34 and 35 weeks belly shots

Today we are 36 weeks! Our bags are packed and we are ready to go! I have been having a few contractions every day. Not painful ones, everything just gets really tight across my belly and it gets very hard. I will go to the doctor on Tuesday and get an update as to where we are. We went on Friday for our tour of the hospital and had a very nice experience. Everyone was very friendly and we met some of the nursing staff in the maternity ward and nursery. Our sweet friend  Mutsuko (dear friend from church of 6 years) was with us because she will be with us for the delivery too (Lord willing.). One of her high school classmates is a nurse on the floor and she introduced us and asked her to take good care of us. It was so nice to make that connection. We felt relieved. Also after our tour we finally were able to purchase a rocking chair! I was beginning to think we wouldn't find one. They are very rare here in Japan so we were having a difficult time finding one. We found this one thanks to Mutsuko!! I decided to mention to her that we were looking for one and couldn't find one. 3 days later she called and said she found 2! One was new the other was used. She definitely has magical powers!!! She is an angel walking on earth. We went with the used one because it also has a fold out foot stool. We cannot even begin to count the blessings we have received in our preparations for our Sweet Pea. God has been so faithful in providing what we need and surrounding us with so much love.

34 weeks

35 weeks

the rocking chair

30 and 31 week belly shots

We are 32 weeks along now. I will post those pics later though. We always take our belly pics on Sunday nights. We are feeling really well these days and are getting very excited about the arrival of our precious miracle. Will post more pics soon! Love you all!

30 weeks (talking to the little one)

30 weeks

31 weeks

Baby, Momma & Daddy Photo Shoot by Sarah Ruddy

Click this here link for more of the pics that wonderful Sarah was so kind to take:
Baby, Momma & Daddy Photo Shoot by Sarah Ruddy


It was a rainy day but we asked our friend Sarah to take some pics for us and Sarah can make anything look great! Thanks Sarah!! BTW Sarah is a web developer and web page designer also, so if you need something in that line check her out here.

16 and 17 week belly pics

Today we are actually 19 weeks. The time is flying by so quickly and I am torn between feeling sad that this precious time is almost over and feeling such impatience wanting to hold this precious baby in my arms! I love being pregnant and I love knowing that this life is growing so perfectly according to God's plans inside me. It is more than magical. It is the greatest miracle I have ever experienced. On Thursday I felt the baby move for the first time! Well the first time that I knew it was baby and not something else going on inside there. It was so wonderful. First it felt like a bubble. Then I felt a little bump like someone was poking me with a finger from the inside of my tummy. Next it felt like little butterflies fluttering around in there. It actually tickled and I started laughing. Then, of course I started crying. I just can't believe how beautiful God has designed this process. It is more amazing than any words I can think of to describe it. I still can't believe that this is all happening to me. By God's grace alone there is life growing inside me.
I was so happy that Gabe was there to witness me feeling baby for the first time too. We were working in the office together that day. It was such a blessing. Ever since that day I have felt baby more and more often. In fact, as I write this I can feel my little tickler inside me! :) I love it!!
We also went to the doctor again that day and had a good appointment. The doctor said that the baby is in the normal range as far as weight, length and heart rate. So we felt very blessed. We asked again to know the gender of our little sweet pea but the equipment was not strong enough to see. But at my 20 week appointment I will be going to the hospital to see a new doctor and there they have a 3D ultrasound. So if the baby cooperates maybe we can find out then. Even if we can't I just can't wait to see a clear picture of our little angel.
We are slowly getting unpacked and settled into our new house. It is hard to unpack when I feel so tired at the end of a work day. But we got a lot accomplished yesterday in preparations for our friend Nathan coming to visit. So today we are relaxing in a clean house. There is a nice breeze and beautiful sunshine. As I write this my sweet husband is planting marigolds around the windows outside our house. Marigolds are supposed to be good mosquito repellents! Mosquitoes LOVE me for some reason and since we don't have air conditioning we will have all the windows open all the time this summer, sweet Gabe is trying to do all he can to prevent me from being boiling hot and itchy with bites! I'm so blessed! Well I guess that's it for now. I will post 2 belly pics. Hope you enjoy

16 weeks

17 weeks

14 and 15 week belly pics

Hello friends and family. We are so looking forward to this Easter Sunday when we can celebrate not only the new life growing within my womb but the new life that our heavenly father has given us through the loving sacrifice of His only son. I also think of Mary and the agony she felt as she watched her beloved son lay down His life for her and for all humankind. What an amazing mother she was and how I hope to be even a little like her. I am so thankful for this gift of motherhood and I pray that I will have the strength to endure it's challenges with grace.

14 weeks


15 weeks