So I guess there's all kind of variance, but we finally have a bump showing at 14 weeks! Cool. Neat. Wow. Mury thinks so too. We have our next midwife apt in March, same day as Angie's birthday. That's fun. More later.
Love Nate, Angie, Mury, and little tiker.
Friday, February 25, 2011
Monday, January 31, 2011
New due date.
Well Nate and I had our first appointment with our midwife(s). It was fairly uneventful. Which is good I guess. She basically did my exam, asked her questions and then:)........ we got to hear our baby's heart rate!!!! That was totally SO REAL and absolutely unbelievable! I hear baby's heart rates all day at work but to hear our own?!?! To hear a heart rate at 160 that is not your own inside a belly that doesn't even look pregnant is absolutely amazing. I was just stunned listening to it at first and then I was amazed at the heart rate of this little tiny person inside me that I started laughing!! We even heard him/her move. So that was very cool.
We asked her if she ever diagnosed twins before and she said they had. Typically by the 20 week ultrasound......... "20 weeks!" I said, "that's far away!" She asked, "Do you have twins in your family?" Hehe. No, just a fun fantasy I guess. "Well", she added, "we can also tell by the size of your uterus. If it is larger than what it should for your gestation we will tell you to get a US." Well, needless to say, my uterus was right where it should be.........for a singleton. So no surprises of twins:P
She did change my due date. So now we are due August 25th. Which digresses me back to 10weeks and 5 days:/ We will have a follow up appt beginning of march when we will get labs drawn. So basically for now, keep on praying, reading, eating, swimming/running/walking, and sleeping:)
Speaking of reading. For any new mamas out there, I would have to recommend the book by Tedd Tripp, "Shepherding a child's heart". My friend Katie recommended it. "Parents are to be authorities who shepherd their children to understand themselves in God's world, keeping the gospel in clear view so children can internalize the good new and someday live in mutuality with you as people under God." I just started reading it, but I am so encouraged! I can't wait to use biblical principles to raise our child, focusing on the "heart issue" instead of their behavior, teaching them about the cross, and need for a Savior. I am so excited to raise up a child teaching them Who they were made by and for. It's the most important thing in life for them! My prayer is to be continuously in the word so I can shepherd them on God's behalf.
My prayer request would be for patience. To enjoy all of this pregnancy time. I don't know why I am counting the days until the turn of the next week. I guess I'm just excited to read about all the changes going on. But I want to enjoy these days with Nate. There is a reason God gave us 9months.
Hope all is going well with you readers:) Thank you for your prayers and thoughts.
Love, Angie
"God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth." Sometimes it can be hard to listen to what God has to say to you. You are convicted and then some time passes and you forget about it, and then might be convicted again, but then reason it away. It is flesh and spiritual warfare. It displeases God. The only way to keep the Spirit strong is to pray for courage and God's strength to be obedient and faithful. But take courage, for He is always with you. You may be divided or persecuted. But if God is for us, who can be against us.
We asked her if she ever diagnosed twins before and she said they had. Typically by the 20 week ultrasound......... "20 weeks!" I said, "that's far away!" She asked, "Do you have twins in your family?" Hehe. No, just a fun fantasy I guess. "Well", she added, "we can also tell by the size of your uterus. If it is larger than what it should for your gestation we will tell you to get a US." Well, needless to say, my uterus was right where it should be.........for a singleton. So no surprises of twins:P
She did change my due date. So now we are due August 25th. Which digresses me back to 10weeks and 5 days:/ We will have a follow up appt beginning of march when we will get labs drawn. So basically for now, keep on praying, reading, eating, swimming/running/walking, and sleeping:)
Speaking of reading. For any new mamas out there, I would have to recommend the book by Tedd Tripp, "Shepherding a child's heart". My friend Katie recommended it. "Parents are to be authorities who shepherd their children to understand themselves in God's world, keeping the gospel in clear view so children can internalize the good new and someday live in mutuality with you as people under God." I just started reading it, but I am so encouraged! I can't wait to use biblical principles to raise our child, focusing on the "heart issue" instead of their behavior, teaching them about the cross, and need for a Savior. I am so excited to raise up a child teaching them Who they were made by and for. It's the most important thing in life for them! My prayer is to be continuously in the word so I can shepherd them on God's behalf.
