Down In My Heart Joy!

Thirty Four Weeks Pregnant

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Thirty Five Weeks

2012-02-13T21:28:00.001-06:00

Dear Beta,

Our time remainingshortens so quickly, and our list to accomplish before you arrive is stilldaunting. I am trying to be sure toenjoy the moments I have left in this stage of your life, since it is soquickly drawing to an end.

This was the last weekfor us not to see our midwife. Beginningthis coming week, we will see her every week until you arrive, to make sure youand I continue growing healthily.

These precious hand-crochetedstuffed animals arrived this week from your Great Aunt Marianela. I adore them, and think they are a great sizefor you to grasp and suck on!

Your Grandmama has been asewing fiend this week! She completedyour crib bumpers (which had to be partially re-done since we didn’t measure itright the first time!), crib skirt, crib quilt, the big bed quilt, big bedskirt, decorative pillows for the big bed, and an upholstered cover for therocking chair pad. Everything is comingtogether even more adorable than I imagined.

You came with me tophotograph the birth of another baby this week. As I watched her mama working hard to bring her into the world, I satquietly, gently reminded that this moment is not too far way for you and I. The thought crossed my mind, “That’s right,there is only one way this is going to end.” I am pregnant. There is a littleone inside me. There is only one way forme to no longer be pregnant, for this little one to finally be fed up withcramped quarters and move outside me. This mama and papa and baby worked together amazingly well, and I was soproud to be part of their first glimpse at each other, their first kiss, theirfirst squeezing together of fingers and toes and cheeks.

One day this week, yourDaddy looked at me and said, “Every time lately I see a baby, I get soexcited. It is getting so close to whenwe will meet Beta. I look at the babyand think it won’t be long until we have one of those!” One night as we cuddled in bed, with yourbody inside my belly tucked between us, he said, “Pretty soon Beta will be herecuddled between us!”

I am both eager for youto arrive so we can meet you, and eager for you to stay put so you can keepgrowing and we can get more things checked off our to-do list! One more week, and you will be able to bedelivered at home!

You are now about 18.5inches long, and weigh about 5 1/3 pounds. Your body is growing rounder in diameter with accumulating fat stores,than it is growing in length.

Inside your body, yourlungs are almost fully developed. Yourkidneys are completely matured, and are capable of processing waste, along withyour liver.

The skin on your face issmooth instead of wrinkled, giving you the rounded cheeks characteristic of anewborn. All over your body, your skinis now completely opaque, having completely lost the translucency of apremature infant. The creamy white vernixon your skin continues to thicken, giving your skin the protective barrier itneeds from the amniotic waters.

With your reflexes fullycoordinated, you can turn your head, grasp firmly, and respond to sound, light,and touch.

Once this week I took offmy belt and accidently swung the buckle against the steel toilet paperdispenser in my work’s bathroom stall, making a sudden, loud “crack”sound. You immediately jumped insideme! I was stunned really, knowing thatyou could be startled by the sound just as I was.

Your head is stilllocated nicely down inside your house. The last time I remember feeling you feet down was at Christmas. Ever since then, you have stayed wonderfullyhead-down, happily waiting for the day when your door to the world begins toopen. When you turn your head back andforth, I can feel it sliding and pinching on top of my bladder or my cervix. It can get uncomfortable, but I am just happyto know you are in a good position for birth.

Several times this week,you kicked hard against my right side, almost like a swimmer pushing off theedge of the pool. Only your pool ispretty small. So instead of your bodypushing off and sliding across the water, you pushed off and slammed your torsointo my left side! You did it severaltimes, almost like an experiment to see if you could repeat the same resulteach time. My belly looked so crazy whenyou did this; it made me laugh.

You still like to hangout lower in your house. It is funny tome that most of the time, at least the top three or four inches of your houseare empty and squishy, because you are curled up in the lower section. I think that must be part of why people seemto think my belly is so big already!

When you have hiccups,they feel stronger than before, as your shoulders and ever-widening torso bumprhythmically against me. Your movementsoverall are strong enough that they rarely tickle anymore. Sometimes though, when I’m trying to fallasleep, if I lay on my right side, your start protesting, kicking against meand the mattress, and it tickles still.

While I feel youthroughout the day, there are definite hours of stillness where you sleep. At least three times each day, you have anhour or more of constant, strong movement. If I am at work, or working on my computer at home, this can get quitedistracting as your movements are so strong and frequent as to draw mycontinual attention.

Thirty Five 35 Weeks Pregnant

As the day your Daddy andI become parents draws nearer, we pray harder. That as we journey to be who God created us to be, that we journey to bethe parents He created us to be as well.

When we growing up,apparently we were relatively well-behaved in public. My mom would frequently be asked by friendsor strangers, “How do you DO it?!” with a mixture of awe and incredulity. When I was older, she used to tell me, “Theydon’t really want to know.” They arelooking for an easy way out. There is noeasy way out in life, and there is no easy way out as parents. It is a lot of hard work, sacrifice,consistency, and most of all, prayer. Iremember her telling me, “How did I do it? I prayed. All the time. For wisdom in how to do it. And when the Lord spoke to me, I did what Hesaid.”

That is the kind of mom Ihope to become.

“Come, my children,listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD.” (Psalm 34:11)

“Only be careful, andwatch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes haveseen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to yourchildren and to their children after them.” (Deuteronomy 4:9)

I have seenmiracles. I have seen God’sfaithfulness. I have seen tragedy turnedinto joy. I have seen fragile, faithfulpeople stand strong through deluge and torment.

“Impress [God’s law andwords] on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walkalong the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” (Deuteronomy 6:7)

“Teach [God’s law andwords] to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when youwalk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” (Deuteronomy 11:19)

“…To serve as a signamong you. In the future, when your children ask you, ‘What do these stonesmean?’ “ (Joshua 4:6)

“The living, theliving—they praise you, as I am doing today; parents tell their children aboutyour faithfulness.” (Isaiah 38:19)

Thirty Three Weeks Pregnant

Thirty Three Weeks Pregnant

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Thirty Four Weeks

2012-02-06T21:42:00.001-06:00

Dear Beta,

Most of this week you spent in a posterior position. All my efforts to turn you were in vain! The fun part of this is I can feel your feet, hands, knees, and elbows moving around SO much more when you are in this position. You are STRONG! So I’d have to admit that I prefer when you are anterior, so you can use your placenta as a punching bag instead of the front of my belly!

Then on Friday afternoon, I cuddled up in our hammock with your Daddy, and suddenly a giant lump protruded from my abdomen. It was larger than a softball, and about as round, and seemed to poke out three inches or more. I could wrap both my hands around it and almost move it around. We were busting up laughing because it looked and felt SO weird, even though I couldn’t figure out what part of you I was feeling, or if it was just a Braxton Hick. When we saw the midwife an hour later, she felt it too, and said it was your butt! You had rotated sideways, almost anterior, curled up, and were sticking your rear straight up!

Then she felt the rest of you, finding your head still down low (yay), your knees to one side, an elbow on another side. I couldn’t believe how BIG you are already. Having her point out your different body parts really shows me your size, and it is a bit shocking to me how close to a full size newborn you have already become. I don’t think my choices of fruits and veggies to represent you are adequate. Perhaps if you completely curled up in a ball, you could be that small, but you are truly so much bigger than I even realize.

In addition to viewing sonograms last night, your Daddy and I watched videos of babies born at thirty four weeks gestation. They looked like real babies. Gone were the translucent skin, bald heads, and somewhat frightening bodies so thin and frail. Instead, these babies look like slightly smaller versions of full-term babies. It is hard for me to believe we have come this far.

In two more weeks, it will be legal and safe for us to deliver you at home. I don’t expect you to come that early, but the fact we have nearly reached that point keeps taking me by surprise. It seems like yesterday your Daddy and I were looking at sonograms of babies who still were the shape and size of lima beans. And now you are almost fully grown. I’m sure in another few years, it will seem like yesterday that you were born, as you approach your tenth or twentieth birthday.

It was certainly an eventful week! We finished painting your nursery, put the furniture in place, had a visit from our midwife, had a close friend in town, and had your first baby shower!

More painting. Me wearing the respirator mask so the nasty fumes don't get to you.

We finished painting this week, which was a lot of work and a huge relief! I love how the colors turned out. There is still a lot to do, like painting the dressers, sewing curtains, putting art on the walls, and filling the dresser drawers with your clothes and things. But the skeleton is in place!

Your room was put together just in time for you to share it with one of my close friends who came from out of town to visit us. Her baby slept in your crib to test it out for you! My friend visited to celebrate your baby shower, and to take photographs of your Daddy and I and you together, while you are still hiding inside my belly. If she still lived here, she would have been at your birth as well, to celebrate and cry and takephotos. We are sad she will miss that joyful event, but so happy to have seen her and spent time together.

There are two grey walls and two yellow walls. The quilt is vintage and was originally hand-stitched, just the top layer. Your Grandmama machine quilted the rest of it to the batting and backing, which took a long time! She also quilted a smaller blanket for you. Both of these she will finish soon by sewing edge binding onto them.

This week she also sewed a bumper for your crib! She is so talented and hard-working. I can’t wait to see it all come together.

At your baby shower, we received all sorts of wonderful gifts. Some you will use, like a car seat, dishes,and cloth diapers. Others you will enjoy, like some interactive toys. It was almost overwhelming, how many people came to bless us and pray for us. I was especially encouraged by all the prayers… for your safe delivery, for your health, for your love for Jesus and His cause, for your Daddy and I in our marriage and as parents… I left feeling so encouraged and strengthened.

Some more handmade gifts arrived this week in the mail! Your Nana Rose sewed you flannel cloth wipes. She also crocheted you a sweet yellow blanket. We have it with your first outfits to wrap you up in shortly after you arrive.

Your Great Aunt Marianela crocheted you little booties and a sweater. And at our baby shower, my mom gave me some clothes that I wore when I was a baby! Even if you are a boy, there is at least one little outfit you can wear. She also gave me photos where I am wearing some of the outfits! I can’t believe she has kept them for me, for thirty years.

Thirty four 34 weeks pregnant

At our visit with Robin, our midwife, and her assistant Jean, you would hardly hold still long enough for them to feel you. You are so active and squirmy! You also like to hang out in the lower part of your house. Every once in a while, I feel kicks or movement higher up near my ribs,but for the most part, even though your house reaches up pretty high, you don’t use all that space. You prefer being curled up lower down, which makes my belly protrude and look round like a soccer ball. Eventually, as you grow more, you won’t have any choice where to be, since your body will fill up all the available space!

By averages, you are still around eighteen inches long, and you weigh around five pounds! Some of that weight is fat accumulating under your skin, plumping up your arms and legs. As a result, your skin is less wrinkled, and you are starting to look like a newborn. In fact, you both look and act like a newborn already, or so they tell me. If that is the case, you are going to like curling up and being swaddled, and also moving around. I imagine your little feet and hands will move a lot after you are born, since they continue being so active even now.

The vernix on your skin is getting thicker and creamier as the fine lanugo hair on your body disappears. Your nails have grown long enough to cover their nail beds, reaching the tips of your fingers and toes.

Your eyes blink frequently, closing when you sleep, opening while you wake. Your hearing is sharper, and your memory of sounds is increasing. You know my voice and your Daddy’s voice well enough to be comforted by them. I like talking and singing to you while I massage your back through my belly, pressing just firmly enough where I think you can feel the gentle massage. It usually makes you kick, so I know you feel it!

Your Daddy and I were discussing the god-parent issue. I don’t know if it is a northern or Midwest tradition, or an Anglo tradition, but in the Latin-American culture, I’ve never heard of people doing it. Your Daddy seems to think a child’s god-parents are the people who would take care of the child if something happened to the parents. I thought that was designated in our wills. We haven’t finished the conversation yet of what to do.

Regardless, I know that you are God’s child! We have stood before Him and entrusted you to Him, and we will do so time and again as you grow.

“ ‘I will declare your name to my brothers and sisters;

in the assembly I will sing your praises.’

And again, ‘I will put my trust in Him.’

And again he says, ‘Here am I, and the children God has given me.’

Since the children have flesh and blood, He too shared in their humanity so that by His death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil.(Hebrews 2:12-14)

In return for entrusting you to our heavenly Father, we discover He gives back even more.

His instruction,

His peace,

His spirit,

His truth-giving words,

His never-ever-leaving presence.

“All your children will be taught by the LORD, and great will be their peace.” (Isaiah 54:13)

“ ‘As for Me, this is My covenant with them,’ says the LORD. ‘My Spirit, who is on you, will not depart from you, and My words that I have put in your mouth will always be on your lips, on the lips of your children and on the lips of their descendants—from this time on and forever,’ says the LORD.” (Isaiah 59:21)

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Thirty Three Weeks

2012-01-30T20:10:00.000-06:00

Dear Beta,

Lately I’m startingto feel sobering reality. Both yourDaddy and I have had SO much excitement this entire pregnancy. We waited what seems like so many years, andworked so hard to get to this point, that from the moment we found out youexisted, we could hardly contain our joy. The time of your expected arrival is approaching like a freight train,and the time we have left until then speeds quickly behind us. I am no less joyful, but also facing thereality that we are about to become parents.

We are about tobegin a journey that most likely, won’t end until decades and decades from nowwhen one of us relocates to heaven. Wewill always be your parents. You willalways be our child. In marriages,unfortunately sometimes they end. Husband and wife call each other that no longer. I wish it wasn’t that way. But children are blood, and you will alwaysbe ours.

The responsibilityof this is both heavy and beautiful.

Beta, we will failyou. We will disappoint you, and notjust by not letting you have ice cream or such. We will make mistakes. Whiletrying our hardest, we will sadly wound your heart. Despite our best efforts, we have mademistakes in our marriage, and failed each other at times in our marriage. This is the heavy.

