The Long Weekend

Tomorrow we are off to Fargo, North Dakota for a couple of nights, and then on to Fair Hills Resort for the long weekend. We go together with Ryan's side of the family, and it has been a tradition for over 20 years. It's really relaxing at the Resort, so I am really excited to spent the weekend with Ryan there. I cherish all of these "child free" weekends we have left together (just 11 more) - so it's nice to spend them away from home at a place like Fair Hills.

I am much looking forward to doing a little bit of shopping in Fargo - particularly for some baby necessesities at Target, and some fall/winter clothes from JC Penney. The exchange rate is pretty good right now, and I did some price comparisons and buying stuff in the U.S. is actually a fair bit cheaper than here. For example, the Avent Microwave Steam Sterilizer at Toys R Us in Winnipeg costs $56 Cdn. At Target, the same sterilizer costs $42 Cdn (even with duty added) - a savings of $14! So, I might pick that up while I'm down there, as well as some crib sheets, sleepers, and a few other essentials. I'm still finding it tough to narrow it down to what I will really end up needing for the baby. Pray that I make smart and economical decisions!

Wow, this is so amazing. I try to picture this in my mind when I feel all those kicks and wiggles! No wonder it feels like a party in there all the time!

Too Big or Too Small?

It never ceases to amaze me how people are so willing to comment on the size of my tummy - especially when they ask if I'm carrying twins! I got a few more "wow, you're really big" comments this week, and it started to make me worry - even though at my appointment on Wednesday I measured perfectly, and the doctor said my progress was perfect. My worry got me into some online research about size, and I found this article that really explained things well, and gave me peace of mind. I even Googled "28 week" images to compare myself to other people! People seem to make comments based on their own pregnancy experience. Everyone's bodies are made so differently, and those differences are enhanced during pregnancy. In my case in particular, I have several factors that play into why I seem to be carrying "larger" than others might. Here are some of those factors:

1) Body weight before pregnancy. I am not a skinny person, and also had extra weight on my body from my previous pregnancy. This could make me look larger than a person who is quite slim and pregnant - but for some, this could have a totally opposite effect, and a larger person would hide their pregnant belly better than a slimmer person!

2) Narrow torso. I have a very narrow torso (the space between my chest and hips). There is not a lot of room for the uterus to expand vertically, so in my case it expands horizontally - pushing out the front!

3) Deep curvature of the back. I have a very deep curve in my back. When I lie flat on the floor, I can fit my entire arm between the floor and my back. This means that I am really pushing out the front with the baby, and that much of my internal organs are also being pushed to the front.

4) Abdominal strength. I'd be the first to admit that I don't have great abs! Not only did I not have strong abdominal muscles pre-pregnancy, but I also had already stretched them out a little bit during my first pregnancy. Both of these factors could contribute to why my tummy so readily pushes out - there is little muscle there to hold it in!

5) Heredity. My grandma, and my mom both carried "out front" and had large bellies - but only had 7-8 lb babies. I have been blessed with the exact same build as my mom's family, and will likely have a similar pregnant size - which will be big, apparently.

I am putting this on here today to encourage any other pregnant women who might be getting comments about size. Whether you are being told that you are too big, or too small, those comments can be hurtful and can cause someone to worry unnecessarily. You do have to remember that your doctor knows best, and you really only need to worry about what their opinion is. Have a happy, worry-free pregnancy, and let your doctor be the one to tell you if you have anything you need to be concerned about. If you are pregnant - I hope you feel beautiful as you carry a beautiful miracle from God!

Here it is - my tummy at 28 weeks!

New Arrival!

Our new nephew, Simon John Franklin, finally made his way into the world! Welcome to the family little man! We already love you so much, and think you are beautiful.

Born August 23, at 5:17am weighing 7lbs 13ozs., and 20.5" long

Proud parents are Steve & Angela Plett,

big sister Emily, and big brother Thomas.

We love you guys! Can't wait to meet Simon!

