Hello, Hello

Well hello there friend! It's been some time since the last update, so I thought I would stop in to say "Hi". I am 18 weeks pregnant today. Can you believe it!?!? Time moves right on by. In some ways everything is going so quickly, but in others we can't get to August fast enough. I continue to have a delightfully easy pregnancy - thank you Lord! It is evident our little one is growing as my belly continues to do so as well. I'm starting to out grow work clothes, so it's time to go shopping. Bummer is I can't seem to find good in between pants. They're either to casual with draw-strings or made for a much bigger belly. Any suggestions of good affordable places to shop for cute transitional work clothes would be much appreciated! :-)

At our last appointment we got to hear the baby's heart beat for the second time. The first time our little one was a little shy, but not so much this time. Along with the heart beat we got to hear the baby kick the doppler scope and move around a bit. What a wonderful, amazing, beautiful thing to hear life inside myself! Today I am almost positive I'm feeling little flutters and kicks. Someone is going to be very active from the get go. Go figure, it's my baby! ;-P The baby's heart rate was 165 at the first appointment and 150 at this appointment - both quite fast. Brian said he can already sense the baby taking after me. Go, go, go!

One thing I would like to see moving along is our plan for the future, but that doesn't seem to be God's plan. We know what we want for our family and we're looking for ways to make it happen. Being a planner by nature I would like to know NOW of course - but being a follower of the Lord requires that I wait patiently on Him and His time. Just as I have at other points in life I cling to Jeremiah 29:11 - "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.'" As I think about it, this verse reminds me of the many times in the nation of Israel's history that the Lord said, "Wait. I have a plan, but you have to wait. I know what's best for you and I will bring it about at the proper time." It's comforting to know what a great God I serve, who is always working on my heart, bringing about what He knows is best for me. And so, I will wait, and trust, and prepare for this little one as best I can where He has me now - knowing that wherever He has us in the future it will be just right!