8 Weeks

I can't  believe little one is already two months old!!! Some highlights from the past couple of weeks are:

• SMILES! She is smiling like crazy, every day, all day! Daddy and I love it, we could never tire of those smiles. She shows off her tongue and dimples, and those beautiful wide open-mouthed smiles are a regular occurrence these days!

• A while back, she lost a lot of the hair on her head, and it is definitely growing back in now, still reddish-blonde. But, she did lose a lot of that furry-peach fuzz hair on her body (except the hair on her ears, it is adorable!).

• She has started to drool a lot these days, and I panicked and thought, "She's not teething, right? That's impossible at 8 weeks!" It is impossible, right???? I guess she's just a drooly girl!

• She loves sitting upright in the bumbo! It is really cute to see her in it, because she is so tiny!

• My baby girl is definitely growing. We had to switch from newborn to size one diapers, because she started leaking through most of the newborn sizes. I have to say, I think I shed a tear when we put her in size ones. She's growing, and I can't stop it! And, most of her newborn clothes don't fit anymore, they are too short. She is still in newborn sleepers, though!

• She loves her "learning time" puppy that she got for Christmas from Grammie and Grampie. She stares at it and smiles, and tries to talk to it. It is adorable. We are discovering that she loves anything that lights up with music.

• I am happy to report that we are on day five of no mittens!!! And so far, she hasn't scratched her face! She still loves keeping her hands by her face, and she really loves sucking her fingers.

• Much to my delight ( and daddy's), she is sleeping through the night! She started to right around week six, and we are happy to get good rest at night. She goes to bed between 9 and 10, and usually doesn't wake up until somewhere between 5 and 7. I freaked out the first time it happened, and rushed into her room to make sure she was okay, and she was sound asleep! 

Check back soon for pictures of our first Christmas!

10 Things

Ten things I've learned in the past six weeks:

1. Poop is explosive. Majorly. Explosion number one: poop flying from our bed covering the bassinet and carpet. Mom and Dad's carpet cleaner needed. Explosion number two: poop flying everywhere in the backseat of my car, and all over me. Laughter was a must (for sanity's sake) and mom and dad's carpet cleaner (with the car attachment) needed once again. 

2. All of that crap about not using a pacifier because of nipple confusion is, well, crap. She nurses just fine, and the pacifier is amazing and the most used item throughout the day. 

3. Some of my favorite items:

• The moby wrap! Amazing! Why didn't I start using it sooner???
• Fisher Price Snugabunny Swing
• Fisher Price Snugabunny Bouncer - portable, I use it a lot in the bathroom when I'm getting ready.
• wipe warmer
• breast pump
• zip up sleepers
• Butt paste
• SwaddleMe swaddle wraps
• Boppy Newborn Lounger
• Chicco travel system
• video touch screen monitor
• lots of cuddly blankets
• bows, headbands, flowers
• jogging stroller
• mittens so she doesn't scratch herself

4. Social interaction is a must. Even if I'm really tired and just want to stay home because there is a million things to get done, a visit with friends and family is extremely important. Just getting out of the house and being around strangers at a store does wonders.

5. Time flies. And I tell myself every day to never take a moment with her for granted. I will never wish my moments away, or say "I can't wait for her to..."

6. God provides. When we need it most. When we wonder how we are going to make it.

7. Diapers are one of the greatest inventions ever. I never realized how many you really go through in one week.

8. One of the best times of the day is after her 7ish am feed. She wants to snuggle (we usually do in my bed) and she is full of so many smiles and chatters a lot. I love it. I never thought one of my favorite times of day would be before 10am. My, how a baby changes things.

9.  Don't sweat the small things. And it's okay if my house does not look perfect and there are dishes in the sink and laundry in the washer. And flexibility is key.

10. I think I allow myself enough time to get out the door when I need to be somewhere at a specific time, but I never do. So far, late every time.

Okay, I know it says 10 things, but just one or two more...

11. Date night is a must. Even if Evelyn comes along, she just sleeps in her carseat anyway. And any alone time that you can find in your day is also a must. Evelyn is now our main focus, but the marriage relationship still must come first.

12. I'm so in love. I can't get enough kisses, smiles, coos, and snuggles. And, I see so much of myself and her daddy in her. It's so beautiful to see our love for each other expressed through her.

Daddy

She has her daddy's eyes.

Evelyn loves him so much already, knows and listens for his voice.

Every evening, she gets a little fussy. I actually think she gets tired of me. He walks through the door, scoops her up, and she is instantly soothed. Then he goes to the couch and she snuggles on his chest, they both have their eyes closed. Together, they unwind and decompress from the day.

He puts her down for bed every night. I can't do it - she won't go to sleep for me, only for daddy. 

He graciously changes her diapers, even the poopy ones!

He rocks her and calms her when she's fussy. 

She falls asleep in his arms.

He is jealous for her, and can't stand to let others hold her for too long. 

He takes care of her during church, so I can worship.

He gives her a bottle every night before bed.

Saturday morning snuggle time in our bed is his highlight of the week.

She smiles and "talks" to him.

