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Friday, March 29, 2013

My cross His suffering

Today we celebrate and mourn one of the most glorious, frightening, and beautiful events in history, the death of Jesus Christ our King. This week has been full of emotion as I've studied and prayed over the last few days of Jesus' life. The story never seems to get easier to read as scripture describes His brutal death on the cross, yet each time I read it, my heart swells with so much joy. My sins, hanging there on Jesus' bloody, slowly dying body, and I sit here spotless, blameless, and accepted. 

This year, Jon participated in a church wide fast that ended last night with our missional community group and although I kept my body nourished (being pregnant and still being sick, I really couldn't participate), I felt humbled watching my husband and friends abstain from food. Jon was worried that he'd be cranky during a lunch meeting yesterday yet by the providence of God, his meeting pushed to next week. God sure does take care of His children. Jon is hypoglycemic and usually can't go more than 2 or so hours without food to regulate his sugar and I am so proud of him for making it. Sounds silly but I know I'd be super cranky and complain. I called Jon at lunch and he had just finished watching The Passion and said that food and drink was no longer a want after watching Christs' suffering. As Christians, fasting is meant to remove all distractions and idols of food and drink to focus on God and prayer. 

The first time I felt our son move was during worship at church....

From the cross, from the grave, You rose victoriously
Son of God, King of Love, You reign victoriously

Some vintage Easter pics...


Jon and I are heading to the lake for the weekend this morning and really looking forward to getting away. Today is the last day of the quarter for Jon so he needs some relaxation (and this belly needs some sun!). If you are looking for a place to celebrate the beautiful Resurrection of Jesus Christ on Sunday, I invite you to the Frank Erwin Center with The Austin Stone at 10:30am. We'll be there!

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.-John 3:16

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Thursday, March 28, 2013

Haboo

I can't believe I've been blogging for 2 years and never shared this story....

In my family, the word haboo means I love you. It has meant I love you for 40+ years and will continue to be such a special word of endearment forever. I will try not to confuse you too much but my dad's little sister Jamie couldn't say I love you when she was a baby and it sounded more like "haboo"... and the greatest word in the world was born! Since I was a baby, my parents have been saying haboo to me at night, on the phone, in the morning before I went to school, and soon, I will be telling my sweet baby boy that very special word. It's never been something I've ever questioned and I am realizing how special it is to share this with my grandparents, cousins, parents, and siblings... just our family, no one else (although our close family friends say it to us sometimes!). It isn't less meaningful than the actual words I love you and I probably use it 99% of the time when I am telling my family I love them. My papa has even shortened it to "hab" :-).

Back before Christmas, Alyssa from Ten Feet Off Beale started selling custom made hoops and I requested a pink hoop embroidered with haboo for my niece Embry for Christmas. Turns out we found out we were pregnant a few weeks before so it was a gift from baby Hart to his cousin. Alyssa has got to be one of the most thoughtful people on the planet because a few weeks ago I came home to a package from her...


I had told her the meaning when ordering the hoop for Embry and she didn't forget. If you don't believe that blog friendships and love is real, believe it now. I was almost in shock from this sincere gift, I cried tears of joy and ran to show Jon. I already have a place in mind for the hoop in his nursery and I will cherish this piece forever. 
(visit the Ten Feet Off Beale shop here).

I know every family has their own traditions and such but I feel so lucky to be a part of this one. Jon has been a part of my family for quite some time and it still chokes me up when I hear him say haboo to our family. And I have to gulp back tears thinking about saying it to our son in just 4 short months. 

Thanks for letting me share a little history about something special in my family, do you have any similar words, traditions, etc in yours?

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Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Providence

It took me a while to fully understand and accept the notion of God's providence and I can fully proclaim that as a follower of Christ, I do not believe in coincidences. Earlier this year I was studying the book of Esther which is full of the intricate providence and my heart was just blown away by the careful work and planning He did, does, and will continue to do with His people. The formal definition of providence is the protective care of God/His foresight/forethought. An easy way to think about it is by using the word coincidence but not believing that it was a random act, but an act of God. There is so much providence in the bible, I don't even know where to begin but I'd like to share some of the providence in my life. 

