired, heartburn, slightly high blood pressure at last 2 appointments - eeek

Belly Button in or out? Definitely getting stretched but still very much in

Wedding rings on or off? On

Mood: stressed this week due to work - but Christmas is in sight!

Nursery: starting to get organized!

33 WEEKS

How far along: 33 weeks

Baby Size: the baby is the size of a honeydew (19 inches, 4.5 pounds)

Weight gain: up 1.5 pounds from last week; up about 11 pounds overall

Maternity clothes: yes!

Stretch marks: no

Sleep: this getting up to pee 3 times a night thing is getting old!

Best moment this week: at our 2nd BPP ultrasound this week, baby girl was crazy active and we got to her practicing her breathing at the same time she had hiccups. It was pretty darn adorable. 

Looking forward to: making some progress in the nursery this weekend!

What I miss: sleeping on my back. Good sleep in general. 

Movement: SO much this week. I can tell she's starting to run out of room because her movements are so much more pronounced. 

Food cravings: Christmas cookies

Anything making you queasy or sick: nope

Gender: GIRL!

Labor Signs: no

Symptoms: blood pressure was even higher this week: no bueno. No swelling or protein in urine, so we're hopeful that I'm not developing pre-eclampsia -- but to be sure, I have to do a 24-hour urine sample test this weekend as a baseline. 

Belly Button in or out? still in!

Wedding rings on or off? On

Mood: happy!!

Nursery: the glider, bookcase and wall shelf have all been delivered this week

Prayer for Baby: Lord, thank you for this miraculous gift you have given to us. At this Christmastime, I can relate more to Mary than I ever have before and understand more than ever what a sacrifice you truly made of giving your Son. We are hopeful, thankful and so very excited about this baby girl: thank you for entrusting her to us. I pray you be with her as she grows stronger each day, keeping her safe in the womb for the next few weeks until she enters this world. Amen.

30 Weeks | 31 Weeks

30 WEEKS

How far along: 30 weeks...THIRTY weeks!

Baby Size: baby girl is about 18 inches, 3 lbs

Weight gain: forgot to weigh myself this week while in FL for Thanksgiving

Maternity clothes: oh yeah. Best things ever. 

Stretch marks: nope

Sleep: still having rib pain at times when I'm laying down. On Thanksgiving night, I had really sharp pains in my stomach - probably just over-ate!

Best moment this week: This was an absolutely wonderful week, so lots of best moments.  One was my shower in my hometown! I got to see so many of my friends and family members, and baby girl got so many nice things. We also took our Babymoon in Palm Beach and I had an amazing spa day with a Mommy-to-be package. And lastly, we decided on a name for baby and shared with our family on Thanksgiving. 

Looking forward to: getting all our gifts from the shower home and going through what we got again it was all a whirlwind! 

What I miss: not too much. Would have been nice to have a glass of wine Thanksgiving night :)

Movement: yes!

Food cravings: mac and cheese (not the GF kind, unfortunately - so it's a no-go)

Anything making you queasy or sick: nope

Gender: GIRL!

Labor Signs: nope

Symptoms: back is starting to hurt more and more 

Belly Button in or out? In

Wedding rings on or off? On

Mood: thankful, hopeful, happy

Nursery: making progress

31 WEEKS

How far along: 31 weeks

Baby Size: the baby is the size of a large coconut (~18.5 inches, 3.2 lbs). But she measured nearly 4 pounds at our ultrasound this week! Which is insane to me. 

Weight gain: up 1.2 pounds from 2 weeks ago; up about 9 pounds overall

Maternity clothes: yep

Stretch marks: no new ones, anyway!

Sleep: some nights are better than others...

Best moment this week: bringing my mother-in-law to our ultrasound - she was so excited to "see" baby and take home ultrasounds pics! We also went to ATL for the day to see our "Greenville friends" and they threw us a little surprise shower! So fun! 

Looking forward to: working on the nursery some more!

What I miss: not much

Movement: oh yes - I can tell she is growing and getting much stronger!

Food cravings: not much right now

Anything making you queasy or sick: nope

Gender: GIRL!

Labor Signs: nope

Symptoms: back is starting to hurt more and more; have had a few Braxton Hicks contractions (I think!), and the energy of the 2nd trimester has officially left the building. 

Belly Button in or out? In but it's starting to be more sensitive and feel stretched

Wedding rings on or off? On

Mood: tired but happy. Love feeling baby girl move around so much. 

Nursery: currently full of tons of boxes and bags of baby goods and gifts! Ordered the light fixture and rug, so we're making progress. 

Prayer for Baby: Lord, please be with our baby girl as she grows day by day and nears her big debut. We are head over heels in love with her and in awe of the miracle she is. We know she is perfect in your sight, and pray for her health and wellbeing while in the womb and once she arrives in this world. Thank you for the many family and friends who pray for her and who have showered us with so much love over the last few weeks. We are blessed beyond measure! Amen.