Flutters

I remember the first time that I ever felt Aby moving around. I didn't really know what I was feeling for. I didn't truly recognize the feeling until I was close to 20 weeks. Chris' grandfather said she must be a girl if it took me that long to feel her =) When I was pregnant with McKinley I was around 15 weeks when I felt her fluttering around. I definitely knew what I was "feeling" for. I wondered this time around how early I'd feel this Lil' Pea. I figured it would probably be around the same time that I felt Miss Mac, but obviously wasn't for sure. So, I was certainly excited this weekend when I had the little flutterings. I find it so amazing that this is the third time around, but it's not any less miraculous. It's exciting!!! And I've been sitting surfing the Internet for over an hour just hoping that it'll happen over and over again. What a blessing that tiny feeling is.

182 more days or 14 Weeks

I will be honest with you. This post will be difficult to write. Don't ask me why since I am extremely excited about this new little baby. I have always struggled with the changing of the body during my pregnancies. For whatever reason I have a really hard time with the fact that I HAVE to gain weight. This is one reason why I am not great at taking pregnancy pictures. My sister in law, Carrie, is awesome at this. She does the cool little card that states which week she is on and does a wonderful job keeping up with it. She now lives in San Angelo and hasn't seen all the "changes" up close yet until last weekend. So, she was giving me a hard time about taking a picture. I was thinking about it a lot and decided why not. This is my last child that I will carry. I'm going to document and share about the pregnancy a little more than I did the past two times. So maybe each time I post a picture or write something it'll get a little easier. =) Again, I want to reiterate how extremely excited I am about this baby. But again I'm excited about the baby, not the pregnancy =)

I am into my second trimester by one week. I'm on week 14. Lil' Pea is about the size of a lemon. It was around this time with Miss Mac that I felt her for the first time moving around. So, hopefully I'll feel this one pretty soon. I'm extremely lucky in the sense that I have not had any morning sickness with any of my kiddos. This time I've had a few food aversions, but that's about it. I can't get enough salt!!! Chris made salsa that other day and that was my only complaint. It needs more salt =) He just rolled his eyes. So, I secretly add some to my own bowl. I am also starting to feel more energetic. I'm really tired by bedtime, but during the day don't feel like I have to take a nap. Actually today it was in my plan to take a nap, and I don't think I could go to sleep even if I tried. So, that makes me very happy.

A few weeks ago I went to my doctor. We had a great visit and got to hear Lil' Peas heartbeat. It mostly sat right around 156. I LOVE hearing the heartbeat. We of course had already seen the heartbeat, but there is something wonderful about hearing it for the first time. It's like it is real once I hear it. We talked about options for making sure that this pregnancy goes full term. McKinley was actually just a few days short of being 37 weeks. So, it might be the case that with each one I'll add on a few more weeks. Or, there is the option of doing a weekly progesterone shot starting at 16 weeks. She said it may or may not prolong the pregnancy, but we could at least try it out. This is something still being pondered. At the appointment we set the time for our BIG ultrasound. We will get to find out what we are having on April 25th, the day after Easter. I can't wait!!! We are planning on making it a fun day with the girls, by having lunch together and finding out altogether. I think that the girls will really enjoy being able to see the baby on the tv.

I am already started to majorly show. Ok I feel huge =) You can make your own judgement from the picture. Just don't share your judgement with me ;) Just Kidding. The bad part is I can't wear my regular pants, but my maternity pants don't fit either. I did find some pants that have an adjustable waist. So, now I feel like my toddler when I have to loosen the button on the elastic. But I think that is a really neat invention on the makers of maternity clothes. These pants will be in my wardrobe for awhile. My friend, Lisa, thinks that I'm already carrying differently this time. But I think that's wishful thinking for a boy on her part. =) As for me, I'm good with either boy or girl. I obviously know lots about how to raise little girls, and we do have a lot of stuff for girls. But I know Chris would like to have that little boy. He obviously loves little girls and would be fine with that too.

Here we are hanging out at the school playground. Excuse the squinty eyes!!

Until next time!!

Through Redeemed Eyes

Chris and I have the great pleasure of serving alongside some wonderful men and women on our church Creative Arts Team. We do some very eclectic songs and art forms each Sunday during Quest, and the team continually comes up with amazing ways to help show who God is.
One way we do this is through our song choice. NewChurch has a saying of "Looking at Things through Redeemed Eyes". This took me awhile to realize and internalize what this actually means. But once I "got it" it was amazing to be able to listen to pretty much ANY song and see God through it.
Our team leader emailed Chris a month or so back and asked him if our team could start a blog and call it, you guessed it, Through Redeemed Eyes. He told Chris that we as a team know why most songs or creative elements are chosen and how they fit with the sermon series, but not everyone may pick up on the connection. So, the blog will give everyone a chance to understand the reasoning behind the choice. And then anyone can add a comment agreeing or giving a different view point than the one written.
So, each Sunday, by 9am, a blog or 2 are posted about some of the elements going on that Sunday morning. Here is the address so you can check it out if you'd like.
www.newchurchgtown.org/throughredeemedeyes