What a Cutie!!!!

Yesterday was my 6 month check up and because my doctor was still in surgery they let me have an ultrasound to check the heart rate. So…I got a free ultrasound and got to see my sweet baby’s little face. I have to keep looking at it every two seconds because it makes me smile. Wanna hear the crazy thing?? I had so hoped and wanted an ultrasound but I knew there was no reason to get one…so I prayed that maybe I could have one and God answered my prayer. You may think that is silly but it just shows me that God hears our big prayers and our little prayers. Critterbug’s heartbeat was 143 this time and I gained 7 pounds. Gulp. Oh well…apparently he went through a big growth spurt and is more than 2 lbs himself. I won’t have the diabetes test results for another couple of days but thanks for the prayers for that.

Jacob and I leave tonight for highpoints 28, 29 and 30!!! We are going to Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan. More on that when we return!!

My Big Fat Pregnant Belly

I know you are anxiously awaiting this “belly blog” so here are some shots from 2 weeks ago of my 6 month tummy. Things are going great, except I think I am growing an inch a day. Ha. I’ll be waddling before you know it.



Wow...I can't believe I am posting this picture...but as long as I don't have stretch marks, I better show it off. Ha.

Family Visit and Birthday Fun

Sorry I didn’t update last week. Some weeks are just busier than others!

Two weekends ago, Daddy and Martha came for a visit and we had a great time. Unfortunately the weather was kind of crummy but we had a great time anyway. They arrived Friday afternoon about the time I got home from work. We quickly went for some grub at Soulfish Café and then came back to indulge in my yummy Strossner’s birthday cake (even though my b-day was still a few days away). You can’t bring a pregnant girl a chocolate birthday cake and make her stare at if for 4 days. Critter must have liked it because he wiggled and squiggled (as he does A LOT these days) while we played Mexican Train. Martha even got to see my stomach move on one kick.

Saturday we woke up and had pancakes and then went to see the Peabody Ducks do their morning parade. That’s just the silliest thing. After that we went to my work for a bit to finish up the invitations for the big wedding that is coming up. Then we hit Rendezvous for some yummy barbeque. After eating too much, we gave Martha a tour of Memphis and headed back to the house. I think we were all pooped. We then played some more Mexican Train and ate some more cake.

Sunday we went to church and then after church they had to say good-bye. That sure was sad. After they left, Carie and Chris came over and we played Settlers of Catan and finished off the birthday cake and played spades and watched The Amazing Race. It was a fun afternoon.
Then…my big 25th birthday was on Tuesday, April 17th. Thanks for all of the great gifts and cards everybody!! I got some moolah to go towards our “Critter Cam” and a pair of Danskos and a craft table and a maternity shirt. Jacob took me to dinner for sushi because I was having a sushi craving. Mmmm…sushi is yummy.

Critter also turned 6 months on the Saturday Dad and Martha were here. Sorry I don’t have the picture yet. I left it at home. I'll try to do multiple updates to get caught up.

Me with my Strossner's Birthday Cake!! It was deeelicious. Also notice that I have made the switch to contacts!! Going on 3 weeks now. And...here is a glimpse of our kitchen that is oh so close to being finished.

Daddy working hard at LRK on his invitations. I found out where I get some of my anal tendancies and perfectionism from. Thanks Dad!!

Daddy outside of Rendezvous. It really is in an alley. You gotta pass like 3 smelly dumpsters to get to it.

Waving Goodbye. Notice my new Dansko shoes from Sally (even though my pants are tucked in them. Ha!)

Pregnant as a Peacock

Isn't that the saying??

Anyway, I've had this "interesting" peacock shirt since I worked at the GAP in high school and always joked around about how I wanted to wear it when I got pregnant so that I could watch the peacock grow. So I wore it this week. This girl at work just thought it was too cute and had to take some pictures (yes, I felt awkward posing at work for a picture). I'm not a big fan of having my picture taken by myself these days because there is just no "normal" way for a pregnant girl to pose.

And those who think this shirt is hideous...don't worry, I only spent about $3 on it.

Things I am excited about today...

Daddy and Martha are on their way to visit for the weekend...yippee

Critter will be 6 months "old" tomorrow...yippee

My birthday is on Tuesday...yippee

Trivia

Q. What do Critter and a pound of sugar have in common??

Give up??

