What's Going On With My Baby...

A couple of years ago I stumbled upon this awesomely-wonderful-amazing website called The Endowment of Human Development, http://www.ehd.org/index.php. I have shared it several times on Facebook, as it never ceases to amaze me just how completely awe-inspiring a child growing in the womb is- and by the way- it IS child. A tiny person growing and living...and what is science's definition of a living thing?

It is this:
"Something that is alive and can grow. Living things need food, water, and air."
www.eduplace.com/kids/scienceglossary/

A baby (fetus just means unborn offspring) has a beating heart. A baby in the womb moves, blinks, has hiccups, yawns, has periods of sleep and wake cycles, oh- and feels. When it's hand brushes by it's cheek it moves because of reflexes and nerves that have been developed since it was 2 weeks and 4 days in creation. The brain is the first organ to develop as the heart begins to beat just 2 days later. By week 4 the brain has enlarged by 50% and the first nerve fibers have begun to grow, as well as the Hypothalamus, most cranial nerves and Synapses among motor neurons in the spinal cord. By 6 weeks and 2 days brain activity has begun. The time most women don't even know they are pregnant...a life has formed inside them...and sadly for some, it may not be for long...

If this doesn't look like a baby then I don't know what would.

Before I figured out how to add a picture of a baby at 8 weeks from EHD I tried to search for one that I could add from online- and let me just tell you, don't do it. Some of the images were VERY disturbing. I was trying to keep myself from ever seeing anything like that, but it was too late. So I'll just have you visit EHD.org where you can safely see pictures without being heartbroken...like I am now...

However, this is not about being Pro-Life (which there should never be such a term because we should never have the opposite, unless, tragically and less commonly, the mother's life is in danger- and don't EVER get me started on Partial Birth abortion! Possibly the most heinous thing ever allowed to be legalized IMO.) this is about MY baby! :) My healthy, energetic, sweetness of a person growing and is safely contained away from everything bad in the world!

Third Trimester Stats- weeks 27-42

Starting Monday I am 29 weeks pregnant or 7months! 

• My baby now weighs about 2 and a half pounds!
• and is about 15 inches long from head to heel.
• Brain is busy developing billions of neurons.
• Baby's muscles and lungs are continuing to mature.
• My baby can taste and respond to pain.
• The milk teeth have developed under the gingiva.
• The eyes can move in their sockets. 
• Baby hears things better from the vibrations all around, and can now distinguish real sounds and voices.

 Wow! Time has flown! I feel Baby move at regular times during the day and night. When Charlie was still in my belly he would do jumping jacks whenever I ate food- and when he came out he would flail about and make excited noises when it was time to eat! :) This Baby does move some when I eat, but I think because the placenta is anterior, I do not feel it as profoundly as I did with Charlie.

Can you believe this is what my Baby looks like? Well, sort of! :)

 My intentions of this blog were to describe my current pregnant state- but it's hard to see all of these images online without not seeing things for abortion. So, it has kind of turned my thoughts toward the grim reality that some people do actually think it's ok to take someone's life, so long as it's still inside. It's sad enough to begin with, but then to have it done late term- partial birth? That I would love for someone to explain to me- how that's moral and right and a good idea and how that child doesn't feel the vacuum and the forceps and the knives...to me, abortion is just a way for people to not have to take responibilty for their actions. Yes, sometimes pregnancy can happen at a very bad time, or in a bad situation, or maybe if that person gets pregnant or gets a woman pregnant they'll be found out- and their marriage may be over-or who knows what reason- but none of those circumstances justifies killing someone. It's like we've been told our whole lives, you pay the consequences for your actions. Pull yourself up by the boot straps and deal with it. I know their are cases where a baby is born deformed and with severe abnormalities- and I do have an understanding heart for the women that are faced with the decision to terminate a pregnancy for those reasons. But I am not supportive at all of women who have had unprotected sex and decide that being pregnant would really wreck their life. 93% of abortions are performed on healthy mothers of healthy babies. I think that if abortion was only for those babies that are severely deformed and would die soon after birth then there would not be such an outrage and controversy that there is today. It's like anything else I guess- after a while it gets abused. The world has been full of self absorbed, self seeking, selfish people from the beginning of time; and it's not going to stop now. I really just wish late term partial birth was not an option. Why wait that long? How can a Dr perform such a thing and then go home to their own children if they have any? I could not sleep at night...

And speaking as a person whose father wanted an abortion, let me just say that I'm very glad I was not a victim, that my mother looked him in the eye and said "this baby is a part of me" and she let me live. Now, my Daddy is very happy to have had me, and he just thought because my mom was only 19 that it would "be for the best" as everyone so carelessly puts it, but he does love my with his whole heart. If I had died sometime in 1983 I would not have lived to love Jeff, or have Charlie and this next Baby, that is currently moving around in my womb. This blog you are reading would not be. The friends I have made, lives I have touched- would not be the same...unfortunately that is not the case with many people that would have been...

