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*Pardon My Dust* --Ha. I'm giving the ol' blog a little makeover and it's not quite finished yet!

Hello. It's been awhile. I've truly missed blogging and am resolved to keep this thing updated! I guess between having a baby, the holidays, traveling, getting no sleep, trying to keep up on housework, trying to get a shower or even lunch, trying to get back into shape, two ER visits (one for each girlie), one hospital stay, and what seems like the never ending cycle of sickness......I just haven't had a chance to blog. Hmm. Yeah, it's been a little crazy around here. :)

What's in the works? 

*I'm writing some update posts on Lucy and Annie. I haven't even written about Annie's birth! And Lucy turned 2!! I have so much to catch up on. 

*My favorite recipes

*Health and exercise stuff 

*Sermons and songs that have encouraged and challenged me

*Pinterest crafts---if I ever get the time to do anything I see on there!

 *Basically just the happenings of life. 

You have lots to look forward to!

Taken on Christmas. My little Princesses.

For now I just want to say how thankful I am for my church and church family. Pastor Mike just started a new series on heart issues--and wow--I can't wait to go back Sunday to hear the next sermon! They have been so convicting and encouraging. And we're just getting started! The last couple of messages on the wounded heart have been exactly what I've needed. I think every Christian needs to hear these! So if you're needing something to listen to.... :)  Here's a link to the blog (a must read!) and it's easy to find sermons from there. Countryside Heartbeat.  You'll be blessed! 

Our family of 4!  And before you start wondering why my baby is out in the snow in only a sleeper...it was 60 degrees. :)

Pregnancy Update: Week 37

37 Weeks! Full-term. :) And so the waiting begins....
I told myself I wouldn't wait and wonder every day.
I told myself that I wouldn't wish she would come early.
But I think it's hopeless.

As of Saturday my sweet wonderful hubby informed me that I didn't yet have that "you look really pregnant glow, (a.k.a. puffy faced) miserable look" that he claims all pregnant women get right when they're about to pop. Sunday he informed me that I now have that look. Umm, thanks? :)

I had lots of contractions Saturday after a busy few days. They were steady all evening but increased to every 3-4 minutes for about an hour. Yikes! Still only Braxton Hicks but very intense and some painful. I finally decided to rest so they would slow down. They did...but not before a couple of *real* contractions I had to focus through! I remember thinking, "Wow. Those weren't even that bad and I am going to do this naturally. I must be crazy." Haha! Maybe I am. Anyway, going to get some good walking in every day this week to keep my energy up for labor.

I was looking back through pics from the pregnancy and thought it would be fun to post a little progression. It starts at 10 weeks when I thought I already looked huge. Ha. Now I am thinking how ridiculously skinny I looked and if I ever get close to that again I'll be happy as can be! :) Getting so excited for Baby Annie to arrive!

10 weeks.

12 weeks.

16 weeks.

18 weeks.

25 weeks.

27 weeks.

33 weeks.

36 weeks.

Happy Friday

Happy Friday!

I love Fridays. I love them because at the end of the day my wonderful hubby comes home to us all weekend!
I love them because I clean the house and everything is sparkly. There are lots more reasons too. But those seem to be my favorite right now.

I have definitely stuck to my plan of keeping busy before baby. I feel like I didn't get near as much accomplished for her arrival this week as I wanted! Sunday marks 37 weeks and I'm getting a little nervous she might come in the next 2 weeks. Braxton-Hicks contractions are getting much more intense and often. So the waiting begins. :) Not sure I enough time to finish everything around here and then prepare my mind for labor! I still want to browse my childbirth book again and make freezer meals and deep clean the house. Add chasing a crazy 2 year old around and keeping up with everyday stuff. Yikes. How am I going to handle having two?? :)

Yesterday I spent the entire day making Christmas goodies with one of my best friends, Christine. She's in the third trimester with her baby girl too. So you can just imagine two very pregnant girls cooking (and tasting) for almost 7 hours! But let me tell ya, we made some great stuff! Everything is in the freezer and ready to get out at Christmastime. Mmm! Only downside.....my low back is not happy with me today for being on my feet so long. Not happy at all.