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”

(Matthew 19:14 NIV)

Sweatin' & Stressin'

You know that commercial for Lotto 649 where it says "Let's see your million-dollar happy dance"? Well, today I'm doing one of those happy dances... to be entering into my third and final trimester! Woohoo! I'm so excited, and am glad that I am going into these last few months feeling healthy, and relatively good.

Did anyone experience some serious sweating issues when they were pregnant? Every since my body temperature has gone up, so has my perspiration! I can't stop sweating - and it's really gross to always have armpit circles. I've tried all kinds of different anti-perspirants, but none of them are able to fight off this influx of sweat. Thankfully it really doesn't smell at all. It's just kind of embarassing, and I wonder if it is normal. I have an appointment today with my obstetrician, so I'll ask her.

I have been stressing out a little bit again too. I just want this baby to have a PERFECT start, and have all the BEST stuff, and all of the RIGHT stuff. This covers things from mattress pads to baby soaps, diapers to sleep positioners, toys to car seat covers. Unfortunately, I can't do that on a budget. So, I need your advice. What were your absolute ESSENTIAL, can't-live-without baby items?

Wow, this just amazes me! It's so hard to imagine how my baby must look inside of me right now. It definately seems to be moving a lot now, and lots of family and friends have had the privilege of feeling or seeing the baby moving.

Will baby Pepe look like dad...

... or like mom? (They tried to comb what little hair I had for this pic).

Checkout Line Chatter

So, I was at Superstore (or as my hubby calls it, "Stupidstore") this morning. While going through the Express Checkout, the lady across from me starts up a conversation. It went as follows...

Lady: So, when are you due?
Me: Mid November.
Lady: Ewwww... wow. You have a long wait yet. How are you managing?
(Nin, you know how awesome it is to be reminded of how long you have left to go...)
Me: I'm managing fine! I love being pregnant, and I've been blessed with good health.
Lady: Wow, I don't think I've ever heard that before.
Me: How could I complain about a miracle?
Lady: Wow... you are so right. Thank you for that reminder.
Me: I just want to enjoy every moment of this miracle. We wanted this baby - so I am overjoyed to be carrying it.
Lady: That is an amazing attitude. Wow. I just feel very blessed to have talked to you today. No one says things like that these days. I think your baby will be better off in this world with a mom with a good attitude like that. You must already love that baby. Some babies probably just want to stay in their mom's tummy and never come out. Like me... all the yelling that surrounded me... thanks agaibn for blessing me today.
Me: Well, I feel blessed that I could bless you! I hope you have a wonderful day.
Lady: I will, thanks to you!

And as a double blessing, I found an online coupon for a free apple pie from Superstore before I went to shop. Yay for Internet!

Wow, God is GOOD!

I had written a big long post last night, and as I went to publish it - my computer froze. I was so upset, and contemplated trying to rewrite the whole thing. But I gave up. "Maybe God just didn't want me to post that", I thought. Well, I was right! God didn't want me to post that until I had read my Bible study chapter for this week. We're taking a Max Lucado book called "It's Not About Me".

Tonight I read through chapter twelve, and was suddenly reminded of something. I was reminded of a girl who walked out onto a beach in Hawaii eight months ago, and screamed out to God. She was angry, hurt, sad, and empty. Where was her God? Why was He hurting her? What had she done to deserve this pain?

"Your pain has a purpose. Your problems, struggles, heartaches, and hassles cooperate toward one end - the glory of God. 'Trust me in your times of trouble, and I will rescue you, and you will give me glory' (Psalm 50:15)". Max Lucado

I'll never forget how it felt to be angry at God like that, for taking the baby. It seemed so pointless, without any reason to mortal me. However, the more I realize that the hard times in life are the ones that matter, the more I learn to appreciate them. I pray for the strength and courage to learn how to show God's glory through those tough times. Much easier said than done, that's for sure. However, it gives me joy and peace in knowing that my past pain has not been for naught. God has already been gracious enough to show me at least one way in which the loss of our baby was part of His plan for someone else's salvation.

