And Baby Makes Three...

First Comes Love, Then Comes Marriage, Then... 

Coming July 22, 2014: Baby Bigler!

What a wonderful year it has been! Time flies when you're happy!

Luke and I just celebrated our one year anniversary last month and we just can't believe where all the time has gone!

In November 2013 we found out we were pregnant!! By far the GREATEST joy either of us has ever experienced. The last 8 months have been AMAZING! I've been fortunate to have a body that was made for making babies! Other than first trimester "morning" sickness, back aches and mood swings it's been a cinch! Nothing could get me down! Every time this little sweetheart gives me a little kick or love tap everything else melts away!

We found out in February that we are having a little girl and we couldn't be happier!! Pink, pink and more pink! We went (along with both of our parents) to A Miracle in Progress and got to see our little girl doing flips in my belly. Before that I wasn't sure that I'd been feeling her or not, but seeing her do flips and feeling the sensation of her moving at the same time confirmed-- it's been her all along!

Many happy tears and hugs came after! We couldn't wait to meet our little girl!!

We made a decision not to share what names we were thinking about with anyone... because heaven knows how easily influenced I am by people's negative opinions... and EVERYONE has an opinion on this name or that name. But we've pretty much got her name decided now and have since about the 7th month!

We can't wait to see her and see if the name is perfect just like we think it will be!

Now at 34 weeks pregnant I'm getting bigger and bigger by the minute and I love it! It is truly a miracle to me to see what my body can do! I'm blessed to have my sweet Luke who thinks I look more attractive now than I ever have been! I know my body will never look the same... and you know what, why should it? This body has created life-- where's the joy in that if I've got nothing to show for it... you know... except the baby! Ha ha!

8 Weeks Pregnant

32 Weeks Pregnant

Our doctor is Dr. Martin at The OBGYN Specialists (http://www.theobgynspecialists.net/) and we just love him! He along with the rest of the staff at the office have been amazing this whole pregnancy!!

Our little girl does great big stretches now in my belly and she seems to favor my right side (under my rib I think it her preferred lounging spot)! Luke loves spending time in the evenings just reading and talking to her with his hand firmly planted on top of my growing belly in hopes of feeling a kick here and there! Every time she kicks he just shouts out in joy, "what is she doing in there" with a great big laugh and smile. He truly is going to be the best Dad in the world!

We've both gone through every range of emotions... nervous, happy, stressed, worried, anxious... but in the end we're both just so excited to be parents and to meet our little angel!

We've known her before, we can already feel that connection and we can't wait to be reconnected here on earth! The Lord has blessed our little family in so many ways already, and we've only just begun!

Our house is stocked with baby clothes and diapers, the infant car seat is installed and her bassinet awaits her...

6 weeks to go and counting...

A Perfect Day For Maternity Pictures

On May 24th, at 32 weeks pregnant, Luke and I decided to have an amazingly talented friend, Christina Erdman, take some maternity pictures of us and they turned out PERFECT!

We knew that we wanted to capture a few images of our sweet little girl in my belly, and originally, we had planned on just doing this ourselves... but oh how grateful we are that we took the time to have someone who knows how to work a camera lens help us out!

We went out to Floyd Lamb Park on a beautiful sunny May day and walked around the park taking in all of it's beauty... we ran into gorgeous peacocks and noisy geese along with some adorable newborn baby ducks! It was so much fun! This park is so beautiful!

Christina had the perfect eye for all the right spots to shoot...

It was so much fun taking these pictures with Luke... we are both just so excited to meet our little girl in just a few short weeks!!

Luke already loves his little angel so much... He is going to make the best Dad ever!

What can I say... he's just so much fun! :)

I can't believe that our little angel is going to be here so soon... pink shoes and all! ;)

No matter what we know that we, along with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, are the foundation for our family. Above all else, we love each other first.

And forever...

And now we just sit and wait... or waddle and wait in my case! ;) I have loved every second of this pregnancy. I have truly been blessed with not just a body that performs so well under these amazing circumstances, but with an attitude that stays on the up and up along with a husband that has been my rock at many times these past months. I just couldn't do it without him.

We know that our family is only just beginning here on earth and we can't wait to meet our little girl and all of her sweet siblings to come...

I love you little girl.... 

The Family Is Central To The Creator's Plan For The Eternal Destiny Of His Children... 

https://www.lds.org/topics/family-proclamation?lang=eng

Our Wedding Day

May 4th 2013
     
     The day couldn't have come fast enough for us. We were literally counting down the days, minutes and seconds starting at 101 days 23 hours and 34 seconds! 

     We originally wanted to get married on March 2nd-- the first Saturday after I received my endowment, but decided we'd much rather do it at a time where we would have an anniversary dedication to "us".

It was a tough decision, one that, looking back, was excruciatingly hard, but totally worth it! Still our best word of advice to engaged couples out there:

    AFTER YOU'RE ENGAGED DON'T WAIT ANY LONGER THAN 3 MONTHS TO GET MARRIED- MAX!

     Trust us, there is no reason to plan any longer than that... you can get a beautiful wedding planned in well under 3 months and then... you'll get to be married!! Trust us.

     As long as the 6 months between "will you marry me" and "I do" were... we truly enjoyed the time spent planning our wedding together! Luke was not only amazingly helpful, but managed to pull straight A's that semester as well! Woot! Woot! Shout out to my awesome husband! Such a smarty pants! :)

    Our wedding day was everything I imagined and then some. It truly was magical... and there is no way it could have pulled off without my amazing sister and best friend Joleena (Duckie) and all my other amazing bridesmaids and groomsmen (and Mom's)! They were on top of their game that day and made the reception the gorgeous dream it was! THANK YOU!!

     Everyone always says your wedding day passes by so quickly... and they are RIGHT! We didn't know where the time had gone! We thought for sure that starting the day at 5:00 a.m. would make for a loooooong day, but it was over in the blink of an eye with just the memories of the cake, the decorations, the family and friends and the joyous moments in the Temple to tuck us in that night. Oh it was AMAZING! AHH-mazing!

     We are so blessed to have had photographers who were able to do more than just take pictures but TRULY capture the moments that mattered to US... allowing us to feel like we can relive those moments forever. 

Our Wedding Day Slide Show

     Our reception was so much fun, but the true joy and memories happen at the Temple. There is no amount of cake, or decorations that could hold a candle to the beauty of the eternal commitment we made that morning to each other and to our Heavenly Father. The room was filled with some of our most near and dear close family and friends, and yet, the room was empty except for Luke and I and the Spirit. We locked hands, and locked eyes and we disappeared into the words of the promise we were making. Even now as I think back to this morning, I am overwhelmed by the joy and calm in which I felt knowing I was marrying my soul mate. 

     My parents and sisters came to the Temple too and waited patiently in the foyer. There would have been very little in this world I would have wanted more than to have had them with me there... my Dad witnessing, my mom holding my hand, but I knew they were thinking of me. I knew they loved me, and gave their blessing to Luke and I as we walked through those Temple doors. I am blessed to have a family that supports my happiness above all else... I just long for the day when they too will learn of the beautiful plan of happiness our Heavenly Father has for them, and all of us, and open their hearts to the Gospel of the Lord. I can't wait for the day when I get to see my parents, and my family in the Temple. And I just know I will. 

     Now, happily married, Luke and I strive every day to keep our Temple covenants and promises! Life just keeps on getting better for us the closer we keep ourselves to the Lord. How blessed we are to be surrounded by so many people that make it easy to do it-- always being such wonderful, kind examples to us! We love you all! :)

Our Amazing Family:

Just Us...