36 weeks - belly shot

Before I forget, here is a belly picture taken at my baby shower (I'm on the left). That's one of my sweet preggo friends bumping bellies with me. She's 2 weeks behind me, and having her second little girl. Isn't her little girl in the picture with us not just so totally precious? =o)

Review: The Jesus Storybook Bible

Well its about time I blogged about something other than being pregnant and tired! It just seems to have taken over and invaded my body somehow (ha!)

We have had the Jesus Storybook Bible for probably about a year now, but we didn't use it very much until we started doing family devotionals when we were done with dinner. My husband and I decided we would start by just going through this storybook Bible together as a family so the kids would hear some of the familiar Bible stories, and because this particular children's Bible was supposed to show how Jesus is connected and shown throughout all the stories in the Bible, and not just in the New Testament. Sounds great right? I was quite excited. And in the beginning... the Jesus Storybook Bible was beautiful, and I loved it. The pictures were amazing, the wording was gorgeous and powerful, it seemed to be a wonderful addition to our little home library. However, as we progressed through the stories, I found them adding in just too many details and "storytelling" things that are not included in the Bible, and it made me leary. As we continued on, it started to make me upset. And now we have still not finished it, I dread reading it to the kids, and we have already bought a replacement to use in our Homeschooling for the next school year.

I know there are many people who LOVE this Storybook Bible. We thought we would too, and if we hadn't been sitting and going through the whole thing together, then I may have even been recommending it to people based on the clips I read online, and from what we read at the beginning. I would say, pray about this. Be leary of it, and look for yourself to see if it would work for your family. If I had to review it in one sentence, I'd say "Great storybook, poor Bible".

I guess we as a family have just gotten to the point where, I don't want my children to have a storybook that changes and elaborates and kiddies down everything in the Word of God. I want them to have something real that is on there level. We think we have found that in another Children's Bible, and I will do a review on that as we get into it and I make sure its what we are looking for. =o)

My Pregnancy Journal Link-Up - 36 Weeks!

Updates:

• Yup, you read it right. 36 weeks. CRAZINESS!
• 1.5 cm dilated, 30% effaced. Slowly getting there.
• TONS of Braxton Hicks and some cramping. Starting to have back pain. Yay?
• Measuring 1-2 weeks ahead by fundal height. Did I mention that I have big babies? =o)
• My maternity clothes look ridiculous and small. Oh well, they only need to be squeezed into a few more weeks!
• Baby shower was hot but wonderful! I wish I had pictures, but my camera is broken. But my friends should have some I can take from them. =o) AND we were able to use some gift cards to buy a replacement camera that should be here in a few days! Whew! I will have pictures of my new baby after all! So hopefully next week I can include a belly shot finally!
• Diaper shower is this weekend. I am so thankful for things to distract me!
• I want a snocone. Again. I think tomorrow I must get one. MUST.
• Not much else. We're pretty set. Almost all baby stuff is ready to go. Bags are mostly almost packed for the hospital. I kinda just need to clean up the house, but every day that goes down on my list of priorities. Guess I'm not nesting yet, lol.

Prayer Requests: Patience. The last few weeks are always the longest and the hardest. I know this little man will come in God's timing, and I'm ok with that, but the waiting gets hard. I so want to have this little guy in my arms, and to just not be pregnant right now. Its so HOT and I'm so TIRED.


Discussion Question:  This week's question is from Katherine over at Proverbs and Pacifiers.  "I'd love to ask all those nursing mommies out there about how their nursing relationship changed when they got pregnant. Did you have problems with milk supply or babies wanting to wean early? Did anyone have to supplement with formula? Oh and how difficult is it to nurse both a toddler and a newborn?" 
I've never been pregnant while nursing, so I'm no help. =o) Friends of mine have nursed while pregnant and then tandem nursed a toddler and an infant with no issue, they just kept everything at an on demand schedule and it all worked out fine. I think one of them may have used some herbs to help keep up with milk production, but I don't recall anyone having issues with completely losing their supply or baby wanting to wean before when mom and baby chose to do so. No one I know that breastfeeds has supplemented with formula if they were committed to nursing through a pregnancy and going tandem. It just didn't jive I guess. =o)

My Pregnancy Journal Link Up - 35 Weeks!

Firstly - Happy Father's Day! 

