Beyond Blessed

Im sitting here and its just about 1 am, not tired, and probably going to eat a quick bowl of cereal before bed. Just wanted to make a quick update on the Lords blessing, amazing, provision!

We had an awesome night with some friends, good fellowship, laughter, deep talk, and banana bread. It was altogether wonderful and refreshing, even got to spend time with an old friend that i have been really wanting to catch up with. I knew my friend Holli had gotten a bunch of maternity clothes handed down to her, (i dont know why, shes on her 4th and last pregnancy, due in July), and thought i might want to look and see of ANYTHING fit and i could keep it. So i was like Ok ill at least LOOK. I was handed about three BIG garbage bags full of clothes and went home to try them on. As i was looking there was like shirt after shirt and pants i was able to fit into and some i would be able to wear till the end of the pregnancy! I came out with a whole garbage bag of "keeping" clothes!

I have been so stressed out these last few days about having to get maternity clothes, and not having the money to get them. Over the last week I, ME, not the baby, have hit a huge growth spurt and Packed on the pounds! All of a sudden all of my size five pants are skin tight and are now even not zipping up. I cant imagine what size i maybe right now?! Just over two weeks ago they were hanging on me and i almost had to go DOWN a whole size. CRAZY! I have no idea what has happened, i haven't changed anything as far as eating or anything. Just finally it hit me, BAM! So i was totally blessed by all the new clothes i got, i mean, not very many are what I would pick out but not what i wouldn't pick out, if that makes sense..?

The Lord is so good, i could cry at how relieved i am right now. I never really said a prayer for clothes or anything, it sadly hadn't crossed my mind. But the Lord saw His little Worried, Stressed out, Anxious daughter and loved her. (Probably just had mercy on my husband so he wouldn't have to hear me stress about literally not fitting in any of my clothes and not have to convince me to go get some new ones..) HAHA

Well off to bed, i will update on the ultrasound hopefully tomorrow!

♥ Ashton and little love

My Love

So i was thinking today about my amazing husband, and just decided to make this post Just for him. It maybe mushy, but its ok, im in that kind of mood today.. ;)I woke up this morning, not feeling to great (in an grumpy kind of way) b/c of not sleeping at all AGAIN last night. Dan comes into the room, kisses me on the forehead and says he'll be right back. Of course i ask wheres hes going and he said he had to go get butter... Uh ok?? He gets home and he is making my favorite breakfast in the whole world! HOMEMADE COFFEE CAKE!

Through this whole pregnancy, he has truly been....Fantastic! During my first trimester, i was SO sick, and we were also doing Nightwatch (REQUIRED midnight to 6am every night in the prayer room, and sleeping from 7am'ish to 2pm). We had actually switched our schedule while i was pregnant, but hadn't found out yet. No wonder it was so hard! Through it all my husband was so willing to take me home when i was struggling, basically every night. And not only did he take me home but he STAYED home with me (which is a big deal for him), reading to me, holding me, and staying home reading his word when i slept. It was so rough, but not once was our relationship hard, even when I was worn out and grumpy. haha
Anyways, my husband is the best! He's been patient with my on going hatred for maternity clothes, even though i NEED them, and has helped me to find cute ones even when i dont want to look, and THEN encourages me thats it OK we spent our money on me.. He brings me home Starbucks blueberry muffins after work, (so yummy). He gives me the random bear hug tackle when i need them. His favorite thing to do is put my gross stretch mark lotion on my tummy. And tells me how excited he always was to see me pregnant and how cute i would look, but its way better then he had thought! AWW... These are just a few of the THINGS he does for me and helps me through this. Not to mention all the Love, patience, encouragement, kindness, gentleness, etc. And he does all this on top of two jobs, being a husband, raising support, having a PREGNANT wife, and leading our family. WHOA, good thing im not him, i would have lost it by now, haha!!
He is going to be the worlds best Dad in so many ways! Our little man couldnt have asked or been given better! Hes so excited, just to teach him and raise him in the Lord. I cant imagine how crazy rambunctious our son is going to be! haha I cant wait!

