31 weeks!

Pregnancy Highlights

How far along: 31 weeks 4 days

Size of baby: Probably around 16 inches and 3.25 lbs.

Gender: It's a boy! Micah Leonard McDaniel

Movement: Micah is incredibly active. I can feel very strong movements and wish I knew what I was feeling. He is usually most active at night. Even though this can make falling asleep difficult most nights, it never gets old to feel my baby boy moving around in my tummy.

Sleep: Sleeping these days is pretty much hit or miss. Acid re-flux making an unwanted appearance each night and I am usually incredibly queasy right before bed. I feel huge and rolling over is a chore. It takes me three movements just to roll over! I could sleep for hours and hours once I finally get comfortable, which I wish could happen :) I still get up a few times a night to go to the bathroom, which I guess is preparing me for late night feedings.

What miss: I miss lots of things. I miss not feeling huge! I miss feeling well. I am tired of headaches, queasiness, back aches, heartburn, sleepiness, sore feet, etc. It is always something. I really miss being active! I am already ready to train for another half-marathon :) I miss having the energy to be the Becky that I used to be. I just want to curl up on the couch and rest every little chance I get.

Cravings: I really haven't had any unusual cravings throughout this pregnancy.

Symptoms: I am tired. My feet and back hurt like you wouldn't believe. No matter what I eat I get acid re-flux and feel queasy afterwards. I am getting incredibly anxious about labor and becoming a mom. It is a constant wave of emotions and I cry at the drop of a hat... especially all of these mushy commercials on TV. If I see a baby or a family together I start weeping! Geez, come on people!

Best moment this week: Roy and I celebrated our 3rd anniversary this week. Some sweet friends of ours let us use their hotel points to spend the weekend in Jacksonville where we ate out, went to the movies, and enjoyed time together. It was a special treat and our last little getaway before we welcome our sweet baby boy!

The Swamp!

Some friends of ours treated us to tickets to the Florida/Bama game yesterday. Sadly, we have a house divided, but what a wonderful treat for us to be able to attend one of the biggest games of the season. I had never been to a Florida game at night and it has been 4 years since I was at the Swamp. We spent the afternoon tailgating and walking around campus (reminder: I am 7 months prego!) and my feet are paying for it today. Thankfully, the weather was PERFECT and even a little chilly by the 8:00PM kickoff. Florida didn't do as well as I had hoped, but I just love my Gators and the Swamp! I had a great time... and of course, Roy did too.

I didn't like when people would give Roy a hard time :) He might have poor taste in football teams, but I still love him! He was the best dressed Bama fan at the game by far!

It was great to get to catch up with our friend David from Troy. Yet another classy FL fan!

Greg and Roy tailgating

My sweet friend Christie!

I passed by Joakim Noah (all of 6'11) while heading to another tailgating spot. I had to get a picture for Baby Micah's baby book :)

The sun was setting at The Swamp. It was beautiful at night!

Our seats in the south end zone. Thankfully we were at the very top so I could lean my poor back up against the wall.

The American Holocaust

My sister shared this documentary with me and I want to pass it on. The American Holocaust is taking place as millions of precious babies are being killed in the womb by abortion. With my sweet baby boy my in tummy at 29 weeks, this really hits home. Please watch this documentary! I pray we would value every life and deem it as precious. The Lord is the Giver of Life and each life is indeed a blessing.

* Be advised there is very graphic content at some points within the documentary (footage from the Holocaust*

Preparing... I Guess

About two weeks ago it hit me like a ton of bricks: I am going to be a mom! A wave of emotions flooded through me and I realized that time was winding down. In a rage of panic, I began looking for books about newborns and how to best prepare myself (if that is even possible) for what to expect. I took some suggestions from friends and here is what I have been reading so far. Please feel free to comment if you have any other good reads to add!

