(Almost) 7 months

Time is flying by! And every day, Abby never ceases to amaze me. This past month has been oh so busy. Abby turned 6 months old (hard to believe), cut some teeth, is sitting on her own, dances in her exersaucer, reaches for her Daddy to pick her up, cries less, and smiles with her whole face from forehead to chin. It also never ceases to amaze me how much I love her more and more each day. 

Some exciting personal stuff has been happening too. I got a part time nurse practitioner job! A sweet lady from our church will be able to nanny her one day and Daddy can watch her the other day. So glad that Abby will have people who care for her to watch her while Momma keeps up her license! 

My favorite part of this month was, of course, my birthday! Both sets of grandparents including some aunts and uncles came to Cumming and we headed off to the pumpkin patch. Abby was a little overwhelmed by all the people, but still very cute. Here are some pictures:

(I love how only Nick is looking at the camera. That's usually how it is: Nick is focused but Abby and I are distracted!)

I love my baby, love my husband, and love my little family. The Lord has blessed us and we give Him thanks for that this week and every week!

5 Months!

Baby Girl,

I can hardly believe you are 5 months old! This time 5 months ago, I was sitting in the hospital bed with a great epidural waiting for your grandparents to arrive... waiting for you to arrive. Daddy did not have a  church job yet, and we were moving out of our house in just 2 weeks... with no where to go. But we were not thinking about that this day 5 months ago. We were thinking about you. However, it would still be another 8 hours until we met you for the first time.

The Lord has done so much for us these past 5 months. A job, a free place to stay until we found our home, some friends, and of course family.

I've already written about how big you're getting and how much you are learning each day. I feel like you get a new fat roll every day. :) It is so adorable! You are now in size 3 diapers and 6 mo clothing. You can push up with your arms and also push your booty in the air with your knees... however, not at the same time. It's like you're a little see-saw, head-up-booty-down then booty-up-head-down. You'll get a hang of it soon and then, I bet, off you'll go! You are a very independent lady! Standing against your crib, the couch, and your exersaucer... you are doing great!

I love you so much, Abigail! I can't wait to continue to be surprised by you every day!

Love,
Mommy

Pure joy!

Leaps and Bounds

My dearest Abigail has changed and grown leaps and bounds this past week! Not only physically (my little Michelin Man has packed on some more rolls recently) but also mentally/developmentally. She is finally rolling over (it takes a little longer for big girls :) ), sitting unassisted for a little and standing propped up against things. Way to go baby girl!

She taking rice cereal like a champ and will soon start other foods. She's reaching for things, using her hands more, and can recognize her name. Her napping is also better too! :)

I know this is not unusual. But it is just so amazing to me that my little girl who used to sleep, eat, cry, and sleep is turning into such a little ball of personality. It is amazing to me how the Lord has made each person different and has given me the privledge of caring for this one. "I praise the Lord for she is fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well." Psalm 139:14.

Here is my little chunk  :)

Mmmmm... Cereal... :)

Buddah Baby... Look at those rolls!

When she was sick with her first cold a few weeks ago... Doesn't she look like an angry Aunt Jemima?

And of course, a smile that melts my heart!

Abigail Grace

At this moment, my little girl is upstairs, in her crib, crying instead of sleeping. You see, we're going through this phase where Abby doesn't sleep and, in turn, momma doesn't sleep. Thankfully, this mainly applies to nap time and she does well through the night, but tonight, I'm afraid, the streak(and shrieking) will continue.

Here's what this is teaching me. As Abby's momma (and BFF) I know what's best for her, which is sleep. However, she continues to cry and fight it, to her own detriment. But I still love her, and deep in my heart I have this yearning, a yearning for what's best for her, to help her. How much is this a picture of Christ's heart for us, Hid children. And so I must remember, when I'm fighting against what He knows best, I need to simply relax into His arms... And just sleep.

Now, more about Miss Abigail!