My prayer request would be for patience. To enjoy all of this pregnancy time. I don't know why I am counting the days until the turn of the next week. I guess I'm just excited to read about all the changes going on. But I want to enjoy these days with Nate. There is a reason God gave us 9months.
Hope all is going well with you readers:) Thank you for your prayers and thoughts.
Love, Angie
"God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth." Sometimes it can be hard to listen to what God has to say to you. You are convicted and then some time passes and you forget about it, and then might be convicted again, but then reason it away. It is flesh and spiritual warfare. It displeases God. The only way to keep the Spirit strong is to pray for courage and God's strength to be obedient and faithful. But take courage, for He is always with you. You may be divided or persecuted. But if God is for us, who can be against us.
Friday, January 28, 2011
So Real...
nate says...
Ever wonder if you're dreaming? ever wonder if something you're going through is not really happening but that you're just dreaming?
Well, I've felt that way recently regarding our pregnancy, the "expecting of a child." With no "bump" to show yet, my wife conundrum's me. (Yes, I'm attempting the springs a third time this winter, so the word is on my mind: if you're confused, ask me later). But, really, I find myself, as Angie already mentioned below, wondering if we really are pregnant!! If a child is in her! You know, I find myself doubting God, the Creator of life, if He can really pull it off, a person, who will one day be a whole adult person? coming from my wife?
But isn't that just like us sheep? Prone to wander from the God we love? I'm so glad Jesus is faithful to me even when I'm faithless! It's His mercy, His grace, His love, that keeps me coming back. And sometimes, I can't always see the reality of His faithfulness in my life. Many times, I've struggled with this. Can't see Him working in and through me. But He promises me in His word, the Bible, that He will complete what He started in me. Wow, that's comforting. And I know, that His will will be done in this pregnancy. His glory will be achieved. And I'm so thankful. It's just an example of how even though it doesn't show on the outside, Angie has a baby inside, Angie has a person inside, God is creating life inside her, in the secret place. I'm so thankful. I'm so grateful. I'm so amazed. I'm humbled. I'm delighted.
The birthing center is awesome. I'm so excited about it. I'm so excited about the natural birth classes. I'm so excited about the potential to learn. Wow, I can't wait, but at the same time to enjoy each moment, as Ang said, of each trimester day!! We're glad to have this birthing center where we can have our baby in a caring, "our" environment (including pre-labor, labor, etc) I'm not going to bash those who choose otherwise, but wow, this birthing center will allow the potential to trust God in birth. God is in control anyway, but sometimes in the hospital, we trust in medicine, trust in ourselves. But it's Jesus who is the author and finisher of our faith, including having children, shepherding these He gives us.
So, yeah, it's cool. it's rad. follow along. we are so thankful for you as you follow along. We are thankful for your support.
I'm going to say one more thing in this post. It's already permeated through this blog, and will continue to. But I want to make it abundantly clear, for it bubbles from my heart. Here it is: Jesus is Lord. He is real. Right now, this pregnancy, this element of Angie and I's life, may seem surreal, but Jesus is REAL. Jesus is in charge of our lives, along with this pregnancy. As He paints this life inside Ang, we both want you to know Jesus like we do. Why? What does this mean for you? One thing: LIFE. Just as our little grape, or whatever you wanna call it's size, is growing, it's a human. It's a person. YOU are a person. And YOU, if you don't have Jesus as your Savior, are separated from God, your Creator, by your sin. The Bible says all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. You are seperated from Him, His love, and His eternal Kingdom. Jesus said "I am the way, the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father except through me". The Bible says in Romans 10:9, that if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you WILL be saved. If you want to be saved and to spend all eternity with Jesus, who loves you so much He died for you, ask Him to come into your life, He promises He will. Then read the Bible, His love letter to you. And follow it's perfect instruction for life. If YOU do nothing with Jesus, or reject Him, you will die in your sin, you will die in your separation from your Creator, and spend an everlasting eternity separated from His love, which is darkness and agony. You don't have to die in this state! Surrender to the King Jesus! He made a way for YOU. If you need prayer, we can pray for you. We want to love on you, we have a lot to share, because Jesus dumps His love and grace on us every day.
