A Quiet Heart…

January 26, 2012

Baby Bump: 38 Weeks

You may have noticed (or not) that I have not been the most prolific blogger these past few weeks. (Am I ever?)

It certainly isn’t for lack of activity! We have definitely been keeping busy around here. But, I have taken a bit of a break from blogging to focus on getting ready for the arrival of our boy!! As of today, assuming he comes on time, we only have about a week and a half left until we meet him! Which, of course, means it is time for another “Baby Bump” update!

38 1/2 Weeks!

I had an appointment with my doctor this afternoon, and everything (still) looks good. She completely surprised me by offering to induce me next week if I wanted! Oh, if only she had asked me yesterday! (I was having contractions almost all day long…about every 15 minutes. Not quite close enough to warrant a trip to the hospital, but intense enough to make me wonder if we might be meeting our boy sooner rather than later!) I am so very anxious to meet him…and for that reason alone, I was very tempted to take her up on the offer! But, seeing as how she doesn’t anticipate him being huge, and although he would technically be full-term, he would still be a bit early…so, I (somewhat reluctantly) declined…

We will reconsider the induction if it becomes necessary. For now, we are content to wait, knowing that “…in Your book were all written the days that were ordained for [him], when as yet there was not one of them.” ~Psalm 139:16 (NASB)

Besides, we still have plenty to keep us busy while we wait!

Swinging with my girl. (Yes, I did!)

Hannah and I will be finishing up a few lingering school assignments, projects, and tests so that we can officially begin our “baby break.” (We intentionally didn’t take much time off at Christmas, so that we could take extra time when this little one arrived…to just enjoy him!)

And, we have been so blessed by the generosity of our family and friends…hand-me-downs, and so many thoughtful gifts at the shower our church threw for us… I have been busy sorting, washing, and putting away tiny baby boy clothes, and getting this little guy’s bedroom put together. I promise another post is forthcoming once the “nursery” is a bit more presentable. His room was serving as our guest/storage room, so there are still a few random boxes in there that need new homes… However, I am under strict orders from my husband not to touch them. But, he has been extra busy these past few weeks while our pastor has been out of town. So, once his life slows down a little bit (this weekend), we’ll get that taken care of!

But, until then…here’s a little peek at my birthday/Christmas/baby shower gift from my parents and grandparents:

Pretty, huh?

Oh…and I guess I should probably pack my bag for the hospital at some point…

I will definitely update with pictures, stats, and his name, once he arrives… But, I hope you all will understand if posting remains rather sparse for the next couple of weeks!

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Filed under Baby, Baby Bump, Life, Mommyhood

January 22, 2012

1 Peter 1:13-25

Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; for

“All flesh is like grass
and all its glory like the flower of grass.
The grass withers,
and the flower falls,
but the word of the Lord remains forever.”

And this word is the good news that was preached to you.

Showers of Blessings

{Click the collage to see more pictures from the shower.}

The ladies at church threw a baby shower for our little boy yesterday!!
(They even matched the decorations to the theme of his “nursery”!!)

We are incredibly blessed…and still (more than) a little overwhelmed…by the kindness and generosity of our church family!

Our little boy is definitely very well loved…already!

Thank you all for sharing in our excitement over this little one…and for helping us get ready for his arrival!

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Filed under Baby, Mommyhood, Traditions & Celebrations

January 8, 2012

In the Company of Christ

“For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” ~Matthew 18:20

There is comfort in these words for all who love to meet together for religious purposes. At every assembly for public worship, at every gathering for prayer and praise, at every missionary meeting, at every Bible reading, the King of Kings is present, Christ himself attends. We may often be disheartened by the small number who are present on such occasions, compared with the number of those who meet for worldly ends; we may sometimes find it hard to bear the taunts and ridicule of an ill-natured world, which cries like the enemy of old, “What are those feeble Jews doing?” (Nehemiah 4:2). But we have no reason for despondency: we may boldly fall back on these words of Jesus. At all such meetings we have the company of Christ himself.

There is solemn rebuke in these words for all who neglect the public worship of God and never attend meetings for any religious purpose. They turn their backs on the society of the Lord of lords; they miss the opportunity of meeting Christ himself. It is no good saying that he proceedings of religious meetings are marked by weakness and infirmity, or that as much good is got by staying at home as going to church: the words of our Lord should silence such arguments at once. Surely men are not wise when they speak contemptuously of any gathering where Christ is present.

~J.C. Ryle (pg. 164, Matthew: The Crossway Classic Commentaries)

Counting Down!

Our little boy is due 1 month from today!!

35 Weeks!!

As far as the actual pregnancy itself, I have had it fairly easy. (The getting there…well, that’s another story.) And, I’ve generally felt pretty good the whole time. So, it really has gone by incredibly fast…at least from my perspective. We announced it fairly early, so I know to some, it seems like I have been pregnant forever.

But, either way, it is still a little unreal when I think about just how close we are to meeting our son!!

Especially when I consider that, not too long ago, I really didn’t think we would ever have another (biological) child…

I want to be thankful. For every moment. For every time I get to hear his steady heartbeat. For every ache. For every time I get to see him (via ultrasound). For every sleepless night. For every time I get to feel his little (and not so little!) kicks.

Because, I realize now, maybe more so than I did with Hannah, that this time is not simply something to be taken for granted…to be endured…to get through…

The truth is, I don’t know, not just when, but if I’ll ever get to experience it again. And I don’t want to miss out on one moment.

I wouldn’t wish the pain and struggle of infertility and miscarriage on anyone. But, sometimes I do wonder…if more women did have to deal with it, would they – could they – still take these precious moments for granted?

I won’t. I can’t.

Hannah is my first child. So, being pregnant with her was a totally new experience. I enjoyed and treasured every new stage, and flutter, and hiccup, and kick… Then, as a newborn, and as a toddler…and now as “kid” – everything she did was new, and exciting, and special.

But, in the back of my mind, I always assumed I would get to experience it all again…and relatively soon.

I never dreamed I would have to wait so long…

Even though it didn’t happen the way I would have planned it, or in the time frame that I would have preferred, I am thankful to have gone through it. Because, I can no longer take the ability to get pregnant for granted. And, I will no longer assume that I am guaranteed a repeat of this experience.

So, even though I can no longer see my toes (I can reach them!!)… I am still just so amazed, and so thankful for this precious, unexpected blessing!