Becoming Mommy: 17

This week was filled with a beautiful baby shower for momma Tianna and baby Aurora and SNOW. I am not a fan of snow, but it was nice to get some extra rest at home. I am starting to feel just a little more pregnant, and I can't wait to have a consistent bump so people stop giving me the weirdest look when I say I am. I decided to put up some pictures from our six year dating anniversary on Halloween (much warmer days) when our baby was just a tiny tiny blueberry!

Cravings: Chocolate Milk, Cookie Dough, and Veggies with Ranch (yay for some semblance of health!)

Aversions: Nothing really: But I still don't choose onions or add them to anything.

Baby size: Onion (blech!)

Recent Emotional Feelings: I have been feeling really excited about life with the baby! I have also felt this weird twinge of hurt when people talk about other people who can't have babies. It makes me really sad for them. But sometimes I also feel like everyone kind of looks at us like "Oh, you have it so easy; you won't cherish your baby". I know it seems silly and I am sure it's mostly hormones, but it bothers me sometimes. I didn't have to go through the pain of miscarriage or infertility, but our baby is loved and cherished. It kind of reminds me of the verses in John where Jesus is talking to doubting Thomas. The exchange is as follows: "Then he said to Thomas, 'Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe.” Thomas answered and said to him, 'My Lord and my God!' Jesus said to him, 'Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.'”I think a lot of instances in our lives, Jesus lets us go through things to see them more clearly, but sometimes He graciously spares us. And sometimes in life, we feel begrudged by those who weren't spared. But hey, there is so much more life to be lived and so many more struggles to experience that it's unfair to live in pity and begrudge others. It steals your joy and the other person's joy! Don't get me wrong, I am so so grateful we haven't gone through things some others have, but please don't discount the love we have for our baby because we haven't experienced the loss others have.

 Recent Physical Feelings: I have been feeling really good. I did; however, get my first pregnant calf cramp!! Boy did it hurt!! There was no difference between that and a regular charlie horse, but it sure did catch me off guard, haha.

Things I’m most looking forward to in pregnancy: I really can't wait to start working on the nursery. I just want to hang cute curtains and set up adorable furniture and all that fun stuff!!

Things I’m most looking forward to when baby arrives: I think I am already looking forward to nap times. I know everyone says it's hard to rest when the baby rests, but I think I won't be too bad about that actually. Partially because I know my limits pretty well, and partially because Andrew's schedule will allow some awesome days home together where we can tag team to rest and get things done!

Best moment of the week: I think the best moment of this week was when I believe I felt baby movements for the first time! I still don't know for sure that it was the baby, but I am pretty certain. I was laying on the couch and for once, I couldn't tell exactly where baby was chillin in there! A few seconds later, I felt this tightening and felt bubbles and could immediately palpate where the baby was sitting. I have felt a few similar movements since, so I am pretty certain it is truly the baby and not another organ ;)

Andrew’s Shining Moment: On Sunday night, Andrew looks at me and says "Babuh, can you tell me when it's 150 days from your due date?" I said "Of course, let me look, why!?" He said "I want to read a Psalm to our baby every night until then"... *melts* You just don't find men like that very often. And I already get this one as a husband, and our baby gets him as their daddy. I just felt so so blessed.

Becoming Mommy: 14, 15,& 16

This is flying by! I can't believe 16 weeks of baby-growing have occurred already! These past few weeks have been so incredibly busy! We have had tons of doctor appointments and all results are good, so no worries! My mom was able to hear the heartbeat with me, and of course she teared up! Anyone who knows my mom knows that is no surprise! Andrew and I were able to go to Passion this past weekend in Atlanta which was a phenomenal experience, and we were blessed to have that weekend delving into Christ's love. 

I was breathing out at this second, but my baby belly is definitely getting there :)

Cravings: Trix Yogurt (the swirl kind... maybe they all swirl), Cheese sticks, and Muffins... Notice everything is pretty kiddy!

Aversions: Just onions and olives

Baby size: Lemon- Navel Orange- Avocado (baby is getting big!)

Recent Emotional Feelings: I have been feeling really excited! I am a little anxious about being a parent overall, but I am also accepting that it will come like any other transition in life: do it in grace! I am really just excited right now! Feeling physically well makes it really easy to be content most of the time, so I have no room to complain.

Recent Physical Feelings: I have been feeling pretty great! I have had some back pain, but nothing major. It is also getting more difficult to maintain a comfortable position while sleeping just because I can feel the baby putting pressure on my bladder, so I have to move to a side to relieve it. It's really no big deal though.

Things I’m most looking forward to in pregnancy: I am really looking forward to finding out the GENDER!!! In just 9 days, we will know!!! It's killing me. I don't even want to look at Babies R Us until we know. Although we want to go gender neutral for most things, I really am at that point where I want to be able to say "he" or "she" when I refer to our baby.

