Baby update

My most recent doctors appointment was this past Friday. The appointment went well...heart beat still very strong, baby very active, etc. As of Friday, I was not showing any further progress...still just a centimeter dilated. I did have more blood work done, which I finally got the results for today. Thankfully, my platelet count is stable at 129. My doctor said that she would be happy if my count stayed right around 130...which it looks like it's going to! Yay! Praise God! I'm going to keep praying that it stays there...but it's good to see that I'm stabilized. Right now, my prayer is for my back. I've been in a lot of pain and find it hard to even get around the house with Hannah let alone do the housework that I would like to get done. I'm praying that the baby either comes soon or my back pain eases. I can't really complain though..I've had a great pregnancy and everything with the baby is looking really good and we praise God for that. We sure our eager to meet our little guy...really any day! :)

Big Sister Count-Down

Well the count-down in on! We are so excited to be coming into September, which in our house is baby month! Today, Hannah and I made a count down chain. Every morning, she will take one more link off her chain. Hopefully, this will help her better visualize exactly when her little brother will arrive. She's very excited about it! When anyone asks her about her baby brother, she always says that she is going to hold him at the hospital and that she is going to see her Grandma, Papa, Nana, Pop, and Uncle Jay. So many things to look forward too! We pray that she will ease into this transition really well! 12 more days!

Getting Married

Hannah is getting really good at pretend play. Lately, her mind has been on weddings. She loves to hold her Daddy's arm and say "let's get married"...then they walk together arm in arm.

she also loves to throw the hearts that she threw in David and Jessica's wedding!

Shadow or Reflection?

Over the past month or so, Hannah has been fascinated with her shadow. She has fun finding it and looking for where the sun is. She loves to find mine too...it's always fun to see the shadow of my preggo belly ;0). She also loves to see her reflection in windows, mirrors, and water (what little kid doesn't?). So...we've been talking about the difference between her shadow and her reflection. I love to hear her say the word "reflection" and use it in the right context. :)

Happy Homemaker Monday: {August 30th}

The weather in my neck of the woods:
Well...summer is back! Today is sunny and 91 degrees

Things that make me happy:
getting things crossed off my list

Book I'm reading:
Don't Make Me Count to Three by: Ginger Plowman
Her Mother's Hope by: Francine Rivers
and I read The Very Noisy Night at least twice a day..Hannah's favorite right now!

What's on my TV today:
nothin'

On the menu for dinner:
Pizza roll up burritos

On my To Do List:
books back to the library
de-fingerprint the house (mostly windows and mirrors)
wash sheets
clean stroller

New Recipe I tried or want to try soon:
scampi tilapia
italian spinach pie

In the craft basket:

nothing at the moment

Looking forward to this week:
Hannah's half birthday
maternity pics with Trenda

Tips and Tricks:
to clean your microwave...microwave a mug of vinegar and water for a few minutes then just wipe clean. Naturally clean!

My favorite blog post this week:
no favorites this week, I guess I haven't done very much blog reading

No words needed (favorite photo or picture, yours or others you want to share):
Lesson learned the past few days:
the importance of talking to God throughout my day...asking for his help/wisdom and praising him in the victories

On my mind:
having this baby: praying for a healthy baby, a safe/quick delivery, and a good platelet count.
praying for Hannah and wisdom for Seth and I as parents...parenting a toddler is no easy task!

Devotionals, Scripture Reading, Key Verses:

Psalm 100

A psalm. For giving thanks.

¹ Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.

² Worship the LORD with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.

³ Know that the LORD is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

⁴ Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.

⁵ For the LORD is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.

David & Jessica's wedding day

It was a privilege to be a part of David and Jessica's special day. David is one of our former teens...can't believe he's married! David is so special to us, and we've enjoyed getting to know Jessica. We are excited that they will be living here in the area to get to know her better and spend time with them as a couple.

The wedding was beautiful! The Lord blessed them with a beautiful, sunny day. The church looked so pretty decorated in green and purple. We were blessed to be able to share in David and Jessica's special day!

Hannah did a great job as the flower girl. She walked down the aisle and threw little hearts that were in her basket as she did. When she got to the front, she walked right up to David, looked up at him, and threw hearts on the ground right in front of him.

