16 weeks

Well today marks 16 weeks. So... we're up to an avocado.

Get ready for a growth spurt. In the next few weeks, your baby will double his weight and add inches to his length. Right now, he's about the size of an avocado: 4 1/2 inches long (head to rump) and 3 1/2 ounces. His legs are much more developed, his head is more erect than it has been, and his eyes have moved closer to the front of his head. His ears are close to their final position, too. The patterning of his scalp has begun, though his locks aren't recognizable yet. He's even started growing toenails. And there's a lot happening inside as well. For example, his heart is now pumping about 25 quarts of blood each day, and this amount will continue to increase as your baby continues to develop.

I've decided that in addition to posting pictures (and pictures of me will come when there is something to show... ), I will post this little questionnaire.

How far along? 16 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: Yes (?)
Maternity clothes? Just a few pants/shorts... they were just getting too uncomfortable to wear for a long time... I probably could with the help of a rubber band or hair tie... but why?
Stretch marks? none to note
Sleep: If I'm really tired, I fall asleep fast, if not I'm slightly restless... but I love to get an afternoon nap in.
Best moment this week: Telling everyone.... last Thursday and Friday we presented our parents with pictures of our ultrasound that said "Coming soon... in January 2012"... then we made subsequent phone calls after this.
Movement: Still trying to determine if I have or not... books say soon though
Food cravings: Anything... but I have an aversion the smell of lunch meat. Blech! Jeremy has had to pack his own sandwhich for the last 2 weeks.
Gender: We don't know... yet!
Name: We haven't even discussed it yet. I think we're waiting for a gender determination before we start really thinking hard about them. I have a few in mind... but... ya know.
Labor Signs: Better not!
Belly Button in or out? In
What I miss: having a diet coke regularly....
What I am looking forward to: Mommyhood (?) sounds good
Milestones: Blogging twice this week? hehehe

15 Weeks

15 weeks:

Your growing baby now measures about 4 inches long, crown to rump, and weighs in at about 2 1/2 ounces (about the size of an apple). She's busy moving amniotic fluid through her nose and upper respiratory tract, which helps the primitive air sacs in her lungs begin to develop. Her legs are growing longer than her arms now, and she can move all of her joints and limbs. Although her eyelids are still fused shut, she can sense light. If you shine a flashlight at your tummy, for instance, she's likely to move away from the beam. There's not much for your baby to taste at this point, but she is forming taste buds. Finally, if you have an ultrasound this week, you may be able to find out whether your baby's a boy or a girl! (Don't be too disappointed if it remains a mystery, though. Nailing down your baby's sex depends on the clarity of the picture and on your baby's position. He or she may be modestly curled up or turned in such a way as to "hide the goods.")

This week we spent the last half of it telling all our family and friends that we were expecting. Life has certainly become quite the buzz. Last night I had to turn the sound off on my phone because I was getting so many text updates from Facebook. But ya know what? That has started to brew a little bit more excitement within me as well.

So... stay tuned life is going to get exciting from here on out!

New Ticker

Check out the new ticker!!

This is an pre-facebook announcer to the "loyal" blog readers out there. :-D

January 13, 2012 here we come!

Katie's Wedding

I thought I'd post a few pics from my sister's wedding. Unfortunately since I charged my battery for my camera, and yet left it plugged in, in the charger at home... our camera died after 1 picture. :-( But, one of Katie's dear friends had Jeremy take pictures for her with her camera... so it's kind of like taking pictures with our camera..... anyway, who cares about how I got the pictures.... here they are....

June 11, 2011

2011 is a year for change...

Hello all!

I have been intentionally quiet for the last few months. The reason is I didn't want to put too much out there before the right time.

So far here is the update as it is....

Jeremy's job was outsourced in February.... he started working for the new company (at the old place) April 1. (I may or may not have already posted something about that... I don't remember.)

One of the biggest changes in our lives at this moment is the fact that June 3 was my last day as an active teacher at Bethlehem Christian Academy. For more than a year I have felt the Lord tugging at my heart to seek a new direction in my life. Unfortunately, I wasn't willing to leap out in faith... I didn't want to leave something that I was "comfortable" with (albeit somewhat miserable part of the time). I was "in the groove" and leaving would be hard. This job (flaws and all) still seemed like a respectable career. It seemed like a career that would "make a difference" in someone's life. So, I plugged away. However, earlier this school year, after much prayer, and counsel from people I truly respect, Jeremy and I made the decision that I would not return to BCA for a 5th year.

It was bittersweet. Most of the students and parents took it well... a few were sad. It was nice, to hear, that even when I didn't feel like I was, I was still appreciated. (So, if you have kids and you haven't told your child's teacher you appreciate them... do it! It will make their day, and truly bless their hearts. Because most days I felt like an absolute failure as a teacher... but when someone would actually say some kind word in appreciation, it made me float on cloud nine for a few days. And, if that act of appreciation came in the form of a written sentiment... well, let's just say I probably STILL have it! If it came in a voicemail, I tried to keep it as long as possible, and definitely listened to it on a regular basis.)

