Yesterday at 3:45pm ish our nephew came into this side of the world. John Alan weighed in at 8 lbs 6 oz. and 20.5 inches long. He came out with the umbilical cord wrapped around his neck so he was blue and had some bruising on his face. But as time progressed his skin turned more and more pink and his heartbeat was strong. Ellen is also doing well. She obviously was exhausted, but really did a fantastic job keeping her cool through the almost 12 hours of labor.

As for us here on the home front, Matt and I are playing Mary and Joseph this weekend at the church’s live nativity scene outside. And we’ll probably end up going to help Rodger at his work Christmas party for all the foster care kids.

When asked last night by the newest Mother in our church how I was feeling, my honesty was revealed. It’s a bit less comfortable now and I look forward to sleepless nights with baby on the outside as opposed to the current arrangement. Ellen and Ron kept making comments that “this will be you soon” while Matt and I were visiting prior to labor. Yes, I can agree with them. But no I don’t really want to think about it. It’s like that marathon run, you really don’t want to think about how much it will hurt at the end, you just know you’ll push through it as it comes. If I would have thought of that time at the end of the tri–athlon when I wanted to puke on the road during the start of the last mile while training I think my motivation would have been altered. So why dwell on the means of childbirth. For pregnancy is not had for merely the roller coaster of labor, but for the joy of holding the child at the finish line.

So yeah, just trying to keep my eyes on the prize with each leg cramp, back ache, nauseous moment, exhaustion, and much etc.

But you know… being able to address our baby as a Rachael or a David and knowing that Matt and I are Mommy and Daddy – the default- for that little one will totally be worth it all.

Matt and I decided that we’re going to finish our prep for the baby at the start of the year. At this exact moment we have just about everything that we need to bring home baby so we’re in the clear in case baby comes a bit early. But we figured after Christmas we’d evaluate what all we still wanted before baby comes.

Dakota appears to be adjusting well to the baby things as they slowly spread about the house. She’s had some time to smell things and begin to be comfortable with new things. We have 2 last dog training sessions with her before we settle in for the dive into parenthood. Matt and I go to our last childbirth class on Tuesday and we get to have a tour of the delivery/nursery/mother unit of the hospital we’re planning to deliver in. I’m looking forward to the tour – labeling me a dork.

Funny story, when walking through the emergency room after last week’s childbirth class the receptionist in the ER asked with this huge smile on her face, “going to the fourth floor” (Labor and Delivery). “Huh? Oh no, the car,” came my response. Matt and I laughed about it in the hallway after we got out of earshot. So apparently I’m looking a bit larger lately. Or as some may say.. “a bit ripe.” I’ll have to ask Jenney to take a picture this weekend so I can share with Renee and Aunt Yvonne what everyone else sees on a regular basis and says won’t last til January 11.

Baby’s doing well with a consistently strong heartbeat. Baby’s also in the head-down position, which means more pressure on my bladder, but less surprise bladder assaults. So now when anyone pats my belly they’re patting baby’s feet and butt. And for all the medical people I am not effaced or dilated – which is a good thing for one who doesn’t want to be in labor on Christmas. =)

In conclusion – all’s as well as it can be in our home.

How about you?

All of my dreams last night regarded labor. Guess my brain was working out childbirth class. We’re now halfway through Childbirth classes. And my dreams revolved around non-gory thoughts like the beginning hours of mild contractions filled with character and laughs (or so it’s said). And in my dreams Matt and I were unprepared, yet prepared and just waiting in eager anticipation. Last night on the way home from the class we discussed getting the car seat installed in the backseat of my car soon. Just in case… And it hit me that in a few short days I’ll be down to a one-handed count of the weeks left before we are due. “Wow, once we get to five weeks that’s going to fly. I mean 6 weeks feels long, but something about 5 feels quick.” I commented to the Popsicle riding shotgun. “It’s already quick,” said the 6 week-out church planner, “especially when you think of all the stuff we have planned for the next weeks.” “Yeah, after Christmas we’ll be two weeks out,” the words fell out but the reality of that experience still foreign to me. “And Ellen’s due next week (Wednesday),” his words hit the still air.

Matt’s headed to a Spartan (Michigan State) basketball game with his Dad tonight and he’ll return tomorrow some time. I’ve got another late night to put in at work, but I don’t really mind it because Matt’s gonna be gone. It’ll also feel good to be completely caught up with work. Hopefully I won’t be there too late. But thank you cards await me tonight when I get home and I’m hoping those will be enough to keep me from going completely insane from the silence. I may need to get creative tonight. =)

For Jes, Matt’s t-shirts no longer fit well at all. Most of the big shirts I find myself stuffing into with hopes that the tops of my pants that automatically roll down due to my low-rider baby will not be seen due to the centimeter’s hang-over of shirt to the top of my pants. In fact most shirts I am fearful of stretching out due to the “eleven pound baby” that Matt finds to be a funny joke. “Or have it your way,” he said last night after his umpteen joke about us having a huge baby, “seven pounds.” It’s sad to watch my pregnancy clothes that used to be “so big” slowly shrink to an un-fit-able shirt. And that “winter coat” raincoat that I got in it’s oversized and only $6 glory from the thrift store now has a whoppin‘ 2 centimeters left in it before I pop out of that one too. Bummer, man. Bummer.

