Great day...random thoughts

Well today is the last day of September, which means I should get my October baby!!! Yesterday and last night I was having tons of contractions, but nothing that was painful. I can tell my body is getting ready to get this baby out into the world!

The weather is beautiful here in Kentucky, I am loving it and thanking God for my favorite season. Today, I got a Caramel Apple Spice from Starbucks and it was AMAZING, seriously amazing...

Tomorrow I go back to the doctor for my weekly checkup, I will post shortly after with the results. After my checkup I am getting a pedicure, it took me a little while to talk Clint into letting me get one, but now he's on board and I can't wait!!

My sweet friend Megan got me the book "The Shaping of a Christian Family" by Elisabeth Elliot.

I've read it once a year ago or so, but just started reading it again today and I am LOVING it. Elisabeth Elliot is one of my favorite godly authors, and this book tells how her parents nurtured her faith. It is a beautiful story of godly parents raising children to love the Lord, I have already gotten so many ideas and I have only read the first few pages.

The Lord has been so good to me lately, I was struggling with some fears and anxiety and he placed several women recently in my life this week to speak truth and encouragement. What is so cool is that these women didn't even know my fears, but the Lord gave them the exact words I needed to hear, I love when He does that!!! Also, Clint and I were in need of newborn/0-3 month clothes for our little girl and I was starting to worry about not having enough clothes for her. A few days ago my two friends gave me bags full of little girl clothes in that size...God provided again!

I am loving everyday and getting so excited to bring this little girl into the world, to love her, hold her, meet her needs, and most importantly teach her about Jesus. I am ready ( as much as I can be) to begin motherhood!!!

Until tomorrow,

Alex

Her "room"

Clint and I are living with my parents once we have the baby, it will be a huge blessing to save money and it will be great having their help. We will live in the basement, which is huge and has lots of space. I took some pictures of her things, we are pretty much all ready for her to come!!!

Double Date

This past weekend Clint and I had our friends Hannah and Patrick over. Hannah is around 29 weeks pregnant and due at the beginning of December. Clint and I love our time with them, it's always filled with laughs, good conversations and usually good food! Here are some pics from our time together:

37 weeks

I had my doctors appointment today, all was well except for the 4 pounds that I gained since last week, haha! My belly is getting bigger and bigger by the day.

I am around 90% effaced and still around a centimeter dilated. Her head is still very low and the doc said we could have a baby any day. I still think she is at least 2 weeks away!

I am feeling much better, the bladder infection/ UTI/ kidney infection is gone, praise the LORD! I do feel like I have a little cold but I am trying to get lots of rest and get plenty of Vitamin C.

Our bags are packed, her little "room" is all ready, and I think I am as much prepared as possible. Clint is so excited, which is so neat to see, and I am really looking forward to growing as parents with him.

Please pray for my delivery and a healthy little girl...on a side note my sweet nephew Ezekiel is still having issues with his liver and he is in need of lots of prayers!!!

Blessings,

Alex

Our little girls poem

So a few months ago I asked Clint to pick out hymn or worship song for our little girl. I wanted something that would be "her" song, something that we would sing to her as she grows up and I wanted her daddy to pick it out. Well I waited patiently as Clint thought about some ideas.

Finally, a few days ago Clint comes to me and says he has picked out a poem for our daughter. I was thrilled that he had not forgotten, even though it's not a song it's something that he picked out for our daughter and I LOVE IT. Below is the poem, the main line from the poem that is quoted often is: "Only one life, twill soon be past, only what's done for Christ will last." This poem is beautiful and I pray our daughter will grow to understand it's meaning, and that she will desire to make her life about Christ!!

