It's A Girl!!!

You opened your mouth and tried to put your fingers in your mouth. You will get the hang of it sooner or later! But it was so adorable to see you try for the first time!

You are precious to us baby girl!

A Family of Three

How beautiful you are my sweet girl. My heart was overflowing and I cried through most of our 18 week ultrasound. I am so blessed to have you. As I saw you on the screen I thought of the Shane and Shane song that says...

You are all
big and small
beautiful
and wonderful
to trust in grace through faith
but i'm asking to taste...

for dark is light to You
depths are height to You
far is near
but Lord, i need to hear from You

be near, oh God
be near, oh God of us
Your nearness is to us our good
be near, oh God
be near, oh God of us
Your nearness is to us our good, our good

for dark is light to You
the depths are height to You
far is near, but Lord
i need to hear from You

Shane - from Psalms 73:28; 139

You flipped over and were so active.


When we were looking at you on the screen we saw you open your mouth and put your hand up by your mouth. Then you rolled over and buried your little face, like you might into a pillow. It was so cute. Your dad and I are praying for your continued growth and development and we are going to another ultrasound in the next couple of weeks. Remember that God is near you and that he is leading you to your glorious destiny even now, sweet one. Your dad is praying Jeremiah 29:11 over you every night.
We Love You So Much Baby Girl!

Here is your first 3-D photo.

Fall and My 17th Week

Fall has arrived with her tell-tale signs of crisp autumn air, leaves turning brilliant and pumpkin bread baking in the oven. I feel happy and warm inside as I think of old friends heading to the pumpkin farm and plenty of apple crisp with some good conversation to share. Take in every moment.

Happy Fall!
To you, from Aunt Jill and Uncle Josh.

Precious baby, you are the size of my hand now- about 5 inches long. Your soft cartilage is turning to hard bone, and the umbilical cord — lifeline to the placenta — is growing stronger. You sill only weigh about 5 ounces. You can now move your joints and have startle reflexes when you hear loud noises. Soon I will be able to feel you move. I am getting excited about feeling you move and finding out if you are a boy or a girl.

The Big Question!?!?
BOY OR GIRL

Happy Fall Sweet Peanut!

Fall is here and the weather is turning colder. I made pumpkin bread with cinnamon cream cheese icing. It is one of my favorite fall traditions. I also love to get pumpkins at the pumpkin farm. Perhaps we will get a pumpkin this coming weekend. Next year, you will be there to see all the pumpkins. Well, you will be there this year, but just less interactive. My birthday is coming up and it will special because it is my first birthday pregnant. I am hoping for some maternity clothes from your dad, or a gift card might be better! My pants are starting to get tight and soon I will need something else to wear. I have to keep us warm! Your dad and I continue to pray for you. As the Holy Spirit hovers over you, we pray that you will be filled with His life and love. -We love you!

Zephaniah 3:17
"...Your God is present among you,
a strong Warrior there to save you.
...he'll calm you with his love
and rejoice over you with singing."

God is your Jehovah-shalom, Jehovah-nissi, Jehovah-raah, and Jehovah-rophe. He is the peace that guards your heart, the banner that covers you, the shepherd the gently guides you and the great physician who heals you.

Give me a candle of the Spirit, O God,

as I go down into the deep of my own being.

Show me the hidden things.

Take me down to the spring of my life,

and tell me my nature and my name.

Give me the freedom to grow so that I

may become my true self,

the fulfillment of the seed which You planted

in me at my making.

Out of the deep I cry unto thee, O God. -Amen

George Appleton

15 Weeks Along and Our 5 Year Anniversary

The Island Manor Bed and Breakfast
You started your 15th week on September 25th, our 5 year anniversary! We celebrated 5 years of marriage and you came with us for our Chincoteague Island adventure. We saw lots of wild life on the island and went to the beach. I know you will love the beach! We were also able to see the famous wild horses of Chincoteague Island.
Your dad and I read more about how you are developing in your 15th week. We learned that you can hear us talk now. So your dad took the time on Saturday night to tell you all about our day and all the things you would have loved to see. He prayed over you out loud and made sure his head was near my belly so you can become familiar with his voice. He wants me to play more classical music for you too. Now you are 4 1/2 inches long and growing fast. You are the size of an apple and I am beginning to show more and more. You are loved little one! Five more weeks and we can know if you are a boy or a girl! I am so excited! Love, me

Anniversary Dinner

Exploring the Island

The bay...

