Week 26: Finding Perfect Peace.

Baby: The network of nerves in baby's ears is better developed and more sensitive than before. He or she can now hear both Ted and I's voice as we chat with each other and when we sing to it at night. Baby is inhaling and exhaling small amounts of amniotic fluid, which is essential for the development of his or her lungs. (These breathing movements are also good practice for when baby is born and takes that first gulp of air.) And I can tell that baby is continuing to put on baby fat. He or she now weighs about 2 pounds and measures 14 inches! Quite the mover still. I awake to him or her kicking up a storm, usually around 4 am, consistantly! I think it's God preparing me for the night wake up calls for feeding! I don't mind it though =)

Momma:This past week has been the most stressful week yet. I've given into fear, and being stressed out more than a pregnant woman should. But I am seeking His perfect peace (Isaiah 26:3) in all of the newest changes. This morning we had a checkup at the clinic and this was the first time I had to go without Ted, which was hard. I haven't had the best experience in the clinic, and today was yet again, a disappointment. It's hard to have a birth plan and place totally altered. I used to just get through the appointments knowing that I wasn't going to be them throughout this entire, incredible process. Now... this is my reality. I am going to be going through this clinic, and having one of their 6 midwifes deliver my baby. I will say I have been treated nicely by 4 out of the 6 midwifes (so let's pray I get one of them). There are two that I really like, and I am praying one of them will deliver our baby.

Anyways, if you think about it, please pray for us. This has been a really rough week and I am seeking peace, but I honestly am not quite there. Ted is feeling total peace about having the baby at the hospital. I am NOT against hospitals I promise, it's just that I had a birth plan and it's gone... maybe that's a bit dramatic.

Alright, well photos to come. I have now gained 20 pounds, which freaked me out a bit, cause I'm only 6 months 1/2, but thanks to advice (thanks Hannah), and the fact that we are down the mountain, and living in a safe neighborhood to walk in... I'm hoping to only gain 10 more pounds at the most.

Please know too... my greatest heart's desire is to see our baby born safe!! Although I keep talking about our altered birth plan, this truly is my hearts desire.

On a much lighter note... I've started to get "charlie horses" like none other. I've never really dealt with these before, I sneeze and my legs cramp up SO bad. One night I freaked out, I was in so much pain, that I woke Ted. Poor guy! Thought I'd share cause it's kinda funny!

Thank you for caring and for praying for us!
Love,
Jami & our little sunshine =)
(Photo above: i found a bib and onesie that had "daddy's little sunshine" on them, and I will purchase them someday soon)

Prayer Request: A Change of Plans.

Yesterday morning Ted and I found out that I am Group B Strep positive. I took a test for a bladder infection and they found not only a bladder infection but that I was GBS+. Clinics usually do a screening between the 35th and 37th week of pregnancy, but because of the bladder infection test, they found this out a lot sooner for me. I am so grateful.

What is GBS?

Group B streptococcus is a type of bacterial infection that can be found in a pregnant woman’s vagina or rectum. This bacteria is normally found in the vagina and/or lower intestine of 15% to 40% of all healthy, adult women.

Those women who test positive for GBS are said to be colonized. A mother can pass GBS to her baby during delivery. GBS is responsible for affecting about 1 in every 2,000 babies in the United States. Not every baby who is born to a mother who tests positive for GBS will become ill.

Although GBS is rare in pregnant women, the outcome can be severe, and therefore physicians include testing as a routine part of prenatal care.

How does someone get group B strep?

The bacteria that causes group B strep normally lives in the intestine, vagina, or rectal areas. Group B strep colonization is not a sexually transmitted disease (STD). Approximately 15-40% of all healthy women carry group B strep bacteria. For most women there are no symptoms of carrying the GBS bacteria.


Now that I have tested positive for Group B Strep infection...

If you test positive for GBS this simply means that you are a carrier. Not every baby who is born to a mother who tests positive for GBS will become ill. Approximately one of every 100 to 200 babies whose mothers carry GBS will develop signs and symptoms of GBS disease. There are, however, symptoms that may indicate that you are at a higher risk of delivering a baby with GBS. These symptoms include:

Labor or rupture of membrane before 37 weeks
Rupture of membrane 18 hours or more before delivery
Fever during labor
A urinary tract infection as a result of GBS during your pregnancy
A previous baby with GBS disease
In this case your physician will want to use antibiotics for prevention and protection.

