Fall Favorites

I have to say, Fall is my favorite season even though we don't have much of a change in seasons in the Valley. Here are a few of my "Fall Favorites" in no particular order.

A big pot of chili shared with your favorite people.

A change in wardrobe, accessorizing with those scarves is always fun.

A warm cup of cocoa.

'Tis the season for baking.

Probably my most favorite is the change in scenery (although that doesn't happen here in south TX - it sure makes me miss home).

What are some of your favorite things about the Fall?

Blondies

Found a new recipe I like. I've been in this baking mood lately... don't know if it's the season that brings it on or my sweet tooth.

Blondies

Prep: 20 minutes

Bake: 25 minutes

Oven: 350 degrees

Makes: 36 bars

• 2 cups packed brown sugar
• 2/3 cup butter
• 2 eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 cup semisweet chocolate pieces
• 1 cup chopped nuts

1. Grease a 13x9x2-inch baking pan; set aside. In a medium saucepan heat brown sugar and butter over medium heat until butter melts and the mixture is smooth, stirring constantly. Cool slightly. Stir in eggs 1 at a time; stir in vanilla. Stir in flour, baking powder, and baking soda.
2. Spread batter in prepared baking pan. Sprinkle with chocolate pieces and nuts. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 25 to 30 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted near center comes out clean (avoid chocolate pieces). Cool slightly on a wire rack. Cut into bars while warm

For an added bonus top with a scoop of vanilla ice-cream - yum!

37 Weeks Pregnant

How my baby's growing:

Yeah — my baby is full term! This means that if my baby arrives now, his lungs should be fully mature and ready to adjust to life outside the womb, even though my due date is still three weeks away.

After having another ultrasound today, we found out Mack is weighing in at 7 pounds 6 ounces. I wonder what he'll weigh when he's born... I weighed 7 lbs 2 oz and Micah weighed 9 lbs 6 oz. Any guesses to what you think Mack may weigh at birth?

Many babies have a full head of hair at birth, with locks from 1/2 inch to 1 1/2 inches long. But They say not to be surprised if your baby's hair isn't the same color as yours. Dark-haired couples are sometimes thrown for a loop when their children come out as blonds or redheads, and fair-haired couples have been surprised by Elvis look-alikes. And then, of course, some babies sport only peach fuzz. Micah had very blond hair until he was about 9 yrs old and I've always had brown hair. Hmm - who will he take after?

Buffi at 2 months old.

How my life's changing:

Braxton Hicks contractions are coming more frequently now and last longer and are more uncomfortable.

It's harder than ever to get comfortable enough to sleep well at night. So I've been taking it easy through the day — this may be my last chance to do so for quite a while. I believe we have everything ready as "nesting" kicked in 3 months ago and hasn't stopped, now it's just a chore to try and keep the house clean for it's many guests that will visit once Mack arrives. Thanks to my wonderful husband who's been chipping in and helping out. As a man finds his pride in his work so I find my pride in my home. It's very humbling to ask for help in cleaning my home but I know it will probably be much appreciated in the first few weeks Mack is here.

And last but not least I've experienced the first bouts with swollen feet and ankles - we're getting close!

36 Weeks Pregnant

How my baby's growing:

My baby is still packing on the pounds — at the rate of about an ounce a day. He now weighs almost 6 pounds (like a crenshaw melon) and is more than 18 1/2 inches long (We'll find out exactly when we do our next ultrasound). He's shedding most of the downy covering of hair that covered his body as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that covered and protected his skin during his nine-month amniotic bath. My baby swallows both of these substances, along with other secretions, resulting in a blackish mixture, called meconium, will form the contents of his first bowel movement.

At the end of this week, my baby will be considered full-term. (Full-term is 37 to 42 weeks; babies born before 37 weeks are pre-term and those born after 42 are post-term.) Most likely he's in a head-down position. Again we'll find out the specifics this next week.

How my life's changing:

The baby has started to "drop" down into my pelvis. This process — called lightening — often happens a few weeks before labor if this is the first baby. Been feeling an increased pressure in my lower abdomen, which has made walking increasingly uncomfortable, and it's causing me to use the bathroom more frequently. Braxton Hicks contractions are also more frequent now.

I took some time this week to prewash the babies clothes - they are just so darn cute, I felt like I was playing with doll clothes! I realized I can wash a lot more of them at a time than Micah's clothes, however it was quite tedious sorting them, especially those little socks. The onesie that says "Daddy's little alarm clock" is one of my favorites.

My Hero

The finishing touch to Mack's nursery was a painting done by a dear friend of both Micah and I. Her name is Michele Struss and she has one of the most amazing testimonies I've ever heard. I wanted to give just a bit of background in hopes you would see why this painting is so special to us.

