Third Trimester!!

I have really sucked at documenting this pregnancy, so here goes, what's up as I enter the 3rd Trimester!

-I feel GREAT! I had some breathing problems a few weeks ago, but it was just an unfortunate combination of allergies and pregnancy. Thankfully, we are past that!

-I'm working out everyday and really loving the extra energy I'm getting from it and how strong I feel this go around. I plan to keep at it right up until delivery.

-I am still sleeping well-woohoo!

-I was doing great at keeping the indulgences to a minimum....until I discovered the best chocolate croissant in town! Oh. My. Gosh. I have gone to the bakery to get one twice this week. Must stop.

-I am loving this little break in the weather! I swell up when it gets hot (NOT something I experienced with Makafui) and am mentally preparing myself for a summer of looking like the Michelin Man...only, hopefully a tan version.

-Makafui has named this baby Pax. It cracks me up! That is not her name and I don't know where he got it from, but I love it and I really love that it means peace.

-This little girl has gotten very active and I feel her consistently throughout the day now, rather than just in the evening. She is definitely not as strong as M was at this point, which I will take! Her movements are very sweet and reassuring, rather than painful. I can't tell what body part is violently hitting me, like I could with M or figure out what position she hangs out in most of the time. Maybe this means she will be less intense all-around. ;)

-I'm beginning to prep her nursery, but feel like I have a LOT to do to get ready for her. Good thing I have 3 more months!

-I have been reading like crazy and preparing for this Little Lady's birth. I am planning epidural-free again, but definitely don't want a repeat of Makafui's birth. I felt like I just survived his birth, not that I did well or was empowered or really anything positive. I just made it through. I want a more peaceful experience this time and I want to feel accomplished and empowered and more calm about the whole thing. I am praying a lot about this!

-Most of the time, I feel really good about where Makafui is as far as being prepared for a new sibling. I am reading and praying a lot about this too!

-I am feeling so so blessed and overjoyed that we get to have another sweet babe. I am very excited about what our family is going to look like and getting to know another kid. I think a lot about what she will be like and how our family will change. Not being a first timer anymore, I know it will be a challenge, but even more so, I know what a huge blessing she will be to me and my family.

-27 weeks down, about 13 to go!

Home is what you make it...

"See you later, my home!" Makafui calls out something along those lines each morning when we drive out of our complex.

It does my heart good to hear him say that. I've been mulling a lot lately about home, wants, needs, entitlement.

God has been so kind to gently lead me and grow me and teach me. We have (and I especially) have gone through phases over the past few years, that the "need" for a house was so great that I could barely think of anything else. I allowed influences around me, whether it be our culture at large and the quest for The American Dream, or be it people in my life who wore me down and belittled me with comments about when I would EVER get a house, or how terrible it would be if they had to have children in an apartment! I allowed myself to somehow feel less-or like my life was greatly lacking because of the absence of a mortgage.

That's just not true anymore. God has given me contentment and joy in our life just as it is. I am able to see all the good things about living in an apartment, before I see any of the bad. Such as, we have a maintenance team! I got touch-up paint, a new microwave touch panel and a towel bar re-hung this week and all it took was a few clicks on a website. I don't have to pay to water grass! My electric bill last month was $36. And when G's job changed and we need to live clear across town, we just wait for our lease to be up and pick a different place, that simple.

Would I like to have a garage and yard? Yes. But that is most certainly a want and not a need. And there were times that that want, which started out as a good thing, turned into that really, really ugly thing...entitlement. Yuck.

Just 6 months ago, I said in my heart, I am NOT living in an apartment anymore! We need a yard, we need a garage, we need to be free from loud neighbors! I am so glad that our God is so kind and lovingly worked on my heart. I don't feel that way anymore. In fact, I'm apartment hunting for our move after the baby. Some more time to figure out where we want to live, to be in control of our finances, rather than have them be in control of us, and flexibility to change our minds after a year or two sounds just perfect.

Home is not a mortgage, or a yard, or a garage. Home is what you make it. I am very grateful to have the family I do and the beautiful home we are creating together.