Less than a week 'til due day!

We're getting REALLY excited now! All of our friends who were due around the same time have all delivered and had their babies, we're next up! It's awesome to hear their birth stories, I wonder what our story will be like...

The really exciting news is that I had my 39 week check up today and I'm dilated 1 cm! Not much, but I'm dilated! And that's so exciting! It's really happening, we're gonna have a baby! All of this work isn't going to be for nothing. They are estimating that she will be 7.5-8 lbs and tall (just like her daddy!). But no guess on when she'll get here, only that she is trying to make her way down and I have to let her. ;)

So the bags are packed, the house clean, her room ready, Curtishots photos are almost all done and I have been reading like crazy. We are ready to welcome our daughter into our arms!

We will be sending a Jott message to everyone to let them know when we go into labor (depending on what time it is) and one when Aliyah is here! Jott is a voice mail that we leave and it translates to text messages and emails. If you would like to be on the list, please email me at daraloves@gmail.com ASAP.

Please be praying for us during this transitional time and for God's perfect timing and plans.

Much love, Dara & Austin (& Aliyah)

Some pics from the Happy Hour Shower June 8th

Austin graduated from UCSB!

New photos added!

Congratulations to my amazing husband who is DONE WITH SCHOOL! He is officially a graduate from UCSB with his BA in Global Studies emphasizing in Africa. Here's some pics from that day. My mom has some really good family ones that I'll get soon too!

38 weeks and counting!

We've been having fun during this pregnancy. Learning alot about ourselves and each other daily as my body, mind and home has been changing. We're in the home stretch now and it is all very real now. My braxton hicks have almost disappeared and have now turned into more real contractions that are lower, stronger and are accompanied by low back pain like cramps. The nursery is pretty set up, though we still have a corner to clean out, but it's all heavy stuff. Other than that, I think we're ready. Thank you to everyone who has been praying for us and have gotten us & Aliyah presents to help welcome and prepare us for Aliyah to come into the world.

Here's some pictures of our home ready for Aliyah:

Our new couch!

Our new office!

Aliyah's room

The beautiful changing table/dresser that my dad made!

Very soon!

Updated Anaheim Baby Shower (May 18th)

36 weeks

Austin took some amazing shots the other night- he is so talented! I love them!

And to think we were just getting ready for bed. He's the best!

34 week Ultrasound

Thanks to Life Network Santa Barbara we got to do an ultrasound this afternoon. They called us this morning to see if we would be willing to volunteer my belly to teach one of their nurses their new ultrasound machine. We went in and found out that Aliyah is tall like daddy, weighs 4.7 lbs and that my due date is right on time for the first week of July.
Here are a few of the pictures!

Aliyah's profile (mouth closed)

Aliyah's profile with her mouth opened and is practicing swallowing (see the white ball in her mouth-that's her tongue!)

Aliyah's profile with her mouth and eyes opened.

OC Baby Shower

Hello everyone! Thank you so much to everyone who came to our baby shower at my parents house yesterday! We had so much fun and are completely blessed by your love and generosity. It was such a perfect day...family, friends, the pool, and lots of food thanks to my amazing mom! Pictures are coming soon (Kristal and film cameras).

Love you guys!

Austin, Dara & Aliyah!

My mom did such a great job! Thank you mom!

Lori & I

Lori, Dara, Erin

Aunt Marian & the cupcakes

Kristal, Dara & Shannon at the shower.

Shannon & Dara