Count it: 28 weeks (7 months)

Izzie-boo,

For the most part, I've tried not to share the less-than-comfortable parts of our journey in growing you.  Your dad and I watched the 3rd Narnia movie, "Voyage of the Dawn Treader" today and a line toward the end helped me put into words something I've been feeling a lot throughout this pregnancy.  Prince Caspian says something like, "I need to stop dwelling so much on what's been taken from me and instead think about what I've been given."

During pregnancy, it's easy to feel sorry for yourself.  Because you're taking special care to nourish and protect the little life growing inside, you have to remember to DO certain new things and to NOT DO others that you might miss a lot.  Your daddy has been helping out more around the house, taking on chores that are harder for me now--trash, litter box, some cleaning and all of the heavy lifting.  He has been so thoughtful to protect you and me in a ton of little ways.

Of course, it's totally worth it! I would never do anything to hurt you and I want to do everything possible to make you healthy, strong, happy and successful in life.

The aches and pains of pregnancy have taken a toll.  I have this deep, strange pain in my right butt check (posterior pelvic pain) that gives me trouble (but not as much this last week!).  As you grow in my belly, my body adjusts to the new center of gravity, the changing shape and the squished-ness of my organs.  I have trouble breathing sometimes, my feet and ankles swell and I general "ick" every now and then.  The way I move is just different because I'm not used to a big bump on my tummy (that's you!).  It won't last too much longer and this whole experience has been pretty amazing to watch and document.

Your dad and I have wanted this for a couple of years and we're finally getting the chance.  We won't let the discomforts and new responsibilities get us down (at least not for long) because we know what a blessing and joy you will be in our lives.

Your dad actually told me the other day that he wants you to JUST GET HERE already! :)  We've been expecting you and thinking about the day we'll meet you for 7 months today...and it can't come fast enough.

Jess-obelly!

I've been taken these and sending them to some ladies who want to see me in my undies-belly growing, like your 3 grandmas, aunt Sammi and my BFFJ, Andrea. :)

Pretty early on...

Thanksgiving weekend-on our way to La Veta (Sand Dunes!)

Distinct BUMP

Getting my yoga on.

Ooh la la, right?

Belly officially equaling boobs

Just before Christmas vaca

Week 26-Happy New Year and happy new crib!

Week 27-belly taking over

Showing off my new clothes & ear-warmer!

Week 25 (on Dec.25)

Hi, honey. It's been a while since I wrote you last...and you've gotten a lot bigger in my belly!

Today is Christmas Day-the day we spend with family and exchange presents to celebrate and remember the gift of Jesus (from God).  He came to earth as a baby, just like you will in a few months, and his first visitors were kings and wise men, who brought him gifts because they were so happy about him being born. Jesus' birth gave the world hope of a whole different future. You're no Jesus, but you're pretty special.  And you're doing the same thing for your dad and me-giving us hope and the promise of a new future as parents.

Christmas is on December 25th and we are in our 25th week this week (15 weeks to go!).  You are moving around in my belly all the time now--you feel like a fish in a bowl! Your daddy can feel you when he puts his hand on my tummy sometimes too, which is so much fun for us!

Everyone at home in Mount Juliet/Gallatin/Owensboro has been so supportive and happy for us (that we get you!).  People have made blankets and given us lots of pretty little gifts for you and tell us that they're praying for you all the time.  You are being born into a world full of friends and people who love you already and that makes your dad and me feel so lucky.

Love you little one. Grow strong and healthy and don't kick me too hard! :)

Isobel, it's YOU!

Hey my little sugar plumb. See, the knowledge of your "girlness" is already causing me to cause you cutesy, girly things (but I don't care).


Tuesday was the most fantastic day for your dad and me (and also a pretty great day for all of your grandparents, aunts, uncles and honorary aunts and uncles-our friends).  We went into the doctor's office hoping to see you and let the technician look at everything.  Our bodies are made of so many parts that have to grow and work just right for us to be healthy--The technician took time to check out how everything is growing: your brain and spine, your heart and organs, your fingers and toes.  We got to watch you move around and open your mouth.  We were just mesmerized looking at you.

The technician and doctor told us that you look 100% healthy and that they didn't see any reason to do more testing.  They also told us that you are a girl! We thought it would be fun for your dad to find out first and then tell me.  I had to close my eyes when the screen showed your girl parts and it was so hard not to look because I was excited to know!

Taken right after we found out!

Your dad told me that you're a girl, with tears in his eyes.  He is so eager to protect you and provide the loving, stable, silly environment that you will need.  He is a little nervous because he grew up with uncle Jordan, his brother, and they didn't have sisters.  Since I'm already a girl and grew up with a sister, your aunt Sammi, I think I would've been more nervous to have a boy.  The truth is--we were very relieved that you were healthy and either gender would've been fine.