In the words of a dear friend, it is a "beautiful transformation." I have watched it happen right before my very eyes. From man, to husband, to daddy. It has been incredible to witness, and I have fallen even more in love with him because of it.
There is nothing like a daddy and his daughter - she's changed him, and he would do anything for her. I've seen his heart melt in an instant, and watched his heart explode for her.
Our love for each other has grown to a place like never before, as we together love our little miracle.

Beautiful. Absolutely beautiful.

My Little Pumpkin

My little pumpkin is 5 weeks old. And she has already changed so much. I find myself everyday knowing a love so strong, a love that I never could have imagined. Every day that love grows, and my bond with her strengthens.

She has discovered her tongue. She rolls it around and sticks it out, it is so cute. She has started to smile here and there, real smiles, not just gas smiles! She loves pattycake, and she loves smiling at grammie and grampie. 

She's so alert now, with such bright blue eyes that are so responsive. She watches and listens so well. And she is so strong! When you hold her, she pushes her legs up like she's wanting to stand. Her neck is incredibly strong as well!

I think we hit that 5 week "fussy" mark that everyone talks about. She has her fussy moments throughout the day. I make sure all my bases are covered - diaper clean, burps are out, full tummy, etc, but she still gets fussy. Usually music calms her down or changing positions and moving around. She still is perfect and absolutely adorable, even in her fussy moments!

I started pumping a little in the morning, to prepare for when I go back to work. At nighttime for a part of her last feeding before bed, we feed her what I was able to pump that day, and she has taken the bottle just fine! Since doing that, she has slept for 5-6 hour stretches! Yes! And, adding a bottle feeding in the evenings allows hubby to get in on the feeding time. I think it is such a good bonding experience, and hubby seems to really enjoy it.

I finally feel fully recovered. I gave myself plenty of time and allowed myself to take as much time as I needed to physically get back to normal. Five weeks seems long, but I didn't want to push it at all, and honestly, I really just wanted to soak up my time at home with her, for those first vital weeks. I felt it was so important to allow as much time as we felt needed to bond, the three of us, as a family, and establish some sort of normalcy and routine. I now feel ready to get "back out there," especially socially. I've become somewhat of a hermit, and I'm ready to hang out and be with our dear friends again. So give me a call! :)

Well, the laundry is beckoning, the dishwasher is calling out to be emptied, and best of all, my little one is cooing.

Love to you all...

I'm Back!

I can't take it anymore! I have to sit down and blog. All of these milestones, moments, and events in Evelyn's life are already flying by, and I want to make sure that I document them every step of the way. So here's to a new (and hopefully doable) goal for this mommy - blog once a week. It's just been hard to find a moment to sit and blog in between feedings, diaper changes, naps for her and me, laundry, cooking, etc.

I have a four week old. Yes, that's one month! It feels like just a short moment ago, we were driving to the hospital, feeling excited, nervous, anxious all at the same time. We were about to meet our dear one. And now she's been here for a month! To be honest with you, the last four weeks have been somewhat of a blur. We haven't even made it to church yet. I just never felt ready to go - I was still recovering from giving birth, Evelyn was adjusting and finding some sort of routine, and we just couldn't get out the door. And in all honesty, the thought of going to church was overwhelming to me. Don't get me wrong, we LOVE our church family, but I just wasn't ready. Until now. We are going to do everything we can to get there this weekend! I am excited to see everyone, and I know they will be excited to meet Evelyn!

I love being a mommy. It was what I was born to do. I believe I have stepped into it naturally, and I can say that I am proud of myself. While I was pregnant, it was so hard to picture what it would look like to be a mommy, but I can now say that I wouldn't have it any other way. And I must say how incredibly proud I am of my hubby. He is a changed person. He was the minute he laid eyes on her. He is so incredibly tender and caring, and loves her completely. He helps me without being asked. I love listening to him talk to her. I love watching him snuggle with her on his chest. I love every moment!

So much happened over these first four weeks, and I want to make sure I get it all out. So here I go!

