Tis the Season

What a difference a year makes! Last year at this time of year we had just been put on the wait list and were eagerly anticipating the child who would enter our family. This year is already so full of joyfulness with Malachi in our family! We feel blessed on a daily basis to get to be dad and mom to this precious kiddo!

After we got our tree set up we couldn't wait to do a little photo shoot with Malachi. Malachi is hilarious though, as he LOVES the camera! We got over 100 shots of him and all of them look good in their own way, but we had to dwindle them down as no one (besides us) wants to scroll through over a hundred pictures. So here are a few of our favorites! It is truly going to be a wonderful Christmas time with him!!!

To explain the next one: I would guess about half of the pictures we have are of him hamming up the camera as shown by this picture below. He truly goes into character/silly mode as soon as the camera comes out!

He is such a handsome boy! As we enter this time of Christmas, I remember how empty I felt a year ago wondering about my little one. My heart is full this year, but at the same time it aches for his birth family. Adoption makes good out of something bad, but it will always be a burden for everyone involved. My heart hurts so badly for the mother who will always wonder where her little boy is and what he is doing. I pray constantly that God would give her peace that he is okay and very much loved. I just wish somehow she could get a glimpse of what he looks like today. I just wish that somehow we could make contact with her, but there is no trail whatsoever so I will always be wondering about her as I am sure she wonders about her son. This world is so full of joy and sorrow all intertwined together.

I am so happy as we enter this month of fun and celebration!

Ouch

Now that I have entered "The home-stretch" of pregnancy, my body is really starting to feel it! I am starting to have lots of soreness and I find it really difficult to get comfortable at night. I am also starting to experience rib pain as things continue to get pushed up into my ribcage.

The baby has become very active in the past week. I think it is a sign that s/he is starting to notice that space is getting tighter. I do my very best to sleep on my side like a good pregnant woman should, but I don't think the baby likes that very much because s/he starts kicking me in the side that is resting on the bed whenever I lay on my side.

I still feel like I am really early on in the pregnancy. Maybe because this is all happening so much faster than the adoption did. Maybe it is because I am taking care of Mal. Or maybe because I feel like I just started showing in the past couple weeks. I always figured I needed to be really big in order for the aches and pains to be bad, but now I am learning that actually the less you grow out, the more pain your body undergoes as the baby puts more pressure on organs and the spine.

Ugh, the spine. The back pain has become very hard for me to deal with. It can become downright excruciating at times. Unfortunately there is not much that can be done for it and I knew to expect this at some point in the pregnancy. I know hefting my huge 7 month old around does not help with the pain, but I have to carry him around during the day and I hate having to let Peter help on the weekends. I am a baby hog. I want to hold and care for Mal and I can't always do that. It is difficult to have to choose between holding him or dealing with horrible back pain. Unfortunately my doctor has just told me that it will get much worse before it gets better.

The final thing I am adjusting to is contractions. I started having contractions around 20 weeks, while we were in Disneyland but that was to be expected with all the walking we were doing there. I really had to cut back on the activity level while in Disneyland because the pains were happening close together and were a little painful. It was just not worth the potential risks to push my luck. After our trip, I had no further issues with contractions until recently. If I overdo around the house or walk around too much I start having contractions. They can be painful, but more so it is just concerning to me. I fully believe that they are just Braxton-Hicks (practice) contractions. I have been told by my doctor that there is no reason for concern unless I have more than 5 in an hour. There have been just a few times that I have probably had more than 5, but after sitting down and resting they go away. More so, I do believe these are my fault. Dehydration can bring on contractions and I have been horrible about drinking enough water so I am trying harder to stay hydrated and I do think that is helping (unfortunately that is rapidly increasing trips to the bathroom).

I don't post all this to complain, just to document a few of my hardships of pregnancy. The aches and pains are just part of pregnancy and for the most part I am still enjoying this time in my life! I still know this baby is a wonderful blessing in my life and I LOVE how active this baby is! I love feeling almost constant kicks throughout the day! The other morning I was woken up by baby hiccups and while I do not typically enjoy getting woken up, I really thought it was cool! I am not taking this baby for granted and I am still fully confident that every ache and pain will be well worth it and I would do it all over again if I had to! I feel fortunate that I am able to experience the incredible thing that is pregnancy! I have never felt a need to have a biological child, but pregnancy has always fascinated me and it is a true joy in my life to get to experience a baby growing inside my tummy!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

I want to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving!!!