My parents are thebest I could ask for, and they have made mistakes and hurt me. Yet in the end, the strength and tirelessnessof their love for me wins out. Theirperseverance, repentance, dedication to Jesus and to expressing His love, is avictory won over anything troublesome that occurs along the way. Your Daddy and I have experienced the same inour marriage. This is the beautiful.

Just like ourparents, we won’t be perfect. We won’tdo everything right. We will hurt youwithout meaning to. Such is life in abroken earth.

But the beauty thatshines through the brokenness is this: Jesus saves. He loves. He redeems. Herestores. He heals. And life with Him isworth living.

And when we don’tknow what to do to help you or instruct you, He is our source and ouranswer. And when we have failed you andyou are old enough to be aware of your wound, He is your source and youranswer.

HE will NEVER failus.

Because of this, wehave Someone to hang onto when everything else is broken.

Your Daddy tellsyou every morning and evening that he loves you. I tell you many times a day, often whilerubbing your back through my skin. Ourlove comes from Jesus, the source of love. Our imperfections come from this broken earth, from our own poorchoices, from sin. So we love youdesperately, yet imperfectly. We loveyou, Beta. That will never change.

I pray that throughthe brokenness and wounds, and through the victories and beauty, that togetherwe discover Jesus, become more of His children, lean more into His arms. That drawing to Him binds us together as afamily. This is the hope we have inChrist.

Thirty Three 33 Weeks Pregnant

This week I’ve finallynoticed definite times where you must be sleeping, and definite alerttimes. You will be awake, moving,kicking and playing for twenty or thirty minutes, with these huge, strong,movements. Then I will feel nothing foran hour or so while you rest. Then a fewbumps for ten minutes or so, then another hour or so of sleep. About every other night, one of yourextremely active sessions occurs in the middle of the night, usually sometimebetween two and four am. I’m wonderingif you will continue this after you are born!

We worked on yournursery over the weekend too. Your Daddypainted the walls grey and yellow. YourGrandmama is sewing a quilt. This week Iwill finish the painting of the walls, and we will move the furniture into theroom!

You now weigh aboutfour and a half pounds, and are roughly eighteen inches long. The size of your head is expanding rapidly,allowing important brain growth. Yourbones continue to harden, except for the ones in your head. These stay pliable, to help your head squishinto a shape that will allow you to exit your house in a couple more months.

The level of waterin your swimming pool has peaked. Fromhere forward, it will gradually decrease as the size of your body graduallyincreases, taking up more real estate. You are also drinking and urinating a pint of fluid every day! That’s quite a lot of fluid for such a littleone as you.

As your housegrows, the walls get thinner. This letsyou see more changes in light, indoor, outdoor, day and night. And your immune system is now relativelystable, and could protect you from mild infections.

These verses tellyou how much you matter to Jesus.

“People were bringinglittle children to Jesus for Him to place His hands on them, but the disciplesrebuked them. When Jesus saw this, He was indignant. He said to them, ‘Let thelittle children come to Me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of Godbelongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enterit.’ And He took the children in His arms, placed His hands on them and blessedthem.”

(Mark 10:13-15)

“Jesus took a littlechild whom He placed among them. Taking the child in His arms, He said to them,‘Whoever welcomes one of these little children in My name welcomes Me; andwhoever welcomes Me does not welcome Me but the One who sent Me.’ ”

(Mark 9:36-38)

In these verses, wesee the ways parents are to care for their children, by the example of theapostles caring for their churches.

“Just as a nursing mothercares for her children, so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, wewere delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives aswell.”

(1 Thessalonians 2:7-8)

“You are witnesses, andso is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed.For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his ownchildren, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God,who calls you into His kingdom and glory.”

(1 Thessalonians 2:10-12)

This week, I pray for youby praying for us. That we will care foryou, love you, encourage and comfort you, and urge you to live a life worthy ofGod. That despite the failures we willinevitably have, that the power of God will shine through us, will be caught byyou, and displayed through you to the world.

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Thirty Two Weeks

2012-01-23T19:15:00.000-06:00

Dear Beta,

You really don’tlike hiccups. It is no surprise thatthey wake you, but you certainly protest them by squirming and kicking untilthey go away! I’d say you have hiccupsabout every other day. Because you arestill in perfect birthing position, your torso is down and to my left. Thus I feel your hiccups bumping your torsoagainst the front of my left hip. Simultaneously, your little feet usually kick and squirm on my rightupper side. I hate to break it to you,but your hiccups won’t go away once you are born. And they are pretty much always just asannoying! However, I think you willprobably have them less than you do now.

We had anothervisit from our midwife, Robin, this week. She called it her “play date” with you, and said you were something of acelebrity. All this talk about you,photos for you, celebration of you, and many people following your progress inthese weekly letters makes you like the star of a soap opera or something!

I only wish everychild had the privilege of being just as wanted and celebrated.

Your house isthirty four centimeters tall now, making more space for you each week. You weigh almost four pounds, and are abouteighteen inches long! The diameter ofyour head is four inches, up from two and a half inches just five weeksago. From now through delivery, you willgain half your birth weight.

Your heartbeat was slowerthis week, about 128 to 132 beats per minute. It is typical for a baby’s heart rate to slow a bit at this point.

All that growthrequires more rest, so you are now sleeping for more of the day andevening. Although your movements arestill regular throughout the day (and even when I wake at night), I havenoticed that overall you seem a bit more still. There are times when you seem to sleep, that you don’t move much, evenin response to prodding.

The change in yourmovement is a result of the shrinking space around you in relation to yourgrowing body. Some of your more frequentmovements now are turning your head back and forth, and moving your hands. All of that I feel very low down, andsometimes can feel your head over my cervix. One day, that window will open for you to exit through it!

If you are a girl,your clitoris has formed. If you are aboy, your testicles are descending from your groin into your scrotum.

Your body is ableto absorb some minerals from your own intestinal tract, including calcium andiron. Some of those minerals have taken shapeon the tips of your fingers and toes, where your nails are now fully formed andvisible.

Finally, your skin isgaining pigment. From this pointforward, your skin will lose its translucency, becoming more opaque.

Thirty Two 32 Weeks Pregnant

A few months ago, Iheard your cousin Aidan was praying daily for you to be obedient to yourparents. Obedience, discipline,submission… these are not words or actions we like as children, or as adultseither. But they will always be part oflife with Christ, and life with each other. These actions breed faithfulness and perseverance, qualities of strongcharacter that bring a meaningful and effective life. It begins not long after birth, and continuesas long as we are here on earth.

“Endure hardship asdiscipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are notdisciplined by their father?” (Hebrews12:7)

“As obedient children, donot conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance.” (1 Peter1:14)

Just as children haveinstructions, so do parents!

“Children, obey yourparents in the Lord, for this is right. ‘Honor your father and mother’—which isthe first commandment with a promise — ‘so that it may go well with you andthat you may enjoy long life on the earth.’ Parents, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in thetraining and instruction of the Lord.” (Ephesians 6:1-5)

“Children, obey yourparents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.

Parents, do not embitteryour children, or they will become discouraged.” (Colossians 3:20-22)

The fruit of anobedient life is felt by the child, the parents, and even those surrounding.

“I have no greaterjoy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.”

3 John 1:4

“Dear children, let usnot love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” (1 John 3:18)

“So that you may becomeblameless and pure, ‘children of God without fault in a warped and crookedgeneration.’ Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky.” (Philippians 2:15)

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Happy Feet

2012-01-19T12:34:00.001-06:00

Hi little feet.
You are strong.
So round and bony.

You push and press and kick and roll across my belly.
You tickle me and make me laugh.
Sometimes you hurt me kind of.
But you always make me smile.

Sometimes I can see you making a little lump under my skin.
Sometimes even when you are still, I can tell where you are, pressing into my side.
I love to sit quietly with my hands touching my skin, waiting expectantly for your move. Sometimes I can press on you and move you around and you just slide over to another area. Other times you kick back.
Yet other times you wiggle your entire body in response, trying to find a comfy spot where no one is tickling your feet.
You curl and flex your toes and I feel a tiny flick inside.

I smile and say, “Hello, little feet.”
Happy me.

Thirty One Weeks

2012-01-16T19:29:00.000-06:00

Dear Beta,

The weeks keep rolling by. Documenting it seems to have made it go faster. We still have a lot to doto prepare for your arrival, so we are happy for you to stay put!

Speaking of staying put, you are graduallymoving a bit less over the last few weeks, or perhaps I should say, themovement has changed. When you were smaller (one or two pounds), yourmovements felt like constant flutters and jabs. I would say over and overagain, “This baby is SO STRONG!” As you grow more, filling the space thatsurrounds you, your movements feel more like pushes and slides. There isless “flippy floppy” movements of your entire body, and less of the aggressivekicks which required space and momentum. I still feel you almost asfrequently as before, but the movement seems more controlled. Some of thepushes from your feet are just as strong as the sharp kicks were before; itjust feels different.

You have been mostly head-down for as longas I’ve been able to tell how you are positioned. A few times you’veflipped transverse or posterior. It’s pretty funny when you turnposterior, because suddenly the middle and center of my belly is full of bonyarms, elbows, knees, and feet moving all over the place like you’re playingdrums on the inside of my belly. My skin rolls and moves over yourappendages, and it looks like you’re trying to make a way out through my bellybutton!

For the most part however, I’ve felt youin perfect birthing position – head down, torso to my left, feet kicking to myupper right. If I cross my legs and lean forward, or sit in any otherposition that squishes the lower part of my uterus against my thighs, you arequick to protest! Your head and hands get all bumpy and pushy down low,letting me know you need a bit more space! You like to hang out in thelower half or two thirds of your house. Frequently when I feel my bellyto find you, the upper section of your house is empty. Eventually, youwill be big enough to fill all of it! Then you will run out of space anddecide it’s time to find a new house. Don’t worry, there’s one waitingfor you that’s plenty big enough.

I know I talk a lot about your movement,but that’s all I have of you right now, other than your heartbeat that I listento a couple times a week on the stethoscope. I can’t wait until I can seeyour sweet face, hear your chirping sounds, smell your hair, touch your silkysoft skin….

I know that means I will also hear yourshrill cries and smell your stinky diapers, but that is part of being aparent. Part of being married. Part of being alive really. The joy with the pain, the good times and the bad. It’s why they have yousay “for better or worse” in your wedding vows. Because it’s not ALLgoing to be “Better.” But if we endure through the “Worse,” and come outstill holding hands, that is the beauty of life together on this earth. Only in heaven do we get the Joy and the Better without anything to mar it.

Thirty One 31 Weeks Pregnant

Some of the recentthings your Daddy has been saying to you in the evenings….”It’s Beta, Beta,Beta! It’s Beta-time!!!” Sometimes he will tell you “good morning” and“wake up!” in an effort to get you to wake up and play with him. Other times he will tell you “good night” andstart snoring, also in an effort to get you to wake up, since at times it seemshe talks to you and pokes around at you for ten minutes or so with no response,only to have you wake and start kicking the moment we start to fall asleep!

Daddy talking to Baby Beta

One evening this week he prayed that youwould make an impact in the kingdom of God. Every nightthis week he prays for you to grow strong and healthy. Lately he hasstarted praying for you and I both to have a good delivery. Beta, I don’tthink you could ask for a better Daddy. You aren’t even here completelyyet, and he is already crazy about you.

This weekend we finally got started onyour nursery! We cleared everything out of the room, and your Daddyworked really hard on the first stage – removing the wallpaper border, andpainting white primer over the previously pink walls and ceiling. Surprisingly, the border came off easily using our clothes steamer! Thenwe used a bit of vinegar on the remaining little scraps until they easilyrubbed off. We were excited to avoid strong wallpaper strippingchemicals, and had all the border down in less than an hour!

When your Daddy primed over the paint, hediscovered primer is pretty stinky stuff! Your Grandmama took this photoof him wearing a respirator mask to keep out the fumes. When I help paintlater this week, I’ll be wearing the mask to protect you from the fumes. Your Daddy actually helped paint this room pink many years ago when my familyfirst moved into this house. Now, he is painting it yet again.

I’m sure your Tia Priscilla will be sad tosay goodbye to her pink room, but she is also happy to meet you and share aroom with you. Even if you are a girl, I wouldn’t have your room pink, soinstead we selected a few different shades of grey and yellow. This weekI plan to paint some swatches on the wall to help us choose the exact shade.

In our Bradley birth classes this week, wediscussed nutrition. Our instructor lectured the poor couple who broughtdelectable homemade chocolate chip cookies for our shared snack, and insistedfuture snacks people bring be “nutritious!” It was humorous this occurredon the week we discussed nutrition.

The research she presented (from Dr.Brewer) emphasized the importance of protein, calories and salt. Hisstudies found women in their third trimester who consumed seventy five grams ofprotein daily and 2,600 calories daily had less than 1% chance of developingpre-eclampsia, a condition dangerous to both mother and baby that usuallyresults in pre-term induction or cesarean.

We have a chart to fill out all week longto help me remember to eat enough protein, calcium, green veggies, fats, andmore. Since I’ve been tracking my food intake most of this pregnancy, andtrying to feed you nutritious food all along, this is relatively easy forme. I hope when you arrive, your taste buds will already be acclimated tofruits, vegetables, natural fats, and healthy proteins like fish, chicken,beans, and eggs, since that’s mostly what I’ve been feeding you!

When my mom was pregnant with me, she andmy dad were vegetarians temporarily, trying to conceive and grow the healthiestbaby possible! Now that I am an adult, they find it interesting that Iprefer fruits and vegetables to meats, and am probably the mosthealth-conscious eater of their children. I guess you could say itworked!