• She is so beautiful. I love watching her sleep, but then I remember that I should be sleeping, too.
• Giving birth was a beautiful mess. I will blog our birth story soon...
• She rolled over twice at our two week pediatrician appointment, and she's done it a few times since. She is incredibly strong for a newborn, and lifts her head up when she's on her tummy to make eye contact with you.
• She fights sleep, and fights it hard. She moans and groans to keep herself awake. 
• She loves her paci! I was totally against using a paci until she was 6 weeks old, but that went out the window at two weeks. She loves it, and it has not hindered nursing at all.
• Speaking of nursing, I've learned it is not for the faint of heart! It is a lot of work, but to me, it is totally worth it. I love the fact that she was dependent on me in the womb, and now she is still dependent on me through nursing. It is such an incredible bonding experience - I wish every mommy could experience it. 
• Evelyn is obsessed with her hands. Her ultrasounds always showed her hands up by her head, and that hasn't changed one but outside the womb. We can't swaddle her tightly because she freaks out if she cannot have her hands by her face. She's constantly keeping her hands up on her head, rubbing her face, sucking her hands. So, she is constantly in mittens because her face keeps getting scratched up, even with clipped nails. 
• Night time has been okay....some good nights and some hard nights. The past few nights have been rough, but we are able to make it through! 
• Her eyes are so much more alert now, and she's definitely having more awake time. She makes the cutest expressions, and I love it when I can see both of her big dimples! Where did those dimples come from, anyways???
• She loves her little giraffe and lamb that make soothing sounds, and she loves her swing.
• For two weeks, our dear friends from our church brought us meals. It was an incredible blessing! 
• I am already dreading going back to work, even if it is only two days a week.
• My favorite names for her right now are "Pumpkin" and "Sweetpea."
• She loves bath time!! Yay! She only cries when we take her out of the bath!
• We go to Target 3-4 times a week. I haven't ventured out on my own yet, so I wait until Michael comes home from work, but it's a great place to go to get out of the house! We love Target. (and there's a Starbucks inside!)
• Our first Thanksgiving as a family of 3 was perfect. My mom hosted and cooked, it was amazing. We have so much to be thankful for, and this year was very special to us.
• I am so thankful for my mommy friends, who I can go to with questions or for advice. Love you!
• Every moment is such a gift from God - every coo, every cry. I will never take it for granted. 
• She smells SO good. I remember thinking that right after she was born, that she smelled so good! Babies just have a natural good smell. And then add Baby Magic lavender and they smell divine. 
• Sometimes she sleeps with her mouth hanging open, just like me!
• Her hair is so beautiful - strawberry blonde. It glimmers red in the sun. But sadly, it is falling out. I am excited to see if it grows back in strawberry blonde!
• She has the biggest, deep blue eyes, just like her daddy.
• I love the little sounds she makes when she's nursing.
• I love all the little sounds she makes - squeaks, coos, cries, grunts...
• Wow, can she fill her pants! I never fully realized how many diapers one really goes through with a newborn...
• My entire outlook on life has changed. My priorities have shifted, and everything has become a bit clearer. You really learn about what is truly important, all through a little babe.
• Amick took Evelyn's newborn photos, and they are amazing! I'm so glad that we did that, especially when she was so little. It was a little difficult, because she did not want to sleep during the pictures, and she was naked the whole time. It took two photo sessions to get them done! And at one point, poop went flying all over Michael and all over the kitchen floor. Isaak's face was priceless when he saw it, and to this day, he still remembers that "Evelyn pooped in the kitchen and it was yellow." Oh, and she pooped in Michael's guitar case. :) But the photos are truly amazing. 
• I never realized it was possible to do this much laundry. :)

I love my little girl, I love the mommy she's made me and the daddy she's made Michael. She is a gift, our gift of life, our little miracle. I cannot even fully express or put into words the love I have for her and how she's changed us. God is so good. He is our healer, He is our sustainer, and He has blessed me beyond my wildest dreams. 

The Reason For My Blogging Hiatus

Our beautiful miracle

Evelyn Rae Swift

October 31, 2011

9:54pm

7 pounds 6 ounces

19.75 inches long 

more details and pictures to come, I promise! This mommy is tired!!!

My Growing Belly...THE END!

 October 8

35 weeks

162 pounds

October 15

36 weeks

164 pounds

October 22

37 Weeks

October 26

38 weeks

172 pounds

38 Weeks

Here are the stats from my appointment today:

• Blood pressure: 116/84 
• Weight: 168...water retention? - my hands, feet and face are pretty swollen these days.
• Tummy measurement: 37 cm
• Her heartbeat was in the upper 130s
• Cervix 60% effaced, almost 2cm dilated. In doc's words, I am very, very soft. 
• And, I'm happy to report...no stretch marks!!! :) Woo Hoo!

Once again, she could make her appearance any day!!!! 

You know how some pregnant women say that they are so miserable at the end and just want it over? I don't understand that at all. I feel wonderful, except I'm really tired....all the time. I have been so fortunate and blessed to have what people call an "easy" pregnancy! (I do realize that I am one of the lucky, blessed few to have this.) I have so enjoyed every day of this pregnancy, but I am definitely ready to see her sweet face. The excitement and anticipation is starting to drive me crazy, because I know she's coming, within days!!! I'm just ready to hold her and cuddle.  :)

Blessings to you all!  

Beautiful, Beautiful Shower

On Saturday, October 1st, my dear friends gave me a baby shower. Let me just say that it was the most beautiful, thought out, planned, and decorated shower that I have ever been to. Everything was amazing, and made me feel incredibly blessed, from the amazing food, to the adorable centerpieces, and the well wishes, gifts, and advice from everyone.

Let me recap the day in photos (which were done by the incredibly talented April Musser - thank you so much!)

 As you walked up to the door, this is what we were greeted with! LOVE this!!

 Isn't it amazing?? The decor was absolutely gorgeous! Animal print everywhere with a splash of green, brown, and pink!

 This was really cute - party favors!

 By the end of the shower, that jar was full of incredible advice! I've loved reading every single one, and they will go in my scrapbook for sure!

 Cupcakes!!! Cupcakes are my favorite dessert, so I was in heaven. I, of course, had all three flavors!

They were made by Tara at Pensacola Cupcake and Co. I highly recommend her cupcakes for any event that you have!!!

 These cake toppers were beautiful.

Cherry Limeade!!!