Yes, world, there is more to my life than pregnancy – for those of you who are getting tired of reading prego posts. But you must know that in the “real world” I don’t talk too much about pregnancy and, therefore, you all get this wonderful forum of uneventful events. Oh lucky you!

Okay, off to work now.
Take care, all.

Yesterday night I stood on the curb and watched a church woman’s house burn. The flames engulfed the house, flaring out of control and destroying everything. Smoke could be smelled for miles as it poured from the house. And the sermon of gratitude from the morning took new shape as this woman stood in utter shock. I had nothing to offer this woman but prayer. She repeated for a while that the last thing she was doing in the house before going to the evening church service was cross-stitching Christmas presents for her grandchildren. “I don’t even have my medicines or cold creme.” Then she explained to the fire marshal, “It’s like my brain’s just gone. I’m not even making sense.”

Thanksgiving is a season not of turkeys and cranberry sauce, but of gratitude for all that we have. There was a horrible loss of all possessions, “I only have the clothes on my back,” the poor woman said regarding the next few days stay in a hotel. A friend quickly ran to her house to gather extra pajamas and Pastor reassured that anything she needs will be paid for by her church family. “I lived there for 30 years,” came an unreal-to-me realization that past memories were gone. And nothing that could have been said on that curb would have changed the fact that everything was gone. Everything was gone.

So does this woman have nothing to be thankful for this Thanksgiving? Everything is gone. Value is held in all kinds of things and I have absolutely no idea what it would feel like to watch so many blessings that were given instantly taken away. Yes, this woman has friends and family to hold her through her loss (Thank you, God). But I really can’t imagine what it would feel like to be put through such a test of gratitude.

It was amazing to witness the Body of Christ working last night, embracing a sister in the midst of tragedy. It was awesome to see the Body of Christ doing what the Body of Christ should… praying and standing beside this sister when all the neighbors had gone inside and the flames were but rubble. And as can be told through the rambling of thoughts and the smell of smoke in my hair, I am still at a loss for complete thoughts and well-poised words regarding the magnitude of thankfulness required even in utter tragedy. How can one produce such gratitude in the midst of loss? Only through the blood of Jesus.

So please take a second to say a prayer for this fellow sister in Christ as she comes out of her shock and lets go of what has been taken. Please pray that she is able to continue to be surrounded by those who love her as she takes healing steps. Please pray that she is able to embrace a greater gratitude for Jesus Christ despite the difficulty and how easy it is to doubt God in all this. Please pray. Prayer has an even greater impact than we will ever know.
thank you.

It feels like years have passed since the alarm went off at 4:30 this morning. Dakota’s road-kill with eyes open position spoke volumes to my inner core. Surprisingly despite the time, I was able to find some productivity stored in the depths of my character that outpoured through group note after group note from 6-7:30 this morning. At 10 my body decided it was time for lunch. And now at 12:30 my body has decided it’s time for a nap. So with a jolt of a froo–froo coffee drink from downstairs (the last of my allowance money) I find myself once again trying to spur on to productivity. Only this time my rebellion kicks in. So Sara Groves is helping to refocus and put me back in the zone I found myself in this morning. Blessed am I, my first intake no-showed. Now hopefully my second intake will no-show and I can find myself homeward bound after only putting in 9 hours of work. What was once a personal attempt to complete “all my outstanding paperwork” has melted into a realistic goal that is being played out differently than the initial attempt. Another quiet Friday, me and the janitor competing for the longevity award (only he appears to have more life than this carcass) and the regular 3 dedicated individuals in the office – 2 newly hired. How everyone else appears to pull off their workload and a 40+ hour Monday through Friday shift without being in existence on Fridays still remains a mystery to me. But alas… back to the repetitious soul-sucking of the office – brightened a bit by Sara Groves’ melodies that cut through thick Friday drag and ironically sing out about, “freedom…”

We got a new (to us) swing last night for baby. Twas fun to go pick it up and promptly put it in the living room upon getting home. This weekend we’ll get a crib. YEAH! It’s white and free. And that is overwhelmingly awesome!

Matt and I have just been recouping from this weekend. Wonderful weekend, but man I tell you it was tiring. I think I got 11 hours of sleep over the youth weekend part, which is semi-doable without another live to attempt to sustain. The youth appeared to enjoy the weekend, be challenged in their faith, and desire change in their walks with God. So it was a highly successful weekend.

I got to hold Danielle again on Sunday. Funny but holding that little 5 week old is so precious on two levels… 1. she’s absolutely adorable and 2. it still blows my mind that someone so small is inside of me.

Alien movements have been quite the normalcy. You should see my stomach go crazy at different times in the day. It’s hilarious! And Matt appears to be enjoying all the activity. Though I must admit, the hip and back assaults can be sometimes painful.

So yeah.. that’s us. We’re doing great. 8 weeks to go! So how are you? What’s new?