Michele was born with a form of Dwarfism that has limited and challenged her life in many ways; yet it is the very vehicle that God has chosen to make Himself known to her. As a result, Michele sees the treasure in the way God created her, fully aware that some things cannot be known about God apart from pain, weakness and need. These circumstances have been the stepping stones in her life towards a passionate relationship with Jesus and a resolved faith. "My faith is often tested when I'm in the heat of the battle; but while this world has no effective weapons to offer the weak, knowing Jesus, gives me weapons to slay giants." Michele is a giant slayer.

Having been born with a form of Dwarfism known as SED Congenita which causes daily physical struggles, pain and the need for multiple surgeries, Michele sees it as a precious gift as she watches the trials of her life grow her faith and deepen her relationship with Jesus. For that she calls herself blessed for being created as she is.

In 1987 as a result of neurological damage, Michele became fully dependent on crutches for the next 13 years. Michele says, "I remember in hope and utter frustration declaring, 'If the day ever comes when I don't need my crutches, I'm going to burn them!' When I asked my doctor if he thought that day would ever come, his wisdom spoke 'Most likely, no.' But I never stopped believing in the One who could heal me. On September 29, 2001 I threw the very crutches that 'man' said I would always need into a bonfire. My doctor of 28 years was there and said, 'There are many doctors but only one Healer. The Healer is the Lord above us. We have to acknowledge this.'"

From this experience came the painting "My Hero"

About the Painting (In Michele's words):

My hero was inspired by the words of someone dear to my heart. He calls me his hero because of the strength he sees in my life, but what he doesn't see is the source of that strength. In this painting I've portrayed myself as the little girl who has fallen while walking with her crutches. She looks up to the One behind her as if to say,"...but it hurts." His strong but gentle look reveals His response, "It will be okay, I am with you." On my own I am weak, but His strength is always there to pick me up. He is my hero and His name is Jesus.

After countless prayers, tears, and three attempts, which took a full year and a half, I was able to fulfill the vision God gave me and complete the work, My Hero. Those two failed attempts taught me more than any successful painting I created. Without the leading of the Holy Spirit I would never have had the strength or courage to try a second and then a third time. My prayer through it all remained the same: "Lord I cannot do this alone; I need You to be the artist and simply use me as Your paintbrush through which you reveal Your heart."

This is just one of several of Michele's amazing works of art. If you'd like to see more of Michele's work you can visit her website.

35 Weeks Pregnant

How my baby's growing:

My baby doesn't have much room to maneuver now that he's over 18 inches long and tips the scales at 5 1/4 pounds (pick up a honeydew melon). Because it's so snug in my womb, he isn't likely to be doing somersaults anymore, but the number of times he kicks should remain about the same. His kidneys are fully developed now, and his liver can process some waste products. Most of his basic physical development is now complete — he'll spend the next few weeks putting on weight.

How my life's changing:

My uterus — which was entirely tucked away inside my pelvis when I conceived — now reaches up under my rib cage. If you could peek inside my womb, you'd see that there's more baby than amniotic fluid in there now. My ballooning uterus is crowding my other internal organs, too, which is why I probably have to urinate more often and may be dealing with heartburn a little more.


From here on out, I'll start seeing my Dr. every week. I've created a birth plan to help us focus on specifics - like who'll be present, what pain management techniques I want to try, and where I want the baby to stay after I deliver. My greatest hopes are to deliver this baby as naturally as possible. Nowadays that can mean a lot of things, basically people say if you deliver vaginally you've had a natural birth experience. I on the other-hand would like to attempt to go as drug free as possible. Childbirth is unpredictable however, and chances are I won't follow my plan to the letter, but thinking about my choices ahead of time — and sharing my preferences with my caregiver — takes some of the anxiety out of the process.

34 Weeks Pregnant

How my baby's growing:

My baby now weighs about 4 3/4 pounds (like your average cantaloupe) and is almost 18 inches long. His fat layers — which will help regulate his body temperature once he's born — are filling him out, making him rounder. His skin is also smoother than ever. His central nervous system is maturing and his lungs are continuing to mature as well. Our baby can, and does, respond just as a newborn would by opening his eyes while awake and closing them while sleeping. He can also grasp firmly. It's comforting to know that if our baby was born now, he has a 95 percent chance of full and normal survival with medical intervention, however we'd still rather hold out until at least 37 weeks.

How my life's changing:

Fatigue has definitely set in again, though not with the same coma-like intensity of the first trimester. Given the physical strain I'm under and the restless nights of frequent pee breaks and tossing and turning, while trying to get comfortable, it's said to be quite understandable. Now's the time to slow down and save up my energy for labor day (and beyond).

And the belly keeps growing at 8 months/34 weeks.

