37.5 Weeks

Sorry we haven't updated in a few weeks. It has been busy and exciting. I hope to post some new pictures soon too.

A little over a week ago we had another ultrasound to check baby Ethan's size. At the midway ultrasound he measured long so to get a better idea of how big this boy is the midwives wanted to do another ultrasound. It was quickly decided that he is taking after his father already. The estimated weight, which can be off by a pound or more either way was 7 lbs 11 oz. This was when I was 36 weeks and 3 days. For those that are wondering a normal weight at that time would be around 6 pounds. I was also measured on the larger side, so we are officially in the borderline large baby area.. how exciting!! (can you sense the sarcasm). We are thankful to the Lord for a healthy baby and pregnancy so far.

There are no plans for a C-Section, but there is a possibility I will be induced. If labor has not begun on its own I will be induced around the due date. This could mean a little before or a little after the date (which is November 12th). They have said they will not let me go to 41 weeks which would be one week past the due date.  We are hopeful that the labor will begin on its own as usually labor progresses more quickly with less complications, but we are also excited that the end is in sight!

Are we ready for baby Ethan? Yes and No.  I do not have a bag packed, but this is difficult to do since most of the things I want to have at the hospital I use.  We do not have a typed out and printed birth plan, but this is on the short to do list.  We do have the carseat installed, but not inspected.  We have a little over half the baby clothes washed and put away in the nursery.  We have the pack and play set up in our bedroom which is where the baby will sleep for at least the first 4 to 6 weeks.  We are getting very excited to meet our son. 

How is Jen feeling? We've gone from good to fine.  I have most of the usual pregnancy complaints.  This week I am battling a sinus infection, but I am daily improving.  Overall I am healthy and excited to have a baby.

We are thankful to the Lord for all his blessing and we know that He is control of all the details and He will bring baby Ethan into the world when the time is right.  We are thankful that we have a loving Savior who guides each step and walks with us each day. 

35 Weeks

Well folks.. we are hitting the home stretch.. five weeks till the due date. The big question, are we ready? Easy answer - NO! We have lots to do to prepare and I don't think we could ever be ready for one of the biggest changes in our lives. Went to the doctor today. Everything looks great. I'm healthy and heard baby's heartbeat again! I'm sure many out there are curious but afraid to ask.. I've gained 27 pounds so far! Only 2 in the last 2 weeks which is great! I am hoping to come in under the 35 pound mark! The midwife did decide that after reviewing my chart and the stats from the ultrasound around week 22 that they do want to go ahead and do another ultrasound, so next Tuesday we will get to take another peak inside my womb.. I'm hoping they will do 3D and that this time he won't be so camera shy (besides, he should get use to having a camera in his face.. for I am sure there will be no shortage of picture taking after he makes his big debut!). This ultrasound is really just information gathering. We did not discuss how this could change labor/delivery and I don't think it will. No matter how big he seems on the ultrasound there is no way to know how labor will go (and this was expressed by the midwife earlier in the pregnancy). The midwife did not seem concerned and so we are not concerned. I believe this is just normal protocal for how big he measured on the previous ultrasound. Are we excited? YES! We can't wait to meet him outside of mommy's belly and see who he looks like and get to know his personality! We are thrilled!! It is strange to carry another person around with you all the time and to talk to him and have a relationship with him but not know what his face looks like... I can't wait to look him in the eye and formally meet him! Yes I've had all the usually pregnancy side effects.. swollen feet sometimes, swollen hands/fingers some days, not great sleep, heartburn, etc. However, I've been healthy and it could always be worse. The Lord is good and he has guided us step by step which I know He will continue to do.

34 Weeks

6 weeks till my due date! Wow.. can't believe how fast time has gone by. This week we reach another milestone. The crib and changing table were delivered and assembled over the weekend. The spare bedroom has officially become the spare bedroom/nursery!! It feels great to know that the baby has a little home of his own now.. although there is still much to be done in the room. This is a picture of some of the progress. We plan on painting the room a different color sometime in the coming weeks.