I remember running into my husband one day on my lunch break and by running into I mean neither of us told each other where we were going/when and we ended up at the same place. Seeing him there I remember thinking "wow God! So cool, thank you for that 5 minutes of seeing my husband in the middle of the day". That is one of the many normal/mundane examples I have of God's providence in my life. 

A few weeks ago Jon was working on our taxes in his office and I went to join him to chat and he had a deer in the headlights look on his face (not a great look when I know he is dealing with money). I asked him how much we owed and he wouldn't tell me because it was so high but mentioned that he hadn't plugged in our tax deductible tithe and charitable donations yet. By the providence of God, the money we give took what we owe from almost 5 figures to $900. I've talked about in the past my struggle to fully trust God with our finances and how that is an area where my husband excels as. I am selfish and distrusting because the moment I submit my fears, God reveals Himself. And He revealed Himself through our taxes which gave me so much peace going into the most expensive years of our lives... parenthood. We give, He gives, and selfishly, it makes me want to give more. 

It is so easy to see the faithfulness of God when view everything as His work. Beautiful weather? His daily gift. Fun times with friends....an absolute work of His steadfast love. Husbands, babies, deep friendships. I promise if you start seeing everything as His, you will see daily providence, it's almost unbelievable. 

You alone are the Lord. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that's on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you. 
-Nehemiah 9:6

We let our friends borrow our heart rate doppler last week and the next day I thought dang I should have listened to baby Hart's heart one more time before I gave it away and within 5 seconds...thump, thump, thump, he was kicking away. Coincidence? No. Providence of God? Absolutely! 

Blog posts where I have seen the providence of God
When we decided to start "trying" 
Buying our home
Adopted

I don't live with regret but I wish I could go back with the mindset and belief I have now to see where I totally missed God in my life, knowing He has never forsaken me. Have I seen His providence in understanding the bad things that have happened in my life? 100% yes. Even if you think it has nothing to do with God, it has everything to do with Him. Through our human successes and failures, it has everything to do with Him. (Luke 1:52, He has brought down the might from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate). 

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

21 weeks



Thoughts: I've noticed a lot of emotional changes this week...not that I wasn't excited to meet this little guy before but for some reason I am aching to meet him and have him here. I get so giddy excited thinking about his birthday and holding him and seeing what he looks like, I know that feeling will get even stronger the next 19 weeks! I often think about what his eyes will look like, if he will have dimples like me or hair like his dad. I think about announcing him on my blog and introducing him to our family at the hospital. I still cannot believe God has given me this gift.

Baby: He is the length of a carrot which seems so big to me! His eye lids and eyebrows are forming and if he takes after his mama, he may already have a bushy unibrow :-)

Symptoms: still sick :-(. 1/2 a Zofran pill a day has been working nicely but I have gotten sick twice this week, once this morning actually. Nurse at our appointment said I may just have to take it the whole pregnancy which is 100% safe for me and baby. I also got a bad bloody nose this morning which I haven't had in a few weeks but it may be the change in weather we are having. Tailbone pain stinks. 

Weight: I've gained 14lbs since my 6 week appointment but since I had lost a bunch of weight, that is 10lbs up from my pre pregnancy weight

Movement: lots of it and loving it! Dad can feel it everyday too. I used to do the doppler probably every other day to check on my little guy but he reminds me multiple times a day that he is in there. Since he is still small enough to flip around, I've been getting a weird sensation like losing my stomach on a roller coaster when he moves a lot, but I love it!

Sleep: good this week... wish I had more time to sleep but I am getting about 8 hours with a few potty breaks/trying to re position my belly breaks. 

Cravings/aversions/eating: Nutella... enough said?

Workouts: I haven't gone to my cardio kickboxing class in 2 weeks, afraid I will accidentally let some potty out. I laughed last week trying to do some of the leg machines and realizing my tummy was getting in the way. My favorite workouts are just walking on the treadmill at lunch (or walk outside after work) and light upper body weights. 
  
