Labor Day Labor of Love

After a day at the store on the first holiday we have stayed open, we got to work on your dresser. We were so excited, I got to help your dad more than I thought I would. After 30minutes we were done and your dad three hours tops we could put the knobs on and into your room. He could not wait so yes he was a little off on the timing. After a yummy dinner of grilled steak and corn on the cob, we went back to the garage to check on our masterpiece.. It needed more time:( after hanging out for about an hour and nighttime prayer time your dad went to check to see of we missed a package at the front door that day. He never even checked!! I followed him downstairs and he was in the garage attaching knobs!!! The man wouldn't let up, so he finished them and we carried your dresser upstairs to your room. An absolute fun rewarding labor of love..

"dropped"

So this Friday you hit another milestone, you "dropped" in mommy's belly. I was at first totally freaking out, my belly felt soft on top, it was painful to walk, it felt like if I went to pee you'd come out and you weren't moving as much!! I decided to start cleaning the kitchen and do your laundry, which took all day, to keep my mind busy. When your dad came home he felt my belly and we looked at each other speechless,  without knowing if we were just deluding ourselves cause we want you here so bad. So daddy suggested we go out for dinner so he could "gaze into my eyes" one last time before you got here. I know, your dad thinks he's funny (sometimes)  After he left I figured he was right so we went to buy more " necessities" for you and went out for a yummy dinner. On Saturday mommy's friend Emily called to check on me and confirmed my suspicion.. You'd definitely "dropped"!!! I was officially freaking out. So I got busy cleaning again, watched some stupid TV and finally packed our bag for the hospital. I had planned to do it with your dad but he was picking up your dresser and playing basketball after work with uncle David, so I had to....  I couldn't wait:). By the time he came home I was calm and your dad kept messing with me , cause he thinks he's funny, so even if I wanted to keep "trippin'" I couldn't keep a straight face.

"Before" dresser

 Sunday was a great way to end the weekend. After church. (I love how you ALWAYS move during worship) we went to Con Pane ( I know we are obsessed) to pick up sandwiches ( and a loaf of chocolate bread for home.. I know chocolate bread..ahhh) for us and auntie Martha and Jason    ( who first introduced us to Con Pane a year ago) who we were meeting for live music and hang time at the Rancho Bernardo Winery. No wine for mommy and Ally though:) Before we met them we stopped by Home Depot to get tools to get your dresser from black to white and some knobs that mommy could paint to make your dresser specially yours. As always it was good times with the Ryans and Ally was as adorable and easy as ever. Mommy and daddy are blessed with some amazing friends and today was a great reminder:) 

Con Pane bread

best sandwiches ever!! i dream about them:)

Daddy, Jason and Ally

Sweet Ally, perfect play date for you soon:)

She loves to chew

When we got home ( after a stop for ice cream for mommy and you of course) mommy got her craft project done, but daddy had too much fun today and after another 8pm  Home Depot run after we gave up on the sanding idea, daddy passed out before 9pm. Dresser will be done today. In fact daddy woke up super early before work to start the process. He's the best right? Right!!!
So thanks baby girl for an eventful weekend filled with the major realization that you're going to be here.....any day now...:))))

Sun and Surf at the Beach

We can't wait to take you the beach with us, and your dad can't wait to go in the water with you. As soon as we can you will be paddling in some pool to get ready to one day swim with mommy and surf with daddy.
Since I'm so heavy with you i didn't swim this time, but i got to sit, eat ( seriously yummy sandwiches from our favorite sandwich shop right now, Con Pane..yum yum) and catch up with your aunt Jenni, while your dad surfed with uncle Josh. It was an absolutely gorgeous day out at La Jolla shore, we literally dragged ourselves away from the beach to go home close to 7pm.
check out daddy after almost two hours in the ocean

a month ago and a month to go

So exactly a month ago we said some tearful goodbye's to your cousins Jenny, Josh and Jade and your aunt Danai. We still miss their individual personalities and the fun we had with them, but we'll see them soon. We made the most of their last days here and of course we spent our last Sunday at the beach. It was loads of fun and we were joined by your aunt Jenni and uncle Josh who tried to teach Jenny how to ride the waves on your dad's boogie board..didn't go so well. We got tons of pictures and videos to remember them by though...

cousin Joshie

Cousin Jenny always ready to pose

Enough said

Gorgeous Cousin Jenny

Okay...

