2 more weeks… 20 & 21

oh we’re halfway there…

…oh oh..

living on a prayer.

okay not really,

but the weeks are counting down.

hard to believe

2 more weeks have passed.

soon I’m going to start

:::panicking:::

but until then

just counting down.

{week 20}

we found out baby m

is a girl.

{week 21}

as you may have noticed

:: probably only if you read this regularly::

my chalkboards changed.

do to running out of chalk complete laziness.

I’ve resorted to photo editing.

{should have a long time ago}

so the new look of the chalkboard

for the second half.

BD’s been doing a lot of house work.

I’ll update that next!

….but until then…

Baby M is a…

January 15th, 2014

changed our lives forever.

We were

blessed.

amazed.

comforted.

by the fact we will welcome a

healthy & strong

baby

G.I.R.L

into the {SoCal} Mertens family

{I guess this is only news if you haven’t checked

facebook or instagram}

:: Jamaica :: …finally….

we’ve officially been back in the land

of sun {SoCal} that is,  a little over a week.

the reality of not going to the beach everyday

has set in.

BD & I were blessed

to be able to spend

7, yes, SEVEN

full nights in Jamaica.

{longer than our honeymoon}

We had a wonderful time.

blue ocean.

beautiful pool.

warm weather.

good friends.

couldn’t have asked for a better time.

It was a great way to say goodbye to 2013

hello 2014

{year of the baby}

to see pictures from our trip

click here

until the next time.

we’ll enjoy summer like weather in

January.

who would have thought?!

17… {18}…. 19 weeks!

oh man. oh man.

a few weeks behind.

{still promise to provided Jamaica pictures}

but first time for

catch up.

today, Saturday, January 11th this pregnancy is 19 weeks in!

oh man.

weeks 17 & 18 were spent in

CO & Jamaica

hence the horrific photo

…please forgive…

courteous oh the Kaiser’s wall

week 18 I had grandiose plans of doing

“the chalkboard”

Monday when we got back.

HA.

enter picture from our Saturday in Jamaica

 

BD made the weekly photo <3

…and today…

I introduce you to

“baby bump”

4 days till we find out if baby M is a

boy –or- girl

oh.man.

just for those you might care

I’ve been feeling fine.

this morning I welcomed being pregnant 19 weeks

with a 5 mile run!

PDR for baby M.

{& momma since week 10}

the countdown is on.

January 15th

he or she?

{Christmas} in the Rockies!

…Back to reality…

but still enjoying reliving our

Christmas Break memories!

BD & I spent Christmas this year in CO!

We flew in early Christmas Eve Day,

which was awesome!

We were able to attended my home church growing up.

I can’t even remember the last time I was able to on

Christmas Eve.

For your “must custom” picture by the Christmas Tree!

we spent Christmas Day at

my brother, SIL, and the girls house.

{she’s not ours but if we have a little girl she could much like our little Finley}

I sucked at taking picture the rest of the time in CO.

epic.fail.

but I guess priorities are different.

We got to spend an evening with

The Ralstons

meet sweet baby Lila

hangout with Delaney.

We actually had great weather,

but luckily the night before we left for Jamaica.

…we got to see snow…

a great sight to see when you’re leaving for 80* weather.

so it was perfecting timing to head off to

JAMAICA!

13 {thirteen} in 2013

so I’m a few days late,

but have a good excuse.

J.A.M.A.I.C.A

{more on that later & week ‘baby bump’ updates}

This was a year of change for the SoCal Mertens

with more change to come

Our top 12 of 2012

I thought was going to be tough to beat.

boy.was.i.wrong.

so much happened in 2013,

but here’s our 13 highlights in 2013:

{in no particular order}

except for the obvious…

1.  Finding out we’re having a baby!

June 2014 another HUGE change.

{now in no particular order }

2.  Two of our best friends got married

&

we were honored to be part!

3. Starting our own farm

4. being able to finally visit San Diego!

{even better visiting SD with BD’s fam bam}

5. Celebrating five years of wedded bliss…

a little get away to Mammoth, CA

6.  Colorado Friends coming to visit!

7.  receiving my Masters’ diploma!

8. countless nights by the fire pit

yes.this.is.a.highlight.

9.  our annual summer trip to Vegas!

10. new jobs!

Head Football Coach.

school counselor.

11. Disneyland with my whole fam bam!

12. completing the deck to enjoy on summer all warm nights!

13. Ending 2013 & kicking off 2014 in Jamaica!

{more on that coming up}

2013 was a year of changes, but most of all

a year of blessings.

excited for 2014 and what it will bring.

especially baby M.