My sister and her husband came up for the weekend and helped us with the room. It was a huge help and without them this would have taken us several days and many hours of frustration. We enjoyed a productive weekend mixed with moments of fun. No other changes with me. Feeling okay most days and Steve is being a great support to me. We are getting more excited everyday to welcome this new life into our family, although in many ways he already is a big part.

Week 33

Sorry it has been a few weeks since I posted an update. It has been a very busy few weeks. This last Saturday the ladies from the my sunday school class at church hosted a baby shower for me and it was fabulous. My mother and father were able to come up for the weekend, and they were such an added blessing. We got many wonderful things from our church family and local Lynchburg friends. We feel truly blessed and thankful for every one's love and generosity. After the shower my mom and Steve helped me organize and temporarily put away everything, until the nursery is set up. Our nursery furniture (crib and changing table) have been ordered and should be here by this weekend!! We haven't really done any work in the nursery yet, but that will be the ongoing task all month.

Yesterday I went to the midwife office (I now go every two weeks for a standard check up, and at 36 weeks I begin going every week until I deliver). At these appointments they are just weighing me and checking the basics (size, baby heartbeat, etc.). They are the same they've been throughout pregnancy, but during the first two trimesters I went every 4 weeks. They are usually short - in and out in about 20 minutes - but very helpful as I have a chance to ask any questions that have come up. Everything has been healthy so far and once again my weight looks good (I gained 3 pounds in two weeks this time) and so was my blood pressure and baby's heartbeat.

As far as how I am feeling things are going okay. Yes, I feel very pregnant. But, for the most part I daily remind myself that it could be worse. Some days I don't feel so bad and have tons of energy and not much hurts, other days everything hurts. My feet have been swelling the more. The midwife even commented on the swelling, but did not seem overly concerned as I have no other problems and my blood pressure has been great throughout pregnancy. Sleep has definitely changed, on a good night I only wake up one time, on a difficult night it might be 3 or 4. But I've only had a few nights during the whole pregnancy in which sleep was became difficult to the point that I couldn't get back to sleep, and even on those nights I did sleep some.

Am I nesting? Some. It comes and goes. I definitely have this constant to do list in my head (which if you know me well.. before pregnancy I was NEVER a to do list person, and except in school I rarely worried about deadlines and getting things done). At this stage I really enjoy having things organized, but sometimes I am just too tired to work on it.

I am still working part time at the school. I work about 4 hours a day. This keeps me busy and on my feet most of those 4 hours (which probably contributes to the swelling). But I love the kids and I love the teachers.

Ethan moves all the time now. The midwife said this is a good sign that things are healthy. I think in the last few days he has been moving the most of the entire pregnancy. The movement has never kept me awake at night, and provides great entertainment throughout today. I've had a few friends be lucky enough to touch the belly when he was moving, and my parents this weekend enjoyed watching the belly move while they were hear this week. It certainly looks strange and feels strange, but at the same time reminds me that the life inside me is growing and getting ready to come out.

I still can not believe that soon Steve and I will be parents. The Lord has been so good to us. I feel so many things at once that I try not to dwell on it because I will get overwhelmed. I feel joy, excitement, concern, anticipation, and at the same totally unprepared for something that I can not even comprehend was is to come or what will happen. I know the Lord is preparing us and walking with us each day and that brings me great comfort and reassurance. I know that His grace sufficient for all things including circumstances that I can not wrap my mind around.

This is the latest picture of me from Sunday before church:

Pregnancy Loves

As I experience the third trimester I find it more difficult not to complain. This entire pregnancy one of my goals has been to complain as little as possible, since I am ever aware that there are many women who do not get to carry a baby, or get to carry a baby full term. I want to be thankful each day, no matter the difficulties it may bring. At this stage it would be easy to make a list of top ten things I don't like about being pregnant, but instead I wanted to try and make a list of the top ten things I love about being pregnant. So here it goes.. in no special order (I don't love number one the most, its just the first one that came to mind).

