Preggo pictures!

4 months-20 weeks

5 months-24 weeks

6 months-28 weeks

7 months-32 weeks

So I have had some requests for pictures on here, so I will attempt to do better. Here is the pregnancy progression, if you will! We had a good report on Friday again-she is just measuring about a week and a half small. So I get to eat ice cream! Yep, that's what he told me!

I am continuing to swim, and really enjoying the "exercise." So thankful she is 34 weeks old on Friday! Three more weeks, and then I am considered full term, and won't have to have any restrictions! Yay! We set up the bassinet this weekend, and we can't wait for her to use it!

The Night

So I think I have forgotten what it is like to sleep through the night. I suppose this is a good thing since you don't get to do that when you have a newborn anyway! I haven't slept through the night since about week 6. :)

The surgery just heightened that, as I have been told I need to be drinking at least 3 quarts of water a day-post surgery. Plus, baby has been head down, dropped, in position since about week 28. This calls for a few trips to the restroom in the middle of the night.

I have to laugh because it is definitely God's way of preparing moms to be up all night!

Nighttime is strange. I've never really thought too much about it until I've been up in it more often. It is strange how the same rooms, in the same house can take on a completely different effect. You can feel so alone, as it seems like the whole world is sleeping while you are not. I read an interesting section in my devotional book the other day that kind of pertained to this. It has had me thinking, so I thought I would just type it here rather than try and explain it:

"Sleep deprivation is one of the tools Satan uses to gain control over our thoughts. Fatigue increases feelings of frustration and irritability. Often at night we feel alone because the distractions of the day are gone. We are separated from friends and family. It is then that the prince of darkness makes his strongest attacks on our faith. He will use those times when we are most vulnerable to lure us into darkness.

It is in the dark times of life that we discover the depth of our relationships withe the Lord. Do we trust Him even when we can't see any evidence of His presence? Do we know He is there even when the silence muffles His voice?"

Then she goes on to talk about why it is important that we have scripture memorized, to combat this "darkness." Some interesting thoughts...

I think this is very fitting, not only for pregnant/new moms who aren't getting much sleep, but for anyone else that might suffer from sleep deprivation!

How thankful I am that we are not "alone" ever-that we always have the presence of the Lord with us even in the darkest (literally) times of life!

That's all from me at this sleep deprived state at midnight!

Swimming!

We had a good doctor's report last Friday, and everything is still looking good. The best news is that he gave me permission to go swimming! I was so excited because after laying around for 11 weeks, I am starting to feel very weak-in ways I never have before. It's a strange feeling.

So, I was so excited that he told me I could go to the pool. I am still on modified bed rest-for me-meaning I can get up a few hours a day-depending on how I'm feeling and how the contractions are coming on.

I've had a few scary days-where I have more than I should, but my body seems to always calm down. We are so thankful for each week that passes-meaning that Cupcake has grown that much more.

I LOVE being pregnant-
I love feeling her move
I love knowing that God has chosen me as a vessel to grow this baby for His purposes
I love feeling her kicks, jabs and stabs-knowing that she is growing stronger with each one
I love the blessing that God has allowed us to become pregnant, and stay pregnant through all that we have been through
I love that I can talk and sing to her-knowing that she hears me
I love it when other people want to talk to her or feel her move
I love that she is almost 32 weeks old, and that we are 11 weeks out from surgery-she is a FIGHTER!
I love that God has a big plan for this little one, and that we are blessed to be a part of that

The only part I don't love is the moments when I am having a lot of contractions, and so it sends me into the state of "mommy worry." :) Then I am reminded that I don't need to worry-I just need to trust and have faith that God IS in control-of EVERY detail, and every moment.

Other than that-I am loving every moment-and cherishing it-as I know there are so many women out there who don't get the chance to feel what this miracle is like. My heart aches for them, and I pray that I will never take the miracle of pregnancy for granted.