Expectant Moms

My home church is not very large (average attendance of about 70-80), but there are currently lots of babies and babies on the way! We had a baby shower on Sunday for Kara (our previous minister's daughter). She is also expecting a baby girl and is due a couple of weeks after me. Also, our youth minister's wife, Whitney, is expecting a baby boy about two weeks before me! So it has been fun to watch all of our bellies growing as we get nearer and nearer to our due dates in January and February. Although after seeing this picture, I think I get the award for growing the most!

LCCC Expectant Moms

(Kara - EDD 2/28/09; Sarah - EDD 2/16/09; Whitney - EDD 1/30/09)

My Favorite Christmas/Birthday Present

So this is the one addition to our nursery that I have been really exciting about getting. Right after my birthday, Tim and I went all over the Tri-Cities trying to find the right rocker/glider and ottoman. (After reviewing the recommendations and reviews on Consumer Reports website, of course.) I decided pretty early that I wanted a fully upholestered chair because I hope to use this for more than just rocking an infant. I hope to have my little girl curl up with me on the chair for years to come as we read together.

When we found this style and realized that we could choose any color and material we wanted, I knew this was it. The chair is so comfortable; I'm sure I'll get tons of use out of it (probably some before Laurel even gets here!) It just arrived on December 23rd, so perfect timing for Christmas!

New Chair

And if you notice on the right side of the chair is my children's rocking chair that I just recently finished painting. I love it and hope Laurel will, too!

Belly Update

For those of you who have seen me recently, you know how much my belly has grown in the past 10 weeks, but for those who haven't, here are some pictures.

20 Weeks

24 Weeks

26 Weeks

30 Weeks

Overall, things are going well. It's odd to watch my belly now because as Laurel moves, so does my whole stomach. I can pick out some body parts, too, like knees, feet and elbows. Like I said in the last post, many of my changes in position take some maneuvering, but I can't complain. For the most part, I'm feeling fantastic and getting more and more excited every day waiting to finally see my little girl!

Only Ten Weeks Left...WHAT???

Today I hit 30 weeks in my pregnancy, and while it is hugely (appropriate word for those of you who have seen me recently!) exciting, it is also frightening to think of everything that is to come in the next 10 or so weeks. While I'm dying to be able to hold Laurel in my arms, the getting her out into the real world is pretty scary. And there's also all the other preparations that need to be completed before we are ready to welcome a baby into our home and our lives. We're in fairly good condition in the nursery, but there's still a surprising numbers of things we need (like a carseat, stroller, high chair) just to name a few.

I've also entered the realm of general uncomfortableness. No more flinging myself down on the sofa for a little cat nap or cozying up in bed for an uninterrupted night's sleep. I now need a strategic pillow plan to make myself comfortable and an even better plan to get myself to my feet. Poor Tim has to squash himself onto the couch if he wants to cuddle up with me, and then he is subjected to numerous demands to move, scoot over, bend his legs a different way, adjust his arm, etc. He's taking it all in stride, although he does get back at me by teasing me about my daily-widening girth and the development of a waddle when I walk.

Even with these changes, I'm feeling fantastic overall and still have quite a bit of energy. I'm now seeing the obstetrician every two weeks, and in just five weeks that will switch to once-a-week visits.

Another Word from Daddy

It has been awhile since I posted my thoughts. I thought now would be a great time to do so.

Things are going wonderfully with the pregnancy. Sarah looks more and more beautiful everyday. The excitement grows more intense with every minute. Laurel moves and kicks almost every time we are lying around at night. It is an awesome feeling I get when I feel her kick around, I guess it is an assurance that all is well. I have been “having” to feel her at night or I get a little worried. By the way, she does react to a flashlight! Just like me!

My cousin asked me last week what it is like knowing that I am going to be a dad. I could not really answer that question without thinking. Right now, everything seems the same as it was before she got pregnant. The only changes are physical with Sarah, and I try not to get too wrapped up in thinking about it because I start to worry too much. When I do sit down to think about it, I get all “tingly” inside. I just can’t wait to be able to touch her, to hold her, to hug her, to kiss her and most of all I can’t wait for her to feel the warmth that we have to offer her.

Over Thanksgiving we sat down with the family and watched the Bucket List. (It you don’t want to tear up….DON'T WATCH IT!) At one point in the movie Morgan Freeman asks Jack Nicholson about joy. He asks him something like, “Do you have joy?” and, “Have you brought joy to others?” I have thought about these questions ever since that night. At one point over the weekend I looked up the definition of joy. I am not sure if I have brought joy to others, but I am definitely sure that I have something in my life to be joyful about, as a matter of fact I am completely overflowing with joy!

I am getting wrapped up in the baby’s room. I just want it to be perfect for her…not too hot, not too cold, the bed in the perfect position, correct lighting…. Sarah may have to fight me out of there. I think I might be getting a little obsessive.

As far as the grandparents go, I am pretty sure we have some anxious ones. The grandmothers are starting to act like grandmothers and the granddads well, they are hard to read but they seem to be excited, too.

All of our friends are very supportive. We have people buying things, sending us things and best of all we have people making us things. Not that I don’t appreciate the other stuff but the making stuff just seems more personal to me.

