Klayton Matthew 3d Pics

I am 24 weeks today! Yay!
Klayton weighs 1.5 lbs!
Overall body measurement 40 percentile!
Belly measurement is now in the 12th percentile! What an answer to prayer that is, now I am cleared for just a monthly visit with the specialist, no more going in every 2 weeks! Yay!
I love Klayton so much and I think he is the cutest baby boy ever!

Trash, Trucks & Guns

Klayton has already had his first experience in the crossfire-literally-and he is not even out of my belly yet! Wednesday night, Joseph and I were leaving Sioux City, Iowa to head home. We were behind an Escalade as we were getting on the interstate, the lane we were merging with was completely available for entrance. The girls driving the Escalade were on their cell phones and suddenly started braking, so at 55 mph we had to quickly jump into the other lane to avoid hitting them. So, jumping into the passing lane we were suddenly on the tail of a red ranger truck that was only traveling at 45 mph. He locked his brakes, we weren't meaning to tail him, so we passed him and didn't give a second thought to it. Joseph noticed him speeding up alongside us but just thought the guy realized that he had been driving below the speed limit. We were not ready for what would happen next. When the truck was at our side, he started throwing trash at our van, calling out profanities and acting as if he was going to try to run us off the road. Joseph had me call the police and while waiting for a connection the guy ran out of trash, ran us into the cement highway divider and pulled out a gun on us. Seriously, he pulled a gun out and aimed it right at us. If I would have rolled down my window and reached my hand out I probably could have touched the perpetruators vehicle! Finally, we came to a point where you either were forced to go straight or exit-thankfully the guy was in the forced exit lane. As we traveled further on and were certain that he was not getting back on the interstate we exited to a gas station for a very deserved A&W Rootbeer and a Twix bar. Overall, it was not a pleasant situation for this pregnant lady to be in! I am so thankful for God's protection of His children! So, there you have it a brief version of our gun story..

Wedded Wednesday

This song, Household of Faith was song by our friends, Clarence and Sandy Collins after my dad gave me away!



Household of Faith

Here we are at the start committing to each other
By His word and from our hearts
We will be a family in a house that will be a home
And with faith we'll build it strong

Chorus:
We'll build a household of faith
That together we can make
And when the strong winds blow it won't fall down
As one in Him we'll grow and the whole world will know
We are a household of faith

Now to be a family we've got to love each other
At any cost unselfishly
And our home must be a place that fully abounds with grace
A reflection of His face

Chorus

10 on Tuesday

1. This past weekend was Teapot Days! Joseph and I spent some time wondering around the booths that were set up of people trying to sell things, watched a guy I used to work with provide some afternoon entertainment and later enjoyed the fireworks with friends!
2. Currently we are at my parents until Wednesday night and my mom's number one goal? To fatten me up! Which may not be to bad of an idea, maybe, just maybe if I purpose to eat a little more, maybe it will help Klayton's growth!
3. I will find out, a week from Wednesday, if this extra eating is paying off! I go back to the peri-specialist on June 30th. We are praying that Klayton's tummy will be growing and that I won't have to keep returning for 2 week visits.
4. My Scentsy party that I hosted last Tuesday night was a huge success! I was getting nervous as people were cancelling, no shows...would I even make at least $150to just get one free item?! I ended up having a $700 party and came away with $100 worth of free stuff and three 1/2 price items! Woohoo!
5. Next Tuesday and Wednesday is when we move to Harrisburg...still lots of packing to get done. Do I have any volunteers to come help me?
6. Fun fact about me, I used to play in a dart league when I was a teenager! The reaon I am recalling this is, my dad pulled out the dart board and Joseph and I have been playing darts with him today! I actually like to play and I play "decent"! I used to be good; but I've lost the "touch"! lol!
7. Does anyone have a solution for relieving back aches while pregnant? I have been curious about heating pads; but I get nervous using them because I don't want to make it to hot...
8. Father's Day, did you remember to tell your dad, "Happy Father's Day"? I did, I got my dad a card! Then, Klayton and I celebrated Joseph, as he is already a daddy! We gave him 2 cards and a new electric razor that he has been needing! I just can't wait for the day when he holds Klayton for the first...I just know that I will see love!
9. A week from Friday, our friend from Michigan will be arriving-hopefully we will be somewhat organized in our new place before he arrives or he just might be arriving to a mess! Oh no!
10. Okay, so here's wishing you all a, Happy Tuesday!!!

Preggo Friday...Monday

I have been really bad about keeping up with this post, its just so hard when we don't have internet access at home to stay on top of my blog. So, my 22 week update is late because in just 2 days I will be 23 weeks!

