Good news

Allen has received a second shift position at his job. It's one of the shorter committment jobs in the sauce room as a label inspector. He will only be required to stay in this position for 6 months, after that he will be able to bid into another position if it opens up, including a first or third shift job. We have discussed that he may want to switch back to thirds depending on how these 6 months go. We have talked about it alot and we feel for when Sylvia arrives it will be best for Allen to be on second shift so that we will be able to have full weekends together and for the sleep/parenting schedules that we hope to be able to establish once she gets here.

Please continue to pray for us during this time of transition and preparation for becoming new parents. The day is getting closer and closer. Sylvia keeps reminding me every day! I thought she was moving a lot before, but now she is REALLY moving on a regular basis. I can pretty much tell when she is asleep and awake now. (She sleeps alot...) and the movements have changed since her room inside my belly is becoming more restricted as she grows, her movements are much closer to the surface of my belly. I can frequently looked down and see the movements, which is really neat. It's a unique experience to have her rolling around inside. I can now just place my hand on my belly and feel her. She's definately growing stronger day by day. Some of her movements now even hurt, but it's an amazing feeling. I never in my wildest dreams could have imagined what it would feel like to have our child rolling around inside me, but I love it. I love her! I just can't wait to meet this little person who keeps me company all day and all night!

What a weekend!

Saturday night we attended the joint birthday party our friends Amy and Jessica. They served pizza from a pizza place in Quincy that Allen and I had never tried before. It was delicious! It was also nice to get to see friends that we don't get to see very often any more.

Sunday was an amazing day filled with church activities and baby registry scanning. First was church in the morning, which as always was wonderful. God is really moving at Madison Park. Our numbers each Sunday continue to grow, two Sundays ago the number of attendees was over 1000 between the two services, but unlike some other "mega" churches, Madison Park truly has the mission of Christ in mind. Sure we could spend the church's money on building a new and bigger building, instead, the elders of our church have made the decision to bring in an outside church consulting group to help us maximize the space we already have and to meet the needs of a growing church congregation without spending massive amounts of money on a new buidling. The wise mission minded elders of our church know that the church funds are better spent being put back into the community, investing in people like we are supposed to.

After church Allen and I started our baby registry at Wal-Mart. The Wal-Mart in Quincy didn't have everything we want to register for so we will have to finish the registry here in Hannibal.

Then we headed back to church for Summerfest 2011, a community event our church throws in order to reach out to our community to offer a great family fun atmosphere, to expose others to the idea that Christian aren't all stuffy judgemental bores. We really do know how to have fun! :)

This is something I wish more people could understand. I don't think of all athiests as animal sacrficing, blood drinking, demon lovers, so why must I automatically be thrown into the category of crazy, judgemental, bible thumper? Everytime I turn the tv on and see another church spewing hate and judgement towards their fellow man, instead of loving them like we have been commanded to do, I feel nauseous. How is the world to ever really know the good news if they only have examples of the exact opposite be shoved down their throats? Identifying oneself as a Christian doesn't mean the right to judge others, and choose who you love and who doesn't deserve your love. Identifying oneself as Christian means to be a follow of Christ, who is the only perfect example of love we have. Unconditional love. Not I love you because you think like me, act like me, and agree with what I say. Not I love you because your skin in the same color as mine and you speak the same language that I do. Unconditional love. I love you no matter what.

Good news!

Diabetes check, I passed! :) YAY! What a relief!

Good appointment

Today's doctor appointment with the new doc went well. I like her and she seems thorough. I am anxiously waiting the results of my blood tests, they went ahead and ran the gestational diabetes test, thyroid test and iron check. Results won't be in til tomorrow. Sylvia's heart beat is good, fast, and strong. AND the best news of the day is we get to peek inside to see her again through ultrasound on Friday September 9th. I can't wait!

Hiccups?!?!

Well today was supposed to be my first appointment with my new doctor. Unfortunately the appt was cancelled because Dr. was sick. They have rescheduled me for Thursday of this week. Would have been nice to get to hear Sylvia's heartbeat today, but I will just have to wait a few more days.

I have finally discovered what this strange "kicking" I have been feeling alot lately is...Sylvia is a hiccupping little girl! She seems to get them quite frequently. It feels like she is drumming on the inside of my belly, or perhaps like popcorn popping against my belly. I decided to look this up and also asked a coworker, and everything points to hiccups. (I will of course talk to my doctor to be sure what I have been told and what I have read is correct...) But it makes sense and it makes me smile. It means she is practicing breathing, which is a good sign. :)

(p.s Tried to post this yesterday, on Monday but blogger wasn't cooperating...)

Hoot hoot!

I am now convinced for sure we have a little night owl on our hands. She snoozes during the day and has little belly parties all night long! I didn't get any sleep at all, (unless you count 45 minutes at a time sleep...) due to the outrageous heartburn, and little miss Sylvia's after hour parties. She wasn't just kicking either. She is now large enough for me to feel when she rotates, which she was doing plenty of last night. Is it true that heartburn means a head full of hair? If so she's going to come out like Rapunzel! Heartburn that four tums at one time can't touch, is pretty bad!

Happy Monday to all! Tomorrow week 27 starts. 13 weeks left! AHHHHH!

Saturday Plans

Working some overtime tomorrow while Allen sleeps, and then a trip to the farmers maket, and maybe Hobby Lobby. Then nap, bbq with my hubby, and maybe , just maybe a trip to the movies, Rise of the Planet of the Apes. Then more sleep...that's what this pregnant lady needs!

Burlap To Cashmere - The Other Country

I am really REALLY digging this song right now. Hard to believe this song is just coming out 2011, definately sounds like it came straight out of the 60's. Not sure what exactly it is about this song but something about it really relaxes me and this week I really needed it.

Today,

Of all the things I want to rant and rave about on this blog (work related...) , instead I'm going to be thankful for today. I'm thankful that today the weather was amazing. Allen and I took a wonderful walk this evening with Penny, and I'm thankful for having a husband that can deal with my crazy pregnant butt. I'm thankful I have a job. I better type that one again...I'M THANKFUL I HAVE A JOB. I'm thankful I live in the midwest, where as hot as it has been, we are are not experiencing drought, famine or flooding or riots or genocide and violence. I'm thankful I ate dinner tonight and had clean drinking water to quench my thirst.

Whatever I have to complain about today, I will not because I am blessed.

Less than 100 days!

At first I thought the little ticker at the top of the blog keeping track of how far long we are with this pregnancy was super cute...until the count down dropped below 100. Now, it simply is serving as a reminder as to how quickly time flies by, how quickly Allen and I will be parents. How quickly we are going to be taking on the biggest responsiblity of our entire lives! The closer it gets, the scarier it gets, the more exciting it is. It's by far the biggest emotional roller coaster ride I have ever had in my life so far. We are sooo excited to meet this little girl rolling around in my ever growing belly, and at the same time absolutely terrified. It's hard to focus on any of my everyday tasks, especially work when I am either day dreaming about how wonderful it will be to be a mom, or worrying about all the things we are getting ready to head into as parents. I am just grateful to God for blessing us with strong support system we have in our family on both sides as well as the good friends we have. As scary as preparing to become parents is, having the support of our loved ones does make it a tiny bit less frightening. Also, being able to place our trust in the creator of the universe, our Lord God Almighty, knowing that as long as we make him the head of our growing household, we cannot fail, is comforting.

Will she have my nose, or Allen's nose? Will she have my tiny ears and Allen's eyes? Will she want to play the piano? What will be her favorite book?