Twenty-five!

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Ahh! Twenty-five weeks pregnant! Hooray!  I'm getting more and more excited to have a little boy.  Suddenly books about dinosaurs look awesome and baby blue everything catches my eye.  We started collecting baby blue Hippo things for him.  So far I have a stuffed animal, a lovie, and a hooded bath towel with a hippo face on the hood.

It was strange to register for things the other day.  My Sisters gave me a list of things that I would need that I wasn't being given already.  So we went to Target with the list.  My husband kept asking me questions I had no idea the answers to...like what's the difference between this and this or what is this and why do we need it?  I don't know, these girls have babies and they said to get it so we are!  It made me feel a little nervous.

I don't really know how much weight I've gained.  I don't care as long as my doctor isn't scolding me about it, and they aren't.  I like to eat everything.  I don't really have strange cravings like I did early on. I like to eat everything especially Wheat Thins but I always like those Ooo and Golden Grahams!  Yum!  My heart-burn is finally under control.  Thank you mom for sending me Prilosec!

The best thing right now is the fact that he can hear us.  I make my husband speak to my belly every night and Casey kicks and kicks.  It's so cute!  Casey is now the size of an eggplant and his main job is to gain weight.  I am happy to help him in this process.  That's all I know so far.  

Sunshine!!

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So we've been living just north of San Francisco for 6 or 7 months, while my hubs continues Grad School.  The Bay holds little favor with me because I'd just rather live nearer to family.  I don't like going to the city because it's hilly and it makes me car sick to drive in it.  My apologies to the CVS parking lot that got an unpleasant visit from me earlier this month.

On another note (but one I need to say or this post won't make sense) this January though March season is my least favorite time of year.  I don't like cold weather one bit.  Because I am a Californian my body is used to a great amount of vitamin D from the sunlight.  During these months my body craves the sunshine.  I can tell it affects my mood.

BUT for a least a week now I have been enjoying the most beautiful weather!   Who knew that the Bay had more to offer me than the San Francisco Giants?!  Not me.  While the rest of America is experiencing snowfall, I am experiencing 70 degrees and sunshine.  I'm not trying to brag, but it's January and you have no idea how happy this weather makes me! SF, you just scored some points with me.

 

Pregnancy Books

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So the joints in my hips have been and the muscles in my lower back have been hurting recently.  I remember reading a few weeks ago that this pain was normal and expected.  This week I have been working more than normal and so that means standing for longer than usual.  So I was reading in my Pregnancy Books about what to do if you experience this kind of pain.  As I was reading I realized Pregnancy Books should come with warning lables....and here's why....

Here I am reading along about this kind of lower back pain.  The book tells me that this pain is normal caused by the hormone "relaxin" that is released during pregnancy to loosen up those muscles to make it easier for baby.  Fine.  Then they say that I can stretch and take warm baths and take more opportunities to sit though out they day. Fine.  THEN I read that oh, this kind of pain may also be a sign of pre-term labor. Oh thank you very much for that.  This was also the day where my baby was moving like crazy and with that little nugget of fear implanted in my brain I think "Oh my goodness he's trying to get out!"  And I ran to the bathroom like every 10 minuets.  He's fine.  He now has fully functioning ears and likes to dance and kick and let me know he can hear me or daddy.

Side note: this Sunday at church baby Casey was kicking to the music during worship...then about half way though the sermon he fell asleep.  I think I have a normal child, don't you?

Anyways...I really hate that these books say everything is perfectly fine and normal and then oh P.S. this also could be a sign of something going horribly wrong.  Boo Pregnancy Books...I have enough to worry about with out you!    

Worry Jar

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Have you ever seen a swear jar?  My grandpa had one that you have to put a dime in every time you swore.  This might be a good concept for a lot of sin.  My biggest challenge right now is to stop worrying.  Like some of you I would fit into the category of "worry wart"  I always have been one.  I love how nowadays we have a new name for it...stress.  I'm Stressed Out, I can say instead of plain old I'm Worried, tre chic.

If I was God I would have a giant problem with believers who worry.  I know that I should know better than a lot of people as to why I shouldn't worry.  I have so many examples in my own life where God has come through for me, where he's taken care of me, where he's always had a plan.  Why is it so easy to forget these things?  I'm trying my best not to.  But this takes discipline, which means it's hard and doesn't come naturally.  So I'm putting myself through the discipline of prayer. I have to daily give up my concern about out future, which is rapidly approaching, and give it to God.  It's like a pre-swear jar.  "God I know I'm going to pick this worry up today so I'm giving it to you now."  I know that God is faithful.  I know that God provides.  I have examples in my own life I can take comfort in.  I don't need to be afraid.

Romans 8:24-30 (NIV)

²⁴ For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? ²⁵ But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
 ²⁶ In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. ²⁷ And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.
 ²⁸ And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who^[a] have been called according to his purpose. ²⁹ For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. ³⁰ And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
 

New new new

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I know that I said I was taking a break...but apparently when my creative juices flow there is no stopping them.  I wanted to rename my blog once I learned I was having a boy.  I have always thought I was going to have a pack of girls...so learning I was going to have a boy was a bit of a head scratcher.  God always knows best and now I am itching to have my little boy!