I love him.. and i wish i could write more and more, but if you know him you already know. AND i have some amazing homemade coffee cake waiting for me!

6 months! (22 weeks)

Im sitting here thinking about what ALL i can update on but think it will turn out like a novel, so ill just do a quick update on life the baby and whatever other babblings come along as i type... :)

ME:

Im dong wonderful. Im feeling great, Loving the baby more and more, and in general loving this pregnancy!
The last few days have been quite odd, baby has switched positions, and left me looking almost like im not even pregnant compared to the earlier weeks. I figured the baby was about to go on a growth spurt, (my stomach usually gets smaller right before) and sure enough, i woke up this morning and was like BAM, your huge.. haha But seriously i was kind of concerned because my stomach was about half the size it has been and was not growing. Then today i woke up got out of bed and felt like my tummy was now its OWN thing hanging over and out of my body. HAHA strange i know, I dont exactally know how to explain it but its like if you were to be wearing a backpack tight against your back and then loosened all the straps so it hung low on your back... (Like that, but not really..??)
ANYWAYS, baby has grown and that means...SO HAVE I! Im having trouble fitting into the "maternity" clothes we got me a few weeks ago, and am DREDING going and actually getting real ones. Everything on my body is growing and changing so quickly I cant seem to keep up! I dont know why i dont want to be in maternity clothes, i just dont want to. haha

As i said for the most part i have been feeling great. My stomach muscles are all gone and its so hard to sit up out of bed without using my elbows to prop myself up while i swing my legs over the edge. So funny. My skin is stretched thin, im surprised at night when i go home i dont have any stretchmarks! it feels like with every cough or good laugh im tearing my skin or muscles!
I think im struggling in so many ways this early is because of my back. Its been kiling me, and expecially over these last two weeks. I kinda went on a cleaning rampage...and then stepped off a curb that i didnt know was there and hurt it even more then normal..BLAH! Im even waddling after i am up and walking around for to long. Its pathatic! Ive even had to start wearing my running shoes as normal shoes!!!! haha Im praying this gets better before the end of the pregnancy (i doubt it) but i cant go along with a pinched nerve like this for much longer its so painful, it feels like with any movement or step im going to or might be paralized..it actually scares me sometimes, i just freeze.
The other thing that has gotten me is this SWELLING! By the end of the day my toes and fingers look like minature sausages!! So funny, i found drinking lots of water helps to some degree, i just need to remember!

BABY:

Baby, as i said just hit a growth spurt and is making momma huge.. He is about the length of a printer paper (11 inches more or less) and about one pound! So big! He's developing tiny tooth buds beneath his gum, and his eyes are fully formed, just lacking the color they will have still.
So active the last few days, expecially today. I think it was his and my most tiring day! His kicks are so much harder now and when he flips positions my whole tummy shifts and rocks around. It makes me laugh. The other day i got out of the car and just about wet my pants because baby body slammed my bladder, i had to stop and get control of myself then rush to the bathroom, Of course Dan just laughed, and quickly helped me find the closest restroom! lol i think he was just waiting for the right time, hopefully he wont get lucky next time!

Well hopefully this made SOME sense, with my babblings, pregnant mind, and it being way past my bed time, it might be quite confusing....

♥ Ash and baby

You know your Pregnant when.....

You are wandering around a nursery/greenhouse and see that its their 100th anniversary and they have cake for all the customers, you MAKE your husband get a piece of cake with you and almost go back for a second if we didnt leave. (normally this would NOT happen)

A monstrous thunder storm comes in (which are your Favorite things) and you cry convinced its going to be a tornado

You run from an on coming Frisbee not even thinking about catching it, but rather its coming Straight towards my tummy! LOL

Mario kart becomes a life or death situation. And you cry when you dont win..

You find your prone to road rage thinking that the other drivers should be aware of babies and pregnant women, and drive safer.

Your most hated color ever, your whole life, becomes your new FAVORITE color ever.

Sleeping is the least relaxing thing ever, especially learning how to sleep with a body pillow.

Your more high strung then ever before in your life.