“Two little lines I heard one day,Traveling along life’s busy way;
Bringing conviction to my heart, And from my mind would not depart;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, yes only one, Soon will its fleeting hours be done;
Then, in ‘that day’ my Lord to meet, And stand before His Judgement seat;
Only one life,’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, the still small voice, Gently pleads for a better choice
Bidding me selfish aims to leave, And to God’s holy will to cleave;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, a few brief years, Each with its burdens, hopes, and fears;
Each with its clays I must fulfill, living for self or in His will;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

When this bright world would tempt me sore, When Satan would a victory score;
When self would seek to have its way, Then help me Lord with joy to say;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Give me Father, a purpose deep, In joy or sorrow Thy word to keep;
Faithful and true what e’er the strife, Pleasing Thee in my daily life;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Oh let my love with fervor burn, And from the world now let me turn;
Living for Thee, and Thee alone, Bringing Thee pleasure on Thy throne;
Only one life, “twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, yes only one, Now let me say,”Thy will be done”;
And when at last I’ll hear the call, I know I’ll say “twas worth it all”;
Only one life,’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last. ”

C.T Studd

Baby Casabella update

Well Clint and I went to the doctor this morning and all is well with our sweet baby girl!!

As of right now I am 1cm dilated and 50% effaced and her head is very very low. The doc said we could have a baby any day now; however, I would like her to wait at least until October 1st, I really want an October baby ( I know that's silly) And my in-laws are going on a trip for 2 weeks and we don't want them to miss the birth of their first granddaughter! But she'll come when she's ready to come and we will all have to deal with it =D

We go back next week, so we will see what progress ( if any) we have made.

Please continue to pray for my UTI, it has gotten better but it's still there =(

Blessings, Alex

Crazy weekend

Well this weekend did not go as planned but the Lord has gotten me through it.

Clint and I had to watch some kids Saturday morning at their house, all was going well until around 9am when I began to realize that I might have a urinary tract infection. Throughout the morning the pain got worse and worse. I had a baby shower at 2pm so I wanted to at least try to feel better for that. Clint and I decided it would be best if I went to the hospital to get the results and get on medications if it was a UTI. We took the kids to my in-laws and Clint stayed there with them as I went to the hospital. Overall my hospital visit was awesome, the nursing staff was great and I got to see my baby's heartbeat and realize that I was having contractions, so exciting! Apparently I have been having contractions for a few weeks now and never realized it, so that was good to figure that out. The nurses said our sweet girls heartbeat looked great. The doctor said I had a really really bad UTI and would need to get on medication immediately. I left the hospital by 1:20pm and made it to my shower just in time.

The shower was a huge blessing, it was thrown by my mom's friends and some of my mother-in-laws friends came too. I was given great gifts, great advice, and had wonderful food. Even though I wasn't feeling 100% it was still a great shower.

By the time I made it home I started to feel a lot of pain in my lower back, the pain continued and got more intense as the evening went on. By night time I was so uncomfortable and nothing would relieve my pain. Clint and I called the doctor just to make sure he thought everything was okay. The doc said I could have a kidney infection or even a kidney stone, yuck!!! He said all I could do was drink lots of water, cranberry juice and take my medicine for at least 48 hours before they could do anything else. So let's just say Clint and I had a LONG night, but my honey took such great care of me, rubbing my back for hours, and just being there for me at all times!

I am finally starting to feel better, praise the LORD. I go to the doctor Monday morning so hopefully I will find out if I still have a UTI or if it's a kidney infection. This has somewhat prepared me for what labor will be like =D

I will update once I get back from the doctor tomorrow morning. Please pray that all will be well!

I'll post some pictures from the shower

Blessings

I have about one month left before I have my sweet little girl in my arms. It's hard to believe that it's almost over, and I will finally get to be a mommy.

We have a busy September ahead of us. I have my second baby shower this weekend, which I am really excited about. Once that shower is over I will need to get busy and organize all my goodies and make sure we are ready for this baby girl to come.

Clint and I have been so blessed with all the wonderful gifts everyone has gotten our baby, we would not be nearly as prepared to bring this baby into the world without the help from our family and friends, we thank the Lord for them!

My pregnancy has been such a delight and I think I am really going to miss having her in my body. As of right now I am 35 weeks and will go back to the doctor on Monday and will hopefully figure out how I am progressing. I am sleeping great, I feel pretty comfortable for the most part; however, I have experienced some back pain but I've always struggled with that, even when I wasn't pregnant.

I am really going to try to use this blog to update our family and friends with the end of the pregnancy, the beginning of our daughters life, and will update on all the latest news in regards to our church plant in Philadelphia. I will post a pictures soon of my growing belly!!

Blessings, Alex