We love you!
Ever wonder if you're dreaming? ever wonder if something you're going through is not really happening but that you're just dreaming?
Well, I've felt that way recently regarding our pregnancy, the "expecting of a child." With no "bump" to show yet, my wife conundrum's me. (Yes, I'm attempting the springs a third time this winter, so the word is on my mind: if you're confused, ask me later). But, really, I find myself, as Angie already mentioned below, wondering if we really are pregnant!! If a child is in her! You know, I find myself doubting God, the Creator of life, if He can really pull it off, a person, who will one day be a whole adult person? coming from my wife?
But isn't that just like us sheep? Prone to wander from the God we love? I'm so glad Jesus is faithful to me even when I'm faithless! It's His mercy, His grace, His love, that keeps me coming back. And sometimes, I can't always see the reality of His faithfulness in my life. Many times, I've struggled with this. Can't see Him working in and through me. But He promises me in His word, the Bible, that He will complete what He started in me. Wow, that's comforting. And I know, that His will will be done in this pregnancy. His glory will be achieved. And I'm so thankful. It's just an example of how even though it doesn't show on the outside, Angie has a baby inside, Angie has a person inside, God is creating life inside her, in the secret place. I'm so thankful. I'm so grateful. I'm so amazed. I'm humbled. I'm delighted.
The birthing center is awesome. I'm so excited about it. I'm so excited about the natural birth classes. I'm so excited about the potential to learn. Wow, I can't wait, but at the same time to enjoy each moment, as Ang said, of each trimester day!! We're glad to have this birthing center where we can have our baby in a caring, "our" environment (including pre-labor, labor, etc) I'm not going to bash those who choose otherwise, but wow, this birthing center will allow the potential to trust God in birth. God is in control anyway, but sometimes in the hospital, we trust in medicine, trust in ourselves. But it's Jesus who is the author and finisher of our faith, including having children, shepherding these He gives us.
So, yeah, it's cool. it's rad. follow along. we are so thankful for you as you follow along. We are thankful for your support.
I'm going to say one more thing in this post. It's already permeated through this blog, and will continue to. But I want to make it abundantly clear, for it bubbles from my heart. Here it is: Jesus is Lord. He is real. Right now, this pregnancy, this element of Angie and I's life, may seem surreal, but Jesus is REAL. Jesus is in charge of our lives, along with this pregnancy. As He paints this life inside Ang, we both want you to know Jesus like we do. Why? What does this mean for you? One thing: LIFE. Just as our little grape, or whatever you wanna call it's size, is growing, it's a human. It's a person. YOU are a person. And YOU, if you don't have Jesus as your Savior, are separated from God, your Creator, by your sin. The Bible says all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. You are seperated from Him, His love, and His eternal Kingdom. Jesus said "I am the way, the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father except through me". The Bible says in Romans 10:9, that if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you WILL be saved. If you want to be saved and to spend all eternity with Jesus, who loves you so much He died for you, ask Him to come into your life, He promises He will. Then read the Bible, His love letter to you. And follow it's perfect instruction for life. If YOU do nothing with Jesus, or reject Him, you will die in your sin, you will die in your separation from your Creator, and spend an everlasting eternity separated from His love, which is darkness and agony. You don't have to die in this state! Surrender to the King Jesus! He made a way for YOU. If you need prayer, we can pray for you. We want to love on you, we have a lot to share, because Jesus dumps His love and grace on us every day.
We love you!
Surreal.....
I have a friend at work who told me, "for your first trimester your pregnancy is very surreal". Interestingly, since we haven't seen our midwife yet to get blood work done confirming, "yes you are definetely pregnant", I'm wondering if I am still am (though the nausea pleads a good case). Then she continues, " during the second, when you "grow" a little bit, it becomes a bit more real, as you can see you are actually pregnant". Then she laughs, "Then the third trimester comes and you look at your big belly and think, how is this baby suppose to come out??!?!?!?!"