Anyway, better stop blogging and re-assemble the infant car seat, swing and bouncer! And get some story-time and snuggling in with the sweetest girlie I know. :)

"Not What My Hands"

Some Tuesday Thoughts...

I love discovering a really great new song. 

Thanks to Pastor JD for introducing this one to our church Sunday evening! 

Praise God for grace! 

Praise God for salvation! 

Me--a guilty sinner-- 
I now wear the righteousness of Christ. 

I hope and pray that I never get over this.

I love old texts.

This one is beautiful and so rich in truth.

I have loved and been greatly blessed from writings by Horatius Bonar.

So thankful this one has been set to new music so it can be cherished by a new generation.

Not what my hands have done can save my guilty soul;
not what my toiling flesh has borne can make my spirit whole.
Not what I feel or do can give me peace with God;
not all my prayers and sighs and tears can bear my awful load.

These guilty hands are raised, filthy rags are all I bring
And I have come to hide beneath your wings
These holy hands are raised, Washed in the fountain of your grace
And now I wear your righteousness

Thy work alone oh Christ can ease this weight of sin
Thy blood alone, oh Lamb of God, can give me peace within
Thy Love to me, oh God, not mine oh Lord to Thee
Can rid me of this dark unrest and set my Spirit free

Thy grace alone oh God to me can pardon speak
Thy power alone oh Lamb of God can this sore bondage break
No other work save thine, no other blood will do
No strength but that which is divine can bear me safely through

I praise the God of grace; I trust his truth and might
He calls me his, I call him mine, My God, my Joy, my Light
My Lord has saved my life and freely pardon gives;
I love because he first loved me, I live because he lives.

Pregnancy Update: Week 36

36 Weeks! Praise the Lord for getting us this far! I had a wonderful appointment with my midwife this morning. Drumroll......I am dilated 1cm, 50% effaced and baby is head down and getting low at a -1! Trying not to get my hopes up, but maybe we'll have a November baby?? :) I would totally love her to arrive between weeks 38 and 40. I still need another week or two to get everything ready, but then she's welcome to come come come! Just by feel, my midwife is guessing Baby A. is nearing about 6lbs. Since Lucy was 6.2 lbs. I am def. feeling just as big as when I gave birth last time. Not sure I want to be stretched out for another month!

I've been getting all of the itty bitty baby laundry done this past week. Not gonna lie, it's been super fun. I am so glad I get to use all of these cutie pie baby girl clothes again. I can't believe Lucy was ever so tiny!

I am going to try to finish getting everything ready for baby this week. Then next week maybe a little last minute deep cleaning and making frozen meals to have on hand. Exciting times!

Anyway, not much else to report. Feeling pretty good and still able to exercise most days. I feel like my body is in great shape. I can't walk super fast anymore, but my energy doesn't wear out. Hopefully I've gotten myself in good shape for labor! Here's a picture comparison. After perusing through pictures, I have come to the conclusion that even though I am appx. 15-20 lbs. smaller at this stage than I was with Lucy, my belly is definitely bigger! These pics show 35 weeks with Lucy (top) and 36 weeks with Annie (bottom). (Had to self-timer this 36 week pic so the angle is a little off!)

35 weeks with Lucy

36 weeks with Annie

Just some thoughts....

Two posts in one week. Yes, amazing. :) I have my 35 week pregnancy update all ready for you too! I just have to take a new picture. Hopefully I can post it before week 36. Ha!

What are Miss Lucy and I up to this morning?

*Sipping Starbucks. Which was given to me in a festive red Christmas cup. Just because it's November 1st does not make it Christmastime! I will savor the last few weeks of fall before getting myself in the spirit. :) 

*Popcorn for breakfast. Lucy has been in a really picky-eater mood recently--like not even drinking milk. Frustrating! This morning she discovered the leftover popcorn from our movie last night. I guess there are worse things she could eat for breakfast. (Sigh)

*Wondering if I can make it 4-5 (or dare I say 6!) more weeks. Little elbows, knees and feet are painfully poking at me right now. She has run out of space! Time to think about coming out. :) How about in 3 weeks? I told myself I wouldn't wish for an early delivery since Lucy was late.....but I think that's hopeless. Plus, could I really get bigger? I think not. 

