Eric and Krystal

Ok…so I must have reverted to my old ways of not posting!  Things have been really busy, but the bad thing is that there are things that I could have posted about!!! 

The first weekend of November (week 30) we went to Hermann, MO and stayed in a bed and breakfast, using a gift certificate we got earlier this year.  They call it a "babymoon" because you go and have a mini vacation before the baby comes.  We only stayed on night, but it was really nice.  It was great being able to spend time alone with Eric!  We also used that get away as an excuse for our birthdays!

The second weekend of November (week 31) was baby shower #1 given my mom and sister in Woodlawn.  It was really nice!  It was decorated beautifully with fall colors, leaves, and pumpkins.  The theme was "Our Lil’ Pumkpin."  There was a game called "Old Wive’s Tales,"  were guests had to match the old wive’s tale to the sex of the baby.  Some of the wive’s tales are really funny!!!  There was also a game of measuring my belly just by looking at me.  A friend of mine, who is also pregnant, won…she measured me exactly!

During week 31 we went back to see the doctor.  We ended up seeing the nurse practitioner again because my doctor had an emergency c-section.  I decided that if it was me with an emergency I would want him to be there too!  She measured my belly and said I am right on track.  She also found Baby M’s heartbeat really easily.  It sounded nice and strong to me!  She wanted me to come back in 3 weeks, but that fell on the week of Thanksgiving.  One of my co-workers is taking vacation that week so I couldn’t  take a day off.  So I am going back the first week of December.  I will be 35 weeks then!  It is so hard to believe…time has just flown by!  After that visit I will be going weekly!

During week 32 baby shower #2 was given by girls I work with at the hospital.  It turned out nice as well.  I feel really blessed to have so many baby showers given for us!  Last weekend Eric and I went to our childbirth class.  We both feel like it really helped us.  We learned breathing techniques, labor positions and we got a tour of the labor/delivery room.  We also saw the nursery and a postpartum room.  I am still a little nervous, but I know that we both feel more comfortable for when the time comes! 

Nothing super exciting happened during 26 weeks except more baby movement and increased abdominal size…at least I can tell that my belly is getting bigger!  More belly pictures posted in the gallery.

Today we went to see the doctor.  I had to do my glucose test so I had to drink 10 oz. of pure sugar…at least that’s what it tasted like!  It wasn’t completely disgusting, but it was not very fun either!  Seeing the doctor went well and he easily found the heartbeat this time!  The doctor after feeling for the baby said the baby is still in the breech position…meaning the head is still up near my ribs on the left side.  This explains why I have been feeling movement all over the place!!!   Eric was finally able to really feel the baby move this week!!!  It was great to see the look on his face! 

So I go back in 4 weeks to see the doctor again!

So 6 months have passed…Wow!  This time has gone by so fast!!!  With the baby moving more and more and my ever-expanding belly I am really starting to get excited and scared at the same time.  Is that normal?  Sometimes I am looking forward to the day that I get to hold the little one in my arms.  The next moment I worry about him/her growing up in this world and I want him/her to just stay in there forever!

New during these two weeks:

We have signed up for our childbirth class and I am looking forward to that. 

 Details seem to be coming together for my baby showers, my mom and sister are giving one in Illinois and a friend at church is having one here in St. Louis.  I am super excited about both of these!!!

 The anonymous gift giver has struck again!!!  We came home two Fridays ago to find more baby presents outside our door.  This time it was our "Little Lamb" baby swing.  These new swings are so cute and highly recommended by a couple of our friends.  We registered for this swing, but I didn’t think I would be getting it because it is kind of expensive!  We also got the baby animal bouncy seat that was on our registry!  We still don’t know who this secret person is, but we do feel truly blessed that someone has done all this.  We don’t know why someone has chosen to do this, but we want to thank them for everything!!!

Sorry about not posting sooner, but this last week has been crazy busy!  I feel like Eric and I are both going non-stop with little time for us to spend together.  I work all day and then he has been working evenings tutoring so by the time he gets home I am ready for bed!

At the beginning of the week Eric was still unable to feel the baby move, but he did see my belly move a little!  His first response was "oh, that’s weird!"  I told him to just wait until he actually felt the baby moving!  On Tuesday of last week Eric came home to find 3 large boxes on our doorstep.  The boxed items were 3 things from our registry at Babies R Us!  We could tell they were not shipped, but just bought directly from the store and then brought to our apartment.  There was no card or papers or anything to tell us who bought these gifts for us!  We still don’t know who did it!  Eric went online and all three were taken off our registry.  We got the pack-n-play we picked out, the stroller base that goes with the carseat we have been given, and the soothing spa and shower (a baby bath) we picked out.  It was a pretty exciting afternoon. 

I am going to try and get some belly pictures put into the gallery! 

I have been struggling lately with some issues that I know will have no solutions now and I can’t really see a time in the future that things will be resolved.  That is really really hard for me!  The biggest thing is not being able to see my neice, Kyle’s daughter, Madison.  It has been hard enough trying to deal with his loss and then trying to deal with this as well.   Sometimes it seems more than my heart can bear and then I am reminded of God’s grace, love and especially His peace.  I can’t do this on my own and in realizing that He is in total control somehow helps me through another day.  Lately I have heard and had the following song in my head.  I think it is God reminding me again and again that He is my only comfort.  This song has also been a huge comfort to my mom as well.  I just wanted to share it with everyone in hopes that maybe it will help someone else.

 Casting Crowns, "Praise You in This Storm"

I was sure by now
That You would have reached down
And wiped our tears away
Stepped in and saved the day
But once again, I say "Amen", and it’s still raining

As the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain
"I’m with you"
And as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes away

Chorus:
I’ll praise You in this storm
And I will lift my hands
For You are who You are
No matter where I am
Every tear I’ve cried
You hold in Your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

I remember when
I stumbled in the wind
You heard my cry
You raised me up again
My strength is almost gone
How can I carry on
If I can’t find You

I lift my eyes unto the hills
Where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord
The maker of heaven and earth

Sorry for not posting more, but everytime I sit down to post something comes up…plus I don’t think I have every been really good at keeping everyone posted anyway!  Haha!

Two big news posts….first…during week 21 I started feeling the baby move!!!!  It is more amazing than words can truly describe!  Eric hasn’t been able to feel anything yet, but we are both really looking forward to that too!  Second…during week 22 I think my belly finally "popped!"  I actually look like I am pregnant now and not like I just ate way to much at a buffet!!!  I even wore maternity jeans this weekend and I get to wear them again tonight when we go to small group!  I am super excited!  They are really comfortable, plus I actually look pregnant!

My next doctor’s appointment isn’t for another 3-4 weeks.  He said this would be the last longest stretch between visits that I will get.  I can’t believe that I only have another 3 1/2 months!  It has gone by so quickly!