Belly Picture and My Musings

Well, here is the belly progression picture. What do you think? It is much bigger this month! (You should be able to click on the picture and see it bigger, if you care to.) I am now at 28 weeks and into my third trimester. I have read that Ben's lungs are pretty much fully developed now meaning he would have a very good chance of survival should he arrive now. That is a scary thought. I am glad to know that he would most likely survive, but I really am not quite ready for him to meet the world. He still has so much growing to do. That is the thought that has been running through my head endlessly lately.

Ben has also been moving quite a bit. Ryan feels him often, but not as often as I do. This last week, Ben has not been as cooperative in his moving. Before, he would move three or four times a day and move a lot during those times so Ryan could always get there in time to feel him. This last week though, he seems to be moving more often throughout the day, but only in little spurts. As soon as I call Ryan into the room, Ben is done moving.

Ben's eyelids are opening and closing these days, so we read to try shining a flashlight on my belly and see if he will move in response. We have tried a couple of times, but I haven't noticed him moving in response to it. We will keep trying. It is a fun (and harmless) idea.

I think I have noticed Ben moving in response to music. A few different times I have been in places that had instruments or just voices played over speakers with microphones and Ben always moves during that time. I want to turn up the bass really loud in my car and see what happens, but I haven't tried it yet.

The only pregnancy ailment that has plagued me lately is heartburn. I have never had heartburn before getting pregnant and I don't like it to much. I talked to the doctor about taking something preventative rather than just medicating when it comes and that has really helped. I am able to lie flat in bed now without feeling like my throat is on fire. Much better.

This Christmas has been especially meaningful as we think about the birth of our son and reflect on the birth of God's son, Jesus. My friend Darby told me that the holidays might be extra emotional in my pregnancy. There is one song that keeps playing through my head that I have loved. If you have listened to a radio station playing "all Christmas, all the time" then you have probably heard Faith Hill's song, A Baby Changes Everything. Since I am constantly thinking about how much Ben will change our lives, I have loved hearing this song and thinking about the changes that Mary had to feel as she carried God's son in her womb. And, then to think that her baby, Jesus, changed my life eternally. And, my son will change my life forever in this world.

We are going to be parents...we are a little scared and a lot excited.

Here are the lyrics in case you care and haven't heard the song. Since I have a love of Country music (don't tell anyone) I also love Faith Hill, so I recommend the song.

Teenage girl, much too young
Unprepared for what's to come
A baby changes everything

Not a ring on her hand
All her dreams and all her plans
A baby changes everything
A baby changes everything

The man she loves she's never touched
How will she keep his trust?
A baby changes everything
A baby changes everything

And she cries, oh she cries

She has to leave, go far away
Heaven knows she can't stay
A baby changes everything

She can feel it's coming soon
There's no place, there's no room
A baby changes everything
A baby changes everything

And she cries and she cries O she cries

Shepherds all gather 'round
Up above the stars shine down
A baby changes everything

Choir of angels sing
Glory to the newborn king
A baby changes everything
A baby changes everything
everything, everything, everything

Hallelujah, Hallelujah,
Hallelujah, Hallelujah

My whole life has turned around
I was lost, but now I'm found
A baby changes everything
Yeah, a baby changes everything

28 Weeks Along

Today, we went for my 28 week doctor visit and for the glucose testing. The serum wasn't quite as bad as I was expecting. I had the lemon lime flavor. What did all you other moms out there have? I thought it just tasted like a Sprite without the fizz.

Since everything is going well and right on track, there really isn't much to report. I know I usually have the belly progression picture with the doctor report, but I am going to make you wait another couple of days. We had to go to the doctor early since we will be traveling for Christmas. We will take the official 28 week belly picture at the end of the week so it will be an accurate representation of the full 4 weeks of growth. And, I think you will be impressed or shocked or amazed because my belly seems to be growing leaps and bounds each day. Some people around here tell me often how big I am getting. So, get ready for the next picture!

Totally random picture: Ryan showing off our new video camera. Thanks for the Christmas gift Grandma! All of you that read this blog will be able to keep up with adorable Ben moments once he arrives and I figure out how to upload my videos. I'm still working on that.
Our church plant, Christ the Victor, had a Christmas party/gathering after church last Sunday. Sarah, the wife of the pediatrician at World Impact's medical clinic, played the harp during our gathering. That is Sarah's husband, Steven, and 6 month old daughter in the recliner. I'm not sure if Steven is awake or not!
Ryan and I hosted the annual RMO (Religious Missionary Order) Christmas party this year. We aren't even technically a part of the RMO until we take our vows after completing our first year as missionaries in training. But, we have the perfect house for a larger gathering and I was thrilled to host. They all have a tradition of exchanging gifts and playing a game where you can steal gifts from each other. Here is our World Impact family showing off all the gifts we received. These are the people we spend all our time with! Finally, we had the greatest surprise tonight. Our doorbell rang (we weren't expecting anyone) and we heard lots of voices outside. This is a slightly unnerving feeling for where we live; just a part of the job that we enjoy. Anyways, upon peaking out of peephole we discovered all the staff of the Morning Star Ranch (a part of World Impact). We opened the door and were treated to three lovely Christmas carols and lots of hugs and well wishes for Christmas. It was terrific. I love having a house - we got to hear Christmas carolers! I wanted to get a picture, but thought it would be rude to leave them at the door to run get my camera, so you will just have to imagine 10 people standing on my porch singing to me.

Until the Saturday picture post...

Is there really a good time to be pregnant?

I remember many of my Dallas friends sweating through pregnancy and saying, "You never want to be pregnant in summer!" Now I live in a winter wonderland and people keep telling me, "Oh no, you will be pregnant all winter! Be careful!" So, with a 40 week gestation, is there really a good time to be pregnant? I love being pregnant, but I am just more keenly aware of the dangers of the snow and ice now that I am worrying about hurting two people if I slip and fall on my bum.