 Gorgeous. Every last detail. Notice one of my maternity photos in the back. Our maternity photos were all over the house in frames...what an awesome idea! And, they had all 300+ photos looping on their television! And, these really cool animal print orbs were hanging over the food tables - so cute! I kept a few to hang in Evelyn's room. 

 The food. Oh, the food!! Phenomenal!! Those who know me know that I love Panera bread soup and salad, so that was the theme! And let me say that these salads and soups made by my BFF's were waaaay much better than Panera!

 Christy, the gorgeous and talented host, manning the 3 soup varieties.

 Feeling Evelyn!! So sweet. My little buddy and adopted nephew Isaak was there for a bit, and he said several times "Ah-Zoo's baby shower!!" and when I asked him who was in my tummy, he replied "Evelyn." Such a sweet boy...

 Gifts!!! Blessed beyond measure!! I have to admit, I felt a little uncomfortable being the center of attention and being given all of these wonderful things, but I felt (and still feel) so blessed!!

I was so moved by it all, so moved by all of the love and prayers for our little miracle - I lost it. The tears flowed - to be expected! ;)

 In awe of the beautiful bow holder made by Jessica and the bows made by Christy.

 My beautiful mother and I

 My beautiful girls. They are a blessing to me in so many ways. They made me feel so loved, so blessed, and just so special on that beautiful shower day!!! I know there was so much planning and preparation, and it was so special and means the world to me. Every detail was thought of, every single thing was beautiful. I felt like a celebrity, like I was receiving the royal treatment. 

I love you all. And we are all rockin' the animal print! 

All hot mommas!!!!!

A huge thank you to all the ladies who came - what an amazing group! You've blessed me incredibly, and I can't wait for you all to meet Evelyn! 

37 Weeks

I'm sorry that my blogging as of late has only been quick pregnancy updates....I'm just really tired and when I try to put together a coherent blog post about things other than the pregnancy, it just doesn't work!

So here are my stats from our 37 week OB appointment:

• Blood pressure was 118/78 - looking good! So thankful I don't have BP problems!
• Weight was up to 168 - the doctor said I am definitely retaining fluids. Thankfully that will go away after the birth! Hopefully this cooler weather will help with the swelling and puffies.
• Belly is measuring right on - 37cm.
• She is definitely in position and has dropped head down even more, and I can definitely tell! Lot's of pressure down there and it is hard to walk, sit up, stand up, get out of bed... 
• Cervix is 1cm dilated and 60% thinned - excellent progress from last week! Woo Hoo! 

She is on her way, coming very soon! I can't wait to see her face to face!

Love and blessing to you all...

A Quick 36 Week Update

Yesterday we had our 36 week OB appointment. It is exciting and surreal to be at this point in the pregnancy, to think that we could be holding our sweet baby within a matter of days!!!

I'm feeling really good. I'm experiencing some swelling in my feet, face and hands, but that is mostly at night and depends on if I ate a lot of salt that day. I am definitely slowing down, and I can't move as quickly as I used to. I really understand now why pregnant women waddle. It is not because the weight of the baby or your balance being off, it is because it hurts! It's no joke why they call it "lightening crotch." I also am tired all of the time, but that is to be expected. After a day at work, I am so lethargic, basically a big "zero." I just can't function! But, overall, I am feeling amazing! Loving every minute!

Here's the low down on the appointment:

• No weight gain this week - staying steady at 164
• Blood pressure was great - 110/76
• Belly is measuring at 36cm - perfect!
• She is in position - head down into my pelvis
• Internally, my cervix is soft. He could feel her head!

So, Doc was pretty sure that I would be back next Wednesday for my 37 week appointment, and that I probably won't be going into labor this week. But he did say that he also wouldn't be surprised if I come in to Labor&Delivery any day now! 

So with all of that, I came home (after an Olive Garden date with hubby), and made sure our hospital bags were completely packed. We now have all of her newborn clothes washed and folded, and all of the nursery essentials are put away and waiting. There are just a couple more things I would really like to get, but we have the majority of our bases covered! Hooray!!

Love and blessings to you all...

My Growing Belly (Part Five)

Here they are - part five! She's growing and growing! Just think, I only have a few more pictures to post in "My Growing Belly" series.

:)

Soon, I will post about my AMAZING shower today! I had such a good time, that I'm just too tired to blog about it right now...

August 27

29 weeks

150 pounds 

 September 3

30 Weeks

152 pounds

September 10

31 Weeks

154 pounds

September 17

32 weeks

156 pounds

September 24

33 weeks

158 pounds

October 1

34 weeks

162 pounds (40 pound weight gain mark! Oh dear.)

A Full Week of Fun Adventures!

Whew! We've had quite the full week here at our house...

First, we were brought to TCBY after Saturday night church. This was our first visit, and I thought it was just the typical yogurt shop. But let me tell you, they have totally revamped their concept. It is self-serve frozen yogurt with about 12 flavors to choose from and then all the toppings that you can think of - ranging from crushed up candies to fresh fruit. It is amazing. For my first round, I did the whole chocolate/vanilla yogurt with tons of chocolatey toppings. Round two consisted of fruity yogurt topped with fresh fruit. Hey, it's the only time in my life where I can have two rounds of TCBY in one sitting and not feel guilty or unhealthy. And Evelyn must love ice cream - she kicks like crazy any time I eat it - must be the cold dairy. Anyways, it was amazing, and it will most definitely be a regular stop for us. And it is a great place to go with friends!

