Week 28

I figured since I was gaining belly I should lose some hair! Actually, I didn't think the two tone look did much for me (my natural "dark blonde" on the top half with my hairdresser enhanced light blonde on my bottom half). Guess I'm now a brunette like my brother (come on J, if I can admit it, you should should be able to also!). Aside from the excitement of a hair chop (and looking in the mirror and wondering who the girl with the dark hair is looking back at me) we had our first childbirth class tonight. We're taking a 4 week course - every Monday for 2 hours - and it was great tonight. I got to see my first birth video (yikes!), learned all about the stages of labor and learned my first breathing technique. We had an ultrasound on Friday and Junebug looks great! I'll tell you, I would love to buy one of those machines and just sit at home all day watching Junebug in my womb! We're having some issues with our scanner but hopefully we'll get the pictures posted sometime this week. Right when the ultrasound tech brought up Junebug he/she was looking right at us - it was a great picture of Junebug's face and then Junebug gave a wave hello - it was so COOL!!!!!!!! We also got to see Junebug opening and closing his/her mouth which was amazing! Junebug is weighing in at a whopping 2lbs 3 oz! Keep your eyes peeled for the ultrasound pics!

Week 27

Happy week 27! Attached is a picture of a Build A Bear that Kevan and I made for Junebug on Monday night. We have a recording of Junebug's heartbeat that we put in the bear's right hand so we can hear Junebug's miraculous heartbeat anytime we want! The bear (yet to be named and given a birth certificate) is sitting on a beautiful blanket that my friend Terri's daughter, Melissa, made for Junebug. Baxter was a little freaked out by this whole ordeal and kept sniffing the bear - just imagine how freaked out he'll be by Junebug!

Kevan mentioned this morning that my belly looks like a torpedo and I have to agree with him! My belly button is sticking so far out I'm afraid it may poke a small child in the eye if they get too close. Junebug has been SUPER active lately and we've been seeing some movement through my stomach more often (it's amazing, beautiful, cool and kind of freaky all at the same time). I keep having visions of the movie Aliens running through my mind and I'm just waiting for Junebug to punch a hole in my belly and come right out.

We have an ultrasound appointment this Friday along with my gestational diabetes testing (the nurse promised me that the liquid I have to drink isn't as nasty as everyone says). We're super excited to get to see Junebug again and we're hoping for the 3-D ultrasound machine. Be waiting for some pictures of our sweet precious little baby!

Week 26

Happy 26th week! Quite a bit has happened over this past week. While I was attending my first Christian mom's conference, Hearts at Home, in Bloomington-Normal, Illinois, with some girlfriends, Kevan painted the nursery! It's called Lemon Butter and we've attached a picture so you can see the color. It looks really pretty and we're both very happy with it. Another exciting note is that this past week whenever Kevan talks to Junebug (he puts his face right up to my belly and talks) Junebug gives some kicks. I think it's Junebug's way of saying "Hi Daddy! I love you and can't wait to meet you!!!" And some more exciting news...I had my very first baby shower!!! Headed up by my friend Shannon it was a surprise shower and it blew my socks off. The guests were fellow Bible Study Fellowship leaders, including lots of children's leaders, and half of my class. It was so special and I was absolutely overwhelmed by the ladies' love and generosity. Junebug is so loved it just warms my heart. God is so good - that's all I've been repeating to myself since last night. Lastly, we just got word yesterday that all of our nursery furniture is in and we will be scheduling delivery and set up over the next few weeks (we need to steam the carpets first). As soon as we get it all set up we'll be sure to post pictures. Until then...

Week 25

Whoa! Look at that belly - isn't it beautiful!?!?!? Some exciting news for this week - we were sitting on the couch with our hands on my belly and we felt Junebug moving...then, we lifted my shirt and we SAW Junebug moving. It was so wild - an absolute miracle to see another life moving within my own body. PRAISE GOD for His gift of this little life! We picked out nursery paint this weekend - it's called Lemon Butter by Valspar - a nice pale yellow that will go with either our girl or boy bedding. We also got set up with Junebug's pediatrician today...Dr. Finn of Blue Fish Pediatrics (how funny is that!) We've heard raving reviews about this doctor and we're thrilled that he's taking new patients! I'm heading off to Hearts at Home - a Christian mom's conference - this weekend with some girlfriends. They've been going for years and I'm so happy that I am finally able to join them as a mom-to-be. Kevan will be taking this opportunity to paint the nursery and catch up on some manly movies while I'm gone. Until next week...

Week 24

Hi Everyone!

As you can see, the belly is GROWING but I still feel GREAT! We spent 6.5 hours registering at Babies 'R Us on Sunday - whew was that exhausting - but very fun! It's amazing how much such a little baby needs. We signed up for our Childbirth class and our Natural Approach class which are in March and April. That's right folks - we are going the all natural/unmedicated route with this little one (God willing)! I've been praying that God will give me all the strength and perseverance I need to get through a natural/unmedicated childbirth and that nothing would cause me to have to have a C-section. I know Kevan will be a great birthing coach and his mom, Cathy, is his "assistant" - she's been teaching childbirth classes for over 25 years and has been through natural childbirth herself so I know she'll be great too. She's sweet as can be but very resolved! My mom will also be in the delivery room and she's gotten me through so much in life and I know this won't be any different. So, I've got a wonderful, l0ving and supportive team behind me to get me through whatever comes my way.