Nate and I visited the birth center where, after deciding yesterday and God willing I continue to have a low risk pregnancy, we will be delivering. YAY!! It is good to have that decision made. I will tell you a little about the birth center. Overall they describe themselves as a "maxi home" as oppose to a "mini hospital". The midwife who started it used to attend home births and wanted to open up a center where people could have a home birth experience outside their homes. While on the tour it felt like we were in an area that had nothing to do with "medicine". The birthing rooms are beautifully decorated like a room in a house- queen size beds, a little pool, a dresser, something that looks like a small hammock, hanging from the ceiling, that is actually for you to rest your arms in so you can stay in a prolonged squat position..... It was weird, to imagine us delivering there.
The reasons I am excited to go there are: 1. I hope they will get to really know Nate and I. There are 5 CNM (certified nurse midwifes) who could be at our delivery and during the course of our prenatal visits we will get to meet them all. When I stand butt naked in front of someone helping me with my labor, other than my husband, I hope to have somewhat of a relationship with them..... Also trust is very huge. Over the course of our prenatal visits I hope to increase a trust in their skills and knowledge so I can completely have a confidence in them and know that they are not practicing sketchy medicine (birthing center or bust!! I hope not!!) but will be evaluting me and baby as much as they need. 2. Hello I work at a hospital, and even though it is good, I would like to have an out of hospital experience that includes non-pharmalogical methods to get the job done! I am excited to learn anything different from what I do in the hospital to help women give birth. I think I have become a bit persuaded, if you will, from working on a high risk unit. Also, I hear and read stories of wonderful natural loving births and I want in! I was never really skeptical of the place, but I definetely needed to hear what they had to say about themselves and how they practice. Towards the end, we heard things that made us say yes to delivering there. There are "medical" interventions they will do if needed (they aren't so anti-medicine to be ignorant of good practices). 3. I want to be empowered in my pregnancy and delivery and I think these are the people to make it happen. I hope they will be encouraging, resourceful, and loving.
We have to pre-resister with Swedish hospital (right across the street) so if anything happens the transition is fast and smooth. We get to labor at home for a while, at least until we are in active labor (which is what I wanted). Nate can be involved as much as he wants (and I'll let him tell you all about that:P). We have to take 4 "natural childbirth" classes, as well as ones on newborn care and breastfeeding. They have post partum support and lacation support.
All in all I am excited to have our first prenatal visit with them on Monday. Hopefully they will draw my blood and definetely let me know I am pregnant:)
Thank you for your continued prayers and thoughts.
Love, angie
Nate and I visited the birth center where, after deciding yesterday and God willing I continue to have a low risk pregnancy, we will be delivering. YAY!! It is good to have that decision made. I will tell you a little about the birth center. Overall they describe themselves as a "maxi home" as oppose to a "mini hospital". The midwife who started it used to attend home births and wanted to open up a center where people could have a home birth experience outside their homes. While on the tour it felt like we were in an area that had nothing to do with "medicine". The birthing rooms are beautifully decorated like a room in a house- queen size beds, a little pool, a dresser, something that looks like a small hammock, hanging from the ceiling, that is actually for you to rest your arms in so you can stay in a prolonged squat position..... It was weird, to imagine us delivering there.
The reasons I am excited to go there are: 1. I hope they will get to really know Nate and I. There are 5 CNM (certified nurse midwifes) who could be at our delivery and during the course of our prenatal visits we will get to meet them all. When I stand butt naked in front of someone helping me with my labor, other than my husband, I hope to have somewhat of a relationship with them..... Also trust is very huge. Over the course of our prenatal visits I hope to increase a trust in their skills and knowledge so I can completely have a confidence in them and know that they are not practicing sketchy medicine (birthing center or bust!! I hope not!!) but will be evaluting me and baby as much as they need. 2. Hello I work at a hospital, and even though it is good, I would like to have an out of hospital experience that includes non-pharmalogical methods to get the job done! I am excited to learn anything different from what I do in the hospital to help women give birth. I think I have become a bit persuaded, if you will, from working on a high risk unit. Also, I hear and read stories of wonderful natural loving births and I want in! I was never really skeptical of the place, but I definetely needed to hear what they had to say about themselves and how they practice. Towards the end, we heard things that made us say yes to delivering there. There are "medical" interventions they will do if needed (they aren't so anti-medicine to be ignorant of good practices). 3. I want to be empowered in my pregnancy and delivery and I think these are the people to make it happen. I hope they will be encouraging, resourceful, and loving.