We have so very much to be thankful for this year!!! I am looking forward to lots and lots of yummy food and the family tradition of playing Bingo for candy bars!!!

I hope everyone has a wonderful day!!!

Second Trimester Recap

Yep, it is time for the third and final trimester. Here is my recap of the second trimester!

15 weeks: Still not feeling too well. I haven't really started to notice a change in my size except that I am having to wear bigger tops. So far I have really wanted frozen peaches and lemonade!

16 weeks: After my appointment had to be rescheduled three different times, I was finally able to get in for my appointment. As soon as I got there the doctor had to run out to deliver a baby. I decided to wait it out and 2 hours later I got in for my appointment. Baby scared me really bad. The doctor could not find a heartbeat no matter how hard she looked. She had me move around and cough a few times and then tried again, but still no luck, just heard total quiet. She finally went out to get the ultrasound machine. I was really worried that I wasn't going to get good news and I know the doctor was worried too. Finally she did the ultrasound and there baby was, all tucked into a tight little ball. The baby finally unfolded and then put his/her arms above their head and rested their foot on their opposite leg in total relaxation. Yup, looks like we have a little pill on our hands! I was also able to schedule my anatomy scan for October 11th, just 3 weeks away!

17 Weeks: I am definitely starting to feel little wiggles and goldfish like movements in my tummy. It is very cool to start noticing the first signs of movement in there!

18 weeks: Felt my first real kick from the outside! I was resting my hand on my tummy as I was falling asleep and there was a kick as clear as day. At first I second guessed it but then it happened a few more times. It is so incredible knowing that there is a living tiny little baby growing inside me!

19 weeks: Since we are going to Disneyland during the 20th week I was fortunate in that I got to get my anatomy scan a week early! I was a little bummed in that the ultrasound technician would not allow me to watch the ultrasound. It was actually quite painful as baby was hiding as low as possible in my pelvis and the technician had to push really hard to get pictures of the baby's brain and heart. Peter got to watch the whole thing and marvel over how incredibly formed the baby already is! He also made me laugh at one point as he got a clear shot of the face and what appeared to be his nose on the baby. I finally got a a few glimpses of the baby at the end just as the baby started sucking on his/her thumb - it was so cute! The baby was weighing in at 11 ounces and was also measuring exactly to my due date - impressive! The best news of all was finding out the baby appears to be very healthy!!!

20 weeks: The big halfway point! I am finally starting to feel like I am kicking the morning sickness. I was beginning to think that it was never going to end, but I am so happy that it is starting to let up and I can eat again! I have been eating pineapple's and strawberries almost nightly! In addition I have picked up quite the coke craving! I have also started to wear exclusively maternity clothes even though I am hardly showing.

22 Weeks: Peter was finally able to feel the baby move! I am not sure that I had him totally convinced that I really could feel the baby move as whenever he tried to feel it, the baby would stop moving. Finally as we were laying in bed relaxing he was able to feel a hard kick! He was impressed with how hard the kick really was!

23 weeks: My most recent craving is Lucky Charms. I am finally starting to feel a lot of movement all the time which I love, except for the occasional bladder kick I get. I am finally starting to put a little bit of weight on which will make my doctor happy at my appointment next week :) The trip to Disneyland and consuming lots of yummy food must be helping me in that endeavor!

24 weeks: I had another doctor's appointment this week. I got the paperwork for my gestational diabetes test which I will take in 3 weeks. I was up about 7 lbs from my starting weight which is still a little ways away from where I should be, but I still think there is plenty of time for me to catch up! The appointment was pretty boring which is a good thing. The baby sounded great with a heartbeat in the 150-160 range. The doctor asked me several questions that have to do with actually birthing this baby which is kind of exciting that we are starting to discuss beyond just pregnancy :)

25 weeks: I am starting to get uncomfortable. When I stand and walk around I feel a lot of pressure in my bladder which also means that the bathroom trips are becoming more frequent - so stereotypical! I am also starting to feel pressure up into my rib cage as organs get shoved farther up near my lungs which means that breathing is becoming more work. I get out of breathe quickly if I carry Malachi around too much or if I haul a load of laundry downstairs, over the gate, and into the washer. I am finally feeling like I am starting to show! The back aches are becoming more frequent - definitely feeling that third trimester approaching. I have been craving green beans a lot. The baby's kicks are coming up higher into my tummy which means my baby who likes to try and hide as low as possible is running out of room and is now up closer to my belly button. By the end of this week the baby will weigh in at almost 2 lbs!