His name is going to be Casey (which has no real meaning except it sounds friendly and we like it).  Last week we had our 20 week ultra-sound appointment (actually I was 22 weeks) and I got to watch him move for over an hour.  They measured every part of him and showed us that all the important parts are working normally.  Thank you Lord!  It was amazing that at 1 pound 1 oz. there was so so much detail.  I don't know how you can not believe in God after seeing such a miracle.  My baby was being bad though.  Not really bad but he was moving around so much he was being a stinker.  I think that's why it took so long because he wouldn't stay still!  Silly baby.  But we did get some 3-d pictures and we got to watch him move for a little while in 3-d.  He rubbed his little eyes and we got to see him eat the amniotic fluid.  It was precious!

I still don't have very much time or energy to blog but hopefully I can at least give up dates here and there.  But so far so good!  

A New Direction

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I hope all of you had a wonderful Christmas Season! My hubs and I had a bit of an unusual one because both of us are working in retail and it's the busiest time of the year.  So we were able to spend sometime with family on Christmas Day but it was way to short and it was back to work the next day.

So I've been thinking about this for a long time and I have decided that I'm going to take a little break from blogging.  I love blogging and reading what's going on in everyone's lives (which I will continue to do) but I definitely feel like I am in a very different place now than I was when I first started blogging.  I don't have the energy to keep up with it in a way that truly reflects my life and when I feel inspired to write it's often not a "happy post" and it's not my desire to blog for the sake of venting.  To put it simply our life is very challenging right now and I feel like God is growing my faith through it however I don't believe I can share what's been going on in a good way until it's behind me and I have perspective on it.

So here's the deal I just want to take a little break and come back when I feel like I can represent myself and my life in a way that truly reflects me.  But you'll be hearing from me because I so enjoy reading your blogs and hearing how God is shaping you!!  Have a Happy New Year! I hope that God will bless you in 2011 :)

Love~

Treading

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Earlier in the week my husband and I were looking for something to watch together.  In general that means watching something on the Discovery Channel.  We happened upon an old episode of "Deadliest  Catch." The one where Capt. Jack trades his own son to another boat because he knew that it was best for him to go on another boat to change his perspective a little bit.  His son went willingly trusting that his dad knew best.  During his son's time away Capt. Jack reflected on how much he missed being with him and how excited he was to have him back on the boat in a day or two.

A couple of nights ago I was sharing with my husband how distant I feel from God and how long I have been experiencing the feeling of nothingness.  You see things haven't been easy for us this past year and we are still struggling under the leftover bills from unplanned and unexpected medical mishaps.  It feels like we're treading water...and my emotional and mental response is to put my head down and work as hard as I can.  I don't complain I don't question, I shut off and do what I have to do.

Before I was married I feel like I had a pretty good relationship with God and I felt loved and secure.  However, looking back it was super easy to feel like God liked me when I didn't have any big challenges or struggles.  I lived happily with my parents and though I worked to put myself through school and to purchase whatever I needed I didn't have many concerns.

I can see down the line when hopefully I am no longer treading water...when God decided the timing is right how I will then own a more mature faith.  My faith back then was very immature.  Although I worry on a hourly basis about all kinds of things and my God feels so far away I am certain that God knew I needed this experience. My husband made the connection between what we were talking about and Capt. Jack and his son.  Capt. Jack didn't like sending his son away and he missed him being near but he knew the experience would change his son in a good way.  I can see how these experiences have changed me in a good way too.

We're having a...

Christmas Traditions: Day 2, Music

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I really love Christmas music.  Growing up in my home Church, music was a big part of the Christmas season.  It seems like my family and I have been preforming in one way or another at Christmas time until I was out of High School.  As a Church we preformed The Messiah every other year and then on the opposite years we'd put of a show at our church where we'd sing and the church would turn into a winter wonderland!  I have very fond memories of singing for people at Christmas time.  And I'm proud that that tradition continues at my home Church now.  I hope that you guys find some sort of church show to go and see!

Other than that there are a few singer that I love to listen to around the Christmas season.  Some of my favorites are Big Crosby, Andy Williams, Mannheim Steamroller,  and George Winston.  But mostly I just love the old Christmas Hymns and love sing those songs with believers where ever I am!   

Christmas Tradtions: Day 1, Movies

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Every family has Christmas traditions.  This week I want to feature some of mine from growing up.  We all know that I love old movies and that love didn't pop up from nowhere, my parents love old movies too!  We grew up watching Black and White and Technicolor, musicals and slap-stick.  One of our favorite family traditions is watching our Christmas movies together.  We have probably see White Christmas a million time...we know every word, which is kind of the fun of it. My mom and I like to watch Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer with a bowl of peppermint ice cream. Stephanie, Ben and I like to watch the Holiday Inn. I like to watch the Bells of St. Mary's because of the super cute 1st grade nativity play that is so precious and funny! My sister Amber, my mom and I like to watch Little Women. My dad like to watch The Three Godfather's with John Wayne, of course, it's a typical western (meaning someone you like dies) but it's a good one for Christmas!  And of course there's The Christmas Story, The Family Stone, The Santa Clause, and Home Alone.   But the best tradition of all is watching It's a Wonderful Life on Christmas Eve.  We've been watching it since I can remember on that night and we all cry at the end every year.  We live simple lives but it always reminds us what a difference we can make and how we can touch others lives.  The one movies or story I really do not like at all is A Christmas Carol.  It scared me as a little girl and I still don't like it now...but the muppet one is the most enjoyable to watch if I had too, the new Disney one is horrible! Super Scary!

I hope that I have mentioned some titles that you've never heard of or want to give a try! Please do!