You've developed dyslexia and all grammar has gone out the door..LOL

You are waiting in line for the bathroom, and the person in front of you looks at your belly and TELLS you to go first..haha

It feels like your poor heart is going to burst (minor heart attack) just going up stairs, and simple tasks.

You are now able to hear the drop of a dime in deep sleep. (getting me ready for baby)

When you almost cry looking at mothers day cards, and come across a "first mother day" card

When you jokingly put your feet out for your hubby to put socks on them and he really does it, w/o any consideration, and you cry b/c hes the best husband in the world

If your a little on edge until you feel you baby's first kick in the morning

After every meal you HAVE to have something sweet

You have a love/hate relationship with your body pillow

If you are looking for maternity clothes, get over whelmed and turn to your husband and yell, "Im not fat Im pregnant!!" then realize you in the "plus size" area.... oops... :S

You hear your stomach growl for the first time in months, but wonder if it really was your stomach because of the position in your body (right under your chest and shoved to the left side) haha

Just thought i would share this video with you all. Its my favorite, and i LOVE giraffes. this giraffe is only 2 weeks old and about 6 foot 3! Whoa!! So cute!!!

Check Point!

PHOTOS: (you can click them to make them bigger)
20 WEEKS!
Dan and I doing Charlies Angels, but Dan has a shot gun..haha
Enjoying a nice summer day with my baby Ben and Jerrys!

I have finally found the time to update the blog! Im sitting here in Starbucks waiting for my Love to finish up work and enjoying a nice strawberries and cream frapp. which in my opinion tastes like Captain Crunch berries.. :)

MAMA:
Im actually doing wonderful! Hitting the half way mark was a pretty good feeling day! All i could think about was in half the time its taken me to get here ill be at 30 weeks! WHOA! Its honesty FLYING by, i couldn't have ever imagined, (especially in the first trimester!). Im definitely growing, well this baby is growing and has been on a growth spurt for about 3 days now, which equals Round ligament pain... I have had more all day pain then the sharp pains, but they do come as well. Not anything i cant handle, not yet.. I feel like with how much my tummy is growing i should have stretch marks, but have yet to get them.. Its truly Amazing how our bodies are capable of doing all the things they do. I have also had a Braxton Hicks Contraction, to my surprise i didnt really FEEL anything, just my uturus tightning and then letting up a few seconds later. Im also relearning how to sleep. I have ALWAYS been a tummy or back sleeper. So i have been really strugginling to stay on my sides and have been waking up super sore in the morning. I started using our body pillow to help me not roll over to my back and stay on my sides, but its just hard to figure it out. haha Hopefully i will be getting more sleep soon!

Im loving baby's movements. He is getting more and more active by the day and his little kicks are getting harder and harder! Dan actually SAW the baby kick for the first time yesterday,(it would have been sooner if he was a little more patient)..haha I have to say i like to SEE the kicks more then just feel them. When i either have my arms crossed or my arm across my tummy he usually kicks and punches until i move them. ~OH there he goes right now as im typing this~..LOVE IT, So cute. Im starting to know, well im more so assuming at this point, that the lighter punches are his arms and the much harder ones are his little legs. I am getting to know which way his little head is facing. Hes been flipping and rolling around, which sometimes makes me sick feeling. Its like when you go on a roller coaster with a drop, with out the tickling feeling...If that makes sense..? My tummy has been getting more and more lobbed sided in the monings or when baby is sleeping over to one side. lol AND my bellybutton is about even with my skin. So crazy, i feel like it could just pop at any time!

My uturus is about even with my belly button, and i have gained ALL my weight back and have been putting it on this last few days! WHOO HOO! finally.. I should be growing a bit more and more as the time starts progressting towards 30 weeks, about a pound every week! My cheeks have also been getting a little rosier, i think im fianlly getting the "pregnancy glow", (much better then the 13 year old look, if you ask me..)

