Changing it up..

Going for a new look. Let me know if it's too hard to read.

On a different note, I've decided not to worry about posting a picture for this last weeks pregnancy update since I'll be posting the new update here in a couple of days. Things have been a little bit busy lately and just didn't get the chance to get the picture done. I did however get some good shots of Iyana from a recent family visit that we did. I'll be posting those soon.

Week 19

Baby B. is about 6 to 7 inches long (about the size of a large heirloom tomato) and weighs almost 8.5 ounces. Hair is starting to grow on the scalp and the sensory development is taking off this week!

Picture to come soon!

Pregnancy Highlights

How Far Along: 19+ weeks (I'm late posting this week!)

Total Weight Gain: 3 pounds. I'm officially up to my pre-pregnancy weight! Thought I would have gained more this past month but my midwife didn't seem concerned and said this was normal for me.

Maternity Clothes: Wearing quite a few but can still manage to fit into some regular shirts.

Best Moment This Week: Visiting with family that I haven't seen for a few months. Mom got to feel the baby move too!

Gender: It's a surprise!!

Name: You'll have to wait and find out!

Movement: Lots of movement now, especially when BJ comes around. This little one know's who his/her daddy is :-).

Food Craving: Still no major cravings this week which I'm sure BJ is very thankful for.

Sleep: Sleep depends on the night. Some are great (meaning I only get up once), others I wonder why I bother going to bed.

Symptoms: The cold is gone! Lots of stretching and pulling as this little one is expanding my belly.

What I'm Looking Forward To: We have our ultrasound coming up on April 6th which were so excited about!

Wall of Fame

Over these past two weeks, Iyana's class has been going through what's called the Wall of Fame. It's a series of twelve different things that they are supposed to either memorize or do. I'm so proud of Iyana for completing it today. She and one other student were the only ones to finish this challenge. Some of the items in this challenge were:

-A self challenge project which was teacher approved. Iyana made her own book with a cute story and pictures.
-Know the scientific names of the skeletal system
-Name the planets in order
-Memorize Ephesians 6:10-18
-Name all the presidents in order
-Name all 50 states in alphabetical order
-2 different kinds of math fact challenges
-Sing the national anthem
-3 different counting projects

Definitely lots of work for little 8 year olds on top of their daily homework and other activities. They all did such a great job in working on this. Wish I had taken a picture of Iyana today celebrating her final challenge.

Love you Iyana!!

Week 18

Baby B. is about 5 1/2 inches long (about the length of a bell pepper) and weighs almost 7 ounces. His/her ears are now in place and the pads of his/her fingers and toes are formed. Plus, he/she is developing yawning and hiccuping skills.

Pregnancy Highlights

How Far Along: 18 weeks

Total Weight Gain: I'll have an update on this next week when I go in for my appointment.

Maternity Clothes: Wearing quite a few but can still manage to fit into some regular shirts.

Best Moment This Week: Going out for a night with my husband....awesome...love you honey!!

Gender: It's a surprise!!

Name: You'll have to wait and find out!

Movement: Getting stronger. BJ was actually able to feel this little one just a tiny bit last night.

Food Craving: Still no major cravings this week which I'm sure my husband is very thankful for.

Sleep: Another tough week. Some nights I've hardly slept while others haven't been too bad.

Symptoms: My morning sickness really is finally going away!! I do though, have a cold once again. Yuck! Other than that, just the normal stretching and belly growing.

What I'm Looking Forward To: Hearing the heart beat again! Unfortunately, no ultrasound this coming week, but next time for sure!

A Stop At The Park

Since the weather was so nice today (no snow in sight!), we decided to take a quick detour after school and stop at the park. Here's a couple of pictures of Iyana enjoying her time there.

Week 17

This week Baby B. is about 5 inches long from crown to rump, weighs about 5 ounces (almost double from the past week) and can now sense sounds. The skeleton is changing from soft cartiledge to bone and he/she can move her joints.

Pregnancy Highlights

How Far Along: 17 weeks

Total Weight Gain: About 2.5 pounds gained. (won't know the exact amount until I go in for my next appointment towards the end of the month.)

Maternity Clothes: Wearing quite a few but can still manage to fit into some regular shirts.

Best Moment This Week: Got some house work done and the fish tank is clean!!

Gender: It's a surprise!!

Name: You'll have to wait and find out!

Movement: Having a few more kicks and wiggles this week.

Food Craving: No major cravings this week.

Sleep: Getting rough again. Having weird dreams at night that wake me up, then of course since I'm awake, nature calls!