Yesterday morning we saw 3 inches of snow covering everything. Our church plant team had plans to hand out bags of cookies door-to-door with our church's information and wish our neighbors a Merry Christmas. Even though it didn't get above 13 degrees, the show went on. Here is a picture of our team after passing out 60 bags of cookies in two neighborhoods. I was wearing three shirts, my coat, a scarf, a hat, gloves, thermal underwear, my jeans, two pairs of socks and UNwaterproof shoes. (I am covered in snow because I was leaning against the trunk of a car to set up the camera timer!)

Left to right: Susie, Lisa, Tina, me, Ryan, Ed and Audrey

After the event, I went Christmas shopping and came home with some snow boots (and other gifts, of course). And, yes, I did put them on in the car as soon as I left the store, just like when I was a kid! And I felt no shame. My toes were finally dry and warming up.This picture below is the inside of our sliding glass door in the kitchen. I boiled a whole chicken and the glass was covered in condensation from the steam which then froze at the bottom of the cold door. That was Monday - it is still like that today! Baby, it's ccccoooollllldddd outside.

Finishing Touches

This blog is mostly for my mom to see all the wonderful things her Christmas money has afforded our home. But, maybe some of you are interested in all my little projects too!

I have started and completed many projects around the house since we moved in July. I have also started some projects that I have not completed. This Friday, Ryan and I will host our staff Christmas party at our home, so I have a very definite deadline for getting some of my projects done. Motivation hasn't always been the reason I haven't completed projects though - the budget is a big contributor. So, when my mom sent Christmas money, I knew I would like nothing more than to put the final touches on some of the rooms in the house.

First, her money bought all Ben's bedding (sorry Kim!). One valance came with the bedding pack. I can't wait to see how it looks in the crib. Sorry for the bright flash.I have also been painting Ben's closet RED. After four coats of paint, I decided it was red enough. We have picked out some hanging organizers that will go in his closet to hold all his cute little things, but this is a good start.

With my mom's Christmas money, I bought curtains for the office which prompted me to finally finish painting the door and the trim around the windows.And curtains for the bathroom.

And curtains for the guest room. For this room, we bought a "5 piece set" that said it included a valance, two panels and two tie-backs. When I opened it, I only saw three pieces because the valance and panels were all one piece. I needed them to be separate. So, I cut the panels from the valance and sewed the top of the panels. Yeah for me! I used my new (antique from my grandma) sewing machine. (Lisa, this means you have to come visit me too so you can see my handiwork.)And, here are the curtains in our bedroom and the art for the wall (I made the art, so don't look too closely).And, my last project for this weekend was to put our names on our stockings. The idea that Ben will use this stocking for years and years is so exciting. My mom still puts things in my stocking each Christmas and it is the only stocking I have ever had.

I Couldn't Resist

I know, I have blogged a lot these past couple of days, but I just couldn't resist showing you these pictures.

This was taken yesterday afternoon (Monday) as I left to do some grocery shopping. I was showing my mom the cute shirt she sent me! Notice it is light-weight and only 3/4 sleeve - infer that it is warm outside.
This was just taken this afternoon (Tuesday) as we were coming back from a staff luncheon. Notice the couple of inches of snow and the treacherous road we had to walk across to get to the luncheon!!!
This Kansas weather is so different from anything we have ever experienced.

Getting in the Christmas Mood

We had a very warm weekend (it almost felt like a Dallas winter weekend) so I convinced Ryan to hang our Christmas lights on the house. I am thrilled to finally have a house on which I can hang Christmas lights. Of course, I was there for moral support the whole time! It look a bit of work to figure out just how to use those lovely shingle and gutter clips, but we got it! How did my dad hang our Christmas lights each year without the clips?
Last Thursday it was very cold and we decided to do the "new to Wichita" thing and go to the mayor's Christmas tree lighting. My coat barely buttons closed, but we bundled up and went. They had a few minutes of entertainment, the official lighting of the tree, and then Santa drove by on a fire truck. It was fun. We probably won't do it again, but we can say we have done it. Here is a lovely picture in front of the tree. Can you tell we are shivering?
Finally, I have begun a little bit of work on Ben's room. There isn't much work to be done until we get some stuff in there, but I do want to fix up his closet. The walls in the closet were not finished, so I put some joint compound on them and am in the process of painting. What do you think about this pink of the joint compound? Do you think he will be ok with that color?
Actually, the finished product will be a bold red that is in his bedding. I have put two coats of red on so far, but it still needs more. Cross your fingers! After I paint it, we are going to put another clothes rail and some shelves. I have a few friends that have the best baby's closets, so I am trying to copy them. Hopefully it will turn out as good as I see it in my head.

24 week update

Check out that belly! It is really getting full of baby.

We had our 24 week doctor's appointment today. Everything looks great. Nothing even really to report. The doctor said I didn't gain much weight, my blood pressure looks good, and I will have my glucose test at our next appointment. We will go again on Dec 22nd, a little early, since we will be out of town after Christmas.

I have a little note to give all you "happy-to-shop-for-Ben" people out there. We know it is really, really tempting to just pick up little baby boy stuff at the store, but please take special note of his registry. He created his wish list just for you! Being first time parents, we don't have any baby stuff, so there are many, many things to choose from on the registry. If you want to buy Christmas gifts for him, please consider something from the registry. Here are the links.
Babies R Us - registry # 55656824 Almost everything is here!
Target - registry # 014194400000258 There isn't much here.

Here is another picture just to please those of you that like seeing me in maternity clothes :) My face looks like I am pained, but I'm not.