Deal of the Century

I was in Target today updating my baby registry and noticed that it listed the Boppy Bouncer for $13.74 instead of $54.99. I asked someone who worked there about it; and they said that I could purchase the bouncer for the price listed on my registry. So I searched and hunted and solicited the help of yet another Target employee to find one. Unfortunately, it turns out that Target is discontinuing the item; and they didn't have any in the store. In fact, only one location in Houston - an hour's drive away - had one left. I was assured, however, that I could purchase it online for the same price. I would just have to pay shipping. What a deal!


I left Target and went to Babies R Us. They had a huge sign posted on the wall stating that they would match anyone's advertised price. Hmm... Does a registry count as an advertisement? Fortunately, I had the printout in my purse. I whipped it out and asked. I was told that they would honor the price IF they had the item in the store. Turns out they did. I saved $41.25 on the bouncer - it says so right on my receipt!


My darling Claire is now the proud owner of this beautiful bouncer:

A Few of My Favorite Things

Claire has received many gifts already from family and friends, and a few from her mommy and daddy. Here are just a few of my favorite things:

Closet Dividers from my best friend, Amy. I would have never thought of these; but they are FABULOUS! I would highly recommend them for any new mom. Thanks, Auntie Amy!

My Vera Bradley diaper bag. (For the record, the pattern is Raspberry Fizz.) This bag is light weight which means I can fill it up when we travel. It's the perfect bag for carrying her things and mine. Daddy bought this for Mommy. Thanks, Babe!

I couldn't resist this little onesie that I found at Babies R Us this past weekend. It's part of their Valentine's Day collection, but anything that's pink with hearts and says "love" can be worn any time of the year in my opinion. :) Too cute!

I hunted and searched for something warm and cute for her to wear to the family reunion this summer. Steve's family always meets at the beach in Washington in August. It is always SO cold there, especially in the evenings. I finally found this sweater outfit, and I love it. So cute. So cuddly. She's going to be adorable!

Claire's Aunt Shannon bought her this adorable outfit for Christmas. It's so soft and absolutely perfect! It also has a hat that matches. I think this may be the outfit that she'll wear home from the hospital. So sweet! Thanks, Aunt Shannon!

Claire has received several more gifts that I will showcase in another "favorite things" blog post. She is one spoiled little girl. To all of you who have sent us gifts, thank you! I love them all!

Baby Registry

I spent this past weekend in Tulsa with my parents. My mom and I went to Babies R Us and Target to register for baby things. We had so much fun and ended up buying many items ourselves. Claire is already one spoiled little girl. Here are some pics from the weekend, and the links to my registries are on the right hand side under "links." And while these aren't exactly "baby bump" pics, you can definitely see my belly in these.

Ultrasound

I had another ultrasound this morning. Claire weighs 1 lb 5 oz and is very healthy.

The pictures from this ultrasound are a little weird since it was an anatomy ultrasound, but here are a couple:

face

foot

The rest are just a little too weird to post since you either can't tell what they are or they're a bit scary since her face looks hollow.

Baby bump pictures will be posted this evening.

Supernatural Childbirth

When I initially posted the below on our blog, I had several people comment that they had experienced miscarriage or infertility or had known of someone who had. A year or so ago, while researching online for scriptures about what God had to say about all of this, I came across someone's blog who had posted their testimony and had added in some excerpts from Supernatural Childbirth by Jackie Mize. It was so amazing to me. I immediately went on Amazon.com and purchased it along with the Prayers & Promises book.

This book is wonderful. It deals with infertility, miscarriage, fear during pregnany and delivery, etc. It lists scriptures and leads you through confessions (speaking the Word over your life, your body and your baby). It definitely helped me and built my faith in this area.

The principles in this book are fabulous for anyone who is having difficulty conceiving, has had a miscarriage or who is fearful about any part of their pregnancy or delivery. I highly recommend it. I know for sure that Claire would not be here if I had not studied this book. My faith in this area was not what it needed it to be prior to reading this.

I have had a happy and enjoyable pregnancy. I have not been sick. I have not had any of the "typical" strange and sometimes difficult symptoms of pregnancy. In fact, I went almost four full months without even realizing I was pregnant. My baby is healthy, whole and sound, spirit, soul and body, from the top of her head to the bottom of her feet. This has truly been a supernatural pregnancy from conception on. And I am not fearful about our future.