Sunday, December 28, 2008

Expectant Moms

My home church is not very large (average attendance of about 70-80), but there are currently lots of babies and babies on the way! We had a baby shower on Sunday for Kara (our previous minister's daughter). She is also expecting a baby girl and is due a couple of weeks after me. Also, our youth minister's wife, Whitney, is expecting a baby boy about two weeks before me! So it has been fun to watch all of our bellies growing as we get nearer and nearer to our due dates in January and February. Although after seeing this picture, I think I get the award for growing the most!

LCCC Expectant Moms

(Kara - EDD 2/28/09; Sarah - EDD 2/16/09; Whitney - EDD 1/30/09)

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

My Favorite Christmas/Birthday Present

So this is the one addition to our nursery that I have been really exciting about getting. Right after my birthday, Tim and I went all over the Tri-Cities trying to find the right rocker/glider and ottoman. (After reviewing the recommendations and reviews on Consumer Reports website, of course.) I decided pretty early that I wanted a fully upholestered chair because I hope to use this for more than just rocking an infant. I hope to have my little girl curl up with me on the chair for years to come as we read together.

When we found this style and realized that we could choose any color and material we wanted, I knew this was it. The chair is so comfortable; I'm sure I'll get tons of use out of it (probably some before Laurel even gets here!) It just arrived on December 23rd, so perfect timing for Christmas!

New Chair

And if you notice on the right side of the chair is my children's rocking chair that I just recently finished painting. I love it and hope Laurel will, too!

Sunday, December 14, 2008

Belly Update

For those of you who have seen me recently, you know how much my belly has grown in the past 10 weeks, but for those who haven't, here are some pictures.

20 Weeks

24 Weeks

26 Weeks

30 Weeks

Overall, things are going well. It's odd to watch my belly now because as Laurel moves, so does my whole stomach. I can pick out some body parts, too, like knees, feet and elbows. Like I said in the last post, many of my changes in position take some maneuvering, but I can't complain. For the most part, I'm feeling fantastic and getting more and more excited every day waiting to finally see my little girl!

Monday, December 8, 2008

Only Ten Weeks Left...WHAT???

Today I hit 30 weeks in my pregnancy, and while it is hugely (appropriate word for those of you who have seen me recently!) exciting, it is also frightening to think of everything that is to come in the next 10 or so weeks. While I'm dying to be able to hold Laurel in my arms, the getting her out into the real world is pretty scary. And there's also all the other preparations that need to be completed before we are ready to welcome a baby into our home and our lives. We're in fairly good condition in the nursery, but there's still a surprising numbers of things we need (like a carseat, stroller, high chair) just to name a few.

I've also entered the realm of general uncomfortableness. No more flinging myself down on the sofa for a little cat nap or cozying up in bed for an uninterrupted night's sleep. I now need a strategic pillow plan to make myself comfortable and an even better plan to get myself to my feet. Poor Tim has to squash himself onto the couch if he wants to cuddle up with me, and then he is subjected to numerous demands to move, scoot over, bend his legs a different way, adjust his arm, etc. He's taking it all in stride, although he does get back at me by teasing me about my daily-widening girth and the development of a waddle when I walk.

Even with these changes, I'm feeling fantastic overall and still have quite a bit of energy. I'm now seeing the obstetrician every two weeks, and in just five weeks that will switch to once-a-week visits.

Monday, December 1, 2008

Another Word from Daddy

It has been awhile since I posted my thoughts. I thought now would be a great time to do so.

Things are going wonderfully with the pregnancy. Sarah looks more and more beautiful everyday. The excitement grows more intense with every minute. Laurel moves and kicks almost every time we are lying around at night. It is an awesome feeling I get when I feel her kick around, I guess it is an assurance that all is well. I have been “having” to feel her at night or I get a little worried. By the way, she does react to a flashlight! Just like me!

My cousin asked me last week what it is like knowing that I am going to be a dad. I could not really answer that question without thinking. Right now, everything seems the same as it was before she got pregnant. The only changes are physical with Sarah, and I try not to get too wrapped up in thinking about it because I start to worry too much. When I do sit down to think about it, I get all “tingly” inside. I just can’t wait to be able to touch her, to hold her, to hug her, to kiss her and most of all I can’t wait for her to feel the warmth that we have to offer her.

Over Thanksgiving we sat down with the family and watched the Bucket List. (It you don’t want to tear up….DON'T WATCH IT!) At one point in the movie Morgan Freeman asks Jack Nicholson about joy. He asks him something like, “Do you have joy?” and, “Have you brought joy to others?” I have thought about these questions ever since that night. At one point over the weekend I looked up the definition of joy. I am not sure if I have brought joy to others, but I am definitely sure that I have something in my life to be joyful about, as a matter of fact I am completely overflowing with joy!

I am getting wrapped up in the baby’s room. I just want it to be perfect for her…not too hot, not too cold, the bed in the perfect position, correct lighting…. Sarah may have to fight me out of there. I think I might be getting a little obsessive.

As far as the grandparents go, I am pretty sure we have some anxious ones. The grandmothers are starting to act like grandmothers and the granddads well, they are hard to read but they seem to be excited, too.

All of our friends are very supportive. We have people buying things, sending us things and best of all we have people making us things. Not that I don’t appreciate the other stuff but the making stuff just seems more personal to me.
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