"Jaden are you a baller"
Jaden responds "I baller"

Au revoir beach day

Today is also approximately a month before you get here and your bathtub and changing pad arrived in the mail today, your dad and i are obsessed with diapers.com, we get you awesome stuff for a great price. Having your cousins here was a major crash course in parenting, but these days this is how your dad gets prepared for you..

It's super adorable, ahhh we are so excited to see you, it's going to be a long month.

Shower Fun!!

I feel like I've neglected you even though i have been planning for your eminent arrival, and by that i mean you  could be here any day now..freaky!! However this weekend was all about celebrating that arrival and after months of prep with the help of your aunts Chenai, Lizzie and Jenni your first party was as God intended.  Aunty Chenai, your dad and aunt Kay who flew in Saturday from Atlanta just for your party made sure everyone was well fed. They also made sure i was treated like a queen, you and i were loved! Aunt Lizzie created the most beautiful decor that made our hearts skip. Aunt Jenni made the most divine sweet bar, seriously all everyone is talking about is the cupcakes she made-i think i dreamt of them recently:( :)

It was an event that had people that mommy and daddy have known and loved for years or months but we knew their hearts were completely there for us, so we were so happy and blessed. After the shower our friends Luc and Cathy who had been running late with their baby Zac hung out at the house for awhile as Zac flirted with all three ladies in the room. We all are waiting for him to lay eyes on you and watch his reaction. He is a 7 month old ladies man:)

When they left aunt Kay and i went and unpacked the gifts and started decorating your room with some the fun decor that your aunt Lizzie made. Your room is pretty much my favorite room ever, it makes me sooo happy and i really hope you love it too.


Here's a couple of highlights you'll see more pics coming soon..

Welcome to Cali Aunt Kay



best diaper cake ever

Aunt Lizzie at her finest..

Your room "done" again

Your room is "done"!!!!

We, actually daddy and uncle David painted and mommy helped with the final paint detail touches:). Aunty Chenai helped with the clean up after and mommy and daddy got to decorating. It was lots of fun getting your room together and can't wait for you to get here to enjoy it..

..

Mommy touching up "spots"

Aunty Chenai vacuuming your room

Daddy touching up the higher details

Daddy getting the crib together

And here's a glimpse of the "final" product..Yay!!!

Life through Grace

2 Corinthians 12:9 (NLT)
Each time he said, "My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness." So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.
Two days August 4th 2011 mommy's cousin Tapiwa Bruce who was like the older brother I never had passed away at 36. We grew up playing at each other's homes, his two brothers and sister and your aunts and uncle. Except fir his sister we were sent to the same boarding school and I was with him and his older brother Mufaro(another gift) at the University of Zimbabwe. He and Mufaro were heavily involved in campus politics and both served as Student Council Union leaders.
The student union was like a fraternity house where mostly guys hung out, politicking, drinking and made passes at any girl that passed by or entered certain party sections of the union building. Being "mwana waMuzvondiwa" gave me and my girlfriends a pass from any disgusting college behavior. You were not to mess with me when they were running campus. It was awesome.
During my time at Uni there were a lot of student protests and the government would send riot police to tear gas protesting( or by standing) students. When I was bad I wouldn't go on campus, but one day I was on campus when they showed up. My friends and I were gassed out of the residence hall we were in and had to run, whilst playing hide and seek with the police and their gas. I reached a campus field where people were running towards an exit. My cousin Tapiwa saw me and ran back grabbed my friend and I's hands and told us to hold tight and run like we'd never run before. It was one if the scariest days of my life and he literally saved me. Once off campus he put us on a bus and told me to go home and not come back to school for awhile. That was my cousin, he was my protector.
As I mourned his loss, you kept moving inside of me as if to say it's "okay mommy". It made me think of what a gift you are to your daddy and I. It reminded me of the meaning of your names. Zoe-Life Clementine-Grace. You were conceived at a time mommy was, according to your dad and aunts, slowly losing my mind after your grandpa died. In essence you gave mommy and as a result mommy and daddy a new lease on life, through God's grace embodied in you. You have blessed us so much and you're not even here yet, and we feel and know God's grace through you. We love you and we thank.