By now, you weigh about three and a halfpounds, and are about seventeen inches long! You are growing so fast I amquickly running out of fruits and vegetables to use in my photos to representyou. It is clear you are growing well, because my body keeps growingtoo. This week I started having people ask if I was SURE there was onlyone of you. Yes, only one, but hopefully a strong, healthy, good sizedone!

Your eyes are completely open now when youare awake, and will close when you sleep. Your irises can respond tolight, dilating and contracting as needed. Last night your Daddy triedshining a flashlight on you, but you barely flinched. Shortly after hestopped though, you began moving all around, so perhaps he woke you from adoze!

Your major organs are all functioning, andwill continue to mature until you are born. Your lungs and digestivetract have developed quite a bit, and are almost completely mature. Yourimmune system has also strengthened, although for your first year of life, mostof your immunities will come from breastmilk.

Your hearing is also more refined. Aloud noise could make you jump (I haven’t noticed this happening yet). You may already have musical preferences, and some people say you could move tothe rhythm of music! I’ve noticed at church when we have a lot of bassand drums in a song, you will move more frequently and with more energy.

Both sides of your family contain singersand musicians, my side especially so. My paternal grandfather was aprofessional wedding and event singer. My maternal grandmother could havebeen a professional opera singer with the voice she naturally has. Mymother, father, myself, and my sisters have all been singers and worshipleaders. Your Daddy has a pleasant voice that I especially love to hearjoin in when our family sings Christmas carols.

Scripture has SO much to say about musicand singing. Last year ago I preached a three-week series about worship,so it is hard to think about putting just a handful of verses here in myprayers for you this week. I certainly hope and pray that you will lovemusic. That you will love to sing and play music for Jesus. That anymusical talent you have, you know comes from Him, and is most deeply fulfilledwhen using it for Him.

“Myheart, O God, is steadfast, my heart is steadfast;

Iwill SING and make MUSIC.

Awake,my soul! Awake, harp and lyre!

Iwill awaken the dawn.

Iwill praise You, Lord, among the nations;

Iwill SING of You among the peoples.

Forgreat is Your love, reaching to the heavens;

Yourfaithfulness reaches to the skies.

Beexalted, O God, above the heavens;

letYour glory be over all the earth.” (Psalm 57:7-11)

“SINGfor joy to God our strength; shout aloud to the God of Jacob!

Beginthe MUSIC, strike the timbrel, play the melodious harp and lyre.”

(Psalm81:1-2)

“Indeed,of Zion [the city of God ] it will be said,

“Thisone and that one were born in her, and the Most High Himself will establishher.”

TheLORD will write in the register of the peoples:

“Thisone was born in Zion.”

Asthey make MUSIC they will SING, ‘All my fountains are in You.’ “

(Psalm87:5-7)

“Bevery careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most ofevery opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, butunderstand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leadsto debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another withpsalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. SING and make MUSIC from your heart tothe Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name ofour Lord Jesus Christ.”

(Ephesians5:15-20)

tags: thirty one weeks pregnant 31 weeks pregnant pregnancy blog, thirty one week size, what size, thirty one 31 week fetal development, fetus, baby, belly, pregnant belly, praying for baby, pray

Best Books About Birth, Labor, and Fertility | Why We Chose Home Birth

2012-01-16T11:09:00.000-06:00

Starting about five years ago, I decided to research ways to birth a baby in America. My mom delivered me and all my siblings at home. I was present for the last two births (at ten years old and twelve years old), and thought it was amazing. One of my sisters recently had a home water birth. I've always figured I would have my babies at home, but realized I needed facts and evidence to see what was truly safe and best.

This film is a great place to get introduced to the basic concepts and ideas behind hospital birth vs. home birth.

(the film) "The Business of Being Born"

This is where I discovered that the United States currently has the highest mortality rate for babies and moms (surrounding the time of birth) of any domesticated country with general access to health care. All the other countries with higher (worse) mortality rates are poor countries without access to health care. The country with the lowest (best) mortality rate for both babies and moms? Holland. Where they still deliver around 30% of their babies at home with midwives.

It was also the place that discussed the cesarean "epidemic." The World Health Organization (WHO) surveys all sorts of healthcare issues all over the world, and publishes annual reports of their findings. They discovered that countries with less than 10% cesarean rate had higher mortality rates (both babies and moms). Countries with greater than 15% cesarean rate also had higher mortality rates (both babies and moms). From this, they observed that a 10-15% nationwide cesarean rate would have the the best outcome for both babies and moms. The United States' rate is over 30%, and in many cities and hospitals, well over 40% to 50%.

My personal conclusion from this: maternity care in the United States is killing moms and babies. Too many cesareans are killing moms and babies. If you don't want a cesarean, and want a higher chance of life for yourself and your baby, don't birth in the hospital.

These are just two statistics, and there are a thousand more that affect our bodies and babies well beyond the moment of birth. Breastfeeding success, chances of permanent disease, mental illness, infection, hysterectomy, hemorrhage, effects of labor drugs on moms AND babies, and much, much more, are significantly affected by birth choices.

To educate myself, I spent several years consuming stacks of books with DATA on the subject. While I like to FEEL good about a decision, I am definitely a data and evidence person.

Surprisingly, I discovered that most hospitals and doctors are currently practicing litigation-based care rather than evidence-based care. For example, the evidence is black and white that too many cesareans lead to increased neonatal and maternal deaths. However, a doctor who does a cesarean is perceived in a court of law to have done "everything they could" and thus is nearly exempt from a negative legal result. So they section more women to protect themselves from litigation, despite statistical evidence to the contrary.

The film I mentioned just scratches the surface. And the internet is even worse. You're not going to find good evidence on the internet on this subject, period. Published books are a more reliable source, and have data you're not going to find anywhere else.

It is unfortunate that most people spend more time researching which iPod or camera to purchase, than where to deliver their children. As parents, we have so much responsibility to raise and care for our children, and it begins well before they are conceived.

Finally, if you are praying people, please pray. I truly believe the Holy Spirit speaks to us through prayer, and you can come to a wise decision that is based both on having educated yourself, and having prayed through that decision. I can't imagine having made our decision with "prayer alone", and I also can't imagine having made it with "education alone." It was the merging of the two that gives us peace about where and how we plan to birth our children.

Because in the end, YOU are their parent. Benjamin and I are this baby's father and mother. It is not your child's doctor or midwife who have to raise this child. It is not your mother or mother-in-law who have to answer to heaven for your child. They are not the ones who will forever carry the responsibility of birthing and raising that child. It is you, the parents. You were given an intelligent brain and a sensitive spirit, so use them as you decide how to birth your child.

My strong opinions and soapbox preaching here are just that - mine. I just wish more people would really do the necessary homework and think for themselves, instead of swallowing whatever a doctor, parent, friend, or random internet website has to say. If you do your research and come to a different conclusion that we did, so be it. It would surprise me since I feel the facts are so clear and inarguable, but hey, that's why we all need to think and decide for ourselves and for our children. For the rest of our lives as parents, this will be our job. To learn, educate, research, study, listen to wisdom, and make the best decision we can. Just please don't make the birth decision blithely or lightly or with only the "research" from your doctor's office or the web. It's not enough.

I could go on, but instead, will share my reading list. I will also suggest that you don't try to read these books, or make this decision, while pregnant. There are some gruesome and tragic stories and statistics in some of these books. They are important to read and understand, because they are part of making an educated decision. However, I am glad I read them long enough before being pregnant to forget them, and just hang on to the decision that resulted from them. Plus, when you're pregnant you want to be worrying about getting good health care and a good health care provider, not what kind or what location is best for you to deliver in.

Here's my reading list, in order of suggested consumption.

If you can just read one, read "Pushed." If after that you need additional evidence, read "Born in the USA." If you don't need additional evidence but just need encouragement that you can "do it", skip "Born" and read "Ina May's...".

"Pushed: The Painful Truth About Childbirth and Modern Maternity Care" - Jennifer Block
This is the most recent book, so it has the most recent statistics. It might be the only book you will need to give you enough evidence to make your decision. It is shocking throughout and frightening at times. The research is thorough and well-documented, and presents a case that cannot be ignored.

"Born in the USA: How a Broken Maternity System Must Be Fixed to Put Women and Children First" - Dr. Marsden Wagner
This book was published a couple years prior to "Pushed." It talks about some of the same things, and more at the same time. It also has some intense content, and a voluminous amount of powerful research. It is written by an ob/gyn who later became a scientist studying birth interventions and outcomes, after he saw what was really happening in his field. Because of this, his perspective is deep and broad.

"Ina May's Guide to Childbirth" - Ina May Gaskin
Ina May is a self-trained midwife who pioneered the hippie natural birth movement in the 1960's, when women birthing in hospitals were being knocked unconscious and tied down to beds while their babies were dragged out of them with episiotomies and forceps. She quickly grew in expertise, and even has a birth maneuver named after her. The first half of her book is simply amazing, empowering stories about women who delivered with her. The stories are so beautiful and encouraging, by the time you're through, you WANT to have be in labor just because it sounds so amazing. And it's not because she exaggerates or glosses over the pain, but because it can be an amazing, empowering experience. The second half of the book is data and evidence, but it's several years old now, so some of it is a bit dated. The first half of the book is one I want to read again to encourage myself as my due date quickly approaches.

If you've gotten through all of these and haven't made your decision, continue. Or if you've gotten through all of them and just want to know more, continue!

"Birth: The Surprising History of How We Are Born" - Tina Cassidy
Also a very recent book, this discussed American birthing history. It is beyond awful some of the things that have been done in the name of maternity care throughout American history. While it's not so much current data as historical data, it shows you how broken our maternity system has been for decades, and makes you realize things that today's common practices might also be tomorrow's awful history.

Other books I've read that are just part of general birthing stuff, and not necessarily decision-making material.

"A Child is Born" - Lennart Nilsson
This book is GORGEOUS. It is full of amazing in-utero photos of baby's development. So far, I haven't found any internet resource that matches the amazing photos in this book. It's good to flip through with young children to show them how the baby grows and develops. My husband and I really enjoyed looking through this at different stages of the pregnancy to see what our baby looked like. If you are pregnant, I think you should get this book!

"Birthing From Within: An Extraordinary Guide to Childbirth Preparation" - Pam England and Rob Horowitz

This book is part of the "Birthing from Within" birth classes. It helps you think through expectations, desires, fears, etc. for your upcoming birth. It has a lot of ideas for how to use art (painting, sculpting, drawing, journaling) to emotionally process your upcoming birth. It is very touchy-feely. If you've had a prior birth experience that you feel was traumatic or unsatisfactory, it may be a good read to help you process.

"Birth Without Violence" - Frederick Leboyer
This is where the term "Leboyer bath" comes from, if you've heard that. It is a very short read (thirty minutes or less) with lots of pictures. Leboyer became convinced that birth was painful or difficult for babies, and arriving in earth air was shocking and uncomfortable to them. He wrote in 1955, and I'm unsure of further evidence to his claims. However, the book just makes you realize that just like birth should be empowering and calming for the mother, so there are things we can do (whether they are Leboyer's ideas or not), to help make birth as calm and gentle for baby as we can.

"Creating Your Birth Plan: The Definitive Guide to a Safe and Empowering Birth" by Marsden Wagner
If you just don't want to do a lot of reading, and just want to deliver in a hospital without anyone convincing you not to, this would be the best book. Wagner (author of "Born in the USA"), summarizes some of the main concerns and research about hospital birth, while helping you understand how you might be able to locate a good doctor and have a natural birth within the system. I didn't find this book to be the most helpful of everything I read, but it could be a good place for someone wanting a "natural" birth in the hospital.

PREGNANCY NUTRITION and HERBS

A Natural Guide to Pregnancy and Postpartum Health - Dr. Dean Raffelock and Dr. Robert Rountree
This was the book that convinced me to seek a naturopathic doctor instead of a medical doctor, when we didn't conceive right away. These two doctors still have a practice in Colorado, where the focus on post-partum women. The book is "heady" in many places, talking about the body, digestion, etc., and how they diagnose and naturally treat post-partum women who come to them with various physical problems.

"The Natural Pregnancy Book" - Aviva Jill Romm
This book has good advice about nutrition and herbs to treat various pregnancy complaints. It was interesting reading, and would also make a good reference.

The Pregnancy Herbal - Jaqulene Harper-Roth
I haven't gotten much use out of this book. It contains fancy herbal preparations, tinctures, teas, tisanes, etc. If you are the kind of person who wants to get a bunch of herbs and make your own remedies, this is a good book for you. It's organized by "problems" so you can easily find remedies for various pregnancy or baby complaints. I'm sure it's got great stuff here, but this is beyond my time and ability right now to gather and prepare specific herbal remedies.

"Feed the Belly" - Frances Largeman-Roth
Recently published, this book has up-to-date information on what foods you should/shouldn't eat during pregnancy. It also talks about kitchen cleanliness and other important things to know regarding feeding your body and baby. At the end, it has a several recipes. It's not organized cookbook style though, instead it's organized by cravings (sweet, salty, etc.), which makes it difficult to plan meals from it. The few recipes we tried were simple and yummy.

COOKBOOKS

(see also "Feed the Belly" above)

"Eating for Pregnancy" - Catherine Jones
The amazing thing about this cook book is nearly our entire family has liked almost every recipe we've tried from here. The recipes have "long versions" that include lots of chopping of fresh veggies, making your own sauces from scratch etc., as well as "easy versions" that tell you how to substitute pre-chopped or canned items to make the meal faster to assemble. We found the recipes to use a lot of fresh ingredients, which we love, and be varied in flavors while easily enjoyed by many palates. A clear winner whether pregnant or not!

