Winnie's Gender Reveal

June bub is a GIRL!!!

We sure have been waiting for this moment. Finding out the gender of your baby is so exciting!!! Honestly, I don't know how people wait until the end?!

Taylor and I went last Thursday to my appointment. I drank sweet tea, had a little chitchat with the baby, and prayed a lot. Annnnnnnd little miss modest didn't want to open her legs. Which I am certainly okay with, except when we're wanting to find out what the gender is. Our Dr. said she was about 95% sure it is a girl. :) And our OB said he would give us another ultrasound on my follow up appointment (in 4 weeks) to double check and confirm. 

We are ecstatic!!!

Saturday we did our big reveal at the Browns with the whole family on skype/facetime. You can check out the video and pictures below.

This is us revealing it to our families 

This is my family's reaction to our announcement :)

I love how Cami tells Bumpa, "It's Pink and Purple" haha!!

Our reveal box filled with pink or blue balloons??!! 

Here we go...

Team PINK for the win!!!!! 

Bring on the tutus and ruffles!! 

Here are some photos from our ultrasound.

 The heart shape is her stomach. :)

Winnie is breech and face down. 

One hand holding her upper arm with her knee up.  

Her tiny little foot.

Ooohh I love this :)

Left side: Her feet were crossed. 

3D: Laying face down snuggling.

Holding her arm with her knee up.
[Curser pointing to her knee]

The lady said she will be a cuddler because she was face down toward my spine and holding her arms and curling up her knees. She did not want to move. SO CUTE I CAN'T TAKE IT!!!!

We named her after both of our dads moms. She'll be our Winifred Ann. It's old fashion and cute and we love it! And Taylor said he's getting a gun before she's born. haha!

Oh and now that Taylor has met the Doctor, we have decided to stick with him as my OB. :-)

Happy days!!!!

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change." - James 1:17

Sold out for Christ

My time with the Lord this morning was so good I needed to share. I pray this blesses you and meets you as richly as it has me. God is so faithful to meet each of us, he just asks us to come. 

Matthew 20:16

"So the last will be first, and the first last."

ESV Study: A disciple of Jesus should not measure his or her worth by comparing it with the accomplishments and sacrifices of others, but should focus on serving from a heart of gratitude in response to God's grace.

Isaiah 40:30-31

"Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint."

Joy in Rejection by Lydia Brownback

"Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name." Acts 5:41

     "'She's one of those Christians,' we might overhear after rolling our grocery cart past neighborhood acquaintances in the canned goods aisle. What about us stands out as distinctly Christian so that others know it about us, even if they do not know us very well personally? It's good to be singled out as a Christian because we exude joy. It's not so good if we are the only ones on the block who darken our homes and refuse to answer the door on Halloween. Too often we get caught up in trying to look Christian rather than trying to be Christian. Even when we do stand out for reflecting Christ in a winsome way, not all our neighbors are going to like us. Some will hate us all the more, as Paul made clear: "We are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life" (2 Cor. 2:15-16). 

     The most joyful women I know are those most involved in serving others. No matter who likes or hates us, joy comes from living for something [someone] beyond ourselves. That's why, all through the book of Acts, we see the apostles rejoicing in the midst of horrendous difficulties. Their joy in life wasn't contingent on how well things were going personally or on how much people liked them; their whole reason for living was to spread the good news of God's love in Christ Jesus. In Acts 5 we read that they were arrested for preaching the gospel. The council decided to beat them and then let them go. Afterward, we are told, "they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name." 

     When was the last time we rejoiced at suffering dishonor for the sake of our faith? Sooner or later, we are going to be rejected for our faith by a neighbor or a family member or a friend. We might lose a job because we bear the name of Christ, or experience ridicule at work because we believe. We understand such rejection as the persecution Jesus promised all who follow him, but to rejoice at it like the apostles did? That's another story. How were they able? It wasn't because they were super-Christians. It's because they were so completely sold out to Christ that nothing mattered except him. Suffering? Great, so long as it meant they were associated with Jesus. Blessing and prosperity? Bring it on, so long as it meant God would be made more visible in their lives. God was their overarching purpose, which is why the apostles were always joyful. 

     The extent of joy we know is the measure of how sold out we are."

I hope you all have a blessed day! 

Week 19

Our little June bub is the size of a mango this week. Babes brain is developing and working on his/her five senses. We are just a few days away from our half way point and next week we will hopefully be revealing if it's a boy or girl!!!

