::this week::

We found out that the little baby growing in my belly is a BOY!  Noah had been telling us that for a few weeks, and it is going to be so great for him to have a little brother to play with.  God had actually told Jeremy that it was a boy 2 weeks ago, and gave us a name for him, but more on that later when we share the name.

praising:  this sweet little life growing inside of me.  health for both of us.  the fact that my pregnancy has been really easy and enjoyable for the last several weeks.  God's faithfulness, mercy, grace.  His holiness.  how he pursues and speaks to me.  what a great year 2012 was for our family.

praying:  for the needs of others.  for our city, nation, and world.

thankful for:  the holidays... some great time with family... getting to watch Noah LOVE playing with his cousins... traditions... good food... Jeremy off of work for a week and lots of extra time with him... a date night... grandparents nearby who serve us by babysitting... all of the sweet and thoughtful gifts from others... having a baby around again, they really do help me to slow down and enjoy each moment... the sweet and gentle way that Noah plays with and cares for the new baby I'm watching, he has matured so much since a year ago and I was watching Hayden at 3 months.

reading: Jeremiah, 2 Kings, Momentum

cooking:  sesame salad dressing, steak, curried veggie dip, sesame noodles, chocolate fondue with fruit, white chicken chili with jalapeno cheese cornbread, chocolate chip banana oat muffins, corn pudding, mac and cheese, BBQ and buffalo chicken pizza, cilantro pesto pasta, ham and bean soup, slow cooker hot dogs, lots of smoothies (my craving of the week)

creating:  pondering some projects for myself, now that all of my holiday gifts are done

doing:  started to watch a new kiddo who is currently two and a half months old.  still searching for a new to us car. celebrating J's sister's birthday.  hosting a low key pot-luck and board game New Year's Eve with friends.  breakfast with a sweet couple who pour into us and are co-laborers in the harvest.  coffee with a couple of friends.

reflecting:  on 2012.  2013.  the concept of spiritual inheritance... what I've received, what I'm passing on.  a lifestyle of gratitude and giving thanks in all circumstances.

Chocolate Chip Banana Oat Muffins

I made these banana oat muffins. The few changes I made were to;

-used 1 whole egg instead of 2 egg whites
-doubled the recipe and used 3/4 c whole wheat flour and 3/4 c all purpose flour
-switch chocolate chips for the pecans

These are a good, healthy breakfast muffin, but don't expect an overly sweet/ heavy dessert muffin.  All 3 of us liked these, I like them best heated up with the chocolate melted and gooey.

19 weeks

Here is what is going on with our little tomato this week according to babycenter.com;

Your baby's sensory development is exploding! Her brain is designating specialized areas for smell, taste, hearing, vision, and touch. Some research suggests that she may be able to hear your voice now, so don't be shy about reading aloud, talking to her, or singing a happy tune if the mood strikes you.

Your baby weighs about 8 1/2 ounces and measures 6 inches, head to bottom — about the size of a large heirloom tomato. Her arms and legs are in the right proportions to each other and the rest of her body now. Her kidneys continue to make urine and the hair on her scalp is sprouting. A waxy protective coating called the vernix caseosa is forming on her skin to prevent it from pickling in the amniotic fluid.

Think you're big now? You'll start growing even faster in the weeks to come. As a result, you may notice some achiness in your lower abdomen or even an occasional brief, stabbing pain on one or both sides — especially when you shift position or at the end of an active day. Most likely, this is round ligament pain. The ligaments that support your uterus are stretching to accommodate its increasing weight. This is nothing to be alarmed about, but call your practitioner if the pain continues even when you're resting or becomes severe.

As for me, I'm doing well.  We get to find out the gender tomorrow and are super excited.  We have our boy and girl names picked out and are just waiting to see what we are having.  I've been feeling good and feeling lots of movement from the baby.  I'm still not overly excited about sweets, or heavy foods with lots of oil and butter.  Lately I've been wanting a lot of meat, fruits, veggies, and orange juice.  Still jogging and lifting weights and not having any pregnancy symptoms other than a growing belly and moving baby.

handmade Christmas gifts

Here are some of the Christmas presents I made this year...

