Happy Thanksgiving

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Hoping you find yourself surrounded by those you love the most this Thanksgiving Holiday. Remember to take time to step back, look at all God has blessed you with, and give Him thanks.

It's A ...

BOY!!!

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Psalm 139:13-15

You are such a little stud already. Your Mamma and Daddy loved watching you on that screen for an hour and a half, you are beautiful. The ultrasound tech warned us that we might have our hands full since you wouldn't hold still for long enough for her to get all the pictures she wanted :) You are already our little 13 ounce rock-star. We have never been so in awe, or so in love. We praise God for you little one.

We're Halfway Baby!

The thought was once again sparked in my hard-to-concentrate- ever-wandering-pregnant brain.

Pink or Blue...

However, the context was anything but baby related. It was marriage related. The thought was sparked during our second session of studying the DVD series "Love & Respect" by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs with 8 other couples from our church.

Needless to say, it was hard for me to focus on pink and blue in relation to marriage while feeling my now 20 week old baby 'jamming out in my belly' the entire time.

We hope to find out the baby related pink or blue verdict on November 16... 9 short days away. I say "hope" because our child could already have some of its mothers 'spit-fire' personality in it and decide to keep it's legs crossed and keep us in suspense for the next 20 weeks. I am frequently asked if I have any "maternal instincts" as to what gender the baby is. The short answer is "no". The medium answer is that what I think changes by the hour (currently feeling just as much pink as blue). I will spare you the long answer. (Count your blessings!)

Why do I find myself in such a hurry to find out? Why do I wish that time would move along faster some days? Why can't I just live in the moment and enjoy the one in a million feeling of my baby dancing in my belly. I will never again be 20 weeks 1 day pregnant with this child. I need to savor every day of this miracle. I know I am going to look back on this time and wish it would have slowed down and I'm going to kick myself for wishing it would go faster. Truth is pink or blue related to pregnancy really doesn't matter. God already knows and what God chose is right and perfect and we will find out in His time not ours. Whether that is in 9 days or in another 20 weeks.

My point is this. Savor the mundane, think of what you would miss if it were gone. Enjoy every minute. Look for the beauty. Realize just how fragile, precious, and beautiful your life is. Bask in God's goodness and glory and thank Him for everything, always.

Halloween Bliss

Problem: It does not work to dress up a 19-week-child-in-utero for Halloween

Solution: See images below

You may think I'm crazy, and that's fine with me. I think it's hilarious.

And I bet you laughed, or at least smiled :)

"Goodnight Moon"

The two of you already have a favorite book.

Your Daddy loves to read you a goodnight story before bed and that brings tears to your Mamma's eyes.

I'm not sure who likes storytime more, me or you little one.

I can't wait to see the two of you together. I daydream of it daily. I daydream of outside peanut-butter-and -jelly-picnics and of long stroller rides together. It's the simple things that mean the most to him, and that's what makes him so great. He is so proud to be your Daddy already. You will be proud to call him Daddy too.

He loves giving you good-bye kisses thru your Mamma's ever-growing belly.

He loves to rest his hand on that same ever-growing belly in hopes of feeling absolutely anything. I think he would leave his hand there for hours in hopes of this. (Secretly your Mamma can't wait until the day when you are a little bigger and stronger and you give him the kick of your life through my belly, then we will laugh and your presence will be made known!)

We have almost reached the half way marker and we can't wait to see your beautiful face again. Last time I counted (who am I kidding, I count everyday) we will see you again in 28 glorious days.

Life

I don't know when exactly it hit me, but it did.

A sort of slow-motion-sucker-punch-blow-to-the-gut.

Got my attention none-the-less.

Maybe it was my pregnant shadow starring back at me tonight while Maya and I enjoyed the red and orange leaves crunching under our feet with the cool breeze in our face. Maybe it was the fact that I got to hear my 17 week old babies heart galloping away again today. Or, maybe it was the text I got from my giddy-hearted husband who's "playing farmer" tonight with a good friend that stated the money he earns farming is going in our baby fund. He is such a proud Daddy already. Maybe it was the good reports baby Van Meeteren received at the 21 week ultrasound. Or maybe it was the sweet email I got from a best friend that's literally thousand of miles away yet remains so close to my heart.

Regardless of what exactly it was, it hit me.

You know that feeling in your life when you look around and can't help but smile because you realize you are living the life you've always dreamed of? If I could bottle up that feeling and sell it, Lord know's I'd be a millionare. Anyway, that awesome feeling of pure happiness, contentment, and joy filled my heart today and that is exactly what "it" is.

If I'm honest, before today I had been feeling more anxiety, worry, and "what if's" as the past few weeks have been filled with life changing news regarding my precious nephew Jude. Honestly, I wish I had half the strength and faith his Mommy and Daddy continue to show. I can't help but finding myself thinking about the fact that God works through willing people. Wade and Alissa are the definition of willing. They are exactly the type of people God would use to further His kingdom. I'm not sure they know the impact they've had on me in the past weeks.

I'm learning not to take one day, one hour, or one second of this life forgranted. I'm reminding myself to take a step back, look at the big picture, pinch myself when I realize all the blessings God's given me, and take it all in baby.

Thank-you Wade, Alissa, and baby Jude for showing me the real beauty in life.

The three of you are the reason "it" hit me tonight.

For that I'm so grateful.

Welcoming...

the second trimester