Updates Galore!

I've been very bad lately updating our blog but we've been very busy so here are some new things going on with us. We went out to Pennsylvania for a long weekend to visit family, been finishing our dining table project, making progress on Baby Belyea's room, and spending time with friends. July is here and that means Cherry Festival and Im in my third trimester! I've been feeling great besides the hot, HOT weather. Baby Belyea is moving around so much more and Ben can feel it now. She especially likes when Ben plays music for her and when we read/talk to her. We've attended some baby classes and I started doing pre-natal yoga which is amazing! I promise to get better updating, especially as the next few months we have lots going on. Hopefully, that will make my last trimester go fast. :)

A view to her room with the crib. We changed the furniture placement and added some things but I love how everything is coming together. Thanks to Grandma and Grandpa Paranick for the crib! We love it and know she will too!


28 week baby bump.

Ben and I at my cousin's wedding in Pennsylvania holding my baby bump at 26 weeks.

Love this picture of Rachel and I! Thanks again to you and Jeremy for openning your home to us while we visited. We can't wait to see you soon!

And finally....the almost finished dining table. All it needs is a few more finishing details and some stain but I aboslutely love how it changed the look of our room. Ben, as always, did an absolutely amazing job.

5 Years of Wedded Bliss

5 years ago today we celebrated our marriage! Time has really flown, but I am constantly reminded of how special that day was and how special each day continues to be, especially now that our little girl is on her way! So I wanted to share some of my favorite pictures from our wedding day. Looking at them makes me want to do it all over again!

Our first dance together...I wish I could remember what we were talking about but I know I was never happier than at this moment!
At the church.....the new (but now "older") Mr. and Mrs.
Not only were we married but we shared our day with Tara and Nick. 2 ceremonies and one reception was so much fun. This picture is my VERY favorite, the memory of walking down the isle to our family and friends still brings tears to my eyes and a smile to my face.

The picture our photographer made us....so pretty!

Fountain Pointe, the backdrop to our reception.

A quiet moment at the Sutton's Bay docks.

House Projects!

So being in a nesting mood, I've decided to start re-decorating our house. Ben has been kind enough to do most of the projects and help out and everything so far has turned out amazing. Check out the new dining room furniture and baby's room below.

Thank God for craigslist.com. I found 6 antique oak chairs for super cheap that just needed a little love. Above is the "before" picture.

The finished project...just a little re-finishing and fabric go along way.

Ben is making the dining room table and here is the base. I still can't believe his vision turned into reality but even better. I still think Ben should be on HGTV.

The first coat of paint going on in the baby's room...we went with a lighter blue color and I must say it turned out so pretty.

Aspen checking out the progress.

Ben putting the finishing touches on...

Finished paint complete with crown molding. I think she is going to love the room, I know I do! Now starts the process of filling it up with the crib, changing table, accessories, and well, all of that other baby stuff.

Bayshore Half Marathon

Ben ran the Bayshore Half Marathon this weekend. He has been training since January and finished the 13.1 miles in under is goal of 2 hours! He did an amazing job and has already signed up for his next race....the Cherry Festival 15k in July.

All the runners after the race...celebrating at MacKenzie's with some Mimosa's and relaxation.
Ben, Mac, and Kate-awesome job finishing the half marathon guys! GO BEN! Just about 20 feet from the finish line.

Half way down, Half way to go!

So I am finally updating our blog about Baby Belyea and so much has happened in the last 6 weeks! Right now we are officially half way there with just 20 weeks to go!

It has been a very, very exciting time. Thankfully, I finally started to feel better around week 17. My belly has finally started to grow, that one day I woke up and just couldn't fit into my normal jeans anymore! I guess that means maternity clothes from here on out. I also started to feel the baby around 18 weeks fluttering inside of me. As hard as Ben tries he still can't feel it but I am sure he will soon enough as the movement gets stronger everyday. We had our 18 week appointment with Dr. Bump and heard the heartbeat again, still at 160. The best news was that we found out we could schedule my next ultrasound the next week, which meant finding out the sex!

For the next week Ben and I though of all of these grandeous ideas on how to learn the sex, including have a special cake made. But when it came down to it and we are sitting there watching our ultrasound, we decided we couldn't wait. So........

IT'S A GIRL!

The ultrasound was the most amazing thing ever. We watched our beautiful daughter move around and flip around, waving her arms around, and kicking her legs. We got to see her brain, stomach, bladder, kidneys, heart and 4 ventricles, bones, arteries, her precious face, and so much more. We even got o see her yawn and stick her tongue out. It was the most precious thing ever! The technician even estimated her weight to be 9 oz. I really didn't want the experience to end but luckily we have a DVD of the entire thing to re-live over and over.

Ben and I can't be more excited to have a baby girl and thank everyone for all your well wished and love! Our daughter is so blessed to have so many wonderful family and friends that love her as much as we do! Enjoy the pictures below...I even gave a sneak peak to the nursery and finally posted a "baby bump" photo.

The backside of Baby Belyea, you can see her left arm laying over her head.
Our Baby Girl's face, I think she looks like Ben.

The profile of Baby Belyea, she is laying on her back. She is so much bigger than at 10 weeks!

The 20 week Baby Bump

A sneak peak into her closet...so many clothes already.

A sneak peak to the theme: her bedding which I bought off of Etsy.com and vintage flower pictures from my mom.

Guys and Girls Weekends

We had a guys and girls weekend this past weekend. Us girls stayed in TC to celebrate Anna and Macare's baby showers. We had wonderful food, good company, and great conversations about babies. It was so fun to celebrate the impending arrivals of Baby Dunn and Baby Lumbrezer! The rest of the weekend was very relaxing, spending time with the girls at dinner and catching up.

While the girls stayed in TC, the guys headed up to our favorite place in the UP, Mike's cabin in Cedarville. They golfed, played games, and enjoyed the campfire....and I am sure their conversations had little to do with pregnancy or babies unlike us girls. :)

Boating in April

This past Easter weekend we were blessed with unseasonably warm weather-85 degrees and sunny! So being the adventerous group that we are, we decided to break out the boats for the first boat trip of the year. 16 of our friends joined us and we docked at West Bay for awhile to enjoy some conversation and drinks, not me of course :), and then decided to head over to the Boat House for dinner. The ride over was quite bumpy but very fun! Dinner was amazing and thanks to the Boat House for accomodating all 18 of us. It was such a great way to start out the summer and I look forward to spending many more with our friends.

All 18 of us outside of the Boat House. We are truly blessed with great friends.

The girls enjoying the warm weather on Dean and Tricia's boat.

Ben and the boys having fun at the docks.