BABY:
Baby weighs about 10 1/2 ounces now. He's also around 6 1/2 inches long from head to bottom and about 10 inches from head to heel. About the size of a cantalope! Practicing his sucking and swallowing for when hes born. Lots of movements, and a steady heartbeat so far. Our Midwife even had a hard time getting his heartbeat with him rolling around OR kicking her! haha

Ok well thats about it for right this second, need to go eat, hopefully some Chipotle, which is on my hubbys mind. Im in more of a mashed potatoes, sour cream, and butter mood. But im positive ill be hungry before the end of the night.. haha I will be adding pictures as soon as i can get Dan to take some quick ones later!

A day controled by Hormones...

OK so i just thought i would give a quick and humorous update on how my day went yesterday. It was completely out of hand and out of control, THANK YOU Hormones...! (not)

Dan and i wake up spend some time together and start getting ready. As im getting ready i hear a scream from the kitchen and run out to make sure everything is ok. Dan is standing in the middle of the living room in shock, i see a plate and two eggos all over the floor (including syrup and butter) and then follow Dans stare into the kitchen and see a entire pot of coffe all over the floor. However it happened i dont know but it was probabaly the funniest thing i have ever seen. From the coffee all over the rug, floor, and carpet, to the empty syrup plate, and two eggos on the living room floor, and Dans horrified look, i couldnt stop laughing. i laughed for a good 30 min, with tears and all. Good start to the day

Head over to some friends house to have lunch and good fellowship. Which went wonderful. By the time we were leaving i ended up with a migraine on the way, due to the weather change, and starting to get sick.

Go home, talk about buying a house...Get over stressed and yell and cry.. (over really nothing) And not able to talk for a good 15 min. just because i was going to cry.. Then calm down, and am fianlly ok, and Dan opens one of MY (well in my head it was MINE not ours) snacks...Which i started crying and all, again...yeah i know, my poor husband has to deal with a crazy wife.

Decide to just go chill out and pray the headache goes away. So i go lay on the bed for awhile, not realizing the entire time i was laying down i stared at the wall..I actually really thought i was sleeping.

I decided to stay home from church and clean and just chill out to feel better, (note: all this is on top of a bad cold already) So I do some cleaning and am feeling better, put some music on, things are going good.

I Decided that the music was too loud and it started to overwhelm me..so what do i do?
Turn it down?..Uh no..
i actually yell at it and say to be quiet... HAHA wow i know.

Dan comes home we eat a Wonderful dinner and finish up the night on a good note. A thunderstorm even came in, (which are my favorite things in the world) Well, not tonight. For some reason i get emotional and decide its going to tornado...(yeah i know). So lay in bed in silent tears, and Dan is trying to make me feel better. So i finally make hime get up with me and look on the weather channel to make sure we are in the clear... Which there was a warning out for our area, (this did not help)....

Fall asleep pleading the blood of Jesus over us and praying Jer. 29:11....

Wake up and laugh at the whole previous day........

