Friday Phone-dump v.2

Our first CSA box started this week!  We're sharing with my parents this time.  And the rutabaga fries I made were delicious!

Women's Retreat weekend.  Lots of encouragement and challenges.  I didn't write about it this week, but I hope to soon!

Okay, so this is off Jordan's phone, but I thought it was too cute.  Playing with Dada while Mama is at the retreat. :-)

Playing with Dada is so much fun!

Jude's first work of art.  Still hanging on the fridge. :-)

Love these sweet little curls.

Helping Dada practice.

We had beautiful sunny weather this week!

Actually it got downright HOT!  78??  In March??  In Michigan??

So, someone didn't wear pants.

I mean, why wear pants if it is socially acceptable not to??  Really.

Special Delivery for the whole family!

And I have this coming to me in a couple of weeks.  $200 OFF.  A steal I tell you.  I can't wait.

Post-bath baby... sitting on his brother. :-)

Can ya give me a lift??

We had to take advantage of the weather and go for a quick walk before dinner.

Makes me downright giddy.

His sweaty mop.  Love.

Baby #2 :: 24 weeks

The weeks are truly flying by at this point.  We're going to have a brand new baby boy in a matter of 3.5 months.  Less than 16 weeks.  To put this in perspective, Thanksgiving was less than 16 weeks ago.  That feels forever ago and just yesterday at the same time.  However, I feel the same way about Jude's birth... which was nearly one year ago. {Although we don't talk about that.}

Anyway... 24 weeks down, less than 16 to go!

Today's date: March 11, 2012

How far along: 24 weeks + 1 day
 
Total weight gain:  Approximately 10 lbs.  Yeah, it caught up with me!

Size and growth of the baby: Your baby's growing steadily, having gained about 4 ounces since last week. That puts him at just over a pound. Since he's almost a foot long (picture an ear of corn), he cuts a pretty lean figure at this point, but his body is filling out proportionally and he'll soon start to plump up.
 
Gender: Baby brother on the way!!

Maternity clothes: Yes.  Still squeezing into regular tops, though.

Sleep: Oh, man.  Not a good day to ask about that.  My poor little man is sick {fever and all} so the past two days - HORRIBLE.  But otherwise, not too shabby. 

Best moment(s) of the week: LOVED the women's retreat at church this weekend.  I'm sure I'll post about it at some point this week.  Very encouraging, inspiring, and challenging.

Movement: All the time!   

Food cravings/aversions: Pretty much, if it is bad for me, I want it.  *sigh*

Morning sickness: Hasta la vista!

Symptoms: Heartburn.  Growing belly.  Ya know.

Labor signs: Too soon!  Although I have already started having braxton hicks contractions.  They're rare, but they happen!

Belly button in or out: In. 

What I miss: Energy!!

What I'm looking forward to: Another Dr. appt this week on Wednesday!  The rest of the month is packed with fun, a trip to IKEA, and then ends with Jude's 1st birthday. ACK!!!

See how things were going when I was 24 weeks pregnant with Jude.   

Friday Phone-dump v.1

I follow many blogs that do this whole "Friday phone-dump" deal.  Basically sharing the little moments you captured during the week via phone.  I love having my iPhone now to quickly take video or pictures of things I would likely not bust out our Nikon for.  And, of course, I'm all about sharing pics of my little cutie.  So here you go.  My first phone-dump Friday.

Good morning little sunshine.  Nothing like this sweet smile greeting me every morning.

Haircut soon?  I just love these sweet curls.  Not sure if Mama can handle cutting it, but it is bound to happen someday soon.

No toys were hurt in the taking of this picture. ;-)

Reading after nap time... still in his napping pants. {Yes, he has napping pants.  I hate napping in jeans, so I always make sure Jude is in some comfy cozies.}

The solution when I desperately need to go to the grocery store.  Nothing like a good "home-cooked" meal from Russ'.

Rare kitty love.

Smoothie time!  He downed two sippys full.  I didn't tell him there was avocado and spinach in them. ;-)

Absolute truth.  No room for questioning.

My sweet boy early in the morning... sometimes I just want to crawl into his crib and snuggle him up!!

A little sniffly and teething today.  

Which means extra snuggles for Mama. <3

And of course practicing walking takes your mind off not feeling so good. ;-)

And a couple videos from the past week. :-)

Linking up with...

The Lord is God the entire time.

I cannot help but to write about this controversial topic.  My heart is heavy, praying for the unborn of this world.  

Perhaps it is my current state... mother of an "unborn" myself.  

Two days ago I hear of a friend who was pregnant, due a month after me, who has lost her son due to an issue with the cord.  My heart aches for her.  It is devastating.  And we often wonder Why God???  But I am inspired by her faith... and I've been in prayer constantly for her.

Then, yesterday, I am reading in Psalm 22 and come across this verse, spoken to my heart.

This verse spoke to me instantly.  We are planning for Jude's dedication this weekend {I know... a bit late... but it is happening} and I knew that I wanted this verse read.  This is my prayer for my children.  From the time even before their birth, that they would know the Lord as their God.

This is my prayer for my friend as well... that she would be comforted in this truth.  God brought her son out of the womb... the Lord is her son's God and he will see God's beautiful face before any other.  

And then... there is an article circulating Facebook right now.  Perhaps you've seen it.

Killing babies no different from abortion, experts say.

At first I thought, this cannot be true.  People cannot possibly even entertain the thought that killing newborns is an option.  But then I got thinking.  I agree with this author.  I agree that there is a life inside of me, with a soul, a personality, a name.  That life has been there since the first moments his cells started dividing.  To stop that process is, well, murder.  No different from killing a newborn.

I know this is a controversial topic.  I have friends who are very pro-choice, and believe that there is nothing wrong with abortion.  We disagree on when life truly begins.  I have friends who I know have had abortions themselves, and have experienced God's grace since then {Praise the Lord!!}.  Many will challenge me, judge me, disagree with me on this stance.  But I truly don't care.  Because I know the truth.

But, my heart is still heavy.  There is an absolute truth.  The truth that the Lord places children in their mother's wombs for a reason.  The Lord designates the time that they are to be brought out.  

And the Lord is God the entire time.  

So, join me today in praying for all of the children in this world.  The  unborn.  The unexpected.  The unwanted.  The unloved.  

And also those who have been born and none would argue are living life,  but are still unwanted and unloved.  God has a tremendous heart for the orphan.  And I know that many of the unborn are already orphans... some never experience love from the moment of their conception.

In any case, let the truth remain clear.  From the time a child is in the mother's womb, the Lord is God.  They have a soul.  The Lord is God the entire time.  

*steps off soapbox and falls onto knees*

My beautiful unborn son.