Here is the book summary from Harrison House:

Pregnancy and childbirth are often depicted as a time of sickness and mood swings for women followed by twelve to twenty hours of pain and hard labor. Many women have been told they can never conceive. Others have suffered the pain of conceiving and miscarrying. Have you had enough of this picture?

Supernatural Childbirth is a practical and realistic look at God's promises for conception, pregnancy and delivery. This is not "pie-in-the-sky"-This is a personal testimony of how one couple overcame defeat and triumphed in God's plan! Jackie Mize had been told she could never have children. However, by unlocking powerful truths and dynamic faith principles she and her husband, Terry found in the Bible, they now have four miracle children! This exciting book shares with you these truths and faith principles.

You will learn these things:
* How to put faith principles into action for your very own supernatural childbirth
* How you can be a living example of God's promises in action
* How to deal with fear during pregnancy and delivery
* How and when to use your faith for pregnancy and delivery

Also included in Supernatural Childbirth:
* Faith-inspiring testimonies from women who have followed these principles and experienced their own supernatural childbirth
* Confessions and prayers for a supernatural conception, pregnancy, childbirth, and all circumstances surrounding each stage
* A powerful teaching section by Terry Mize explanning the curse on Eve in the Garden of Eden

This book is full of scripture. It is not just based someone's idea or someone's experience. It is based on God's Word and what He has to say about children.

Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. Psalm 127:3

Our Miracle

I have decided to start a "baby blog" for Claire. On this blog I will post pictures and updates concerning my pregnancy, the nursery and all things baby-related.

To begin, here is the story of how Claire came to be (copied from our blog):

WE'RE HAVING A BABY!!!

Most of our family and friends are aware of this by now, but many of you may not know what a miracle this little one is. Steve and I have been trying to have a baby for three years. This is our story of how our dream has become a reality.

After we had been married for a year, Steve and I decided to start our family. If you've known us that long or if you've read our blog all along, you'll remember that after one year and twelve days of marriage, Steve moved to Houston; and I remained in Tulsa. We lived apart for six months. So it was no surprise that we didn't get pregnant right away.

Two years ago, after a little more than a year of trying, we sat in church on Mother’s Day. Our pastor’s wife asked all of the mothers to stand so that she could pray over them and bless them. Before she began her prayer, she spoke to those who were seated. She said, “If you’re not standing but you’d like to be, I want you to know that God hasn’t forgotten you.” She went on to quote some scriptures:
Psalm 113:9 He maketh the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of children.
Psalm 127:3 Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.
Deuteronomy 7:13, 14 And he will love thee, and bless thee, and multiply thee: he will also bless the fruit of thy womb… Thou shalt be blessed above all people: there shall not be male or female barren among you.
Psalm 84:11 ...no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.
Then she quoted Psalm 37:4 Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
Then she made a statement that has stuck with me ever since. She said, “God is a good God; and He wants to give it to you more than you want it for yourself.”I knew that was for me. God was not withholding anything from me. He wanted me to have a baby more than I wanted a baby for myself. Babies are His reward; and He wants to bless me.

Steven and I began praying together every night for our children. We thanked God for them and spoke health and blessings over them. We spoke favor over them. We have done this every night since and continue to do so.

Last October, after two years of trying to have a baby, my doctor decided to run some tests. She diagnosed me with PCOS – Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. It sounds worse than it is, since it really can’t hurt you. But it can prevent you from conceiving a baby. Steven and I believe in healing; and after this diagnosis, we knew exactly how to pray. We began speaking to my body and telling it to come in line with the Word.

My doctor referred me to a fertility specialist right away, but I was uncomfortable and didn't make the appointment.

Sometime this past Spring, while sitting in our Sunday School class, our teacher quoted someone else who frequently says, “God is the kindest person I know.” While it seems like a simple statement, it is one of the most profound things I have ever heard. God is the kindest person I know. He really is. And He wants to give me a baby.