According to the CDC, if you have tested positive and are not in the high risk category, then your chances of delivering a baby with GBS are:

1 in 200 if antibiotics are not given
1 in 4000 if antibiotics are given

How can I protect my baby from Group B Strep infection?

If you test positive for GBS and meet the high risk criteria, then your physician will recommend giving you antibiotics through IV during your delivery to prevent your baby from becoming ill. Taking antibiotics greatly decreases the chances of your baby becoming ill.

For women who are group B strep carriers, antibiotics before labor starts are not a good way to get rid of group B strep bacteria. Since they naturally live in the gastrointestinal tract (guts), the bacteria can come back after antibiotics. A woman may test positive at certain times and not at others. That’s why it is important for all pregnant women to be tested for group B strep between 35 to 37 weeks of every pregnancy.

How does Group B Strep infection affect a newborn baby?

Babies may experience early or late-onset of GBS.

The signs and symptoms of early onset GBS include:

Signs and symptoms occurring within hours of delivery
Breathing problems, heart and blood pressure instability
Gastrointestinal and kidney problems
Sepsis, pneumonia and meningitis are the most common complications
Newborns with early-onset are treated the same as the mothers, which is through intravenous antibiotics.

The signs and symptoms of late-onset GBS include:

Signs and symptoms occurring within a week or a few months of delivery
Meningitis is the most common symptom
Late-onset GBS is not as common as early-onset
Late-onset of GBS could be a result of delivery, or the baby may have contracted it by coming into contact with someone who has GBS.

The information from above is taken from the link at the bottom of this blog.


Jami speaking now:

Of course I hoped for a healthy pregnancy, and this doesn't mean I still can't have that. I was a mess yesterday, I ended up making myself sick and I even got my second migraine (of my life) from the stress and the crying. I slept the afternoon away, trying to calm myself down for the baby's sake. I am asking for your prayers, because I am very up and down about this. I am afraid, I won't lie. I think the hardest part for me is feeling to helpless in this. I have 15 weeks until our baby will come and until then it's just waiting this out, once labor hits I will get an IV with antibiotics every 4 hours during delivery, in order to protect the baby from GBS. So that hard part is the waiting for the day of delivery, and waiting to see if my baby will have GBS or not. Please pray for our baby's safety!

Our plans for a home birth, as of right now, are put on hold. We've been advised to have the baby at the hospital, so I can be hooked to an IV with antibiotics, and just in case the baby is born with GBS they can take fast action. As you all know, my heart's desire was to have a home birth, but my greatest heart's desire is to have our baby safe and healthy.

If you know of anyone who has had this or if you have had this while pregnant, please talk to me! I want to hear a bit more about this, and just how serious or not serious this could be.

Thanks for listening & thank you for praying for our baby!
Love,
Jami

Week 25: Baby & Momma & a Confession.

6 months, 1 week, and counting...

Baby:
So cute: baby is able to touch and hold his or her feet and make a fist. I just read, Ted may be able to hear his or her heartbeat by pressing his ear against my belly! I heard it through a stethascope 3 weeks ago, so I don't doubt it! Head to heels, your baby might now measures about 13 1/2 inches. His or her weight — a pound and a half, which may not seem like much, but baby is beginning to exchange his or her long, lean look for some baby fat. As he or she does, her wrinkled skin will begin to smooth out and baby will start to look more and more like a newborn. Baby is also growing more hair — and if you could see it, you'd now be able to discern its color and texture - SO curious about that one!!

Momma:
Nesting always on the mind, backaches are kicking in more everyday, I've begun to get swollen if I am on my feet to long, and that actually really hurts! It's harder for me to sleep a night through anymore; whether I am up to the bathroom or tossing and turning to get comfortable. I MUST sleep with a firm pillow between my knees or not sleep at all anymore! It's kind of crazy to me how fast these changes came, but I'm not complaining ...yet =). The best part of each new weeks growth: our baby's movements getting stronger!! I can see now where the baby's head is. That might sound weird, or actually maybe it's not even baby's head now that I think about it. But I can see a little bulge a lot these days!