The Lighthouse

Sand dunes

Some wild life...

BBQ by the Beach

Second Trimester

Week 14
This week's big developments: You can now squint, frown, grimace, and possibly suck your thumb! Thanks to brain impulses, facial muscles are getting a workout as tiny features form one expression after another. You are also stretching out. From head to bottom, you measure 3 1/2 inches and he weighs 1 1/2 ounces. You are about the size of a lemon. By the end of this week, your arms will have grown to a length that's in proportion to the rest of your body. Though I can't feel your tiny punches and kicks yet, your little hands and feet, which now measure about 1/2 inch long, are more flexible and active. I am feeling better than last week and have more energy. I have moments of nausea but not as much as a few weeks ago. It is amazing what a week can do! We received a package from your Aunt Jen and Uncle Josh. They bought you a really cute outfit. You will be a well dressed baby!

13 Weeks 6 days

Another belly picture, at 13 weeks 6 days...

Belly Pictures

Happy Dad!

He is sad because he has to leave the appointment for class.
He did not get to hear the heart beat!

Baby clothes from Grama and Grampa and your first socks!

Sweet Peanut,
Today we went to our 4th doctor's appointment and although we were on time, the doctor was behind and didn't see us until two hours later. Because the doctor was late, Dad had to leave and couldn't hear your heart beat. He was very disappointed! He had to go to group psychotherapy observation for class. You see, your Dad is getting his PhD and is teaching, going to class and seeing clients. One day, he will be a professor. He is very smart! So as Dad left to go to his observation, I was able to hear the strong heart beat of 150 beats per minute! The doctor says that is right where it should be. All the tests had great results and it was wonderful news to hear. We have been praying for you to grow strong."Be at rest once more, O my soul, for the LORD has been good to you." Psalms 116:7

I also asked many, many questions and received lots of good answers. I am still deciding on where to deliver. Our choices are St. Mary's or Henrico Doctor's Hospital for your delivery. Once we take the tours and ask more questions we can make a better choice for where you will be delivered. Our next appointment will be in three weeks and then in another three weeks we will be able to tell if you are a boy or a girl! Yes, we are going to find out on November 2nd...boy or girl! Every moment gets more and more exciting. I pray that God fills you with his love and covers you with his spirit. He takes great delight in you precious one, even now he quiets you with his love. "The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing." Zephaniah 3:17
Love - your mommy

12 Weeks and Growing

Here are more cute clothes for you from Aunt Jilly and Uncle Josh...

My Growing belly

...and growing!

Hey Sweet Peanut! Today I received a package from your Aunt Jill to help celebrate 12 weeks! She has such great taste in baby clothes. You are 12 weeks and 4 days old now. You are about the size of a lime, 2 and 1/2 inches long, weighing about 1/2 ounce. Your fingers and toes are growing tiny little nails. My belly is growing a little too and it is getting more and more exciting! Each day we are praying, reading and planning. I am trying not to get ahead of myself but take one day at a time, enjoying each moment. There are moments of nausea and early bed times too, but it is good that you are reminding me I need my sleep! I pray over you these verses and these are some of my very favorite.
Ephesians 3:16 - 21
"I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will give you a mighty inner strength, that comes from his Holy Spirit. I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your heart as you learn to trust in Him. I pray that you will be able to understand, as all God's people should, how long, how high, how deep and how wide the love of God is. I pray that you would experience this love, though it is so great you will never fully understand it. Once you experience this love, then you will be filled with the fullness of life and the power that comes from God. Now to Him who is able to do infinitely more than we could dare to ask, hope or even imagine, to Him be the glory in the church and in Jesus Christ to all generations, forever and ever. Amen."
I love you little one and know that God loves you more than I could ever imagine! Love, mom