Things I’m most looking forward to when baby arrives: I am really looking forward to settling into a routine with our baby. I know routines can be overrated, and I am certainly not set on some unobtainable regimen in my head, so please don't get me wrong. I just really can't wait to live day to day with a baby we get to watch grow and develop into an independent child and then adult. And I know I am going to be that obnoxious mom bragging to my friends about the silly little accomplishments our baby makes...

Best moment of the week: Well there were tons of great moments over these past few weeks, but I think one of my favorites was realizing that our baby is most likely hearing and already learning to recognize mine and Andrew's voice. I also looked at Andrew during Passion and said "How neat is it that some of the loudest and first voices our baby hears are those of really awesome Christian examples like Louie Giglio, Francis Chan, John Piper, and Christine Cain!!??" It was really cool to think that our baby has the potential to recognize (just slightly, I know) their voices later on in life. I don't know, I'm weird like that, but I love thinking that way!

Andrew’s Shining Moment: Andrew is, as he always is, so so sweet. On the last day of Passion, we had to re-enter the Philips Arena, and we had just gotten some soda and fruit after dinner. When we got to the check-in spot we realized they were going to make us throw those things away, so I was a little sad. When we got there and the security guard checked my bag and said we couldn't bring it in, Andrew politely said "Sir, my wife is 4 months pregnant, is there any way we can bring it all in in case her blood sugar drops?" He said yes, and we went on our merry way. It was just really sweet of him to step up and break the rules for me ;) It was a subtle reminder that he cares so much already about our little one, and he will be a spectacular father!

Becoming Mommy: 12 & 13

Because Christmas happened and life has been quite busy, I combined weeks 12 and 13. I hope everyone was able to enjoy the holidays with family and friends! Andrew and I were able to spend two full days with friends and family, and it was truly a blessing! In fact, my good friend, Tianna from T.Y. Photography was able to capture the very slight beginnings of the baby bump! I know it doesn't look like much, but I can feel it.... Even if my feelings are slightly exaggerated.

T.Y. Photography

T.Y. Photography

Cravings: I still consistently eat Lucky Charms, but I did start having what I think are "real" cravings! I have been craving three things: Kelly's Crab Dip, Spaghetti-Os, and Pickles (of course). 

Aversions: I still don't prefer onions in much of anything, but I can at least handle them. Other than that, I really don't have anything that nauseates me horribly now. Although, I have noticed that when I brush my teeth, my gag reflex is in extreme sensitivity mode or something because I (usually) narrowly escape gagging every morning. 

Baby size: Plum- Peach

Recent Emotional Feelings: I have been feeling pretty great. I am finally looking forward to things like decorating our nursery and celebrating all the fun milestones of pregnancy. I have started comparing any pain I feel to what I anticipate childbirth to feel like, and that has me nervous, haha. I am realizing I am probably more of a pansy than I would like to admit, but we shall see when the time comes... in 25 short weeks! Eek!

Recent Physical Feelings: I have been feeling wonderful and energized most of the time. I have been really excited to be able to palpate where the baby is sitting in my "tummy". It's neat to be able to tell exactly where baby is in there!

Things I’m most looking forward to in pregnancy: I can NOT wait to know the gender! We already have our 3D gender ultrasound scheduled, and I am just so excited to know if we are having a little boy or little girl. While I have my preference, I am also trying to pray for an ever-grateful heart regardless of my opinion.

Things I’m most looking forward to when baby arrives: I am so excited about rocking baby to sleep. I am pretty sure I'll also fall asleep 90% of the time,which makes this all so much more appealing. But I can't wait to hold that sweet baby in my arms swaying gently back and forth, just cherishing God's enormous blessings.

Best moment of the week: We saw our baby!! I don't wanna brag, but even the ultrasound tech (whom we will never see again) said three times that our baby had a cute profile. I looked over at Andrew and said "It's because I married this cute man!", and she laughed. She also said, your baby is bouncy... I said "yeah, that's also what I got when I married him" to which she said "I did notice him bouncing his leg this whole time", haha. The whole ultrasound was just really awesome. Ironically, it was our genetic testing ultrasound and baby wouldn't cooperate well, but the tech was able to finally get what she needed. We were blessed with such precious moments watching our little one stirring his/her arms and legs, all the while making us so thankful for an apparently healthy baby.

Andrew’s Shining Moment: Okay, so this one is going to seem silly, but Andrew and I have really enjoyed watching "Nanny 911". I started watching it alone thinking he would never want to watch a show like that. Silly me, he now asks to watch it, and it is our go-to show together. The way he really really cares about parenting skills is really neat. I know he is going to be the best daddy to our little one.