This week I received a package from my Dad that carried an extra special baby present from my Mom. It amazes me how far in advance she planned. She had written a card to me, a letter to our Baby Boy and had Cindy Durfee make a beautiful baby quilt with handkerchiefs she had collected. The collection included some from my Mom, Grandmother Meda, Great Grandmother Goss, Aunt Elsie, Edith Sims Norton, and Louise Palmer. As I opened and looked at everything, it felt like she was still in Portland and had just sent me a card like she always did; of course reading her words made me feel differently and brought me back to reality. I am very thankful that she did all this work to 'be here' for big moments in my life, but I do wish she could have been able to hold my baby and sing to him!
Last Thursday, Matt, Andy, Crystal, I, and Granddad, Alden, Niki, and kids (via iPhone Skype) watched the screen while the sonographer took all sorts of pictures, measurements and lingered long enough over a specific area to show us we are having a BOY! I definitely enjoyed having older brothers, so it was a nice surprise. I just hit the 21 week marker! Hopefully I am over half way there! He is moving around so often that I wonder when he sleeps :) I love it though. I just wish Matt could understand this feeling too! We moved our guest furniture out of the 'nursery' and set it up in the other spare room. It feels so good to have that done since we had been hoping to do that for some time, but hadn't had a chance to get to it. I've been thinking about colors, placement, themes, names...etc, but have yet to decide on anything. Through this whole process, I am continually reminded how GREAT God is! I am so thankful for the blessing of carrying this child. Praise God from whom ALL blessings flow.
We are 22 weeks, and our little Bamboo (nickname until we decide on his name) is very active! We've purchased a few big items for the nursery, and I have chosen fabric for the bedding. I am so thrilled about it, because Shanas, a good friend of mine since childhood, is making all the bedding! What a blessing! As we have started to research what we want, it's become difficult not to get caught up in all the baby must haves. There is a lot of pressure to have the top notch items, cutest decor, and everything else the baby industry throws our way. Matt and I have been memorizing Romans 8, and spending a lot of time meditating on how that passage applies to us. One aspect I've felt convicted on relates to vs 5; "Those who live according to the sinful nature, have their minds set on what that nature desires, but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires." My materialistic, sinful desires want to have all the nice things and a room worthy to be photographed and placed in a baby magazine. Although there is no sin in having nice things, it's not to become my obsession or goal. I've been praying lately that my mind will be set on what the Spirit desires, with baby planning and everyday as I strive to live my life worthy to be called His child!
Matt has been working very hard getting our yard finished - a project that has been in the works since he moved in nearly 2 years ago. He is such a good landscaper! Just this last weekend, we replaced some old shrubs that were in front of our house, and he planted some Hydrangeas for me! He replaced damaged sections of our fence, tilled the backyard, and I think we are laying sod this coming weekend. What a treat it will be to have it complete, and we can enjoy all his hard work! Here he is grilling on his new grill, compliments of his parents and aunt!
