Tiny Happenings | Half Way There

Hello friends, I know it's been awhile, I feel as if Texas wedding season has taken me by the storm! The days are half as long and the sun is already setting by the time I get out to run the rest of my errands. I probably say this more often than not, but gosh how time flies! It's already the 23- week mark in our pregnancy, a bit over half way! The last few months of my life have been a whirlwind of feelings both physically and emotionally, and I can only imagine there will be so much more to come. I've already started picking up on things that I've learned so far and there are a few that weigh heavy on my heart:

Have a Mommy Tribe

I've always found it important to build a group of people around you that are your people, your "tribe". These are the ones that you can count on for anything at anytime. Not just for good or fun moments, but the times you're in the pit of hell and they will come and sit there with you, for you. As you grow and develop, these people will interchange, but you start to learn how to discern who should stay on the outskirts, and who is part of your core. In addition to these people, it's wise to have a set of other moms who you trust for advice. They may not be a part of your core tribe, but are there for the moments of tough heart-shaping and guidance not only for the little one, but for your own self too. 

This lady here is my sister in law and a big part of my Mommy Tribe :) 

Rest is Real

Ever notice when a child is downright fussy and has awful temper tantrums? It's not because he is having bad behavior or difficult to deal with, it's because he's either tired or hungry. Rest and nutritional health are such valuable fuels to our everyday function and most often neglected- I'm talking to you, business owners! I don't know what I imagined my life to be like being pregnant and then a mommy, but I just assumed I could do it all and play the juggling game. Except, I can't. Being pregnant takes real energy and I can imagine raising a little one takes twice that. I've been exhausted all over lately and it's affected every single aspect of my life. This pregnancy has opened my eyes to accepting that it is ok to slow down and stop embracing the busy. God designed our bodies to need to rest, let's not mess with the blueprint. 

Grandparents are Treasures

Today marks a heavy milestone on my heart: the day we lost my joyful hearted mom. It's been 2 years and so much as happened since. I always miss my parents, but growing their little grand-boy has only made the grief more apparent. It saddens my heart for my little ones to never get to meet their Ong Ngoai + Ba Ngoai (grandpa and grandma in Vietnamese), but I will promise to make sure they know who they are and how their legacy is ever so strong. Going through this pregnancy without having my Mummy is probably the hardest thing I've had to experience since she's been gone. As a girl, you rely on Mom for all sorts of things as she is there for it all. I have lots of questions about things I wish I could ask her, or wish I could learn her way of doing certain things, but I'm going to have to do my best here and thankfully my sweet, sweet in-laws are beyond support for me. 

Love on Your Spouse

As our sweet little boy is growing (and moving!) my heart continues to grow and shape for his arrival. It's almost as if every waking moment, and sometimes even during sleep, you think about the baby and all the things you'll need to do to prepare for his arrival. I'll have to say it's fairly easy to forget about the most important part of this whole process: the marriage. You get caught up in all of the appointments, planning, shopping- you name it, but one must remember there are only a few months left with just the two of you so cherish every second and make sure to show how much you treasure each other. A joyful marriage is key to a joyful family. 

I can only imagine what the next few months have in store for us as he's shaping out and growing more and more. I've read that he already has developed his facial features and just needs to gain more fat to fill it out. The whole process God designed is simply amazing. Oh, how I can't wait to love on that little face! 

Photography by Dyan Kethley | Adorable Models: Charlotte + Esther Nguyen