21 week update

Here is my very attractive had-a-long-day picture for my 21 week update (sense the sarcasm?):

How far along? 21 weeks, 1 day
Total weight gain/loss: +.8 from last week/+16 total
Maternity clothes: Yes, but my butt obviously hasn’t grown too much, because I wore the bella band with my old pants when out of laundry on Monday. :)
Stretch marks? Nope.
Sleep: I’m having some back pain that’s woke me up some nights.
Best moment this week: Finding out the gender and having a “perfect” ultrasound!
Movement: Lots and lots – she has some definite patterns, and I’m beginning to decipher kicks from the fluttering.
Food cravings: Salad, marshmallows, fruit salad
Gender: Girl
Labor signs: Nope.
Belly button in or out? In, but freakishly and alarmingly seems to be making its way to outtie – YUCK.
What I miss: Ibuprofen for back pain, long runs in the rain (we’ve had perfect weather lately).
What I am looking forward to: The baby shower, decorating the room and seeing the baby move across my belly.
Weekly Wisdom: DEFINITELY take the breastfeeding class that the hospital offers! And the Baby Basics class.
Milestones: The big ultrasound and finding out that our little sweet pea is a girl.

What can make a crappy day better??

NURSERY STUFF!! My nursery stuff arrived today, and it is even more adorable in person than it is in the pictures. Since I ordered everything from Amazon, I didn't think it would all arrive so soon, but the only thing I'm waiting on is the wastebasket. Yay! I can't wait to decorate. :)

Also, Ryan assembled the glider on Sunday. It is super comfy - apparently Moto thinks so, too.

My cat is anxious about the baby

Snowball & Moto are my first "babies." Snowball is pretty chill, never really freaks out about anything and is my little constant companion. I have had her for about 9 years now. Moto is still a young little cat; we got him when he was a kitten, and he's about 3. He's always been a little "odd" and very, very feisty (however, to all you naysayers, he is NOT a feral cat - I even asked the vet). Moto has spunk (I know some of you are thinking he is evil, but he's always been very lovey to me), so much spunk, in fact, that he has to be anesthetised to be examined at the vet. Moto likes to eat plastic bags, pantyhose and wool. He has recently started to eat the fur off the back of his front legs. The vet has previously suggested anti-anxiety medication for my poor little cat, but I turned them down. Until today. I called the vet to tell her about Moto's recent hair-pulling, and she suggested them again. She even quipped that maybe after some time on the "treatment" he will be able to be examined without being drugged up. She asked about all the changes in our lives, and when I told her the only really big one was me being pregnant, she agreed with Sarah & my theory that animals are very observant, and he can probably tell there are changes happening. Poor little Moto is anxious about the baby. After all, he has been the baby for the last three years. :) I'll keep you posted on his progress...

Moto is the orange one; Snowball's the black & white

On another note, my husband is amazing!! Yesterday, I came home, and he had done all the laundry, cleaned out the office almost all the way AND patched a hole in the roof above the nursery. Today I came home, and the office was organized and cleaned out; space has been made for almost all the baby's stuff. Now all we have to do is clean out the closet and move one more bookshelf to the garage and start decorating! :)

And we're registered!

My mom & I just spent three hours at Target getting me & Ryan registered for Baby. It was exciting. I think we got everything covered and am excited for her to come, so we can use it all. :) I'm pretty sleepy now, so I think I'm going to watch Ryan play Wii Golf and take a nap. :)

Tropical Punch

Found the nursery stuff I liked on a few websites but on Amazon.com for the least expensive, so I ordered it today! It is adorable. It is Jungle Theme. It is soft/hot pink, pastels and dreamsicle orange. I loved it from the first time I saw it, and I'm lucky enough to have a husband who says, "I don't care, do whatever you want. Yes, it's cute!" :) Now we just have to get 1) the garage cleaned out and then 2) the office cleaned out, so that early August we can paint, set up furniture and organize/decorate our little girl's nursery. I can't wait!!