"The Well-Rounded Pregnancy Cookbook" - Karen Gurwitz
Some good things in here, some I could pass on. Decent ideas but not my favorite cookbook of all time. Does have a good introduction discussing overall healthy eating for pregnancy.

LABOR

"Active Birth" - Janet Balaskas
Great exercises and data here on how to help your body physically deliver your baby. Emphasizes upright positions for delivery (standing, squatting, all fours), because they open your pelvic bones by up to 10% more than the traditional lithotomy (laying on back) position that is so convenient for doctors they often refused to allow you to deliver any other way. Great prenatal exercises as well as empowering information for remaining physically involved in delivery. If you want to deliver naturally in a hospital (or at home), this is a great book to read to help you know what will be necessary to achieve that.

"Husband Coached Childbirth" - Robert Bradley
This is the book written by Dr. Bradley, an ob/gyn who developed the "Bradley method" of labor and delivery. I found it practical and helpful, but too long for most men to want to read. I wish there were a condensed version that husbands would actually read.

"Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way" - Susan McKutcheon-Rosegg
Part way through this one. So far appears to be practical "how-to" guide for using the Bradley method. Will update when I finish it!

FERTILITY

I'm as much an advocate of natural fertility (pregnancy avoidance and achievement) as I am of natural childbirth. Here's what I've read on this topic.

"Taking Charge of Your Fertility" - Toni Weschler
This is pretty much the Bible of natural family planning (NFP). It is not the "rhythm method" (which just counts days of a woman's cycle). It talks about basal temperature charting, and several other methods of knowing where you are in your feminine cycle. My parents used this their entire marriage (until after baby number five) to avoid and achieve pregnancy. We used it for nine years to avoid pregnancy, and a few months to achieve it.

"Fertility, Cycles and Nutrition" - Marilyn Shannon
This delves into how your nutrition, vitamins, etc. affect your fertility. It has Q&A type sections that address common fertility problems, and how you can treat them naturally before going to advanced medical fertility treatments.

"Making Babies" - Dr. Sami David and Jill Blakeway
This is a very recent book written by two doctors who specialize in fertility, an ob/gyn, and an Eastern medicine doctor (herbs, homeopathics, and acupuncture). They combine their approaches in the book, and in their clinic in NYC where they almost exclusively treat women who have been through the entire round of medical fertility stuff to be told they will "never" conceive. These doctors delve deeper to find out what is preventing the women from conceiving, and they have a very high success rate with some of the most difficult fertility cases in the U.S. This book will give you some ideas for some things you can troubleshoot yourself. It will also introduce you to their methodology should you choose to use their clinic to help you conceive.

BREASTFEEDING

"Bestfeeding: How to Breastfeed Your Baby" - Renfrew, Fisher, Arms
This is the first breastfeeding book I've read. I've two others I'm in the middle of, so I will add them when I've finished them and can review them. This one is a short read, simple, and practical. Through words and photos, it helps show you when breastfeeding is RIGHT and when it is WRONG. Or at least, you will know what is normal, so if you experience something weird, you will know it is not normal so you can seek help, rather than quitting breastfeeding because it "doesn't work" for you.

"The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding" - Wiessinger, West, Pitman
Part way through this one. It is apparently the "Bible" of La Leche League.

"Breastfeeding Pure and Simple" - Gwen Gotsch
Part way through this one. Appears to be a nutshell version of "womanly art...".

Thirty Weeks

2012-01-08T15:26:00.000-06:00

Dear Beta,

I keep wanting tocall it the next decade, although it isn’t really. It’s just the next block of ten. At this point, we have completed three blocksof ten, and have only one block remaining. We could almost be counting down instead of up. Except we can’t count down from your birthdate, since you have yet to announce it. So, we just keep counting up.

But it does feelsort of like a tenth birthday, or twentieth, or thirtieth, where a new roundnumber enters the picture, and a new digit begins the number, and you feel oldand young at the same time. All grown upand yet so far to go.

But thirty weeks isdefinitely entering the downhill slope. We will go another “decade” most likely, and nearly as likely, days orweeks past the next decade. Research hasrevealed that the guy who decided on the 40-week gestational bell curveactually ran his numbers wrong, and the peak of the bell curve is 41 weeks twodays. One more reason why we’re lettingyou come when you’re ready. One morereason why I will do my very best not to be anxious as the weeks and days comeand go and yet we wait for you.

But we’re not thereyet, so the waiting is easier.

Because of certainprayers and dreams we’ve had, your Daddy and I both have an inclination as toyour gender. It’s a little secret wekeep between ourselves. Because in theend, we are so joyful to welcome you into our arms, whether you arrive boy orgirl.

I closed my eyes onthe bus today to rest, and pictured the end of our labor, when you will emergeand your Daddy and I will hold you tightly for the very first time. The image was black and white for somereason. We were both in the birth tub,facing each other. I was squattingdeeply, as we learned in our class, hanging onto your Daddy, then reaching downto feel with my fingertips your tiny head emerging into the water. First your head, then your body, slippingfrom water to water, then into the middle of our embrace. We laugh. We cry. We give thanks. We forgetto see what hides between your legs because we can’t stop laughing and crying,and making sure you breathe.

These images arewhat I hold onto when I wonder about the pain, when I think about what to tellmyself when I am facing the hardest part of your journey. I want to think back to these images, to rememberthe tears that slipped down my cheeks when I imagined meeting you, and hangonto the vision of you in my arms, letting it help my body and your body bringyou into the world.

As I think againabout this image of birth, suddenly I laugh. Your Daddy, ever the one to keep things light and laughter-filled, maynot react in such a dramatic manner as I have pictured. In fact, I can imagine you emerging… Hesmiles when he sees you, then in an unwavering voice, declares, “Her name isLaRonda,” or “His name is Donavancino.” Then everyone laughs, relief in the air and belly laughs spreadingthroughout the room as our tension is released. Except you. You will scream,which will make us happy, and your Daddy will promise that is not your realname and tell you it’s okay, Goofy, you don’t have to cry.

This week yourDaddy and I attended our first Bradley birthing class. There are eleven classes, which we willcomplete in ten weeks. We are one ofnine couples taking the class. We arethe furthest along in our pregnancy, with several others days behind us, butthat has no bearing on when our babies will decide to arrive! My parents also took Bradley birthing classeswhen they were pregnant with me!

This week we heardabout the history of the Bradley method. Then we learned and practiced several exercises and relaxationtechniques we will use for the next months until you arrive, to help get mybody ready. Your Daddy is going to be agreat birth coach. He is so gentle andloving with me, and I think we will work together beautifully. We now have exercises we’re supposed to doevery night before bed, which we have added to our nightly routine of talkingand playing with you.

Thirty 30 weeks pregnant

Thirty 30 Weeks Pregnant

Sonograms at thisstage, especially three dimensional ones, distinctly reveal baby’sfeatures. You can see if they have abroad, wide nose, or a tiny button nose. If they have full lips or thin lips. If they like to hold their hand next to their face, or if they like toplay with their umbilical cord. It is soamazing.

I asked our midwifeabout some of the spasm-type movements I’ve felt from you, and she mentionedthat sometimes babies play with their own umbilical cords. They may grasp tightly enough to cut offcirculation to their own bodies, then jerk or spasm when their little brain says“Need. More. Oxygen. Now!”, forcing their grip to release and their body totwitch or jerk in response to the temporary cut-off and release.

According toaverages, you are now sixteen inches long and weigh three pounds! You will gain about half a pound per weekfrom now through birth. Ideally, I hopeyou weigh at least eight pounds, as then you will be healthy and strong! Your feet are about two and a half incheslong, and your head is about three and a half inches in diameter.

As your headcontinues growing, your brain develops in sync with the newfound spacesurrounding it. Until now, the surfaceof your brain was smooth. Beginning thisweek, it is acquiring grooves and indentations. This wrinkling creates additional surface area, allowing more braintissue to accumulate.

Your skin isgetting smoother and less wrinkly, as your white body fat increases. The early lanugo (downy fine hair) that usedto cover your skin, will begin to disappear, as the insulation it provided isexchanged for fat insulation. Your bodycan control its own temperature now, although once you are born, it will takeabout twenty four hours for you to regulate your body temperature in the newout-of-water environment.

Your bone marrow isnow responsible for red blood production. Previously, various tissue and your spleen were performing this job, butthis task has now permanently transitioned to the bone marrow. Calcium, phosphorus, and iron are now storedin your blood and body cells.

More frequent REMsleep indicates that you may be able to dream! Your Daddy has dreamed about you a lot this week, so I wonder if you candream about us.

Your eyes canproduce tears! You may spend a lot oftime with your eyes open, but your eyesight is not very keen, and won’t be evenafter birth. By the time of birth, youcan only see about eighteen inches in front of your face. As you grow in the outside world, your visionwill gradually sharpen.

Your developmentthat has previously been concentrated on adding new body parts, is shifting todevelopment focused primarily on weight gain. Your sudden demand for MORE FOOD has been keeping me busy trying to makesure I have snacks with me at all times, and I consume enough good nutrientsthroughout the day for both of us. Ihave been hungry more frequently, even between what I would considersubstantial meals, so I’ve started snacking lightly between meals. My weight gain slowed down in the last coupleweeks more than I would like, so I’m guessing you are ramping up your caloricdemands. I am working to change myeating a bit, to feed us more, to keep up with appropriate weight gain for bothof us.

We watched a TED video last night that talked about when human learning begins. Turns out it doesn’t begin in school, or evenat birth. It begins shortly afterconception, and is especially pronounced during a baby’s third trimesterin-utero. Studies have proven thatadults’ bodies and minds were physically altered by events that occurred totheir mother while she was pregnant with them. The video was fascinating, and reminded me how beautiful it is to bejoyfully expecting you. So grateful tolive in a country and family where I have enough to eat, so your body does notlearn starvation even before birth. Sothankful to live in a marriage and family and circle of friends where I canhave a pregnancy filled with peace and laughter, so your body does not developgenetic markers for trauma and suffering. What gifts we have. I feel so blessed.

Yesterday atchurch, the aunt of one of our close friends was visiting from Panama. She put her hands on my skin outside whereyou are and hugged me. Then she lookeddeeply into my eyes, and deeply at your house, and said slowly, “This will be achild who is made for greatness.”

You are descendedfrom many generations of greatness. Farmers, missionaries, presidents, pastors, and more. This is the beauty of blessing that passesthrough generations of those who fear the Lord. I pray this is captured by you and your generation, that the legacy ofthe Lord’s greatness in our family will be continued by you, your children,your grandchildren, their grandchildren. It is the only hope for our world.

“Oh, that theirhearts would be inclined to fear me and keep all my commands always, so that itmight go well with them and their children forever!” (Deuteronomy 5:29)

“Keep His decrees andcommands, which I am giving you today, so that it may go well with you and yourchildren after you and that you may live long in the land the LORD your Godgives you for all time.” (Deuteronomy4:40)

“So that you, yourchildren and their children after them may fear the LORD your God as long asyou live by keeping all His decrees and commands that I give you, and so thatyou may enjoy long life.” (Deuteronomy 6:2)

“This day I call theheavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you lifeand death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your childrenmay live.” (Deuteronomy 30:19)

“So on that day Mosesswore to me, ‘The land on which your feet have walked will be your inheritanceand that of your children forever, because you have followed the LORD my Godwholeheartedly.’ “ (Joshua 14:9)

And should you ever strayfrom Him, or find yourself far away in confusion, wondering how it came to bethat the Lord cannot seem to be found, it is never too late to return.

“If you return to theLORD, then your fellow Israelites and your children will be shown compassion bytheir captors and will return to this land, for the LORD your God is graciousand compassionate. He will not turn his face from you if you return toHim.” (2 Chronicles 30:9)

tags: thirty weeks pregnant 30 weeks pregnant pregnancy blog, thirty week size, what size, thirty 30 week fetal development, fetus, baby, belly, pregnant belly, praying for baby, pray

Maternity Fashion: How To Keep Your Style While Wearing a Bump SECOND TRIMESTER

2012-01-04T21:21:00.003-06:00

This is part two of my pregnancy fashion series.

Here's the link to part one, which explains my budget, shopping style, and helpful tips about dressing your bump.

Fifteen Weeks Pregnant.

Earrings - Target, $8 or so
Tank under blouse - Old Navy, same $2 sale, size XS
Outer blouse - thrifted, $7, it is a very stretchy fabric that fit nicely to show off my bump, Size S
Skirt - thrifted, $9, has a super stretchy waistband, size S
Shoes - Crocs Malindi, $20

This outer blouse and skirt were the first things I've shown here that were not part of my pre-pregnancy wardrobe. When I bought them, I noted they were both super stretchy, so they would last me a while. I could probably still wear both of them, but haven't since they're too summery.

This is the week I bought new bras and was shocked to discover I was already a 36B, three cup sizes bigger. At six and a half months, they still fit fine. Victoria's Secret Body by Victoria no underwire (because underwire is bad for breasts that are trying to make milk), $40 each (one black, one beige). SO worth it.

WORK VERSION: Changed shoes to nude colored heels, added turquoise cardigan (it also looked good with a black cardigan, since both colors are in the shirt pattern).

HELPFUL TIP: You can mix and match different hues of the same basic color (I'm wearing at least four different shades of majenta / fuschia / plum here), as long as the hues have similar undertones. For example, a warm pale purple with a warm deep plum. A cool (blueish) purple will clash with a warm deep plum. All of the hues in this outfit are pretty warm.

Sixteen weeks pregnant.

