Tuesday, June 28, 2011

My Mother

I have the best mother in the world.

She has been overly supportive, loving, involved, kind, and encouraging through this new stage of my life.
She prays for me and with me daily (as has for as long as I can remember).
She secretly moves things around in my room that she finds to be more fitting...sometimes I notice, sometimes I don't!
She happily and willingly serves my dad and me daily by making meals, doing laundry, and cleaning the house.
She gives of her time to so many with visits, phone calls, cards, meals, and prayer.
She has been involved with "all things baby", including registering at Babies R US, going to an ultrasound and my doctor in Mexico, and going to my first (4 hour) OB appointment. 
She is the queen of productivity and multitasking.
She freely gives me her opinion on just about anything, with the best of intentions, even when it's not asked for! haha
She gave up her vacation to come and visit and encourage me in Mexico, and has also visited me everywhere else I've lived.
She and I have ridiculous "can't catch your breath" laughing fits about the silliest things.
She constantly demonstrates having a daily relationship with God and trusting in His sovereignty and plan. 
She is so strong and positive and is not easily affected, phased, or surprised by challenges or difficult circumstances (I did not inherit this...I cry all the time!)


She is the best mother and will be the best grandmother (even though she totally does not look old enough)!

Monday, June 27, 2011

Running these days...

I have always had a love/hate relationship with running....but now that I weight almost 20lbs more than before, running has become a love/hate/hate relationship.  I run sooo slow and not very far.  I finally did buy a Running Belt and it has helped IMMENSELY.  Before the Running Belt, I would feel a lot of pressure on my bladder when I ran and it was just way too uncomfortable.  But, now with the Belt I was able to run an hour yesterday!  I am mostly just running on the treadmill as of this week because it is FLAT (and we don't have flat in Asheville) or riding my stationary road bike.   

You just have to do what you can, while you can!

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

First Offical OBGYN Appointment

I had my first OBGYN appointment Monday, at 28 weeks.  My mother also went along for the LONG ride!  My blood was taken, I did the glucose test, a urine test, had my 5th AND 6th ultrasound (because BG was sucking her thumb in the 5th one with the technician and later the doctor wanted to try and get a better look at her face, hence the 6th one), filled out a bunch of paper work, and talked with an RN for a while going over all the normal information from months 1-7.  Thankfully, BG is in fact a BG and not a BB (I was worried about that).  BG is currently breech.  The doctor staid not to worry about it until 36 weeks, but pray that she turns around!  And, I was starving by the end of my 4 hour appointment. 

Dear BG (baby girl),

You will be here in about two months and I can hardly believe it.  I only really feel pregnant (aka: large!) when I look in a mirror, run, you kick, and when I toss and turn at night because I can't sleep on my stomach.  Other than those moments, the idea of you is kind of surreal.

Well, your life thus far in this world has not been "normal"...


-The day I found out you existed was one of the worst days of my life, yet the idea of not having you now makes me feel defensive and I can't imagine the future without you.
-You were not planned, yet you are very wanted and loved.
-Instead of it being exciting to tell people about you it's scary, yet it's exciting watching God make me stronger and teaching me not to care so much what others think. 
- I was overwhelmed at the idea of preparing and providing for you, yet  people have been extremely generous loaning furniture, giving gifts, sharing advice, and spending time with me.
- Your first six months of your (in womb) life were spent in Mexico City, yet I was protected and cared for despite the emotional and physically difficulties of being alone and away from "normal".
- A lot of sorrow and regret has come with your existence, yet every one of your movements and kicks remind me of your precious life and the joy that you will be, (the one quality that I have fervently been praying for you is that you would be truly joyful...and I think you already are).

So, though your little life thus far has not been normal, I am thankful.  I am thankful for you and the plans God has for you.  You were a surprise to me, yet you were not a surprise to Him, "Before He formed you in the womb He knew you,and before you were born He set you apart; He appointed you a prophet to the nations." Jeremiah 1:5 

You were not made to be normal.  You were made for more than normal.

Love,
Your Mom

Monday, June 20, 2011

Virginia Visit

My mom and I went down to Virginia to visit my grandparents in Danville this past weekend.  We talked, ate lots (including hamburgers off the grill), celebrated Father's Day, took naps, went to church, got the burnt-out back blinker on my car changed (thanks granddad!), and spent some time in my grandfather's awesome garden!  






Downtown Asheville

My sweet friend Leah, along with her little boy Ben, let me go downtown with them on Friday night.  I am so thankful for Leah who has been such a great, supportive, encouraging, and informative friend since I've been home from Mexico.  Friday night was my first night in Downtown Asheville since August...I forgot how much I loved it!  We ate dinner at Chai Pani (an Indian Street Food restaurant), then headed to the infamous Drum Circle (see video below), then over to Splashville (a fountain where kids play), then for ice cream at Cold Stone Creamery...and we saw all statues and break-dancers in-between!   

