Waiting...

Dear Baby, here beneath my heart,
I thought that you might come today;
the timing just seemed right.
But the stars are out and the moon is high
and sheepishly I wonder why
I try to arrange the plans of God.
For now I know you will not come
until the One who holds eternity
rustles your soft cocoon and
whispers in tones that I will not hear,
"Its time, precious gift,
Now its time."

-Robin Jones Gunn

It begins....

...the countdown that is. 6 weeks (give or take a week or 2 depending on how attached Finley is to his current living conditions).
We are getting SO excited. We've had 8 months for the news that we were pregnant to sink in and I can honestly say, it hasn't. Whenever I think about it, I still get that butterfly, confused, shocked, amazed, overwhelmed feeling that I got that first day. WE ARE HAVING A BABY FOLKS! A son, no less! And I am grateful once again at the amazing goodness of God. Looking back over the 8 years of trying to conceive, I can see His hand over & over carrying us through the grief & broken-heartedness of infertility. And yet, I can also see Him saying 'Not yet', faithfully over and over as I screamed angrily at Him in my frustration and lack of understanding. He really is faithful. He is constant. He remains the same. And Finley was part of His plan from the beginning. God saw him and knit him together at His perfect time. Not ours. And now, I wouldn't change it for the world.
The struggle, the brokenness, and the pain was all for our sake. Because out of it, came trust, faith and a desperate need to hold onto Jesus.

And so, now we wait...

..for our miracle to arrive!

Pregnancy Update

I am 30 weeks & 2 days and I'm feeling awesome! I still occasionally throw up for no good reason & cry hysterically for no good reason as well, but other than that, I'm feeling awesome...haha! Finley moves so much all day long. I love it. The other day, he pushed his foot out by my belly button and I could feel his foot! So crazy! Mark and I fall more in love with him every day. Right now he is the frank breech position and Mark has been trying to talk him out of it. Its the funniest thing. Last night, he sang 'Downtown'...."The lights are much brighter there, You can forget all your worries, forget all your cares and go Downtown, things will be great when you're Downtown, no finer place for sure, Downtown, everythings waiting for you!" So far, Finley hasn't liked the song enough to move from his bum-down-feet-in-mouth position, but we have more time to convince him!
My cravings have been interesting for sure. Peanut butter is a favorite, as well as peach yogurt (Island Farms preferably), strawberries & fudgesicles.
I can't believe that its only 10 more weeks. Its going to fly by. And then we will be meeting our little mister! So unbelievable! Thanks for all your prayers and support. We feel very loved!

10 Pregnancy Super Foods!

1. Avocados: mono-unsaturated fats, potassium, vit. C, folic acid, lutein


2. Beans & Legumes: fiber, plant source of zinc & protein


3. Berries: antioxidants, vitamins, phytonutrients- 'all-fruit' juices & spreads too!


4. Dark Leafy Greens: vit. A & C, folic acid, fiber, antioxidants (eat with a bit of fat-oil or butter for max synergy)


5. Eggs: vit. A, protein, iron


6. Fatty Fish: salmon, black cod, sardines or fish oil supplement: essential fatty acids, protein


7. Nuts: vit. E, magnesium, mono-unsaturated fats


8. Lamb or Beef: zinc, protein & iron


9. Sweet Potatoes: vit. A & E


10. Yogurt: beneficial probiotic bacteria, calcium, protein

by Kimber Pasquali (Mothering- Natural Family Living-Magazine)

Pregger Update...

April 6th- Found out that we were having a boy
April 10th- We picked his name ;)
April 13th- He moved for the first time and didn't stop, especially when Mark read to him (Psalm 139)

Sickness: Getting alot better & easier to control (have to eat every hour)

Energy: I have way more which I'm loving, though I still love my naps

Appointments: I have my next appt. on the 23rd and then I think I have to do the sugar-blood test soon after that. In the ultrasound, the tech said he looked really good, that for some of the time he had both hands on his bum or both hands up by his face. My favorite part of the ultrasound was when he stretched....probably the cutest thing I've ever seen! We have decided to get the 3D ultrasound when we are down on the island in May, so we are pretty pumped for that...getting to see him one more time before he arrives!

'Blessed from all sides'

This is how I'm feeling lately. Everywhere we turn, we are seeing the extravagant provision of God. Needs & wants are being fulfilled all around us. I feel so overwhelmed at His faithfulness. On more than one occasion, I have prayed "God, I know we can't afford it at all, but if we could just find a nice second hand_______." Within a day or so, someone contacts me and asks if I would want one! I just am so amazed!!
He is so good to us.

Boyhood is a most complex and incomprehensible thing. Even when one has been through it, one does not understand what it was. A man can never quite understand a boy, even when he has been the boy.-- G. K. Chesterton