20 weeks 4 days

Yesterday marked the point in this pregnancy of how far along I was when we lost our little Samuel. It is bitter sweet to be beyond that point once again. This pregnancy has been so different. I started feeling movement during my 15th week this time with big kicks now and Seth has been able to feel the baby move quite often as well. At this point with Samuel I was just feeling those little fluttery movements. Seth was saying last night that he was never able to feel little Samuel move. I'm not sure if it was because he was our first or because I was so swollen or a combination of both. I can't help but feel a bit of relief and a bit of sadness as I experience what I wasn't able to with our little Samuel.

I had thought the questions of, "Is this your first?" or "Do you have other children?" would be easier this time around, but they are still hard questions to answer and I think they will always be. If I say that I have just one other child, I feel like I'm not validating Samuel's life, but sometimes it's just easier to say that rather than explaining everything. Often I will say I have one in heaven and one here with me. I just have that need as his mother to always include him in our family.

I am looking forward to heaven when we won't have any more pain or sadness.

I was so encouraged by these verses yesterday:

2 Corinthians 4:16-18
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Baby Gift

Landon really wanted to buy something for the baby tonight, so this is what he picked out...

Menu Plan Monday and Pregnancy update

Here's who I get to hang out with for a little bit today :)



M: Chicken Pot Pie
T: Chicken and Cheese Stuffed Jumbo Shells with Salad and Bread
W: Cheesy Ham and Scalloped Potatoes with Salad and Bread
R: Chicken and Noodle Skillet
F: Calzone with Salad
S: Tacos with chips and salsa
S: Chili with Homemade Bread

Everything with my pregnancy has been going well so far. I am now 17 weeks along. My weight gain has been on track and the nausea is pretty much gone. We all had the stomach flu over the weekend which was not fun, but we are all feeling a lot better now! I have started feeling the baby move now, which is so amazing. Every movement is such a treasure. We should be able to find out the sex of the baby on Wednesday. I had an ultrasound a few weeks ago and it was looking like it is probably another little boy, but we will see for sure in a couple days. Thank you for your prayers as this little one grows!