So 26 weeks starts the Third Trimester in my book! 13 weeks was the start of the second so this would be the start of the third! The 3rd trimester gets an extra week unless I go early :)

Things have changed so much in the last 13 weeks. The first trimester was full of anxiety and feeling really sick and tired all the time, but the second was very enjoyable as the sickness faded away and I was able to see my little one all developed on the ultrasound! The very coolest part has been feeling all the movement and kicks, it is so incredible! My body has also made quiet the change in this trimester as you can see below at 15, 20, and 25 weeks:

Weekend Get-Away

This weekend Peter and I were able to get away for a little mini-vacation courtesy of the CPA exam. Peter needed to take another exam before the window closes at the end of November and all of the time slots were taken for the local testing center so off to Bend we went! We stayed at Eagle Crest resort, which we have gotten away to about once a year to, but always in the summer. This trip was a fun little winter get-away that really put me in the mood for Christmastime! Waking up to snow both mornings was a welcome little treat!

We decided to take full advantage of this opportunity at a weekend getaway! It was a little hard to leave Malachi behind, but it was also a wonderful time of catching up and relaxing as a couple! We always want to continue to make our marriage a priority and while sometimes it can be difficult as we now have a little one that requires a lot of our attention - it was so nice to just get some us time!

We kind of considered this our last little babymoon before Baby #2 arrives into the family in about 3 more months. It is kind of interesting that Peter and I took off for Eagle Crest a few weeks before Malachi arrived into the family. This was a totally different trip as I was still feeling quite ill, being only about 8 weeks pregnant the last time we went. This trip was much more enjoyable in that regard.

Any opportunity I get while on vacation - I want a jacuzzi tub to relax in! Sometimes we go out of our way or pay a bit more for me to get my tub. This trip, only having a few days notice we didn't have our hopes up that it would be possible. At first we were booked into the hotel, but a few days before we left a 2 bedroom jacuzzi tub unit opened up for just a couple more dollars a night - SCORE!

So while the trip was 1/2 fun 1/2 business for Peter, it was very relaxing for me! I was able to spend plenty of time in the jacuzzi tub catching up on my pregnancy reading!

It is also really nice because we have a full kitchen and don't have to go out for all of our meals. While Peter was away at his test Saturday morning, I was able to make a really simple, but very yummy treat for us when he returned.

Freezer Rolls Sticky Buns:

The night before take the freezer rolls and place in a greased pan. Top them with butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, and sugar. Cover with plastic wrap for the night and let the rise.

In the morning pour a little melted butter over top.

Put in a 350 degree oven for 25-30 minutes and enjoy! They are so yummy and so simple. We made ourselves sick on them!!!

While we had a wonderful time just the two of us, little man was never far from our thoughts. We were looking forward to getting back home to this crazy little face:

It was a great time away, and even though we didn't realize we needed a weekend away, it was a very nice relaxing time. After the fun little taste of snow we got, I am so ready for some snow, some Christmas music, and my Christmas tree :)

A Mom's Mission Field

As a new mother, I am realizing that it is a much harder job than I originally anticipated. Maybe it is because I am feeling overwhelmed knowing that in 3 months there will be another little one joining our family and I already fail on almost a daily basis with just one kid. Or maybe I am realizing just how big a job being a mom really is.

Kids are a clean slate. When baby #2 is born, s/he is pure. Sure the child will have his or her own unique personality, but for the most part we, as their parents shape who they become. Even more so, since I am mom and will spend the majority of my time with this little one - I have a huge role in the person they will become. There will be circumstances that I can't control and there will be plenty of life experiences that will shape who they are that don't involve me, but in those early years I play the primary role in their life.

Malachi did not enter my arms a clean slate. At just 3 months old he had a heartbreaking past, that in some respect will shape who he is. There are still little glimpses of the insecurity he carries around with him because of his past. For the most part, he behaves like a normal 7 month old, but there is still something there at times that remind me that he still needs reassurance from us that we are not leaving and we will meet all of his needs.