Sunday was my last morning on the worship team. It was somewhat bittersweet, but I have a complete peace about it. I have been on a worship team for churches consistently since I was 16. Wow, that's ten years. It has been an incredible ministry to be a part of. I have made amazing friendships along the way, and I have seen God move, felt His Holy Spirit pour down through musical worship. But God has now closed that door. I don't feel like I need to go into any great detail, but I fully believe that it is time for us, husband and wife, to step down. And I've come to realize that the pregnancy has nothing to do with it - we would be in the same place and feeling the same way regardless if I was pregnant or not. So I truly believe that God has closed that door for now. Will He ever open it again? Maybe, maybe not. For now, we just rest in Him and wait for Him to tell us if and when we will be on the worship team at our church.

We went to our breastfeeding class together. The teacher was a RN and lactation consultant at the hospital, and she was really sweet. She covered a lot, and I think we both learned a lot. It was good to have hubby with me, to be my support, because he is a part of this too, even if he doesn't have functioning boobs, haha! I feel motivated and excited to breastfeed, and I know I can be confident in doing it! I think it is one of the greatest things that a mommy can do for her child. I'm just praying that it all goes as smoothly as possible, and that I don't let frustrations set in, especially in the first couple of weeks.

Sunday afternoon was gorgeous. Perfect weather for our maternity photo shoot! Our dear friend, Amick Cutler, is an incredibly gifted photographer. I HIGHLY recommend him for any photos or design work that you need done. We had so much fun shooting at various locations around Pensacola. Let me just say that I probably will sound incredibly biased in the next statement, but I believe it's the truth: our photos are probably the best maternity photos I have ever seen. Ever. They are so creative and beautiful. Thank you, Amick and Christy. It was an honor to have you take our maternity photos!! I LOVE THEM!!! (you can get a preview of our photos here.)

Today I had my 34 week appointment. Everything, once again, was great. I am so thankful. My weight was up....to 162 pounds. Which means I have hit the 40 pound weight gain mark. I still have 6 weeks to go. Oh dear. Oh my. But here's good news - I don't have any stretch marks! Hooray! The doctor once again didn't seem to concerned about the weight gain, but he did think that I am retaining water, and that by my next appointment, I may lose or maintain my current weight because of the water retention. It could be water retention, (my rings aren't fitting so well anymore and my sandals leave indentations) but I'm not convinced the weight gain is all attributed to that - I think part of it has to do with the huge plate of pasta and four pieces of bread and cake that I ate last night...My hubby was more than pleased that I have gained even more weight - it puts a smile on his face every time I step on the scale. My tummy measured at 33cm, which is still on the smaller end, but is considered great! And, my blood pressure was back up to its normal 120/80. The doctor felt for where Evelyn is positioned, and she is definitely head down. He said that she will most likely not move from this position. And, I was delighted to hear that from here on out, if I were to start contracting, Dr. S would not do anything to stop it. He said that after 34 weeks, she is perfectly ready to make her entrance! Our next appointment is in two weeks at 36 weeks, and he will start checking my cervix for dilation. I cannot believe that we are already at this place - the reality is that she is coming, and coming very soon! Within the next six weeks!!!!

Last, but certainly not least, my shower is Saturday!!! I am so So So SO excited. My dearest girlfriends have been busy planning and preparing, and I know that it is going to be amazing. I think that they have been working too hard - I feel like I should be helping in some way, but they just keep telling me that all I need to do is show up. It is going to be incredible to be surrounded by those who love me, love Evelyn, and have been praying for us throughout our journey and through every step of the pregnancy.

Love to you all!!!

Her Name Means "Life"....

Five years ago, long before Michael and I started to think about "trying" to get pregnant, a name came to us. We've held on to that name since. We considered others, but we just kept coming back to the original name. I believe that name was given to us by our Savior. Little did we know back then what we were going to face in trying to fulfill our dream of a child.

Two years of "trying," two years of pain. I felt like a failure. My body was broken and it could not produce a child. Every other woman in the world seemed to be fine, their bodies worked, their bodies produced life. I felt inadequate, like a let down, especially to my husband. I questioned God every single step of the way. Every treatment cycle brought more negatives, more pain, and more money spent. I had given up hope. But we have a God of hope. He is our hope, He is our healer, and our story is evidence of that. 

So we come to the here and now, where as I sit, I can feel our beautiful unborn child move throughout my tummy. She is a miracle. She is living proof of how great our God is. And in around 7 weeks, we will be able to see her face to face, we will be able to see the gift of life.

Life.

Her name means life. We didn't even know that until we looked up the meaning after I became pregnant with her. 

Life.

How amazing is that? God knew long before she was a twinkle, a thought, a dream, what we were going to go through to get her. The very meaning of her name is the very thing we prayed for, the very thing that we spent months and months for on our knees. 

Life.

And so, I am proud to share with you, our beautiful miracle's name, given by God, is...

