feeling Lily

I was pretty sure I felt Lily kicking a few days ago, then definitely felt her kicking on Sunday, and then all throughout the night last night I could feel her bumping around frequently...It's the coolest thing now to be more confident that that is what I'm feeling, though Matt is still quite disappointed that he can't feel anything...soon!

We got two old rocking chairs yesterday from a missionary that just left the field. They are in pretty bad shape, but Matt is going to work on one of them and get it ready for Lily's room. We'll only be in this house for about 4 months after she is born, so we don't want to go all out on her room, but I am hoping to decorate a little bit in the coming months. Hopefully we'll get to do some painting/etc. at the next house. God always seems to have us on the move...we're so thankful He's got Lily on the move, too!

Halfway!

Today, we are officially 20 weeks pregnant, exactly halfway there! Lily is supposedly 10 inches long from head to toe and around 10 oz...almost a pound now. My pregnancy book outlines a pregnancy as 10 months, 4 weeks each month, 40 weeks. So based on this, I am 5 months along.

In so many ways it seems unbelievable that I am halfway along in this pregnancy, and in other ways it feels like I've been pregnant forever, and like another 20 weeks is an incredibly long time. We're sure it will fly, and are hoping the last 20 weeks are a little bit easier.

Lily and I celebrated by wearing our brand new maternity dress that we got in the mail yesterday (THANK YOU, Don and Brenda!) and by having homemade pizza for dinner, a rare luxury. (We have to have cheese shipped in, so we don't do a lot of pizza!)

As excited as we are for this drastic and beautiful change in our lives, we are trying to soak up the independence that we enjoy now...spending some evenings with coffee and good books, sleeping in on Saturdays, coming and going as it works for us... The Lord definitely has a time for everything, and we're adamant that we enjoy exactly what He's given us as He gives!

A year from now, Lily will be 7 months old. Now THAT is crazy!

19 weeks!

We're happy 19 weeks today, and I just cannot imagine feeling any bigger than I do right now! According to all my books (and my dad) this is going to be a problem, because NOW is when I'm supposed to start really getting big :) Our 2 mile walk to and from the market today, even before the heat of the day, proved to be just a little much for Lily. I'm not sure if it was the heat, the hike, or the cow's snouts, sitting in the sun covered in flies, that really did me in, but I think next time I'll pay a neighbor kid to make the trip for me :)

We were also able to finally catch up with one of my dearest friends here, Madame Giselaine...She knocked on the door first thing because she was dying to see my "ti-vann", or small belly. She was in complete awe over the ultrasound pictures, raving over the miracles of science and of Our God. Everyone is quite disappointed to hear that we won't be having the baby here, but understand the concept of our families wanting us to be with them.

Giselaine will probably be the friend who will watch Lily while I am teaching from 8-9 each morning, so she seemed satisfied to know that she'll have as vital a part in Lily's life as she has already had in mine and in Matt's. We are so very blessed to have so many people around the world already praying and excited over this little one. We cannot wait to see what the Lord has in His perfect plan for her...

feeling fine...

One of our number one urgent prayer concerns for returning to Haiti has been my health. I was sicker than I have ever been the two months before we left for our 5 weeks home. Because of this, Matt and I were both more than a little nervous about returning, and even had several "back up plans" for if I fell really ill again.

However, the Lord has more than answered our prayers, and while I'm not feeling nearly as good as I was in the cooler weather that Ohio and Delaware offered, I'm feeling 6 thousand times better than I was when we left...and it is hotter now than it was! I didn't even need a nap today, and as long as I'm eating something every 2 hours or so, I've been feeling good!

This really is such a praise, and we appreciate all of your prayers!!!

We have also learned that our AIDS clinic will be able to do my glucose and hemoglobin tests at week 28, something our doctor was concerned about us missing, another answer to prayer!

Our Haitian friends are overjoyed (no exaggeration, like jumping up and down) about our pregnancy! While I'm trying to not let the 4 identical yet glowing compliments of "Oh! Look! You look so fat!" get me down, everyone's excitement over us "FINALLY" having children is contagious.

I showed Micheline, a good friend, our ultrasound pictures today, something she had NEVER seen before. I showed her in each picture, "This is her head, and this is her back", but it was obvious that not only did she not recognize at all these shapes of bone and flesh as a child, but that she didn't believe me, and was politely taking my word for it so that I wouldn't feel bad :)

(Lily at 18 weeks)

Everyone is also convinced that there is no way anyone could know if this baby is a boy or a girl until they are delivered, so I think people are just getting the impression that we WANT our little girl to be a little girl...again, very polite "Oh, yes"s.

Nonetheless, whenever I asked Micheline what her small children were doing at home today, she said that they were playing a game (which sounded something like jacks) with goat's eyeballs, because they bounce so very well.

So, we all just continue to learn more and more about each other's culture, and it is such a joy to share in such things with our brothers and sisters, whose hearts are always so open.

Thank you for your continued prayers!

it's a girl!!!

We had our last appointment today before leaving for Haiti, and we are having a baby girl!!! We also got to check out all of her organs, and everything looks really good. She's doubled in weight since our last appointment just 4 weeks ago, and weighed in at 8 oz's today. It was so fun just to see her again...moving all over the place and so much obviously bigger than last time! We are just so thankful for this miracle, and continue to place her in His hands.

fun with friends!

We had such a great time with Maria and Elisa, who are already fighting over who will be the favored aunt :) They bought us some of the cutest new baby clothes, and an adorable blanket. I am so thankful for so many people in our lives who already love this little one and are helping us prepare for him/her!

Our next/final appointment is on Thursday...they plan to check out all of baby's organs, and to determine whether the baby is a boy or girl :) Tomorrow we help aunt Lisa move into her new apartment. I am feeling pretty wiped after so much traveling, but rest is ahead (we think!)

4 months and a mini baby-shower!

We're past the four month mark now, and the baby is making him/herself more and more known. Not only is he/she obviously growing, but he's also often shifting from side to side, and she's making me ridiculously tired. After speaking for just the first two services on Sunday morning, baby made it quite clear that she was ready to be done whether I was finished or not, and by the time we got at 3:30, I was so tired I could barely make it up the stairs. I slept soundly for 4 1/2 hours without waking up once...wow. Now the baby has forgiven me, but I'm still quite ready for bed.
We had the most wonderful blessing Saturday evening. Matt's father's cousins came to hear us speak at Cornerstone Church, and afterwards came back to the house for dinner. After dinner, they completely surprised Matt and I with some GORGEOUS gifts...a few beautiful bibs and onsies, as well as three AMAZING maternity outfits for me. Each item was selected to be PERFECT for Haiti...three skirts and three matching tops and matching baby/mom nightgowns. Marcelle and George also gave us some hats for Haiti, complete with LED lights for my "the power is out and I'm trying to make dinner!" experiences, and a pregnancy journal. Everything was gorgeous and soft and beautiful...I was so floored and touched by such amazing kindness, and they picked out everything with such obvious care. It was something I will remember for a long time, and I must admit, it is so fun to have a few little baby things!!! George and Marcelle, THANK YOU so much!!!
July 24th is scheduled for our last medical appointment and hopefully to find out if this baby is a little boy or girl. We can't wait!!!