So as a mother, to reassure Malachi that he is mine and I will not leave him, and to start with a clean slate with our newborn baby on the way, it sometimes feels like an overwhelming responsibility. I will never be carefree again. I am sure I will worry about my babies until the day I die. I will always second guess and wonder if I could have done better. But I will also try my hardest.

There are also so many places that still need my attention outside my home. I have friendships to maintain. I have always served in some way at church, and now just making it to church on Sunday morning is a hassle. The burden's of this world are still heavy on my heart. I want to find ways to serve the orphans in this world. I want to adopt again. There is just so much that I can't do right now and day to day taking care of my son sure doesn't feel like much of a contribution. I read a great blog article a couple days ago that reminded me that at this point in time, my mission field is to the little one's (and the husband) in my home.

The article can be found here: http://theresurgence.com/2010/10/22/missional-mothering

It was a great reminder of just how critical the role I am playing is right now. I am Malachi's world! We have a video monitor and when I see Malachi wake up in the morning, he lays there talking to himself and he is constantly peeking over his bumper to see the door and see if I am coming yet. He relies and knows that eventually I (or daddy on the weekends) will be there for him. Instilling that into him is so important right now and we are re-shaping his mind and letting him know that throughout his life he can count on people. These simple little things I am doing with him on a daily basis (feeding him, changing his diaper, comforting him when he hurts himself) will alter the life of a little boy who lost all trust in the world at just 4 days old.

So while I may not be saving the world on a daily basis. I am making a difference. Even though someday's my highest accomplishment is getting a shower, and I am pretty sure a daily shower may become non-existent in 3 months - it is okay because I am serving two little kiddo's who need me to play such a critical role in their lives in those first few years!

Thankful for my 7 Month Old!!!

Today is Precious Malachi's 7 Month Birthday and I am so thankful he is here with us!!!

This boy is such a joy to everyone he meets! He is a total character and so full of personality - he LOVES to entertain everyone! We had no idea at just how amazing the blessing we had waiting for us when we signed up to adopt!

I am so incredibly thankful to everyone who helped us get him home. To those who offered prayers on our behalf. To those who gave money or garage sale donations or their time in helping us fundraise. To those who offered encouragement to us as we endured the most difficult days of waiting. To all of the amazing people in the adoption community I met all across the country! And the blessings still continue. I still get so much advice about hair and skin care and re-adoption stuff. There is still a huge sense of community and I have a number of people I could call upon to talk to at a moments notice that know and understand and I am so thankful for that!

We have so many reasons to be thankful:

We have a beautiful baby boy who is healthy and growing right on track. To see how far he has come in the 3 months since being home. He was a little behind the curve when first coming home. He had no muscle support whatsoever and yet today he is a very normal, strong 7 month old!

Just this month alone it has been amazing to see him develop and change. He started crawling this month, and has become quite the vocal little boy! He is eating all sorts of things now - every type of baby food known to man plus he loves table food now. He loves potatoes and last night he ate Macaroni and Cheese just like a big boy! He is growing so fast. He also got two teeth in the last month! It is just incredible to watch him explore and discover the world around him as he crawls around! Do I sound like a first time parent or what?!? But I think it is amazing to watch the development of a baby.

He is a true blessing that we are so thankful for! He brings us so much joy on a daily basis. Even when the days are difficult we couldn't imagine our life without him, but we are very fortunate in the fact that most days are very full of joy and fun! He is truly a very happy, content, laid back little guy!

Happy 7 Month Birthday Malachi - we love you so much!

