Girly then Manly

On Super Bowl Sunday, I got to do the girly activity of jewelry making and then do the manly activity of watching the game on a big projection screen. Does life get better than that?

Jewelry making was tons of fun. Becky, a World Impact staff lady at the ranch an hour from Wichita, taught me how to make jewelry. I have never tried it before. Becky's mom used to make a lot of jewelry and passed down all her beads and tools to Becky. She had some amazing stuff!!! She had real pearls and crystals and more real stones than I even knew existed. Three other staff girls came over before the Super Bowl and we all sipped pink lemonade or water from my cute little glasses and made jewelry.

In the picture below, I am trying desperately to hold the beads and cut where Becky told me to.

Everyone else had done this before...they are just watching me struggle at this!
This is my creation - I used a stone called Unakite and four little crystals for some glitter! I didn't get a good picture of it - the stones are gorgeous.
Then, across the street to the big game. It was the best Super Bowl spread I have ever enjoyed. Becky's husband smoked lamb and pork chops, chicken pieces and wings and hot links. I couldn't pass up the hot links, so I didn't even try the lamb - it was football food, you can't have the finer things in life at a football watching party. Yummy.
Look at that screen! Ryan spent a few hours on Saturday helping two other guys get all the wiring set up to watch the game on the screen. This is the commons area of World Impact. I think there were about 40 people there - staff members, friends and people from our new church plant.
This is everyone watching the 3-D commercial at half time. The grown men were much more excited than the kids which was funny to watch.

There were 4 in the bed and the little one said...roll over

Do you know that childhood song?

There were 4 in the bed and the little one said,
"Roll over...Roll over."
So they all rolled over and 1 fell out.
There were 3 in the bed and the little one said...

While getting situated in bed last night, I decided it was finally time to admit that there are actually four people in our bed each night. No, we haven't invited extras to share our family bed. The four in our bed are: Ryan, myself, Ben (the big tummy) and Doug.

Yes, Doug. I have named my current favorite cuddle partner, my body pillow. For some strange reason I gave the pillow this name when I first started sleeping with it early in my pregnancy. I have kept its name a secret for obvious reasons, but have decided to come clean now. It is a big joke in our family now. I try to tell Ryan that he only get 1/4 of the bed so that the rest of us get our fair share of sleeping space, but he still insists on getting 1/2. That means that me, Ben and Doug all have to huddle together on our half. Ben and I cuddle pretty close, but Doug is quite a chore to pick up and move when Ben and I decide to roll over.

Like all not-so-pleasant things in life, I am ready for a change. I know that once Ben is born I will have the pleasure of tummy sleeping again and will no longer feel that huge pull on my lower belly when I try to roll over, but I will trade that in for being awakened by crying and demands for late night feedings and diaper changes. I am ready for the change, something new.

Leave me a comment and tell me anything crazy you did in pregnancy, like naming your body pillow.

Bracks and Hicks

When I was younger, I never quite understood what all the grown-ups were saying. I thought it was Bracks and Hicks. I have since learned that it is Braxton Hicks, but I am still not sure I quite understand whether or not I am experiencing them. I do feel some different sensations, but I can't be sure what I feel.

Our little boy is very active, which keeps mommy from worrying too much. During our New Years travels, he was flipping from side to side of my tummy and it was very visible through my shirt or even a blanket I had over me. Now, he is getting too big for all that movement, but I still see my shirt moving at times. He insisted on keeping a foot under my right rib cage for a week or so, but I have since gotten him out of that habit with some persistent pushing back on my part. At our 32 week doctor appointment today, Ben's heartbeat was 181 bpm. Whew. He was excited about something and he even kicked back at the doppler. That is up 30 bpm from the last appointment.

At 30 weeks, the doctor said she was pretty sure he is head-down. So, from what I feel, I am thinking he keeps his back and bum on my left side. My tummy is generally pretty squishy on the right and firm on the left. That has been fun. We can both push and feel and get him to respond.

He gets the hiccups a lot now from practicing his breathing. At my 30 week doctor appointment, he had the hiccups while the nurse was trying to get a heartbeat reading. It was so cute. The hiccups were picked up on the doppler creating quite a funny sound as it mixed with the heartbeat sounds. It took the nurse twice as long to get a heartrate for my chart, which was fine with us because we got to listen twice as long.