Okay so I have a little confession... I LOVE my big baby bump. As we take every week's new baby bump shot. I tend to make it exaggerated, and I have never yet sucked this belly it, or tightened the muscles. WELL, I recently read... you should be tightening the muscles kind of like "sucking it in"! I was mortified, and bummed all at once. So I am going to try that, it really hurts when I do it now. My muscles have been chillin (well stretching) for the past 6 months. Oh man!

I've got to run to worship practice, but thanks for listening to me babble.
Love,
Jami & Baby E or C

Week 25: Nesting On the Mind.

Nesting. 6 months and 1 week... it's hard to believe how close we are to meeting our baby! It seems so far away still, but baby needs time to finish developing, and God's still working on Ted and I, not to mention the fact that we are just now able to move into our home again!! We officially move down from our mountain campus friday! AMEN, seriously.

I dream of nesting, I wake up throughout the night sometimes to get myself comfortable, and begin thinking about nesting, I constantly talk to Ted about ideas, things we need to buy or put on our registration... I never go a day without thinking about something to do with nesting. It hit me a while ago actually, but now that I can officially start, it's been on my mind 24/7!

We've decided to not make an entire nursery for the baby and it's things, but instead to have him or her in our room, and a rocker and play things in our living room. The reason being; our second bedroom is the perfect nursery size but it's actually kind of a far walk to get to the baby in a hurry. We just decided that the crib would be next to my side of the bed, and I am going to sand, prime, and paint a low dresser we have for it's changing table, so everything we really need will be in our room.

We are (hopefully) painting our living room red to match our asian theme we've had since being married, the accent colours will be burnt yellow, and black. My mom is going to help make curtains, and Ted is helping me hang all of our wall art! I can't wait. Our room we finally decided, will be painted a burnt yellow. We wanted to make sure when we opened our door to the living room the colours didn't clash, BUT we also wanted to use the Vincent Van Gogh's Starry Night wall art as our main focus. We originally thought blue, but I'm not huge on blue anyways. Burnt yellow will work for both rooms.

Now this doesn't sound like much preparation for the baby coming, but this is a start to getting our home to feel more home like, and comfortable! Ted and I are finding ways to save money, be thrifty, and still get what we need before the baby comes. It's hard. We decided, like I said above, to use our low dresser as a changing table. It's the perfect height for me to change the baby on. It will take a lot of work, sanding, priming, and painting it black but it will look amazing, or so I hope! We will then buy a changing pad, and some fun stuff for the baby to look as above it while it's being changed. We are looking for a glider chair on ebay, craigslist, thrift stores, and garage sales... hoping to find a great deal! Okay whoa. I need to write another blog, cause this one is too long. And I didn't even write an update on baby and momma yet! Haha, sorry! I am just so excited!

x!
Jami & Baby

My Growing Baby & Belly: Week by Week.

24 weeks: BAM!

As you can see I've REALLY GROWN! When I saw the belly pics Ted took, I realized just how much. Oh wow!

Baby E or Baby C:
Our baby is over a foot long (not sure exactly how big, but he or she was measuring 12" 3 wks ago), and 2 pounds! I can feel when the baby is moving or which side it's laying on and most of the time, as soon as it puts pressure on my bladder, I know it! Baby's brain is also growing quickly now, and his taste buds are continuing to develop. His lungs are developing "branches" of the respiratory "tree" as well as cells that produce surfactant, a substance that will help his air sacs inflate once he hits the outside world. His skin is still thin and translucent, but that will start to change soon. He or she will soon begin to get plump!

Momma:
Doing great, getting huge :). But I am loving it. I've gained 15 pounds now, and I can def. feel that. Mostly all in my belly, breasts, and most recently I've noticed my thighs have put a bit of weight on! But I'm not worried. We move back down the mountain to our home (YAY!) Next weekend, which means walking everyday!!! I am so excited to be back at home. Oh yes, I have hit the nesting point. The past month has been hard because we live at our mountain campus, so I can't wait to get home. I have so many things planned to take care or and create before our little love comes! Lately, I've grown a lot and have to toss from one side to the other while sleeping, many times a night. I'm using my body pillow every night!