*Watching Aladdin. Lucy's current favorite princess movie. She loves it. Keeps her happy while mommy gets some morning chores done---and some blogging, of course! :)

*Savoring our Savior. I've been going through my yearly journey of C.J. Mahaney's "Living the Cross Centered Life." I don't know about you, but I need to read this book at least once a year (maybe more!). I am too quick forget the wonder of the cross. "The debt was so great, that while man alone owed it, only God could pay it."--Anselm

*Meditating on Hebrews 4:14-16- 

 "Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast or confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help  in time of need." 


*Spending time with friends. Lucy and I are getting ready to head out. I am so thankful for godly loving friends and our church family!


Hope you all have a wonderful Tuesday! Here's a picture of my cutie pie. :)

Worth It All

Just a note of encouragement today.
A little bit of what God is teaching me.

We just finished going through the book of John in church. Sunday was the last message and it was so great! It was chapter 21:15-25. Jesus is asking Peter if he loves Him sincerely, SUPREMELY, intimately and entirely. As I was soaking in the passage I had no idea how much I was going to need it this week. God is so good and faithful to give us what we need, isn't He? My faith has been challenged this week in ways it never has before. I have experienced trials deeper and different than at any other time in my life. I am learning what it means to love Christ more than any other and trust that what God has planned for my life is best and what will bring Him most glory.

I've been praying these last months that God would make me more like Himself so I can be a better mommy to my girls. I pray that they will know and love Jesus. God has graciously given them so ME. Placed them in MY care on this earth. My home is a mission-field to teach my children to love their God supremely and entirely. How can I teach them if I am not living it myself?

Even though trials are hard---sometimes even seemingly unbearable--they draw me closer to God. They make me like Jesus. How can I lose my joy and hope when I have Christ?! My life is truly blessed and full.

"Jesus I My Cross Have Taken" is one of my favorite hymns. Put to a new tune, this song has challenged and encouraged me this week. I hope you'll be encouraged too! God is good and great. The joy of knowing and serving Him is worth it all. The cross has transformed my life! How can I not serve Christ?

Update on Life, Mommy-hood and Pregnancy Week 32!

32 weeks! Can it be? This update is long over due. I've been enjoying my time off from internet these past months though. It has given me some time to spend with the Lord--preparing my heart for this new stage in mommy-hood. Two precious girls to nurture and love and train to be godly women. I've been quite humbled recently thinking about the responsibility (and amazing God-given privilege!) to be a godly example to my girls. Whether they're 2 or 32, I know they'll never stop needing a godly example in their lives. As I think about having 2 little ones and the lack of sleep that is soon coming, I realize my need for God's grace all the more! My patience grows thin when I am tired. :) I want my sweet girls even now to see a mommy who is dependent upon the Lord. I fail every day but pray that by God's grace I can be an example of a beautiful woman to my girls until the day God calls me home! I want them to know what true beauty is in this world that preverts it so. Praying each day for my girls to know and love the God that made them! 

As far as my pregnancy goes....not much to report! So thankful for a textbook perfect pregnancy--according to my midwife. :) Everything has been great and I praise the Lord for no complicatons! I am starting to get more uncomfortable each week as this kiddo grows....and as I grow! It's hard to find a comfy sleeping position and I often wake up with aches and pains. Some days I wonder if I can grow any bigger. Then I remember that can. All I have to do is look at pictures from right before I had Lucy! :)

I can't believe we only have 8 more weeks until we meet our new little princess! I am starting to get in major nesting mode. I want everything to be ready for her arrival now! Haha. But I guess we don't need the bags packed and bassinet set up quite yet. :) We did stock up on diapers and wipes last night. I feel better knowing we won't have to buy those for the first month.