25 Weeks

Okay, so where is the time going? I can't believe in just 12 weeks I will be considered "full term". Things just seem to be moving so fast and I can't wait for what the future holds but am also terrified to have 2 kiddo's 10 months apart :) I can't believe in just a few months we will have a tiny newborn little baby in our house! Crazy I tell ya :)

How far along: 25 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: Up 7 lbs
Stretch marks: no
Maternity clothes: yes, even outgrowing some of the smaller maternity, but still not quite in the bigger maternity.
Sleep: Still very tired. Getting comfortable is harder. I have a bed full of pillows and poor Peter has to sleep on the edge of the bed.
Food cravings/aversions: Coca-Cola, Lucky Charms, Green Beans. The fruit cravings have died down some and I am getting my sweet tooth back.
Gender: Didn't find out, but now I am all confused and have no guess either way.
Movement: Definitely feeling a lot of movement. The baby kicks my hand or any other object I try to put on my tummy. I drank a big glass of cranberry juice awhile ago and that made the baby go nuts! We definitely have a very active baby.
Best moment: Peter getting to feel the baby move for the first time a couple weeks ago. Also getting to see the baby on the ultrasound. All the movement has been a lot of fun too!
What I miss: Feeling "normal". The belly is starting to get in the way during normal household tasks. I have a lot more back pain. I have to cushion the belly to sleep comfortably at night. Doing normal things around the house and losing my breath and I just want to feel "normal" again!
I am looking forward to: The Third Trimester! I just have to keep plugging forward no matter how hard it might get - so lets get it over with :)
Weekly Wisdom: From my doctor when I mentioned my back pain "It's going to get a lot worse" Fun times :)
Milestones: Reaching viability at 24 weeks! At this point the baby has a decent chance of survival if I delivered today. (Although we want baby to stay nice and cozy in there for at least 12 more weeks!)

Getting Back on Track

Peter and I have been having a few of those serious, and not so fun conversations about money lately. After making the switch to a one income family, we are doing okay, but we could be doing better. We have plans and goals and over the past few months we have lost track of those things. So it is time to get back on track!

A few years ago we were introduced to Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover. We wanted the freedom that his book said was possible. So in January of 2009 we started Our Total Money Makeover. We sacrificed a lot in those first 6 months of 2009. We ate beans and rice for 6 months and paid off a HUGE amount of debt in this time! It was really incredible to see what we could do when we put our mind to it! Dave Ramsey's plan really did work!

In July of 2009 we felt God calling us to adopt. Little did we know that there is no way we would have qualified had we not worked our behinds off paying down our debts. It was at this point in time that we stopped pouring all of our spare money into paying down debts, but instead focused all of our spare money to the $33,000 we would need to complete our adoption. Fortunately, we had so many people come forward during the adoption process and help us get Malachi home!

After Malachi came home in August of this year, we had a lot of new changes. Our savings was greatly depleted, we had to start budgeting for diapers and formula, and we became a one income family. Plus we were expecting another little bundle who would also impact our budget. A lot of big financial changes, but everything was so worth it to bring Malachi into our family!!!

We have been undergoing so many new changes in the past few months that our focus has not been as closely on our budget as it should be and we are getting careless. I wish we could live with our head in the clouds forever, but we can't and we probably don't want to. We have goals and we want to get back on track to reaching those!

So with that being said, we are refocusing as we go into 2011. We want to proceed with the intensity we had when we started our Total Money Makeover 2 years ago. So we are pressing on with a very tight budget for the first 6 months of 2011! We don't have nearly as much money to throw at our debt as before, but we CAN sacrifice more.

So as a refresher for those of you who don't know what a Total Money Makeover looks like, it consists of 7 baby steps to financial freedom!

Baby Step #1: Get $1000 in savings as quickly as possible.

Baby Step #2: Pay off all debts besides mortgage. Starting with the debts with the lowest balances.

Baby Step #3: Get 3-6 months of income in savings.

Baby Step #4: Start putting 15% of household income into retirement accounts monthly.

Baby Step #5: Start college savings accounts for children

Baby Step #6: Pay off home early

Baby Step #7: Build your wealth and give more to others!

So where are we?!? Currently we are working on Baby Step #2. We have 2 debts left - a car loan and a student loan. We are very hopeful that within the next month we will have paid off our Jeep and we are very excited about that! Then we are going to take a slight detour. With our current family situation, we feel we need to move on to Baby Step #3 at this point and get 6 months worth of expenses into savings before proceeding with paying off the student loan. If Peter were to get laid off, we would have nothing to fall back on right now and with our desire to stay a one-income family we really need that 6 month cushion in savings. The great news is with the help of the adoption tax credit we will be able to put a huge chunk of the 6 month expenses into our savings account! I really think we will be back to paying off that last student loan sooner than we think :)

So back on track we go! We really want to do this and when we get focused on something, we do an awesome job! It was actually quite fun to watch the debts dwindle down every month and to see that eating beans and rice everyday really was worth it :)

Thankful for

Today I am so thankful for my husband. He always goes above and beyond my expectations. I honestly had no idea how he would really take to parenthood and he has turned in to the best dad! He works hard for us everyday, and yet still does his best to help out around here and take care of all of us.