Well, we're doing great! Oh, a quick story... one night I was awake for a few hours, my mind was super active with everything I wanted to do when I moved back to our house, I couldn't sleep! Anyways, the baby was up too, and going kind of crazy. So I started talking to him or her (I still think it's a girl) in a soothing voice, and the baby calmed down!! How crazy is that!! I have been singing 'You are my sunshine' to baby E/C and I can't wait to see if the song calms the baby when he or she comes!!

Thanks for listening!
Love,
Jami & Baby

6 Months & Counting!

Week 23 Belly Shots.

I added this last picture to show you the curve of my back. I feel huge because of it, I look in the mirror and think my body in split into two, if that makes sense. I have my growing tummy sticking way out in front, it's crazy!

Week 23: Where have my feet gone.

Here we are, week 23 already! I have my moments where I feel as though I've been pregnant forever, but most of the time I can't believe how close I am to meeting baby E or baby C! Last night I realized I have only 17 weeks before I hold my precious baby! Really, that is not that far away, I mean I've already been pregnant 23 weeks, which blows my mind!

Yesterday I had another appointment with my midwife Judy. She is truly a blessing, and I love how she let's me just be me, and be real about how I am feeling and doing, and she doesn't rush me but she listens. Yesterday was an emotional up and down day for me, and she encouraged me to let it out, to cry. I balled and told her how I feel like such a failure as a parent already; my occasional caffeine becoming a daily habit, and my food choices being Mcmuffins rather than salads... she was so sweet, listening to me cry about my bad habits. She told me she really felt like God gave us this process of being pregnant for 40 weeks to prepare us for motherhood. Of learning to be selfless, everything is not about me.

Yeah so anyways: How is baby?! Well, GREAT! Still quite the mover! Whenever Judy checks the heartbeat and she pushes on my belly our baby kicks SO hard. It makes me laugh every time she kicks her! I asked her if it's possible to have too much fetal movement, and she laughed and said that this baby is healthy and this is normal. I can't even imagine the movements this baby will have as it grows over the next few months!

Baby: Baby's sense of movement is well developed now, so he or she can feel me dancing! The baby may have grown over the past two weeks but I think it's around 12 inches & a little over 1 pound now. I can actually see him or her squirm and kick from the outside of my tummy! Blood vessels in his or her lungs are developing to prepare for breathing, and the sounds that baby's increasingly keen ears pick up are preparing her for entry into the outside world. Loud noises become familiar now. Baby knows her daddy's voice, I know it! Although sometimes he makes really strange voices while he talks, poor baby will be confused! I know it already knows Chey's little excitement squeal too!


Mommy: Today someone asked me, "Can you still see your feet?" and I looked down and I couldn't!! Already! I think the past two weeks I've become more and more aware of the fact that I am about to be a mother, each day is comes closer and closer. So God's really been working in me, to begin the preparation for motherhood, like we talked about above. Not just concerning food and how I am feeding the baby, but about my character, my fears, my trust in God and how I will portray Him to our baby. It's actually been an incredible growing time for me, I'm still growing and not just physically... a lot more growth to come. I'm ready to be completely changed by motherhood.

Yay.

Pics to come - I had a little 4-year-old ask me today "is that baby still in there", pointing to my tummy, I said Yep! it is. She then asked to see my actual belly so i showed her and she was like, "you're belly is HUGE!". It was awesome. Gotta love these moments. I was actually just thinking of how I can't remember what a flat tummy feels like. I just can't! Oh my word, so great and I mean that with everything in me. I wouldn't trade this for anything :)

x - Jami & Baby E or Baby C

Pregnancy Survey.

Pregnant Survey (Just for fun!)