Necklace - Old Navy faux pearls, clearance, $4
Blouse - Old Navy, $14, XS
Belt - Urban Outfitters (you've seen it before)
Slacks - maternity Small (finally!), Craigslist $25 (Mimi Maternity originally $80 according to the seller)
Shoes - Crocs Malindi $20
Black Bella Band - Ebay $20 (under blouse, holding up pants)

HELPFUL TIP: If you live in a climate like ours where it's hot outside and cold inside in the summer, or it can change 20 to 30 degrees in one day, layering is a must-have. I often layer tanks underneath cardigans or blazers, so I can be warm in my 68 degree office, and cool in the 100 degree afternoon while I stand on the corner waiting for the bus to take me home. I've found that embellished tanks, specifically ones that have detail at the chest like this one, look much more interesting and dressy. When I saw this blouse, I bought it in white and plum because I knew they would look great layered (and they do).

WORK VERSION: Added pre-pregnancy grey blazer, wore it unbuttoned, changed shoes to black heels. I also wore almost this exact outfit pre-pregnancy with a knee-length pencil skirt, black with white pinstripes, and wore the belt at my waist line, still with the same grey blazer.

Nineteen weeks pregnant.

Necklace - Ebay, vintage plastic, $5
Blouse - Old Navy, $12, XS
Skirt - thrifted, (Merona for Target) XS $6
Shoes - Walmart, $10

The necklace is very long, so I'm wearing it doubled, safety pinned in the back to hold the doubled loops in place. One of the reasons this shirt looks good at this stage is the elastic around the base of it pulls under my belly to show of the (tiny) bump.

I have worn this skirt a thousand ways, since it goes with so many things in my closet. The pattern is navy with white, greenish, and yellowish dots. I've worn it with green, yellow, teal, white, brown, and more.

WORK VERSION: Light teal sweater, navy blazer, chocolate brown belt, chocolate brown heels, chunky brown necklace. A totally different outfit really, just the skirt was the same.

Twenty weeks pregnant (to see the crazy difference just twenty weeks can make, here's a post where I'm wearing this same blouse, non-maternity. I have basically no chest to speak of, and the shirt is practically baggy!).

Earrings - feather, gift
Blouse - Lands End, $12, XS
Belt - thrifted, brown leather, $4
Pants - maternity Small, Craigslist $25 (Mimi Maternity originally $80 according to the seller
Shoes - Crocs Malindi $12 (Yes I own them in almost every color.)
Brown Bella Band - Ebay $20 (under blouse, holding up pants)

Love this belt because it is the same no-holes concept that can be buckled at any point along its length. From a woman on Craigslist, I purchased three pairs of dress slacks for work - black, chocolate brown, and light grey, for $25 each. Since I'm allergic to polyester, and these were cotton, it was well worth it to meet her on the other side of town to buy these. She had them listed for $35 each each, but I told her I could buy dress slacks on Ebay for $10-$15 (which I could, it would just take me a LONG time to find nice ones that weren't polyester), and talked her down to $25 each. I wear them every day to work unless I'm wearing a skirt.

Also, since I'm talking about Crocs, a few tips on Croc shopping.

CROCS (I have a whole Crocs post here).
- They're not all ugly. I used to swear there would never be a Croc in my house. Then they invented cute comfy ones. They are unbelievably comfy. And many are super cute.
- I visit Crocs.com regularly to see what the new styles are.
- When a new style of Crocs comes out that I like, I take a trip to the mall to try them on. Since Crocs only come in whole sizes, there's not as much of a chance they will sort of fit. They will or won't. HOWEVER, if they are 100% croslite (not a combination of leather, suede, TPU, etc.), they WILL shrink in the direct sun (like by three sizes in a few hours), and the WILL mold to your feet. So if they're a quarter of an inch too small, and they're a 100% croslite style like these, buy them anyway. After several uses, they won't be small anymore, they will fit perfectly. You can also throw them in the dryer for two minutes (not longer!), then wear them while they're hot, and they will mold to your feet.
- I never buy them new from the retail store, because Crocs always have online coupons. Sign up for their mailing list, and wait until a sale or coupon comes for the style you want, then buy them right away before they sell out!

WORK VERSION: Changed shoes to brown heels, added a lighter yellow blazer over the blouse. The blazer is 3/4 length sleeves, so the sleeves of this blouse extended further, which looked cute since the blouse sleeves were fitted and the blazer sleeves were wide.

Twenty one weeks pregnant.

Necklace - vintage, Ebay, silver metal chain with black plastic pendant, $6
Blouse - maternity XS, Liz Lange for Target, gift from mom ($20 or $25 probably)
Skirt - thrifted, super stretchy waist, not maternity, $8, XS
Shoes - Ross a long time ago, probably $15 or $20

WORK VERSION: Black heels, black blazer

This is another version of an embellished tank that looked great alone or layered. Also, I'm wearing this blouse backwards. The lace was supposed to be in the back, and the front is a drapey shape. The drapey shape looked frumpy and baggy on me still, since it was made for a bigger bump than I had at this point. And I thought the lace was so pretty, I wanted it visible in the front. I have worn this tank a LOT as a layering item with my work wardrobe.

Twenty Two weeks pregnant.

Necklace - thrifted, $8 (chunky plastic beads on leather)
Blouse - gift, Liz Lange for Target, maternity XS, probably $25
Sash - came with the blouse, navy and stretchy
Cardigan - Old Navy XS, $18
Jeans - Gap maternity, gift, $60
Boots - Ross, pleather, $25
Navy Bella Band - Ebay $20 (under blouse, holding up pants)

Most of my non-maternity jeans are thrifted, and my other maternity jeans besides this one were either thrifted or hand-me-downs. While I could not bring myself to spend $60 on a single pair of jeans, these skinny maternity jeans are amazing, and I was blessed to have a Gap Maternity giftcard with well in excess of $100 to spend. These jeans are comfy and adorable AND maternity.

The blouse has a bunch of ruching down the sides and base, so it looked cute at twenty weeks, and will probably still fit at forty weeks (it definitely still fits at thirty). Not many maternity shirts will do that and still be flattering. Ruching and a drapey style can pull it off.

WORK VERSION: Navy blazer, brown slacks, brown heels (no boots)

HELPFUL TIP ON GOOD SHOES:
Good leather shoes are expensive and worth it. Most of my heels for work are leather, and I've spent $50 to $90 on each pair. If you're going to be wearing heels all day, I can't imagine wearing anything but leather, since it is worlds more comfortable. People ask how I can wear heels all day, and the answer is good leather that I paid quite a bit for (in my eyes anyway). I have black leather boots that I paid $80 for, and I've never regretted it. They were exactly the style and look I wanted in boots, and leather is worth it. I haven't had the same luck finding leather brown or grey boots, so I've settled for cheap pleather until the right ones turn up.

Everyone has different qualifications for boots. Mine were: no zippers (I don't like the feel of boots so tightly fitted, and I think the visible zipper is ugly, just my opinion), don't make my size 9 feet (size 10 in boots) look huge, mid-calf height, heels but not stilettos and not more than 2" tall.

For the brown boots, I wanted the gathered, slumpy, ruched look, which these are. If they would have been leather, I would have gladly paid three times as much for them.

Twenty Three weeks pregnant.

Necklace - vintage turquoise plastic and silver metal, gift
Dress - Old Navy, clearance regular size XS (not maternity!), $15
Tank - Old Navy, $8, navy color
Navy Bella Band - Ebay $20 (under dress, smoothing out belly)
Shoes - Walmart, $10

I have worn these silver flats more than any other flats I own. They don't have any support in them, but they look great with pretty much anything. I also have silver mary jane heels that are their dressier partner. When I bought silver shoes, I thought they were a splurge. Then I realized they go with half my wardrobe. I'm thinking bronze is next.

I was thrilled to discover this dress on clearance, because it's my normal size and is not maternity, which means I will be able to wear it even when I'm no longer pregnant, YET it is a great style and shape for a bump.

WORK VERSION: Wore this a couple different ways. Once with silver heels and a navy blazer, another time with chocolate heels, a brown cardigan or blazer, a brown sparkly tank, and shiny brown and turquoise necklace.

Gonna have to split the second trimester up into two parts, since it's really too many outfits for one post. To be continued!!!

Maternity Fashion: How To Keep Your Style While Wearing a Bump FIRST TRIMESTER

2012-01-04T21:21:00.001-06:00

I'm over six months into this pregnancy, and finally "having" to wear more maternity than non-maternity clothes. In my weekly letters to my unborn child, I post photos of my growing belly. And my outfits. Because I'm a fashionista kind of girl. My favorite style blog is Kendi Everyday. If I could have pulled it off, I would have done a daily outfit maternity style blog during this pregnancy, and am still kicking myself that I didn't.

Things about me and fashion:
- I like clothes.
- I have an annual budget of $1,000 for clothes. Might be a lot for some people, might be a drop in the bucket for others. The last time I googled for articles about maternity fashion on a budget, the woman writing the article was raving about $150 flats that she could NOT do without during her pregnancy. The other shoes on her "must have" list were in the same price range. That is not me. I am also not the person who clothing shops once a year or every other year. I shop for clothes throughout the month.
- My two primary locations for clothing are the thrift store and Old Navy.
- I like to be in style.
- I like to make new outfits out of my own closet (called "shopping your closet" by some).
- It matters to me to look cute, even around the house. My pj's will match. When I was horribly sick for a week earlier this year, I wore tanks and boy short undies every day in bed. They matched. Even though I had 103 fever most of the time, and no one except my mom and husband saw me, I still matched.
- My default desired price for any one garment is $10. Less if it's something small like a tank, and more if it's something nicer like a coat or slacks. If it's pushing $20 there's an excellent chance I won't buy it. If it's under $10 and adorable, there's an excellent chance I will buy it.
- I hate ironing so I don't buy anything that needs it, unless it is dry clean only so they press it for me.
- I hate the way collars look on me, so unless it's a blazer, I don't have any polos or collared blouses.

Thrifting.
I used to shop at Goodwill, but once I found Texas Thrift Store, I switched. Mainly because Texas Thrift hangs clothes by sizes, and Goodwill only hangs things by color. So you could look through half the store to find ten items, which is what I did every time I went there. It was a three to four hour ordeal, and even clothes-aholic me got annoyed. Texas Thrift is a dollar or two more expensive, but seems to have nicer things (it's rare I find items that are ridiculously hideous, majorly stained, or holey, which is in sharp contrast to Goodwill).

I thrift about once a month, for one to three hours, depending on how much time I have.

Old Navy.
I pretty much never buy anything at Old Navy full price. I have an Old Navy credit card (which I always pay off as soon as I get home from shopping). This gives me extra coupons, and I earn reward points for shopping there. I resisted getting the store credit card for about five years, then finally decided we buy so many of our clothes there, it really would save us money. It has, only because I would be shopping there anyway. I never go there without a coupon, and I usually only buy items from the clearance rack. They move things through pretty quickly, so an item that was full priced and new one day, will likely be on sale in a month or less, and on clearance in another few weeks. I also shop Old Navy online, because after spending $50 you get free shipping, and I can return whatever I don't like at any local store (or the extra $10 item I bought to get me up to $50).

Since being pregnant and having to constantly get new things for a changing shape, I shop at Old Navy retail store about once a month, and online about once a month.

Things about me and maternity fashion:
- I was determined not to lose my sense of style.
- I was determined not to look frumpy and fat, like I had given up on myself.
- I was determined not to spend ridiculous amounts of money (because maternity clothes with any sense of style are ridiculously priced, like triple or quadruple what I normally spend on a single item).
- This is my first pregnancy, and I work full time at a fancy brokerage firm office where the dress code is suits at a maximum and sweater/slacks at a minimum. I have time to make myself fashionable every day. And I'm not worried about one of my other children puking on me, having to do dishes, etc. I'll have to write that post when I get to that point in my life.
- I take my photos on Sundays, and are usually what I wore to church. As a result, I am dressed down from what I would be at work, but dressed up from "around the house." Usually I have worn the outfit during the week at work, with some dressier variation (heels, blazer instead of cardigan, etc.).

Okay, on to the good stuff.

MATERNITY FASHION TIPS
#1: Don't buy or wear "maternity" clothes. (As much as possible; As long as possible).
Buy a size or two larger in normal clothes instead. Buy styles in your regular size or a size up, that have space for a changing belly (and butt and thighs).

The exception is pants/shorts. I was a size two pre-pregnancy, and had to wear maternity pants and slacks (non-stretchy, fitted kinds) beginning about four months pregnant.

But shirts, skirts, and dresses, just buy (or wear your own) non-maternity items that will work.

#2: Buy what you need for now.
Every woman's body is different. Every pregnancy is different. Every pregnancy hits at a different time of the year. So don't buy sweaters on clearance in the spring expecting to wear them in the fall in your second or third trimester. You WOULD do that for normal clothes, but with pregnancy, you don't know exactly how much weight you will gain, or where you will gain it, so it's best to buy what fits now, and has space for one or two months of growth.

#3: Use Bella Bands.
I adore these, and have worn them every day of my pregnancy since I hit three months.
- To wear my pre-pregnancy pants unbuttoned and unzipped (yes they stayed up and no they didn't show any unmentionables).
- To hold up my maternity pants when they were too big. And when they fit right but liked to slip down since my belly would push them lower.
- For an extra layer of warmth (I was pregnant during the winter). In the summer, they might prove to be too hot.
- To smooth out my belly, so my belly button was not quite so "poky." I think it's cute, but sometimes it was a bit much and nice to have it flattened out just a tad.
- I expect to also use them post-partum to hold up pants as I transition from maternity back to regular clothes.
- I purchased a few knock off belly band type things on Ebay that were $8 or $10, and they were like thin t-shirt knit material and didn't hold anything up. Get the authentic Ingrid and Isabel Bella Bands in every neutral color, USED off Ebay and you won't be disappointed. I have them in black, navy, grey, white, nude, and brown. I bought them all used of Ebay for $8 to $20 each (they are $35 plus new). The new ones have a fancy silicone line to help hold things up. I have the old kind which are just fabric and they work perfectly.

