Say Hello To My Lil' Friend

So, with pregnancy comes all sorts of lovely changes to a womens body.  Its funny what you dont hear when your biological clock is ticking and the desire to hold a baby is so strong!  I didn't hear the part about increased sense of smell, hair that grows in strange places, pimples that pop out all around, intense emotional moments filled with tears and .....for me....worst of all....horrible back pain.  The past two weeks have been miserable.  I cant sleep, I cant stand, I cant sit, and I cant bend.  Nothing has helped, heating pads, massages, baths, stretching.....nothing.  So, last night I got creative.  I was trying to find something that would reach the depth of these aches when this little yellow ball came to mind. I put the ball in between my back and the wall and then push and roll!  This has been a lifesaver, although I cant use it at all times, it helps relieve the pain temporarily and has become my new Lil Friend! 

Things are Changing

Ryan will be the first to tell you that I am a different person since becoming pregnant.  Ive slowed down.  My view on everything in life has changed.  I am quieter.  I am more calm.  I dont get as worked up as I used to.  A lot of things that would normally bother me, dont. 

Life is different now.  Things are changing.

I have started valuing things that I used to take for granted.  One of these things,  family.  I know that this little baby has brought Ryan and I more joy than we could ever imagine.  And as the weeks go by, we are hearing/seeing the joy it is bringing those closest to us.  We cant say how blessed we are that we are only 3 hours away from my parents, and 40 minutes from Ryans.  We cant wait for them to hear our itty bits heart beat, and see its little shape on the ultrasound screen.  We cant wait to share in the joy that is filling our lives.

Things are changing.  I miss my sisters so very much and cant wait for them to hold our little baby for the 1st time.  I cant wait for our neices and nephews to call itty bit "cousin".  I cant wait for Grammy Claire to love our itty bit with every ounce of her soul.    I cant wait to hear our sweet little one call Kelly "Auntie".  So many things are going thru our minds we almost dont have time during the day to talk about all of them!  Like, when our baby first grabs our fingers.  Or when I get to bond with it while feeding it against my skin.  Things we never thought we'd feel/think we are so looking forward to.

Ryan was talking to me about a phone call he recently had with Mom Myrick.  She was telling him how much parents love their children and that you dont feel that love until you become a parent.  He was sharing his heart with me about how we treat our families.  When our child is 20 years old, we are going to want it to call us on its way home from work, or check in with us when its experienced something amazing.  We as children should be doing the same thing we want our children to do for us when they are our age.  We should be sharing moments with our families, calling our parents, including them in everything, allowing them to love us, loving them in return.  "Family" means something so much more now.  Family, is what we will have in 7 months.  Family is what will always be around and what will always get us thru.

Family is changing.

Next week we go in for our last 1st trimester appointment!  WoW!!!!  We cant believe we are already 11 weeks along and only 7 months away from meeting Itty Bit!!!!

A baby?

Its almost impossible to keep this quiet any longer.  So we decided to start with our blog since majority of those who view it already know this news! 

WE ARE PREGNANT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Holy cow thats crazy to say!!!  Today we are 10 weeks along.  Its still early, two more weeks until we are out of the woods.  But we believe that God created this little being inside my belly and He is going to take care of it and keep it healthy!

So with that said, here is what we know so far.  Our sweet "itty bit" (thats what we are calling it) is the size of a prune right now.  It has hands and arms and feet and legs.  It has eyes and ears and lips and a tongue!  Its heart beats at a fast 122 bpm!  We have had 4 ultrasounds already (because of Raschelles nerves) and we fall more in love with our itty bit every day! 

We are still in shock mode.  Every day is a new feeling of excitement, fear, love, hope, joy and literal scare!  We prayed about this for so very long but with each month that went by and another negative pregnancy test we just didn't expect it!

The fact that the Lord has entrusted us with a tiny little soul to help raise and grow and nuture and walk in His ways is scary.  Especially in todays society.  But, we feel blessed He chose us!  And we are ready for the challenge and blessing!  We cannot wait to meet this little one!

Here is the most recent ultrasound picture!  Itty Bit is waving hello.  You can see its eyes, sinus cavity, an arm and knee caps!  We think it will actively be ready to show us what it "is" when the time is right!  For those who cant read ultrasounds well, it looks like an alien sitting inside of a banana!  Thats how I had to explain the picture to Ryan!  lol  The long black banana shape is my uterus and the little prune inside it is our baby!

Thank you for all of those who prayed for our little miracle!  It is you who have helped us thru our life!  Youve been faithful in lifting us up and we see blessings all around us because of you!

"'I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him. So now I give him to the LORD. For his whole life he will be given over to the LORD."  I Samuel 1:27-28