David and the girls

Hannah and the little ring bearer both loved getting to walk with each other. Hannah held his hand as the bridal party walked out of the sanctuary...she also thought it was great to hold his arm during pictures...they were both pretty fond of each other!

the whole bridal party

our little flower girl

one day she'll marry too ...but her Daddy will always be her first love...

David & Jessica's practice

Tonight was the practice for Mr. David and Ms. Jessica's wedding. I had fun practicing my job as the flower girl. Right when we got to church, I decided that I should start practicing my walk up and down the aisle. So that's just what I did while we waited for everyone else to arrive. I am very excited about my basket full of hearts, and practiced throwing them on the floor as I walked down the aisle. Everyone is hoping that I'll remember to do that tomorrow too :) Tomorrow, I get to walk down the aisle (after the wedding) with Ms. Jessica's nephew Logan. He held my hand tonight and walked me out of the church...everyone said that we were so cute together!

We ended the evening at Mr. David's house. I had yummy pizza and pasta for dinner. Then Mr. Jon let me sit on his motorcycle!

As I was going to bed tonight, I prayed for Mr. David and Ms. Jessica. I said "Dear God, please help them to get married"...mom and dad thought that was pretty cute. I'm excited to get to be a part of their special day!

Change for Changed Hearts

If you remember, Hannah has been working on collecting change (and dollars) for her missionary bank all summer. We had a fun time putting together her bank back in June and tried to remember to put change and dollars in it when someone had something to share with Hannah. Last night, we had our change for changed hearts party. Hannah and I counted, separated, and rolled her coins. Then with our other friends celebrated earning over $138.00 to send to our missionaries. We enjoyed ice cream sundaes and fellowship together!

This was a great way to teach Hannah about giving to others! I was really impressed with how well she was able to sort the money into piles and she rolled the coins all by herself!

the total for this little two year old came to $20.52

good work Hannah!

Hannah's Big Girl Room

Hannah's room is just about complete. I'm still trying to figure out how to make some extra room in her closet for all of her clothes, and the book shelf needs painted....other than that...all set. I never did find the perfect lavender quilt that I was looking for (at least not one in my price range) but did have this quilt already. I put it on the bed and loved how it looked...we may just stick with the green gingham!

The purple quilt on her bed was hand made by my friend Carrie and was kinda the inspiration for the rest of the room (along with the butterfly theme).

Didn't Pa do a great job on this adorable bookshelf?! Seth is going to paint it white soon...so we haven't loaded it full of books yet...but believe me it won't take long! I've already added her "Hannah Grace" baskets from the nursery since I took this pic...they look so cute!

it's neat how there are so many special parts of her room! The hat hanging on the wall is a decoration from one of my bridal showers, and the flowers on the table were the bouquet that I carried in my wedding. Pa made the bookshelf, and the rocking chair was Seth's when he was little.

Here...the dresser was a gift from a family at church, Gran made the cute little lamb (wearing a butterfly dress) for Hannah last Easter, and the shelves were from Canon (Seth's cousin) a few years back.

This is the bed that I got for Seth and I when we first got married. Seth painted it for Hannah and even added the touch of purple butterflies. And isn't the quilt beautiful?!

It's neat how everything came together!!

My new climber

This is the climber that my Daddy and Mommy picked got for me last weekend. Daddy got it set up for me and I love going in the backyard to play on it!

Helpin' Momma Get Ready

I'm so excited to meet my baby brother, and I love to help my mom get ready for him. Here I am stacking his tiny little diapers in the basket...his nursery is just about all ready for him!

Happy Homemaker Monday: {August 23rd}

The weather in my neck of the woods:
The forecast for this week looks great! Sunny and low 80's to high 70's all week!

Things that make me happy: seeing Hannah help out around the house

Book I'm reading:
Her Mother's Hope by Francine Rivers

What I'm enjoying on TV:I was enjoying watching Anne of Green Gables while on bed rest...maybe I'll have some time to finish it up in the evenings

On the menu for dinner:
fuss-free ravioli & cheese bake (I split it into 2 and now have a meal to put in the freezer for after baby comes!)