By the way, please bear with my placenta brain. I was going to "e-mail this out" as some might recall from the last posting. My reasoning for this was that I didn't want internet stalkers to have my registry info., because then they could know my name and other info. Then I remembered that since I was purchasing nursery stuff, that didn't really matter and that I am going crazy.

We are SO in love!!

Alright everyone...here is a picture of our sweet girl. This is the 4D one the tech took, and it shows her little profile perfectly. I look at her, and I just take a deep breath and am filled with excitement, love, joy and so much more. I can't wait to meet her in person!

I believe I've found a nursery theme! We're going to register this weekend. I will be sending an e-mail to those near and dear who have asked for the theme info. :)

Hi everyone. Just playing around with the computer & figured out how to blog via the cell phone. Thought I'd test it out...

It's A Girl!

Well, we got the big ultrasound today, and we are the proud parents of a little girl. We are SO excited! Now we can start registering and buying little things...cute little pink things! :) She is about 13 ounces, or the weight of a soda can. Once I get a scanner up and running (or use the one at work), I will post some pic's of the ultrasound. An answer to prayer was that the tech did a 4D ultrasound of her face without us even asking! It's really cool; I can't wait to share. It was amazing to see how perfectly the baby's formed in there: spine, arms, feet...it's truly a God-thing. The tech said the baby is perfect and that I looked good, too. It was so sweet and such an amazing experience to see our little one for the first time. I think we are going to register this weekend, and I will post the info. on here for those of you who have asked. We ran to Target to get a body pillow to make sleeping more comfy for my ever-expanding belly, and I just had to stop by the baby aisle. Looking at the little pink socks and onsies, the little caps and especially those little mittens...I just had to sigh at the excitement. It will be so much fun to have a little girl! This milestone just makes it sink in even deeper in my heart that we are going to be parents. I am just so thankful for this experience and am cherishing every moment that I can!

Oh, hey! I meant to post awhile back that if you want, you can always post a comment to "write back." Feel free. :) We'd love to hear from you!

Summer Break

The last night of BSF was last night, and it was a nice night of sharing. I think overall the Lord has worked some lessons into my heart and mind that He definitely wants me to apply from the study of The Life of Moses. The first has been trust. During the study, we really got to see how the Lord drew Moses closer to Him and Moses grew in his faith and trust in the Lord. He was first called, way out of his comfort zone, to follow God's calling to lead the people out of Egypt. "No way," he said, "send someone else." So God offered Him help. I have felt out my comfort zone many times over this past year, from being a first year children's leader and wondering where the time was going to come from to complete the lessons to caring for my grandma to now awaiting a baby with only one of us working. I keep praying about Ryan's job situation, and it seems like Ryan may be following the right path in continuing to do the car sales thing...but I'm out of my comfort zone not knowing and waiting for God's time and His revelation to us both what His will is for us. Many times over the last year, I've whined, "This isn't fair God! Why can't it be someone else?" And God has sent me fellow BSF leaders and family to help or to pray. From that first call then onto the parting of the Red Sea to trusting God's path in the wilderness to obeying when God said it was time for him to die, Moses trusted God, and that's all I can do, as well. The second thing I learned is that God will enable us for the tasks He has called us to do. I have seen Him continually, week by week, provide the time for me to complete those lessons I was worried about, even when it felt like there was no time. He has enabled me to lead children of an age group I have never led. On Monday nights, when invariably, I had morning sickness or a migraine or some form of opposition on my health, when my sweet fellow leaders & I prayed before class, I know it was Him who enabled me to not just get through the evening, but who sustained me with extra energy and joy. He will also enable me to be a mother. And like He spoke those small words to me last week in my frustration, just like He enabled Moses, He will enable me to care for my grandma. The final thing I really gleaned from this year was the value of intercession for those you lead and for others in my life. I saw how arguments with those close to me were best resolved when I shut my mouth and prayed for the Holy Spirit's intercession for the situation, because I just didn't know how to pray. I saw how when we prayed specifically for students to come or to complete their lessons that those prayers were answered, and students came, behaved and had completed lessons. I saw how in the midst of tough situations that prayer for the other people changed my perspective so that I didn't quite feel as worried or angry. It's been quite a year! I am excited for John to begin next year and am also very thankful for the blessing of Summer break.