When did you find out your were pregnant? November 2, 08
What was your reaction? shocked by the two pink lines, also extremely shaky but EXCITED!
Who did you tell first about the pregnancy? My Husband - who was also as shocked as I was, making me pee on two more, and then another two a few days later, and then 2 more before we told my family!
Date of Conception? October sometime, or at least that was what we thought
Due Date? July 9 - my mom's birthday!
Was the pregnancy planned? um Yes and took us forever but this baby is perfect!
How did your parents react? My dad was calm but excited, my mom on the other hand... sat there in shock after we had her unwrap her gift which was a bib saying: grandma's cutie (and a pregnancy test ted made me use before we arrived there), once it hit my mom she literally bounced up and down and hugged me and screamed. SO great. We've caught it on video which I hope to post!
How did your partner's parents react? They we're excited! I wish they lived closer so we could have told them face to face though!
Did you go to the doctor yet? Yes, and I had a crazy first experience. I went in, took a test, waited in the room, and the nurse came in and said "Hon, so you think you are 6 weeks pregnant?" and I was like, "Yes I know I am." (We had just told all of our staff where we work so I'd better be). She then told me I wasn't pregnant, and I almost passed out until she called me Mary, which I said I was Jami, and she realized she had the wrong chart! PRAISE GOD!
Did you have your first ultrasound? yes too many- at 10 weeks, and another at 18, and 22 but that is all we are doing from here on out because it's really not safe!
Do you know the sex? Boy or Girl? It will be a surprise for me. Ted knows and has kept it hidden this far. I am almost 99% sure it's a baby girl - not a word from God or anything. I asked God to keep it a secret from me as well :)
How is the baby's movement? GREAT & frequent - some days beats me up from the inside! I love it!
How is the baby's heartbeat? Speedy!
Baby's name? Secret. JUST figured out our boy's name too - HOORAY!
Did your husband help pick the name? Our girl's name I've had since 16, originally it was a name of a sound I loved but I thought it would be a adorable girl's name, Ted did help decide the middle name. And our boys name as well!
Mom to be's latest cravings? I am ashamed but mcdonald's sausage egg mcmuffin - mostly salty right now
Mom to be's latest "pregnant" moment? Two -1: I forgot a best friend's Feb. birthday!!! 2: I cried last night for no apparent reason other than I just wanted to cry.
What was the first change you noticed in your body? I immediately went from a size B to a D, I mean Immediately, ask anyone around me at the time. BAM!
What was the latest change in your body? My expanding stomach is aching a lot, due to the growth spurt baby e is on! The baby's movements make it all worth while though.
What is your sleep schedule? Whenever I can, lately we've been up later than normal, but I usually go to bed as early as I can.
What is your work schedule? 9 - 5:30 sometimes later or earlier depending on worship or intercession Monday, Wed, Fridays.
What is the last thing you bought for the baby? Surprisingly I haven't bought anything yet, but I did win a serasoft stuffed animal, an elephant last week for the baby it's almost the size of a body pillow too! (pics above) IT'S SO ADORABLE!
What was the last thing you bought for yourself? A bagel & cream cheese & caffeine free cream soda!
Planned birth place? At home, hopefully in a tub!
Who will be in the room with you? Still unsure. Def. my midwife, Ted, and my mom.
Are you scared? Not yet.
Are you going to use drugs? No.
How do you think you will react? With many tears.
How do you think your partner will react? I think he'll fall in love at first sight and cry too :)
Have you started birthing classes? I've attended two, but I hope to do more in the 3rd trimester when my schedule is more relaxed.
What is the nursery theme? I recently added the elephant but it's not really a theme.
Are you going to breastfeed? Yep!
How much weight have you gained? 13 pounds! I feel huge, but it's mostly in my breasts and belly right now, probably soon to be elsewhere.
What is your favorite thing about being pregnant? our baby inside & all of his or her movements!
What is your least favorite thing about being pregnant? probably the entire first trimester when I was ill often but now it's the fact that when hunger hits, it hits fast and i need to eat right away or I feel sick!
Biggest pet peeve while pregnant? probably when people compare my growing belly to others speed of things, that's hard sometimes cause I'm so short and feel huge already!
Favorite drink before pregnancy?Tie: Dr. Pepper or Carmel Macchiatos
Favorite drink while pregnant? grape juice YUM and i enjoy iced water with Lemon more than ever!
What features do you hope the baby gets from you? freckles, my feet (sorry babe!), my mouth.
What features do you hope the baby gets from your husband? DEF. eye colour and eye shape, height, hair colour, and nose!
What week did you start wearing maternity clothes? So far, not yet - I am still in my jeans although they are tighter than before!
What week (if any) did stretch marks appear? Still haven't yet and IM SHOCKED! I figured with the baby's growth spurt I'd have them. It's hereditary so we shall see!
What are 3 things you can't live without right now? Only 3 huh... st. Ives lotion, ted, bella band
What is your favorite smell or scent while pregnant? I rarely smell good things actually... i still love the smell of coffee, also Ted's scent too!
What is the worst smell? Friends & family tell me I am always saying it smells like Chili, cat food, or vomit which i won't deny, I am convinced I smell one of the three everyday. SICK!
What is your favorite pregnancy website? babycenter.com
What is your favorite baby names website? nymbler.com - cause it's the most fun
What is your favorite kids movie? NEMO! I'm actually a sucker for kids movies! I love almost all of the pixar movies & old school disney movies, also horton hears a who!
What is the first thing you might say to your new baby boy or baby girl? Probably I love you, but I might just be shocked into silence and tears! We'll see!