How far along: Back end of 19 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: 5.4 + lbs
Maternity clothes: Still the same. I've been wearing my maternity jeans, but they are starting to get baggy... I think it's time to wash them. ha! My shirts still fit for the most part. Soon enough I'll be going through my closet to eliminate what doesn't fit.
Stretch marks: None
Sleep: It has been great! Only waking up once to go pee. Sleeping through the night is such a gift from God that I used to take for granted... not any more!
Best moment this week: This has been a good week. Taylor and I are enjoying our times at home together resting and having fun. Every moment with him has been my favorite!
Have you told family and friends? Yes
Miss anything: Taking baths.
Movement: Yes yes and yes! Mommy and Daddy have BOTH felt movement!!! Teeny kicks! :) :)
Food cravings: Turkey and Ham sandwiches and Werther's Originals.
Anything making you queasy or sick: Nothing!
Have you started to show yet: Getting bigger!!
Gender: Only 1 more week and we should find out!!!
Labor Signs: None
Symptoms: I have more energy these days, starting at 8pm lasting anywhere from 10-11. Which is not normal! Leg cramps have become more frequent. Thank you, Christina for my Ted stockings! Less headaches, except one bad migraine this week. It is what it is right? Last, I think I've developed a pet allergy. When I'm in a house with a dog my nose and eyes go crazy. I don't like it. I feel for all you [my Hubs especially] who suffer from this daily.
Belly button in or out: In
Wedding rings on or off: On
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy this week. Except one night... oh my! I couldn't breath out of my nose and I started crying... wailing is more accurate. Taylor and I couldn't do anything but laugh. It was hilarious! Taylor said, "I think we need to start a pregnancy book and THAT needs to go in it!" Lol. Whoa hormones!!!
Looking forward to: Finding out if it's a BOY or GIRL?????

My dearest Tricia sent me this diaper bag. She always said, "Once you're pregnant I have the perfect diaper bag for you." And she did! *THANK YOU, PHO!* I love it!!!

Taylor and I are reevaluating our babymoon plans. Our original plan was to go to Nashville and tour around, but we decided that resting on our babymoon was the best idea and Nashville wasn't the place to do that. So, we are looking into beaches. If you have any suggestions, please let me know. :)

My fabulous mom is visiting in April. Which means we will probably be either packing up boxes in the apartment or unpacking boxes in a house. Craziness!!

Please pray with us as we move forward in searching for a place to call home. We are so excited to see what God has planned!

Week 18

Christmas has come and gone. Time sure does fly. We had a great time with family at the Brown's this year. We ate a ton of food, hung out with Memmere & Fred, went on a little trip to see Nana & Da, did a gingerbread house competition, watched a lot of movies, and just rested, had fun and enjoyed our time together. Plus, Jon and Julie [BIL, SIL] announced they were pregnant, and well... that was wonderful news!! :)

I missed my family though. And I am missing them more and more. Especially when little Cami asks Taylor and I if we can come to Grandma's. So sweet. And I wish! <3

Taylor and I are home now, Christmas decorations came down this past weekend. We decided that since we'll be moving in a few months, we'll take other stuff down and not decorate as much. It feels good. :)

I haven't posted updates for a few reasons. First, the obvious reason, Christmas. Second, life got super busy trying to get ourselves back on schedule. Third, having headaches every day doesn't make me want to have a picture taken, let alone post it. You understand right? ;)

We have set the date to find out the sex!!!!! And we have a date on the calendar to tour the hospital we plan on delivering at. Now to just figure out who is going to deliver this little bub of ours. We shall see.

So here I am. Eighteen beautiful weeks!! And our babe is growing strong everyday. He/she is about 5 1/2 inches long and his/her skeleton is continuing to harden from cartilage to bone. How cool is that? I keep telling Taylor I wished my stomach was see through so I could watch my little babe grow. Ha! It would be awesome!!!

I heard little bub's heartbeat last week.
Beating at a strong 140 !!!

How far long: 18 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: 5.4 lbs
Maternity clothes: I bought jeans, a skirt, and some tops. I was so surprised at how comfy maternity jeans are. My waistline is thankful!
Stretch marks: Nope
Sleep: I have slept through the night 4 times so far this week. Hallelujah!
Best moment this week: Woke up 3 days without a severe headache. I may sound like a broken record, but you have no idea how much that is a blessing to me.
Have you told family and friends? Yes!
Miss anything: Fitting into my jeans. Ha! And believe it or not... coffee.
Movement: We have felt little flutters here and there. Waiting for a kick!!
Food cravings: Breakfast foods. Really, I crave Toast Cafe. I want to go there all. the. time.
Anything making you queasy or sick: Not eating. I'm always hungry. It's funny how much things change from one trimester to another.
Have you started to show yet: Sure am. And looking back on the earlier pictures amazes me how much my belly has grown!
Gender prediction: Okay... I'm gonna say it... I think it's a boy. We find out THIS month!!!
Labor Sign: None
Belly button in or out: In
Wedding rings on or off: On
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy, but when I'm hurting I'm not much fun. Taylor is the BEST medicine though!! He continues to make me laugh, which always helps! :)
Looking forward to: Finding out if it's a BOY or GIRL?????