She is now 4 months old. At her last appointment, she weighed 15lb 6oz! Big girl! She's smiling, jibbering to herself, laughing, cooing, and shouting for joy! :) she's rolling over (but not consistently) and standing with some help. And her favorite things (other than me): pink fuzzy blanket, fans, her own reflection (she thinks it's another baby), walks outside, and of course her Daddy :). She's recovering from her first cold and tried her first bites of cereal. Her little personality is coming out more and more each day, and I LOVE it! I love her! And now a big picture of my little girl (for some reason my iPad won't let me shrink it). Look at that face!

Hello interwebs!

Hello interwebs!

This summer has been oh-so-very eventful! In short, Nick is loving his new job, (currently sleeping) baby girl is 4 months old and laughing, and we are in the process of unpacking our new home! Let's start with Nick's job.

As you know, he started as the new children's pastor at Cumming Baptist Church. After applying last October, praying for months about finding a job close to sweet Georgia, and, you know, selling a house, having a baby, and graduating, Nick is finally settling into his new role.

It was a busy summer. VBS was a big success (6 weeks after Nick's start date) and now Awana is starting next week. We are so excited about what the Lord has for this church.

Now, if you know me, you know I'm a PK (pastor kid). But being a PK is different than being a pastor's wife. It has been an adjustment, a good one, but stressful when added on to all the other adjustments I'm undertaking this summer. It means being involved (which is good), having your husband very involved (once again good, but an adjustment from being at home with him 4 days a week when we both worked at the hospital), on top of learning how to be. Both wife and a better mother.

How do I deal, do you ask? Proverbs 3:5-6. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not  on your own understanding;In all your ways submit unto him, and He will make your paths straight. Seems simple, right? Trust and lean and submit. It's not the easiest. I know the Lord has a perfect plan and I trust His will will be done, but I can't help but be anxious while waiting. I was anxious with all my pregnancy complications but a perfect Abby was born. I was anxious for Nick to get a job that would provide and he gave us more than what we need. I was anxious about a house and the Lord gave us a generous place to live until we found and bought our current house. And I know He will work in me to have a heart that fully trusts in Him, but I am anxious to see how He will do it. I pray that the anxiety will not overcome me but rather His will. Here's to trusting and leaning!

Next, Abby update!

1 Month!

Holy Cow! It's already been a month! Little Abigail celebrated her 1 month birthday yesterday with her whole family. Both sets of grandparents, aunts, and uncles came up to Cumming, GA to Cumming Baptist Church (where I can now officially say Nick is the new children's pastor! Praise the Lord!) for her baby dedication and mother's day celebration. She had a blast!

It's so crazy to me to think that 1 month has past. When I think about all the feedings and late-night wakings, it seems like 1 month dragged on. But when I think about little Abby growing from 8lb 5oz to 10lb 11 oz, holding her head up, being more awake, and outgrowing newborn clothes (*tear), this month happened so fast.

I thank the Lord everyday for the opportunity to stay at home with my little honey Abby. It has been sooo challenging but sooo rewarding. Getting to wake up every morning and read her a Bible story after breakfast. Making funny faces together. Watching her fall asleep on Daddy's chest at night. Dressing her up in pretty-girl clothes. :)  I love it.... I love her.

Here are some of my favorite pictures from last month:

At the hospital:

Funny Face:

At Daddy's Softball game:

Pretty Girl on her 1 month birthday:

Abigail Grace Wilbur

Here is the "mandatory" birth story of the sweetest girl ever... Little Miss Abigail Grace Wilbur graced the world with her presence 3 weeks ago, April 12, 2012 at 7:12 pm. She weighed 8lb 5oz and was 20 1/4 inches long. Big cheeks, strong cry, and strawberry blond hair. :)

The Lord's timing was again present. I went for my 37 week and some odd days check upp that Tuesday before, begging to be induced. My 37 week stomach was measuring at 41 weeks and my PUPP rash was out of control. Due to the fact that PUPPs rash is not a medical reason to induce, Nick and I left Tuesday uncomfortable and disappointed.