I will miss my students from this year, but... the time has come to move on... although really it's "move back." I have decided to move back to working at the place I have truly loved the most throughout my years of working... those of you who know me, will know that place to be Breckenridge Village. I am very excited to start a new ministry... even though it's a different one, it's a journey I look forward to. We have made this leap of faith, and we're seeking the Lord's blessing in this move. I will be working the lunch shift Monday through Friday (and potentially 2 evenings a week while Jer is in school.)

So, as things change for us... please continue to hold us up in prayer. God is talking... and this time we're listening.

Stay tuned for more updates!!

New direction

Hello all....

Recently the Lord has been leading me in a new direction. I won't divulge too much on here before the "right time," but it is new and exciting.

It's definitely not something that I would have guessed a year ago, but... I definitely feel a strong leading from the Lord.

So if you think of me, please continue to keep Jeremy and I in your prayers. A lot of things will be changing in our lives over the near future. (And for those of you who think this is a pre-baby announcement, I'm sorry to disappoint you... but, as far as I know... we're not having a baby yet... so keep guessing.)

It just keeps coming back to the fact that Lord wants us to hold is hand, and trust in Him to absolutely provide for our needs. Sometimes, I just feel like I put God in a box. Like... "It's too big for you, God." or "It's too small for you to care." I know this is foolish talk, and really just a tool of the enemy... but now, I don't know... I'm just "listening."

The last 6 months have been an amazing adventure. Again... not exactly what I had hoped, or planned, or could have even imagined... and when I say "adventure" I don't even necessarily mean that it's been a "good one either." In fact, most of this adventure has been down right crappy. I am so thankful though, that I did have the Lord. I am sooo thankful for the people He has given to me in my life to help me out... even if they don't know the measure to which they have impacted my life.

I am petrified... but, yet, I am at peace. It has been an insanely long amount of time since I have felt this amount of peace.

So I say again... stay tuned... when the time is right... I will quit speaking cryptically. Until then... say a prayer (or a dozen) for our family... Jeremy has been amazing (and very supportive), and no doubt will continue to be so. But, those of you that know me know I am a control freak, and this is soooo out of character for me. Sooo... yeah... in the words of Elphaba from the musical Wicked (with a little editing from me) "Too late for second-guessing, Too late to go back to sleep, It's time to trust my instincts GOD!! Close my eyes: and leap!

Here's to trusting in a God who is WAAAY bigger than me. Who is able to do so much more than I can even imagine!

Thanks for reading (and praying!)

K

What percentage are you??

Recently Jeremy and I have been involved in a Bible study called "Not a Fan." The idea is to develop your walk with the Lord. The idea behind the title is that so many times it is easy for us to be "just a fan" of God but not necessarily a devoted follower.

It's always amazing how when God has a message He wants you to hear, how often you end up hearing it. We started the Bible study 3 weeks ago. During the first week I was leading morning devotions in my homeroom. Wouldn't you know, it was talking about our devotion to God.

During this time, the devotional encouraged students to think about how much time they spend doing things each day... It might go something like this....

6 hours sleeping
30 minutes getting ready
1 hour driving
30 minutes preparing for my students
71/2 hours teaching
30 minutes preparing to go home
1 hour driving
30 minutes exercising
1 hour showering, and doing my hair
30 minutes cooking
30 minutes eating
2 1/2 hours watching tv and grading papers

then I go to bed for the remaining 2 hours of the 24 hour period...

All that said,t his exercise wanted us to figure how much time we spend in prayer and reading the Bible... and really communicating with the Lord. I'd say, I spend between 15-30 minutes a day in prayer and Bible reading... which I always thought was "pretty good." Do you know what percentage that is? 1-2%. Now let's put it on a larger scale... think about the week... include church or whatnot... even on "super great weeks," I figure I'm about 2-6%.

Now I know what you're thinking... we do have things we need to do, and things that need to get done, and we have to work... and we need to sleep... and eat... and shower. I know that... I guess my point is, that I've always thought I was "doing really well," in regards to my walk... and that I did spend "a lot" of time with the Lord... but when I saw that I give a meager 2% of my day, I guess it hit me. YIKES!! I spend 10% -ish of my time watching tv, or facebooking, or just wasting time. I spend anywhere from 25-33% of my time, sleeping.

The reality of it all, just hit me. 2%? That's it? Now I have a great job that actually is conducive to my walking in that I work at a Christian school, so I am constantly reaffirming our belief, and able to delve into the Bible as often as I need or want to... but really, personal time... and all I give is 2%?

So, with the new Bible study (as I mentioned up there) I am trying to "redefine" my relationship with the Lord. I want to not only be a follower in outward appearance, but I also want to commit that it is a genuine relationship within.

I know I'm not perfect, but all I can say, is I'm on a new adventure... I really do want to be a Follower of Jesus Christ, instead of just a mediocre fan standing on the sidelines while everyone else does His work.

It is in this mindset that I am hoping and praying to see the Lord move. I am hoping and praying that He can use me. I am hoping and praying that I will continually seek and be in His will (not mine). It is because of Jesus that I even have hope at all.

Anyway... it's just somethings to think about... it was very eye-opening for me, and I really wanted to have it documented more for myself to look back on... but I figure if someone else stops and thinks about it.. then it probably is good too.

All right that's all I've got now. Stay tuned for the next episode.