33 Weeks Pregnant

How my baby's growing:

This week my baby weighs a little over 4 pounds (heft a pineapple) and has passed the 17-inch mark. He's rapidly losing that wrinkled, alien look and his skeleton is hardening. The bones in his skull aren't fused together, which allows them to move and slightly overlap, thus making it easier for him to fit through the birth canal. (The pressure on the head during birth is so intense that many babies are born with aconehead-like appearance.) These bones don't entirely fuse until early adulthood, so they can grow as his brain and other tissue expands during infancy and childhood.

How my life's changing:

We're in for the home stretch of the pregnancy. Getting a little anxious as I think about how life will be with this little one. Not too much has changed, well we did get the nursery completed for those of you who've been wanting to see it. Remember, it's not your traditional nursery...

This little lamp was actually made by Micah's grandfather, Mack. When you pull on the tail, it turns on and off. Karen, my mother-in-law simple covered the lamp shade to match the other curtains and lampshade she made. Karen also painted the number canvases for me - she did an amazing job!

32 Weeks Pregnant

How my baby's growing:

I should be gaining about a pound a week and roughly half of that goes right to my baby. In fact, he'll gain a third to half of his birth weight during the next 7 weeks as he fattens up for survival outside the womb. He now has toenails, fingernails, and real hair (or at least respectable peach fuzz). His skin is becoming soft and smooth as he plumps up in preparation for birth.

How my life's changing:

To accommodate me and my baby's growing needs, my blood volume has increased 40 to 50 percent since I got pregnant. With my uterus pushing up near my diaphragm and crowding my stomach, the consequences are shortness of breath and heartburn.

Starting to have some lower-back pain as the pregnancy advances. Assuming it's not preterm labor that's ailing me, I can probably blame my growing uterus and hormonal changes for my aching back. My expanding uterus shifts my center of gravity and stretches out and weakens my abdominal muscles, changing my posture and putting a strain on my back. Hormonal changes in pregnancy loosen the joints and the ligaments that attach my pelvic bones to my spine. This can make me feel less stable and cause pain when I walk, stand, sit for long periods, roll over in bed, get out of a low chair or the tub, bend, or lift things.

In the eight month and on the count down with 8 weeks to go. Up until now, I've bee seeing my doctor about once a month. Now I am starting to see him every two weeks, until the final month and then it'll kick up to once a week. Keep me in your prayers as we make the final preparations to the nursery, purchase the last few things we need and pack bags for the hospital. We're so anxious to meet this little guy!

Together 5 Years!

In the beginning of our

marriage we had no idea

what the years would

bring, or how clearly

we would see God's grace

in the love He'd given to us.

He's been with us

every step of the way...

nurturing, growing,

and strengthening

this incredible

gift of

lifetime love.

It feels good to travel

through life with my best friend -

a man I admire, respect, and

love more than anyone

else in the world.

I know good things are ahead of us

because God is with us...

and I look forward to

seeing His best Together.

Our gift to each other was the Willow Tree Together Figurine
"For those who have found their true partner in love and life."

31 Weeks Pregnant

How my baby's growing:

This week, my baby measures over 16 inches long. He weighs 4.1 pounds (try carrying four navel oranges) and is heading into a growth spurt. He can turn his head from side to side, and his arms, legs, and body are beginning to plump out as needed fat accumulates underneath his skin. He's moving a lot, too, so I'm having trouble sleeping because my baby's kicks and somersaults keep me up. I can take comfort though: All this moving is a sign that my baby is active and healthy.

How my life's changing:
Had some pretty severe cramping the other day... wasn't sure what to think when I began to time the pain every 4-6 minutes apart for over an hour. I thought surely I'm not having contractions, this baby can't come yet. It could have been a sign of preterm labor but thankfully Micah prayed over me and it subsided.

We had our next Dr's appointment this week and got another ultrasound. As I mentioned before he weighs 4 pounds 1 ounce, not too big yet although heading into a growth spurt could still change that. Here's a picture of his face.

As I mentioned last week I had a Baby Shower this week. It was absolutely wonderful, we had a great turn out of guest! The decoration was lovely and we were very blessed with many gifts to help us as we prepare for Mack's arrival. Thank you so much to all that attended and helped make this day so special. Here are a few pictures from the shower.

The sign-in table.

As a party favor each guest got a small Tazo tea bag with a note that read "Please Enjoy this Tea from Baby and Me".

Instead of your typical finger foods we did an ice-cream social.

The gift table.

Opening gifts!

We didn't play games but each guest got a card to give me advice on.

I've begun making a Pregnancy scrapbook!

30 Weeks Pregnant

How my baby's growing:

My baby's about 15.7 inches long now, and he weighs almost 3 pounds (like a head of cabbage). A pint and a half of amniotic fluid surrounds him, but that volume will decrease as he gets bigger and takes up more room in my uterus. His eyesight continues to develop, though it's not very keen; even after he's born, he'll keep his eyes closed for a good part of the day. When he does open them, he'll respond to changes in light but will have 20/400 vision — which means he can only make out objects a few inches from his face. (Normal adult vision is 20/20.)