A few websites:
www.friendshiplifeministries.com-  My church's ministry for women 18-25 years of age who are expecting their 1st child and is in need of help.
www.priestsforlife.org- America will not reject abortion until America sees abortion. This site has graphic images. I did not look at them, but if you are interested...

www.baby2see.com

Also on a much happier note, Save-the-Date for September 11th- Pregnancy Care Center and Friendship Life Ministries are trying to raise money! Walk for Life is at Winton Woods on that Saturday. It's 2 miles and Charlie and I are lacing up our kicks! I need people who will support me! The request is $20- but if you can't give that much anything will be accepted! I need 10 people to support me- would you like to help? Checks can be made out to Pregnancy Care Center. Thanks so much in advance!!!

Remember When...

                                                       "The sound of little feet

                                                                  was the music

                                                   we danced to week to week......

                                             Brought back the love, we found trust

                                                      Vowed we'd never give it up
                                                               Remember when...."

Jeff has been sleeping in the basement during the day because he has been working 12 hour night shifts. I'm so glad to have him home, but it's been a bit tough trying to explain to Charlie that he can't bounce his balls and throw his cars on the kitchen floor. It doesn't matter how many times I say it, he still finds new things to throw on the floor- and whats worse is he runs, or stomps rather, all over the place! And Jeff can hear every bit of it. So I told him to just wear ear plugs because there is nothing I can do about it! 

Well, he woke up Sunday afternoon and said that he could hear Charlie running through the house...and I immediately went to apologize when he said...."but I'm not mad at him. Every time I hear it I think of that song that says 'Remember when...the sound of little feet..." and I teared up! I know it's one of those things we'll look back on and "Remember when" and cry and hold each other and realize that our children truly are our biggest blessing...a gift that He gave us to love...and how can you be mad at little feet? 

The car sounds he makes are all too precious...the way he likes to look through my pink glad container lids and walk around the house makes me laugh at how silly he is...and he loves all the simple things: balloons...the moon...birds and air planes...cows...everything is a new discovery to him! And everything is simple.

                                       "Remember when we vowed the vows
                                                           and walked the walk
                                    Gave our hearts, made the start, it was hard... 

                                         We lived and learned, life threw curves
                                                There was joy, there was hurt
                                                             Remember when..."

                           I remember when. It was May 25th, 2002... I became a wife. 

Jeff became my husband.  And we were beginning this new adventure and had no idea where it would take us! Shortly after getting married Jeff's company, P&G shared the news they were selling the Olean plant where Jeff worked and we could either relocate or stay with the New Company called Twin Rivers. So, we packed up and headed for Iowa New Years Day 2003. We met with a wonderful lady who showed us beautiful homes...and after three days returned home. On the flight home we realized that even though staying with P&G would be nice, living that far from family would not, so we ventured out with the new company. Things changed...not necessarily for the better...but hey, we still had a job. We were really sad to lose all the wonderful things we got with P&G, but we were not the ones in charge and so we could either sit and mope about it (which we did somewhat) or we could move on...which eventually is what happened. Long story short, Twin Rivers ended up being bought out by another company and this company changed everything. No more Twin Rivers. Instead, for Jeff's hard work, over the past several years, he has lost his Christmas bonus (which I took really hard), profit sharing of course along with the Christmas basket and P&G dividend day, a weeks vacation, a pay cut, a shift change that only zombie's would like...and yet...we still have each other...   

                                                       Matthew 6:26 and 30 says:

                "Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not neither do they reap, nor do they gather into barns: yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not better than they?"

               "Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the feild, which today is and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith..."

So how can we complain when God has taken care of us? How dare we even worry over things we cannot control. We ought to take the ways of the lillies of the field and the birds and take no thought of such things. If we do, we have little faith in the one that created us. Obviously he didn't need our help in creating the universe so why should he need our help in telling him what we need and want? He already knows everything we need. He loves us so much to send his only Son to die for our punishment...and to think he would not take care of simple daily needs... Shame on us!

  

   "Now lookn' back it's just a steppin' stone

                                                To where we are, where we've been

                                                           Said we'd do it all again

                                                               Remember when..."

And if you were to ask either Jeff or myself, quicker than a blink we would tell you that we would do it all again. Life has this quirky way of taking you all over the place and you have no Atlas, no GPS- only your bended knees to give you sense of comfort. When the roads are tough and you aren't sure of all the things to come, I remember; He is Faithful. He will never let me down. He is my rock. The foundation of our home, our lives, our very substance. And I am not afraid. 

         "Remember when we said when we turned gray
             When the children grow up and move away
        We won't be sad, we'll be glad
          For all the life we've had...

                                                          And we'll remember when"

To my husband, I love you. I am so very, very thankful for you- always by my side, always lifting me up, teaching me, loving me...when it says in the Bible for a husband to love his wife like Christ loved the church and gave himself for it- I am reminded of your love for me.

