9 Weeks to Go

I am officially in the single digits as I count down the weeks until this baby's due date!! Of course, due dates can be fickle, so its always an estimation! It is incredible to me how quickly this pregnancy has gone by. I think with each one it goes faster, and then babyhood goes faster as well - everyone is growing up so quickly!

I am so thankful for this life growing inside of me. This pregnancy has not been the easiest (I am starting to feel OLD!) but there have not been any major complications, either, so I really have no room to complain, only room for gratitude toward the Creator of all life who has blessed me in this way.

Being the planner that I am, I am already preparing in small ways. I have done an inventory of all of my newborn cloth diapers (a teeny tiny bum in a soft cushy diaper is the most adorable thing!), and am thankful to find that I have plenty. Nathan has been moved out of the nursery into the "big boy room" and is doing great. I have gotten out my big exercise ball to sit on while at the computer to help stretch my hips and pelvis, or to put my feet up on when needed. Soon I will start drinking Red Raspberry Leaf Tea, as well as starting Evening Primrose Oil, both of which I have taken at the end of every pregnancy and I believe have helped my body be more prepared when labor begins.

My brain is definitely in "nesting" mode, although my body has not caught up yet! My thoughts have been spinning on how to reorganize under the sink, the laundry room, decorate the baby's room, so on and so on, lol! But most days I am thankful just to get school, chores, and meals done, and still have some energy to spend time with Michael after the boys are in bed. Hopefully a good nesting energy spurt will come before labor begins. My midwife put me on an iron supplement because I have been slightly anemic, and those seem to be helping with my energy.

Ultimately, though, I am leaning on the Lord. He has shown me glimpses of just how weak I am, and then revealed to me how much I hate weakness when I see it within myself! But hating my weakness does me no good, for it is only futile attempts at being self-sufficient, which get me nowhere, and do nothing to glorify Him. More and more, I wake up to start my day and have a deeper understanding of how much I need Him, and how sufficient He really is. And I am so, so thankful!

The LORD'S lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. "The LORD is my portion," says my soul, "Therefore I have hope in Him." The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, To the person who seeks Him.

Lamentations 3:22-25

Hard to believe, but this is the first belly picture I have of this entire pregnancy! Usually I take one every few weeks just to document how things are changing! I do have a few random pictures of me throughout the past few months, but no specific belly shots. Here I am, bump and all, courtesy of our aspiring photographer, Isaac :-)