Easter

As we start thinking of life with a little one, we've been talking about the meaning of holidays and how we want to celebrate them as a family. Sadly, so much of the true meaning gets neglected in favor of commercialism and tradition. Take Easter for starters. Sure it's fun to usher in the Spring season with pretty flowers and egg hunts and Easter baskets and the Easter Bunny and even family dinners... but does any of that lead us to the true celebration?

Without Easter, my life would be hopeless. Yep, hopeless. Not only did Jesus take all of the guilt of MY sin upon Himself, dying MY death on the cross, but He rose from the dead! Death couldn't keep Him down. He overcame it! That means that I don't have to try to be good enough to win His love. I don't have to wallow in the guilt of my sin, but I am forgiven. I have hope! There is meaning to my life and even to the challenges and sufferings I face. No matter what I do, I am always accepted in Him because He made an exchange with me that only He could. He took my sin, and I get His righteousness. A righteousness I could spend my entire life trying to attain, but I'd never reach. And yet, He gives it freely. Well, free for me... it was purchased with the blood of Christ.

So for us, we want that to be our focus... and certainly what we teach our children. It's not that we won't enjoy the fun of family get-togethers, or give our little boy a basket of treats... but we don't want that to be how he describes what Easter is about. It's not just a nice story they share at church... it is absolutely central to who we are. We want him to know how much Jesus loves him and what He has done for him. That joy lasts far beyond the Spring. It is truly what Life is about.

Name hints :)

No, we're not spilling the beans... but I thought I'd tell you a few names that Baby W. definitely WON'T end up with. Not because they aren't great names... but because they are already taken by family or close friends!! With so many little boys we know, it's already kinda narrowed the name-pool for us... but we like our choice anyway. Feel free to guess... but our lips are sealed!

Aaric, Aaron, Aiden, Andrew, Auden, Caden, Carter, Coleman, Hart, Hunter, Isaac, John, Joshua, Luke, Lyric, Micah, Nathan, Robertson, Sean, Simeon

26 Weeks

Fetal development in pregnancy week 26: This is your last week of the 2nd Trimester! Your little one is weighing in at almost 2 pounds and measures about 14 inches long. At long last, your little swimmer can see the womb! Your miracle’s little eyelids have finally separated (they were fused closed previously) and they’re probably having their first moments of sight as you read this (or maybe it already happened while you were brushing your teeth or watching Oprah or something). In addition to seeing their little studio in your belly, they’ve recently acquired the ability to say “yes” and “no” in rudimentary sign language as they can now move their head back and forth. This is also the time where your little super star’s head hair is starting to grow! A cute little cowlick or two may be springing into position right now, getting ready for years of cute-but-stubborn bed-head. Also, their toenails have grown in and you little raisin continues to slowly pile up fat beneath their still-loose skin. Most importantly, brain tissue and neurons are all developing at a rapid pace, increasing their (genius-level?) brain activity and will continue to function at accelerated levels for the first seven to eight years of childhood!

181 down... 99 to go.

99 days and counting... we're in the double-digits now! I never knew I could have so many different thoughts/emotions at the same time. In some ways, 3 months seems like an eternity before we get to meet our little boy...I won't miss being pregnant, I just want to meet him. I can't wait. And in the same moment, I sometimes think how I don't know if I'm ready for how much our life is about to change in just 14 short weeks. I have so much to do between now & then, and the days of independence, newlyweds, freedom are about to be forever gone. The former is definitely the stronger of the two thoughts. While I do get moments of "this is really for real, what were we thinking?! how are we going to do it?" they are far surpassed by the excitement and the anticipation of the changes this new little life will bring. Sure, life will never be the same, and it will surely be full of sacrifices and challenges, but there is a joy awaiting us that is completely worth it.

Welcome Home Aunt Stiney

...or Justine, as most of you would know her :) My sister, Justine, made the cross-country drive from Denver to here last week and got home Saturday night! She'll be here at least through September, which is great since Baby W. will definitely be making his arrival sometime between now and the end of July... hopefully on the later end of that range! We wish Justine could stay longer, but oh what a pity...we'll just have to go to Hawaii to visit her! She will likely be joining a team of staff to start a new YWAM base on the island of Kauai later this year.

We were loving the beautiful weather this weekend ~ we've had the windows open for over a week now! It's been so refreshing! We got up early on Saturday, and Mike's mom joined us to stand in line for a local Baby Consignment Sale... that was lots of fun! I might have to get there even earlier for the next one to really get the good stuff...I'm all about bargain shopping! Mike also painted our thrift-store-find glider on Saturday and now I just have to find fabric to recover it. There are a few things we splurge on, but for the most part, we have no problem with hand-me-downs and bargain finds for this little boy.

Big Relief!

Now that's more like it. I had my appointment today with the new doctor, and it was wonderful! She was so professional and kind and thorough and genuine. I felt completely comfortable with everyone there and was just so thankful that God gave me some extra grace and it was not only just "fine" it was actually a great experience. Funny story: When I went to get blood drawn, I turned to my side and saw a bulletin board of pictures... one of which was of my cousin, Shaun - random! So of course I asked whose pictures these were, and as it turns out, the lady sticking a needle in my arm is his girlfriend's mom. So she gave me updates on my own family (haha) and we talked about Aunt Bea & Nana going to the Homerun Derby and loving baseball. Anyway, what a small world.

Mike went with me today and we both were astonished at what a night & day difference it was from the other practice. Baby W. seems to be doing great. We heard his heart beating strong and she gave us more details from my ultrasound that the other doctor didn't take the time to do. She even said at my next appointment, she'll do another ultrasound just for peace of mind and so they'll have it on record - it's always fun to get a peek at him. So I go again in 3 weeks and then I start going every 2 weeks. Wow...that makes me feel really far along! Anyway, it was a good day.

I even got to work from home the rest of the day and all day tomorrow since there are painters doing work on my hallway at work and I'm not supposed to be around those fumes. Fine by me!

A New Day!

Some of you know the story. I had a terrible experience with my OB practice, but was kinda stuck there until I could switch my insurance and find a new practice. I don't usually resort to negative publicity... but I was so appalled at the lack of care, that I'll warn you all... don't ever go to Beach Midwives - Valentine OB/GYN in Virginia Beach. So far, my experience with baby doctors/midwives has been a huge source of stress and frustration... and I was just counting down the days until I could go somewhere new!

Well, tomorrow is finally that day, and I've never been so excited to go to a doctor's appointment! It does feel a little strange to be meeting the doctor who will hopefully deliver our son when I'm almost in the 3rd trimester, but I can't tell you how relieved I am! Even though I haven't met her yet, I have a good feeling about it, and she came highly recommended (thanks Ashlea, Carletta, and Mike's co-workers) :) God has been gracious, and as much as I was sick and had lots of concerns earlier on, I've managed to make it 5 weeks feeling great and not needing to call the old practice...my ultrasound at 20 weeks was my last contact with them, and as of today, I'm officially on Mike's insurance and can take a big sigh of relief.

So, I'm looking forward to tomorrow. Partially because I'll take any reason to get out my office for a few hours, but mostly because I'm looking forward to this part of my pregnancy being more positive and full of anticipation like it should be.