I hope to always make you feel that way...

To my dear baby boy (who is not so much a baby these days) "Your Mudder Wubs You!!!" Kisses and Huggies and Lovin's everyday! You make me smile! (Sometimes you make me want to cry- but that's just what you're supposed to do)... :) "I'll love you for always I'll like you forever- as long as I'm living my baby you'll be!!!!"

And to my next Baby: you're in for a real surprise when you come out! :) There's lots of chaos to go around so I'm sure you won't feel left out :) Oh and here's an early "Welcome to the Family"!  As our newest member, you get to be squeezed, poked and all out mauled by your older brother, Charlie. Don't worry, I'll try and backpack you around until he's old enough to not poke out your eyes! 

   I'm truly thankful for all the life I've had...and I'm looking forward to what  else God has in store...

Lost in Thought...

I wasn't quite sure what I wanted to title this blog tonight because there are so many things on my mind and it has been an entire weeks since my last post! Let's see, last Saturday we packed up the car and left the house at 5:45am heading South to Cumberland where we boated with some friends from church. We had a blast!!! Jeff actually got up on the ski's and skied for about a mile! Woohoo! :)
                                                       

Then we left at lunch time and headed back up North a bit to go shopping at the Amish store called Sunny Valley (which used to be Nolt's Bulk Foods). I got cake flour and pastry flour along with 2 huge things of cinnamon and cinnamon sticks, parsley, a bunch of sprinkles for baking and such...we also went to an Amish store that sold housewares, wood furniture, kitchen items and childrens clothing. I got the new baby a little knitted sweater with a matching hat! So cute! Charlie found a pair of rainboots which I would have bought him in a second had they fit! They were 1 size too small! :( Oh well! I'm still on the lookout for cute kid gear for next spring! He'll look so darling in a rain slicker with an umbrella and matching boots!!! :) So after shopping we headed to check in to the hotel, where it's pretty much a tradition of ours to stay in this particular Country Inn or whatever it's called. We got a suite, showers, naps- and then headed to the cabin...


...Which the reason for the trip to begin with was the Moore family reuinion, held this year at Ronnie's cabin- that he hand built!!! It was gorgeous inside and out! The only thing pesky was those darn mosquitos! Here's a few pictures of the cabin! I just can't believe he built everything- everything- himself!

The outside, this was taken last April

Cabin Sweet Cabin!

Ok, these are custom made cabinet! Ronnie owns a cabinet shop in Russell Springs. Aren't they beautiful?!

This is Ronnie himself. Yes, he even made the bed and his son made the night stands next to the bed. There is a bathroom that accompanies this bedroom, all of which he made the doors and storage ares for! Talent!!

These are just a few of the heirlooms in this cabin. Such a sweet little place!

Here is the corner fire place, and every fireplace needs a flat screen!

These are just a few of the pictures. My big regret is not photographing the dining table like I thought I did. It was beautiful, decorated with two different woods, drawers on both ends to store flatware and placemats and underneath- my favorite part- was a huge letter "M"...for his last name Moore of course. Let me tell you, he didn't leave one detail left undone! Even the bathrooms were just amazing! He even made the floors, hand picking each piece of wood, sadly there was a flood somehow from one of the toilets while they were away and ruined the entire floor! So he had to replace it, but it is just as nice!

Then, Mr Edward Cain took all the kids for multiple rides up and down the road on his miniature horses, Mickey (the black one) and Firecracker and Lad, I think was the other ones name. I've forgotten now! But Charlie LOVED them, actually he loved the cows, but he did like the ponies a lot, and that was all I got a picture of.

Mickey!

Me and Charlie, sorry Jeff didn't actually get the ponies in the picture!

Jeff and I decided to take Charlie for a walk and check out the old houses nearby- at one time they were family members houses...and in the midst of discussion Charlie fell into a ditch near one of the driveways hitting his face on a huge rock: his upper lip swelled up, bled and I cried more than he did! Poor guy! :( But, he recovered in a few minutes and was happy once again after another pony ride!

So, as for this week- Jeff is working nights. I am trying to keep quiet during the day and spend some times with him when he wakes. I am actually now looking forward to this schedule change, how very weird it is- because I think we'll actually get to spend more time together as a family! :) And that makes me very happy!

So this blog is HUGE and I really need to get off this computer and get some things organized for tomorrow morning. Church then Sunday School then home to make tacos!

But I must leave you with one picture- for all of you who have sons- this is SUCH a boy! :) I love it!!!

Charlie is hungry...again! :) He loves our new fridge...

 Good night! There's more inspiring things to come when I've got the time to upload them... ta ta for now!

Tomato Charlie!

Click on over to the right under My Inspirations and click on the same title, Tomato Charlie. There's a wonderful array of photos sure to make you smile! At least they did for me! I don't think I can add that many pictures to a blog posting, only to a page- so today this is my blog post! Here's a picture just to wet your appetite... pun intended! :o)