The importance of mother/son time

On Saturday, April 28, Finn and I participated in a "Mother-Son Date Knight" at Chick-fil-a. It was so much fun. We were treated like royalty - table cloths, food on plates, served by a waitress, and much more! Overall, I was just so grateful I got to take Finn. Being 39 weeks pregnant you never know what you will get to do since I'm like a ticking time bomb that could go off at any time.

Today I want to write about how important this time was with Finn. First of all, children need their love tank filled up just like adults do. When I told him we were going on a date, he was so excited. G got him all ready and had him take care of everything just like the man would on a date. Finn held on to the ticket, opened my car door for me, and told me I looked "pretty." While on the date, I made sure to ask him questions and have him ask me questions to keep him engaged. These mother-son dates will help prepare him for the dating world when he's older. Gasp!

Being a mom of a son is a very special bond. I pray for the mate that God has created for him everyday. And I pray that I can prepare him to treat her like a queen, just as his daddy has treated me. So if you have a son and you haven't had a special date just the two of you...do it! You won't regret it. Last night was an etched memory for me.

What a precious little son I have :) Thank you God for this blessing!

 He's saying "Are you ready to go, Mommy?"

Love my lil' knight!

Shower #3!

We have been SO blessed this pregnancy. So many friends and family wanted to celebrate this sweet baby on the way by doing showers. Last week, we had an awesome "sprinkle" shower at G's school. Thrown by the fabulous Ashley and the 3rd grade team - we got really LOADED up with diapers and wipes. When I say loaded, I mean stocked up! The whole closet in the nursery is full of diapers and wipes. I keep going in there and standing in front of it...I swear I keep hearing the hallelujah song. Again, we have been SO blessed. Thank you friends, family, and God for taking care of us!

Here are a few pictures...

The amazing diaper cake!

 Opening gifts

 Family picture

 My and Ashley - I just love her!

 Several of the ladies were so sweet and got Finn gifts too. Thanks Kim and Ashley!

 Just the nice cards for all the ladies at Vickery Creek

Thank you Ashley and the 3rd grade team. You guys are AWESOME! It was a great shower!

Wordless Wednesday

What am I learning lately?

If you follow me on Twitter or Facebook then you know how much I LOVE my Jesus Calling devotional. It seems like I copy and paste a sentence or two almost everyday. God has been using this devotional to speak to me EVERYDAY!

Just take a look at the last few weeks:

1. When My Spirit is controlling your mind, you are filled with Life and Peace.
2. I have designed you to need Me moment by moment...Approach My throne of grace with bold confidence, receiving My Peace with a thankful heart 
3. Don’t let unexpected events throw you off course...respond calmly & confidently, remembering that I am w/you.
4. When you criticize or complain, you are acting as if you think you could run the world better than I do. From your limited human perspective, it may look as if I’m mismanaging things. But you don’t know what I know or see what I see. If I pulled back the curtain to allow you to view heavenly realms, you would understand much more. However, I have designed you to live by faith, not by sight. I lovingly shield you from knowing the future or seeing into the spirit world. Acknowledge My sovereignty by giving thanks in all circumstances.
5. The best way to handle unwanted situations is to thank Me for them.
6. Your weakness is not a deterrent to being filled with My Spirit...it provides an opportunity for My Power to shine forth more brightly 
7. I have promised to meet all your needs according to My glorious riches. Your deepest, most constant need is for My Peace.

 As you can see - God is telling me to thank Him even when times are hard, trust Him when I don't know what to do, and that His peace is available when I feel out of control. And that's what I'm praying through. He is telling me those things daily. But I have to take the step to trust and follow Him. Just as my pastor says - being a Christian is really about being a disciple and following after Him. It's not easy. But I'm working on it. 

So...what are you working on?

FULL TERM!

Well, this week I finally finished up full term. So I am ready for baby when baby is ready. And at the most, that's only 2 more weeks til the due date! Today marks the first day of week 38.

I am getting very excited. I took a picture of myself today and cannot believe how much different I look from when I was pregnant with Finn.

I've said it a million times - these pregnancies were very different.

Can't wait to find out who's being doing flips in my belly soon!!! Here's comparison pictures....

If you'd like to join us in praying for the upcoming events. Here is what we are praying...

• That Selah/Micah will come in God's timing
• That I will have an easy (hopefully quick) delivery and Selah/Micah will be healthy
• That Selah/Micah will be a great eater and sleeper
• That Finn will transition well
• That G and I will do a good job of making the transition for Finn
• Most of all - we are praying that we glorify God in the hospital. Praying that our light shines for Him!

So...what's your vote???!?!?! BOY OR GIRL!!!!

Father and son

Pictures taken on Sunday, April 1st outside at the Avenues of Forsyth. 

I just love seeing my boys together. They are so cute! The love they share is something special. And it makes me smile to see them together. 