Baby Progress:

At 11 inches (the length of a spaghetti squash) and almost 1 pound, your baby is starting to look like a miniature newborn. His lips, eyelids, and eyebrows are becoming more distinct, and he's even developing tiny tooth buds beneath his gums. His eyes have formed, but his irises (the colored part of the eye) still lack pigment. If you could see inside your womb, you'd be able to spot the fine hair (lanugo) that covers his body and the deep wrinkles on his skin, which he'll sport until he adds a padding of fat to fill them in. Inside his belly, his pancreas — essential for the production of some important hormones — is developing steadily.

My Progress:

How far along? 22 1/2 weeks!
Total weight gain/loss: +7 lbs.
How much does baby weigh? 14 oz
Symptoms: Pregnancy brain, emotional, backaches, tummy stretch aches!
Maternity clothes? Pretty much everything.
Stretch marks? unfortunately yes, 3 small ones and they came after I decided to start using cocoa butter! go figure!
Sleep: Pretty good if I don't have to make those frequent potty breaks!
Best moment this week: when Joseph was able to feel Klayton's love tap!
Food cravings: powdered donettes, cherry limeades from Sonic!
Food aversions: chicken!
Gender: boy! Klayton Matthew!
Labor signs: way to early for this.
Belly Button - in or out? in.
What I miss: Cherry Coke-though I must admit I can drink caffeine; but its my goal to make it through with very little caffeine and if I give in to the cherry coke, I will fall very fast!
What I am looking forward to: getting settled into our new townhouse and putting his crib up!
Milestones: I am now officially 1/2 way through my pregnancy!

Motherhood

I am already a mama...a mommy...a mom...a mother! Even though I can't physically hold Klayton in my arms, my heart holds onto him-he belongs to me. Even now I want to do whatever I can for him...fix things I can't fix! I really believe the Lord must be trying to teach me even now that while there are things I will want to control, fix in my child's life I won't always be able...or maybe shouldn't always run to his rescue for...I need to let go and let God. Even now, I need to let go and let God!
I have wanted a baby in my tummy for so long! When God allowed this to happen, I just naturally assumed or thought it should be easy from there on out-you know have the perfect pregnancy! And to be quite honest, I had it pretty easy...no causes for concern. I had no morning sickness, just an occasional wave of nausea. No excessive weight gaining and the list could go on. Then came my 2nd trimester! I had an overgrowth of bacteria that needed to be treated or could result in preterm labor. We discovered it's a boy! During the gender ultrasound it was discovered that I only have a 2 vessel cord and that there could be cause for possible bed rest or a caesarean. The 2 vessel cord is known for babies with downs; but Klayton has a strong working heart and kidneys, as well as no missing bones-so that possibility is 1% or less! I still have to be monitored for the possible caesarean or bed rest. Then, this past Sunday...my baby boy was active as can be in morning church! By the time it was time to go back for evening services I had developed a left side ache that persisted until Monday and I no longer felt movement from my tummy. Wednesday came and I called my doctor as it was now day 3 with no movement. My doctor had me go for an ultrasound and thankfully Klayton's heart was beating strong and he was as active as can be! However, during this ultrasound they discovered his tummy to be measuring small. Now I am completely aware that with 2 vessel cords that his growth would have to be monitered near the end of my pregnancy; but I was not ready for it to have already begun. I have to go back in 2 weeks to monitor the growth of his tummy...the doctors need to see growth so we are praying for just that! I am asking everyone to please pray for this specifically during these two weeks. I have hesitated sharing this in the past because I can be quite paranoid and I really don't need to hear all the horror stories out there. What I need is prayer for Klayton and for the duration of my pregnancy.
My heart cries a little at the issues I have had. And really I haven't had any major issues in comparison to others and when Klayton comes I may look back and think what silly fears I had as a first time pregnant mommy! But, nonetheless, this is where I'm at right now. I just wish things could be easier and there would be no cause for alarm. I wish I could jump ahead to October to avoid all of this; but once again I know I can't and that if I did I wouldn't be becoming the person I need to become for Klayton. I can't see the big picture or the end result; but God can and if this is whats it's going to take for me to be more like Him, then I need to let go and let God! I'm just a mommy in training and I have lots to learn; but I want to learn...first lesson, let go and let God!

