The Eakers: In which my baby sister gets married

Hey.

What a weekend! 

I told Katie that some of the best advice Molly gave me before my wedding was what someone had told her:  something will go wrong.  Something will go wrong, and it will be ok.  Just know ahead of time that it will, so you aren't worried when it does.

Really, everything went off without a hitch.  Although, we did run into the same issue we had at our wedding with fitting in picture time before the ceremony.  But- ain't no thang.  They got done later.

It was a beautiful day, and I'm excited to show you a few snapshots oooooof, drumroll please... Mr. and Mrs. Eaker's wedding weekend!

We spent Thursday running little errands, buying all new makeup (I am not a makeup guru, but I was appalled at Katie's makeup brushes. ha), stopping by the camp to see how things were coming along for the reception, the guys had a boys' night, Katie and I got my long awaited Hannam's lemon crunch cone, and we did a practice run of makeup and hair.

 

 

 

 

Amy and Peggy were prepping all the reception flowers at the camp.  Weeee.... watched them work.

 





 

  

 

Then there was the great shoe debacle.  Right after Katie bought her shoes, I told her to practice in them.  I told her to break them in.  I told her to make sure she could walk on carpet and hard floors in them.  So what did Katie do?  Leave them in the box until this weekend.  We put the gel pads in them to make them more comfortable and to fit her foot better, but then she couldn't get her feet in them.  So we took them out, and she proceeded to walk out of her shoes, tripping across the kitchen.  Finally, we got things worked out.

 

  

 

Then it was rehearsal day!  But first things first:  we finished set up at the gym for the reception.  Katie and Chadd went with a picnic theme, and it turned out beyond adorable. 

 

 

(Little Miss Bride on our way to set up and prepping the guestbook globe at the church)

 





 

 

 

Somehow, even when we think we have plenty of time, Katie and I always end up running late.  But no worries: the rehearsal went great... after some stuttering during the vows.  Since I wasn't going to be allowed to snap any up close and personal photos on the actual day, I got some for you during the rehearsal.  You are welcome.

 

 





 

 

   

(Their unity painting- loved this idea!)

 

 

 

 

 

(Everyone pitched in to help with something at some point!)

 

Dad decided to spoil us with a hotel room the night before for our little bachelorette party for the Bride.  Bright eyed and bushy tailed early the next morning, we enjoyed some wedding day breakfast.



 

 



We got ready at the church, where Mary Beth was waiting with a selection of Disney movies for us to choose from, and a wedding prep kit that would blow. your. mind.  That girl is AMAZING.  She thinks of literally everything.

 

 

 

 

(Mom watching as her baby had her portraits taken.)

 

 

(If you didn't take a selfie, did it really happen?)

 

 

(Visiting with family and friends before the ceremony)

 

 

 

  

 

(Have to get a silly family pic.  I'm now wondering where my other leg is?)

 

(Getting ready to head out to the foyer!)

 

And that's all until after the ceremony.  It was beautiful.  The vow recital went smoothly.  (Like I told her they would.)  Amy and I both managed to stay on our feet without using stools.  Katie and Chadd looked so happy.   It was just lovely.  Lovely, lovely, lovely. 

 

(Picking up petals.)

 

Like I said, the picnic theme was beyond adorable.  It all came together so nicely.  The food was great, and there was a live band that I didn't get any photos of!  It was so fun- we're talking fiddle and other strings.  

 



 

 

 

 

And they had square dancing!  The lady in the band did the calling and everything, and it was so fun!  I wish I had some photos of it, but this pregnant lady actually participated a little, and then it was time to mingle with as much family as I could!  

 

(Oh, my husband was looking quite fetching as well.)

 

It was such a beautiful day.  My phone pictures do it no justice.  I don't know that any photos could do it justice though.  It really was such a wonderful time of celebrating Katie and Chadd, and I know we all felt privileged to experience it.

 

Now my sister and her husband are in the Smoky Mountains for their honeymoon, and pursuant to the "something will go wrong" rule, Jered and I are still in Canton, as a completely flat tire has held us up.  Jered is currently trying to get the car across town.  (I'm picturing him stopping every block or so to refill the tire until he makes it.)

 

I told Jered that I'm pregnant and helpless when it comes to car problems, so while he's taking care of that, I'm enjoying looking at wedding pictures over and over and anxiously waiting for the week to be over so I can hear from my sister again!

 

Well, until next time!

 

Aim



Big

Hi.

It's been a big week around here.  We started off the weekend with a fun visit from Jeremy and Kellyanna (a term for Jeremy's two ladies, coined by Lily).  Unfortunately, my body chose a terrible time to revolt, and I spent most of Sunday and Monday sick, sick, sick.  Not fun at all. 

We had the wise idea to take advantage of IHOP's free pancake day on Tuesday... along with everyone else in Des Moines.  (I guess that works out better when you're in college and go late at night instead of right at dinner time.)  We skipped over to Perkins instead, but I don't think we were the only ones with that plan.  It took for. ev. er.  Poor Lily was getting so anxious, and no one could blame her when it was after her bedtime and we were still waiting on our food... I was feeling grumpy by that time too.

I finished seasons of two different shows:  House of Cards and How to Get Away with Murder.  Both left me with my jaw on the floor.

It's been a big week in other ways too though.  By that, I mean literally.  Large.  I am large. 

At the risk of sounding redundant, being pregnant is strange.  It's quite the sensation to look at yourself in the mirror over the course of a few months and stop recognizing the reflection of your body.  I've never had washboard abs, but the bulbous thing in my middle just keeps looking more and more foreign to me.  Especially the belly button that seems stretched to its breaking point.

Weird.

I panicked a little today because I think the stretch marks are starting to form.  Duh, duh, duhhhh.

With that being said, I also think I had my very first feelings of love towards little J this week.  That might sound horrible and anti-maternal, but it's the truth.  I've felt affection for him/her I guess, but not until a couple days ago, did I rub the spot where a little foot pushed out and feel love.  And I'm preparing myself for a similar delay after the little stranger arrives.  After all, it's a whole new person to get to know.

 

After a too-long break from my dreamer and doer devotional, I dug back in the other day.  I just can't say enough good things about it, guys.  I love it.  It's not lofty; it feels like it was written by a friend, or even myself in a dream I don't remember.  Know what I mean?  Like they know how I think. 

The other day I was on the prayer that talked about seasons.  That God... He just always seems to know when we need to hear something over and over, doesn't He?

 

I love this line because it includes "my spirit."  I feel like my heart and mind could be prepared for a season, and I could still have a wrong spirit toward whatever is coming.  Like special people moving away, for example.  Again, I want to have a spirit of peace this year, not a spirit of discontent or anxiety.

It also struck me this week that it's easy to get caught up in being pregnant.  By that, I simply mean that a ton of things are changing about my body that I'm still not used to, we're making different kinds of material preparations, and even without another human at our house, our lifestyle has changed a bit.  However, in a few months, there-is-going-to-be-a-new-human-at-our-house.  One that is totally and completely dependent on us.  

And that's a little frightening.  In this internet age, it's a blessing and a curse to be privy to so many differing opinions at the click of a button.  You can go ahead and click on just about any "mommy" article from any opinion camp on any topic, and you will find blasts against the other side.  It's so easy to feel like you're making a mistake.  (And I'm not even parenting yet!)

Thankfully, whoever wrote the prayer for the seasons part of the devotional realized/remembered the truth.

 

I have no reason to fear what lies ahead.  In Christ, I am enough.  Period.  What a relief.

Well, now a pile of laundry is staring me down.  Daring me to ignore it longer.  Will I?  I'll never tell.

Talk to you later.

Aim