Baby Belly Pictures!
here's pictures of me and our little baby at 27, 28, and 29 weeks after conception. I'm feeling big! I have two more months to grow, though, so I'd better get used to it. Things are going well, but I've had a lot of very uncomfortable Braxton Hicks contractions. These are practice contractions, essentially and not "real" labor pains; but I can vouch that they're not comfortable! Babykins is also very active and is keeping me tired. I had a routine blood glucose test two weeks ago, and my sugar levels came back high, so I'm having to re-take the test: fasting for 8-10 hours followed by four blood draws every hour. not fun! hopefully the results will come back fine this time.

We've got the nursery mostly ready. JJ found a glider chair and ottoman for me, and I recovered it in Winnie-the-Pooh material. JJ has put together the crib, and we recently went to a car seat installation workshop and learned how to properly install our car seat. I kind of feel like we're ready!

JJ is getting ready for his work to kick in to high gear. He preaches and leads the service this Sunday while Pastor is on vacation. Confirmation classes start soon, and he will be teaching 5 & 6 graders. Monday is orientation at the college here, and he will be out all day at the LSF booth. After that, his activities will increase, and he'll be busy with students and Bible studies. He's had plenty of time to get well prepared, and he's excited to get busy.

The weather here has been delightful. I pity all my Florida friends. Recently we had a cold-snap with highs (yes, highs) in the low seventies! Mornings are in the fifties or sixties! While I'm enjoying it now, I'm a bit anxious about how quickly fall--and then winter--must be creeping up. I'm not ready for the kind of cold weather this climate is going to dish out--but I've started knitting a scarf. Think that will do the trick?

thanks as always to everyone for their prayers. As we get closer to Babykins' due date, we appreciate them more and more! Pray for baby's health and safety and Mommy's strength. We can't wait to meet our little one and introduce him or her to all of you!

We are feeling settled in and comfortable here in our new home now. We've been busy enjoying visits from grandparents, parents, siblings, and more to come later this month! It is nice showing off "our" new home. My mom was up from FL, and we got the nursery just about ready for the baby. Tons of fun! As she will be able to tell all you Florida folks, the weather here is fantastic! It hasn't really gotten above 90 degrees, I don't think, since we've been here! Of course, that's very hot for the natives, but for us, it's been delightful. Walks around the neighborhood, to downtown, just down the street, or to the dairy bar to try a new flavor of SDSU ice cream have been the norm so far. We've been enjoying church picnics and barbecues, a few thunderstorms, movie nights, fresh homegrown sweet corn, and getting to know new people.

We have had our first appointment with our new doctor/midwife and toured the hospital where we will be having the baby. It is the fanciest hospital I've ever seen in my life! The labor and delivery unit is much like the new birthing centers with jacuzzi tub, birthing ball and stools, and a kitchen, but if the mom needs any interventions like a C-section or something, the surgery rooms are right down the hall. The post-partum unit has a spa service, jacuzzi in every room, a cafe with complimentary meals for mom and dad, and kitchenettes in every sub-unit. Nice! We are now to the every other week appointment schedule, so our next appointment is this week, and I will have a routine glucose test to check my blood sugar levels. The above pictures are me at 26 and 28 weeks respectively. I have 12 more weeks now and am starting to feel big and awkward. It's kind of hard to believe I'm going to be getting a LOT bigger!
Thanks to everyone for their prayers and support. JJ is getting ready for students to arrive and is planning Bible studies and writing sermons for when Pastor is on vacation at the end of August. He's already preached once; his sermon manuscripts are available at the church's website here (his is the July 25th sermon). He is enjoying all he's learning and experiencing, but the pace will pick up for him substantially at the beginning of the school term. He's looking forward to some hard work!
God's blessings to all, until next time.