Reunion!

(Thanks for the picture, Tina)

Last night we had a little reunion with our Bradley class. It was so much fun to meet everyone's little ones and hear all of their birth stories. Even though they were all different, the result was the same-Beautiful, handsome baby boys! Yes, we all had boys! It really was a great class and I look forward to getting together with them again.

A Boy

Just a quick post. Our little Gideon Anthony Gehrig was born October 12, 2009 at 12:35pm. We absolutely love him. Being the oldest of six girls, it's pretty exciting having a little boy around. Byron is such a good dad already and can't seem to put the kid down. I swear he's had more baby holding time than me. I will be posting more about how the labor and delivery went in the next couple days. Just wanted to post a few a pictures and let everyone know we are all healthy and very happy. Thanks for all the prayers. We felt them!

Daddy's Boy

He's so alert and opens his eyes a lot

Seconds after delivery

Several of you have been asking for pictures of the kitchen, but we haven't really been living at home (thanks mom and dad for housing us for a few days!) due to the smell of the fumes. We were finally able to move back home on Saturday and then realized several bare spots on the floor. So, the guy is coming back today because he's going to have put on another coat-eeehhh!

I was able to paint the kitchen (thanks to Sherwin Williams for their sale on Low-VOC paints) on Saturday with help from my mom-in-law while B worked on the garage with help from our dads-THANKS. I was also able to paint our enclosed side porch as well, so I feel good about that. Unfortunately, our kitchen is still in our dining room and encroaching on the rest of the house. This is not extactly how I planned things going. And now we are looking at being banned from the house again for another 5 days. With 6 days until our due date...I'm feeling a little anxious about things. I'm trying to stay calm because I know this is not good for the baby, but it's hard. I really don't know what's wrong with me and why I opened up this can of worms. It is what it is now....

With all of that being said, Byron and I are getting exciting about our little one arriving soon. I can't believe we went from weeks to days now. I'm feeling wobbly these days and things are definitely starting feel different. I was hanging out with my one-year old cousin today. She is such a happy baby and got me so excited to have my own child to kiss, snuggle, and squish anytime I want!

Kitchen Floor Update

This is the black stuff that covered the entire floor
(also seen in previous post)

So, our floor guy came on Monday to see if he can save the hardwood. There was a layer of black stuff and adhesive from the tile that he wouldn't be able to remove. It would gum up on ruin his sander. His advice was to just tile or put new hardwood over the old stuff. So, that night we went to the local big box store and purchase all the materials to tile. The next day we decided we wanted to see what it would actually take to remove the " black tar looking stuff" from the floor. I did a little internet research and it turns out that with a little Murphy's Oil and some elbow grease it wasn't the worst job in the world to remove it. It did take me about two days total to remove it and clean up the glue, but I did it! Byron was gracious enough to spend several hours pulling out a long line of staples we discovered. We called our floor guy and he's coming out tomorrow morning to take a look at it again. I just hope all that work was worth it! If he's able to save it we will actually be saving $300 by not having to tile it. Which is about 40% savings for us!

Oh, and I just got an e-coupon from Sherwin Williams for 25% off all of there low-VOC paints. BONUS. Our kitchen definitely needs a new paint job after all of this. By this time next week our kitchen is going to look fantastic! Riiight??

Now, just pray this baby hangs on for a couple more weeks so I can finish my project :)

After all the scraping and cleaning!

House Projects

Byron and Dad working hard

The garage is coming along. Much thanks to my dad for all of his help! Byron's father has also been helping with the electrical work (thanks!).

Destroyed Kitchen Floor

So yesterday I got a strange compulsion to rip up the kitchen floor. I HATE our floor with a passion. It's a floor made up of those cheap stick-on vinyl tiles. Many of them were pealing off and on hot humid days the pieces of tile would actually stick to your feet. Horrible. So, I decided it was time! While B and his dad were working on the electric for the garage I got out the shovel and started tearing up the floor. I guess I was a little loud in there...Byron was a little shocked when he came inside to see what is VERY pregnant wife was doing...We ended up finding three layers of tile. Two vinyl tile layers and one layer of linoleum. Not so terrible to rip out. We did find something we were not expecting, though-hardwood flooring! We were just going to re-tile the floor, but I called our floor guy and he's coming to do an estimate on the refinishing process. Yay! Oh, and I can't take all the credit. My wonderful hubby pulled up half of the old flooring for me when he was done with his project :)

My only fear is that it won't get all done before the baby comes. Not because 3-5 weeks isn't enough time, but because I'm afraid our little one will be coming earlier than that! I heard that when pregnant women start "scrubbing behind the stove" to beware because it may mean baby will be coming soon. 37 weeks is full-term...oh Little One, hang on a little longer!