Clothes: 100% maternity pants and still wearing non maternity tops. I've pulled out some maxi dresses from last year and wearing those often too (although I had to cut the elastic around the chest because it was too darn tight!). We got a random cold front so no spring dresses yet. 

Doctor appointment: Had my 20 week appointment last week and everything checked out well. Good weight gain, fundal height was right on, good BP, and we listened to baby's heartbeat. It was just a nurse visit, no ultrasound, so Jon didn't come with me. We got lots of information on classes they offer and recommend and we are still trying to decide. They immediately asked if we had a name for our son and if we were going to get him circumcised... straight to the point. No name and yes! We go back in 3 weeks for another 3d sonogram yay!

What classes did you take to prep for childbirth/etc? I hear a breastfeeding class is really helpful and I don't plan on taking an infant care class. 

21 weeks 
(and wearing my Sunday Sabbath lounge clothes)

Luckily we return from vacation on June 23rd :-) 

I can no longer see my toes when looking straight down, 
check out my view


Monday, March 25, 2013

Mashed potatoes with garlic & kale


I've said it before, we are a meat and potatoes kind of family. I like cooking healthy but you will never see us on a Paleo or Atkins diet, we love our food too much! One of mine and Jon's favorite sides is mashed potatoes so when I came across this recipe for skinny mashed potatoes with garlic and kale, I knew I had to give it a try. Jon basically liked the plate clean when I made kale chips so I knew he'd be up for trying this. These will definitely be making a regular appearance in our kitchen, they are delicious and creamy without feeling guilty. 

Ingredients
5 larget russet potatoes, rinsed
4 cloves garlic, minced
3/4 cups chicken broth
1/4 cup fat free sour cream 
2 tbsp low fat cream cheese
1 tbsp olive oil
1 cup kale, wilted (or more if you'd like)
Salt and pepper

1. Wash and cut the potatoes into quarters and boil for 6-8 minutes until they are soft
2. Wash your kale and massage it with your hands to wilt
3. Saute garlic with 1/2 tbsp olive oil about 3-4 minutes
4. Remove potatoes from heat and drain access water. 
5. Add chicken broth, sour cream, cream cheese and garlic and mix with a handheld mixer or immersion blender
6. Stir in kale
7. Liberally add salt and pepper to taste



Wednesday, March 20, 2013

20 weeks


Thoughts: excuse me but am I really half way through this pregnancy?! I am soaking up every minute of this 2nd trimester energy while I have it. We've been busy inside and outside of the house, crossing off projects from our to do list. This has been a really enjoyable week of pregnancy

Baby: 
He is the size of a banana this week and 10.5 oz. He's now producing meconium
(which Jon loves saying) and his developing taste buds allow him to taste whatever I am eating. He's developed a sleep cycle and now sleeps 12-14 hours a day.

Symptoms: I tried quitting Zofran cold turkey and that lasted about 1.5 days before I caved and took a pill. I think it would be easier if I was able to be home all day but I work outside the home and wasn't able to concentrate with the nausea and looming vomit. It's crazy how powerful (and helpful) 1/2 a pill can be. For now, I am taking it once a day and feeling awesome! Tailbone pain has been intense this week and I'm guessing it is here to stay. My belly button is starting to flatten out and become an outie too. 

Movement: I thought it would be hard to tell the difference between baby movements and everything else that's going on but I definitely know when he's moving around. I notice it mostly when I am sitting sedentary at work and right before we go to sleep and are laying in bed. Jon had his hands on my belly last week and said he felt 3 little thumps! When baby is really active, Jon puts his hands on my belly and feels little kicks...it is the best feeling. There are times where I almost feel sick like I've lost my tummy on a rollercoaster because he is flipping and moving so much. 

Sleep: I've been getting better sleep now that I've found a system that works. I use a small 1ft square pillow between my knees and I sleep pretty good. Waking up multiple times to empty my bladder does get in the way of beauty sleep. I've had an eye twitch the past week which I heard means I need more sleep...

Cravings/aversions/eating: fruit again this week! I had my first watermelon of the season and probably ate half of it. I've always had a chocolate tooth and have been eating lots of sweets this week. We've been eating out a lot lately so I keep telling myself I need to buckle down and start eating a little bit healthier.. :-) yeah right.

