Where we are now

22 weeks already! How did the time fly by? I am feeling better these days. Finally. My prenatals still give me some occasional queasiness but if I think back to when I was really sick, these days are by far much better. What have we been up to? Oh along with our birth classes, we have been diligently searching craigslist for baby furniture. Our book Baby Bargains (8th ed.) has really come in handy with this. But no real pressure to buy things yet. We still have months. Plus we are holding out for purchases until we visit a couple of big upcoming baby consignment sales. It's so hard to know when a good deal is truly the best deal, so we are praying for peace with our decisions.
Other than that we have been moving along with our regular lives. Exciting news for us- we are making a trip to NYC this March!! One of Jonah's many hats he wears at his job is yearbook advisor. Last year his crew's yearbook won a national award!! It is an amazing book and him and his team did a fabulous job with the design, layout, photography, and writing in it. Because of this he gets to fly with them (and me!) to the award presentation in March. It's an all expense paid trip and such an exciting thing to look forward to. I've always wanted to visit the big city with him, and now we have this opportunity together. Already we are making plans to hit spots we know we want to see, as well as visit some good eats- pizza!!
So that is something that is pretty exciting- besides our son! I am really proud of Jonah and all the hard work he puts into his job. He doesn't have to go above and beyond but he always does. He is truly a teacher at heart, and his passion to learn influences those he teaches, and it shows by this amazing award.
I remember back in college how he used to patiently take so much time helping me study- I was never the scholastic he was, but his perseverance, kindness and gentleness went a long ways with me- hey I even married him :) I think back in those days God was even then leading him down the path to where he is now.
Well here is the latest pic of me at 22 weeks. Not sure how regular I will be with pictures, but I try to get them while I can :) Baby is doing great, getting more and more active these days.

sweet baby things

So I did something I really shouldn't do. I went to babygap.com to look at some of their baby boy clothes. I found the sweetest collection.... just look at some of these items:

So this is why I don't go to malls hardly ever...or just shop for clothes very much. I see too many eye candies and I want them all! Why do they make these clothes so darn cute!!

21 weeks

I had Jonah take a picture of me today, so here I am at around 21 weeks. I think I look bigger than I really am in person, but oh well. Definitely a little baby in there :)

weekend!!

It's been a busy busy week and I am sleepy at 3 in the afternoon, looking forward to a little sleep in time tomorrow morning! Today started out well, as I drove into work I had the radio on and Chris Tomlins song, "Jesus, Messiah" was on and before I could sing out the first words I found myself tearing up with emotion. I've actually seen Chris Tomlin sing this song live, and I don't know why but it's so powerful every time I hear it. I drove on with my teary eyes and just listened to the words, and thought of how truly good God is. In spite of all the heart ache, and I can think of so many friends going through trials right now that seem to have no end, and I felt an ache for them. I cried tears for them, and prayed for them. But I also thought back over this week and thought of all the good that God gave to us in our own lives. We certainly don't deserve anything we've been blessed with and I just thought how much I needed to stop and praise Him for each thing in my life. He doesn't have to bless us or provide for us, or love us, but yet He does.
Just this past week I have many praises,
a healthy baby boy
Jonah's big meeting went really well
I received an abundance of maternity clothes from a friend close to my size (practically a whole wardrobe!)
Overall encouragement from friends and aquaintences
Good night in church service
Overall a sense of peace about this baby and all the needs there. Our lives are blessed and I'm so thankful to be reminded of this through songs. If you haven't heard the song, it has great words. Have a wonderful weekend!

Blue or Pink?

Well, it's official we are having a bouncing baby boy! We had our sonogram this past Monday for our 20 week appointment. We were able to see our little baby and see if it was a he or she. Most definitely a boy! It was wonderful to see all the little parts of our boy, from his brain to his heart. We could even see the four chambers of his heart pumping away. How amazing it is to see how much bigger he is getting and how much detail there is in a little tiny baby. I guess you never stop to think about how you were grown in the womb, how magnificent our Creator is. Who can form the limbs of a child, and cause a heart to beat?
I'm in love with our little one and it's so wonderful to know who is in there twisting, punching, turning and kicking. Our boy! Now I can refer to him everytime I'm talking about him. I can dream of when he's born and who he will take after. Jonah and I talked about having a boy to raise and it's fun to think of the manly things they can do together. And the things that I too would love to do with them.
How blessed it is to have a child, to carry them and feel them and love them.

Praying

Looking back over this past week, I can't help but see how God's hand was in it. Perhaps you think, how could this be? Haiti has suffered a massive earthquake with death tolls that are staggering. But my father in law was spared. Gone for a mission trip, he was with a group of men when the earthquake hit. What are the odds that he was there the very week this event occurred? 

There were some scary moments there for a while, when we had no contact with him, as I'm sure many people out there may still be experiencing. But we prayed for him and his group, at peace with the fact that God is in control.

God is in control.

How powerful is that phrase- that thought? I have to pause and repeat that to myself. I have certainly not been clinging to that lately. Doubt, worry,  and fear have crept up into my mind. Not being certain of the future can plague me at times, and it's so very true that I have not been resting on the knowledge that God is in control. I have to look back at my personal time with God. What have I invested into this quiet time? Not too much lately, for which I am shameful of. Is God not that important? My goal is refocused again, my goal to walk close with my God. How can I know Him and be comforted if I don't take time to talk and walk with Him? 

Back to my father in law- he is now back here in the states, home safe and sound. How grateful I am that the Lord protected him and his group all the way back to their homes. I know many are not as fortunate over in Haiti. So I will continue to pray for the Haitians. I will also continue to pray to my God. Oh to know Him more, to walk closer, this is my desire.

Nerdiness

Well it's been a busy day for us, including grocery shopping, prenatal vit. at a health store, raspberry leaf tea at another store, and a stop at Aldi's for a couple things. Overall though we didn't spend that much, and because of the help of a couponing friend (she gave me some pointers) we saved almost 50% at our grocery store. Amazing to walk away with that much money saved in coupons and sales, and with a cart full of food. Our fridge and freezer are now fully stocked up. Was the time worth it? Clipping coupons and looking at sales in our grocery store flyers? Yes. So worth it. We even purchased pretty healthy foods overall, which makes me smile. I try to make healthy meals for us, and snacks, even though we do splurge on some items like potato chips for lunches.
I also picked up some raspberry leaf tea by recommendation from a friend (who is also a midwife/training doula). Did you know it's good for uterine health? I'm gonna try it and hopefully it will be good, since I like fruits. I also switched brands yet again with my prenatals. It seems to be the biggest challenge- to find one that doesn't make me feel queasy. So again by recommendation I'm trying an organic brand, that is supposed to really help with the queasies, and be easier to digest. Yes, it costs more but we figured I won't be taking them forever and Jonah is so willing to try things for me that help me feel better :)
It's been such a good day to walk away with such a good deal for groceries. I guess I'm a nerd for getting so excited! Oh, we also bought some baby items-Aveena lotion and bath wash, which was on sale and I had some great coupons for so they turned out to be really cheap. How thrilling to think we will be using that in just a few months.
My friend gave me a bunch of onesies and some infant clothes she doesn't need, and I spent some time sorting them for washing and it was amazing to think that they will actually fit our little baby. I thought will they really be that small?!
I can't wait to hold the warm little body that is growing away inside of me!