Evelyn Rae

Pursuit

Do you ever have a song stop you in your tracks? This one does it for me every time. Daniel Bashta released a new album last week, and I swear I could write a separate blog post about each song. The album is amazing, completely God-breathed. There were moments as I was listening to the CD that I thought, "I think God had Daniel Bashta write these songs just for me." Every single one has spoken to me. 

There is one that I have to listen to over and over. It features one of my favorite singers, Kim Walker, so of course it was going to be one of my favorite songs on the album. It came on the other day when I was driving, I hit repeat and sang along at the top of my lungs. As I sang, I couldn't help but let the tears flow. I wasn't just singing. This was my prayer, my shout to God, a pouring from my heart. 

"I will pursue You..."

We've all been guilty of it. We are on our knees during the hard times. We pray like never before, we read our Bibles. Then life takes over, things seem to be going well, and our pursuit of Him becomes second. And then something happens, big or small, and we are back at the feet of Him.

I will pursue You, no matter what - good days, bad days, okay days. 

I will pursue You - for me, for Michael, for my family, for my friends. 

"Strip everything away..."

I feel like God has been doing that in my life, especially in the last couple of weeks. Stripping down everything -  our finances, our ministry in worship, our relationships, our "normal" - until all I see is Him. A word of caution - if you ask Him to strip everything away, He will, and it will be painful. But He will make it beautiful. 

"I can't live without Your presence..."

Sometimes I think I can. I really do. I've got this, God. I can manage. 

But the reality is, I can't. No matter how much I try, no matter how much planning I do - I can't. 

I hope this song speaks to you as much as it has to me. 

Pursuit - Daniel Bashta, Kim Walker

Strip everything away

'Till all I have is You

Undo the veils

So all I see is You

I will pursue You

I will pursue Your presence

I will pursue You

I will pursue Your presence

Open my eyes

Search me inside

I can't live without Your presence

I can't live without Your presence

I'm pressing into You

So do not pass me by

I'm breaking through the boundaries

I will not be denied

I can't live without Your presence

I can't live without Your presence

I will pursue...

32 Weeks

This morning I had my 32 week appointment. I can't believe I'm here already! So exciting! 

My blood pressure was where it normally is, around 116/68, and I now weigh 155 pounds. Her heartbeat was clear and easy to find, in the upper 140s. I am measuring at 33 centimeters. 

Dr. Sontag said that I've had such a great pregnancy, and that he is happy with everything. My only question/concern for him was that my allergies have been horrible and this allergy cough has lasted four weeks now. Come to find out, it is completely normal in the third trimester to experience worsening allergies. He was able to feel her and tell us what is where, which was really fun! Two weeks ago, she was nestled in horizontally across my belly, which is why I felt so many kicks and movements on my sides. But today, her head was down in the lower left part of my uterus, and her butt was in the upper right. So that means she has moved into a somewhat head down position!!!

Everyone keeps saying how small I look for being 32 weeks, but I'm not sure if I really am. I mean, I feel huge with this belly that I'm not used to and a bigger butt and thighs and boobs, but she is measuring perfectly. Maybe it's the way I'm carrying, because I have such a long torso. Or maybe I am small. All I know is that I'm praying to not have a nine pound baby, like I was. Seven pounds would be perfect - a little peanut! 

I'm feeling great, I've just noticed in the past week that I've been getting so tired so easily. Other than that, I feel wonderful. Pregnancy has been amazing, almost easy for me. I've never felt miserable, and I have to say, I love being pregnant.

My shower is coming up in a couple of weeks and I'm so excited! It will be so wonderful to celebrate our sweet girl with the ones I love. 

Oh, and, Michael and I finished up our last prepared childbirth class Monday night. We've had a lot of fun in those classes, and we learned a lot. We ended the class with a tour of the hospital. It was so much fun - Sacred Heart is a beautiful facility, and stopping by the nursery to look at all the newborns was delightful! So, we finished class and received an official certificate of completion. Does that mean we are now certified to be parents???? Haha! Up next is a breastfeeding class and two newborn parenting classes....

God is good.

Be blessed and love to you all!

Randomness

I recently joined Pinterest, and I'm addicted. I love it!

I just looked down, and I think my belly grew over night. Or maybe it was the Five Guys burger and fries I just ate.

Lately, I'm having a really hard time with my daily time with God. I pray a lot throughout my day, but I'm finding it to be extremely difficult to have that time with Him, alone, immersed in His word.

My Boppy Cuddle pillow is a lifesaver at night. Except I think my husband feels a little replaced, or maybe more free because I'm not cuddling on top of him all night.

I have terrible insecurities about my female-friendship relationships.

My allergies have been horrible, awful, terrible. I've had a chest cough for the last four weeks that the doctor concluded is allergies. Is there any end in sight???

I am LOVING our prepared childbirth classes.

Making less money + cutting back + worrying about the financial future = money anxiety. 

I'm learning not to be a "yes girl." It is SO difficult - people pleasing seems to run through my veins.

I really, really, really miss my parents. Can you just come back to FL now?? Anytime!

Speaking of family, I look at pictures of my niece and nephews daily, and will admit, get teary. They are beautiful. And I miss them.

I'm getting so tired lately - I guess that's what happens near the end of a pregnancy!

NEAR THE END??? REALLY?? ALREADY????