Workouts: We have been out of town for 4 days (returning late tonight) and haven't really worked out much. Last week I got a few weights in and been going on short walks but I've been super active around the house rather than in the gym. 

Clothes: wearing only maternity jeans, capris, leggings now and a mix of maternity/non maternity tops. Since the weather is really nice, I've been able to incorporate sundresses and maxi dresses that I wore pre pregnancy. I do have a few maternity dresses that don't quite fit the belly yet but I know I will live in them this summer. I've noticed my regular yoga/lounge pants are getting tight, I do have a few pairs of Old Navy maternity ones I haven't started wearing yet. 

Doctor appointment: we have our 20week appt tomorrow (we will be 20w3d) and it should be pretty short. It is just a nurse visit so no ultrasound... so far we've had 4 ultrasounds, 1 being 3d, so it feels weird not having one. They will be measuring my fundal height (belly button/uterus) to make sure I am on track, etc. We are supposed to start talking about classes we can take which I am looking forward to.

Can you handle the sexiness?!

His first pair of brightly colored skinnies like his daddy!

Monday, March 18, 2013

Potato Broccoli Soup with Bacon & Parmesan

Leave it to Chelsea to post recipes on her blog that instantly have my mouth watering. This soup recipe was more than pin worthy... it was, "I have to go to the store NOW so we can make this soup ASAP." I modified the original a bit to make a larger batch and man were the leftovers such a treat. 

Ingredients
2 cups diced carrots
2 cups diced celery
2 cups diced white onion
3 tsp minced garlic
2-4 tbsp olive oil
6 slices of bacon
4 cups chopped broccoli
5 russet potatoes, washed, peeled, and cubed
4 cups chicken broth
1/2 cup heavy cream
3/4 cup shaker Parmesan cheese
Salt and pepper

1. Cook the bacon and chop into bite sized/topping sized pieces (my favorite way to cook bacon is in the oven)
2.  Meanwhile, in the bottom of a large pot, saute the carrots, celery, onion, and garlic in the olive oil until tender
3. Add cubed potatoes and broccoli and cook until soften, about 5-7 minutes. Add more olive oil if needed.
4. Pour in chicken broth and let simmer over low heat for 20 min
5. Stir in the heavy cream, crumbled bacon, and Parmesan cheese and allow soup to thicken a bit.
6. Add salt and pepper to taste and serve hot.


Thursday, March 14, 2013

Chocolate chip strawberry muffins

A few weeks ago, someone posted a screen shot of this recipe on Instagram and I immediately saved it on my phone, knowing I'd love it. She literally just posted the ingredients and how to steps so I have no idea where it came from but I am so glad it came into my life :-). The strawberries add a yummy and almost bitter taste to the chocolately muffins...these were a hit in our home.

Ingredients
1 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup + 2 tbsp unsweetened applesauce
1 egg white
2/3 cup dived strawberries (about 1-2 cm cubes)
1/3 cup chocolate chips

1. In a large bowl, mix the dry ingredients (flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and sugars)
2. Slowly fold in the apple sauce and egg whites until a batter is formed
3. Stir in the strawberries and chocolate chips until evenly combined throughout the batter
4. Scoop batter into 10 lined muffin tins and bake at 350 degrees for 17-20 minutes


Wednesday, March 13, 2013

19 weeks



Thoughts: we are slowly creeping up on the halfway mark and we couldn't be more excited! We still have 4.5 months to go but I find myself getting antsy to meet our little guy lately. I had a dream Monday night that we were checking in to be induced and I woke up so excited...then remembered we have a while to go!

Baby: 
He is the size of a mango this week and half a pound! Kinda gross but his testicles have begun their "decent" this week and will drop in a few weeks (this is prepping me for being a boy mama!). His baby teeth are established beneath his gums and his permanent teeth are forming behind those. Hopefully we won't see any teeth for about a year. His arms and legs are finally in proportion to the rest of his body too. 

