Just a week!

In just a week, I will have an ultrasound that should tell my husband and me the baby's gender. This is one of the most unique and exciting moments in all my life.

I love how God brings us excitement, but of all different shades so that we can enjoy life a little more fully. For example, the thrill of my wedding day and the beautiful wonder of a little one within me have evoked such different feelings in me—but both are utterly splendid.

Now, to wait a whole week...

Precious little life

Lately, I've been feeling tiny flickers of life from our precious baby. It's thrilling to have some real proof that the little one is stretching, growing, and learning how to be a person who can live on his or her own someday. It seems these sensations are a tad more frequent each day—or perhaps I am recognizing the feeling just a bit more.

I read that feeling an unborn baby move is like popcorn popping or a gold fish swimming. I don't know about you, but I've never swallowed kernels and hopped in the microwave, or downed a pet fish and experienced an opposite Jonah effect. I'm not sure that these descriptions were exactly helpful. But what I do feel are little flicks, as if someone is lightly flicking me with an index finger—except from the inside. That may be just as vague and hard to imagine, but I think it makes a bit more sense.

The whole concept of having a child who will live with us and be ours is getting a little more real and a little more exciting as the pregnancy progresses. It is still somewhat odd to think about—us changing our lives to be parents. I've heard many a person say since I announced the baby's May arrival that it will transform our lives more than we know. I imagine it will—and I can't wait.

A day for thanks

Tomorrow is a big day. For the first time, my husband and I are hosting Thanksgiving dinner. (I've hosted many a Canadian Thanksgiving, but they were potlucks—I only had to provide the turkey, fixings, and beverages.)

It will be a small affair, with six adults and two little children. And others are bringing bread and dessert. Nonetheless, it's been fun to plan and prepare for a traditional dinner this year (although it may get less fun Thursday when I am fighting with the not-completely-thawed turkey and worrying over a new recipe for sweet potato casserole and dusting at the last minute).

It also brings to mind plenty of blessings:

• Salvation and grace through Jesus Christ
• My family, including my fabulous husband and our precious little one, due next May
• Extended family (including a wondrous, recent transformation of one family member)
• Friends
• Plentiful food and warm home
• Hugs
• Music
• Smiles
• Oh, and did I mention the baby?

Have a splendid Thanksgiving Day, whether you're feasting or hosting or both!

A beautiful heart

Yesterday my husband and I were again delighted to hear the tiny heart of our little one beat: swoosh, swoosh, swoosh. It is a phenomenal feeling to recognize that a small person is growing inside of me. Some days, it's even hard to believe. But the heartbeat leaves no room for denial.

The doctor said the baby was squirming around quite a bit, which made it tricky to find the heartbeat for a few seconds. I couldn't feel him or her move, but it was fun to think about the wee one wiggling and imagine how it must look.

The next doctor's appointment in about a month brings more excitement: Finding out the baby's gender.

I hear over and over again that I should enjoy these moments since the child will soon arrive and our lives will be fuller than ever before. So we're trying to be patient, but we're also overflowing with anticipation. A boy? A girl? My husband is convinced our little one is a boy, but only time will tell :-).

Hello, second trimester

My first trimester of pregnancy took me a bit by surprise. Compared to some horror stories I've heard, it was nothing. Still, I underestimated the toll that the excitement/nervousness about being a parent combined with the hormonal-driven emotional roller coaster (my husband will attest to the fact that I haven't exactly hopped off), a little queasiness here and there, and lots of that very drained feeling would take on me. It put a damper on my motivation to work, to clean, to scrapbook, or to socialize. Obviously, I did those things during that time but I didn't do them as well—and I felt pretty blah the whole time. It didn't help that during that time I'd taken on extra commitments (before I knew I would become pregnant).

So here's to the second trimester, which I've just begun. For the past couple of weeks, I've been sleeping better, and feeling queasy only very occasionally. In general I have much more (read: normal) energy. For example: To get caught up with various work projects, one day last week I worked from 7:30 a.m. to midnight, and I was completely motivated and fairly energetic (at least before about 11 p.m.) the vast majority of the time.

Another positive on the way is maternity clothes, for two reasons: 1) While I'm not exactly thrilled to be spherical—as my husband kindly puts it—(although I am excited to be able to sort of see the baby is there), I really to want to wear those shirts and jeans I excitedly purchased at about the two-month mark. As the days slip by, I think, And I spent all that money for just six months—or less? I just own some basics so far, but I'd certainly like to get some wear out of them. 2) I have a very limited number of pants I can fit into at this point, and it's getting slightly old and slightly uncomfortable. But maternity pants sag a little still.

And the biggest bonus of the second trimester? That bundle of joy is a little closer to being in our arms.