We (actually, hubby) shampooed all of our carpets. They look amazing. Then our golden retriever decided to pee on them twice, out of rebellion - because she didn't want to go in her kennel. Anyone want a new dog??

I'm having a hard time picturing myself as a mommy. Obviously, I am so excited to step into that role, but what is it going to look like? I'm so ready.

I finally made the call and did it - cancelled cable television. It's a savings of $70 a month! And, I haven't missed it yet.

Hubby recently shared with me one of the sweetest things I think I have ever heard. He told me that he thought I am my most beautiful now - pregnant. Made my heart melt.  

I'm loving my job change - 2 days a week, and my pre-k kids are great, they can do so much musically!

Uh oh. My maternity pants and jeans are starting to feel tight. I'm loving the stretchy, comfy pants.

Keep praying. We prayed for two years for healing, two years for a miracle, two years for our little girl. Two years may seem long to you, short to you. It was incredibly long for us. But, we are living proof of His healing, His miracles.

I love the Milton Bakery. It rivals Krispy Kreme and Dunkin Donuts.

Four Words - STARBUCKS PUMPKIN SPICE LATTE. Need I say more??

I LOVE shoes, specifically heels. I don't wear heels too often, but I love the way they make me feel when I wear them. Dillards has an incredible shoe section, just pricey!

Revival is not a program, mission, religion, method, or a certain period of time. Revival is a man, His name is Jesus. (thank you Jake Hamilton, for that reminder.)

We will be announcing our baby girl's name soon! Stay tuned!

Right now, I want: Anything from Panera Bread, a gyro from Goat Lips deli, Ichiban sushi, Lambert's Cafe, and boiled jumbo shrimp. I'm going to do my first attempt at a shrimp boil soon - red potatoes, shrimp, and sausage. mmmm.

The latest live worship album from Bethel is amazing. I so love and appreciate prophetic worship from the likes of Daniel Bashta, Jason Upton, Jesus Culture, Amick Cutler, Bethel, etc. We need more of this in our churches!!!!

I'm trying to decide what to do with my hair - do I keep highlighting it blonde or try a darker color - brown? Do I get a cut or just a trim? Hmmm, decisions, decisions.

I have been reading an incredible blog by my friend's sister. This is an amazing story about sextuplets that were here on this earth for a very short time, the one that remained who is a miracle, and how God works through tragedy. I encourage you to stop by her blog and read her story, from start to finish. They now celebrate the arrival of their new healthy baby boy this past week.

I am so sick of the eczema on my upper arms. Please go away. Now.

My baby shower is in less than three weeks. I am so excited! My dearest friends are throwing it for me. Did I mention I am excited???

Well, probably enough randomness for now! 

The Season of Singing

Seven years ago, I married my sweetheart, my beloved.

Another year has past. As I reflect back on the last twelve months, and read back over the year's posts, I realize what a year it has been...

There has been pain and heartache. There have been trials. There has been rejoicing. 

Our love has grown to a deeper place that I did not even know existed.  

"I am my beloved's and beloved is mine."

"Listen! My beloved! Look! Here he comes, leaping across the mountains, bounding over the hills. My beloved is like a gazelle or a young stag. Look! There he stands behind our wall, gazing through the windows, peering through the lattice. My beloved spoke and said to me, 'Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, come with me. See! The winter is past; the rains are over and gone. Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land. The fig tree forms its early fruit; the blossoming vines spread their fragrance. Arise, come, my darling; my beautiful one, come with me.'"

What an even more meaningful anniversary, for our love for each other is being fully expressed 

in our growing miracle.

The season of singing has come. 

My Growing Belly (Part Four)

I'm getting BIG!!!

 July 30

25 weeks

142 pounds

August 6

26 weeks

144 pounds

 August 13

27 weeks

146 pounds

August 20

28 weeks

148 pounds

August 27

29 Weeks

150 pounds

I suppose I should add a picture of my clothed belly, haha. 

This was at 27 weeks.

10 Things

A few of my favorite bloggers do regular posts called "10 Things" where they write about random things happening in their lives. So I am going to give it a whirl for my update this week!

1. I've had a good week with my pain management for my back. I started doing yoga everyday, and whenever I am sitting in the evenings with my feet up, I have my heating pad on my back. And it seems to really be helping. But most importantly, I know that so many people are lifting me up in prayer, and God is listening and at work.

2. Most people who know me know that I do not have a huge sweet tooth. I do enjoy a small dessert from time to time, but I've never been one that craves sweets. But literally, in the past week, I NEED sweets. In a matter of 24 hours, I ate 3 blueberry and 3 confetti Dunkin Donuts. That's a half a dozen full size donuts. Another day, I ate a huge bear claw from Panera, and the next day, a huge slice of frosted cookie from the Great American Cookie at the mall, oh and TCBY. Not to mention ice cream every night....oh dear.

3. Man was not made to be alone...hubby is getting home tonight from his second business trip in one month. At the end of July, he was in China for two weeks, and now he's coming home from being in San Antonio for the week. I made sure I had things to keep me busy this week while he was gone, like work, prepared childbirth class, ice cream with a friend, and running errands. But, I still really, really missed him. There's been a huge cockroach in our bathroom now for the past couple of days. I've just let him hang out in there, because there is no way I am going to try and kill it - they are so fast and give me the creeps. And plus, that is Michael's job! Thank God this is the last business trip for a long time.

