Gracious Sakes!

Has it really been two months since I have posted? Well, time keeps marching on and my pregnancy is flying by! I am now 28 weeks, 3 days, the start of my 3rd trimester, and getting bigger daily. I must be big enough now that people aren't so shy to ask me when I am due - it's quite obvious that I am not chubby, I am with child. Finally! That was a tough stage of pregnancy to go through a couple of months ago. When it was so obvious to those who knew me that my body was changing due to pregnancy, but to the rest of the world I looked like I had no waist and maybe should cut back on those milkshakes. It makes a woman want to wear shirts that say "baby on board", or "I'm not fat; I'm pregnant". Well, like I said, at least that phase has passed and there seems to be no question about what is going on with me these days.

All seems to be going fairly well, although as of two weeks ago I did get orders from the doctor to be on partial bed rest. Nothing too concerning, just a few early labor steps that my body is starting to take, and so they are being cautious. I was told to cut back my work hours significantly, no exercise, no gardening (boo!), no big grocery trips (ie: Costco), no heavy lifting, and pretty much not much of anything except to lie on the couch. At first I thought it might not be so bad, but now that I am two weeks into it, it is much harder than I thought. You see, I am in nesting mode, and I can't clean or rearrange furniture like I want to. And we weren't quite prepared for the financial surprise of me going to part time this early. I just have to remind myself that God is my ever-present and faithful Father. He knew this would happen, and He will not let us fall. I have no concerns about my baby's health - I have full confidence this child will be safely born at the perfect time. If I have learned nothing else throughout this pregnancy it has been this: this child, whomever it is I am carrying, is meant to be. He/she has had the Hand of God on it since day one. If I can't hand over the fear and control to God before my baby is born, will I ever be able to? This is no accident, and God has big plans for my baby. It is a long story, but I knew God had given me a baby before I ever took a pregnancy test. So I have no doubt that boy or girl, healthy (by the world's standards) or not, this child's birth day has been chosen and planned by the One who created it, and we will watch it come to pass. However, I will still be a wise parent who will do whatever I can to keep my child safe, and will follow the doctor's orders.

In 4 more weeks we get another 4D ultrasound, and I can NOT wait!!! I so badly want to see my baby's face, and see who it looks like. What features it seems to have and from whom. Last ultrasound, I thought the baby had strong Glidewell features and looked much like my niece. So I am curious if this time I still think that, or if the Peissig characters will be there. This child has a handsome father, who was a BEAUTIFUL baby, so I would be so happy for it to look like him. In fact, I would love for my child to be as much like his/her father as possible! Troy is such a wonderful person, and the world sure could use another him.

I spent a long, long time praying tonight. Praying for wisdom as a wife, and wisdom as a mother. Praying that both Troy and I will fall in love with this baby as soon as we see it. Praying that we will exemplify God so that our children will also want to know the God we serve. Praying he/she won't make the same mistakes Troy and I have in our life. Praying God will provide for our family financially. And I realized that I never once prayed for the health of the baby. I have a new pet-peeve. It is the saying "It doesn't matter if it's a boy or a girl, as long as it is healthy". So, what do people do when they have a child who isn't considered healthy? You know what? We will take this baby, however it comes out, and we will be THANKFUL!!! And yes, I suppose I do want a baby that is considered healthy, but it isn't something I am concerned about. It is who it is, and we will love and cherish it.

My sweet child, you have the hand of God on you, and I can not wait to meet you!