Happy Birthday Stephen!

Stephen,
So much to say...too much to say! I can't believe we've already celebrated six birthdays together. I can't believe all the places that we have already traveled in this journey called marriage together, and I look forward to the good plans that God has ahead of us in the rest of our 186 years together. I am still thankful for the love that caught us by complete surprise that summer of ministering together in Philadelphia, and it is still our friendship that I am most thankful for after all these years. There is no truer friend than you. I'm happy that God chose us to do life together, to parent together, and to learn to be more like Jesus together. I would always choose you if given the chance to choose again. I love you! Happy 28th Birthday! You are the most loved husband and Daddy, and we praise God for your 28 years of life!

I had this little song in my head today when I was thinking about your birthday. I know you will appreciate the Steven Curtis Chapman more than anyone I know:

One day you've got me laughing

One day you've got me crying

One day you've got me thinking

I'm going out of my mind

But one thing is true

The one thing that never changes

Is that you've always got me ...

On a Monday, on a Tuesday, on a Wednesday

All the way around 'til Sunday

You've always got me on the good days

And the bad days and the mad days

The happy and the sad days

You've got me every day of my life

(Almost) 12 Week Pregnancy Questionnaire

With James I was able to journal and blog my thoughts on anticipating his arrival throughout the pregnancy, but I know that this time I just probably will not have time to write so extensively. I thought that I would join the other blogging moms that have filled out pregnancy questionnaires periodically in an attempt to at least keep some record of the changes that will come throughout this pregnancy. My plan is to later record these in a journal (when I purchase one!) for this baby, like I did for James, at a later date.

How far along are you? Almost 12 weeks

Total Weight Gain? At the doctor last week, they said I had only gained 1 or 2 pounds but after Thanksgiving I am feeling like that could have doubled...or tripled! I don't even want to know. :)

How big is the baby? Somewhere between the size of a fig and a lime. I love these food comparisons because James loves to know how big the baby is each week!

Maternity Clothes? Although some of my regular clothes are fitting differently, I'm not there yet. 

Sleep? Waking up a little more than usual at night, but sleeping pretty well on my stomach still.

Best moment this week? Hearing the baby's heartbeat again and James telling me "your baby sounds like a choo-choo train." Also, announcing the pregnancy to extended family at Thanksgiving. 

Movement? The doctor says it is probably still too early but I really think I have felt movement the last few days when I'm laying down. So, I am not sure...

Food Cravings/Aversions? I had horrible food aversions (to meat, vegetables, tea, really almost everything) until about week 9 of this pregnancy and could eat very few things (toast, baked potatoes, pretzels, etc). Almost everything made me cringe or was too sweet. Even the thought of cold water made me sick! I am still eating pretty bland foods (nothing spicy or fried), but I am doing so much better. I don't really have a lot of cravings yet, but I have to eat a lot more often and enough protein or I get sick. (This has all been totally different than my pregnancy with James.)

Morning Sickness? I had all day sickness (and especially night sickness) until about week 10. I still have some bad days mixed in that I think come after a day of doing too much and just being exhausted, but I am definitely getting so much better.

Gender? We will find out in January, but we truly will be so thrilled either way. James is adamant that this baby is a girl and he started calling the baby "Cece" shortly after we told him about the new baby. We were actually already considering a "C" name for a little girl so if the baby is a girl we will probably try to find a "C" middle name as well and let her nickname be Cece. While James is leaning towards girl, Stephen and I don't really have a prediction. Because this has been such a different pregnancy, I will think "girl" one day and then something will remind me of the pregnancy with James the next day and I think "boy." So, I don't know... :)

What I'm looking forward to: Our next ultrasound in January and finding out the gender of the baby and beginning to call the baby by name; just all the joy that comes with anticipating/preparing for a baby which is even more special as we experience the joy and the excitement through the eyes of James this time. He has just been so sweet. He asks to kiss the baby in my belly and one night he set baby spoons on an extra napkin at the dinner table and prayed "Dear God, Please let Mama's tummy get big so the baby can come out." He says that "the new baby is going to be my best friend." I pray that they would be very best friends and that God would bless their relationship and keep them close throughout their lives.

Thankful For...

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

1 Thessalonians 5:18

I had planned to write a whole post about all that God has taught me about thankfulness this past year as we entered this season where we focus especially on thanksgiving, but in all of the busyness I ran out of time. I just wanted to share quickly that while our circumstances may not be ideal or things may not be easy or comfortable still for us in many ways, we have learned first hand what it means to be thankful in it ALL and for the many things that God has done in our life. In particular, we have seen God's provision through the hands of His people. We have been blessed in countless ways this past year (even in the midst of trials) and my heart is overflowing with gratitude. Maybe I will have a chance to write more on this when we are back in town, but we are headed out in a matter of minutes to visit family for Thanksgiving. 

But I did want to share one thing that we are so very thankful for this Thanksgiving...

(The iron-on shirt that we made to announce baby #2 to our families that held up just long enough to get the job done. We learned that you can't find Big Brother shirts anywhere with all the holiday stuff out in stores!)

We are expecting baby # 2 in June!! I am 11 weeks pregnant and will post more about this pregnancy later, but I am overwhelmed with thankfulness that God would allow me to mother another precious child. James is beyond ecstatic to be a big brother and already loves "his baby in Mama's tummy!" 

We Voted!

I took James with me to vote this morning, and I think he had a lot of fun getting to "participate" in the process and he even got his own "I Voted" sticker for being such a good helper! We have been talking about the election coming up just a little bit with him -- although we weren't sure how much he would understand. We told him about his grandfathers and great-grandfathers that had served our country in different branches of service. We talked about the importance of voting for the leader of our country, but how God is the one that is ultimately in control. We talked to him about the sanctity of life (in words he could hopefully understand). We told him that he would get to make his own decision in 16 years and even drive his own car to go vote - he liked that part a lot!

The last few days he has been telling us that we are going to vote for "the man with the happy heart" on Tuesday. I love to hear things from his perspective! I'm glad he is already learning the responsibility and privilege of living in a country where we are able to vote -- and regardless of the outcome today, we can rest in knowing that God is sovereign and in control and the ultimate authority and ruler over all. I'm glad that James is already understanding the value and importance of the heart as well. Here are a few pictures of our voting for "the man with the happy heart" day!