Friday, July 8, 2011

39 weeks


6 more days until the date that babycenter.com told me way back on November 7th we could possibly see our girl. It's amazing to think the time has come. So many prayers, so many thoughts, emotions, conversations and desires leading up to this point. 

What a faithful and loving God I serve! He met me when I was at a very low point in this pregnancy just a week ago. All the thoughts and feelings and emotions came to a head where I was just too overwhelmed to think anymore. The Lord so graciously reminded me that I just needed to stop. To pray. To get on my knees and completely let go and surrender this birth to Him! Through a conversation with my midwife, the Lord reminded me that He has designed and created me to do this! I have everything I need to birth this baby and when I'm at my weakest point and feel as though I can't go on, He will be there to offer His grace, strength and endurance. After hearing these words, I just sat back and sighed deeply. I've wrongfully tried to shoulder this burden on my own and really have just been living in my own strength. It's through Christ and His blood that I have forgiveness of this sin...not trusting and depending on Him! This too brought such great relief. After pouring out my heart in prayer, God showed Himself in Psalm 63. I plan to have Matt read this many times throughout labor. The truth is so powerful. 

"when I remember you upon my bed,
and meditate on you in the watches of the night;
for you have been my help,
and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy.
 My soul clings to you;
your right hand upholds me."

How incredible that the words King David wrote so many hundreds of years ago still apply to me today! God is my help. I can safely trust in Him and His right hand will uphold me.

My 39 week appointment was encouraging! Things are starting to happen. I'm 40% effaced and 1 1/2 cm dilated. Her head is still pretty high (at about a -2 station for those who know what that means) so I've been instructed to keep walking 45-50 minutes every day. Judi doesn't forsee Allie arriving before my due date but she did say that you never know what can happen. She just needs to drop and things could go quickly from there. 

So we continue to wait and enjoy this time with just 3 of us. My sister and her boyfriend arrive tonight. I'm really excited to meet Stephen and to finally see Diana after 11 months!

Thursday, July 7, 2011

While We've Been Waiting...

Our days have been full and fun since we've been up here in the Last Frontier! Between Father's Day, my mom and dad's birthdays, a day at the Alaska Zoo, going to the train station in Wasilla, visiting the Alaska Museum of Transportation and many beautiful and sunny days spent outside, we have really enjoyed this time of waiting for Allie to come. This is also the reason why only one blog post has been done since our arrival. I plan to change that...at least for the remaining time that Allie is on the inside.

Family Day at the Zoo!


Reese's first time visiting the zoo
 and seeing a polar bear

Cutie siblings

Trying to stay warm as we wait for the train at the station

A breakfast out at Colony Kitchen with mom and dad!

Mom's birthday dinner...beer battered halibut! So so good!







What a special joy it was to celebrate my mom's birthday with her! It had been 6 years since I was here in Alaska on July 2nd and we had a great day. I love you mom and am so thankful for the godly influence and example you are to me daily. I've really enjoyed having many days just to be in your home again and to feel like we live next door. :)

Our little family waiting for the 4th of July parade in downtown
Wasilla to start!

Hanging out with Poppy and Nana




The candy-hungry kiddos!

The 3 of us took a morning to visit the local museum for Alaska's history on transportation. We saw trains, snow machines, planes, boats and lots of neat pictures of homesteaders who came to settle this land.






That's all for now but starting tomorrow my sister and her boyfriend arrive so unless baby decides to come in the next day or so (which I don't think she will) I'll have more to post soon!