30 Weeks!!

This past week JR and I have had a hard time believing we're just 10 weeks away from welcoming our child into this world! And with all the news that happened this week, it's a good thing we serve a mighty Lord and can fully trust that He is in control. (Sorry, child of ours, for the casinos, Fort Hood shootings, healthcare bill passing through House, etc.) As we begin this countdown to the end, which is just an end to the beginning, we are having to make some more adjustments. JR has put up with the addition of even more pillows in the bed, as I attempt to get more comfortable at night (not working so well yet). My energy level is quickly draining, making it harder to keep up with stuff around here. And last, good posture is getting harder to come by. The wonderful thing is that I know this is all part of a very natural process and God is in control! A big thanks goes to my hubby of course for being so patient and understanding.

This week welcomes our very first baby shower! We're so excited to start putting together everything needed to welcome this child. Thank you to those who are so lovingly throwing us these showers! We're eternally grateful!!!

And to finish this post, here's our 30-week belly pic:

Saying goodbye to the 2nd trimester...

Well, these past few weeks I have learned a few things:
1 - This baby LOVES chocolate!! However, the chocolate has NOT loved me. Today was my 28-week checkup and the scales were ridiculous. I have gained NINE pounds in the last four weeks! This just adjusts my way of thinking as a reminder to keep it healthy for this baby of mine.
2 - The weight of my belly is working on the muscles a little further down - never thought possible! This has definitely added to my pregnancy waddle and funky pains. The good thing is that the pains come and go. One day they're around all day while a few days later they last for just a few minutes.
3 - JR's falling in love with this baby already! He's been so precious and adorable. He has had a few opportunities to feel the baby move and really enjoys "talking" to the baby. He buries his face into my belly and mumbles something to her. It's so funny and great!!
4 - Even maternity shirts aren't always long enough. As my belly grows bigger and bigger, my shirts are getting shorter and shorter! Thank goodness for the big waistbands on those pants!
AND...
5 - I'm going to miss being pregnant. Having this child inside of me and constantly reminding me of her presence is such a precious gift. It will definitely be an adjustment not having her with me at all times, but there is a time for every season!
And to wrap this up, quick update from today's appointment: Baby's heartbeat was strong in the 130s, my blood pressure was 110/62, and all is good, other than my 9-pound weight gain! Praise the Lord!!

Child of Mine

Dearest Little One,
In just a few more weeks I will finally get to see your beautiful face and look into your eyes. I feel like I'm getting to know you more and more though already as you continue to grow so rapidly in my womb. I especially have learned you are definitely a fan of brownie sundaes, as every time I enjoyed one this week you became very active! Your daddy is also getting to know you a little more as he felt you moving for the first time this past week. He does wish though that when I call him over to feel you moving that you would continue to move instead of stopping at his touch! :D
Today I was reminded of how blessed we are to become your parents and the great responsibility that comes with that. I know there will be days when we disappoint you and upset you. We ask though that in all we say and do you continue to love us and see God's love through us. Ever since we learned of your beginning we have prayed that you would love the Lord with ALL your heart, soul, mind, and strength. Today in worship we sang an older song called "Give Me Jesus". May that be the desire of your heart, that no matter what happens in this world and in this family that you desire Jesus, as He will give you all you need and will be the only one to never let you down. He knows all your desires, fears, worries, and enjoyments.
Dear child, may our love for you always be evident to you. We are so blessed to be your parents and so excited to have you join us!!
Love,
Mama

A Week to Remember

I realize I haven't blogged in awhile, but Baby hasn't been very active and there hasn't been much to report...until this week! This was definitely a week to remember. QUICK recap:

Monday - Grammy bought Mama a new maternity shirt and we looked at things on the registry

Tuesday - 24-week appointment! All is well and Grammy got to hear the strong heartbeat!

Wednesday - I felt Baby moving without a doubt for the first time!! It felt like she (he?) was playing patty cake against my belly.

Thursday - Glucose test results in - all is normal and healthy! Praise the Lord!!

Friday - Plans for showers falling together; I found out my favorite junior high advisors want to have a shower for me! I love that gang...

