Weekly Womb #34

Ever wonder what a baby looks like on the inside at 34 weeks? Wonder no longer!

Here's our little nugget still cookin away. Oh, and don't get scared away by the funky stuff on the side of baby's face. That's just the 4-D waves picking up the movement of fluid. I guess they need a quicker shutter speed on their equipment! Anyway, this little one is pretty dang adorable if you ask me.


Watching the baby opening and closing his or her mouth was pretty funny! I might use this one for his or her graduation slideshow! I'm sure this will get me some serious eye-rolls when this one is older.


And this is just pretty sweet. Snug as a bug, in a rug. Errrr...in a womb.


As you may have figured, we had another ultrasound to check my placenta and it looks like it is migrating further and further away. Amen to that! I think it was between 2.8 and 3.6 cm away this time. So the thing is doing what it's supposed to do. This continues to warrant me for a normal delivery vs. a c-sect. Again, while the c-sect sounded a bit appealing as far as scheduling and speed is concerned, I guess it's gonna be the good ole fashion way for me. Cue the epidural tech please!

According to Babycenter:

Your baby now weighs about 4 3/4 pounds (like your average cantaloupe) and is almost 18 inches long. Her fat layers — which will help regulate her body temperature once she's born — are filling her out, making her rounder. Her skin is also smoother than ever. Her central nervous system is maturing and her lungs are continuing to mature as well.

According to Shannon-center:

ROOM IS RUNNING OUT QUICKLY. And while the baby is highly encouraged to continue growing and gaining lots of weight, the renter isn't sure where we will be housing the extra baby girth?

At my appointment, my belly is measuring 33 weeks. Baby's heartbeat was upper 150s. My bp was like 117/67. The top number is starting to creep a bit. Normally I run about 100/60 when prego so I will keep an eye on the creep-age. Other than that, all is good. I continue to nest and get a lot done with the kids, around the house, and in my many business adventures. That is a plus.
I would consider this probably my best pregnancy, as far as how I have felt. A big plus. On the downside, Derrick and I HAVE NO IDEA what we are gonna name this little nugget. Right now, the only thing we have is an idea from Leighton. And really, it's totally unisex. So, if we don't come up with something quickly, in 5 1/2 weeks, we will be introducing you to:

GRASSHOPPER Heick.

Stay tuned.

Fridays on Faith

Of all of God's creation, nothing screams of the greatness of God more than that of a tiny, one day old, fresh out of the oven, newborn.



“For YOU created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful I know that full well.” Psalm 139: 13-14

Meet baby Keenan. My newest nephew.



Perfect-ness in a little bundle of boy.

God makes those.

Maybe I should get me one?

Uh......honey, what are you doin later tonight?

Just kidding. Totally kidding, God!

(sortof)

The Little Misses has Arrived!!!

This sweet little peanut made her entrance into the world about 5 weeks early!
Cassie and sweet little Isabella are doing wonderfully. She is just a few ounces under 5 lbs and is very healthy. Baby and momma are going home tonight! We are really excited to go visit them very soon. Leighton is calling her "Bella" and I am trying to get that on video because he prounounces it "bel-la-la-la-la". It's adorable. Of course. Way to go, Cassie and Gerardo! Love you guys!

Flashback Friday and 18 months old

Leighton turned 18 months this week. I can hardly believe my eyes when I look at the pictures of him as a newborn. He has grown into such a wonderful little boy. His temperament is just delightful. I think he will always be my "easy" child. Unless the Lord blesses us yet again with another little laid back bundle of joy. Although...we are bracing for the opposite just in case. In fact, Derrick and I both had colic as babies so I think both our parents are secretly hoping for a little payback. But...I digress.

Back to Leighton. 18 months old. How soon will I be making a post about him being 18 years old! I shutter at the thought. For now, he stays my little boy, nestled on my lap, just where I like him. And if he's in my lap, we are usually reading books. He is in love with reading books and playing with my hair. He loves shooting hoops with his dad. He recently retired his slam dunk and has moved into a higher degree of difficulty, the 2 foot jump shot. He makes most of them and seems to be good with his left hand. He also continues to have his love/hate relationship with Maverick. One moment he is snuggling on him and the next moment he is screaming at him for stealing a toy. Every once in a while he will hit him or bite him-if mommy isn't looking of course! His favorite animal noises are : the elephant, the wolf, and the monkey. He is one busy boy running around our house getting into whatever adventure he can come up with. As I posted earlier, he also got his first potty and we are very, very slowly working on that. He still tells me when he poops so I ask him if he wants to go use the potty and he always says, "nope". Although he has sat down on it a few times, he mostly likes to use it for a step-stool.

In honor of our little boy turning 18 months old this week, I would like to re-post this adorable little video from about a year ago. Enjoy.

Pumpkin Patch Playdate

Blessed

Wow- I have so many wonderful things to write about tonight. I can't even tell you how much my heart is overflowing right now.... Before I get into the details I must tell you that without a doubt, these blessings in our life/ in our family surely come from the great I AM.

I attend MOPs on Tuesday mornings and at our first lesson this year was about the great I AM. You see, the very first name that God called himself was I AM (Exodus 3). The words "I AM" indicate an action. I am...
...everything you need
.... more than enough
....creator of you and your children
.... inexhaustible
.... sustainer of life
.... with you

These are all descriptors of what the great I AM does for us. It's incomprehensible to me. So often, when things are going bad for me, I am reminded to turn to God-because I need him in those moments. But what about this moment? This moment of pure goodness? In this moment, I am filled with praise and in awe of that fact that He is who he says He is. The great I AM. Check out this link if you are curious about what He says about being the I AM.

My first bit of exciting news come from my brother's family. They have been in the adoption process for a long time now. We have been praying for a long time.... There have been a lot of ups and downs. We have known that God created a special child to join their family through adoption. But....knowing that doesn't make it easy. Waiting is never easy. Not understanding what and how things will happen is never easy. This has taken a lot of blind faith on their parts- and on our parts, as extended family members. We were blessed to find out that there is a precious little girl on the opposite side of the country waiting to find her forever family. We were blessed to find out that Aaron, Valerie, Jonah and Lydia ARE her forever family! She will celebrate her First birthday next tuesday-the day that Aaron and Valerie will get to meet her.
I could go on and on here gushing. I won't though because you can read all the details of this wonderful journey at their blog.

Next, I am so excited to report that my most best friend/double-cousin, Cassie's husband, passed his boards for Optometry! This has been a long and grueling process for Gerardo and we are all so proud of this huge accomplishment. I am extra excited because this gets them one step closer to moving back to our lovely state! Cassie's mom will be pulling for her hometown and I, of course, will be pulling for my hometown. I guess we will see who wins! It probably has more to do with the job market than with what MY needs are but come on, it would sooo fun to be stay at home mom's in the same town. (keep dreaming, Shannon, keep dreaming).

Above all, I am just plain thankful.

Never forget- 9/11/01.

The Lake

Here are a few lovely photos from our trip to the lake this weekend.