27 weeks

We have a viable 27 week baby!  Supposedly she would be able to survive with serious medical care outside of the womb now, but we'd much rather her bake longer to get nice and chubby and develop those little lungs.  I'm sure she will have no problem on the chubby part based on the rate of my growth - that belly just keeps poking on out there!  I think I forgot to mention that I stopped running about 2 -3 weeks ago.  It's even hard to fast pace walk sometimes now with this belly being so tight and heavy!  I am still committed to doing the workout video twice a week and walk some, but this darkness is throwing me off...quite depressing, really.  I just don't know how some people run throughout their whole pregnancy - kudos to them.  My stomach muscles hurt when I try to run or walk too fast - they cramp up and give a sharp pain.  Also, just for my notes, my belly button area has become more sensitive and began hurting about 2 weeks ago.  I read that for women with an 'inny' belly button (which I have an extreme case - I've never really seen the bottom of it!), it may be the first time this part of your body has seen the light of day! The previously 'protected' skin of the navel, can rub frequently on clothing, making it feel a little raw and tender. I've also started to develop the 'linea nigra' or 'black line' below my belly button, but it's very faint.  I put lotion on my belly 2-3 times a day now.  Always after a shower and sometimes after work and then right before bed if my belly is itching...still no stretch marks!

She is really liking my right rib cage now.  I've had to nudge her over quite a bit, but she seems to think my hand is a punching bag.  Not only am I seeing belly popping motions, but I am now also seeing "rolls" across my belly.  She feels like she is laying across me like a seat belt...I hope that makes sense.  I know she can hear what's going on out here and I wish I talked to her more, but I really don't know what to say!  Luke talks to her in Spanish and continues to muffles his hands around his mouth to speak to her on my belly.  I've felt her jump a few times when Pippet lets out a surprise bark.  I sing to her, kinda just sing in general, but I dedicate the song to her ;) haha.  She's heard everything from Judd's "Rockin with the Rhythm of the Rain" the other night when it was raining to Paulo Nutini's "New Shoes" while walking with Pippet around the block the other morning.  I look forward to getting in the glider that I ordered on Monday around the end of December.  I can rock us in it :)

This past weekend Luke and I spent some time walking on the Coplin Farm - what a way to relax!  I just love being outside.  Pippet LOVES going out there too.  It's nice to be able to have her somewhere off-leash where she can run free and play with her frisbee - she's a little obsessed.  The baby shower for Luke's cousin, Amy, went well this past weekend!  Here are a few pictures from the weekend:

I'm excited about my family baby shower the day after Thanksgiving!  Also, a "save the date" went out for a Memphis shower I'm having on January 8th, so I'm already pumped about that too!  My friend, Cecile Gray, gave me a full shoebox of little girl summer clothes.  A shoebox doesn't sound big, but it holds quite a few sweet little 3-6 month girl outfits.  I'm SO thankful for such giving and thoughtful friends :)  CG has been a great friend and I cannot believe her little girl will be 1 year old on New Years Eve!  I know time will fly even faster with my little one...

Just a side note on a big purchase that Luke and I have been discussing this week is a new SLR camera.  Luke has wanted one for years, but we had not been in the mode of buying one yet, but we think we could really benefit having one now that Miss Toot will be a subject to shoot (as in take a picture of, sickos).  We are looking at the Canon 60D.  It is a mid-range mix of the 7D (more professional) and the Rebel T2i (which would be amazing to have anyway).  It will shoot 1080HD video, so it will eliminate the need for a separate video camera.  We already have a Sony handheld, but are looking to get rid of it since it's not HD...anyone interested?  Regardless, I'm SO excited about this new toy and I think Luke will be an amazing photographer.  He really enjoys capturing memories...so sweet.

Now for a reflective moment as promised...
I'm so excited to where God has me in life right now.  I'm learning to become more content and confident in His plan for me rather than my own and my expectations, which takes some growth pains.  I've stepped back and looked at the big picture this week a little more - the picture that God has created us to spend this time on earth glorifying Him in our depraved state but only through His strength and purpose - but still plan to give everything more thought.  I am looking into Luke and I going for a few counseling sessions before baby comes to help get our thoughts and expectations on the same page or at least get us thinking like a team.  We are two very different people with different social skills, upbringings/family cultures, and just basic personalities.  I know we can do this together, but I don't want to lose sight of this big picture while doing day to day life.  God first, each other second, and then baby girl :)  We plan to take our 4 year anniversary trip / babymoon / New Years trip to talk more about this HUGE transition in life and just spend some last few precious moments with just US as family.  Exciting, scary, emotion filled - it makes me want to cry tears of both elated joy and sadness at the same time.