(Im)patiently waiting...

My dear friend Janet likes to refer to our appointment next Monday as "the one where we find out if the baby has a hamburger or a hot dog." LOL  Brandon and I are both SO excited for this appointment.  People have been asking me if I have a feeling of what the outcome may be, but I am clueless.  With Caden, I swore up and down that I was having a girl.  I had dreams that I was having a girl, I craved foods that apparently women crave when they have a girl and there were several other things which pointed me to believe that I was without a doubt having a girl.  My reaction to the doctor telling me that I was having a boy was, "REALLY?"  This pregnancy is different because not only do I not want to get myself all psyched to believe that I am having a girl and then be sad if they tell me otherwise, but I simply have no idea.

I have decided that I am going to be happy no matter what the sex of this baby is.  God knows what is best for us and so I will rejoice and be glad in whatever He gives us!

P.S.  I think that our cat Rizzo doesn't like it when I am not giving her my full attention and I have proof!  The second that I sat down and opened my macbook, she laid right on top of me and I could barely even see the screen.

After I got the picture above, I moved her so that she could lay next to me instead.  As I started typing the first few words, she took her paw and gently placed it on top of my hand.  Is this not simply ridiculous?

Pep-Talk to Myself

Sometimes I look down at my growing belly and think to myself, “Oh my gosh, I am pregnant again.” It’s not like it’s a bad thing, but sometimes I wonder how in the world I am going to do this again? I know that I CAN do it, because I have Jesus and I know that He will be my strength when I have none left. But that doesn’t stop the old, pessimistic side of Katie from revealing her ugly head as she tries to ruin the joy of this perfect gift that God is creating in her. I tend to default to the memories of the difficult things instead of the memories of things that were wonderful. Are we all like that? I know I can’t be the only one who battles this.

I’ve heard it said that sometimes it is good to list out the pro’s and con’s of something in order to help clear your mind of worry or to help make a decision. The decision I need to make is whether or not to entertain these pessimistic thoughts that cross my mind about the baby and its arrival. I already know what the outcome will be, but since I am sitting at work and really don't want to do anything else, here it goes…

The things that I am dreading:
1) The anxiety of going into labor and wondering what is going to happen next
2) Being a human pin-cushion while in the hospital
3) The slow recovery after having a caesarian
4) Engorgement. Ow. Ow. OW!
5) Lack of sleep
6) Being thrown-up on, pooped on and peed on, on a regular basis
7) The possibility of getting new stretch marks
8) The possibility of hemorrhoids
9) Cleaning the belly button/umbilical cord thingy (gag)
10) Spending an arm and a leg on diapers and formula
11) The possibility of suffering with post-partum depression again
12) The hospital bill
13) Did I mention that I can kiss my sleeping in on the weekends GOODBYE?

The things that I am looking forward to:
1) Seeing him/her for the first time
2) Holding him/her for the first time
3) Breathing in deeply that baby smell – the good one ;)
4) The feeling of unconditional love every time I see him/her
5) Fitting back into my favorite pair of jeans
6) Simply watching Brandon interact with his first-born
7) Getting to see Caden be a big brother
8) Hearing baby belly-laughs again
9) Taking naps every chance I get instead of doing chores
10) Having him/her fall asleep in my arms
11) Listening to “ahh” & “coo” sounds after bath time
12) Dressing him/her up in adorable baby outfits
13) Getiing smiled at every time your baby sees you
14) Hearing “mama” for the first time
15) Did I mention the baby smell?!

So obviously, all of the things that I am dreading will have been more than worth it once I get to start checking off my second list! So snap out of it Katie, and think on these things instead!

John 16:21 - When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world.

Psalm 127:3 - Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward.

James 1:17 - Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

Jeremiah 1:5 - Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you…

Psalm 139:13 - For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.

Nothing Much

The most exciting thing that has happened lately is that it snowed in Houston last week! It was beautiful while it lasted. Here are the few pictures I took. I spent most of my time enjoying watching it fall outside from my bedroom window as I sat in my cozy, warm bed.

Okay, enough of that, let's talk about the little one on the way. God willing, we find out whether we're having a boy or a girl on January 4! Since we are so anxious to know, it seems like everyday just d r a g s. Or maybe it just seems that way because I am pregnant? Anyhow, we are hoping so badly that it's a girl. I will even confess to specifically praying for a girl, as silly as it may sound. I mean, a baby is a gift from God no matter what the sex is, but I can't stop thinking about how fun it would be to put little bows in her hair and buy her little pink frou-frou dresses to wear! All that being said, if we do end out having a boy we will be just as happy for the baby's arrival because no matter what our desires are, I know and trust that God always gives perfect gifts and knows what is best for us...so boy or girl, we will be praising God when this baby arrives!

I failed to remember to take a belly pic on the first of December, but it's better to be late than never, right? Here it is:

Oh my gosh, I feel like the belly has doubled in size since last months pic. Yikes. I am scared of what it will look like at the end of May when the baby is due. Brandon is 6'4"and I am only 5'6" so please pray for my belly's sake!

Before I go, I am going to answer the question that I get the most...

"How are you feeling?"

-TIRED.

-I never got morning sickness, but I have a super sense of smell now and it keeps me away from things that I used to enjoy. As tragic as it is, chocolate is not something I crave anymore. It doesn't smell bad or anything, I just don't want it.

-I don't have any strange cravings but if I think about a bean burrito from Taco Bell or a chicken sandwich from Chick-fil-A long enough, I MUST have it, and I must have it NOW.

-I have this constant pain in my aaaaaa left leg. It's right where my thigh bone meets my hips. It hurts the most a night. (Anyone know what could be causing this or how to make it go away?)

-I have been having very vivid, random dreams even though I toss and turn all night. I am thinking about getting one of those pregnancy pillows. Apparently they are supposed to make sleeping more comfortable for those of us who are 'with child'.

-Oh, and I am gassier than ever - if some of you can even imagine that. LOL. Seriously, I will eat one of those little candy canes and burp discreetly for like 10 minutes. It's ridiculous.