1. I love how my husband takes care of me and tries to comfort at every possible opportunity.

2. I love to feel baby Ethan kick.

3. I love to watch my husband's face light up with excitement when he feels the baby kick.

4. I love to watch my belly grow each day knowing that there is a precious life inside.

5. I love the constant reminder to thank God for being the author of life - and the one that allows each of us to live each day.

6. I love that I get to whatever I want - to a limit of course.

7. I love that my husband thinks I am beautiful pregnant.

8. I love the excuse to go shopping - can never have enough maternity or baby stuff.

9. I love that each day I feel more bonded to this baby I am carrying - I get to share every part of my life with him until he comes out and that is pretty cool.

10. I love how much I get to see and experience God in new ways. Through his comfort, provision, and daily reminders that he created me to do this and that he created this child inside of me for a special purpose.


I could probably write a few more, but for now, that's a good start.

If anyone is wondering how I am feeling.. I feel pregnant. I am very thankful that so far the Lord has blessed us with a healthy pregnant. Therefore, any discomforts I feel can be overlooked when I remind myself that it could always be worse. We are overcome with thankfulness to the Lord for all His provisions and this miracle that He has given us.

30 Weeks

It has been a while since an update. The last few weeks have been busy, and I've now entered the third trimester!! What an exciting time, knowing that the birth is getting closer by the day. Recently the number one question I get asked is related to the nursery. Is it ready? Not even close. Right now the room that will be the nursery is our spare bedroom with a pile of baby stuff we got in the middle. In a few more weeks we will have another baby shower (on August 24th to be exact), at our church in Lynchburg. Once this happens we will know exactly what is left to get, and what we really need. At this point we've gotten many great things, but we still have no diapers and no bottles. There are some other things, but those are two of the major things we will need when we bring the baby home. I plan on nursing, but you never know what will happen so its good to have a least a couple bottles on hand just in case.

The changes happening with me are simple, I'm getting bigger and more tired by the day. The third trimester fatigue is definitely getting stronger. I had a lot of energy during the second, and now I'm back to being tired a lot.. I'm also not sleeping as well, but thats to be expected.

Baby Ethan moves a lot. He usually moves before I eat, after I eat, and if I accidentially roll on too my belly at night, he'll start kicking.

At 28 weeks I had a doctors appointment. Now I will go every two weeks, so I am scheduled to again Tuesday afternoon. On the last appointment I had my glucose tolearance test to test for gestational diabeties. The test came back negative, meaning I do not have it. An hour after drinking a specific sugar drink my sugar level was 96 (this is very good, and completely normal). They also tested my blood again to make sure I'm not anemic, and that also came back negative. These were both standard tests they do for all pregnant women at 28 weeks. And I'm clear in both areas, so praise the Lord, so far I've had not complications with the pregnancy. My weight also looks good, and is in the normal range.

While I have moments of being uncomfortable, and I am thankful that the pregnancy has made it this far and that I am still pregnant at this point. We only have about 10 weeks left to full term! Hopefully the next update won't be in 3 weeks.

Baby Shower - 28 Weeks

Today marks 28 weeks! 3rd Trimester here I come! Today we also celebrated this new life with a wonderful baby shower in Chesterfield hosted by my sister Shirley. It was a wonderful day with a variety of food, games, and a great cake made by my Grandmother. We had many wonderful family and friends who came out to celebrate and shower us with love for this new baby. I was very thankful that Steve's Aunt made the trip down from New Hampshire to celebrate and spend time with the family. It was a great day and I am so thankful for all the gifts and all the people who came and supported us.

Today I am 28 weeks pregnant and have a little under three months to go. I have been feeling okay. My feet have started to swell more and some days my hips are sore, but other days they feel fine. This is all normal and overall considering the stage I am entering I feel good. Anytime I feel a pain or get uncomfortable I try and be thankful that baby Ethan is still inside of me and that I've been able to carry him this far with no complications.

Sometimes it is still hard to believe that I am this far along in the pregnancy and we are actually having a baby in a few months. We have not even started the process of setting up the baby room and we are definitely not ready, but we are thankful for all the family and friends who are encouraging us and supporting us throughout this journey.