32 Weeks

Hey little one!

So we had the 3rd birthday in our family in the month of March--mine!! God has graced me with another year and I praise Him for it.

We had a family road trip during my birthday and it was LOTS of fun. . .we'll have to fill you in on all the details later. Your Abuela even came, which was great!! You and I did well with all of the traveling and busyness of the trip. Now, we're resting up for the next few days before resuming our regular schedule.

Your oldest brother asks me almost everyday, "How is K--- feeling?" He knows that it won't be long. We're getting excited!!! We love you, sweetheart!

Birthday/Road Trip Pics

 

31 Weeks

I'm grateful...

You are moving well

God has graced my womb with life 7 times

I have delivered 5 babies so far

I get to be called Mommy

I am in love with your Daddy

Daddy loves me and you and your sisters and brothers

Jesus love us deeply, purely and wholly

I am blessed and sleepy.

Good night, baby girl.

30 Weeks

Well, sweetheart, we're officially in the 30's!!! The 30's are always exciting to me because I know that in 10 weeks (give or take a couple of days) I get to see you, Lord willing!!!!!

Well, I had planned to write to you on Monday, so we are now actually nearing the end of the 30th week. Here are some happenings from our week:

Monday was St. Patrick's Day and guess what?? It snowed! We had about 6 inches of snow. No pictures of Daddy this time shoveling the snow. He said he's had enough of the snow for this year! :)

Tuesday was library day and we had a ton of fines to pay!! I forgot to renew the books (again) and then with the snow storm, we had to wait an extra day. Your siblings and I picked up more books to enjoy. You'll learn that we are at the library lots and lots. I hope you'll enjoy reading, too! Daddy took us out to dinner and that's always a help to Mommy!!!

On Wednesday, Mommy went to the doctor's so she could see how you're doing. And, praise God, so far, so good. You are moving and twisting and turning, especially at night. It is such a great feeling. Here's what Mommy looks like at 30 weeks pregnant with you:





My, how we're growing!

On Thursday, we went to the store to get your brother some gifts because today is his 1st birthday!! That means that you two will be 14 months apart. He's a lot of fun!


Baby J is 1 now!!

In our family, sweet girl, we have a little tradition: on each child's first birthday, he or she is presented with a honey graham cracker by the next oldest sibling. :) Since babies don't eat honey the first year of life, this has been "our thing"!! As you can see, Baby J is loving the graham cracker.

More exciting things are coming up in the next few days and I can't wait to share them with you. I feel like I'm in my own little advent season. . . waiting for you with great expectation. I love you, baby girl.

29 Weeks

Hey, sweetie pie!

We are busy these days, with soccer, flag football, music lessons, swimming, along with every thing else that goes on around here. Mommy is learning how to balance big kids with little kids and the wide range of interests that go on in between.

Today is your oldest sister's 11th birthday!!!!!!!!!!! And let me tell you something about her that you will soon come to know: she loves her family tenderly and deeply, including you. And, she is probably the sweetest person I've ever known in my life. She gives of herself each day to every one of us. I can't believe that I've been her mama for 11 years. . . amazing grace.

Here are some fun pics:

Baby J held still long enough to take a pic. He's crawling these days.

The men-folk of the house.

You'll learn what fun it is to play in a box, too.

Your sister saying hello to a terrapin.

Your oldest brother testing out his wingspan.

All your siblings on a nature center field trip.

Happy 11th, SJ!!!

I love you, sweet baby girl. I think of you each day and the ways you will bring joy to our lives. . . you already have.

28 Weeks

Hey, honey!

Well, today marks the beginning of our 7th month, and the beginning of our 3rd trimester! You are moving right along. Today we were supposed to see the doctor so she see how you're growing and hear your little heart beating. Instead, she called to check on us and to reschedule our appointment. Why? Because today also brought something else: SNOW! Yep, on this 3rd day of March, we are in the middle of a snow storm. Daddy is out shoveling snow right now.