The next day, Wednesday, I finished up the end of my 360 clinical hours for my nurse practitioner degree (Praise the Lord! I won't have to finish clinicals this summer and will be officially graduated this Saturday!) , and headed to Kroger.  I picked up some Castor Oil and then a Wendy's frosty. 2 tbsp of castor oil, a brain freeze, a long walk, and 4 hours later... Nick and I went to bed without contractions. :(  I readied myself for the next day filled with sleeping in and searching for 1 month lease apartments (Thursday was our deadline. If she came by Thursday, then we would not need a short term lease and would just move out of our house on closing day (which is the day before Abby's due date)). Ahh sweet sleep was what I was looking forward to. Alas, Abigail had different plans.

At 130 in the morning, I woke up wet. After debating with Nick for a while, we decided to pack up the bag in the car (we had just packed it yesterday) and head to the hospital. Got into triage, confirmed that my water was broken, and was in a room by 330 am. We made the middle of the night wake up calls to each side of the family and settled in.

Being the pain weanie I am, the epidural was in by 6 am. I figured I was a little uncomfortable, exhausted, and was going to get one later any way. Best. Decision. EVER! Felt no pain, just some pressure. The epidural allowed me to nap on and off for the day and enjoy family coming in. It allowed for me to be prepared for pushing later that night. I was at 3 cm and 80% effaced at 3 am to 6 cm and 90% at 8 am to 9 cm and 100% at noon. But I felt nothing! :) Then I stalled out. After some pitocin to get me to 10 cm, it was time to push.

Again, pain free but with a lot of pressure, I pushed and pushed and pushed. For 1.5 hours with no progress. Abigail was stuck. They told me my pushes were good and strong but her head was just too big. They gave me the option of pushing for another 2 hours or getting a c-section. Being exhausted, I opted to go ahead and meet my baby.

After being wheeled into the operating room, numbed completely but shaking due to the anesthesia, and with Nick at my side, Abigail Grace was born at 712 pm. I remember her first cry and them lifting her over the curtain for me to see her. Nick followed her to the other side of the room for them to assess her and I asked the anesthesiologist so many questions about her. How many toes? Fingers? What color was her hair? He kindly would walk over and report back to me the answers. And then there was no need for questions.

Wrapped up in a white blanket and with a standard blue-white-pink striped hat, Nick brought my daughter over for me to see and hear and kiss and smell. Of course I was crying. After a few short seconds with her, they whisked her away to the nursery to be assessed again and I finally slept while waiting. In the recovery room, I was finally able to do the skin-to-skin kangaroo care I was longing for. Nick and I just sat there, staring at her in amazement. She was beautiful. She was perfectly made. And she was ours.

Not So Cute PUPPs

So I'm 37 weeks today... YAY full term!!!! Just waiting, rather impatiently, for this little miss to pop out! And to add on to the already stress/school/being a giant/being stared at by all people in a public place, I now have the PUPPs rash.

PUPP is a pregnancy rash that is caused because of pregnancy. It starts at the belly and, as I learned yesterday, can spread over MY WHOLE BODY!!!!! It itches like the dickens, hurts some, is red and unsightly. It's treatment? You guessed it... birth!!!! I've tried about everything for "natural induction" but nothing works (maybe the full moon this Friday will do it?). And now, I'm in a pickle. I want to walk this baby out, but if I walk, I get hot, and if I get hot, I itch... grrrrr!

So, little one, Mommy would be very appreciative if you would just make your grand enterance soon!

(*Note: The last thing I want to see/hear is something along the lines of, "Just hold on, she'll be here soon." It. might. just. push. me. over. the. edge.)

Gargantuan Baby

We are in the final count down waiting for little, I mean gargantuan, Abby to arrive. I'm 36 weeks and 1 day pregnant and am HUGE! My last ultrasound I was 34.5 weeks and she was already 6lb 14oz! They told me she'd be over 8.5 lb... at least! And then at my appointment yesterday, my belly was measuring at 38 weeks size... 2 weeks bigger. In the words of Dr. Rone, "You're going to have a big 'un."  EEEEEEEKKKK!!!!! (And no, I don't have gestational diabetes)

So Nick and I tried a lot of "natural labor induction" techniques. I fit my huge, swollen feet into flip flops (the only shoes I can fit into now) and we walked the mall... twice. All the while, I tried not to itch my very itchy belly. Then we went to Johnny Carino's for some eggplant parmesan with raspberry tea. I even tried some squats. All for not... well the eggplant was good.

