22 weeks and the baby bump keeps growing

Well, there is me at 22 weeks looking bigger and man am I pasty white, and I look tired, but I'm not! I should have put on a little makeup for this shot too but oh well. That is as natural as I get. So being pregnant isn't so bad. I am actually excited that I am starting to show enough that I can't hide it. We had our first ultra sound a few weeks ago and that was also a very exciting experience. We were able to get a few face shots and the baby looks as though it will have the famous Wisley nose. After about 10 minutes of the technician pushing around on my belly I was ready to relieve myself. My bladder was screaming by the end of that session. I have gained about 10-12 pounds since days one. I haven't been over 130 pounds since my freshman year of college! Fun to have an excuse to put on some weight.
Oh let's see what else has been going on the past couple of weeks. I am thinking of have a home birth and hiring a midwife. The thought of having our baby at home seems so much more peaceful and comforting. Being in our own home with only a few people to have to deal with sounds much more enticing than being stuck in a strange room with strange people for two to three days. Now I know all you ladies out there that opted for an eppidural (sp) would tell me otherwise but the fact that they cost like $2500 and we don't have health insurance to cover it makes me just want to live through the pain. I am going to talk with a friend from my old church who had three kids with no pain meds and see how she got through it. So if anyone of my blogging buddies out there has ever had a midwife or went without the pain meds give me a shout.
The babies room isn't anywhere near being started. I should take a picture of it now so you can see that I have a lot of work to do on it. I actually spent the last week painting my weight room at the camp and putting a rubber floor in so that we can have a nice place to work out. I wish I took a picture to show you but it looks pretty slick if you ask me. The walls are a sapphire blue with one wall being a slate gray. I love it! Can't wait to use it full force after this baby comes out! I so miss my hardcore workouts.
Well, that is all for now. Joe and I are heading to Bedford for the next 7-10 days for a little vacation. We haven't seen his family since Christmas and are looking forward to hanging out with all of them. It is nice that we can go to one city and be able to see all of his side of the family in one visit. Peace out everyone! Oh and I am not going to proof read this blog because I have to bath the dog and finish packing so all you grammer freaks out there need to hold back on any snide comments. God Bless and enjoy the wamr weather this weekend! Finally!

The Beauty of Motherhood

I was driving home today from Lowes and came across a Revive Our Hearts Broadcast on 97.9 FM. The title of the broadcast was the title of my blog and I was hooked from the beginning since I am entering the journey of motherhood within the next 4 months. Nancy Leigh DeMoss had a guest speaker today. Her name is Holly Elliff and she shared her views and a feminist view of what motherhood means in our world today. I must say that it was an encouraging broadcast and would write a summary about it but since I don't want to misinterpret anything she said it would be better if you listened online for yourself. If interested go to:
oneplace.com/ministries/reviveourhearts and listen to April 15th, "The Beauty of Motherhood."
The reason I was encouraged by this 20 minute broadcast is ever since I got back from our 6th month hike and soon found out we were having a baby I made the decision to not rush into getting back into a full time career as a personal trainer. I do miss the relationships I built with my co-workers and my clients, as well as my paycheck, but thinking about being a mom and having to be away from my kids five days a week didn't sound like the best option for me. I understand why a lot of mom's choose to work and know that finances are a constant struggle for many of my friends that choose to work. I have more respect for them as mom's because of the sacrifice they make to be away from their babies to support their family. It is a very hard decision that one day I may end up going back too.
Lately I have felt slightly guilty about the fact that I am choosing not to work. Mainly because Joe is now considered a missionary who has to raise his salary to be able to work at the camp. We knew what we were getting ourselves into before we left our other jobs, but also knew that God would bless us if we listened to his calling, which he is. No, we don't have his full Salary raised yet, but that doesn't bother us because we are surviving, and making it through. His support slowly comes in one month at a time and even though we have less than we have ever had, we are more happy then we have ever been. So, in my own mind I feel at peace with the decision I have made to be a full-time mom. A lot of people have asked me, or assumed that I am back to work, or have a position at the camp, probably because they know our financial situation and may think that I should work to help out with our income. Well, regardless of what people think or feel about working/non-working moms I feel both parties should be respected for their decision. As long as you make choices that will glorify God and look at your kids as a gift from God and not an inconvenience or parasite, then God will bless you in whatever you decide.