Symptoms: I decided to try to quit Zofran cold turkey last night and was sick this morning... after 8 days vomit free. I never thought I'd be someone so sick during pregnancy but looks like that may be the case. Luckily it is absolutely worth it, I am just ready for it to be over. Tailbone/back pain is bad but I'm powering through it and Jon has been giving me unlimited back rubs. Hormones are whack this week. I've been getting annoyed easily by people at work, etc...luckily not at my husband! Going to the bathroom...a LOT! Seriously my bladder feels so full it starts hurting every 30 minutes. 

Weight: I weighed myself yesterday and I am 11lbs up from my 6 week appointment which is 7lbs up from my pre pregnancy weight. 

Movement: baby boy is moving a lot this week! He seems to move when I am completely relaxed and calm and last night I described it as sliding my thumb against the inside of my belly. Jon hasn't been able to feel anything with his hands on my belly just yet but I know it is probably coming soon. 

Sleep: remember how I said it was so comfortable sleeping on my back? Well that is no longer the case. I think it may be because I have gained a good chunk of weight in my tummy but laying on my back is just uncomfortable! I am getting good at sleeping on my side with a pillow between my legs (I try a body pillow but end up kicking it off every night) and the thing that makes me toss and turn is my shoulders getting sore from laying on them. Overall, I am figuring it out and getting good rest. 

Cravings/aversions/eating: eating a LOT! I ate about a pound of fresh pineapple this week and loving other fruits. Late Sunday night Jon was going to let Ernie out and I asked if he would bring me some chicken nuggets and he was so confused because we don't ever buy them. Dangit... was hoping they would somehow just appear in the fridge. 

Workouts: walking has really helped my tailbone pain and I try to do a little each day. Workouts have been good...3 days of weights, 1 cardio class, and random walks here and there. In my kick boxing class I feel like I need to hold my belly when we do certain moves for extra support. I also feel like I may pee my pants when I attempt a jumping jack haha. 

Clothes: Last Wednesday I wore regular jeans with a rubberband at the clasp and Thursday morning I just couldn't do it! I've been wearing maternity leggings from Old Navy and in full on maternity pants since then. I feel like I am growing so much below my belly button which makes non maternity jeans hard. Maternity pants are just so comfy! I also got some maternity workout tops this week I can't wait to try. 

Random: we set up our registries at Target and Babies R Us (so please go buy us our $400 stroller hehe). I did lots of research and looked at lots of friends/family registries and think we have it nailed down. It is very different choosing booger grabbers and breast pumps than it is choosing kitchen appliances and bed sheets when you get married haha. Any baby products you can't live without? 

18w1d

Exhibit A why I need maternity workout clothes!
18w4d

The belly always looks huge in the mirror! Antiquing after church with my boys 18w6d

Some of the nursery fabric came in last night and guess who 
walked right over to sniff/stand on it? Oh and you'll see more of the nursery this week!


Now that our boy can hear and recognize our voices, we've been reading bible stories and teaching Him about Jesus. That IS our biggest job as parents right?

Monday, March 11, 2013

Pitch Black Monday


Yeah soooooo driving to work in the pitch black this morning was not awesome. I knew it was coming but I much prefer driving to work watching the sun come up. I felt (and feel) like I should still be doing this...


It was hard to get up because this weekend was just too good. We had a dinner party, went on 2 lunch dates, watched movies, and basically did none of the stuff on our to do list...aka perfect. As much energy as I have during my 2nd trimester, I have also mellowed out a LOT. Pre pregnancy I would have a list a mile long of things to do over the weekend and just knock em out one after the other whereas Jon would be begging me to sit down and relax for 2 seconds...which I am more than happy to do now. Our little man is moving around like crazy and I love it! It also makes mama moving around a little tough haha.

We watched 2 movies this weekend... Friends with Kids and Jeff, Who Lives at Home (both Netflix instant watch). We really liked both but were just annoyed at how Friends With Kids pretty much said your life is over when you have kids. Maybe that is how it is in Manhattan? I know things will change but in our eyes, it will be for the better. It was a funny movie though. A little too raunchy but a good laugh. 

Will you still love me the mostest??