Sigh. I'm ready. I've been having some contractions but nothing really hurts (other than my feet, stomach, and right lower back). Dr. Rone checked me and I'm 1 cm dilated (still) and 50% effaced, but this time, he said that her head was "right there." So just sitting and waiting. My parents are coming in today to help pack up our house because... oh yeah we are also moving before/during/after she's born... Maybe stress and packing will jump start things before I resort to castor oil. :)

God Will Make a Way

This song has been on repeat in my mind since the new year:

God will make a way
When there seems to be no way
He works in ways
We cannot see
He will make a way for me

It echos Isaiah 43, the Bible verse for Nick and my relationship. And again, the Lord is proving faithful.

There has been 3 areas of major stress in our lives (in addition to work and grad school):
1) Little Abigail Grace
2) Selling our home
3) Nick getting a job back in Georgia


As you read with my last post, the Lord was beginning to make a way in all of these areas. He has proven faithful in caring for little Abby and making sure she had more time to grow and develop.

And then this past week, the Lord addressed stressor #2. We put our house on the market the Tuesday after we came home from the hospital. Within the week, we had a contract on our house! It's a little sticky because the buyers wouldn't budge on the closing date, which just so happens to be April 26, the day before Abby's due date. EEEEK! So we don't know what we are going to do. Short term lease maybe? :)

That left Nick's job on the table. But Nick and I are confident that the Lord will provide for us in this area just has He has in our past. One of the Lord's greatest qualities is that He is faithful. We have put our faith in His faithfulness. Already the Lord is opening some doors in just this past week... but mum's the word for now! ;)

I was almost certain Abby would be super early, but the Lord delivered me and her from... delivery :) In the economy and housing market we are in, it is only the Lord that could sell our house in a week. I look forward to see the way the Lord makes in a place where there seems to be no way.  Let's see what the Lord has for us in the future!!!!!

This is the day that the Lord has made!

This past week has been a roller coaster!

Last Saturday, I was in Athens, GA for Abby's first shower! It was such a blessing to be shown sooooo much love! Not only did Abby get a lot of her essentials, but I got to reconnect with some great college friends! I'll post pictures when I get them (cough, cough, Brooks). :)

Then last Sunday, Nick got ordained at my home church, JFBC. I have never been so proud of Him! While he is still on the job hunt, the ordination service was such an encouragement!

That next Monday, I had lunch with my sister and mom and then headed back to Lexington. The next day, our house was put on the market! So far we have had a lot of traffic and mentions of offers but nothing concrete yet. The Lord will provide.

And then there was yesterday. Before heading to GA, I had been sick and saw my OBGYN. My blood pressure was up and he became worried about preeclampsia. Preeclampsia happens to a pregnant woman when the placenta doesn't think it's getting enough blood. In turn, it raises the blood pressure everywhere else in the body which can hurt my kidneys, liver, and brain. The only treatment is delivering the baby. The problem is that the mom could get sick really fast and little Abby is still premature (31 weeks). Scary, right?

So yesterday, I went to the doctor again and my blood pressure was up again, and so that plus my blood work being off last time made my doctor want to admit me to the hospital for 48 hours to do more tests! yikes! But the Lord was in control.

So nick and I scrambled home, packed our bags, dropped off the dog, ate some CrackerBarrel :) and headed to the hospital. We saw the high risk Obgyn who ran more tests. During all this, our friends and family were praying, calling, and visiting. And guess what? No preeclampsia and no more hospital time! I was sent home last night with no restrictions!