4. I've been steadily gaining, on average, two pounds per week, for a total gain as of now of 28 pounds. They say you should gain one pound per week in pregnancy. I don't care. I was underweight before, and my doctor says I'm doing great. My butt can expand, my thighs increase, and my belly grow - it is all worth it. But can I be honest and say I really don't want the gain to happen in my face???

5. I did not meet my summer reading goal. At all. I read one of the books that I listed here. FAIL!

6. Living on a one income budget is painful. Especially when we've been used to two incomes for the past two years. PAINFUL. I can handle stress pretty well, but this is the one thing that brings me major stress. I've started back at work part time to help alleviate some of the financial stress, but my first paycheck will not come until September 30!!! An ENTIRE month! Come on people, I need to buy things like nursing bras and nipple cream and a baby swing! So, I'm learning what it means to REALLY cut back. But to be honest, it is very hard. I love shopping and I will admit, I am somewhat materialistic. There is always something I want, but really don't need. So, I have to ask God everyday and all day to help me prioritize and resist temptation. Whew! I could write a separate post about this...maybe I should.

7. There is a Starbucks drink that I LOVE - the Tazo Iced Passion Tea Lemonade. Mmmm, so refreshing. But I thought, "Hey, I bet I could make that!" So I bought the Tazo passion tea bags at a pretty cheap price and a gallon of lemonade. I'm going to try making it tomorrow.

8. Michael and I are celebrating our seventh, yes seventh, wedding anniversary this weekend! Time has flown by, yet I can't imagine our lives any other way. He is a blessing more than words could ever describe...I'm feeling a separate post on that is in the works.

9. While my parents have been away, we've been enjoying their two-seater convertible that we fondly call "Little Blue." We took it out of their garage and it now temporarily stays in ours! We cruise all over town in that thing, and love to stop in at Sonic for a treat. Our little dates in that car have been so much fun, as we realize that these are some of our last moments as just us. We're enjoying our quiet moments together, but are so looking forward to the fulfillment of our heart's longings and prayers...

10. God is moving. God is able. He is our healer. He hears our cry. He knows our heart. He is our helper. He is our provider. He is our peace. 

Third Trimester...Here We Come!!!

Ready or not, it's here! The third trimester!! I know I've said it time and time again, but I cannot believe how fast this pregnancy is going! To think that in 12 weeks or less we will be holding our sweet baby - it is just incredible!

We had our 28 week appointment today, and everything looks wonderful. I have gained 26 pounds as of today, and I honestly couldn't feel better. Baby girl was moving around so much that they had a hard time keeping the doppler on her heartbeat! She has been moving around more and more. It was hilarious, last night, we were sitting on the couch and my stomach was literally rippling like waves. My tummy is measuring at 27 cm, which is perfect! At this stage in pregnancy, I should be between 26 and 30 cm. So, I am happy to be on the smaller end of that. Nine and ten pound babies run in my family, but it looks like (hopefully, please) she won't be that big! My glucose tolerance test and other blood work came back completely normal. I am so thankful that I don't have to deal with gestational diabetes or anything like that! Also at our appointment, we had to watch a video on epidurals. Michael and I both feel that it will be the best way to manage the pain of labor and delivery, especially with my back being the way it is - we've put it in our birth plan. So, now I will see the doctor every two weeks, as I get further and further along.

  

I started back at work yesterday, and it was a lot of fun to be back. I'm really looking forward to a paycheck again, even if it is part time. Not being paid for the past 3 months has been quite the adjustment, and I've definitely made mistakes along the way. But hey, I am still learning! Many teachers and co-workers did not know that I was pregnant, so it was fun to show up and have my belly be a BIG surprise. They are all so excited for me! I hope to work as long as I can before baby comes, until I feel uncomfortable. And work has been so flexible and relaxed about it, telling me that I can leave and come back whenever I need to. 

Monday evening, we went to our first prepared childbirth class that they do at Sacred Heart. There were 8 other couples, and we actually really enjoyed ourselves. Being the planner and nerd that I am, I love to know everything that I can ahead of time and be educated. And I think it is really good for Michael - he said he learned a lot just out of the first class. There are seven classes total, so that will occupy our Monday evenings for the next several weeks. 

My grandmother couldn't attend my shower in Wisconsin, but she sent us a beautiful gift - the pack & play we registered for! It arrived on our doorstep last week, and Michael was able to put it together over the weekend. And I must say, it is the Cadillac of pack & plays. It has a bassinet and changing table that you can put on top, and it plays music and vibrates - it's awesome! We also decided to mount and try out our really cool video camera monitor. That thing is incredible. I can listen, watch, and talk to the baby all through the monitor. I can even pan the camera all over the baby room! Sweet!

I want to thank you for praying about my back pain that I wrote about in my previous post. Thankfully and incredibly, I had no pain last night and was able to get a good night's sleep. I definitely could feel the prayers from everyone, and I know that God eased my pain. So thank you. You are a blessing. And, it is an incredible blessing and feeling to know that when I ask for prayer, you, my dear ones, actually do it! 

I love you all.