Speaking of babies...we totally have a toddler on our hands with Ernie. Love this munchkin to pieces but boy can he be moody and a pistol. He turned 2 in November and I see many similarities with him and human 2 year olds. Everytime we tell him to take a break from his ball, he goes and pouts. He makes it a point to face away from us like we are going to beg him to come back so we can throw his slime-y tennis ball. 


I know this week is spring break for lots of schools and it makes me ask myself, why didn't I become a teacher? (oh wait I ask myself that every spring break, Christmas break, and summer break). No break for us...although next week I get to go out of town for a training so that is kind of a break from the norm, eh?

Anyone doing anything for spring break? 

Friday, March 8, 2013

Spicy Avocado Chicken Enchiladas

Avocados are a big winner in our house! Jon could eat them like apples but I tend to want guacamole 5/7 nights of the week haha. I was excited to see this recipe used avocados inside the enchiladas and not as a topping. Jon was in love.

Ingredients
For the sauce
1 tbsp butter
1 Serrano pepper, seeded and chopped
2 minced garlic cloves
1 tbsp flour
1 cup chicken broth
1 tsp cumin
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
1 cup salsa (original recipe calls for salsa verde but I used a red salsa)
1/2 cup fat free sour cream

For the enchiladas
3 cups shredded cooked chicken
2 cups shredded Mexican blend cheese
1 small onion, chopped
3 avocados, peeled and chopped into bite sized pieces
10 tortillas

1. Melt the butter in a medium sized pan and saute the pepper and garlic for 1 minute
2. Stir in the flour and cook for 2 minutes while stirring
3. Whisk in the chicken broth, cumin, salt, and pepper, and bring to a low boil
4. Once boiling, stir in the salsa, sour cream, and cilantro.
5. Remove from heat and let thicken
6. In a large bowl, mix together the chicken, 3/4 of the cheese, onion, and avocados.
7. Pour 3/4 cup of the sauce to the bottom of a 9x13 baking dish
8. Scoop chicken mixture evenly into tortillas and roll up, place in dish, seam down
9. Top with remaining sauce and cheese
10. Bake at 370 for 15-20 minutes





Thursday, March 7, 2013

Why did Jesus have to die?

A few weeks ago we were studying the gospel of Mark at church and our pastor addressed a question that has been in the top 3 of the most asked theological questions in his time of ministry. Why did Jesus have to die?

If you are a believer or even remotely familiar with the story of Jesus and salvation, you'd know that Adam and Eve broke a promise to God in the Garden of Eden and thus, a barrier was created between us and God and sin entered the world. Many years later, God himself left heaven to become fully man and die to pay for that sin. But why? The easy answer is in order to reconcile us back to God. Again, why? Why couldn't God forgive us? Why couldn't He move past Adam and Eve’s sin and move on. Why did Jesus have to come from heaven and die the most brutal death on the cross? Jesus won through losing his life. He defeated evil through his suffering. But why did he have to suffer?

In Mark 8:27-31, Jesus tells his disciples that he must suffer, must be killed, and must rise again to save us. He doesn't say he is going to die and suffer, he says he has to. 

Anytime someone wrongs someone else, a debt is incurred, and for forgiveness to happen, someone has to pay. Matt made a great example. You are having a party at your house and a friend breaks your favorite lamp, even if it was an accident, he has wronged you and now a debt is incurred. Your favorite lamp cost you $100 so you either say 'hey buddy give me a Benjamin' or you absorb the debt. Day after day we continue to wrong God and fall short of His through our sin. Lying, cheating, stealing, lustful thoughts, blasphemy, idolatry. We can't escape it. The debt that is incurred when we sin is death (Romans 6:23, for the wages of sin are death) and it has to be paid. And because of the authority of God, it is an eternal death. For better explanation, think of it this way...

Everyone in this world has lied. And most of us do it on a daily basis, if not multiple times a day. We wrong someone with our lie and the debt incurred is based on the authority of the person we wrong. 