How my life's changing:

I'm feeling a little tired these days, especially since sleeping is becoming a little more difficult. I find myself taking more naps these days. Other than that things continue to be smooth. Just 10 weeks left to go!

This Saturday I will be having my baby shower at Juana Hernandez'. I included a copy of the invitation however the color is off for some reason... oh well.

29 Weeks Pregnant

How my baby's growing:

My baby now weighs about 2 1/2 pounds (like a butternut squash) and is a tad over 15 inches long from head to heel. His muscles and lungs are continuing to mature, and his head is growing bigger to make room for his developing brain. To meet his increasing nutritional demands, I'll need plenty of protein, vitamins C, folic acid, and iron. And because his bones are soaking up lots of calcium, I need to be sure to drink milk (or find another good source ofcalcium, such as cheese, yogurt, or enriched orange juice). This trimester, about 250 milligrams of calcium are deposited in my baby's hardening skeleton each day.

How my life's changing:

My baby's very active now. My practitioner has asked me to spend some time each day counting kicks. I'm to let him know if I ever notice a decrease in activity.

An old friend — heartburn has taken center stage now. You could say Tums and I are tightly aquatinted at this point. We're not scheduled for another sonogram until the 28th - then we will get a more accurate reading of his weight and length as well as his positioning.

If you will please be praying - I am hoping he comes early (not b/c I can't handle a couple more weeks of pregnancy) but my Dr. is scheduled to be gone on my due date. Aside from a medical reason I don't want to induce which I think my Dr. would opt for as oppose to me going late. I've just been really set on trying to have this baby as natural, med free as possible. Well what I do know is God has ordained this child's days long before I began my planning so what will happen will happen.

Here's the next picture - 7 months/29 weeks.

My 28th Birthday

I turned 28 on September 10th! It was a wonderful Birthday... Micah got creative this year and took me on a progressive date. We started with an appetizer at Taco Rico (the funny thing is, earlier in the week he had asked me what my 3 favorite resturants were and one of them was this fast food taco place). So we began by splitting a plate of bistec tacos. Throughout each part of the evening there were questions that we had to answer - it was a lot of fun!

Between courses Micah took me to get my gifts that he had already picked out. The first one was a Willow Tree figurine of a husband, wife and baby - I'd been wanting to collect these.

Next on the agenda was dinner at Chili's (another one of my favorite restaurants). It was rainy that day and I love the rain, particularly when you get to stay inside but it was fun nonetheless.

Next was a stop at Toys R Us... I wasn't sure what to expect when we arrived here b

ut it ended up being quite fun. We each got $5 and had to split up in the store and find a gift for the other person. We then exchanged gifts and had to explain why we got that gift for them.

After that he explained that he had a couple chick-flicks picked out for me... since I'm in the 3rd trimester and slowing down he figured I would need some entertainment while I sit on the couch. How cute!

We ended the evening by picking up Marble Slab ice-cream and going home to cuddle on the couch with a movie.

I also got a couple of my favorite Yankee candles (Sage & Citrus and Autumn Wreath) from some friends, a new book, money and a few really sweet cards. A couple days later Claudia took me lunch and my in-laws made me a special birthday dinner in addition to money for a prenatal massage - looking forward to that! What a wonderful day!

28 Weeks Pregnant

How my baby's growing:

I realize I've just posted 3 times but I've had a little catching up to do. So I am officially 28 weeks today!

By this week, my baby weighs two and a quarter pounds (like a Chinese cabbage) and measures 14.8 inches from the top of his head to his heels. He can blink His eyes, which now sport lashes. With his eyesight developing, he may be able to see the light that filters in through my womb. He's also developing billions of neurons in his brain and adding more body fat in preparation for life in the outside world.

How my life's changing:

I'm in the home stretch! The third and final trimester starts this week. If I'm like most women, I'll gain about 11 pounds this trimester, hopefully not any more... At this point, I'll begin visiting my doctor every two weeks. Then, at 36 weeks, I'll switch to weekly visits.

Around this time, some women feel an unpleasant "creepy-crawly" sensation in their lower legs and an irresistible urge to move them while trying to relax or sleep. This sensation is temporarily relieved when I move, and is what's known as restless legs syndrome (RLS). No one knows for sure what causes RLS, but it's relatively common among expectant mothers.

Master's students get back this weekend, classes start Monday and I'll begin leading a Beth Moore Bible study out of my home on Monday evenings. I'm looking forward to the months ahead with my 28th birthday next week, and Micah and my 5th anniversary approaching!