A. They both weigh the same!!! (and are probably the same sweetness)

That's right, according the charts, Critter reached the 1lb mark last week. At about 8" long from crown to rump our little buddy is growing big. His size should double this month!! Although, we certainly would not want this and pray for continued safety...Critter could, with LOTS of medical attention, survive outside of the womb.

Thanks for all of the prayers as he continues to grow into a big, healthy baby!

Critter Kicks Jacob

This past Friday night Jacob got to feel Critter for the first time. It was really exciting for both of us. We had just gotten in bed and Critterbug thought it was time to wake up (something tells me things aren't going to change when he enters the world). He was very active and I told Jacob he could probably feel it. So he put his hand on my tummy and Critterbug kicked Jacob several times in a row. Then we both watched my stomach move. It was funny and we were like little kids giggling about it.

Unfortunatly for Critter, now Jacob wants to feel it more often so he keeps trying to wake him up. I told him that wasn't very nice and that if he wakes Critter up when he's sleeping once he comes he will cry and not be very happy.

The Good Shepherd

“I am the Good Shepherd. I know my sheep and my sheep know me.” John 10:14

My accountability girls and I are currently doing a study by Jennifer Kennedy Dean called The Life Changing Power in the Name. It goes through the book of John and breaks down all of the “I AM” statements that Christ makes. “I am the Bread of Life,” “I am the Light of the World,” “I am the Good Shepherd,” “I am the Gate,” “I am the Vine,” etc. Last week’s lessons were geared towards Christ being the Good Shepherd and it touched me a lot, especially since it is Easter season.

I’ve never really thought about the meaning of Christ being the Good Shepherd until now (other than the visual image of Jesus with a lamb around his neck) and it really is such a beautiful description of our relationship with Him. A good shepherd protects His sheep from thieves and wolves. He keeps them from going astray. He searches for them when they are lost. His sheep feel at peace in His presence. And you know what else? Sometimes the shepherd lays down His life so that His sheep don’t have to die. Isn’t that just a comforting realization??? That Christ is my Shepherd and I am always protected. He laid down his life for me so that I might be saved from the ultimate thief.

On another note, I am reading a book for leisure called Unveiled by Francine Rivers. It is about Tamar. Francine Rivers, who is one of my favorite authors, has a series of short novellas about the 5 unlikely women who changed eternity (Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba and Mary). They are historical fiction in that she uses the facts from the Bible as her basis but then fills in with other information as she feels appropriate and accurate to the day. One quote I really liked related completely to what I was learning about the Good Shepherd in my other study. Isn’t that amazing how God can teach us the same thing through many different means? Basically, Judah is talking about his evil son, Er, and how he doesn’t want Er to inherit his sheep and land. Here is how Judah describes Er as a shepherd…

“Judah wished he hadn’t returned to his house so quickly. Far better had he returned to his flocks and seen to the animals that Er too often neglected in his absence. His eldest had handed the full responsibility over to Onan after three short days! Er was a fool and useless as a shepherd. He had no love for the sheep that would one day belong to him. The boy stood by while wolves ripped open the belly of a defenseless ewe, then ran the predators off to become one himself. Er took pleasure in delivering the deathblow to a prized ram. Then he roasted and ate the meat!”

Aren’t you glad that God leaves us with a Shepherd that loves us so much and never leaves a substitute to take his place?

Some other thoughts that relate to Easter…You know, obviously, that this is my first Easter as a mother and though I don’t really know much about my child other than that he/she lives in my womb and kicks around and relies completely on me…I love him/her with my whole heart already. I can’t imagine giving this baby up for the world. And I can’t imagine how God felt giving up his only son so that selfish, sinners could live. And His son was perfect. I can assure you that mine will not be perfect (although probably close to it). I just really appreciate God’s sacrifice to me this year more than other years in the past.

I hope you enjoy your Holiday weekend and remember what a BIG deal this holiday really is.

Happy Easter…He has Risen!

Habitat for Humanity

This past Saturday Jacob and I volunteered with Habitat for Humanity alongside some of the people I work with. It was a nice cool morning with afternoon showers that ended our day early. Most of us spent our time painting trim but Jacob and Stewart helped by hanging siding. It sure was loads of fun. This house is for a family of 5. They will no doubt be changed by this experience in their lives.

Painting Trim.
Helen.
Yea, I look constipated...not sure what this face is all about.
My boss, Paige.
Group Photo. (L-R) Jacob, Stewart, Stewart's Wife Laurie and their daughter Kelsey, Becky, Helen, John's fiance Katie, Me, John, Paige's Wife Kelly and Paige.