We had our fourth and final baby shower this past Saturday with our World Impact family. We played baby pictionary. I was terrible at the game! I drew ok, but I couldn't guess any of the pictures. The most experienced mom in the room guessed them all! I guess I better brush up on my baby item recognition skills.

Ryan and Daren facing off in baby pictionary.

My team trying to guess what Sarah was drawing. She did a great job and then when the other team guessed before us, she tried to cover up her drawing. It was funny, but you probably had to be there to really laugh at it.

Our hostesses
(Left to right) Audrey, Lisa (we were at her home), Tina, Susie and us!
You can't see it in the picture, but they had baby sized food and blue and white balloons with a big baseball balloon up top! Very thoughtful.

Darby, this picture is for you! My friend Darby now lives far, far away in Washington. She begged for more belly shots, so I purposly took this picture. I am wearing the shirt she gave me when we first announced we were pregnant. I fill it out a bit more now, don't I Darbs?

Ta-Da! The Nursery

I have been so excited to get Ben's room done, especially after returning from Texas with all the baby shower and Christmas gifts. However, like most projects I undertake, it has taken longer than I planned. BUT...it is done. Here are lots of pictures from the process and the completed job and then some pregnancy thoughts. Only 8 more days until you see my 32 week belly picture. Ryan asked me last night, "When do we do the 32 week picture." I told him it was another week and he replied with, "cuz you're gettin' really big."

The Mayhem: Displaying all the things we got in Texas! Thank you all so much. It is a shame none of you came back to Kansas with us to help open it all, wash it all and put it all away.

Thanks to Grammy (Ryan's mom), the crib, changing table and dresser were waiting for us at the store when we got back from our Texas travels. Of course, I insisted we put it together the very next day. Here is Ryan using his "handy-dandy" electric screwdriver that he got for Christmas from a fellow missionary here that has taken quite a liking to him.

Why do the instructions want you to put in screws underneath the crib? This is me trying to get a good picture of Ryan while tipping the crib forward so he can crawl underneath. I have heard horror stories of crib assemblies and ours wasn't too bad.
This is the pile of boxes in the hallway after we opened everything! Don't worry, the pile was soon moved to the recycle or trash. Now to some finished product pictures!

This is an overview of his room. If you go back to the first picture, you will see the blue cover on the glider chair. After much encouragement from my friend Cara and a trip to the fabric store with my friend Tina, I recovered the glider and an ottoman we got from our thrift store. Thankfully, you can't look too closely, but I am still fairly proud of myself. Now, it matches the room. I wasn't a big fan of the blue print from 70s church nursery style.

The crib. Our headboard in our room is actually on the other side of the wall with the hangings. Will we like that or not? Too bad, that is the best wall for the crib. Take notice of the fabulous rocker (on the left side of the picture on the floor) that my sisters found for Ben. It plays "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" and sings the ABC and numbers and some other wonderful learning songs. It is so cute!

This is one of my favorite pictures of the room because of the little shelf in the corner. That is Ryan's baseball glove from his childhood. It is so small. I can't wait to get a picture of Ryan and Ben to put in that great frame. And, this is the changing table. I was encouraged to get a mirror so Ben could see himself while he gets a clean diaper. (That square on the opposite wall is just the mirror reflecting the flash.)
I was hopeful that this picture would turn out a little better, but the flash was bouncing off the shine of the plaque. It says Benjamin Ryan on the grayish pieces in the middle. Thank you so much Kim for giving us such a personal gift. And, Ryan has already started putting our change in Ben's piggy banks. Can't start saving too early if this boy wants as much education as his Daddy.
The closet didn't have doors when we moved in and I have decided I like it open like this. And, of course I love my red wall. I painted the old dresser I got when I was in middle school and we will use it for clothes and the dresser that matches the crib and changing table for so many other tiny baby stuff like blankets and burp cloths. I am sure all the drawers will fill up very soon.
This is our stroller and car seat. I have great hopes of taking it across the street and walking the grounds of World Impact with Ben. Of course, I think I will be way too nervous to push the stroller across the street, so I will probably have to get it all in the car, get him in his car seat and then drive straight across the street only to get it all back out again. Maybe I can time my walks when there isn't any traffic.
This is my friend Tina. She came over the day after we returned from Texas and helped put together the stroller. The room still looked like picture #1, so we had great fun laughing and trying to not sit on things while putting together a very large item. I had the door closed so we weren't bothering Ryan while he worked in his office, but I think we were still giggling a bit loud. At one point he peaked in the door to see what we were doing. He said he got nervous when he heard, "I think this part maybe goes right there!" and then more laughter. He was afraid we were trying to put together the crib! In our defense, the instructions were just a few pictures and we both have very handy husbands, so we really had to put our heads together to snap together all 3 parts to make a stroller :)