I found this at Goodwill for .99 cents. It has been pretty good so far... a little "earthy" if you will. The author is trying to teach parents to learn to distinguish their baby's different cries since crying is their means of communication. Seems a bit impossible to me! :)

This book has come highly recommended, even though we probably won't reference the book for a few years. I have been reading it to become familiar with it and will definitely pick it up again in the future. It is a guide to biblical parenting and discipline.

I will share that chapter 3 of the book talks about the heart and how the heart shapes behavior, even in children. I believe that God's word is true through and through and that even in the womb children are sinful. We pray everyday for Micah's heart to become warm towards God as soon as possible. The book talks about how the heart either worships God or idols. There is no middle ground! This is true of people but children also. What could Micah's idols possibly even be right now? We are praying for Micah to worship God even now!

I have yet to begin reading this one. I found it at our favorite used bookstore for $2.00 after a friend suggested I give it a whirl.

** If any of you veteran parents can think of more books about Biblical parenting, even with newborns, please pass them on **

Wish List!

I usually don't "want" things too often, but lately I have really been wanting a Vera Bradley duffel bag. I guess I am thinking about packing for the hospital and thought it would come in handy. I am looking for a used one so if you are trying to get rid of a large Vera Bradley duffel let me know and I will gladly make an offer and take it off your hands! ( I am not picky about the pattern!)

Welcome to the Third Trimester!

I cannot believe the third trimester is here! I can remember being 10 weeks pregnant, sicker than ever and wondering if I'd ever make it through this pregnancy. Thankfully, I am feeling much better, with the exception of a few bad days of sickness here and there. We are on the home stretch and I think the reality of being a mom and welcoming a precious baby boy to our family has hit! I am overcome with more emotions these days than I can process.

I had a doctors appointment on Wednesday where I took the glucose test for gestational diabetes. The lady who drew my blood said I was the first person who didn't complain about how bad the drink (which has 50g of sugar, mind you) tasted. It just tasted like flat Sunkist to me. I also had a sonogram. At my previous appointment my doctor told me I was measuring big so he wanted to see how the baby was growing. Everything looked good! Baby Micah (yes, we have a name! I will explain the meaning later) is measuring in the 54th percentile so he is growing right on schedule. He does have a big head though :\ That will make for an interesting labor :) I will have another sonogram at 36 weeks just to check on the growth again.

So far everything is looking great. I am so thankful to the Lord for this precious gift and that Micah has been so very healthy thus far!

SO.... we have a name! We've had a name for a LONG time :) I picked out the name Micah even before we were married 3 years ago. It has just been one of the few boys' names that has stuck out and I love that it means "Who is like the Lord?" I have always wanted to raise boys (and hopefully a girl or two in the mix as well). I just see a world lacking in true, Godly leaders and pray that the Lord will give us the wisdom to disciple, love, and teach Micah to become a man who is after the heart of God, who loves his Word, who seeks his will, and who desires to be a leader. Micah's middle name will be "Leonard" which is so incredibly special to both Roy and myself because both of our paternal grandfathers were named Leonard. My Papa passed away this past March and I weep when I think of welcoming another precious Leonard into the world this very same year.

Hospital Tour

Last night Roy and I had a "date night" and enjoyed dinner and a tour of Winnie Palmer Hospital. I cannot believe that I am already in my third trimester and that our precious baby boy will be here in a few months! There are some seasons of pregnancy where it felt like I would be sick and pregnant forever. Now I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel and I have flipped the switch to PANIC MODE! Holy moly! So much to do before he arrives!

The hospital tour put me at ease a bit. It was nice to see where I will be delivering and to become aware of the procedures and what not. We were able to walk step by step through being admitted in triage, labor and delivery, post postpartum, etc. The lady who gave us the tour was very helpful in explaining things as best as she could to give us a good feel for what it to come!

Funny thing... the other couple on the tour with us are expecting on Dec. 16th so we could see each other again soon :)

Winnie Palmer Hospital

Labor and delivery room