I know that relationship being built is so important. G is leading Finn to be a leader himself one day. I have to brag on my husband and say he is doing an awesome job so far. 

I know he is taking the lead from several great books and being mentored. Below are a list of the books he'd recommend. 

1. Raising a Modern Day Knight by Robert Lewis

2. Better Dads, Stronger Sons by Rick Johnson

3. Personality Plus for Parents by Florence Littauer

And last but not least, here is a link to the mentoring program G did last year. He still meets with his mentor now that the year is up. But for him, I know this program was life changing! http://www.radicalmentoring.com/

36 week update!

Baby is the size of: a coconut - the average baby is between 17-18 inches long and weighs between 4-5 lbs.


Symptoms? Still nausea from time to time. But I definitely have an appetite. My stomach must not have much room, because I get full so quick! And oh the contractions have started. This past week I was put on bed rest to keep from going into labor yet. For me being type A personality - being stuck to rest is torture. But I am resting and the resting is helping!

Maternity clothes? Love them - however, I can't wait to get back in normal clothes again.


How's your sleep? Not so great. I'm up every 2 hours going to the bathroom. Then I have a hard time getting comfortable again.

Feeling movement? Absolutely - this baby is SO active. I think they might come out running. Also, baby has the hiccups about 3-4 times a day.


Food cravings: I had the craziest craving the past couple weeks and I found a combo that is DELICIOUS! Plain hummus mixed with jalapeno hot sauce with a green olive on chips. Yes weird I know - but oh my...so yummy!

How much weight gained so far? Based on my 36 week doctor appointment I have gained 14 lbs.


Belly Button in or out? Still out, but not flat yet. Again - just like last month, I hate that you can see it through my shirts.


Favorite pregnancy moment this past month? I got to have an ultrasound today at my 36 week check-up. I loved seeing the baby. And even more, I loved seeing Finn see the baby. He's getting excited I think. Also, I had a second baby shower. I loved it! And last but not least, the house is all ready. Now we are counting down the days until baby comes!



What are you looking forward to next month? The baby being born! I can hardly wait to see who's in there. Micah or Selah, we cannot wait to meet you!!

 
And here is my monthly picture....

And just for comparison - here I am 36 weeks pregnant with Finn

As you can see, these pregnancies are so different! Don't forget to make your guess on my home page at the top right...BOY or GIRL!?!?!?!

Wordless Wednesday

Memory verse #1

My sweet 2 1/2 year old has memorized his first Bible verse. To me there is nothing sweeter than hearing his voice recite God's word.Nothing else I can say - just watch the video and you will see.

"Every word of God proves true." Proverbs 30:5

Baby shower #2

On March 24, I had a wonderful shower thrown by my two sisters/best friends - Natasha and Kristen. It was a great time! They both did a great job putting a beautiful shower together for me. See pictures below for how wonderful it was.

I feel totally blessed to have had 2 showers so far to celebrate this miracle #2. We are getting the house ready this week. Baby is only a month away!!!

 This was a tree of encouragement for me. Everyone wrote on the baby outfits.

 As guests arrived, they put their thumbprint on the trees. This one had pink thumbprints for Selah.

 And this one had green thumbprints for Micah.

 The framed invitation - so cute!

 Little onesies going up the stairs, the theme was yellow and grey.

 Punch and mimosas. Man, I sure did want a mimosa :)

 Mason jars for cups

 The food was all my pregnancy cravings - Mexican, spicy, girl scout cookies, and apples. Kristen even made a fruit pizza bar - sugar cookies, with cream cheese icing, and all types of fruit to top it.

 This was "wishes for the baby" that all the guests filled out. So sweet!

 Me and my mom in law!

 The girls - Natasha (sis/best friend), Me, and Mom

 They prayed over me and the baby. I loved that!

 Opening gifts was fun!

 Me and my sis/best friend of almost 15 yrs!

 Nani and I are only a month apart. Wow, I'm so much bigger!

Me with my sweet nephew, Everett. This is Kristen's son. Isn't he so handsome?!

Wordless Wednesday

Immovable

"So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless." 1 Corinthians 15:58

I read this verse this morning and it just struck a chord with me. Be strong and immovable is what really stuck out to me.

But in the midst of life, how easy is it to be moved? I know that every morning I pray for God to protect me with His armor. But some days are harder than others. I start out strong and then one thing after another hits and I fall.

Other the past few weeks, I have had an especially harder time staying positive. And I know it's totally warfare. We have a lot going on in our family. Gregory is going to Haiti in June, baby #2 is coming in May, Finn is 2 1/2 (very important time for shaping him and important that G and I stay on the same page on discipline), and G and I both have new things happening at work. Bottom line, the enemy wants to steal our joy.

So how do we live this out? I think the second part of the verse tells us - always work enthusiastically for the Lord. No matter what - we just keep working, keep praying, keep our eyes on Him. Because nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.