Some of the things just in the last week that he has done that go above and beyond:

Last Thursday I had a bug scare. I hate spiders and I killed several of the same type of spider in our living room but the last straw was when I found the same type of spider on my arm when I was sitting on the couch. So I was freaking out a little and through his laughter he told me to just leave. So I got Malachi dressed and the diaper bag packed and we were out of there and off to my parents house for the day. He came home after work, bought a spider bomb, picked up all the baby toys to keep them from being contaminated, put up sheets to protect the rest of the house, made sure our chinchilla's were safe, got the dogs out of the house and bombed the living room. We had to stay out for 4 hours after which made for a very late night when he still had to go to work the next day, but he did it for my peace of mind!

He helps with Malachi's bathtime. He knows that leaning over the tub and lifting Mal in and out puts a strain on my back so he has completely taken over bathtime with Mal. It is great Father/Son bonding time. He also has taken over the bedtime routine and gets Malachi to sleep for the night.

He puts the icky neck medicine on Malachi (which Malachi HATES and screams about)

He comes in the door from work and is always willing to help out where needed. He has no problem taking over for me wherever I need the help, whether that is with Malachi or loading the dishwasher or helping finish dinner.

Last weekend I had a craving for some cookies. I was going to go make them, but no sooner did I mention it and Peter was in there making them for me. Then after they were done, they just didn't quite hit the spot and I only ate 1. Poor guy :(

Sunday he offered to go get me a breakfast burrito up town. The place wasn't open so instead he went to the store and bought some bacon so he could make me a breakfast feast. I told him it wasn't necessary but he insisted that he promised me breakfast so away to the kitchen the sweet guy went!

Monday I felt really sick all day. I didn't get much of anything done. On his way home he told me to go ahead and take one of my nausea pills (which knocks me out) and he came home and cooked dinner, took total care of Mal for the entire night while I laid on the couch and slept and he even picked up around the place!

I know I have it very very good and this is just a small portion of how great he really is! He is truly taking on way more than his fair share of work around here but he doesn't complain about it. I am so thankful and so lucky to have been chosen by such an amazing guy :)

Boy or Girl?!?

Today I had my last 2nd trimester doctor appointment. I can't believe how fast this whole thing is going :)

As the time gets closer it is more and more exciting to wonder if this little baby is going to be a boy or a girl. I have enjoyed reading all of the pregnancy old wives tales and based on those, here is where we are at:

Boy:

Location of baby in placenta at 8 week ultrasound

Baby is carrying very low

Craving of Lemonaide and extreme sours

Exhaustion that lasts throughout the pregnancy

Clearer Skin than I had before pregnancy

Girl:

Chinese Gender Chart

Heart rate in 150-160's

Fruit Cravings

Long lasting morning sickness

Always Warm

So that is 5 for a boy and 5 for a girl so we are pretty much confused. All my dreams have been boy dreams so I don't know if that makes a difference one way or another but we will find out in a couple months!

Costumes and Crawling and teeth oh my!

Here is Malachi's picture of his first Halloween. As you can see he was VERY unimpressed with his costume.

Malachi is really at a fun age right now. He is learning and discovering new things every single day. He is incredible and has so much personality. From his cheesy grin to his fake laugh that daddy taught him he is constant fun and joy!

He is also Mr. Busy. He has been scooting forward for quite awhile now but just yesterday he started to really get the hang of moving forward so we have a full on crawler in our house! Fortunately, with how active he has been lately all the babyproofing is done and hopefully we are ready for these milestones. The boy is growing so fast!!!

In the not so fun for Mal news, he has been a little more cranky and whiny than what is the normal Malachi and a few days ago his gums started getting really swollen. The crazy thing is we just went to the doctor a week ago and the doctor felt his gums and thought we would still be a month or more off from a tooth (although she did say she has been proven wrong before) but there were just no signs of a tooth anywhere. All of a sudden out of nowhere there are teeth! Last night was really rough as our normal 12-13 hour night sleeper was up in the middle of the night and was up really early this morning. This morning we found the culprit - the poor little guy's first tooth had popped through. The second one is very close behind and I wouldn't be surprised if it is through the gums by tomorrow morning.