Pregnancy Survey

pregnant? We found out Jan. 21,09
What was your reaction? I jumped in the air in shock, and joy...then got really shaky
Who did you tell first about the pregnancy? Well My husband was there, we looked together, then Rachel.
Date of Conception? Around the end of Dec. 08
Due Date? Sept. 15th
Was the pregnancy planned? Yes and No, it was the first month we didnt do any prevention (purposefully) and thought we would have to try longer, praise the Lord we didnt!
How did your parents react? My mom was ecstatic along with the same but shocked dad, immediately rooting for a boy!
How did your partner's parents react? We dont really know, we talked to his sister that night that told us we should wait to call! Finally when we did everything was wonderful!
Did you go to the doctor yet? Yes, it was actually a very stressful first appointment! i started off with a doctor with a very heavy accent, (which is fine, but if you know me i am horrible at that stuff..) So i just very calmy asked the lady at the front deck if i would be able to swich dr.'s and it turned into a HUGE thing, i got swept back to a room and interrogated by the nicest nurse. I ended up crying from being overwhelmed and swiched dr.'s (which was not a big deal) and ended up with the most amazing woman ever!
Did you have your first ultrasound? Yes, I actually cried when she told us it was a boy! We also got to take home way more pictures then allowed, just because she thought we were "too cute" :)
Do you know the sex? Boy or Girl? Yes, were having a boy! (and theres no mistaking!)
How is the baby's movement? Wonderful, he moves so much now and has even gotten scared a few times..awww
How is the baby's heartbeat? right on track, i tear up everytime i hear it!
Baby's name? Well, we're juggling between a few right now.......... ;)
Did your husband help pick the name? Well yes, it actually really funny b/c, when we met he told me his two boys names and i shot them down in disgust, now out of the blue im LOVING the one...SO yes...now im agreeing..funny, poor hubby
Mom to be's latest cravings? mmmm. i really enjoy sour (which i have always hated) and salty, not a fan of sweets really... But i do LOVE captin crunch at this moment! haha
Mom to be's latest "pregnant" moment? Oh gosh, there has been so many...My FAVORITE and most embarissing is the very First one..... I called the Doctor office to schedule my frist app. and get the ball rolling and as the lady was getting all my information and she asked MY birsthday, and i said, well thats what im coming to find out...I JUST learned im pregnant.....long pause.....she gave a little chuckle and said NO i need YOUR date of birth...haha
What was the first change you noticed in your body? My chest! Thats actually how we decided to take a test, i hadn't missed yet but i went from barley a B to a full C, in like four days!
What was the latest change in your body? Well my crator belly button... :( haha With my stretching tummy it just seems to get bigger! And sadly right now my complexion!
What is your sleep schedule? I usually get up around 930 and get to sleep around 11...
What is your work schedule? When we get to the Prayer room!
What is the last thing you bought for the baby? The latest thing I have bought for baby is this amazingly cute giraffe picture frame...
What was the last thing you bought for yourself? A tin of sour mints for my purse..and then food...haha
Planned birth place? At the hospital
Who will be in the room with you? Probably just my midwife and Dan.
Are you scared? Not yet.
Are you going to use drugs? No
How do you think you will react? Oh you know, tears, and sheer joy!!!
How do you think your partner will react? I think he'll be the same, if not more so!
Have you started birthing classes? No, i really dont want to, but im sure i need to...just need some motavation...haha
What is the nursery theme? Since its a boy we're wanting to do safari... :)
Are you going to breastfeed? Of course!
How much weight have you gained? I havent "gained" anything, but i have gained back basically everything i lost (around 10lbs.) and am ready to start gaining! I lost all my weight in my legs and arms, now have gotten it all back in my chest and tummy!
What is your favorite thing about being pregnant? All the kicks and movements! Im constantly waiting for them!!
What is your least favorite thing about being pregnant? probably the entire first trimester when I was ill often but now it's the fact that when hunger hits, it hits fast and i need to eat right away or I feel sick! (yes)
Biggest pet peeve while pregnant? Ah, the sound of the cats licking!! SICK!! ANd how people tell me to "just wait" till i get bigger when i say i feel huge...I AM huge for right now, ive always been small and flat!
Favorite drink before pregnancy? Prob... Mountain Dew..?
Favorite drink while pregnant? During the first trimester, Sunny D. Now, Chocolate milk
What features do you hope the baby gets from you? hmm, eyes (shape and color), nose, feet and toes.
What features do you hope the baby gets from your husband? height, skin color, mouth, and i have to say it heart..
What week did you start wearing maternity clothes? Well not yet, i actually swim in them!! I usually wear a size 5 pants, im now down to less then a 2!! eek!
What week (if any) did stretch marks appear? I actually dont have any, we'll see, my mom nor my grandma got any!
What are 3 things you can't live without right now? Dan, food, and bella band!
What is your favorite smell or scent while pregnant? im loving my hubby colone more then ever, and our sugar cookie candle!
What is the worst smell? I swear im always smelling cigarette smoke (which is weird cause i dont know one person that smokes) and i hate the cats food! GROSS!
What is your favorite pregnancy website? thebump.com
What is your favorite baby names website? Dont really have one, our minds thus far!
What is your favorite kids movie? Well its always been Little Mermaid, and any old disney movie or pixar. I LOVE WALL~E
What is the first thing you might say to your new baby boy or baby girl? I dont know that i will be able to say anything...we'll see...