We finally decided on a name! It only took 30 weeks. Ha! Our new baby girl will be named......ready????

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~ Anna "Annie" Joy ~

A woman of grace and joy; favored by God.

We chose Annie because of it's meaning. We pray that Annie will be a woman of grace and joy who loves and serves her God!

I will hopefully update again in a couple of weeks with a new picture. :) We're keeping busy and enjoying fall! We took a trip to the apple orchard a few weeks ago and Lucy loved it! We're planning on the pumpkin patch next weekend. :) I love this time of year.

Life and Pregnancy Update: 25 Weeks

Hello! Our computer is still down and I have limited access to the internet so blogging has been on the back-burner. Sorry! Hopefully in the next month or so we'll be up and running again and I'll make up for lost time.

25 weeks, 3 days pregnant. I had an appointment with my midwife this morning and she said I was the perfect "textbook" example of a great pregnancy. Yay! I've only gained 17 lbs.--which is a huge improvement from my last pregnancy. But I must say.....I can't see how some women only gain like 25 lbs the whole time! Do they eat? Really. Baby girl was in one position before getting her heartbeat checked and in a new one after. She likes doing acrobatics. Have I mentioned this? Haha. I am feeling so great these days. Lots more energy than I have previously had. So thankful for this. I am totally nesting too. I am reorganizing EVERYTHING! I still have a few rooms to do but our house should be looking pretty amazing in a few days. :)

We are having a really hard time coming up with a name this time around. We have a few names but can't decide for sure. I think we might make a list of 5 or 6 and take it to the hospital. I like the idea of seeing her and then giving her a name. We'll see!

Our family is heading to Disney World (YAY!!!!!!!). Can you sense the excitement?? We leave the 3rd. I am hoping my energy lasts through our vacation. :) Lucy is going to love being there. She is big into the princesses right now. I can't wait!! Don't worry, I'll take a million pictures and post a bunch when we get back.

Here are some comparison pics of this stage of the pregnancy. Top is me with Lucy at 24 1/2 weeks. The bottom is this time around at 25 1/2 weeks.

Lucy, 24 1/2 weeks.

Baby Girl #2, 25 1/2 weeks.

Pregnancy Update: Week 23

Wow, I meant to do a 20 week update but never got around to taking a picture. THEN, our computer got a virus and I've been off-line for a couple of weeks. So you get a 23 week update and no picutre. Sorry. I am having to check e-mail and blogs and facebook about once a week when I have access to a computer. Hopefully we'll be up and running again soon....but I'm a little scared to take my computer in and have them tell me the damage. Ha! The break from technology has been nice Although, I look forward to being a little more "in the loop" asap.

Our baby girl is the size of a papaya. (Almost a foot long!) I am definitely looking pregnant these days and not just a little poochy in my tummy. Haha. :) A stranger asked me when I was due last week. I guess that makes looking pregnant official. :) I'm feeling well and am happy to announce that I've been enjoying coffee for over a month now! I was beginning to think I would have an aversion forever. *Relief.* Baby girl is still moving around like crazy....and I mean crazy. All day/night long in fact. My midwife said she was surprised at how strong she was kicking. I can now watch my tummy move around in weird ways while baby girl does flip flops and all kinds of crazy movement inside me. I was not able to see or feel Lucy like this so early. I am in for it! =) I'm already having dreams in the middle of the night of being kicked and poked. Even though I'm "dreaming" I"m positive the kicks are not a dream! They are pretty intense and sometimes even knock the wind out of me a little. I see some serious pain in my future! We're only 23 weeks and I know from experience that kicks just get harder. Wow. Anyway, she can hear sounds outside the womb now and is probably about a pound. We're still trying to decide on a name but have narrowed it down to 2....I think. We definitely have a front runner....but might just decide to look at her when she's born and give her a name then. I kinda like that idea. Kinda. :)

We're staying busy. Hopefully I'll get a chance to update everyone on Lucy soon. Have a wonderful week!