10 on Tuesday

1. Yes, it's just after midnight and I am wide awake. So, here I am...I hate sleepless nights.
2. Tonight is my Scentsy party! I'm very excited to serve my guests cookies, lemonade and mints! I'm hoping to have a good turn out and good sales! I want free stuff!
3. In 2 weeks time we will be moving into a townhouse in Harrisburg! I'm looking forward to having the luxury of a dishwasher and a washer/dryer! It's worth all the packing and unpacking for those 2 amenties!
4. We move on the 29th and 30th, then on the 1st we have a friend from Michigan flying in to visit for a few days! I think it's going to be a crazy week!
5. I think I had a small belly growth spurt this past weekend! It's crazy; but pregnancy is making me aware of every little thing that is going on with my body.
6. I'm once again posting from my phone and am really hoping to access the internet from a real computer in the near future so I can post some pictures!
7. My latest craving, powder donettes! They are so delicious! I must admit that I'm thankful that I usually crave things only until I get it...however, that wasn't the case for fries and milkshakes, white chocolate mousse ice cream and root beer! Sometimes I wonder if root beer is really a craving or something I just really like and convince myself it's a craving?
8. This weekend were supposed to be in Ava, MO for a Sunday meeting. Joseph has been unable to reach the pastor for final confirmation. Please pray that he can make contact.
9. Midnight is not really a great time for my brain to be working. It needs sleep so I can have another crazy dream. My dreams lately always involve violence and people from my church....so weird.
10. Well, have a Happy Tuesday...its time for me to get some rest so I can have a Happy Tuesday as well!

I Love Him So

Klayton already has my affection-its amazing that this little boy growing in my tummy already has my heart. I never knew how I could love someone so much...its a different love than any I've experienced before.
Even before we found out that we are having a boy, we loved this baby; but when we learned who we were loving, Klayton Matthew the love grew deeper and everything changed. I wonder how much more it will change when I hold him in my arms for the first time?
Klayton has already taken precedence in our thoughts. Something as little as going to the mall! We go to the mall not for ourselves; but for him. It's no longer about what we have, rather about what we can give to him. Obviously, we know it's more than material that we can give him-its more! Much of who Klayton will become is determined by Joseph and I! We have such an important task that lies before us... emotional, physical, mental, spiritual. I hope I never forget my task at hand or that I neglect my task. That is why, even now I pray for Klayton... I pray for Joseph... I pray for me and for the grace of God in my role as a parent, a mother!

please pray

Okay, first of all yay that I am able to be receiving comments! Sad I can't approve them from my phone...
But, today I'm posting to ask you to pray! Pray that God will provide! By faith, we put our application in for a new place to live. We weren't really looking to move until August when our rent at our current apartment rent officially goes up. So, it's early than anticipated, so we aren't financially completely ready and we refuse to dip into savings which is reserved to pay Klayton off when he arrives-debt free baby! The initial first month is always expensive with first month rent, application fees, etc. We are trusting if this God's will that He will provide! So pray with us!

10 on Tuesday

1. It has been awhile...but I'm finally here to catch you up!
2. Last week my inlaws came from Michigan for a few days! This was probably the only opportunity they will have to see me pregnant! So, while they were here Klayton and I definitely got spoiled!
3. While my inlaws were here, I had to go back in for am intensive ultrasound. So, my mother in law was able to go along and see my active baby boy! During this ultrasound we were able to get a 3d picture! Klayton has Josephs chin and my nose!
4. Until Friday we had basically given up on apartment hunting. Everything in our price range was either junky, full or has a huge waiting list. Well, with encouragment from Josephs parents we started the search again. Now, were waiting for approval from a townhome in Harrisburg! So, pray that if it's God's will He will provide and if it's not that He will close the door!
5. Let me make another point about the townhome! It's twice as big as our current apartment and it comes with a washer/dryer and a dishwasher! Our rent will be going up here in September to the same as the townhome would cost us. It's worth the move for the extra amenities!
6. Do you ever dread cooking? Well, I usually love to cook; but lately all desire for cooking has been taken from me...I have to figure out what's for dinner tonight and frankly I didn't feel like cooking last night and I don't again tonight! But, don't worry I will get my husband fed!
7. Yesterday I drove down to Sioux City and did lunch with my friend Peggy! We were good friends in college and she was here from NY to visit her brother for a few days! I love friends that you can pick up where you left off like it was yesterday!
8. Last Saturday, I enjoyed an afternoon lunch date with my sister...we have been trying to spend more sister time together.
9. Water and bathroom are now a staple in my life. I hate water and despise the increased bathroom visits it results in! I hope Klayton is realizing how much I love him because I'm doing it for him and because it's doctors orders.
10. Forgive any spelling errors or fragment sentences! I'm updating from my phone and therefore don't catch it all...happy Tuesday!