19 weeks (and 4 days) picture

How far along? 19 weeks, 4 days
Total weight gain/loss: +2 lbs. last update
Maternity clothes: Yes
Stretch marks? Nope
Sleep: Cherishing it – it’s been good
Best moment this week: continues to be feeling movement
Movement: every day! lots of it on Friday!
Food cravings: ice cream, salad
Gender: ?? I’m done guessing at this point, but still kinda’ think boy
Labor signs: none
Belly button in or out? in
What I miss: hmmm…nothing really, this week
What I am looking forward to: THE BIG ULTRASOUND AND FINDING OUT THE GENDER ON WEDNESDAY!!
Weekly Wisdom: If you’re planning on staying home after the baby’s born, you just have to look at it like there’s no other option and plan for that. God will work it out if it’s His will and change your heart if it’s not.
Milestones: The big switch to maternity pants.

I can't believe I will be 20 weeks on Wednesday - halfway there! It is crazy to think how fast the gime has gone and that our little one will be here in 4 1/2 months!

Ambivalence

The last few days have been a mix of emotions. It’s kind of hard to put into words. I feel the baby move inside me, and I become so excited; I can’t wait to meet him/her. I can’t wait until Ryan can feel the baby’s movement! I can’t wait to find out if our little one is a little girl or a little boy. I think about Ryan as a daddy, about what a good job he’s going to do. I remember that Ryan & I will just have these short, precious months before the baby’s born where it’s just him and me, and I feel a little sad. Actually, that is probably the thing I feel most ambivalent about: it’s not going to be just me and Ryan anymore. No more week long trips for at least a couple of years, maybe longer depending on when we have another child. No more undisturbed evenings together every night. No more lazy Sunday mornings of sleeping in and movie afternoons. I realize we will still have time to connect, but I am also not naïve enough to think it will ever be the same; never again will it be quite as much time as we have together now (well at least for the next 20 years or so…). I’m also wise enough to know that the time with our children will be one of the best gifts ever bestowed upon us by the Lord, one of the sweetest things we will ever experience. I think about holding the baby, caring for it but I also remember how hard that task is going to be, and I feel a little scared. I wonder how we’re going to do everything financially…and if I’ll really be able to stay home like my dream has always been. I love being pregnant but know the time is short in the grand scheme of my baby’s life, so I hold onto these sweet months knowing I’ll only get to experience this maybe twice in my life. I think about how the care my grandma needs is going to increase within the next months or year or so, and I wonder how I’ll be able to handle caring for her and for a child. I look at experienced moms with their babies or their little kids and I marvel at how they just know what to do, what the child needs, how to provide for them, and I wonder if I’ll be able to do all those things.

These have been the things I’ve been mulling over in my mind and in my heart recently, just as I or anyone else tends to do in the midst of a great change. I also know – I just know – God will enable us for this task and the future, and it will be awesome.

Thinkin' boy again

Ok, I'm leaning towards a boy again. I've kind of thought it all along, with a couple days of thinking girl, but obviously it doesn't mean much until we actually get the big ultrasound in EXACTLY TWO WEEKS! I'm so excited to find out what our little sweet potato is. That's how big baby is today at 18 weeks. My mom kind of thinks I am going to have a hyper-Amber-like child, because this baby is like a little acrobat in there. :)

My Calendar Today

“You’re an original and God planned for you even before you were born. He knows all about you and He has so many precious thoughts about you, you can’t even number them. ‘You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in Your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. How precious are your thoughts about me, O God! They are innumerable! I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! – Ps. 139:16-18.’”

