Days Away from My Third Trimester

I'm now coming up to my third trimester in just a couple days and I'm feeling a huge mix of emotions. I'm excited, impatient, nervous, overwhelmed. happy, tired, ready and everything in between. Most of all though I'm just ready to hold him and kiss him and do nothing but stare at my baby for days :)

I feel like I've had a pretty easy pregnancy so far. My only complaints have been morning sickness in the first trimester, a hard time sleeping in the second (fixed by my amazing maternity pillow), leg cramps that I've learned to get rid of at the slightest tingle of them, and tailbone pain (also known as coccyx pain that I'm still dealing with). 

I've also been very blessed by the mom's at work and my family. We've been given so many items that John and I just wouldn't be able to afford right now. We've been swimming in baby clothes for months and I keep finding bags of clothes to be washed and hung up. I've actually gotten to the point where if a parent at work comes in with more baby clothes I turn around and give it away to my sister-in-law. We've been given multiples of some items like bouncers and walkers so that I've actually been able to be picky and keep the ones we like best and give the others away. A few days ago I started to stress and think "if something went wrong and I had to have an emergency c-section or be induced right away would we have everything we need for him right now?" and we didn't; we didn't have a place for him to sleep. We have a crib, but no mattress or sheets, no play yard, no bassinet...and I started to worry. The next day a mom at work came in with a co-sleeper she wanted to give us. Prayer answered. I'm seriously amazed at how God has blessed us throughout this entire pregnancy. He is so good!

I am getting a bit discouraged though because it's been my plan from the very beginning to have a natural birth, and a water birth. Unfortunately natural childbirth is so uncommon these days that people are very discouraging whenever they hear about someone attempting it. I feel like I don't have much support in my decision and it's starting to make me really upset. My grandma keeps telling me how she doesn't think I can do it; how she thinks I'm "too small" to give birth naturally (I don't even know what that means...); that I don't know what I'm getting into; that I think it's a joke (which I most certainly do not) etc, etc. Then I have moms at work that think it's cute that I want to try a natural birth but have the attitude of " we'll see how you feel when you're actually in labor". I think it's sad that this is the attitude I've received so far. Why is it so unbelievable for a mother to give birth naturally when women have done it for thousands of years? When this is what our bodies were made for? And when in many countries (aside from North America) having epidurals is a rarity? 

I've found one source of encouragement in a friend who's been through it twice and I'm hoping talking to her will continue to encourage me and help me feel capable. And for future reference, if anyone else needs that person to be an encouragement I'll be that for you, because I'm disappointed in how those around me have responded to my decision and I would hate for a mother to change her mind on a natural birth due to a lack of support. My mind is not changing because of these naysayers, I'm firm in my decision for a multitude of reasons, but it would be nice to hear a "you can do it" at least some of the time.

40 Days & 40 Nights

It's been a while since I've considered giving up something for lent. I'm not Catholic, I'm Baptist, and in our church it's not really that big of a deal. Some people observe it individually, but we don't require it. I've given up things before when I was little, but I feel like I should do it this year.

Starting tomorrow I'm giving up reading. I read all the time. I read 10 books last month alone. So it's a big deal for me to give it up. In turn, every time I want to pick up one of my books I'll pick up the Bible and read that instead.

It's going to be really hard for me, but that's the point right? To give something up that has meaning to you in order to get closer to God? Wish me luck!

Are you giving up anything for lent? If so, please feel free to share!

Heaven is for Real

The very first thing I did in the new year (other than kiss my husband, hug my dog and drink some sparkling cider) was read a book. That's right. I read a book. And I want to talk to you about it, which means of course that you need to read it so we can discuss.

The book I read was

 

I just can't stop thinking about it.  I went to bed dreaming about it, it's all I talked about yesterday. I gave my copy to Amy (sister-in-law) so she could read it; I'm getting another copy of it and I'm going to let Tina (other sister-in-law) borrow it so she can read it. Seriously guys...it did something to me. There's no doubt in my mind that this little boy saw Heaven and I'm so grateful his dad wrote a book about it so that we could have that little extra glimpse. Sure, we know the streets are paved with gold, and that God is sitting on a throne with Jesus to his right, we do have a glimpse of what Heaven will be like through the Bible...but did you ever wonder what the rest of it is like? Like...who sits on the left side of the throne? I know I have. If you'll recognize and still know people who have passed? I know I have. Have you ever wondered what events go on in Heaven? I have. Are there animals in Heaven? I've wondered that too. Being a Christian I know I fall short. I know I don't deserve to go to Heaven, but because of God's love, mercy and forgiveness we have that chance through his Son. This book heightened my feelings of "I definitely don't deserve that"; I just felt honored reading about it....but I know that someday I'll get to see it all for myself and for that I can't wait!

I'm sorry if this is a little preachy. But I can't contain my excitement. It's kind of like what I felt when I read The Jesus I Never Knew (one I also highly recommend), it changed me forever. I think this one is on that same kind of level. I'll never think of Heaven the same as I did before, or the Holy Spirit, God, or Jesus. It's just that good.