"What about your struggles? If there any chance, any possibility, that you have been selected to struggle for God's glory? Have you 'been granted for Christ's sake, not only to believe in Him, but to also suffer for His sake' (Philippians 1:29)"? Max Lucado

I hope I was. I hope my struggles have been a light to someone. I hope that somehow, I have given someone a glimpse of Christ in me. I pray that I can do that every day, every hour, every second - no matter what it is that faces me, may I always reflect the face of God. 'Tis so true to say, "a season of suffering is a small assignment when compared to the reward". I pray that I can always see the reward, and look past my suffering as an opportunity to shine for God.

For the many of you that are facing challenges today, I'm praying for you. I hope that you will be encouraged by these words, as I was, and that you know you are not alone. God is a gracious and mighty God, and He is not punishing you. He is using you for His great plan and purpose, even in times of struggle. May you be richly blessed today and always.

Poem for Baby

Little baby on the way,

Getting bigger every day,

Kicking mommy here and there,

God please listen to our prayer.

Keep our baby safe and strong,

Let his time with us be long,

Help us teach him right from wrong,

And we shall praise thee all day long.

This little one, though not yet here,

Is loved so much, has grown quite dear.

Delivery time is growing near,

That's why we pray our plea you'll hear.

Please help up Lord, we pray to Thee

With thankful heart, on bended knee,

To raise this child that he might be,

A happy child because of me.

By Tina Greenfield

Birth Date Predictions

Thanks to everyone who has already put in their predictions for baby Pepe's birth date, weight and gender! Looks like most of you think we're having a boy. Heehee! Here are the dates that have already been predicted:
November - 12 (x2), 13, 14, 15, 16 (x2), 18, 19, 20 (x2), 21, and the 22.

S.O.S.

I could swear the baby was using my belly button as a form of communicating via morse code this morning! As I stared down at my tummy while munching my peanut butter toast, and gulping down my chocolate milk, I noticed that my belly button was bouncing up at down in some type of apparent pattern. I worried that something might be wrong, and the baby was trying to tell me something. Or perhaps the baby was just expressing it's thanks for the wonderfully tasty breakfast. In any case, it sure looked funny!

26 weeks

Gender, Weight & Date

It's a dark and stormy Saturday morning today. The perfect kind of day to sleep in with the cats curled up at my feet, my hubby snoring next to me, and a big pot of hot tea. Also the perfect day to start the Gender, Weight & Date Prediction Game! Please comment with your prediction for the sex of our baby, it's birth weight, and birth date (remember, I'm due November 15th). I will try to send out a prize to the blogger with the closest guess. Have fun!

25 Weeks and Counting

Woohoo! We've made it to the 25 week mark! This week the baby weighs approximately one pound, nine ounces, and measures 22 centimeters crown-to-rump. Baby's ears are fully functional now, and he or she may even blink in reaction to a loud noise. The brain is growing rapidly. If we could look inside my uterus, we'd see a well-proportioned head and body. Baby's first meconium stool has been formed in the large intestine and will be excreted in the days following the birth. What an amazing miracle! God is so amazing - His creations are extraordinary! Isn't it something that we all started out this way? When you look around in a place like a crowded mall, its strange to think "All of these people exist because a woman somewhere had a successful pregnancy and delivery".

We are also getting really excited for the arrival of our new NEPHEW! He is due to arrive on August 17th, but we all think he is going to come sooner than that. It's too bad I can't be there for his arrival, but hopefully I will be able to get out to B.C. to see him shortly after he is born. With a niece and nephew as cute as these two, I can't wait to add another one to the list! Steve and Ang are such great parents too, and it has been so much fun to be pregnant with my sister-in-law Ang. We'll have to do it again sometime! Hahaha! We love you guys, and we are praying for the safe and successful arrival of nephew #2.

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom can be no variation, nor turning shadow. James 1:17