This week has been profound proof of the Lord working in our lives and even little Abby's life. Every day is a gift from the Lord. Everyday is a day the Lord has made and I will rejoice and be glad in it. In this past week, all of our major life stressors (Nicks job search, selling our home, and pregnancy complications) were brought up, but we remained faithful in trusting that the Lord would show His glory and we were not disappointed! The Lord is faithful and that's reason enough to rejoice no matter what the day brings!

26 weeks

Yay picture!

This is me at 25 weeks. Right now I'm 26 weeks! Soooo crazy!!!!!

So far, just feeling tired and my belly/hips feel stretched (especially my belly button).

The fatigue is related to working 2 days a week plus doing clinicals 8-5 4 days a week plus multiple night time bathroom breaks plus being harder to roll over and get comfortable plus the fact that little Abby decides to wake up and dance at 3 am every day... whew. But I wouldn't trade it for anything!

So wearing all maternity clothes and big shirts right now.

No gestation diabetes! Woo hoo! I celebrated with a big bowl of ice cream.

She's sitting high. Which I never knew what that meant until now. It's like she's right under my diaphragm. But I don't know what's worse, her being there or sitting on my bladder.

We are getting the nursery slowly put together. Got a crib mattress yesterday (along with a tu-tu Nick picked out :)  ). The crib is set up, and we have a dresser and toy chest. We're waiting for showers before filling in more. Soo excited!

It's weird to think I'll be entering my last trimester so soon!!!!! I totally don't feel prepared, so any tips would be warmly welcomed!!!!

A New Year

A new year has already begun... and let me tell you, I'm SUPER PUMPED!

We got to ring in the year with a whole week with family in Georgia. Then Nick and I both were thrusted back in to real life and work. And while this may seem depressing,  we both have a little jump in our step. This will be a year of lasts and firsts mixed in with the prayer that Nick and I will grow closer to eachother, to the Lord, and thus start off our little family right.

As far as lasts. I start my lst semester of my nurse practitioner program tomorrow. 360 hours of clinicals begins tomorrow. That will be 4 days a week of 8-5 plus working 1-2 shifts a week at the hospital.  But when I hit that magical 360 number in April, I'll be D.O.N.E, done!  Soooo exciting. And then will begin a start of a new career (which, fingers crossed, will be fulltime mom and part-time NP).

Nick is also entering his last semester of seminary. He too is doing a lot of school work, but May will come with his graduating and (hopefully) a start of a new job.

In a few weeks, I'll be entering my last trimester (pinch myself!) and April will mark the start of something and someone wonderful!

So prayer, patience, and relying on the Lord will play a HUGE part of this semester, now I just need to keep reminding myself of that!

Merry Christmas-ish!

Is it bad that I'm glad Christmas is over? Maybe? Yes? Let me explain. It's a two-fold explanation.

First the negative.  Nick and I had to work at the hospital this Christmas. Now we had a great Christmas-ish on Christmas Eve. We woke up, opened a few gifts, ate some blueberry pancakes, watched It's a Wonderful Life, and had dinner and went to church with some good friends. Christmas plus working plus raging pregnancy hormones equaled a little Christmas meltdown.

While I did remember and rejoice in the birth of Christ, to me Christmas also means family. And missing that part made me sad.  Thankfully that will be remedied in the next few days since Nick and I will be spending a week in Georgia with family for the New Year. In that matter, I am glad Christmas is over because of the separation.

The second is positive. Nick and I are looking forward to next Christmas with soooo much anticipation. This next year holds the promises of many blessings. We both graduate in May from our programs. We hopefully will have new jobs closer to family. My sister will be getting married. And of course the greatest blessing. As my belly swells bigger and bigger each day, as my hips and back begin to ache, and as each little kick wakes me up in the morning, Nick and I can't help but get excited about little Abigail joining up next Spring. Christmas next year, Lord willing, will be a joyful time of  reflection and enjoying our new blessings instead of anticipation and separation.

So I hope you all had a great Christmas, but I pray that your up coming year will be full of blessings so that next Christmas will be even better!

