35 Weeks

How big is the baby this week: 18-20 inches long and weighs 5-5.5 pounds!
How far along: 35 weeks (and 2 days)
Due date: May 30, 2013 - only 35 33 days away!

Gender: Sweet baby BOY.
Total weight gain: 28 lbs
Sleep: Sleeping well, considering! I wake up with a sore back/hips but for the most part I'm sleeping like a rock.

Miss anything: Cold beer please. Looking forward to micheladas this summer!
Movement: Lots of movement! Mostly feeling his butt in my ribs and kicks on my right side. He has the hiccups at least once a day.
Food cravings: Reese's Puffs cereal - God's man's gift to man. Strawberry frozen fruit bars or strawberry sorbet.
Anything making you queasy or sick: Nope.

Labor signs: Only false labor - I've been having Braxton Hicks contractions for about 4 weeks now.
Symptoms: Swollen fingers - no longer wearing my rings. Swollen feet - only sandals are comfortable. Back pain - I'm having a massage tonight!! (Update: my massage was WONDERFUL) Menstrual-type abdominal cramps.
Belly button in or out: OUT
Happy or moody most of the time: Happy! But tired, which makes me moody. I'd actually say my mood is bipolar.
Looking forward to: Getting some things crossed off my "to-do before Foster arrives" list this weekend.

One Year Ago

Today marks exactly one year since we lost our jobs. I posted about it here. I wanted to write this today to acknowledge the faithfulness of our God. One year ago we were without income, living in a rent house not sure how we would pay the bills, just the two of us. Today we both have great jobs, we bought our first house and we are expecting a healthy baby boy in just 5 short weeks! Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

At some point, grace has to win over all things. And grace will. Grace will always win.

Dear Foster

On October 3, 2012, I found out you were on your way.  Your Daddy was out of town and I took a pregnancy test on a whim, not expecting it to actually be positive. My first words aloud were "is this a joke?!" followed by "oh my gosh" over and over and over again. I waited impatiently for your Daddy's plane to land so I could tell him I was pregnant. We told our family shortly after. Your Lolli, Aunt Lynsey and Aunt Abbey cried.

We found out you're a boy on January 19. To be honest, I never pictured myself as a boy mom. I always pictured pink, dresses and hairbows. But God is good and He always knows what's best. He had a plan for our family from the very beginning - a plan better than anything I could have chosen for myself. I don't know how to fish or hunt or make animal noises but I can't wait for your Daddy to teach both of us. You have the best Daddy.

Today marks 50 days until your expected arrival. Right now you're moving around all over in my belly. I love to feel you move - proof of our Creator.

I can't wait to meet you. I can't wait to see your face and to hold you for the first time. I can't wait to bring you home and for LadyBuggs to meet her new brother. She'll love you. A friend of mine told me when I see you and realize just how much I love you it will be a glimpse into how much our Heavenly Father loves us.

I have been praying for you. I am praying you will know Jesus, that you will choose Him always because He is always worth it. I have been praying for me too. I am praying I will know how to guide you to Him.

I love you so much already. The tears in my eyes are only confirmation of what I know in my heart, which is that I was made to be your mother.

Maternity Pictures

My beautiful friend Ashley took these pictures for us.  I was 30 weeks and 2 days - now I'm 31 weeks and 5 days! I am so in LOVE with these pictures!

 

We had an ultrasound at 30 weeks - Foster looked perfect! The doctor estimated he weighed 3.5 pounds and expects him to weigh 6.5-7 pounds when he's born. We saw his little heart beating, his little lungs expanding and contracting, his little eyes opening and closing and his little boy parts :) 8 more weeks - we can't wait to meet him! Praise God for a healthy baby boy in my belly!