I Love Resale Shopping

Since Joe and I have been raising our support for Joe to work as Program Director at Rainbow Christian Camp I have been trying to find ways of shopping more cheaply. One of those ways is resale shopping or what my friend Bekah and I like to call "Thrifting." Once I found out that I was pregnant last December I was a little worried about having to purchase a bunch of maternity clothes and I knew they would be more expensive than what we can afford right now. Last month my friend Bekah and I headed up to Aurora IL to check out a couple of thrift stores for a day and I didn't think I would actually come home with much. I think I was expecting a Goodwill type of store and was glad to find I was way off. I have never seen so many racks of clothes in my life. I was excited to see what used treasures I would find but very overwhelmed at the same time since these are the types of places that hurt my brain. I ended up finding several gently used maternity clothes as well as a nice cradle and baby carrier all for a very low price. Even after my successful finds I had the worst splitting headache that lasted for about 24 hours after returning home. For some reason the stores were very crowded and we weren't even there on a weekend!
I spent the past week at home with my mom and dad and the three of us decided to go check out a few resale shops this past Monday. Luckily the shops were not crowded and I found a lot more maternity clothes, including 3 dresses which I have had a hard time finding. It seems like most pregnant women don't really wear dresses that often. I figured I will be more comfortable in a dress being pregnant during the hottest months of the year. So with the 3 that I found and 2 that my mom is going to make me I think I am set on maternity clothes. Every item of clothing with the exception of 3, are all either from a resale shop or a friend who is finished having kids. I am very happy with my new-to-me clothes! I was also able to find a practically new toddler hiker backpack for 14 bucks and a baby bath for less than 2 dollars! I love a good bargain and even better, my parentsspoiled me and bought my items for me! Thanks mom and dad!
I know that since I will be having several baby showers I should probably relax a little on the resale shopping and wait to be pampered before I go back to look for more stuff but why pass more than a good deal and have someone else waste their money on something I can find for much cheaper. Well, my resale shopping days are on hold until after the baby comes and I see what I get for my showers. But I will definitely shop for bargains before going to any retail storesfrom now on. If anyone of you are bargain shoppers give me a call and I would love to thrift with you sometime!

Max Patch, Baby Shower Surprise and Shower Registry

Yesterday was a day full of fun and surprsies. I am still in North Carolina with my sister and have been dying to at least walk a few feet of the Appalachian Trail since I am so close to it so Heather and I made the hour drive to Max Patch Mountain NC. It was one of my favorite places on the AT (above Picture). We were able to take my dog Maximus who loved every minute of our short walk. We met a thru-hiker who had just started the trail a day ago. He decided to start after the Smokys because he had his lab Mr. Biggs with him and dogs are not allowed in the park. We took his picture on top of the mountain and his dog played with mine for a few mintues.

Later that night we were headed to my Aunt and Uncle's place for dinner. My Aunt and Uncle from Waukegan were there visiting as well as my Grandpa and his wife Ruth Ellen. When I walked into the living room I saw my Uncle Joe holding a camera and aiming it at me so I decided to pose for him and while I was doing so everyone said, "Surprise!" I looked over at a table with a cake and presents on it and was in shock! I had no idea that they were throwing me a shower! It was great! My first shower and I didn't even know about it. They got me great stuff. My mom ask me to start a registry a few weeks ago and now I know why! She is a sly one!

Today my sister and I decided to run to Babies R US to glance at a few items. Looking for stuff online just isn't the same. It sure is very overwhelming to look at all the different bottles, pacifiers, car seats, monitors etc. I am going to have a friend go to a few places with me to help me figure out what I will need. I hate to register for sutff I won't find useful. If anyone is looking to get rid of or sell some of their baby items let me know because I don't really want to register for all new stuff. So far someone is giving me a crib and stroller with attached car seat. I also had a friend offer me some of her girl clothes if we have a girl. I am also going to be doing cloth diapers so any advice you have on those would be helpful. I am not sure if I can register for cloth diapers so I somehow need to spread the word that I won't be registering for disposibles. Well, enough for today. Hope everyone is having a good April Fools Day. Don't fall for any pranks!