Waiting on our Baby GIRL

Back in November 2013 we found out that the 3rd baby we'd been hoping for was on the way!  The first several weeks of pregnancy were fairly quiet... we decided to wait until Christmas day to tell our families about the news, so Ben and I enjoyed our little secret.  I experienced the typical tiredness (falling asleep on the couch every night by 9, and craving a nap every day), and mild food aversions and cravings.  One new pregnancy symptom that I had never experienced before were two migraine headaches, complete with blurred vision and vomiting. Those were not fun!

 At 8 weeks (early December) we got to see our little jelly bean for the first time on ultrasound.  It's always a thrill to see that teeny tiny heart beating away!

Telling our families on Christmas Day was fun.  We waited to tell Jack and Arie until that morning because we were afraid they would spill the beans too early!  We took them aside and told them our little secret that Mommy has a teeny tiny baby growing in her tummy, and asked them if they would like to tell everybody else.  Jack announced it to my family in my parent's living room, just before we started to open presents.  He was so cute about it. :)  Then we skyped with Ben's family later that day and Arie got to share the news with them. 

I can't know for sure, but I felt like I had started to feel the butterfly movements as early as 10-12 weeks, which seemed way to early, but I consistently felt those flutters.

At around 15 weeks (late January) we shared our news with the rest of the world.

And on Valentine's Day, when I was about 20 weeks pregnant, Ben and I got to see the baby and find out that we are expecting a GIRL!  What a fun way to celebrate the Day of Love!

Once I knew we'd be adding pink to our lives, the true nesting began!  I have had an ongoing "to do" list that I've been working on every since that day.  I cleaned out all of the baby boy clothes and passed them on to friends or thrift stores (except for a small box of sentimental items), other friends started giving us new and hand-me-down girl clothes that I've been sorting, washing, and putting away, Arie was officially moved out of the nursery and now shares a room with Jack (complete with exciting "sleepovers" every night!), we added some pink touches to the existing green/brown nursery, and started car shopping for a bigger family vehicle.  The second trimester was busy with all of these things, and I felt good.  Because of my history of pre-term labor, I have not been exercising and have been doing my best to avoid heavy lifting, etc.  At 18 weeks I started receiving the weekly progesterone injections that I had during my pregnancy with Arie. 

Bare belly at 25 weeks.

Easter Sunday, 28 weeks.

I was blessed with a small, intimate time of celebration and blessing by dear family friends who wanted to "sprinkle" us with love and gifts.  It was a lovely afternoon tea with women who have known me since I was born and who I know my baby girl will love and learn from, as I have.

Thanks to Jan, Emily, Molly, Mom, Laura and Katie for a sweet afternoon.

 And this week, we had a 30 week ultrasound and got to see Baby Girl in 3D for the first time.  What an amazing experience!  She is measuring perfectly and every thing looks healthy and good.

 

 

We are so eager, and feeling pretty prepared, to meet our sweet baby girl.  Hopefully she will stay put for another 5-6 weeks (36 weeks pregnant, mid June), and then she should be healthy enough and developed enough to join us at any time until her due date on July 13.  In the meantime, we are cherishing the time of preparation, marveling at baby girl's crazy and constant acrobatics that keep my belly rolling and hopping around, and thanking God for this amazing gift of life. Who will this little girl look like, sound like, act like?  God knows every detail of her existence, so we rest in that knowledge and look forward to the privilege of being her parents.

And we will hopefully sneak in 1-2 more dates before she arrives!  We went, kid free, to a Dodgers v. Tigers game in April! Love this man and so grateful I get to do this life with him.

To Arie, on the occasion of your 3rd Birthday

Dear Arie,

We can't believe you turned three last week!  We had so much fun going to the Dodger game and hanging out with your cousins and aunt and uncle.  We also had lots of fun at your Robin Hood birthday party a few weeks ago.  What fun.  You were such a good shot with the bow and arrow.  You're having lots of fun playing with it in the back yard.

You are such a fun boy.  We love the way you smile.  You have a really cute way of squinting your eyes when you smile.  It makes your happiness seem very genuine and pure.  We love to hear you laugh and we get to hear you do it a lot.    You have a very sweet way of interacting with other people.  Many people remark about how "dear" you are.  It's true.  The way you talk and the way you treat people is very endearing.  This quality already has a way disarming people.  I can't wait to see the way God uses this as you grow up.

Your sense of humor is also really great.  This morning, you were waking up just as I was leaving for work.  I checked in your room and you were on the top bunk with Jack, who had also just woken up.  When I gave you a kiss goodbye you asked me if I wanted to hear a joke.  I said, "Of course."  Here's the joke you told me:  "What about meatballs and 'pasketti (your way of saying "spaghetti") with eyeballs?"  (That's it, by the way.)  This made me laugh really hard.  It also made Jack want to tell me another joke.  I don't remember what he told me, but I did laugh much of my way to work this morning.

You are also very strong-willed.  When you decide you want something it can be very hard to deter you.  You have certainly outgrown any diversion tactics we once used with you.  Coupled with your strong will is a burgeoning intelligence.  You love to talk and have spoken in detailed paragraphs for some time now.  You are now able to write "M's", "O's", "A's", "X's".  You love to ask questions and even have some relatively abstract thoughts that you are able to articulate.

We love all this about you because it's you!  We love learning more about who you are and are trying hard to help you become who God wants you to be.  We will certainly make many mistakes as we parent you, buddy.  Please know that we're trying our best as we follow God's leading in parenting you, Jack, and very soon...your little sister.  (She'll probably be here within a couple months.)

There is much more to say about you, Arie Boy.  However, know that we love you more than words can say.  Your smile and sweet voice make us smile.  You give us so much joy.  Happy birthday.

Sherwood Forest comes to Upland

As a joint birthday party for our boys, Betsy planned a Robin Hood-themed gathering for family and some close friends.  Below are some of the pics from the event.

These decorations were flying from the front gate as the guests arrived.

Guests were given Robin

Hood hats and got to learn to shoot at a "target." (See below.)

The food at the party was a "Sherwood Forest Feast" complete with chicken legs, potatoes, and lots of great fruit and vegetables.  You can see a picture of the cake (cupcakes decorated with targets)

We had a really great time celebrating our two little boys with our family and friends.  It's hard to believe they are three years-old and five years-old!  It's even crazier to think that on their next birthday there will be a little sister celebrating with us.  Days like this remind us that the hard work of parenting is worth it.