On my To Do List:

• clean kitchen- check
• clean coffee pot and microwave- check
• grocery store- check
• sweep floors- check
• fold and put away laundry
• iron ribbons for nursery letters and hang
• find a home for all the junk in our bedroom that we moved while getting the nursery and Hannah's room ready
  

New Recipe I tried or want to try soon:
Pasta with sausage and broccoli..economical and easy...but nothin' too exciting

In the craft basket:

I need to fix a necklace for a friend that I've had forever

Looking forward to this week:
ah...so much!
first of all having a "normal" week (providing the baby doesn't come this week)...it's so good to be back on my feet!
Also looking forward to getting some work done around the house this week, David and Jessica's wedding on Saturday, and a picnic in the park with friends on Sunday afternoon.

Tips and Tricks:
Here is a good step-by-step on how to clean your coffee maker with vinegar

My favorite blog post this week:

• A Time to Grow
• Mother Fears

both from Girl Talk, one of my favorite blogs

No words needed (favorite photo or picture, yours or others you want to share):

Lesson learned the past few days:
the importance of trusting in the Lord without worry (a hard lesson that I am continually learning over and over)

On my prayer list:
praying for the health and quick/safe delivery of my baby and for friends with various prayer needs

Devotionals, Scripture Reading, Key Verses:
Galatians 1:10 "Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ."

So long bed rest!!

Today I am rejoicing because my bed rest restrictions have been lifted!! Yahoo!! I was almost certain that they would be...but didn't want to get my hopes too high. I saw the doctor today and baby and I are both doing just fine. I'm almost 37 weeks, which is the safe zone, so no more bed rest needed!! YAY!!!!!

I do have a prayer request, though. I learned at my appointment today that my platelet count has been a little lower than what the doctors would like to see. This isn't a problem except for that the platelets are what makes your blood clot. So...the concern for me is that, if my platelet count drops below 100, I won't be able to have an epidural. The first count that she had (I believe was July 12th) my platelet count was 170, then it dropped to 124, and on Monday they were up a little at 129. I'm still not super worried because I'm not too far below where they want them to be (150), and I have climbed a little in the past few weeks. But it is something to pray about. I believe that this is just another chance for me to learn (a hard lesson for me that I have to learn over and over again) that I need to give my worries and fears over to the Lord. He has a perfect plan for the delivery of this baby and will give me just what I need to make it through.

I was so excited as I left the doctors office today! I hit a few garage sales on the way home and was very excited to see Seth and Hannah. It's been nice to be able to get my own water, make food for my family again, and just do normal things. I couldn't decided if I wanted to go out and do fun things today or catch up on all the work/cleaning that I have fallen behind on...so I did a little bit of both. We went to several garage sales this morning, then Seth took Hannah and I out to Chili's for lunch. We came back for her nap, I worked in the nursery for a little bit (it's starting to look little boy ready!!) and then headed out to get my hair cut. We ended the day with a family movie night...it was a GREAT day!!
I love to garage sale and just have to tell you about the deals that I found at just one of the sales we hit today! We spent $30 and got:

• a small climber with slide for the backyard (Hannah too big for it, but still had fun playing on it today, and I know that by the end of next summer her little brother will be enjoying it too!)
• a whole pile of super cute baby boy outfits and hats
• a second umbrella stroller that perfectly matches the one we already have for Hannah
• and I'm most excited because I found cloth diapers! I've been reading online and searching for what to purchase (we didn't start cloth with Hannah until she was 6 mo) for our newborn. Well today...I got ALL of my cloth diapering needs for a newborn for LESS than the cost of ONE box of diapers!! Diaper covers and prefolds...all I have to do is get them washed up and we are good to go!!

YAY for good deals and a wonderful day up and out with with my family!

I just had to throw in this adorable picture of Hannah...this is how we all feel about Mommy being off bed rest!!!

36 weeks

The plan is for my friend Trenda to take some belly pictures for me...but with being on bed rest, we haven't been able to work anything out yet. She made me promise that we would take at least a few at home so that in case I have the baby early, I will have some. My sister was here this week with her nice camera so I broke my bed rest rules for a few minutes and headed outside to enjoy some fresh air and snap some pictures. We got some really cute bare belly ones too...but I'll spare the whole world of those. Here's my growing belly at 36 weeks...we're almost there!

and because I love this sweet face...and am so excited about this shot...I had to throw this in too! :)

Bedrest: Day 16

Well, I wasn't as good about writing each day as I thought I would be. With a wonderful sister in law and sister here to help the past several days, I was busy with them. The plan for Thursday was for Hannah to stay here with me and for Seth to work from home. However, after a busy week for all of us, and a generous offer from my friend Sheri, we decided that it would probably be best for everyone is Hannah went for a play date. I know that Hannah had a ball with her friends Olivia, Amelia, and Addison...we are so thankful for such great friends!