Of all the pictures I have most of then taken by Ben!!

Drum Circle Video!
 


 Statue sitting and break-dancing....I only participated in ONE of the two!
Thank you, Leah and Ben!

Sunday, June 19, 2011

Happy Father's day...

to a dad who....
supports me in everything I do,
teaches me work toward goals and stand-up for what I believe in,
still plants a garden every year,
diligently trained and did his first triathlon at the age of 56,
wakes-up early and drives long distances in the morning to watch me race,
never lets me be a quitter,
eats healthy but enjoys junk food and is always up for ordering pizza,
makes me laugh and has an awesome understanding of sarcasm,
watches TV with me late at night when we should both be sleeping, 
knows how to encourage me when things seem hopeless,
gets sunburned at the beginning of every summer and yet still refuses to use sunscreen, 
spends countless hours working and traveling to provide for his family,
makes the best key-lime pie ever, 
goes out of his way to do things for others,
and teaches his family to put God first.

Thank you, dad, for everything.

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

"Blonde" Moment

I was talking to Melanie Currie on skype and she asks "So, when is your next shower?" and the first thing that comes to my head is "in the morning".

....probably NOT what she was referring to.

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Baby's "Room"

I have cleaned out all of my personal "stuff" from my "side room".  It is a large open space, kind of like a small room on the side of my room...or I guess you could think of it as a really big open closet.  Either way, my "side room" will be the baby's room for now.  Below are pictures.  I am so thankful for friends who have loaned me MANY things (crib, bouncy seat, bathtub, etc) and family who has already given me [pink] crib sheets and other things to help get the "room" ready.



 These two views kind of show you my room too... that's the corner of my bed on the left.

 My dad painted the beautiful sunset on my wall several years ago!

Mexican Cat

Sweet, and fat, Margret "Maggie" Thatcher loves sleeping on my sombrero.... who would have thought?

Seeing the Stars

 "When it gets dark enough, you can see the stars." -Ralph Waldo Emerson-

This quote describes my life these days.  I feel like the last six months of my life have been the darkest months of my life...but I sure have seen a lot of stars.   

There are moments when I don't feel like I can see any stars at all; and then there are moments when I am overwhelmed by the amount of stars I see.  I know that God uses our suffering to remind us of our darkness; our human nature is pure darkness.  However, it is in our dark moments that He lets His stars shine the brightest...through the body of Christ, encouraging notes, undeserved gifts, prayers, walks, lunch dates, phone calls, hugs, baby showers, shared excitement, grace, joy, and peace. 


The darkness is hard, and brings loneliness, tears, guilt, fear, and sadness....but the stars, well, the few I've seen thus far, sure are worth it.

Saturday, June 11, 2011

Swim, Bike, Run....Enka Lake Triathlon

This year for various reasons none of us could do the triathlon by ourselves, so we did a relay.  Dad did the swim, Dave Fraser did the bike, and I did the run.  The swim was 750 meters, the bike was 17.5 miles, and the run was 3.1 miles.  Over all it took us about 2 hours (23 minute swim, 1 hour 13 minute bike, 33 minute run).
 Dave, me, and Dad pre-race
 Me and the other pregnant competitor. I am 26.5 weeks and she is 35 weeks!
 Dad about to start the swim
 Dad swimming
Dad coming finishing his swim (and below is a video of his run to the Transition Area where Dave was waiting to bike
 Dave starting the bike
 Dave biking
 Me taking the timing chip from Dave in the Transition Area
 Me starting the run... final leg!

 If you look really closely in the above and below pictures you can find me running on the other side of the lake really far away

 Coming into the finish

 Mom is always our biggest supporter
Stuffing my face!  I really just race for the free Apollo Flame meal afterword :)

Friday, June 10, 2011

Visiting Julia and Meeting Matthew

While in Charleston we visited our dear friend Julia Marshall Nickel who is staying in Charleston while her new baby boy recovers from heart surgery.  It was great to see Julia and a blessing to meet her precious baby boy Matthew!


 Matthew loved looking at dad
Such a big boy he can hold his own pacifier in!

Charleston, South Carolina...Beach Vacation

We took a nice four day vacation to Charleston, South Carolina to visit Zach and just relax at the beach.... And we did just that!

 
Dad and I relaxing in the hotel pool

 Mom by the harbor
 Zach and I after dinner our first night
 Zach, mom, and dad after dinner
 We stayed in Mt. Pleasant, but went to Sullivan's Island to the beach twice
 Dad and me on Isle of Palms beach...we got burnt!
 Dad and mom on Isle of Palms beach
 reading....
 Mom beating Zach at Ping Pong in Zach's downtown Charleston house
 Zach beating dad in Ping Pong
 Zach and me in Zach's house
 Isle of Palms, day two, we needed some shade!
 Night at our hotel with Zach: shopping, pizza, and basketball watching
 Our only family photo of the week, outside of our hotel
Watching basketball in the hotel room