Now, since this blog is really long with all the pictures, I thought I would keep it going with some thoughts that have been swirling in my head...read on if you like.
So many times, I have heard mothers and fathers and especially preachers say that you will never really understand the deepest love until you have a child. I never really bought into that and I am not sure that love for a child is deeper than love of a spouse or someone else, but I am finding that the love of a child is a love I have never before experienced. I love Ryan with all my heart, but as his wife, I am not responsible for him. Responsibility: that is the only thing I can seem to put my finger on that makes my love for Ryan seem so different from my love for Ben. Last Sunday evening we went out to Morning Star Ranch (a World Impact ministry about an hour away) to celebrate their first monthly Sunday service. They have a large wooden cross displayed at the front of the room and we got the good fortune of having to sit on the front row. So, I was a few feet from the cross. At the end of the service, we took communion together. The pastor walked us through the service, reminding us of God sending his one and only son, knowing he would have to give up his life in a very painful manor, for my sin. I sat there feeling my tummy move all kinds of ways and thought, 'could I ever give up my son for something?' No way! Ben isn't even in this world yet and I already worry about him scraping his knee, his first rejection by a girl, and sending him out alone in the car for the first time. I was so humbled and experienced communion in such a different way that day. As I looked at the grape juice in the cup, emotions came when I truly thought about Christ's blood. As I ate that nasty tasting bread-imitation square, I saw it in a totally different light. It represents a person, a life. I knew this, but it was different for me this time. Mary felt Jesus kicking her in the ribs just like I feel Ben kicking me. She loved him with all her heart. God had always had his son by his side and for this small moment in eternity, they were completely ripped from each others presence. I am so thankful to experience the forgiveness and grace God offers through his son's sacrifice. And, thankful that he has given me the privilege of raising a son that will hopefully come to experience this same forgiveness and grace.

Mommy Poll & Wedding Pictures

I am polling all mommies that read my blog:

Will my hips and legs stop hurting when I sleep after I have Ben?
Comment with your experience.

Here are pictures from my sister's wedding. She was a beautiful princess.Mr. & Mrs. Smith

I made the chocolates for their reception (I even made Buckeyes on sticks, Cara!)

My sisters are giving Ben some love.

My sister is silly. This was totally posed.

Candice's fabulous friend, Katy, took this picture and shared it with me. Love it.

Ah, so cute and happy. I'm trying to remember that feeling from my wedding.

Isn't she lovely. Isn't she wonderful.

First look at herself in the brides room when we were getting ready.

I wish them all the fun and excitement that marriage offers.

If you want a copy of one of these pictures, email me for the jpeg rather than trying to copy and paste from here.

1,830 Miles

We left Wichita in the cold and ice on Sunday, December 28th. Today, we pulled back into our driveway, 11 days and 1,830 driving miles later. We told everyone in Wichita that we would be "touring Texas" and it did feel that way.

We first went to Denver City, Texas where my grandma and granddad live. Like little kids, we opened gifts and got our stockings from Santa the very day we arrived. Yes, Santa still visits our house each Christmas, but his gifts have become much more practical over the years. Don't misunderstand, practical gifts are great gifts. Below is a picture of me and Ryan, my sister Candice and her now husband Zachary, and my sister Trisha and her fiance Joseph as we finished opening our stockings.