I stayed here and enjoyed the quiet house. Took a quiet shower, enjoyed some Bible study time, and wrote thank you notes. At lunch time, I enjoyed a visit from my friend Meredith. She brought Panera for lunch...my favorite, and we enjoyed the chance to catch up. I was thankful for the company to break up the day.

After she left I listened to another one of Carolyn Mahaney's talks...let me tell you this Titus 2 series is SO good! I've been challenged and encouraged by ever part of the series. Thursday, I listened to "Being Kind and Doing Good". (Have I mentioned you can download all of these for free?) I was challenged in many ways...Here are a few highlights

**It was very good for me to think about good works in the context of my home. When I think of good works, I often think about what I am doing for other people...but I should first and foremost be devoting myself to activities that advance my families happiness.

**" True goodness does not look to the recipients, not even to the results of it's deeds for it's reward- it looks to God alone and finding his smile of approval, it gains the needed strength to carry on." Jerry Bridges

It's interesting to think about the fact that before I even existed- God prepared good works for me to do.

The most challenging part of the whole talk for me was thinking about slowing my life down a little bit. I believe that's a big reason why God allowed me to be on bed rest for the past two and a half weeks. C.M. said "When we allow our service to God to overcome our communion with God...we become ineffective in our service."
later, she shared a quote from Martin Luther that speaks well to this thought too he said "I have so much to do today that I will spend the first three hours in prayer."

She challenged the women that she was speaking to with this"
"We should be able to perform all the deeds that God has prepared for us by maintaining a normal walking pace. The pace of our christian lives should be that of walking steadily...

...Either we are doing works that God never intended for us or we are carrying them out in our strength."

I want to serve the Lord wholeheartedly, and faithfully...but I also want to make sure that I am serving in the areas that he has prepared for me and in HIS strength, not my own. It was so nice to have a quiet day to reflect on if my life is characterized by walking or running. I need to slow down, focus on what God has called me to do, and do it with reliance on Him...looking to Him for strength and grace each day. I thank the Lord for this time that He gave me to step back, refocus and think about where He has me right now. Obviously, my thoughts are on my family and this new precious life that is about to join us. My first ministry is to them...I want to be well known for showing kindness and doing good deeds, especially in my own home.

Galatians 1:10 "Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ."

Thank you Gran & Pa!

Yesterday, we were blessed to have a visit from Gran & Pa. They drove all the way up from Ohio just to visit for a few hours and deliver a few very special gifts.

I had seen this adorable house bookshelf on another blog and thought it would be a perfect addition to Hannah's big girl room. I sent the picture to Pa and asked him if he would be able to make something like it. He came up with this beautiful shelf! We are going to paint it white and know that it will make for an adorable reading nook in Hannah's room. Thanks Pa!!

Gran has also been busy. She brought an adorable little white suit that she made for our baby's dedication. I didn't take any pictures..thought I would save them for dedication day, you'll get to see it then :).

We loved the gifts and the time to visit...thanks for coming Gran and Pa!

Hanging out with Aunt Beth and Baby Ethan

We had a great few days with my sister Beth who came to stay with us this week. It was such a blessing having her here. It was nice to have sister time together, to watch our kids enjoy each other, and to have the extra help while I'm on bed rest.

While they were here Ethan learned how to climb the steps...and he was a champ at it!

Hannah had fun teaching Ethan how to play the drum...are you proud Uncle Adam?

and play ball...don't you love Hannah's fashion statement with her headband?


Ethan loved the Johnny Jump up

I know that Hannah has been missing her daily stroller ride since I've been on bed rest. She was SO excited to share her new double stroller with Ethan..Beth took them for several walks while she was here.

those blue eyes sure melt my heart!

cousin love...

I love this precious face..


Beth did such a great job caring for these two VERY busy little ones this week. You better believe she went home a very tired Momma..thanks Beth for all your help!