A page is turned

11 weeks!

Check out Bebo Norman's song "A Page is Turned" here:

My sweet friend and bridesmaid Becca sang this song over Greg and me at our wedding as Greg washed my feet and we made our vows. I hadn't thought about this song in a long time, but it struck me this morning that the lyrics could go on and on as God reveals new twists and turns in our life together. Only the very beginning pages of the marriage and the bittersweet days of the past are written into it. I add a couple more today as I look at where God has taken our family:

A page is turned on this day to a baby on the way,
and it's no secret that she's Daddy's girl she'd say,
and as their love for her grows, her story still unfolds,
to reveal a blessed and precious girl alive today

And the God of second chances picked them up and let them dance
through a world that is unkind. And all this time, leaning on the One who
holds them up when they come undone,
through a storm that had begun- but God had won,
their hearts beat on...

A page is turned in this family, to see God at work faithfully
bringing new life to the womb so graciously
and as this young life thrives, they reflect back on their lives
and realize blessings come all in His good time

And the God of second chances picked them up and let them dance
through a world that is unkind. And all this time, trusting in the One who
holds them up when they come undone,
through the wait and as they pray,
baby's on the way

We are so incredibly thankful and excited that God has blessed us with new life! I am 12 weeks today and tentatively have a due date of February 21st! We have heard the heart beating strong and anxiously await our appointment next week where we will see baby for the first time. I am starting to feel much better now- no more nausea and now I have just as many cravings as I do aversions. I am still taking a nap a few times a week and just generally feel tired, but it's not a daily nap or zombie-like existence anymore. I have totally different cravings this time (salt, dairy, meat, and pickles instead of breads and sweets) and feel much less cranky than I did with Emily, sooo my guess for now is boy but we'll have to wait another 2 months to see if I'm right! Part of me thinks I am destined to have all girls! 

Thank you to those of you who prayed for and with us as we considered another pregnancy (after complications with Emily's delivery) and also as we waited on the Lord to provide once we felt confident to move forward. We would appreciate your prayers as baby grows that my body would be a safe place for him/her and that I would make it full term this time. My new doctor feels pretty sure I should make it to at least 38 weeks this time before I'd have signs of pre-e developing. I'll take those odds! But it would be even better if we don't even encounter that or HELLP syndrome this time around.

Emily is very excited and talks about how much fun the baby is having rolling in my belly and getting bigger. She knows when baby gets big enough she gets to hold him/her. Every time I ask her if she wants a brother or sister, she says brother. No surprise there as 90% of her friends are boys!