I took a free box of old ornaments from the curb, and a little scrap fabric from a friend's stash and turned them into these...

scrap fabric ornaments

I used more scrap fabric to make a few adult and kid sized headbands

and some key chain wristlets

a key chain chapstick holder

some sweetheart and initial necklaces

some photo cubes/ paper weights 

and some interchangeable doll blocks

May your Christmas be merry and Christ centered!

18 weeks

Here is what is going on with our bell pepper this week according to babycenter.com;

Head to rump, your baby is about 5 1/2 inches long (about the length of a bell pepper) and he weighs almost 7 ounces. He's busy flexing his arms and legs — movements that you'll start noticing more and more in the weeks ahead. His blood vessels are visible through his thin skin, and his ears are now in their final position, although they're still standing out from his head a bit. A protective covering of myelin is beginning to form around his nerves, a process that will continue for a year after he's born. If you're having a girl, her uterus and fallopian tubes are formed and in place. If you're having a boy, his genitals are noticeable now, but he may hide them from you during an ultrasound.

Your cardiovascular system is undergoing dramatic changes, and during this trimester your blood pressure will probably be lower than usual. Don't spring up too fast from a lying or sitting position or you might feel a little dizzy.Hungry? An increase in appetite is pretty common about now. Make it count by choosing meals and snacks that are rich in nutrients instead of empty calories (chips, French fries, candy, and other sweets). Bigger, more comfortable clothes are a must now as your appetite and waistline grow.

From now on, when you do lie down, it's best to lie on your side — or at least partly tilted to one side. (When you lie flat on your back, your uterus can compress a major vein, leading to decreased blood return to your heart.) Try placing a pillow behind you or under your hip or upper leg for comfort.

If you haven't already had a second-trimester ultrasound, you'll probably have one soon. This painless procedure helps your practitioner check how your baby's growing, screen for certain birth defects, check the placenta and umbilical cord, determine whether the due date you're working with is accurate, and see how many babies you're carrying. During the exam, you might see your baby moving around or sucking his thumb. Bring your partner along, and be sure to ask for a printout for your baby's first photo album!

As for me, doing well.  Still feeling good.  Able to eat anything I want for the most part without feeling nauseous afterward.  Exercising regularly (with slightly less strength/ intensity/ endurance than normal).  I've only gained 5 pounds, but it feels like a lot more right now.  Nothing really fits me well right now, my regular clothes are getting too tight, but my maternity clothes from last time are still a little too big and loose.  I'm just in a weird in between stage.

This week was the first time I started feeling this baby move and confidently knowing it was the baby and not my tummy rumbling.  Jeremy was even able to feel some flutters one evening after I ate a piece of cake and loaded our little one up on some sugar.

I think we have our boy and girl names picked out now, so now we just have to wait a week and a day until the appointment and we find out the gender.

::this week::

praising:  God... His goodness, faithfulness, presence, guidance, Spirit...

praying:  for the needs/ requests of others.

reading:  1 Kings, Isaiah, 1000 Gifts

thankful for:  beautiful weather.  the laughs and smiles of the sweet little ones I get to watch.  Jesus... Christmas... redemption, salvation, freedom, and victory through Him.

cooking:  spinach balls, slow cooker ratatouille, baked oatmeal, sausage and cheddar breakfast casserole, pumpkin gingersnap cookies, toffee cookies, sesame noodles, hummus, tabbouleh, rosemary curry spiced nuts, chocolate fondue with fruit, green bean casserole, pumpkin pasta, cranberry sauce, macaroni and cheese, black bean rice and corn casserole, braised coconut chickpeas with spinach, green smoothies, BBQ chicken quesedillas, lentil salad, no bake peanut butter oat cookies, curry dip with a veggie tray

creating:  the finishing touches on a few Christmas presents

doing:  purchasing and delivering groceries to three of our neighbors as a Christmas giving opportunity for our community group.  community group Christmas party.  my mom comes in town for a little less than a week.  Jeremy's brother, his wife, and their two kids come in town, so we'll be busy doing lots of fun family stuff.

Chocolate Peanut Butter No-Bake Cookies

I made these chocolate peanut butter no bake cookies for my mom's upcoming visit (because she doesn't eat eggs, and therefore most desserts are off limits for her).  There taste really good, are easy, and have a little nutrition thanks to the oats.