'tis the Season

Naturally, we are extremely Thankful this holiday season.  It has been a blessed year, even before the news of pregnancy.  We bought a new car (Dodge Durango) the last week of last year and it has proven worthy of the slick rain and snowy passes of the Pacific Northwest.  I felt God calling me away from teaching in the next few years to pursue an Administrative career.  Alexis and I enjoyed a summer of traveling to family camping in Tahoe, sports ministry camps in LA and San Diego, and family beach time in Catalina.  In the fall, Alexis began a new teaching post in Kindergarten very near our house.  It has been a great year, memorable.  And then in October we found out that 'we' would become 'three'.  God is faithful, sovereign, and good.  Thanksgiving brought the Conrads (Alexis' parents) up from San Fran and we spent the holiday with them in Seattle.  And in a new tradition, we went to the middle of rural Washington (Snohomish) to cut down a Norway Spruce.  It is tall, plump, pretty, and prickly.  I still have the rash from needles chafing my forearms during the cutdown.  But it was well worth it.  And Alexis is 13 weeks today.  1/3 of the way into this journey.  During our checkup this week, the baby's heartbeat should be audible.  We are blessed, thankful, and looking forward to spending the Christmas holiday in SoCal with my parents, family, and friends.  Alexis is hoping voraciously that she will 'pop' and be showing more before our trip to LA. We'll see.  But for now, this is what she looks like.  And the maternity shopping spree with mom was a success, so she will be showing off new clothes along the way too :)

"A baby is something you carry inside you for nine months, in your arms for three years, and in your heart until the day you die."  --  Mary Mason

Miss America / Presidential wave? Could be.

So we had our 10 week checkup last Friday, meaning we got to see our baby for the first time.  The lights were off, our doctor pointed me (Patrick) towards the screen and said, "There's your baby!"  Now I had assumed it would be a blur,  like trying to find the big dipper in a night sky with no prior Astronomy instruction.  But, to my amazement the baby was right there, clear as day, and I am not being hyperbolic in saying that the baby was waving right at me.  No joke!  The doctor even confirmed this inference of mine, as the little sticky arm twitched back and forth, "Hi guys, just hangin' out.  Tell everyone I say Hey."  Ok, ok, we can't hear in there yet, so maybe that was exaggerated, but for the first time, it REALLY set in.  I mean, we're not just having a baby, THERE IT IS, RIGHT THERE!  You can't deny it.  And though obviously we can't tell boy or girl yet, we can tell (sorry the 2 of you that voted) it is NOT twins.  But either way, we are elated; it is an emotional relief to SEE the baby when you have simply been sick and not gaining weight (even lost 1/2 a pound - how 'bout that).  God is faithful, and we feel blessed for the first ten weeks of pregnancy and the growth together.  Until next time, we'll continue with our Ginger Ale, Fish Oil pills, 5pm naps, and aversion to Costco Salami.

Luke 2:5

"Mary was GREAT with child."

8 weeks ...

Wow, it's flying by.  Our baby is the size of a kidney bean, has webbed fingers and toes, but can't tell yet if it is a boy or girl.  We shall see (don't forget to vote on the left).  We go to the doctor again in two weeks and are looking forward to hearing the heartbeat and seeing the baby for the first time.  Mommy was craving pancakes and eggs this morning, and then once they were all cooked up, she couldn't stomach the thought of even looking at Patrick eating them.  Go figure.  Salami is out of the picture now too.  Daddy is doing a lot more around the house and is voraciously reading the weekly updates about his baby (and other baby-related resources).  

Psalm 28:7

"The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped;"

4 Weeks ...

We had our first doctor's appointment with innumerable resources about diet, exercise, baby development, mommy development, and much more.  This is what he/she looks like so far (no ultrasounds quite yet).

Psalm 139:13

"For you formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother's womb."

Bun in the Oven

On October 7th, we thought that we might be pregnant. We could hardly believe it- so 4 tests later... YEP.... definitely pregnant! It has been a busy and exciting past 8 weeks filled with mild morning sickness, food aversions, crazy mood swings, and extreme EXHAUSTION for Alexis. Nevertheless, we have been reading up on our newest addition and praying like crazy for him/her to grow big and strong during these critical weeks of development.  

Luke 1: 46b-47a

"My soul glorifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,"