#4: Accessorize. Jewelry, belts, scarves, etc.

I'm also still wearing heels every weekday.

Belts and sashes worn at the empire waistline are SO helpful for showing off your bump. They give you definition that says "pregnant not chubby."

#5: Choose blouses that are as fitted as you feel comfortable.

The baggier your blouse is, the more likely you are to look or feel huge instead of pregnant. To look polished and feel better, define the shape of your belly with fitted blouses instead of tent style blouses. I especially liked anything that had banding or elastic at the bottom of the blouse. It made the shirt tuck under my belly, giving it definition.

I don't have daily photos, but I have weekly ones. If an item is "maternity" I will say so. Otherwise items are non-maternity.

Seven weeks pregnant. My belly may look flat to you, but I promise this is not my usual belly. It is rounded already from it's non-pregnant state.

Necklace - bone. Gift from family members, purchased in India.
Tank - Old Navy $2 special tank sale exclusive to ON card members, required coupon received by email. Size XS.
Bermuda Shorts - Old Navy, gift. Size 2
Shoes - flip flops of some kind? I don't even remember.

WORK VERSION: None.

Nine weeks pregnant.

Necklace - plastic vintage, thrifted, $5
Blue tank undershirt - Old Navy $2 special same as above. Size XS.
Dress - thrifted, from the pajama section so it was $5 I think. It was also several sizes too big, so I sewed seams down the sides to make it fit me. Originally size L.
Belt - Urban Outfitters online.
Shoes - silver flats, Walmart, $10

WORK VERSION: On a casual Friday when we're allowed to wear jeans (happens a couple times a year), I wore this to work over skinny (pre-pregnancy) jeans, a hot pink cardigan, and silver mary jane heels instead of silver flats.

NOTE: about MATERNITY BELTS, or using belts for maternity.
This one is a great example. It is a woven braid thing that doesn't have true holes. You just poke the buckle through the weave wherever you want it. This means I have worn it on my waist (pre-pregnancy), and up on the empire waist line. I can put it tight in the morning, and loosen after meals when my stomach gets cramped. I can wear it over multiple layers or just one. I adore belts that are completely adjustable like this, and for maternity wear, they truly come in handy.

12 Weeks Pregnant.

Necklace - multi-colored glass beads on copper chain, Claire's, probably about $10 bought a long time ago. It is super long, so I'm wearing it wrapped twice. Second necklace is vintage navy plastic pendant on silver chain, gift.
Cardigan - Target, $15, bought it for an Easter dress last year, so I paid more than I normally would for something so simple.
Dress - thrifted, $10.
Leather Belt - thrifted, $10 or less
Brown pleather mary jane flats - Ross $15

WORK VERSION: Wore to work on a semi-casual Friday, just changed shoes to chocolate brown heels.

This is the outfit where I put on my old (push up) 34A bra and freaked out because I was falling out of this dress. It was also the first time a complete stranger asked if I was pregnant. Which is unfortunate because my belly won't be nearly this flat when I'm weeks post-partum!

Fourteen weeks pregnant. Still wearing my old bra, but pulled all the padding and push up out of it.

Necklace - plastic vintage, thrifted, $3
Shirt - Old Navy, $15 because I loved it and it goes with tons of my wardrobe
Belt - tan leather, Ebay, $12
Skirt - thrifted (Banana Republic), it is linen and fitted with a zipper, so I have the zipper partially undone underneath my shirt, $8, size S
Shoes - We didn't take a full-length photo, but I think they're the same as the previous image, Ross

WORK VERSION: Added a hot pink cardigan, or a medium brown cardigan (can't remember). Changed from brown flats to brown heels. Made sure to iron the linen skirt (ugh).

To be continued!!!!

Twenty Nine Weeks

2012-01-02T18:47:00.000-06:00

Dear Beta,

Christmas has comeand gone, and now it is a brand new year. The year in which you will be born! In 2002, your Daddy and I said, “Forever” and became a couple. In 2012, our together-forever multiplies,and we become a family.

At the gym thisweek, I was sitting down changing into gym clothes, and looked down at my barebelly. Round and soft, whiter than therest of my skin since it hasn’t seen much sun, the skin stretching thinner eachday, a dark spot on my protruding belly button and a dark line down the center. A pregnant belly with all the shapes andcolors that say “baby growing inside.” Iwrapped my arms tightly around its roundness and cried. I couldn’t be more grateful to be carryingyou. I couldn’t be more beautiful thanto wear your shape. I couldn’t be morehappy than enjoying who you are today, and praying for who you will become.

This week I heardyour heartbeat for the very first time! One of the birth books I’m reading said by six months, a baby’sheartbeat can be detected with a standard stethoscope. I knew we would see our midwife soon and shewould have a stethoscope, but I couldn’t wait. And I wanted to be able to listen to you (safely) whenever I like. So your Daddy helped me look on Amazon, andwe found one for surprisingly cheap, considering it is a professional medicaldevice.

The day we arrivedhome from Georgia,the stethoscope arrived in the mail. Ittook about two seconds to rip open the box, and three minutes to read theinstructions (since neither of us have the first clue about using a medicalstethoscope). I felt around your houseuntil I found your torso (in your usual spot). Your Daddy tested it out first, since he has heard your heart in thefetoscope and knew what he was listening for. After fiddling with the device a bit, it didn’t take him long until hesmiled and handed the earpieces over to me. Then I heard you. Your strong,fast-beating heart. I cried then too.

Not surprisingly,you punched or elbowed the stethoscope several times, just like you do withRobin’s fetoscope. We don’t have topress it very hard into my belly, about a half inch, but that is enough for youto notice it and try to bump it out of your space!

We listened to myheartbeat as well, and it is amazing how slow it is in comparison. Your heart sounds almost as twice as fast asmine (when I’m resting). It’s likeyou’re running a little marathon in there all the time!

Your heart beatsquickly because it is smaller in size. The smaller the heart, the faster it beats. An adult marathon runner has a heart whichhas grown slightly through training. While asleep, his or her heart may beat as slow as 35-40 beats perminute! Once you are born, your littlelungs will also be small, and thus will expand and contract more quickly inorder to supply your body with oxygen. Between birth and one year old, your heart will continue to beat between100 and 160 beats per minute while resting. Between one and ten years old, your resting heart rate will slowslightly to between 60 to 140 beats per minute. Most adults will have a resting heart rate between 60 and 100, dependingon age and cardiovascular fitness level. Perhaps this is one explanation for the incredible energy that childrenhave in contrast to adults!

Your first outfitsare ready and sitting on a shelf in our bedroom with your hats. I have a couple different outfits dependingon what size you are when you are born. I have just a few preemie size items that were given to us, but thoseare in a “just in case” box in your room. I don’t expect to need them, so what is prepared for you is standardnewborn size. They should fit you if youare between seven and nine pounds.

You have hiccupsfrequently now, usually once or twice a day. Last night your Daddy got to feel the gentle, rhythmic tap of your bodyas you hiccup.

This week I noticedyour house starting to tense and loosen, training and strengthening my musclesso they will be prepared to push you into the world. It’s like doing lightweight bicep curls overand over and over again, so when it’s time to dead lift a heavy weight, themuscles are strong and ready. It doesn’thurt at all, and many times I don’t even notice unless I touch my belly andfeel its firmness. I first noticed becauseit often gets firm just in certain areas, creating a round, extruded shape likea tennis ball is trying to exit my skin. It makes my belly look lopsided, or like there’s a big softball in onespot. If you touch it, it is hard like arock. After a few seconds, it softens,and my belly goes back to its normal roundness.

Twenty Nine 29 Weeks Pregnant

We met with Robin, our midwife, andher assistants again this week. Your house measured thirty onecentimeters. You punched the fetoscope. Again. AndAgain. And made Robin laugh. Your heart rate was 144 (it was also144 in November, and 148 the very first time she heard it in October). “Old wives tales” say a baby with a heart rate consistently above 140 is agirl. We will see!

No matter what gender you are, weknow for sure you will be a person who loves to play. If your currentactivity is any indication, I expect you to be a person who loves the outdoors,playgrounds, camping, maybe sports, and pretty much anything where you can runaround and be active.

Most of this week, you’ve beenrelatively still during the evenings when your Daddy is trying to play withyou. Two nights ago, you were up around two a.m., the most active you’vebeen all week. If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were trying to kickright through me! It was like an aerobic gymnastics class was going on inthe dead of night! Last night when we went to sleep, at first you werestill again, and I thought your Daddy was going to be disappointed since youhaven’t been awake too much for his evening chat with you. I pushedaround on you a bit (which doesn’t always work), and said, “Hey baby, pleasewake up and play with your Daddy.” He responded, “Yeah, Beta, come on,it’ll be fun!”

Clearly “fun” was the key word,because you woke shortly after and spent at least thirty minutes flipping,punching, kicking, and flopping around. I call it “earthquake baby” whenyour entire body moves so much it looks like an earthquake under my skin. Therearen’t distinct bumps in any one spot, just a ripple and rolling all over, shakingmy entire belly at once.

Your Daddy’s favorite game to playwith you right now is “One Two Three Tickle!” He counts slowly to three,then tickles his fingers on my skin over the last place he felt you move. Often, you will bump him back in response. His favorite nickname for youis “Goofy” or “Goofball.” It’s a term of endearment he uses for otherchildren (and animals) as well, but he calls you this almost as frequently ashe calls you “Beta.”

After he spent almost thirtyminutes talking to you and tickling your feet, he and I cuddled together,belly, to belly, and for another ten or fifteen minutes, you kicked and bumpedhis belly all the way through mine! We were both giggling.

Eventually I moved so I could fallasleep, but you wouldn’t let me! Another twenty minutes or so later, yourDaddy sleepily asked, “Is Beta still awake?” “Oh yes,” I replied. He reached across the pillows I had bunched between my knees and arms, and laidhis palm on my belly. He fell asleep that way, still holding onto you.

You now weigh about two and a halfpounds, and are approximately fifteen inches long! Your head is quicklygrowing bigger to accommodate your enlarging brain, which is developingbillions of neurons!

Because those neurons areappearing, they are increasing your senses and abilities. You couldrespond to pain. You can taste, and may already have preferences anddislikes. Your eyes have even greater sensitivity to light, candistinguish bright sunlight from a darkened room, and may be able to follow ablinking light. Your ears and brain connections work together so you candistinguish commonly-heard sounds and voices.

Under your gums, your “baby” teeth,or milk teeth, have developed, and the buds of your “adult” or permanent teethwill begin forming. Your bones are fully developed in size now, but arestill soft and pliable. Also under your skin is the beginning of your“white fat.” Your “brown fat” is already in place, and is responsible forbody temperature regulation. White fat makes skin plump, and providesenergy.

This week, I pray that as yourphysical heart beats so strongly, so your spiritual heart will also beatstrongly for the Lord.

“Do not turn away from the Lord,but serve the Lord with all your heart. Do not turn away after useless idols.They can do you no good, nor can they rescue you, because they are useless. Forthe sake of his great name the Lord will not reject his people, because theLord was pleased to make you his own. As for me, far be it from me that Ishould sin against the Lord by failing to pray for you. And I will teach youthe way that is good and right. But be sure to fear the Lord and serve himfaithfully with all your HEART; consider what great things he has done foryou.” (1 Samuel 12:20-24)

“But the Lord said to Samuel,‘Do not consider his appearance or his height… The Lord does not look at thethings people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lordlooks at the HEART.’ ” (1 Samuel 16:7)

“Lord, the God of Israel, thereis no God like You in heaven above or on earth below—You who keep your covenantof love with your servants who continue wholeHEARTedly in Your way. You havekept Your promise to your servants [my father / mother]; with Your mouth Youhave promised and with Your hand You have fulfilled it—as it is today.” (1 Kings 8:23-24)

“Submit to God and be atpeace with Him; in this way prosperity will come to you.

Accept instructionfrom his mouth and lay up his words in your HEART.

Surely then youwill find delight in the Almighty and will lift up your face to God.

You will pray toHim, and He will hear you, and you will fulfill your vows.”

(Job 22:21, 22, 26, 27)

“LORD, You alone are my portionand my cup;

You make mylot secure.

The boundary lines have fallenfor me in pleasant places;

surely I havea delightful inheritance.

I will praise the LORD, whocounsels me;

even at nightmy HEART instructs me.

I keep my eyes always on theLORD.

With Him at myright hand, I will not be shaken."

Therefore my heart is glad andmy tongue rejoices;

my body alsowill rest secure,

because You will not abandon meto the realm of the dead,

nor will Youlet your faithful one see decay.

You make known to me the path oflife;

You will fillme with joy in Your presence,

with eternalpleasures at Your right hand.” (Psalm 16:5-11)

“The law of the LORD is perfect,

refreshing thesoul.

The statutes of the LORD aretrustworthy,

making wisethe simple.

The precepts of the LORD areright,

giving joy tothe HEART.

The commands of the LORD areradiant,

giving lightto the eyes.

The fear of the LORD is pure,

enduring forever.

The decrees of the LORD arefirm,

and all ofthem are righteous. (Psalm 19:7-10)

tags:twentynine weeks pregnant 29 weeks pregnant pregnancy blog, twenty nine week size, what size, twenty nine 29 week fetal development, fetus, baby, belly, praying for baby, pray

Twenty Eight Weeks

2011-12-27T16:26:00.000-06:00

Dear Beta,

We are spendingChristmas in Georgiawith your Daddy’s siblings, parents, nephew and nieces. This was your first ride in an airplane,although I doubt you could tell the difference between air travel and earthtravel in your buoyant house. You wereincredibly active during the plane ride, though, so I wonder.