Belly Button

Well, I'm still waiting for Nick to download some pictures of our little Peanut... or should I say, Abigail Grace?  :)

These past weeks have been busy. My whole family (parents, sisters, and fiance) crammed into our little house for Thanksgiving. We went to a 3D ultrasound place the day before Thanksgiving, and that's when we found out we were having a little girl. We are both soooo thrilled!!!! Nick is going to be such a great girl-Daddy! Ever since, my mind has been in a pink haze.

I've been working a lot of overtime, and that plus finishing up the semester hasn't let me really calm down and think about this little miracle. So I'm looking forward to this Christmas break to just think... meditate on the Lord, my family, my friends, and my little Abbie.

In other news, the belly has officially popped and my belly button is going to suffer the same fate soon. I'm excited because Friday Nick is going out to get me a scrub jacket so that I don't have to keep squeezing in to my current scrub tops.

Well, the Christmas tree lights are on, the dog is in my lap, and hubby is beside me watching football. So off I go!

It's the most *busiest* time of the year!

Papers, clinicals, work, class, tests have been going non-stop. But something else going non-stop is baby peanut's growth!

I can hardly believe that in just a few short weeks, Nick and I will finally know if it's a boy or a girl! And no we don't have a preference, just that it's not both ;) Yes we have names picked out! You'll just have to wait to see! ;) Since Nick is working Thanksgiving day (oh the joys of the hospital!), my whole family is coming up to spend the holiday with us. We're going to one of those 3-d fetal photography places the Wednesday before turkey day to see baby Peanut! I'm soooo excited to have the fam there for this special time!!!!!!

Though there's still a huge list of things to do (the main thing being cleaning everything and figuring out where to put all these people in my little house!), I can feel the excitement. All this busy work makeks it so the time flies, but sometimes I feel I'm missing out on my pregnancy.

I can hardly beleive that I'm 16 weeks already! I've finally begun showing a little bump and so am glad to no longer just look "thicker." :) It hasn't been the easiest pregnancy. I've felt fine, but I've had some bleeding. It's called a subchorionic hemorrhage, but mine is small (1.5 X 5cm in comparison to my bigger than a grapefruit uterus). The doctors have been taking a close look at it, and the bleed is not in the amniotic sac nor is it under the placenta. So little peanut is blissfully unaware. He or she is just rolling around, sucking on his/her thumb and practicing breathing. It's really amazing. So thankfully, the bleeding has almost completely stopped, and hopefully will be gone by my 20 week scan :) Still, it's a little scary, and if you know me, you know I'd tell you anything about me. So I figure there's at least one other friend out that that hs or will have this problem and it's OK!!!!! :)

Anyway, Nick is bringing up some of my old baby furniture this weekend, and so I'm super excited to start setting up the nursery!!!!! And I swear we have a camera, but I'll have to have Nick find it so I can start posting pictures soon!

Well tomorrow is my last day of clinical, so hopefully I won't abandon my dear blog for much longer! Until then!

12.5 weeks!

Almost done with the first trimester!!! Soooo exciting! (When Nick gets a chance, I'll have him show me how to upload pictures so you can see little Peanut!)

School is pressing on, I'm starting a new job at the hospital, and birthday month is upon us... No wonder October is nearly done!!!! Life is crazy, busy, and just crazy, but Nick and I are loving it!

Every day, I feel like I'm getting bigger... thankfully, my appetite has dropped off some (I was eating like a teenage boy off his Adderall), so now it's Peanut's turn to grow! So far, most clothes are just a little more snug. However, my black pants from high school are done. Thankfully, my sweet Mamma sent me a new pair, but there's this funny stretchy ban around the top :) I think they call it maternity pants. Nick says I'm beginning to get "radiantly round."

So far, Peanut's doing great! We got to see him/her suck his/her thumb a few weeks ago before we headed out to Florida. The fact he/she even had a thumb was MINDBLOWING! And then the other day at work, I used a doppler and was actually able to hear the heartbeat!

My next appointment it Thursday! Until then!