In July of this year, nine months after being diagnosed with PCOS, Steve and I met with a fertility specialist. (According to medical science, the only way I was going to conceive was with some help from fertility treatments.) While I really wanted a baby and wanted more than anything to give Steven a child of his own, I HATED the idea of becoming a human pin cushion. I didn't want to be just a body. I'm a person with feelings and emotions, and I was feeling real pain over not being able to do something so simple as get pregnant. However, after much discussion with my husband, I relented and scheduled the appointment. After all, I know that God uses doctors and will give them wisdom in assisting us.

Our meeting consisted of a conversation in a conference room with the top fertility specialist in the country – who just happens to be in Houston. She read over my medical records and asked me a bunch of questions. She was very kind and compassionate; and in a very strange way, she was very encouraging and calming. After hearing my answers to her questions, she looked me straight in the eye and said, “You do not have PCOS. You have been misdiagnosed.” I can’t begin to describe the relief that flooded over me. Even though Steven and I were standing in faith and believing for healing in my body, it’s nice to have someone, the expert in her field, tell you that you don’t have the horrible-sounding syndrome that someone else has pronounced over you. She said that she would like to run some more tests to see what was going on with my body. She asked me to call when my next cycle started so that they could schedule the tests. (They needed to make sure that I wasn’t pregnant when they began the tests.)

In August, I had no cycle. (I attributed this to the stress of the thought of the impending tests.) One Sunday morning, our music minister at church shared her testimony of how she wanted children. Six years ago, after several years of trying, she gave birth to a beautiful baby boy. Ever since, she’s been wanting more children but has been unable to conceive. Through an amazing God-connection, she was able to adopt newborn twins. She sang Great Is Thy Faithfulness as they displayed a slide show of her new babies and her family. As I stood there, singing along with her, I knew that if God would do it for her, He would do it for me. My babies were coming - one way or the other. (What I didn’t know as I stood there singing was that I was already pregnant!)

I quit my job the first of September; and Steven and I began traveling full-time. We started our fall tour in Maine. While in Maine, I woke up every morning either feeling queasy or starving. Either way, food fixed it. (It’s important to know that I am not usually a breakfast eater. In general, I don’t like breakfast foods; and I’m not usually hungry when I wake up.) No cycle in September either. (I attributed this to the change in my schedule with the traveling.)

While returning from New York in October, I was seated in first class. (In coach, you are given cereal, a muffin and some fruit for breakfast. But in first class, you are given a full, hot breakfast.) The lady next to me ordered one of everything they had to offer. Something on her plate – which I think was the herbed eggs – made me sick to my stomach. I spent the entire plane ride popping peppermints and downing ice water to keep from tossing my cookies. The next morning, I woke up and was immediately sick. I spent the next week in the recliner. I felt horrible. I was sick to my stomach and tired. All I wanted to do was sleep. And I did. No cycle in October either. (Again, I figured it had something to do with being ill, traveling, stress or something else.)

On November 3rd (the day before election day), Steve decided that we needed to buy a pregnancy test. At 4:00 a.m. on November 4th, I woke up to go to the bathroom and took one of the tests. I didn’t have my glasses on or contacts in, so I was unsure about what I thought I saw. I woke Steve and made him come look at the results. He was elated! We had a positive pregnancy test!!!

That afternoon I called my doctor to schedule an appointment. After hearing my story, they wanted me to come in immediately since no one knew exactly how far along I was. On Thursday, November 6th, Steve and I went to the doctor and heard our baby’s heartbeat for the first time. Then we had an ultrasound to determine how far along I was – 13 weeks and 6 days. I had been completely unaware during my first trimester. (Yes, I'm one of THOSE people!)

I am now 18 weeks along. God is so good! He is the kindest person I know! He is no respecter of persons. If He did it for someone else, He’ll do it for me; and He did. How did He do it? Why did it take so long? I don’t know. Nor do I care. God is a good God. And He did it. He did it for me. He did it for me and Steven. It doesn’t matter that it didn’t happen as we thought it would. It doesn’t matter that it didn’t happen when we thought it would. What matters is that it happened! We’re having a baby – a miracle baby – a gift from God! This baby was His idea, and He couldn’t wait to give it to us!

We are headed back to the doctor this coming Thursday (the 18th) for an ultrasound to find out if we're having a boy or a girl. They will also confirm or adjust my due date during this appointment.

Steven and I are so excited about this baby! We know without a shadow of doubt that this baby is a blessing and a miracle from God.