Yesterday was thefirst Christmas we spent together as three – you, me, and your Daddy. There were already gifts waiting for you –handmade blankets, books, photo frames. The two of us are not the only ones eagerly expecting your arrival! By next Christmas, your official “baby’sfirst Christmas”, you will already be crawling. If I remember correctly, this is the age when you will prefer sittinginside boxes and sucking on tissue paper instead of opening presents.

While on Christmas vacation,I wasn’t stuck at my desk at work. Instead, I spent the better part of my days on my feet - walking aroundthe neighborhood, cooking, or shopping. As a result, you napped more during the day than usual, and became activelate at night when your Daddy and I finally retired. Your late-evening alertness was quite welcomeby your Daddy, who spent extra time playing with you and talking to you. I am convinced from your movements that youcan hear him, recognize his voice, and respond to him. He is insecure if you can or not, but thatdoesn’t stop him from interacting with you each evening.

A book I’m readingsaid by six months, your heartbeat is loud enough for a person to hear just bypressing their ear against my belly. Your Daddy wanted to try it the minute I toldhim. He was ecstatic to find he couldindeed hear your heart this way! Sosimple – just the human ear pressed against skin. He has heard enough of your heartbeat in thefetoscope, and also of other baby heartbeats in sonograms, to know what soundhe is listening for, and he was confident about finding and listening to iteach evening.

Our relatives were excitedto talk about you, feel you kick, and see how much you have grown inside me. Your Nana Rose, Aunt April, and cousin Laurenall got to feel you kicking. YourGrandad John said he wanted to videotape me laughing, because it makes myentire belly, and your house, shake all over!

According toaverages, you are over fourteen inches long, and weigh over two pounds. Your body is getting rounder as your bonesand muscle thicken. In another month orso, you will really plump up when you begin adding fat layers under yourskin. Currently, your body is only abouttwo to three percent fat. As yourmuscles thicken, tone improves. Thiscontinues to be obvious from your regular, strong movements.

The day we wereflew to Georgia,you had been positioned feet-down inside me for the prior two or threedays. Ever since you have been bigenough for me to tell where you are laying inside me, you have primarily beenhead-down, angled a bit with your head slightly to my left and your feetslightly to my right side. I’ve oftenhad to sleep lying on my left side, since otherwise your kicking on my rightside is too strong and ticklish for me to handle! But for those three days, you had flipped,and had your feet regularly kicking my bladder and cervix instead. I have to admit that got prettyuncomfortable. In addition, it makes itpretty hard for your Daddy to feel you move, since the most active part of you(your feet) is not accessible to him.

The night beforeour trip, every time I woke up during the night, I tried to press gently on youwith my palms, hoping you would feel pressure and turn. By four am, when your Daddy got up for work,you had turned completely horizontal. Iwas relieved, hoping you would turn the rest of the way by the time Iawoke. You did. But you turned back the way you came, endingfeet down again!

On my bus ride towork, I tried again to gently press you, but you seemed completely content tostay put. I prayed under my breath,begging you to please turn around, since I was dreading being on the airplanewith you in that uncomfortable position. Suddenly I felt you pushing and slipping inside me, and for the nextthirty minutes of my bus ride, you slowly turned around, little by little, soyour head was again down, and your feet bumping against to my upper rightside. I was so happy! Thank you for being so cooperative!

Twenty Eight 28 Weeks Pregnant

Often now I canfeel the shape of your little foot pressing out slightly on my upper rightside. You don’t even have to be kickingfor me to feel it – just the weight of your foot resting quietly presses enoughfor me to feel it with my hand. Whileyour house still has some growing to do, this is a reminder that you willgradually become more and more crowded until you finally outgrow your house andenter the wide, wide world.

Hair on your headis now clearly visible (unless you are born bald!), and your eyebrows and eyelashesare fully formed. I can’t wait tophotograph your sweet, wispy eyelashes!

Under your gums,your baby teeth, or “milk teeth” as they are often called, are developing. They won’t come through your gums untilseveral months after your birth, but you won’t need them for a whileanyway! Your food supply for the firstseveral months of your outside-my-body life will still come from my food andbody. At twenty eight weeks, that food,colostrum, is already formed and waiting for you!

The branches of yourlungs are now developed and capable of breathing oxygenated air, not just thefluid you continue inhaling now.

Your eyes can moveeasily inside their sockets now, which means we could detect you entering REMsleep. This deep sleep is detectable byscientists because of REM (rapid eye movement), and is keenly important tobrain and body function and growth, even in grown adults. I am still trying to figure out when, or if,you sleep, since you are supposed to have twenty to thirty minute sleep/wake cycles!

The Lord is alwayswatching over us because He never sleeps.

“I lift up my eyes to themountains — where does my help come from?

My help comes from theLORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.

He will not let your footslip — He who watches over you will not slumber;

Indeed, he who watchesover Israelwill neither slumber nor sleep.” (Psalm121:1-4)

Because of Hiswatchful eye, we can sleep peacefully. In fact, He gives us sweet sleep.

“In peace I will lie downand sleep,

for Youalone, LORD, make me dwell in safety.” (Psalm 4:8)

“But you, LORD, are ashield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high.

I call out to the LORD,and He answers me from His holy mountain.

I lie down and sleep; Iwake again, because the LORD sustains me.

I will not fear thoughtens of thousands assail me on every side.” (Psalm 3:3-6)

However, the Bible warnsus not to sleep our lives away lazily, throwing away time that should be usedwisely.

“Laziness brings on deepsleep, and the shiftless go hungry.” (Proverbs 19:15)

“Do not love sleep or youwill grow poor;

stayawake and you will have food to spare.” (Proverbs 20:13)

Restful sleep is a gift(so take it now, and please take it again when you arrive earthside!).

“In vain you rise earlyand stay up late, toiling for food to eat —

for Hegrants sleep to those He loves.” (Psalm127:2)

“My child, do not letwisdom and understanding out of your sight,

preservesound judgment and discretion;

they will be life for you, an ornament tograce your neck.

Then you will go on yourway in safety,

andyour foot will not stumble.

When you lie down, youwill not be afraid;

whenyou lie down, your sleep will be sweet.

Have no fear of suddendisaster

or ofthe ruin that overtakes the wicked,

For the LORD will be atyour side

andwill keep your foot from being snared.” (Proverbs 3:21-26)

tags:twentyeight weeks pregnant 28 weeks pregnant pregnancy blog, twenty eight week size, what size, twenty eight 28 week fetal development, fetus, baby, belly, praying for baby, pray

Twenty Seven Weeks

2011-12-18T20:40:00.001-06:00

Dear Beta,

We have now passedthe six month point, and this week marks the end of the second trimester! The time seems to be flying by. I still have so much to do in order to haveeverything ready for your arrival! Itwill be here before we know it.

You just keepgrowing! You now weigh about two pounds,which is double what you weighed just four weeks ago. From head to toe, you measure about 14.5inches long. Your head is about 2.5inches in diameter, which is still so little for a full-term baby, but so bigcompared to just a few short months ago. When you were twelve weeks along (just three months ago), your entirebody was 2.5 inches long!

This Sunday atchurch, your cousin Aidan leaned over, leaned his face just outside your house,and whispered, “I love you, Beta. You’regetting SO BIG!” Then he wanted me towhisper in his ear that HE was getting so big (he is; he seems to be tallerevery time I see him!). When you arelittle, getting SO BIG is quite the joyful occasion!

Your auntsPriscilla and Mercy are in town for the Christmas holidays, on break fromuniversity. The night they arrived home,your Aunt Priscilla, or “Tia P” as your cousins call her, sat with me for along time while we chatted. The wholetime we were talking, she held her hand on my belly, and got to feel you swimand slide and bump around. After thisChristmas season, the next time I see her will be when you are expected toarrive, so it was special for her to spend time with you while you are still inhiding.

Twenty Seven 27 Weeks Pregnant

Your hearingcontinues to sharpen as nerves to your ears mature. Sounds you hear may still be a bit muffled though,since creamy vernix still coats your skin, including your ears, to protect themfrom getting too much water inside. Yourlungs and nervous system continue maturing, preparing you for the world outsidethe womb.

Your taste buds arefully developed, and you can already distinguish sweet, salty, and spicyflavors in the amniotic fluid you swallow and breathe. Your mealtime is about two hours after mine,since my body has to digest what I eat and send it into my bloodstream beforeit gets to you.

A couple monthsago, I asked our midwife to describe the physiological process by which you eat(or rather, receive nutrients). Here’smy summary of her answer. I eat food(hopefully nutritious for both of us), which passes into my stomach and later,intestines. My intestines process foodas they would for my own body, sending waste down and out, and nutrients back intothe bloodstream where my body can use them. A layer of tissue surrounding my uterus draws nutrients into the lining,pushing them into the placenta. Theplacenta has little “pockets” so to speak. Into those pockets, my body depositsnutrients (food), and your body deposits waste. Then we trade. My body takes yourwaste and disposes of it, and nutrients get pulled into your bloodstream and intoyour body through the umbilical cord.

In this process, myblood and your blood never mix. Thesepockets in the placenta make the translation between my blood type and yourblood type, leaving your body to absorb the deposited nutrients through the umbilicalcord. We may or may not have differentblood types, and we would not share blood borne diseases such as HIV (if I waspositive). Your blood courses throughyour body, through the umbilical cord, and into and back out of, the placenta,for nourishment and cleansing.

When you are born,in a matter of seconds, arteries in your heart will open and close. The ones that allow your blood andnourishment to pass to and from the placenta will close. In less than two minutes, your supply ofnutrition through the umbilical cord will disconnect, and shift to yourstomach. Your supply of oxygen willcease to be blood passed through my body and into the placenta, and insteadwill become your own lungs.

“Then the LORD God formed a man from the dust of the groundand breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a livingbeing.” (Genesis 2:7)

Our life, ourbreath, this miracle of time where you will breathe oxygen into your lungs forthe very first time….all of this is a gift from the Lord. His very breath will enter you, call you intoa new existence, and sustain you as long as your lungs continue to breathe.

“The Spirit of God hasmade me; the breath of the Almighty gives me life.” (Job 33:4)

Because of that gift, wepraise Him. I have no idea what state ofmind I will be in the moment I first lay eyes on you, but I hope some of thefirst words out of my mouth are, “Thank you, Jesus.”

“Praise the LORD.

Praise God in his sanctuary; praise Him inhis mighty heavens.

Praise Him for His actsof power; praise Him for His surpassing greatness….

Let everything that hasbreath praise the LORD.

Praisethe LORD.” (Psalm 150:1,2,6)

In one of the mostpowerful Old Testament prophecies about Jesus, it is declared that God gives breath to hispeople. Because of that breath, because of His call on our lives,Jesus was called to bring freedom to the earth. And as we were called to follow Him, so are we.

“This is what God theLORD says—

the Creator of theheavens, who stretches them out,

whospreads out the earth with all that springs from it,

whogives breath to its people,

andlife to those who walk on it:

“I, the LORD, have calledyou in righteousness;

I willtake hold of your hand.

I will keep you and willmake you to be a covenant for the people

and alight for the Gentiles,

To open eyes that areblind, to free captives from prison

and torelease from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.” (Isaiah 42:5-7)

As Jesus left the earth,after rising from the dead and visiting His apostles, he breathed on them to send them their secondlife – the life of the Holy Spirit. They, we, are now to not only have the breathof earthly life, which is temporary, but also the breath of the Holy Spirit life, which iseternal.

“On the evening of thatfirst day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors lockedfor fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peacebe with you!” After he said this, heshowed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw theLord.

Again Jesus said, “Peacebe with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”

And with that he breathedon them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.’ “ (John 20:19-22)

We can never forget that it is not by accident wewere created. It is not by accident thatevery human was formed in its mothers womb, and entered the world with criesthat filled its lungs with breath. The breathof God. His life, His breath, is in us for a purpose. I pray that you will use the breath in yourbody to live that purpose.

tags:twentyseven weeks pregnant 27 weeks pregnant pregnancy blog, twenty seven week size, what size, twenty seven week fetal development, fetus, baby, belly, praying for baby, pray

Twenty Six Weeks

2011-12-11T17:40:00.001-06:00

Dear Beta,

Your movements are now frequent enough and strong enoughwhere I often wonder if someone will glance across the room at my belly andnotice it pulsing and shaking! This weekyou have added a new movement: pushing. Previously I mostly felt “bumps”, but this week I have also felt firmpushes giving strong pressure in one little spot.

In addition, you are moving all your limbs with more controland strength. When you were smaller, I used to feel bumps, and immediately putmy hand over that area. With patience, Iwould often feel repeated movements in the same spot. Now it is sometimes like trying to catch ajumping bean. I will feel a bump overhere, and put my hand there. But thenext bump will be on the opposite side, so I follow it. But then the next oneis somewhere else entirely!

You are also big enough that most everywhere I go, peoplehave something to say about you. Thereis no doubting my body looks like there is a Beta inside!

Our family has a tradition to make a Thanksgiving link chain. On or around Thanksgiving Day, we all write things we are thankful for onto little scraps of paper. Then we staple them together to make a paper chain link. There will be just enough for us to open one per day, with the last one being opened on Christmas Day. This week, we opened two that your Daddy wrote - one for you, one for me!

According to averages, you are fourteen inches long, andabout one and three-quarter pounds. Yourspine is as long as an average adult hand, and your feet are two inches longalready! No wonder I can feel them sodistinctly.