Symptoms: Still have some morning sickness mainly due to smells. Starting to feel the effects of my growing abdomen as it stretches. Been a little uncomfortable this week.

What I'm Looking Forward To: I have my midwife appointment coming up in the next week. I think we'll be having an ultrasound this time around!

Comments

Apparently, there have been some problems with people trying to leave comments. I didn't realize that I had it set so that only people with certain kinds of accounts could leave a comment. I have fixed that and so hopefully it'll work now. Let me know if you're still having troubles! Thanks!!

Faith

Faith, such a simple word for so many people and yet, for the believer in Christ, it's our all that we believe in and why we exist. People say to walk by faith, it's so simple, but have you ever really tried to "walk by faith"? For me personally, I don't find it simple. I struggle with what God asks me to do many times. A lot of that is stepping out into the unknown or changing. I'm not one for change, it takes me a long time to adjust. The unknown is just plain scary. You know God is going to be there with you through it all, but in our humanness (is that a word?) we want control of everything we do. That of course takes things out of God's hands and therefore the unknown becomes impossible to do without Him.
Through our years together, there have been many times that BJ and I have had to step out or walk in faith and trust (there's another hefty word) that God was going to be with us (funeral home anyone??). God has brought us through so much and gotten us beyond things that we would have never thought possible had we not had faith in Him to do it. It's hard to have that, especially when you are so used to being in control (that's me all the way). It's hard letting go and letting God.
Here's a couple of steps that I read off of a friends blog recently that may help those who are struggling to walk in faith or even grow in their faith. They're simple steps (there's that simple word again) but the impact that they will have on your life is so enormous, you won't be the same person. Trust in Christ, have faith to let Him be your guide and always look to Him in all things that you do. I pray that I will do that daily and have the courage to share with others what He is doing in my life.

1. WORD
Cultivate your faith.
You HAVE to read God's word and really get in the Bible to learn and grow in your faith. That's the #1 way to know God more and to hear Him speaking to you.

2. WITNESS
Confess your faith.
Do you share? Do you talk about God in your life? You don't have to thump your Bible or preach to your co-workers but do the people in your life know you are a Christian? Do you walk a life that shows Christ in you?

3. WALK
Corner your faith.
You have to get yourself in a place where you HAVE to trust God. It's in our trials where we come to know God the most.

Faith is believing the Word of God and ACTING upon it. (Even the devil and the demons BELIEVE in God....it's not enough to just believe).

1 Peter 1:6-7
In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith - of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire - may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

Birthday Party

Here's just a couple of pictures from Iyana's birthday party that she had today. She has told us over and over that this has been the best party ever. We had it at a place called Rafiki's which is an indoor play area with all kinds of things for kids. They took care of everything for the party, I didn't have to worry about a thing! Love it!
Happy birthday Iyana, I love you so much!!

Week 16

Baby B. is about 4 1/2 inches from crown to rump (the size of an avocado) and weighs about 3 1/2 ounces. Fingernails and toenails are growing as well as the pattern on the scalp, though no hair is visible yet.

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: 16 weeks

Total Weight Gain: About 2.5 pounds gained. (won't know the exact amount until I go in for my next appointment towards the end of the month.)

Maternity Clothes: Starting to wear more. Can still fit into some of my regular clothes.

Best Moment This Week: Getting over my cold!!

Gender: It's a surprise!!

Name: You'll have to wait and find out!

Movement: Very slight and only on occasion.

Food Craving: Cinnamon gummy bear craving satisfied (thanks honey, kudos to ya!). Nothing else in the craving department yet.

Sleep: Was able to sleep almost through a whole night this week. It was so nice.

Symptoms: Morning sickness is slowly (and I mean slowly) starting to back off. I'm still extremely sensitive to smells and they can send me running.

What I'm Looking Forward To: Feeling well enough to do more around the house again.

Birthday Girl

My sweet little Iyana has turned 8 today. I can't believe how quickly time has gone by. Wasn't it just yesterday that we were rushing to the hospital because the big day had arrived?

She has grown up so much in the last eight years. From crawling and walking early to the non-stop talking that she does now. She's so full of life and love and wants to know about everything that is going on.

I love you Iyana! You are the best little girl that a mommy can have. I pray that as you grow, your love for Jesus will blossom into a wonderful relationship with Him and that you will always be willing to share His wonderful love with everyone else.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY IYANA!!!!

P.S. - We want to give a shout out to Iyana's cousin (BJ's and my nephew) who is also having a birthday today. Happy birthday Cooper. Have a wonderful, glorious day!! Love ya!!