Enjoying the Unthinkable

The title of this post probably sounds WAY deeper than I actually mean but I did enjoy the unthinkable recently and thought it would be worthy to share.

Last week Neil and I went CAMPING with his family at the lake for 'vacation'. For those of you that somehow don't know, I was 20 weeks pregnant. PREGNANT AND CAMPING. Can those two words safely and realistically be in the same sentence? Well, I am happy to say, "YES THEY CAN!". I am NOT a 'camper', but Neil is and his family use to go to the lake EVERY year until he was in college. We planned to start up the tradition again this year before we found out I was pregnant. After finding out I was pregnant and then realizing that we were going CAMPING IN AUGUST I became VERY anxious and fearful. "Can you even go camping while you are pregnant?" "Is it safe for me to sleep on the ground?" "What if I have to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night?" "Where there be snakes! I HATE SNAKES!" "Will I get too hot from the heat and pass out or DIE?" These questions would plague me for several weeks. I would wake up in the middle of the night- to pee- and then not be able to sleep again because my mind would ponder and worry over these concerns. Neil was great at not making me feel dumb for having these concerns, praying for me to not fear, and reassuring me he was aware that I was pregnant and that he would do what was in his control to make things safe and comfortable for me, but he couldn't fix everything before we got there.

The day to leave arrives and with the assurance of a inflatable mattress for me and a fan we are off! Now to clarify we were car camping so we were at a nice site that had electricity but yes we slept in a tent. As soon as we got there I realized that I wasn't roughing it in the woods and that I could do this and have done this before, minus the pregnant factor. Our site was beside his parents and his aunt and uncle and right on the lake. IT WAS BEAUTIFUL! We had such a great time the whole weekend and it was SO relaxing!!!! Not one of my fears was ever confirmed and instead I felt the faithfulness of the Lord. It wasn't too hot while we were there and there was usually some kind of nice breeze from the lake. I felt the freedom that anytime I did feel kind of sick I could go lay down and rest in his grandparent's AIR CONDITIONED camper. I never had to get up to use the bathroom in the middle of the night and I slept really well with the help of ear plugs. Also, NO SNAKE SIGHTINGS! The time with his family was so nice and low key. We went out on the boat, sat by the lake, swam in the lake, and sat by the campsite. We played games, read, talked, and just relaxed. This trip actually made me EAGER, YES I SAID EAGER, to go camping again! I'm not sure if we will or not since I will only become MORE pregnant from now on, but I think Neil may have FINALLY broken me into camping. SSSSHHHH, don't let him know I said that...

Here are some pictures:

the view from our campsite

Neil and his cousin, Daniel, doing some karate stuff.
I walked away when I heard Daniel say, ..."and this is where I could dislocated your shoulder..."
Oh okay, that's neat Daniel...

Family Photo

20 WEEKS!

How I really feel sometimes

My VERY favorite photo from the whole trip.
Neil, his brother Nathan, and their almost 82 year old Granddaddy tubing!!!!
Such a cherished memory
I LOVE GRANDDADDY.

New Developments

First big development is that we have named our little Roo!!!!!!! Our little girl's name is:

Natalie Jane

We both loved the name Natalie and Jane means, "God is gracious" and we believe that God is being VERY gracious to us by giving us the pregnancy and baby girl!

Today I start 19 weeks (4 1/2 months!) and still feel great. I have noticed in the last several days that I can feel the weight of my belly more. I definitely notice that I want to hold onto the bottom of my belly because it feels kind of tight. I caught myself in the mirror the other day and did a double take because for the first time I thought I actually looked pregnant and not fat! It was really cool for me to be able to tell the difference physically and mentally. Neil had been saying for about 2 weeks before that I looked pregnant to him even when others weren't sure.

Second, I also started wearing my first maternity shirt YESTERDAY & TODAY (same outfit, don't judge)!!!! I realized that some of the clothes I was given are spring/summer clothes and if I don't wear them now I won't be able to wear them! I can still wear all my regular shirts just fine but I bet I'm probably unknowingly stretching them out. Why am I doing that when I have good clothes that are designed to be worn when pregnant! I'm sure some of my avoidance was probably pride that I could still fit into my regular clothes pretty easily.
(Ah, sin, don't you love it...)

The third big development is that I started to feel Natalie move!!!!!! Last Thursday afternoon, start of 18 weeks, I was sitting on the couch when I felt this little, subtle 'pop' almost like a bubble gently popping inside me. I stopped and started talking to Natalie asking if that was her I felt, but I wasn't sure. I mentioned it to Neil later that night, but said I wasn't sure and it could have been nothing. He was so excited about the thought it! Then on Saturday his parents were in town at the house and his mom asked me if I had felt the baby move yet and I described to her what I felt and she confirmed that it was Natalie moving! There have been a few times where the movement has been just big enough for me to gently feel on the outside, but Neil hasn't been able to feel anything yet. I CAN'T WAIT until he can start feeling her! He is eagerly and patiently waiting also!

The fourth and final big development that we just decided on yesterday was to switch our doctor and therefore switch our hospital! I liked my previous doctor just fine and we would have delivered at 'THE HOSPITAL' in town. It seems like most people I know have delivered there and all I hear is how nice the labor and delivery wing is there. I been there and it is REALLY NICE. People have jokingly referred to it as 'The Hilton of Babies'. However, we are leaning towards having a natural labor and delivery and it didn't seem like the hospital and doctor I was with could really accommodate our preferences. I still want to be at a hospital with a doctor because I feel comfortable and safe with that route. There is a hospital in town that does have more experience and options for natural birth and a friend of my recommended her OB. Neil and I met with him yesterday and we were SO encouraged! He was very vocal with us about his faith in the Lord and seems to be a strong believer. He encouraged us several times with perspective on God's sovereignty over Natalie's life and the birth. Also in the 35+ years that he has practiced he has only missed 5 births! He has a very gentle and joyful presence and we are excited about him being our doctor! Even in the last week I have heard more and more people mention this hospital in passing and each person had RAVING things to say about this hospital! It seems like the Lord is leading us and confirming things for us! I think some people think we are crazy to switch doctors and hospitals in the middle of pregnancy, but the process and logistics of it don't bother me and I have more peace believing that I'm trusting and following the Lord than if I lean on my own understanding and a trend of what 'everyone i know is doing'. Sometimes leaning on that trend is a wise thing to do, but not for us in this case.


Lastly, I keep forgetting to share these few pictures of the first few 'outfits' for Natalie. The pack of sleepers I bought on the day we found out we were having a girl. The single, green sleeper was given to me by a friend at Hope, the crisis pregnancy center I volunteer at during the week. I love that is says in the corner, "mommy's little dear" and it has a deer on it. Play on words crack me up!

Preggo Update

Today is my last day of 17 weeks! I start month 5 tomorrow! The time seems to be flying by in so many ways! I wanted to include a few pictures of the last two weeks to see if there was any progression of a visible 'belly bump'. It seems to depend on the day and what I'm wearing as to if people can tell I'm pregnant or have a belly or not. Neil says that I definitely look pregnant to him while at church on Sunday everyone commented on where my 'baby bump' was and why wasn't I starting to show. I can still wear my regular clothes pretty well, but I just started last week buttoning my jeans- at least this one pair- with a pony tail holder because it is too uncomfortable to button without it!

I won't drag suspense on any longer -because I know you are on the edge of your seat- here are the pictures from the last tw0 weeks!!!

week 16
Don't worry I wore a white cardigan to go with my white shoes. I know you were concerned about my potential fashion mishap.

Beginning week 17
The day we found out we were having a GIRL!

17 1/2 weeks and counting!!!