A big event occurring in your development this week is youreyelids will come unsealed! You will beable to blink and sense light more distinctly than before. Behind your eyelids, retinas are forming. When you arrive, your eyes will be agrey-blue color common to newborns, and it will take until you are about twoyears old for your permanent eye color to be established.

Brain wave activity shows your visual and auditory systemsare recognizable, proving you can hear and see. Under the surface of your skin, oil and sweat glands begin to function.

At church this week, you never stopped moving during theentire band rehearsal, worship, and teaching. We had an amazing guest speaker, Malcolm Smith, who talked about themeaning of God’s love, and the meaning of His covenant to us, His people. After the service, I was so touched that Iwent forward to be prayed for, and they prayed for YOU too. What amazing prayers have been spoken overand for you, Beta.

This week, since such a big change is happening with youreyes, I am praying over your eyes, physical and spiritual. The Bible has a lotto say on this subject!

Ears that hear and eyes that see – what a gift. One that we can never take for granted.

“Even children areknown by the way they act,

whether their conduct is pure, andwhether it is right.

Ears to hear and eyesto see—

both are gifts from the LORD.” (Proverbs 20:11-12)

In my lifetime, I have had the privilege of witnessingseveral inarguable miracles. A man atour church was born with one leg about three inches shorter than theother. He lived over thirty years of hislife that way, using orthopedic shoes and always suffering somediscomfort. At one of our churchservices, he was significantly prayed for, and while we were all there, hisshorter leg grew out! He tried to walkin his orthopedic shoes, and couldn’t do it because his legs were now the samelength.

Two miracles I witnessed while a young girl on a missiontrip with our church to Mazatlan, Mexico. One year I REALLY wanted to see a miracle, andhad prayed for months before the trip that I would get to pray for someonewhile we were there, and see them healed. I met a girl a couple years older than me who came to some of ournightly meetings. Despite not being ableto speak each other’s language, we became friends, and I saw her several timesduring the week we spent there. One sideof her face was shrunken and deformed since birth, so that she had troublespeaking, and even seeing from that eye. With my mom’s help, I prayed for her ever time we saw her thattrip. I was devastated when we flew homefrom Mexico,and she had still not been healed. Thenabout a year later, I received a letter from her with a photo taken on herbirthday. I was shocked to see that herface was about ninety percent healed. There was only a tiny turn of her mouth at one corner to show where thedeformity had been. Over the course ofthat year, she had been healed a bit at a time.

Another moment was when we were giving away food to needyfamilies in Mazatlan. Our team had separated rice and beans intobrown paper bags in advance. As familiesmade a line and came up to us, we would hand them two bags. The trouble was, people kept running home todeposit their bags, and getting back in the long line. Or if children were present, they would grabtheir siblings to send them through the line. Things moved so quickly, we couldn’t really regulate who was receivingthe food, we just kept handing out the bags as fast as we could. The bags were piled behind the group of uswho were passing them out, and I distinctly remember turning around at somepoint, and noticing there were probably less than twenty bags remaining. As I turned back to the line in front of us,two bags in my hand, I realized many of these people would go home emptyhanded. There just wasn’t enough for allthe people still waiting in line. So wejust kept grabbing bags and giving them away, again moving so quickly it washard to keep up.

Twenty minutes or so later, the line had dissipated. Everyone who wanted food had received it, andno one remained asking for more. Iturned around to what had been the pile of bags behind me, fully expecting itto be depleted. Instead, there were fiveor six bags remaining. I stared,stunned. Wasn’t it twenty or thirtyminutes ago, when the line stretched down the block, that we only had fifteenor twenty bags remaining? How was itpossible that all those people received two or three bags each, and we stillhad a few left over? I knew withabsolute surety that we had witnessed a miracle.

Beta, I pray that in your lifetime, you will also witnessmany miracles as this verse in Deuteronomy says.

“He alone is your God,the only one who is worthy of your praise, the one who has done these mightymiracles that you have seen with your own eyes.” (Deuteronomy 10:21)

I pray that you will remember, truly see the people aroundyou, and take action to care for those in need.

Proverbs says, “Whoevergives to the poor will lack nothing, but those who close their eyes to povertywill be cursed.” (Proverbs 28:27)

It is often in these moments, where we give ourselves away,that we realize we have been in the presence of God. He has come to earth and shown Himself in anundeniable way. My entire life, wheneverI have felt sad or far away from God, these things I have seen are some of whatI have held onto. No one can everconvince me these things didn’t happen. I was there. I saw them with myown eyes. Neither person, nor spirit,nor my own rationalizing can argue with these things I have seen. May the same be true for you.

“But as for me, I knowthat my Redeemer lives,

and He will stand upon the earth at last.

And after my body hasdecayed,

yet in my body I will see God!

I will see Him formyself.

Yes, I will see Him with my own eyes.

I am overwhelmed at the thought!” (Job19:25-27)

“I will study yourcommandments and reflect on Your ways.

I will delight in your decrees and notforget Your word.

Be good to Your servant, that I may liveand obey your word.

Open my eyes to see the wonderful truths inyour instructions.

Teach me your decrees, O LORD; I will keepthem to the end.

Give me understanding and I will obey yourinstructions;

I will put them into practice with all myheart.

Make me walk along the path of your commands,

for that is where my happiness is found.

urn my eyes fromworthless things,

andgive me life through your word.” (Psalm119:15-18, 33-37)

As you begin now to see shades of light and dark, and whenyou emerge into bright daylight and can see in greater detail, may the face youseek most be the one of our dear Lord Jesus.

“I lift my eyes toYou,

O God, enthroned in heaven. (Psalm 123:1)

tags:twentysix weeks 26 weeks pregnant pregnancy blog, twenty six week size, what size, fetal development, fetus, baby, belly, praying for baby, pray

Twenty Five Weeks

2011-12-04T15:18:00.001-06:00

Dear Beta,

As I typed “twenty five” at the top of this post, Ithought, “Wow, that’s a big number.” For each week that passes, we are sograteful.

Your movements continue to increase in frequency andstrength. You are big and strong enough that often when you move, myentire belly shakes. It does the same when I laugh.

During a staff meeting at my office, you were kickinglike crazy. I was wearing the same blouse shown in this week’spictures. The fabric is thin and flowing. One of my co-workers toldme later, during the meeting, she caught sight of my blouse fluttering around,and knew it was YOU!

At bedtime, after you hang out with your Daddy, he and Icuddle in bed, holding each other tight. Since you have made my bellygrow bigger (and cuter), when he and I hug, our bellies touch. The funpart is when you kick strongly, your Daddy feels it on his belly! You canget both of us in one swoop.

It continues to be such an amazing feeling to have youbouncing and dancing inside me. Every once in a while, you move so strongin such a ticklish part of my belly, I have to press against you hard with bothmy hands, sometimes asking you to please move!

We’ve been gathering things you will need and use onceyou are born. This week I found great deals on a dresser, bed frame, playpen, boppy pillow, bumbo seat, and a box of baby boy clothes. A greatarticle I read recently talked about the five best kids’ toys. Thankfully, we have them already!

- Astick

- Abox

- String

- Cardboard tubes

- Dirt

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen childrenabandon fancy, expensive, singing, glowing toys to play with one or more of theawesome toys on this list. It is important to us to keep things as simpleas we can. In America,and in baby stores, and baby “wish” lists, there seem to be innumerable itemsof “Stuff” that expecting parent MUST have. It is exhausting.

I spell Stuff with a capital “S” because it seems like ithas its own personality at times, how much it can take over our lives. Sowe are doing our best to focus on gathering for you just the simplethings. My mom came home from the hospital in a shoe box (that was longbefore car seat regulations). I initially slept in a dresser drawer(pulled out of the dresser of course). Our parents and grandparents wereso resourceful! Babies need much less in the way of Stuff than ourculture makes us feel they do.

We already have several boxes of girl clothes, inheritedfrom your cousins Isabel and Piper. However, we don’t have boy clothes,and I wanted to have a handful of them ready for you.

When I washed and folded the boy clothes we bought, Ibecame terribly sentimental. I popped my head into the other room to tellyour Daddy, “You know what will make you want to have a baby? Foldingbaby clothes.” Especially baby clothes destined for the child alreadygrowing inside you! It made me want to meet you so badly. To holdyou in my arms, to dress you in those tiny, adorable clothes.

You are big enough where most of the time I can tellwhere you are inside my abdomen. Sometimes you make my belly lopsidedwhen you curl up on one side of it. Once this week you were laying in a“C” shape, completely still. I figured out where your head was, since itfelt round and hard, where your back and bottom were, and all the way down toyour feet. As I pressed around your body, eventually your little feetsaid “hello” to me and kicked, so I knew my guess was right.

It is hard to believe you are really inside mybody. That one of these days, you will emerge into our waiting arms, andit will have been split seconds before that you were still inside, swimming,drinking and breathing water, bumping the inside of my skin instead of the outside. It is such a miracle and it totally blows my mind!

This week we had the best appointment with our midwife,Robin, yet!

First, she felt around my belly to find you.

“Here’s a knee….”

“Here’s a butt….”

“Here’s a head….”

“The feet are curled up in front of the tummy….”

Then her assistant Jean tried to measure you from head torump. But you were more interested in playing games with Robin. Youwiggled, and squirmed, and kicked under her hands. She had to find youall over again, and sort of pin you down with her hands, laughing the wholetime, and asking you to please stop squirming!

Jean finally got two measurements, one about eight inchesfrom head to rump, and the other about ten inches from head to rump. We’ll take the average and say you are nine inches from head to rump, and ofcourse longer when you add legs and feet. Your house measured twenty six centimeters, which is still about a week ahead of schedule.

Next was your heartbeat, taken with the fetoscope. Once again, you were ready to play. Robin pressed the fetoscope down intoyour house six or seven times, only to have you punch it out of place EVERYtime. It’s quite an art, finding your heartbeat with this device, so itwas hysterical to see her focused concentration interrupted over and over againby your game.

The first few times she shook her head. Then shegiggled. Then she eventually broke down laughing, and the rest of uscouldn’t help but laugh too. FINALLY you held off long enough for her tofind your heartbeat, and let your Daddy hear too. With his eyebrowsraised, he said, “Wow! That’s a lot louder than last time!” It hasbeen five weeks since the first time we heard your heartbeat, and you havegrown substantially in that time.

Robin’s notes on your chart this appointment say, “Babyvery active.” Yes, yes, you are.

The last two nights you have woken me up about three inthe morning to play. It’s been the most concentrated movement I’ve feltfrom you (not that you are by any means still and quiet the rest of thetime!). I’ve laid awake for ten or fifteen minutes, wrapping my handsaround you, feeling you play inside me, a happy smile on my face.

Your eyes are completely formed, including eyelashes andeyebrows. You can open and close your eyelids since they are no longersealed shut. Your nostrils will also come unplugged this week. Nerves around your mouth and lips are developing, key to your feeding reflex.

Another working reflex is your “startle” reflex. For most babies, being startled causes them to throw open their hands and armsand maybe jump a little. This morning a tickle in my throat made me coughrather loudly and suddenly, and you responded immediately with a bump. Iquickly apologized for startling you!

You have other connections working from your brain toyour movements and reflexes. Your skin’s nerve endings are only partiallydeveloped, but you can respond to touch (as we saw earlier with Robin!). Since your dexterity is improving, you can make a fist and grasp objects likeyour lips, toes, and umbilical cord. You are able to physically respondto the sound of my voice and your Daddy’s voice. But on this milestone, Ithink you are ahead of the game and have been responding to us for weeks now!

In your lungs, blood vessels are forming to aid in futurebreathing. Your spine structure is also taking shape. It willeventually have 33 rings, 150 joints, and 1000 ligaments!

According to averages, you should be about thirteeninches long, and weigh about one and a half pounds.

The fact that you are so interactive makes me think aboutthe impact your life will have on the world, hopefully for the cause of theKingdom and Jesus Christ. Even as a child, your life has meaning,purpose, and impact.

“Through the praise of children and infants you haveestablished a stronghold against your enemies, to silence the foe and theavenger.” (Psalm 8:2)

In the book of Ezra, children were part of the confessionand repentance the nation expressed.

“While Ezra was praying and confessing, weeping andthrowing himself down before the house of God, a large crowd of Israelites—men,women and children—gathered around him. They too wept bitterly.” (Ezra10:1)

In Acts, children prayed for the safe journey of theapostles.

“We sought out the disciples there and stayed with themseven days. Through the Spirit they urged Paul not to go on to Jerusalem. When it was time to leave,we left and continued on our way. All of them, including wives and children,accompanied us out of the city, and there on the beach we knelt to pray. After saying goodbye to each other, we went aboard the ship, and they returnedhome.” (Acts 21:4-6 )

In Deuteronomy, children are encouraged to turn from sinand obey the Lord.

“And when you and your children return to the LORD yourGod and obey him with all your heart and with all your soul according toeverything I command you today.” (Deuteronomy 30:2)

“Assemble the people—men, women and children, and theforeigners residing in your towns—so they can listen and learn to fear the LORDyour God and follow carefully all the words of this law.” (Deuteronomy31:12)

In Isaiah, children are a sign of the presence and powerof the Lord.

“Here am I, and the children the LORD has given me. Weare signs and symbols in Israelfrom the LORD Almighty, who dwells on Mount Zion.” (Isaiah 8:18)

And of course, children exuberantly and freely worshipand celebrate.

“And on that day they offered great sacrifices, rejoicingbecause God had given them great joy. The women and children also rejoiced. Thesound of rejoicing in Jerusalemcould be heard far away.” (Nehemiah 12:43)