Saturday - Mama and Daddy went to Target to review the registry and make some changes.

As the recap shows, this was definitely a week to remember, but the most memorably part of it was the first time I felt the baby for sure on Wednesday. There have been times when I thought, "Hmm, I wonder if that's the baby or just gas or cramps!" This time though there was no doubt about her movements. My Adobe Design students were giving presentations, so I was sitting amongst the students listening when all of a sudden I felt my child playing patty cake or doing a funny dance in her womb!! It was the craziest feeling ever. I laughed at it because she did it every time a new group of kids got up to present. Then I felt her nearly every period the rest of the day and every day since! It's such an amazing sensation and reminder of God's blessings. We're still waiting for when JR can feel the baby moving, but that should be just around the bend! What a week to remember...

And here's the 25-week belly shot to wrap up this entry. (Sorry it's a week late, but I hadn't changed much since then!):

Sacrificial Starters

I've been told time and time again how many sacrifices we will make for this child and those to come. Well, I didn't realize they would start so soon. This child has been a blessing in so many ways, yet she (he?) is reminding me of her existence more and more!! Earlier this week for the first time I woke up with the oddest uncomfortableness further down. After much thinking as to what that feeling could possibly be, I decided that we are raising either a future Irish step dancer or a soccer player! Our child decided to spend the ENTIRE day (yes, from sunrise to sunset!) doing the happy dance on my pubic bone!! Yes, I just said pubic bone! (Sorry, Mom, if you're actually reading this, but it's the truth!) My students, of course, kept asking me what was wrong, but I would just tell them the baby was dancing around in my pelvic area. :D

Other "sacrifices" are popping up more and more, including bathroom wake-up calls around 3 AM, heartburn, and the infamous gassy bubbles of pain in my tummy! Before I had a stomach of steel and could eat/drink anything without any side effects. Now, however, my child is constantly reminding me of her (his?) bland food needs. If the food doesn't give me the gas pains, it gives me heartburn. The hardest part of this, which is truly the "sacrifice", is DAIRY. Before getting pregnant I drank milk EVERY DAY! Now, however, if I have any dairy, even if it's some shredded cheese on a turkey wrap, it's the welcoming of the gas bubbles within the hour! Gas-X has become my new best friend, but I keep forgetting to add it to my purse! Hopefully, I'll remember to keep those chewable tablets with me everywhere I go. Oh, the joys of pregnancy!

Is it a girl???

Today we finally got to see you, Baby Chamberlain. We had our very first ultrasound (and perhaps the only one during this pregnancy) today. All your daddy and I really learned is that you are as stubborn and active as your mama! You just wanted to dance around in there and were not settling down at all for us to get a good peek at you. At one point you had your fist to your ear as if you were showing off your biceps. Then another shot showed you playing peek-a-boo with me for the first time! Another time you had your hand and arm draped over your forehead like a drama queen. Oh, you're going to be a bleast, little angel!!

Even better the ultrasound technician did say you look very healthy. Your daddy and I got to see your brain, heart, diaphram, bladder, stomach, spleen, and whatever the other blobs were. We also thankfully saw two arms, two legs, your spine, bones, the whole shibang! We are so blessed and ecstatic at how healthy you are. You are such a bundle of joy already! We can't wait to meet you!!

And drum roll please for the revealing of our up and coming star...

Baby Melon!

I can't believe our child is growing so fast! This week, our 20th week of pregnancy, our child is now approximately 10 oz. and 6 1/2 inches from crown to rump. If the baby is a boy, his testicles are beginning their descent; if the baby's a girl, her uterus is now fully formed with a million eggs waiting to make her own family one day.
This week is extremely exciting in our household as this Friday is our first ultrasound and we should find out the gender! I've had quite a few people tell me they think I'm having a girl, but the heartbeat is reading a boy as well as where I've gained my weight. All my weight gain is in my belly, which usually is a sign of a boy. I think JR and I both are to the point where we're excited to just see and hear that the baby is healthy and don't really care what gender God chooses. Our only concerns are that the baby is healthy and will love the Lord! May God use us to teach our child His ways early on!

And the 20-week pose...