The Rectordays

The day after Thanksgiving, November 25, will go down in history as one of my very favorite days on this earth. After fighting a night of sleep, tossing and turning every few minutes, BJ and I sprang out of bed about 6am. We both took a great shower. I dried and actually got to do my hair, put on some makeup and then before we knew it we were out the door at 7:15am headed to the hospital! Of course we would, but we got in a little tiff about the hat that BJ was wearing... he has a John Deere hat that I absolutely despise and I just really didn't want it in pictures, so I asked him to change it. He did, but of course we had a little argument instead of a seamless morning.... but everyone has those moments, right?! Anyways, we pull into the hospital (front row parking - woot!) and head straight to Labor & Delivery where we basically felt like we were signing our life away, but nevertheless, got everything checked out and set up to be admitted for surgery. The biggest differe

From our house to yours.... hope you Thanksgiving was full of fellowship, blessing, family and friends. Ours was spent with our families here at our home, celebrating all that we have been blessed with and preparing for our newest blessing tomorrow. Eleanor was not a fan of the meal... she really only liked the cranberries and throwing the rest of the food and laughing at everyone laughing at her....   She then wanted to spend most of the afternoon playing outside with Maebe, her best friend (my brother and Kristen's dog who doesn't like Eleanor as much as Eleanor likes her)   She enjoyed playing a little of America's favorite Thanksgiving pass-time...   And herding pumpkins from our porch all over the front lawn....   The Gross family.....   The Rector family...   The other Gross family (with Maebe and Baby Boy)...   And the other Rector family (with BR #2, due tomorrow morning!)     We have so much to be thankful for this year.... th

So, we made it! Tomorrow we get to meet YOU, little bug! WE CANNOT WAIT!!! In some ways, it feels as though we were just learning about you... in others, it is like, HURRY up and get here already! Today has been such a weird (if we are being honest) day... our last day as a family of 3, our last day with Eleanor as our "only" child, the eve before our Christmas when we will finally meet and welcome you into our family. Even writing these words seems quite surreal to me. It is only appropriate that today is Thanksgiving..... truly a holiday that completely embodies every ounce of my being... I am just so THANKFUL for you, for Eleanor, for daddy and our family. We are my favorite. BR #2, tomorrow we will find out whether or not you are a boy or a girl, if you favor momma or daddy, if you look anything like your sister.... tomorrow is a milestone in our lives that I cannot wait to reach and we will never look back. We LOVE you and just can't wait to wrap our arms around

So, not sure how "flirty" I actually am... good thing two out of three ain't bad (I hate the word ain't)! This past week I turned 30 years old - really?!? - 30! I truly feel like moments ago I was just a wee tot myself (or at least in college) thinking that 30 was ancient. YIKES! But now that it is here, I can truly say I am really excited about what this next decade holds.... and to kick it off, I figured I would reflect on 30 (cheesy, I know) things in my life that I am truly thankful for: 1. My relationship with Jesus Christ - I am humbled that He has chosen me, saved me and is continuing a work in me. 2. My husband, BJ. No one (on this earth) loves me the way he does - he is truly my best friend and I am blessed to be his wife. 3. Eleanor and BR #2 - I LOVE MY KIDS. I love no one on earth the way that I do them - it is instinctive, undeniable and completely refining. The joy they bring to my life is indescribable (even without having met BR #2 yet... I love t

Now this is just awesome. Who wouldn't want to snuggle this little nugget after nap time? Momma is loving these curls :).

Its the Final Countdown (did that song just come into your head?? I hope so.... shoutout GOB !).... we are 7 days away from meeting BR #2. We have officially made it to the days where Momma says, this is our last Friday as a family of three... such a sentimental sap, I am. I just can't believe it - truly cannot believe that we will have another precious baby to call our own here in a week (literally, like to the minute of when I am writing this!). BR #2, you are just so ready to make your entrance.... constantly moving and stretching inside, I really think you are starting to get uncomfortable. If not you, I sure am. You just do not stay still (which Eleanor didn't either, so I am not surprised). I haven't had any "I think I am going into labor" kind of pains or contractions this week, which is great, but I definitely had one evening where for about 30 minutes I was having contractions in my back again. That is where I went into labor with Eleanor and I had comp

Send some rain, would You send some rain?  'Cause the earth is dry and needs to drink again  And the sun is high and we are sinking in the shade  Would You send a cloud, thunder long and loud?  Let the sky grow black and send some mercy down  Surely You can see that we are thirsty and afraid  But maybe not, not today  Maybe You'll provide in other ways   And if that's the case . . .  We'll give thanks to You, With gratitude  For lessons learned in how to thirst for You  How to bless the very sun that warms our face  If You never send us rain. Daily bread, give us daily bread  Bless our bodies, keep our children fed  Fill our cups, then fill them up again tonight  Wrap us up and warm us through  Tucked away beneath our sturdy roofs  Let us slumber safe from danger's view this time  Or maybe not, not today  Maybe You'll provide in other ways  And if that's the case . . .  We'll give thanks to You, With gratitude  A lesson lear

I am a VERY sentimental person. So naturally, pictures are extremely important to me and probably the one area of our lives that regardless of our situation, I will want to invest in. Below are pictures from our first family photo shoot / Eleanor's one year pics / Momma's maternity pics.... I could NOT love them any more.... Susan Hudson (a dear friend of BJ and I) did a fabulous job!! It literally is going to be so hard to pick out ones that we will use, because I love them all!! Here is a small (albeit large) sampling from just a few of our favorites!!      Picture overload! If you made it to the end, congrats! This is just the tip of the iceberg... we love these pics of our girl! The next photo shoot will include BR #2... CRAZY!