1. If we lie to our friend, we may lose the friendship. Sad but the world goes on right?
2. If we lie to our boss, we may lose our job. A little more serious considering your job most likely feeds your family, pays your bills, etc.
3. If we lie to the government (treason, etc), we may spend time in prison because the authority of the government is that much stronger than the authority of a friend or our workplace.
4. If we lie to God, we must suffer an eternal death...

But wait! This is where Calvary completes the story. When we sinned, God had the choice to make us pay and die yet he so humbly sent His son Jesus to die in our place, giving us hope and eternal life in our Lord God. Is that the best news you've ever heard?! Can you rejoice with me knowing that if it weren't for Jesus, our sin would keep us in bondage and separate us from God's holiness eternally? 

"He died because God so loved the world"- John 3:16

Jesus died to pay for your sin and the debt you incurred against God. Friends, we are righteous and completely made new and holy because Jesus died the death that was meant for us. The moment he took his last breath the veil was ton and there is no longer separation between us and God.
And that's why Jesus had to die.

Why Did Jesus Have to Die?- Matt Carter, The Austin Stone

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

18 weeks


Thoughts: feeling lots of flutters this week and loving it! Baby boy loves loud music (at church) and Jon has been able to feel a few little thumps here and there. I've had a lot of energy this week for projects around the house and staying up late but noticed that my body fatigues easier and I am not as agile. I've told y'all that pulling weeds is therapeutic for me and I was so excited to do that Sunday afternoon but man I was sore...funny how everyday things can make you sore during pregnancy. 

Baby: He is the size of a mango this week (about 6 inches and half a pound). His arms and legs are finally in proportion and bone growth is giving him more control over limb movements...meaning more kicks. Kinda gross but this week, a cheesy varnish called vernix caseosa covers his skin to protect it from the amniotic fluid. Last night we read that my uterus is the size of a cantaloupe or larger!

Symptoms: Well, as of this morning I was 9 days vomit free and 36 hours Zofran free but baby Hart didn't like that. Unfortunately I got really sick this morning and regretted not taking my nighttime pill. I had been playing with my dosage last weekend and was down to 1/2 pill at night but skipped it last night so it looks like I will go back to that for now. Lots of cramping this week and major tailbone pain. Nose bleeds have been less heavy and frequent which is nice.

Weight: I am pretty sure I am up 9lbs which is right on track for where I am. It's all in my belly for now which in turn causes the awesome back pain.

Sleep: this past week I've been wanting lots of it. I haven't necessarily been tired during the day but we've been going to bed at 9pm for a solid 9.5 hours. I find myself tossing and turning from one side to the other when the only thing that is comfortable is my back :-(. 

Cravings/aversions/eating: eating has been great this week, last night we had two dinners because about an hour after our first at 6:30p, I was starved. 

Workouts: good! 3 days of weights and 1 kickboxing class. Even if I am tired and don't want to go to the gym, I feel so good working out and afterward. 

Clothes: I've been wearing some cute maternity shirts and sometimes my maternity pants but for the most part doing the rubberband trick until I possibly can't do it anymore (which will be soon)! Pants are getting snug, even using the band and I am sad knowing I won't be able to wear any of them in a few weeks so trying to get optimal use.

Random: we have a theme going for the nursery with a few items we've been given/bought and I can't wait to share (later this week I hope). Thanks to everyone for their fabric site recommendations, I think we have it nailed down and are going to order soon. Next up... paint colors!

Name: you thought I was gonna tell you that easy?! For the many of you asking, we don't have a name yet but we have narrowed it down to a top 2...names that are actually different than our original list. Choosing a name for the rest of another human's life is HARD! Sorry to break the news but we won't be sharing his name until he is born (we may not actually have it til then!).

I told Jon I couldn't get full and of course he talks about our son's calves..

Monday night reading... I have to say Jon probably knows way more than I do about the pregnancy, he just gives me the good cliff notes.

How adorable are these hand knit baby booties our neighbors brought over?! Seriously he has more shoes than I can count (and his TOMs came in the mail yesterday)

Paint swatches from 1 store alone...this is gonna be tough

17w4d

Ernie is so spooked by the new trashcan for the baby room, I have a feeling he will continue to be freaked out when we start adding baby gear to the house

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