Breast Feeding: Benefits for Baby & Mommy.

Over the past year (since March/April when we began trying for our baby) I have read a lot on baby everything. It's been great, but lately I've realized and wondered, okay so how much of what I am reading is truth and how much is myth or slightly wrong? Anyways, I went through my baby journal and grabbed what I have learned about breast feeding. I have narrowed it down to the most important things that I have found, please let me know if this is truly true :) Also, if you have more advice. Next week I will write more about other information I've read on other subjects, that way maybe by the time of our baby's birth I can be just a little bit prepared!

I also have to add - the more I read about our bodies and how they are able to carry another living being, as well as nurture the baby, deliver, feed, etc. the more I am in awe of how God created our bodies. I mean breast feeding alone if just phenomenal. Our body naturally produces nutrients to keep our baby taken care of, our breasts "drop" milk when we HEAR our babies cry alone, breast feeding helps the healing process for mom, while developing baby's immune system... and MORE! How incredible!


Benefits of breast feeding:
a. immediate and proper nutrients for baby
b. right amount of nutrients and fat for the baby
c. helps develop the baby’s immune system
d. pre-milk has plenty of nutrients for baby

Important things I have read on breast feeding:
a. Start feeding right away - if possible, within 1-2 hours after delivery
b. make sure baby’s mouth is around the entire nipple - which will make nursing easier
c. if nipple is bleeding; this can mean you aren’t positioning the baby on your nipple correctly
d. 10 minutes of feeding on each side
e. drink water before, after, and during nursing - the more hydrated the easier and faster you will produce milk
f. nurse on demand - signs of hunger before cry baby will be more alert and active putting hands or fist into mouth, begins suckling, making sucking motions with mouth, rooting - turning head in search for nipple, crying is a late sign of hunger
g. feed only breast milk - up to 6 months.
h. delay artificial nipples, such as pacifiers or bottles - wait until baby develops goof suckling habits.
i. breast feed even during the baby’s illness - baby will not want to eat, but feed anyways. Breast milk again has the right nutrients and is a natural antibiotic for baby. Helps prevent dehydration.
j. air dry your nipples after each feeding. (this is incredible, how God created our bodies!) This helps prevent cracking and infection. If infection occurs, coat nipples in breast milk.
k. eat properly & get enough rest

Signs baby is getting enough milk:
a. steady weight gain after 1st week
b. pale yellow urine: not bright orange or yellow
c. sleeping well - yet alert and healthy looking while awake

Keep tabs on soiled diapers throughout each day:
a. first few days after birth 1-2 wet diapers a day
b. after milk increases 5-6 wet diapers a day

Our Little Love (has my nose).

Today we had an ultrasound to check the baby's anatomy, as well as the placenta. It went super well! I always enjoy the ultrasound technician, I think she enjoys our reactions too as we see our little one squirm!

