The Faces of Summertime

We're enjoying summer here at the Aldape hive.  Lots of sunshine and happy faces!

Baby Sister at 26 weeks...sweetest little profile ever!

Summertime freckles, gotta love 'em! 

Happy boy after a day at the Splash park with Mommy and Johnathan! 

Sunshine+Water+This Boy = A good time!

All tuckered out after an afternoon of kite flying. 

Too cool...and too tired!  :-)

 My little brown baby. 

Nothing like some nice, yummy ice cream to cool ya down on a warm night. 

 Spoon tricks!

We can't wait to see what the rest of the summer has to offer!

*Grace*

Baby Girl News!

I feel like it's been too long since we had a Baby Girl update on this blog!  So here is what we're up to recently!  :-)

I am still going weekly to the doctor.  I see my OBGYN every two weeks and my Perinatal Specialist every two weeks (they are each of the off week of the other which makes for weekly visits).  

At my OB visit my doctor checks my weight (I'm up about 18 or so pounds at 25 weeks), he monitors my blood pressure (still good, and we're hoping it stays that way!) and I get to pee in a cup, heehee!  :-)  Oh the joys of obstetrical visits!  I also get to see our sweet baby on the sonogram at each visit.  My doctor does a free courtesy sono for his pregnant patients at each visit...how awesome is that!  I would have to get them anyways regardless since I'm high risk, but I still love that all the other ladies that go to my doctor get to see their little ones a lot more often than the average pregnant patient.  Baby Girl always looks so cute in the sono and her heart beat is almost always 155 bpm at my visits.  She's pretty predictable!

At my Perinatal Dr. visit the doctor checks on the baby (more sonos!) and makes sure that everything is measuring accordingly.  At our last sonogram she was sucking her little thumb during it...SOOO, SOOO PRECIOUS!  The Dr. also checks my cervix (I know most of you don't need this much detail, but I'm writing it more for my own reference!  My cervix is still measuring great (it was about 3.3 cm before my cerclage at 14 weeks and now it's about 3.2 cm at 25 weeks, so that is awesome!). 

Here is a *sort of* recent preggie pic...I think this was at about 20 weeks or so...I seriously need another one! Since it is about 5 weeks behind where I am right now!

Ooh...I forgot I had this one...isn't this group of cousins/cousins-in-laws so cute!  We are (left to right) Rachel-at a little over 24 weeks, Me-just one day behind Rachel!, Tirzah at about 16 weeks and Molly at 8 weeks!  4 precious little babies, cooking away in their mama's bellies!  :

We've also started shopping for Baby Girl.  She's already getting prepared for next summer!  The boys had fun picking out these outfits.  After we brought them home I had them sitting on my desk in the kitchen.  I walked in there one day and found Johnathan staring wistfully at the little dresses.  He had the sweetest look on his face and said "Mom, I just can't wait for my baby sister to be born.  I love my baby sister so much."  Aww...heart melt moment!

And this week I started a few little projects for Baby Girl's room.  I painted one of our old TV trays to use as a little side table by the nursing chair.  I also repainted an old lamp and recovered the shade in the fabric that I'll be using throughout her room.  

Isn't this print the cutest fabric ever?!!  I love the colors and can't wait to finish up her sweet little room. 

So that's what we're up to these days regarding sweet Baby Girl.  Oh, and just a quick note regarding her movements...she is not nearly as active as the boys were in the womb.  I feel her moving around in the morning (while I'm sitting at my desk or eating) and in the mid-afternoon.  And then at night (usually around 10 or 11) she moves like crazy!  I don't know if this means she'll be a little night owl or what, but her little kicking schedule is pretty predictable.  I think that when I'm up and about during the day she is lulled to sleep by all the motion...so hopefully she'll be a snuggly little baby and like to be held! :-)  I can't wait for Baby Girl snuggles!

*Grace*

Be Anxious For Nothing

Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, dear friends! I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. Yes, and I ask you, my true companion, help these women since they have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life. Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.  

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

-Philippians 4:1-9

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It's fair to say that I've been feeling a little anxious lately.  I think it's the combination of both our boys being a little sick this week (nothing bad, but not a lot of good sleeping for this mama), lots of those crazy preggo emotions, and the fact that in a month my sweet hubby will be leaving to go on his mission trip...out of the country...for 9 days...while I'm big, fat & pregnant with fragile emotions!  :-) 

However, I was reminded this morning, in the middle of a tearful episode, that even with all these crazy emotions and nagging worries that I can find peace, through Christ, and that I can give my worries over to God.  It sounds so good in theory, and putting it into practice means letting go of my fears and just trusting God...still a struggle for me.  Which is why I know that Aaron going on his trip will be a good thing for me.  I feel like I'm constantly put in situations where I have to trust God.  I guess He knows that on my own, in my own little perfect world that I'd like to have, I might not do it so easily on my own!  ;-)  God is good like that, always stretching us, and being right there to catch us when we finally learn that we can't walk this life alone.  We need Him. 

So today is a trust day.  Just like every day should be.  

*Grace*