This is a pic of Daddy shoveling snow from a storm back in Feb.,
but he looks the same today. :)

Your brothers and sisters want to take a snow day, but Mommy said schooling must continue! We are preparing for your arrival and that means our school days are numbered. When you come, we will take time off to welcome you and love on you. As a compromise though, we are having a pajama day.

I love you, sweet baby girl, as you move, rattle, quiver, shake, roll, push, and kick inside of me. Smooches!

Fruit of the Womb

Baby girl,

Do you remember how I told you before that Mommy has to work on not caring so much about what other people say (when they are trying to be mean or rude)? So often, Mommy and Daddy are questioned, criticized, looked down upon, teased, misunderstood, stared at--all because you have 5 siblings. This comes from complete strangers, and even some of our family and friends. And, many of them are Christians.

Why does that matter--being a Christian?

Well,  sweet girl, it matters because of what God says about children. And, as God's children, we are to align our thinking with His.

In Bible study today, God just reassured Mommy and opened my eyes anew to a passage of Scripture that has been pretty familiar to me. I was reading Psalm 127:3-5 and I decided to read it from The Message translation and this is what is says:

Don’t you see that children are God’s best gift?
the fruit of the womb His generous legacy?
Like a warrior’s fistful of arrows
are the children of a vigorous youth.
Oh, how blessed are you parents,
with your quivers full of children!
Your enemies don’t stand a chance against you;
you’ll sweep them right off your doorstep.

-Psalm 127:3-5

 

Prayerfully, you will come to learn that the Word of the Lord is a balm to the soul. And little one, this was so refreshing and so soothing to me on so many levels. I keep reading it again and again. I said to Daddy, "Babe, look at this translation!" The part that stuck out to him was the end, about enemies. Why? Because a family that is rooted in God's Word, that understands that children are such a great blessing, will be able to stand strong together.

 

So, when people question us, when they stare, when they start counting how many kids call one person, "Mommy", when they tell me that I should not have had you all, when they're shocked that Daddy has fun with you guys, when they call me crazy or shake their heads in disgust, when they say that they feel sorry for me, when they don't understand, we will stand firm as a family, knowing that God's Word is true and it cannot lie.

 

You and your siblings are God's best gift to Daddy and me. I pray sweetheart, that moms and dads view their children as God's best gifts, His generous legacy, a blessing--not a burden, no matter how many children they have.

 

You are wanted and you are loved.

-Mommy

Your sisters and brothers. . .we're waiting for you!

 

27 Weeks

Well, sweetie, this is our last week of the 6 month. Things are just moving so quickly it seems.

I feel like I was just sitting across from Daddy in a restaurant, your brothers and sisters all around us, and he said, "Lu, I've been so tired; why am I so tired? I think the baby is making me tired. . . I think you're pregnant!"

**Background information for you: whatever pregnancy symptoms I have, Daddy says he experiences some of them, too. So, if I'm sleepy, Daddy says he is, too. If I say I have an upset tummy, Daddy says he feels queasy, too! Funny Daddy, huh?!**

Anyway, he looked me right in the eyes, smile on his face and said, "Yeah, I think you're pregnant." Why that made me nervous, I don't know. Every single time God has graced my womb with life, it makes me nervous and this time wasn't any different. I told Daddy, "I'm not sure; I don't know if I'm pregnant." But way, deep, deep, down, I knew it, too. We went home to take a pregnancy test, and there it was plain as day: TWO PINK LINES!!!

Daddy said, "See, Lu! I told you! I knew it!!" And he's been bubbly about you ever since!
Today, he sat down on the couch next to me and said, "K--- is on her way; she's coming!" In other words, sweet girl, he's ready to hold you in his arms. And, so am I.

You are big enough now that I can just look down at my tummy and see your movements. You're making mama's belly jump! :) I love you more than you know.