Great news - the placenta has a little lake of blood, but nothing to worry about! The loop or whatever it was, didn't show up in this ultrasound, so it's GONE! Which means, I can have a safe home birth! Praise God, He knew our heart's desire!

Our baby is adorable, I'm so in love! He or she was facing up so we could see it's cute little mouth opening and closing, we saw it's little tongue sticking out, and it's cute little nose (I think it looks like mine, but really have no idea)! Ted and I were in awe when we witnessed that. It was so clear this morning and we were thankful because we can't afford the 3D ultrasound. The baby's anatomy is great as well, it's little heart beats so fast!

They say I am measuring a week ahead of schedule, but that could be just for now, we shall see. I am hoping for the baby to be born on my mom's bday, but of course if the baby comes early I'm not complaining! Baby is 1 pound!!

One thing I probably should share... I did not and I am not finding out the sex of our baby, although I am still think this little love is a girl. Ted however... he found out! Stinker, I know! He can't handle the wait and surprise of it all, which I finally came to understand and he spent time praying and felt like he could do it and keep his mouth zipped. The midwife and ultrasound gal thought that we were pretty funny for doing this. I still can't believe he knows. It's crazy, but I'm praying that I won't find out!

This probably means he is going to mess with me a lot the next few months. He did tell my mother-in-law, but I trust her completely!!


Notice how our little ones arms cover the face. SO CUTE! (click to enlarge if you'd like)
x
Jami & our little Love

The Womb and Some Incredible Verses.

I know I've just updated the blog with photos, but I've got to share some things that have been on my heart a lot lately. I am subscribed to the Above Rubies email newsletters, and the most recent one talked a little bit about the womb, and I thought this was interesting.

Different meanings for the womb;
"house of life"
"nesting place"
"palace of a child" (This is what it means in Chinese)
"sanctuary"
"the secret place" (from Psalm 139:15)
"cradle of the unborn"
"God's creative workshop"

Another thing I've been looking into is different verses throughout the Bible about children, the womb, God creating, and simple truths. It's been incredible to read and look into. Some of the following verses I've found may be out of context & paraphrased, but really spoke to me about our little love. Here are some of the verses that I really feel for our baby (and if you are prego, and have a child maybe consider some of these verses for your own little one, they are incredible):

You may not know me,
but I know everything about you.
I know when you sit down and when you rise up.
I am familiar with all your ways.
Psalm 139:1-3

Even the very hairs on your head are numbered.
Matthew 10:29-31

For you were made in my image.
Genesis 1:27

In me you live and move and have your being.
Acts 17:28

For you are my offspring.
Acts 17:28

I knew you even before you were conceived.
Jeremiah 1:4-5

You are fearfully and wonderfully made.
Psalm 139:14

I knit you together in your mother's womb.
Psalm 139:13

And brought you forth on the day you were born.
Psalm 71:6

And it is my desire to lavish my love on you.
1 John 3:1

My plan for your future has always been filled with hope.
Jeremiah 29:11

Because I love you with an everlasting love.
Jeremiah 31:3

My thoughts toward you are countless
as the sand on the seashore.
Psalms 139:17-18

And I rejoice over you with singing.
Zephaniah 3:17

I will never stop doing good to you.
Jeremiah 32:40

I desire to establish you
with all my heart and all my soul.
Jeremiah 32:41

And I want to show you great and marvelous things.
Jeremiah 33:3

I've realized lately the importance of prayer for our little love and with each of the verses that I read above, I became more and more excited for this one's destiny and where God will lead him or her and most importantly His love for our baby. It's incredible. When I first lay in bed at night, our baby starts it's squirming and kicking here and there, and it excites me so much. I love just lying there, talking to the baby or singing little songs of how much I love him or her. I felt silly when I first started this, but honestly it helps me to feel really connected with our little love. It's the most precious thing. Maybe I sound a bit crazy, but I really don't know if I've ever felt this way. I can't even describe it.

Thanks for listening, once again!!
Love,
Jami & Baby

22 Weeks: Baby & Me.