So Malachi is keeping us very busy! He is Mr. Busy and Mr. Personality and we realize just how boring life really was before he was here!!!

Today I am thankful for.....

The little baby who is currently kicking and rolling all over the place in the jungle gym that is my tummy!

Today marks 4 months until my due date. 4 months....... 4 MONTHS!!! That just seems all together like it is approaching way to quickly, but I am eager to meet this new little one even though I know it will be another time of adjusting and exhaustion.

Peter and I are planners. Every single thing with our life together has been planned to the very detail. There are only two instances in our life together where things were not planned - Peter's layoff which was a very bad surprise and this little busy baby which is a very very good surprise!

We didn't know that we wanted or needed another little one so soon and while it took some adjusting (since Malachi was just 2 months old at the time) we are so thankful for the miracle that is this little one. We are both excited and eager for this baby's arrival!

I have never taken for granted this little life. I know miscarriages and even stillbirths happen everyday. I know babies are born unhealthy everyday and I am so thankful that to the best of our knowledge we are having what is considered a very "normal" pregnancy!

Every little (or big) kick or movement I feel is a true blessing to me! At 16 weeks in those brief moments where I laid in the room waiting for the doctor to bring in the ultrasound machine when she had no luck finding a heartbeat, I really thought we had lost this little one. So to be here, at 23 weeks and feeling the baby move more and more to where it is almost a constant throughout the day is such a blessing!

I am so thankful that at the 20 week ultrasound everything looked to be developing just as it should and there were no concerns they came across. I know there are still unknowns and something could still show up, but for now I am thankful for a healthy baby and a healthy pregnancy!

Some of my favorite moments during the day are when we first get in to bed at night. For whatever reason, my laying down makes the baby think it is playtime and Peter and I can relax and talk and enjoy feeling the baby move all over the place in our last few moments before falling asleep. I also wake up every morning to baby kicking up a storm. This morning when Peter got up to go to work the baby was squirming all over the place. I think s/he is starting to run out of room. I could feel something much bigger than a hand or foot and it was kind of bumping me a bunch, maybe trying to get more comfortable. It is a pretty cool experience that I am not taking for granted. If it has been several hours without feeling any movement I start to worry a little bit but eventually the baby starts to kick like crazy and I can relax and be thankful again :)

So if everything goes according to plan, I have 4 more months to enjoy the kicks and in just 4 short months little one will be here with us and we will be enjoying and adjusting to life with 2 kiddo's under 1 :)

Thankful For.....

This month is the month of Thanksgiving and counting blessings. Over this past year I have become even more thankful for all the amazing things that have happened in my life! I have also gone to a place where I was able to see what true thankfulness was. I have so much compared to what other's have and yet I often forget to sit back and be thankful for the abundance of blessings in my life.

Today, as I looked out the window at the wind and the rain, I am so thankful for a husband who works hard for our family and provides enough of a living that I can stay at home with my kids. It was just months ago that I was having to get up out of bed and out the door to work at 5 in the morning. I endured many ice cold early mornings over the past 5 years and I am grateful that those days are behind me.

I am thankful that I do not have to take Malachi out in the cold air to take him to a babysitter. I am thankful that on these cold days he can stay in his jammies all day, all snug and warm where the risk is lessened that he will get a cold or flu bug.

I am thankful that I do not have to work through this pregnancy. With the difficulty of the work I did, combined with the arthritis in my back - my OB predicted that I would have to go on bed rest early in my 2nd trimester. I am thankful that since being able to stay at home, even being pregnant that the back pain is minor compared to what it was when I was working. Now here I am approaching the end of the second trimester and still going strong!!!

I am thankful for my kind and considerate husband who was willing to make the sacrifices necessary so that I could stay at home. It isn't easy in a two income society to only have one income, but I am so glad that we are on the same page with this. He doesn't resent that he doesn't have the free funds to buy things he wants and do things that I know he would like to do. He has sacrificed for the good of his family and I am so thankful for his hard work for us!