19 Weeks

My handsome nephew, Pax and I revealing our bellies! :) Isn't he ADORABLE?

Well, in exactly 3 days we will find out if we are having a boy or girl! Sure, having a girl would be lots of fun but I also know a little boy is JUST as much fun, if not more! :) Either way, we are VERY excited and anticipate Tuesday morning at 10:45. Don't worry, I will keep you all informed (thanks to social networking!)

I am feeling pretty good. My nausea is still there at times. It mostly comes at night now, with occasional spurts in the afternoon. I think this is how it is going to be my whole pregnancy...so I am living with it.

As far as names go....we do have a girl and a guy name picked out! :) We went back and forth a lot with names, but I think that we have confirmed what we both like and agree on! Are we going to tell you? Maybe. We'll let you know when we decide if we are going to wait or not...

Names are so important, aren't they? Think about it, when someone you don't see very often knows your name OR even remembers it, it makes you feel good doesn't it? (I do have to say, I am TERRIBLE with names, and wish I had a better memory when it came to names!) Names are so important because they reveal who you are. There is only one YOU in the world. It's cool to think that God used names in Scripture to reveal that persons character. Usually each name had a specific meaning behind it. Now think about all the names that are used for God in the Bible....the list is exhaustive! We can know so much about God's character if we just study and read his word. I know it sounds simple, but how many times are we disappointed with our relationship with the Lord because we don't feel close to Him, or we don't feel like we know Him. It just makes me think that there is NO excuse when it comes to getting to know our God. The best part of it all, is that when we are around people that exemplify different characteristics of Christ, we start to imitate that same characteristic.  I really enjoy seeing the unique characteristics in the people I am around. I pray that our little one will grow to understand and see who God is through His word, and that he/she will imitate specific characteristics of Christ. I pray that he/she will be involved with a community of believers that represent Christ Kingdom in their daily lives...

18 Weeks

 

 Salt! Salt! Salt! If you would have asked me if I preferred sweet or salty 3 months ago, I would have told you without a doubt sweet! Well, I now understand when people say you crave certain things when you are pregnant. For me, it is anything salty! I was never a fan of salt and vinegar chips, and now I love them. Jalapeno poppers from Sonic have been a specific craving (thanks Sonic for building one right NEXT to Starbucks!) Regardless of what it may be....it's usually salty! I'm not sure what is worse, eating too many sweets, or too much salt! ;) I'm trying to eat healthier for baby McMurry but sometimes it is just plain difficult. This past week I've been craving salads, so I'll try and stick to those for awhile.

We still haven't felt any movement, although I hear from lots of people its usually between 18-22 weeks, so we are hoping it happens sooner than later. I find myself wanting to pray for the baby when I am just sitting there alone. Sometimes it feels kind of weird, like I am talking to nothing, :) even though I know there is a baby in there. What a beautiful thing to do before the baby is born! 

I read this quote from Dallas Willard the other day and I wanted to share it...

"What a child does when not told what to do is the final indicator of what and who that child is." 

This is such a true statement. I pray that our child grows up to be a Godly man or woman, and we can be a Godly example of what it means to follow obediently after the Lord in every area of our lives. I pray that as we imitate Christ, our child will imitate Christ. It's amazing to think that God already knows what our child is going to go through, struggle with, be joyful about, etc. He knows the hairs on his/her head, and the number of days in his/her life (Psalm 139). What an incredible, all-knowing, all-powerful God we serve!

17 Weeks

17 Weeks Pregnant @ Molly Stark :)

Sleep! Oh, Sleep! It's been rough lately, and to think that it is only going to get worse as time progresses worries me a bit. :) I do sleep, but some nights I just toss and turn wondering if I will ever get comfortable. Hopefully I'll be able to sleep better soon.

I have nothing to report as far as feeling the baby, YET! I know that it is coming soon! Sometimes I think I feel something, and then I just psych myself out. A lot of people have been telling me it will feel like a flutter, so that is what I am going to be paying attention too!

I was hoping I would be able to fit into all my jeans and just have to use the belly band, but it seems that they seem to be getting smaller and smaller as I put them on (and to think that baby is only the size of an onion right now!) Oh, the joys of being pregnant! :) I don't mind it though because it just reminds me of how God has fashioned women to have bodies that give birth to human beings! What a beautiful concept.

I've been meditating and reading this Psalm lately:
"My heart is not proud, Lord, my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me. But I have calmed and quieted myself, I am like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child I am content. Israel, put your hope in the Lord both now and forevermore." Psalm 131:1-3
Such a short Psalm, and yet so powerful at the same time. I am challenged by David's humility in this Psalm so much. His honesty and vulnerability are revealed in that he doesn't allow himself to be bogged down by the greater things that he may not understand, or comprehend, but he has allowed his heart to be content resting in God alone. His does not make his business that which is God's alone. At the end of verse 2, the Message translates it this way: 'like a baby content in its mother's arms, my soul is a baby content." How many times have you seen a baby in its mothers arms, completely and utterly content? The first thing we do is say things such as, "they look so peaceful and content, so comfortable."Right? That is my prayer this week, that my heart and soul would be like a baby content in its mother's arms...resting in God alone. I pray this for you too. :)

16 Weeks

So, let's just say that being 16 weeks is NO different than the last 15! ;) I am still feeling nauseous at times, and the past few days I haven't been sleeping very good (I hope this doesn't keep up!) Other than that, we found out that the sex of the baby will be revealed to us on June 28th! My sister is due around the same time as me, and she is going to try and find out what she is having on that same day too. It will be fun to find out together (and reveal to everyone else together!)

I had a doctor's apt. this past Thursday, and the nurse said to me "Wow! Your baby is on the move!" I got a laugh out of that, and enjoyed to hear "it' is having fun down there. Surprisingly, even though I work at Starbucks, I have stayed away from caffeine for the most part. Sometimes I'll drink an occasional green tea, but coffee hasn't been sounding very good to me (SO glad I don't get nauseous working at Starbucks or being around coffee -- thank you God!) Overall, things seem to be going well, and we are so excited in the next week or so to be able to feel the movement of the baby (hopefully!) I've been trying to feel for movement, but I haven't been able to YET. I'm sure I'll have more exciting news next week!

Until then...I've been meditating on this scripture from Deuteronomy....

"Understand therefore, that the Lord your God is indeed God. He is the faithful God who keeps his covenant for a thousand generations and lavishes his unfailing love on those who love him and obey his commands." Deut. 7:9, and it follows with a cursing for those who hate him and disobey him.

I really enjoy seeing parts of God's character revealed in this book. Before these verses, God specifically reminds them that he shows no favoritism, and didn't choose Israel as a people because they were more numerous than all the others. He choose them because He is a God who KEEPS his promises, and He is FAITHFUL. He is the REDEEMER, who redeemed them from slavery in Egypt (and continues to bring redemption), and this covenant of LOVE he has committed to will continue for THOUSANDS of generations (that includes us!) God allows the people to choose what they would do (we still get that choice), and he reveals to them the repercussions if they do not obey (there are consequences for believers/non-believers). He reveals parts of His character and His unfailing love. What an incredible and faithful God we serve....our job is to obey his commands, and love unconditionally!