Growing

It started December 29th when I woke up and figured I would take yet another pregnancy test. It came out a little hazy, so I looked to see if I had one more test. While I was waiting on the result of test #2, I sat on our bed and did a short devotional. I felt an overwhelming peace from God and totally didn't go back into the bathroom with the expectation of a positive test. Well, I looked at it, and it was the kind where it just plainly said "pregnant", and I fell to the floor in tears. I cried out to God praising Him for giving us another life to care for and prayed for health and joy for this sweet baby, along with a longing for God to reveal His Will for us in how to parent our two children. Wes was already gone to a Bible study that morning, so I had all day to think about how I wanted to tell him. Yeah, lots of extremely creative ways came to me, but I didn't have the resources to make those happen. So, I took a couple of pictures, made them our home screen on our new iPad Wes had gotten us for Christmas, and when he got home, I told him I had been playing with our new toy and to take a look. 

This is what he saw...

He saw this one, too.

We had been ready for baby #2 but really just knew it was up to God when and if that would happen. I had to take several steps to get pregnant with Reese, and we were going to discuss some of those at the end of this month. Well, clearly, we don't have to now. I had some crazy weird symptoms during January that sent me to get lots of tests done. An EKG, an abdominal ultrasound, blood work to see if I had hyperthyroidism. All came back normal, and the symptoms ended up going away on their own. We were blessed to see a heart beat a few weeks ago, and then just this Tuesday we heard it. And oh, hearing that heart beat is pretty phenomenal. However, Wes was wrangling Reese out in the waiting room and beyond, so he didn't hear it. (Next appointment Reese will be playing with her cousins at their house.) Wes and I are beyond excited and grateful for this new life, and we pray daily for health and strength for all FOUR of us. 

If you were with me this time two years ago, you may recall how we announced our pregnancy with Reese. We went to Conway right before Valentine's Day and met both sets of parents at US Pizza. We gave them special Valentines that said "Be Mine" on the front and "this September!" on the back with a picture of the ultrasound. Well, the timing is VERY similar for B-Dub #2. He/she is due September 9th, and Reese was due September 17th. (Yeah, the first picture in this post shows 8/29, but that's wrong. I have an unusual system, and without going into details, baby is actually due a week and a half later.) Anyways, we went to Conway this past weekend for our 6th anniversary, and this time Reese gave her grandparents a very special Valentine. Here it is in pictures...

This is Valentine 2010.

 Valentine 2012.

Valentine 2012.

Our little family.

Mopsy, Popsy, Reese, and B-Dub #2. (I predict GIRL.) 

 Gran, O'Pa, Reese, and B-Dub #2.

I slowly got the word out to friends and the rest of our immediate families, and after telling my high school girls last night, I let Reese show everyone a Valentine she had for them.

She's already practicing her big sister skills, and clearly, she has more work to do.

But she's getting the hang of it. 

I definitely already have some aches and pains and a little bump that were not present at this time with Reese. Plus, my outie belly button is totally wanting to pop out EARLY. Yikes. However, praise the Lord that morning sickness has stayed away again, and the only real symptom I have is tiredness. I nap when Reese naps these days, so it's all good. 
We don't take this blessing lightly, and we want nothing more than to glorify God with how we raise our children. We want our children to never know a day apart from Jesus, and we are so thankful to have friends and family around us who are and will continue to help us in this desire. Thanks for celebrating with us in the growing of our family!