This is a Tough One

I am 39 weeks pregnant.

It is hot, well, today it is still overcast at 10:40am, so I am grateful for that.
EE is heavy and resting quite low, I can feel her in my lower hips, and she doesn't have much room to move around.

I am extremely hormonal, emotionally labile, needy, and irritable. Everything makes me want to cry, and I am ready to meet this little one. I hate feeling this way and I hate asking for help everyday because I'm having trouble keeping up with my developing walker.

I am prayerful that the midwife will send me straight over to Labor & Delivery on Thursday morning, in the mean time, I am doing everything I can that is safe here at home to encourage my body to go into labor naturally.

I write this with tears because I know the Lord has blessed me and given me so much grace through this pregnancy. I have been able to keep exercising, I have been eating better than when I was pregnant with AJ, and I have been able to spend more time managing our home and reading godly insight instead of giving into many lazy temptations.

I am grateful to be home with AJ to teach and train her. I am so proud of how well she is doing with her schedule and of her independent spirit. She is 11 months old now and she enjoys playing in her room for large chunks of time; has moved up to the toddler room at church early, as it has aided her separation anxiety; she sleeps 10-12 hours at night, waking up at 6:15 each morning; she loves food and will try most new things with a pleasant response, but is not shy about letting us know her preferences; she drinks her milk and water from a straw cup like the big girl she is; and we are so blessed beyond measure that she is our daughter. We cannot wait to see her love on her little sister.

Please pray for us as we continue to await the arrival of our little girl. That we would be prepared and grateful for this time we have. That I would not be anxious or push myself beyond measure for my preferences and desires when we bring her home. For a safe delivery and short hospital stay. For my parents as they take time from work to take care of AJ while we are in the hospital. That AJ would not be overwhelmed, and the transition will not be too difficult for her. Also, for PJ, that he is able to prepare his store well before he goes on leave starting this Thursday.

Thank you, friends and family, for your prayers and support. We would not be able to do this without knowing we had such an incredible community around us!

One Month

This post is just a tad late, but I will share a snippet of our life together.

PJ manages a store and the job is a bit of an adjustment from his previous position with the company. Late nights are difficult when I (the perfectionist) have dinner ready and the table set, but it is humbling. It helps me remember to be grateful that my wonderful hubby is working hard for the both of us and I know he is trying to get home as soon as possible. The store is doing well, though, and I am definitely a proud wife, knowing that he is helping the improvement and working well with his colleagues.

I had a fun time putting together Christmas cards and chocolate goody bags for his coworkers. It put a smile on my face to know that they enjoyed them! We did the same for our neighbors. It is fun getting to know our friends across the hall, and I pray for more opportunities to connect with them and invite them over for dinner.

They just got a new puppy, and were considerate enough to consider our shared wall as they start training her. They stopped by to give me a number to call in case there are any troubles. They're a lovely couple and I cannot wait to get to know them more.

There have definitely been some challenges with family, friends, and work which have hindered us, but we only grow stronger. Not only as a couple, but with the Lord, seeking guidance praying with one another. We also go through devotions over breakfast every morning. I cannot express how grateful I am for the structure PJ's new position came with!

I also cannot fully express how incredibly supportive my amazing husband is! He has joined me in efforts to eat healthier and exercise. Even though I do my workouts throughout the day, he has taken to joining me on the weekends. It is so great to have such support through this journey. We are both able to keep one another accountable, it's definitely helpful (even if it can be frustrating when I want that extra cookie).

PJ's Birthday

We will see you in a couple of weeks for month 2! hahaha

-Jessy

How Is Married Life?

"How is married life?"

Mr. and Mrs. Paul Molina

This is a question I would often ask my newlywed friends. Quickly, I am realizing that (as a single woman) I was asking the wrong audience if I wanted to learn the real answer to that question. My hubby, PJ, and I returned from our honeymoon last Thursday. After two weeks of our phones in "Do Not Disturb" mode, scarce views of any social media, and only a quick glance on our emails, we came home to this same question from many of our friends and family.

In all honesty, I can say that married life is wonderful! Marriage is amazing, because so far, it includes seclusion from the world and life in our own lovestruck bubble. I could live in this forever. This, however, is not real.

It's Honeymoon Time

Three days home and I have fiercely been struck by the to-do lists, the housework, the organizing, the cleaning, the laundry, the demand of having a husband, the holidays, and the blessing of being a wife.

Yesterday was our first day back at our home church. It was so encouraging to reconnect with our church family and be reminded of how much they love us. So many people stopped us to congratulate us, again, on our marriage and asked about our honeymoon. I know that there are so many people there rooting for us and for our marriage, and I am incredibly grateful for Foothill Bible Church.

Today is our first day of work life. We are establishing a schedule that works for us and finding a rhythm where we are not rushed before PJ has to run out the door for work and I am not without time to work through my to-do list before he gets home.

Today, we are still in set up mode and I am in the process of changing my name, email, and address. This sounds simple, however, it is quite tedious, having tons of websites, blogs, social media sites, and other accounts that I have to update. To top it off, I cannot complete most of these things (i.e. Voter Registration, vehicle registration, etc.) until my name is "officially" changed. We shall see how long it takes the county records department to send our certified copy; we were told about six weeks, so I will be in update mode through Christmas.

Speaking of Christmas! This is not only PJ and I's first holiday season as a married couple, this is our first Christmas together ever! Welcome, Jessy, to 2 sets of parents' schedules and everyone trying to do Christmas their way... Nope, we have lots to figure out in the next week!

It would be easy for me to look at two pages of to-do lists and be overwhelmed. To have several people ask me "What are you doing for Christmas?" with an expectant look and be stressed out at the thought of saying "I don't know." To think of all the things that need to happen around the house in the next 4 hours and scramble about. Even something as small as wanting to just ditch the work that needs to be done and hang out with my family and come to the realization that I am no longer a single woman... Yes, that is a weird thought.

However, I will not be overwhelmed, stressed, scramble about, or run away. I am incredibly blessed with an amazing husband who loves me, encourages me, and challenges me. I wouldn't trade that, because now I am a helper; I have another amazing family to make time for; I have a husband.

I am so excited for this new season of life!