Day 331- Monday meditation

"They say time is money, but that's not true. Time is life. And if I want the fullest life, I need to find fullest time. I wipe a water spot off the tap; there is a reflection of me. Oh yes, I know you, the busyness of your life leaving little room for the source of your life. I'm the face grieving. God gives us time. And who has time for God?"
Ann Voskamp, One Thousand Gifts

"All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us."
JRR Tolkien

Day 323- 26 weeks!

Pregnancy Highlights

How far along: 26 weeks
Size of baby: about 14 inches long and 1 2/3 pound, long as a cucumber
Weight gain: about 20 lbs
Maternity clothes: pretty much all maternity besides a few shirts and my workout pants
Gender: Boy!
Food cravings: bread, cheese, chocolate
What I miss: bending over without squishing the baby
Sleep: Pretty good. I wake up a few minutes before my alarm most mornings, which means I'm getting enough sleep!
Symptoms: peeing every 2 minutes, a few Braxton Hicks each day
Best moment of the week: laughing with Caleb and Friendsgiving
What I'm looking forward to: our trip to Maui!

Day 311- 24 weeks!!!

Hooray!  I've finally hit 24 weeks... the age of viability.  Now, I hope I make it at least another 14 weeks before baby comes, but it is reassuring to know that at any time he decides to come, he will have a good chance of living and joining our family.  Time is just flying by!  Thanksgiving is around the corner, then a trip to Hawaii (yippee!), Christmas, New Years, and finishing things up for the baby and at work in January and February.  I'm trying to enjoy all the time and freedom I have with my current two favorite guys.  Maybe we'll be able to take a short babymoon in January or February as a final get away before things get too exciting around here!

Pregnancy Highlights

How far along: 24 weeks
Size of baby: about 12 inches long and over 1 pound, long as an ear of corn
Weight gain: about 19 lbs
Maternity clothes: pretty much all maternity besides a few shirts and my workout pants
Gender: Boy!
Food cravings: carbs, pumpkin bread, milk *see weight gain above :)
What I miss: being able to run
Sleep: Sleep is okay.  I wake up randomly several times a night, but can always go back to sleep.  Caleb is sleeping well and that makes me happy!
Symptoms: Braxton Hicks off and on, very thirsty
Best moment of the week: spending time with friends on Halloween
What I'm looking forward to: getting the nursery ready and the Holiday season!

Day 310- Monday Meditation: Enter His courts with praise

Yesterday, I woke up to read my IPhone devotional by Joyce Meyer on YouVersion.  The one I'm doing right now is focused on Hearing from God Each Morning.  The idea yesterday was that you enter into God's presence and are better able to hear his voice when you approach him with thanksgiving and praise.  The verse was Psalm 100:4 "Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name."  I've never really made the connection with praise and presence.  The connection is clear though... though there are many postures we can approach God with, praise is ALWAYS appropriate.  Another verse came to mind when reading this morning, "Rejoice in the Lord always.  I will say it again: Rejoice!  Let your gentleness be evident to all.  The Lord is near.  Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God (his presence), which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." Phil 4:4-7

Later, at church, we sang the song, Better is One Day in Your Courts by Matt Redman.  Yes, the presence of God is better than any lifestyle, possession, relationship, or esteem that we could possess.  So I asked God (forgetting my devo's this morning)... "How do I come into your courts?"  "How can I be near you?"  He answered with Psalm 100:4 and in the next song that we sang, 10,000 Reasons also by Matt Redman.  As if it wasn't clear enough yet, the sermon was about Thankfulness to God for for his love and redemption to bring us near to him (based on Col 1:12-14).  Okay God, I think I have message!  Please help me learn to have a thankful heart.  I want to be near you!

I think this is the perfect season to begin fostering a heart of praise and thanksgiving for my God.  I am truly blessed beyond my comprehension!

"10,000 Reasons (Bless The Lord)"

[Chorus]
Bless the Lord, O my soul
O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before
O my soul
I'll worship Your holy name

The sun comes up, it's a new day dawning
It's time to sing Your song again
Whatever may pass, and whatever lies before me
Let me be singing when the evening comes

[Chorus]
Bless the Lord, O my soul
O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before
O my soul
I'll worship Your holy name

You're rich in love, and You're slow to anger
Your name is great, and Your heart is kind
For all Your goodness I will keep on singing
Ten thousand reasons for my heart to find

[Chorus]
Bless the Lord, O my soul
O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before
O my soul
I'll worship Your holy name

And on that day when my strength is failing
The end draws near and my time has come
Still my soul will sing Your praise unending
Ten thousand years and then forevermore

[Chorus x2]
Bless the Lord, O my soul
O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before
O my soul
I'll worship Your holy name

Jesus, I'll worship Your holy name
Lord, I'll worship Your holy name

Sing like never before
O my soul
I'll worship Your holy name
Jesus, I'll worship Your holy name
I'll worship Your holy name

Day 309- Planning the new baby's room

I've been planning the new baby's room lately and will start decorating after Thanksgiving, when we won't need our guest bedroom for a while. (We are moving the guest bedroom down to the basement, but it will be a bit squished down there, as well as far away from our 2nd floor bathrooms).

I'm in the process of painting an old dresser and bookshelf navy.

I'm still waiting on figuring out name letters, but I guess we have to decide what to name the little guy first. :).

The theme is going to be "On the Go" with lots of bright colors and pictures of transportation. Hopefully Baby 2 will enjoy cars, trucks, trains, and airplanes as much as Caleb. I like the theme colors because of how well they match Caleb's stuff already. I hope to move them in together at some point, so it will be nice if everything goes together.

Can't wait to see the nursery come together in a month or two. I think it will make things seem more real!

Day 306- Halloween Party

We had an event filled Halloween, starting with Caleb's Halloween Parade at school. He did a great job marching around the gym in his dragon costume. It was really fun to be able to see him at school with his teachers and friends.

That evening, we attended our friend's birthday party/Halloween Party. This wasn't really a dress-up party for anyone besides the kids, but when I got home from work, my husband was dressed in long johns, complete with stuffing, suspenders, and flannel shirt. I then remembered that Caleb had a pair of long john pajamas. It was only a few minutes before I was able to put together a pregnant hick outfit. It's always more fun to dress up!
*Sorry the picture order is screwy.