This touches my heart in two ways: one to know that my God cares so much about me, that He thinks precious thoughts about me. Two, that He cares about our baby in this same way. To know that His thoughts are innumerable and outnumber the grains of sand is truly amazing! I can only imagine how many positive thoughts I have had and will have throughout my child’s life, but to know that this child has been dedicated to God and is truly His child gives me such peace. Even now in my womb, I can trust my Creator’s hand that is holding him/her. God knows and even sees every little flutter that I feel, every little cell that is formed, every little beat of the baby’s heart. He loves and cares so much more for this baby than Ryan or I ever could, and that is such a comfort to me.

God, I pray that you would call our child to You as s/he grows. I want our baby to know You, your Word and your ways. Help Ryan and I to train him/her up right in the Bible and in the truth, and when You call them to the truth, I pray that You would place a burning desire in their heart to answer you and run to You. Enable us to teach him/her that with You all things are possible, that You are trustworthy, unchanging and our true life source. Thank You for caring so much for us, as finite as we are, as imperfect as we are. Thank You for your thoughts, Your guidance and the Love you sent for us. Amen.

Crazy Dreams & Increased Movement

OK. Last night, not only was I jolted from my sleep by my dear husband at 12:00 (I went to bed at 9:45) when he finished his movie and noisily went to the bathroom and turned on the light...then returned to bed flashing his palm pilot game in my face like a police officer directing traffic, but I then woke up to pee a couple of times. Finally an encore awakening at around 3:00 with my baby breastfeeding - and telling me that I was doing a bad job. Apparently, in the dream, I had "too much milk" and needed to pump. 1: a baby cannot speak. 2: is that even logical?? These dreams are so weird! Two nights ago, I dreamed we (I can't really remember who was with me) were repelling off the roof at work to escape from some criminal robbers.

In the shower this morning, my usual time to pray :), I prayed for increased movement. I just love to feel the little baby move! Today, after breakfast, snack, lunch & evening snack, the little babe was dancing around in there, quite happy to be fed. God is so good, and I just love to feel that movement!

Well, tonight is my late night, and now that I am cooled down, I'm going to go to bed.

Got the crib

I went to Target today with my grandma and my mom and picked up our crib. Yay! I know it's early, but I'm starting to plan the nursery now. That way we'll have a lot of it ready to go and won't have to stress so much down the line. Here's a link to the crib:

http://www.target.com/Delta-Childrens-Products-Changer-Cider/dp/B001P1Y6FS/181-8263535-8745216?ie=UTF8&node=13298321&frombrowse=1&pricerange=&index=tgt-mf-mv&field-browse=13298321&rank=pmrank&rh=&page=2

I tried to post a picture, but it didn't work. We love this crib, because it comes with the changing table attached. The crib turns into a twin or full bed, and the changing table becomes an end table.

17 week update

How far along? 17 weeks, 3 days
Total weight gain/loss: Placenta brain causes me to forget…Ok; up .90 lbs. from last week, up 10 lbs. overall.
Maternity clothes: Casual pants & shirts. I can still do the bella band with my work pants.
Stretch marks? Nope.
Sleep: Has been very good this week.
Best moment this week: Feeling Baby move more and knowing Baby can hear others, like Ryan.
Movement: Yes, at least a couple of times a day.
Food cravings: Pretty much crap food: cake, ice cream, candy…I did crave some veggies a couple times.
Gender: Thinking girl this week.
Labor signs: Nope.
Belly button in or out? In.
What I miss: Running.
What I am looking forward to: The big ultrasound in 2 and a half weeks!!
Weekly Wisdom: Relish sleep while you can, because in five months you will be sleep deprived beyond your wildest imagination.
Milestones: Baby can hear outside noises this week.

My pictures are getting pretty boring...I need to find a new place to take them.