I am so thankful for my wonderful husband, who is such an amazing father to all of our kiddos. I am so thankful we are on this parenthood and faith journey together in this life. =o) I am also thankful for my stepdad and Father in law, who both have had to put up with quite a bit over the years (and still probably do!), and have loved me and welcomed me as if I were their own. I am also thankful for my Father for giving me life, and for all the lessons I have learned along the way, and for all the experiences, because no matter what God is using it all for a purpose and for good. I pray for him and forgive him, and I hope he knows that. I would ask your prayers for him too if you would. And last, but certainly not least, I am thankful for my heavenly Father, who has adopted me as his own and forgiven me of all my sins. For his loving me, turning my heart towards him, and growing me in my faith. Thank Abba Father for it ALL.

Now, onto the pregnancy goodness. =o)

This week's updates:

• I updated super late last week after having missed the week before. I was so so so tired. So not much new going on. 
• I am about 35 weeks (yikes! Is that for real???)
• I'm not as tired anymore, and the past couple nights have actually slept pretty well. I may have figured out how to sleep just in time to give birth and not get any, LOL!
• The ladies at church (we moved here in January and have just recently found a local church home, so I don't even know them very well!) asked to throw me a little diaper shower and a "get to know you better brunch". What a sweet thought! We are truly so very blessed.
• My mother in law says I look "fake pregnant" like in the movies. I have only gained 4 lbs, so my body is actually thinner than it was when I got pregnant, other than the VERY large belly I have protruding out the front (I also have BIG babies). I think this is probably a compliment, haha.

Discussion Question:  What is the must-have item(s) that you pack in your hospital bag?  Or, if you are having a home birth, what is the must-have item(s) that must be readily available?
I am bringing my stomach wrap thing. I don't remember having issues after my first birth, but with the second (and I am anticipating the same thing with this third one), my stomach muscles were so weak after the birth that they really felt like they couldn't hold my stomach together. I ended up using my son's wrap as a stomach girdle type thing last time, this time I am going in prepared with my stomach wrap thing. Whatever its called! I don't really care about anything else. I try to get out of the hospital within 24 hours of giving birth max, so bringing a lot of stuff there isn't really something I bother doing. I just want to go home!

Here is a picture of the "stomach thing"

Prayer Requests -
My son (3) is being a bit clingy... I think he suspects something is up. Please pray for him as we get ready to make this adjustment, and for my husband who will be taking up some of the things I usually handle regarding our son that I won't be able to do once the new baby comes (like keeping him quiet and well behaved at church! We've been practicing Daddy running the show... but it hasn't been going well). Also just pray that my body prepares itself and is ready, that we can pull together all the last minute things that need to be done, and that as I go into this I am able to relax and put all my trust and faith in God that he is in control of this birth and that I rely on him for my strength as we go through it.

My Pregnancy Journal Link-Up - 34 Weeks

So, I have been QUITE delayed in keeping up with the Pregnancy Journal! I missed one week completely, and this week is nearly gone, but I thought I would do it now while I have the time and energy for a moment. Sorry its not long, but I've got to do it quick or else I won't at all! =o)

What's going on with me and baby?

•  I'm now just over 34 weeks. Getting so close! Next week I start getting "checks"
• I mentioned before I was SO tired. Well, shortly after that I began to feel dizzy and sick and just awful. Turns out my anemia had gotten much more severe. I've been on extra iron supplements and resting, and I feel so much better. Still so so sleepy, but the dizziness and near falling over I was experiencing are gone.
• Yesterday I had some pink spotting - no pain or anything, but braxton hicks have been getting way more frequent and definitely stronger. My body is really revving up I think. My other 2 babies have come about a week early, so I think I may be heading in the same direction this time around too. We shall see what the doctor thinks.
• I met again with my doula and I am just SO thankful that God has worked this out for me. She has given me some amazing ideas on things to do and tools to use during labor that will hopefully help me relax and stay focused. I'm currently working on some affirmations to use during labor - thinking "You were made for this" may be one, but I'd also like to use some Bible verses or "snippets" as well. I'm also working on a playlist to put on my husband's ipod to take to the hospital with us. I'm really wanting to stay focused on God and his design for me and the blessing of this baby during the labor - so I am keeping my list to Christian songs and hymns, psalms, etc. If you have any specific recommendations for songs that are fairly peaceful, I would absolutely love to hear them! My list definitely needs some lengthening.
• I have outgrown even my maternity shirts. Yah. Thankfully I have a belly band to use UNDER MY MATERNITY CLOTHES! That's just a little ridiculous right? lol.
• I don't know how I would be getting through this pregnancy without my oldest daughter. Everyday I end up passing out somewhere in the house, and she entertains and helps take care of her little brother so I can zonk out without having to worry. What a sweet girl!
• I have gotten 2 snocones recently. They have been AMAZING and they were only $1!!!! That's my huge craving lately. YUM!