Homestretch : Third Trimester

Hope you enjoyed yesterday's pictures. It was a fun day. I am so glad we were able to document this wonderful experience.

I cannot believe I am already here in the seventh month. Time has crept by in some places and it now feels like its flying. I feel those hormones driving me to worry about silly things like giving birth, having a car seat, being able to afford another person, is my body ever going to be normal again, and do I have enough diapers to put on Isaac? But then I have to step back and tell God thank you for giving me a REASON to worry about these things. I am having a baby! God gave me the desire of my heart with Isaac, I am going to keep trusting him to provide for us.

When I last saw Dr. K I asked him if Isaac was three feet long. I feel like he is EVERYWHERE and he is strong! I love all the sweet little kicks and punches that I get. I am going to miss this when he is out in the real world. I love sitting a remote or cell phone on my belly and watching him wiggle it. I am taking little ninja kicks to the ribs even as I type. Briefly during the vomitous days of the first trimester if I wondered ever wanted to try for another pregnancy, it seemed too hard on the body, but this part is so sweet that I think if God allows I would love to do it again.

I am having my first baby shower on Saturday in my hometown of Barnsdall. My lifelong besties, Charity and Aubrey are hostessing. I am so excited. Not necessarily for the gifts, even though that will be a nice perk, but I am excited mostly because I never thought I would ever get to have a baby shower for MY baby. I thought I was doomed to a life of just being a guest at a shower. During the miscarriage and infertility days I skipped a lot of baby showers. It was too hard to go and watch the new mothers glow as they collected items that were chosen lovingly for their new babies. It was a painful reminder of what I thought I could never have. I am so excited to celebrate Isaac's coming in my town, with the friends and family that I love so dearly. There will be pictures!

I mentioned earlier that I am concerned about money. Me and everyone else right? But even now God is providing opportunities. My hubby, who is on his way home from St. Louis at the moment, is being given so many opportunities to earn money doing what he loves, his music. He is playing at the Oklahoma Baptist General Convention's Youth Ministry Forum this coming Thursday and Friday, and has booked three camps already for next summer. He even has a conference booked for the week Isaac is due - hope that one works out. He is so amazingly talented and has such a good heart. Just watching him talk to my belly makes me fall that much more in love with him. I think that not only did I marry the most wonderful man ever, but I think that Isaac hit the Daddy jackpot as well. There is no one on earth I would rather raise children with. It makes me wonder what I did right in this world to get such a wonderful man. It also makes me think that Ryland must have done something really bad to be stuck with me. :)

I have no new Gurt news. Just waiting..... praying....... patiently. Trusting that God will work it all out in his perfect time.

I always get asked the question, "How are you feeling?" It is so hard to answer. Because I am constantly dealing with some pregnancy related ailment. Nothing major, just things like extremely sore hips, swollen ankles, or fatigue. Nothing that is going to kill me, but annoyances nonetheless. So I want to say I feel great, but that is kind of a fib, but I also don't want people to think I am ungrateful for my pregnancy. It's a conundrum. I wish I knew the perfect answer.

I do have a few prayer requests:

1) I mentioned earlier that I have low lying placenta. I will have another ultrasound in a few weeks to make sure it moves up. If it doesn't it will block the birth canal and I will have to have a c-section. In 90% of women with this condition (placenta previa) it moves. So please pray that it does. I am not very worried, but the thought is in the back of my mind a little.

2) The holidays are here. This is my family's first holiday season without my Aunt Karla. It is hard to imagine my baby shower, Thanksgiving and Christmas without her. It will feel like something is missing. Please keep my family, especially my cousins, in your prayers. Pray that God will send a spirit of joy to rest with my family and that we will laugh and give thanks for all of the blessings God has given.

3) A friend of mine lost a baby this week. This is my first experience watching from the other side, it makes some of the old sadness creep in. The grief of my three glory babies is still very fresh sometimes. Please keep my friend and her husband in your prayers. Ask God to heal her body and heart, and that God will teach them through this and accomplish his purpose in their lives for building a family.

God bless you as you enjoy this beautiful fall season.

Love, Mindy

Maternity Pictures

These are from a photo shoot with Ashley Ofosu. Visit her work at http://ashleyophotos.blogspot.com/

An update will be coming soon. Between parent-teacher conferences, open house, PTO activities, our 3rd Grade Oklahoma Land Run, church and creating a nursery I have had zero time (or energy) to blog.

A detail filled blog will be coming soon I promise. Okay, Fred :)

Love and best wishes - keep praying for the little man in my baby bump & the little Gurt in my heart.

Lovc, Mindy

My Dad described this picture as "disgusting", thanks Dad! But this is the first time I have ever loved having a belly.

This is a gift from Uncle Lane.

This is our inspiration for Isaac's name. Abraham and Sarah's Isaac was an unexpected blessing whose name means laughter, just like our baby.

This is my favorite.

This is Ry's sister Jilian, carrying our niece Joia, due 6 weeks before Isaac.

A cute quote from our photog.

Bleacher bums in Guthrie.

Love my baby.