But remember--The Lord gave me dreams of you, my love. I have seen your face and have heard your infectious little giggle.  On Tuesday morning, when we saw you on the screen, I felt like I was seeing you for the first time since my dreams.

When we shared the news, everyone shrieked (Gma Terri "MeeMaw") and cried (your JoePa cried a little!) and thanked God for you.  We posted a few of your pictures on Facebook and so many people said how beautiful you are.  We agree.

Tuesday-come now!

We are so excited to see you on Tuesday morning--We will be into our 19th week and it'll be at Obstetrix, with a fancy ultrasound machine and a trained technician.  The doctor will look at all your parts and make sure that everything is development and growing like it should.  If we're lucky, we will also find out if you are a little boy or a little girl--I hope you cooperate and show us your stuff!

Your dad and I have names picked out for you on both counts, but they aren't 100% for sure.  It is important to me, especially, that we decide as soon as possible because I want to start calling you by name.

Isaiah 43:1
But now thus says the LORD, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have
redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.

We will love you so much, regardless. It just feels like we are going to meet you at this appointment; that we get to learn a lot more about you now--We get to see your face and all of your parts, watch you move in there...and maybe start calling you by your name.  I've read that you are hearing things outside my womb now, too.

Your aunts, uncle and grandparents are looking forward to knowing more about you too! They can't wait to start buying you clothes and decorations for your room.  

Our society has very firm opinions about how males and females should think, feel, act and look--sometimes I think these opinions are a bit extreme and silly.  Boys wear blue and green and brown and girls wear pink and purple and frilly things.  We aren't going to make you stand out looking strange, but I definitely want you to know that all colors are appropriate for you to wear and love--Boys and girls only have one standard to go by, for how they should be, and that's in our Father's (God's) image.  LOTS more on that later. Like, for instance--did you know that pink used to be reserved for boys only and blue for only girls? And this was only 100 or so ago!  Culture shapes identity, but it doesn't really create our identity. Only God does.

http://www.gender-focus.com/2010/09/23/pink-for-girls/

Love!

Popcorn!

This week was week 18 for us and an exciting thing started happening-I felt you inside me!

At first, I wasn't sure it was you...it felt like a little push outward here...and then there. I had read that it feels like a tiny butterfly fluttering or like popcorn popping and I think the latter is the best description.  I decided not to be too excited about it until it happened a few more times and I could make sure that this was you.  By the next day, I'd felt you a few more times and it felt so good to be able to feel you in there moving.  I've been talking to YOU all the while, but this is the first time that I've noticed you making contact with ME! Now, I know that you've really been moving in there for weeks, with your reflexes and bones developing fast.  You weren't trying to "speak to me," but it was still very neat to feel you for the first time.  People tell me that I'll get tired of you moving around in there, and I believe them.  Your aunt, Kristina, told me that she could see your cousin's (Caden) knees and elbows making dents into her stomach when he was almost ready to come out!

One night, when I was feeling you pretty often, I told your dad that I could feel you. He put his hand right where you are now, in my tummy, and he said that he thinks he could feel you moving in there too!

After your aunt Sammi and i went and bought some maternity basics for mom to wear, I've started feeling more comfortable in my own (growing) skin.  I've also been trying hard to eat my veggies (although I really don't want them at all!) and get some activity in on most days.  It's been hard to make the time because I can't seem to get enough quality sleep these days--I wake up often during the night, just trying to get comfortable, and it's been leaving me craving more.  But I know that the exercise helps and will keep helping, when I can make it happen!

The Pooch: It's YOU.

Hi sweetie pie. Earlier this week, I went to see the midwives.  It was a quick trip--We heard your heartbeat loud and proud on their doppler and I found out that Dad and I will get to see you again in only 2 weeks--On Tuesday, November 13th! There's a good chance we'll find out for sure if you're a boy or a girl and we are so excited.  I think we've missed looking at you since the moment they turned off the ultrasound a few weeks back...I'm sure you have grown a ton!

Mom's tummy has started poking out this week, making it kind of awkward to find clothes to wear to work in the mornings.  I've even felt a little off balance, with you moving in there! People say that I should be starting to feel you move inside me, but I don't think I've felt you yet.

I found a blog with this great idea for my pants tonight:

I'm definitely going to try this soon! Actually, your aunt Sammi and I are going to check out a couple more stores for maternity basics and cute baby stuff tomorrow. I'm so lucky to have her close by, and that she's willing to help your mom get up the courage and energy to learn how to do this "mom" stuff! For some reason, mom and baby shopping really overwhelms me...and she's just fine with it. We're a good team. :)






Love you! Sleep well in my tummy tonight--Feel free to move and kick and show me you're in there!