We have to pre-resister with Swedish hospital (right across the street) so if anything happens the transition is fast and smooth. We get to labor at home for a while, at least until we are in active labor (which is what I wanted). Nate can be involved as much as he wants (and I'll let him tell you all about that:P). We have to take 4 "natural childbirth" classes, as well as ones on newborn care and breastfeeding. They have post partum support and lacation support.
All in all I am excited to have our first prenatal visit with them on Monday. Hopefully they will draw my blood and definetely let me know I am pregnant:)
Thank you for your continued prayers and thoughts.
Love, angie
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
9 weeks and 3 days
So it's pretty cool that our baby is now the size of a grape. I mean that's pretty sizable! Don't you think? I mean before, just a little blueberry (although that is way cuter to say), but now..... a whole grape! I think they mean one of those huge grapes that almost looks like a small plum, that has the seeds in them, purplish skin.... not the tiny red grapes; I mean that's almost the size of a blueberry and that would be ridiculous. I like to form a small circle with my fingers to make the size of a grape and hold it up to my belly (i'll say belly instead of uterus:) and think, "you are huge! How can I not feel you or see that you are there yet?!" They say that now most of the physiological systems are in order for rapid weight gain! Woo Hoo! GO grape GO!! A+ for our little tike. Also the thing that I find most exciting is that our baby's heart has finished dividing into four chambers, like a real heart!
It's fun being pregnant. I almost feel like I have this extra sweetness inside of me. I have a little bounce in my step. I haven't been emotional yet, although the other day I did just want to hold Nate's hand, just to hold it and feel close. I like that video that shows what is going on from week 1-9. Occasionally I will imagine a little grape baby inside me twitching away as its muscles and reflexes are forming (it's weird I can't feel it). Or imagine a finished baby room. Or Nate and I sitting around the floor watching our baby coo and move. Is it too early to start playing classical music for our baby? I think I am just a little in love with the idea there is a little growing person inside me. And that Nate will be a daddy. But, I was telling a woman at work, God is very much in this pregnancy and in control, so again, His will be done. Tension. Can't get away from it. Spirit and flesh.
I just want to praise and thank God for Who He is. Blessed be His name when the darkness closes in and with every blessing He pours out to us. We can love because He first loved us. Great is His name in all the earth. Thank you Abba, for being in control and watching out for your adopted children.
Thank you again to everyone who is following this blog and supporting us with comments and emails and phone calls and texts and converstations. Your attention and involvement are so amazing and make us feel loved. So thank you for being here with us.
Love Nate and Angie
It's fun being pregnant. I almost feel like I have this extra sweetness inside of me. I have a little bounce in my step. I haven't been emotional yet, although the other day I did just want to hold Nate's hand, just to hold it and feel close. I like that video that shows what is going on from week 1-9. Occasionally I will imagine a little grape baby inside me twitching away as its muscles and reflexes are forming (it's weird I can't feel it). Or imagine a finished baby room. Or Nate and I sitting around the floor watching our baby coo and move. Is it too early to start playing classical music for our baby? I think I am just a little in love with the idea there is a little growing person inside me. And that Nate will be a daddy. But, I was telling a woman at work, God is very much in this pregnancy and in control, so again, His will be done. Tension. Can't get away from it. Spirit and flesh.
I just want to praise and thank God for Who He is. Blessed be His name when the darkness closes in and with every blessing He pours out to us. We can love because He first loved us. Great is His name in all the earth. Thank you Abba, for being in control and watching out for your adopted children.
Thank you again to everyone who is following this blog and supporting us with comments and emails and phone calls and texts and converstations. Your attention and involvement are so amazing and make us feel loved. So thank you for being here with us.
Love Nate and Angie
Sunday, January 16, 2011
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