From Denver City, we went to Midland, Texas to my mom's house. My sister got married on New Year's Eve, so we finished up all the prep for the wedding, I dipped a ton of stuff in chocolate for the reception, and we had our girls day of hair and nails for the wedding. It was fun to spend so much time with my sisters. I still like to think they are little girls, but we are all grown up now. This is a picture of us at the hair salon before make-up. I will post more pictures of the wedding later.

Also, while in Midland, I was completely surprised with a baby shower. Ryan found out about it the morning of the big surprise and somehow my family was able to keep the secret (my family is terrible at keeping secrets because we always give a big grin when asked about something). I thought I was going to my sister's bachelorette (tame, very tame) party and instead it was a baby shower for me (with a few little goodies for my sister at the end of the evening too). It was great fun to see so many people and we were blessed immensely with gifts. These are friends from my childhood, so it was so good to see them all. Below is a picture of the girls I grew up with in church and played with all the time. It is so crazy to see us all grown up. If I wasn't so tired right now, I would dig out some old photos of these girls, but I am tired, so just imagine that I have known these girls for most of my life.

They even had a diaper cake for me (which the girls in the picture above so conveniently positioned themselves in front of so I wouldn't see it until they all told me what was really going on).
From Midland, we traveled New Year's Day to Magnolia, Texas where Ryan's mom lives. (It is just outside Houston.) Ryan's brother Randy and his family (wife Rebecca and kids Wesley, Jeremy, Avery, Olivia, Justin and Valerie) were all in town as well and we had a fun time watching the kids open gifts. It was especially exciting to see some of the nieces and nephews thrilled about the gifts we gave them. I thought this picture was a good representation of the chaos as we opened gifts.
Ryan's sister, Kelly and her husband, Michael, live only minutes away from Ryan's mom, so they were there for all the family fun as well. We also got a chance to see Ryan's dad and stepmom, but I ended up without a picture of them. Bummer. Here is a picture of the Carter kids and their spouses. Left to right: Ryan and I, Randy and Rebecca and Kelly and Michael. They didn't give us any warning, so this picture was taken after a long day, but it still turned out pretty well!This picture is Ryan and our niece Avery. I just thought it was too cute not to post. I think they were giving eskimo kisses.

From Magnolia, we traveled to Dallas where we had two baby showers, one with our dear friends from our church there and one with our old coworkers from BridgeBuilders. Lisa, one of our church friends took lots of pictures for me at the shower, but I completely forgot to get them from her before we left. I will post some of them later. Below is a picture from the BridgeBuilders' staff shower. Notice, they even made me a pin that said "It's a Boy!" and they showered us with wonderful gifts. It was so fun to reconnect with so many Dallas people.

And, from Dallas we came home. We were given so many gifts that we barely fit it all in the truck - not something I am complaining about. Ben got way more Christmas gifts than his parents, but we are thrilled at that fact. Below is a picture of our truck with all the big boxes tarped and tied so we could make stops along the way and not have people looking at all our goodies (and it poured down rain as we drove from Houston to Dallas, so the tarp was essential).
And, here is a peak at the back of the truck after Ryan pulled back the tarp.
Here is Ben's Christmas load. He is one loved boy and he hasn't even met the world yet. Now, we just have to unpack it all, put the crib, changing table and dresser together, and so many other finishing touches. This is the "before" picture and hopefully I will have an "after" picture soon. And, this isn't even quite all of it!

In pregnancy news, the trip was better than I expected. As we drove, we stopped every two hours or so to walk around and go to the bathroom. I really thought I wasn't needing to use the bathroom as often as the typical pregnant woman, but I found out I was wrong. Once I was around lots of other people for extended periods of time, I realized that I would get up to go to the bathroom three, four, five times without seeing anyone else get up. I finally realized I was really going and going and going. I only had a little bit of swelling after being in heels for my sister's wedding and woke up that morning with horrible leg cramps that had residual discomfort for the next few days. But, that is really all. Otherwise, it was completely fun to show off my baby belly to the family and to see my husband grin from ear to ear as he showed off my baby belly. We had a great Christmas and New Year and are already excited about spending our next Christmas with our son.
We will go to the doctor on Monday as we start going every two weeks now.

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