Getting Closer

B and I went to our orientation/tour of the hospital/alternative birth rooms last night. I was actually kind of worried that I would be disappointed. It ended up that we both felt really good and at peace about where we are going to be giving birth to our baby. This is actually the only hospital in the area that lets you wear your own clothes during labor and keeps your baby with you instead of bring them to the nursery unless it is requested. There was actually only one baby in the nursery when we walked by. All of our questions were answered and we really feel like this is the best place we could have picked to have our baby.

Things are all starting to fall in place. At 36 weeks I'm feeling a little more anxious to see what our little one looks like. I went to see my midwife today and things are all looking good. 130 HR, 35cm, Blood pressure 112/72, IRON LEVELS ARE UP, baby is head down and still very active. Sometimes I wonder if this baby every sleeps! But everything looks good. Next week we get to go through our birth plan with the midwife. The end (or should I say beginning) is in site. It's kind of scary and exciting at the same time.

Labor Day Weekend=Wedding and Fun

My sister got married over this Labor Day weekend. B and I were both in the wedding along with 16 other bridesmaids and groomsmen! It was a long day on my feet being 8 months pregnant and all, but it was a beautiful wedding. Congrats, Nicole and Adam. We love you!

Nicole, Mom and the Sisters
(4 other bridesmaids not in picture)


Having fun dancing with my Handsome

Monday we enjoyed the beautiful weather and day off at the park with my fam and some family friends. Picnic, softball game, and THE SLIDE! Good times...

"Wax Paper makes you go faster!"

How many pregnant women do this?

**Thanks to the people I snatched these pictures from. You know who you are.**

34 Weeks

I just had my 34 week appointment with the midwife yesterday. Things are getting so close. We only have one more Bradley class to go and are scheduled for our alternative birth center orientation in the next couple weeks. The baby's room is already to go. We even have the car seat in the car. Things are coming together. The reality of this baby coming is definitely starting to settle in. I still have some fears, but am definitely feeling a lot better about things. Other, than the bruised ribs, of course. The bigger this baby gets the stronger it is getting, that's for sure. It's amazing how God created our bodies to take all of this abuse. Here are some pictures of the baby's room:

Pictures

A few pictures from the baby shower

My girls and Me

The Ladies who put in all the hard work.
Thanks again, ladies!

My mama and me w/ the beautiful tasty cake my cousin made.

The Natural Way

In preparation for breastfeeding I've started to read Breastfeeding Made Simple by Nancy Mohrbacher

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and Kathleen Kendall-tackett. After reading just the forward of the book I had a funny thought. Why is it that we have to learn how to do things that are supposed to come natural to us? My husband and I are taking a natural childbirth class, I'm reading a book about the seven natural laws for nursing mothers, we learn how to garden organically and cook unprocessed and healthy meals, how to clean with safer/homemade products. The list goes on. All of this would be unheard of to a person who was living 200 years ago. Even though I'm looking forward to reading the rest of this book I am also a little embarrassed that I even have to. I didn't grow up around women who nursed (not that I blame them for my ignorance). Could it be that our "advanced" western culture is stealing the beauty of how God made our bodies and the world to work without all of this human intervention?

Feeling The Love

There are some women in my life that I have to recognize. Last Sunday the women in our Bible study group and some other important women in my life threw us a baby shower. It was so beautiful and such a special day. They really put a lot of thought into it. Everything from my favorite candy to the "table cloths" (they were pieces of fabric that I could take home for baby sewing projects). The devotion was beautiful and the games were silly. We also received some great gifts for baby and are just putting the finishing touches on baby's room. Thanks for such a special day Jeanie, Deb, Patty, Beatriz, Julianne, Cathy, and Libbie. The Lord has truly blessed us with you in our lives.

Me & B before everyone arrived.
30 weeks pregnant here.

Awesome cake my cousin made for us!
Thanks Alex! It was yummy.

Notice the center pieces/prizes and handmade pretzel party favors. So pretty and tasty!

Also, if you have any other pictures from the shower please email them to me! Thanks!

26 week belly shot

26Weeks

I FINALLY got a belly picture. I'm feeling like such a cow these days.

B and I did some baby registering over the weekend. I was really excited to be able to park in the expectant mothers space!

Baby

It seems like after those long sick days during my first trimester ended, these past months have been flying by! I'm already into my 7th month of the pregnancy-26 weeks! I just had and appointment with my midwife last week. I had to take my gestational diabetes test (the orange stuff I had to drink wasn't all that bad). My midwife called me on Friday and told me my glucose looks good. Yay! She did say that my hemoglobin was low and I'm border line anemic and I need to go on an iron supplement. That's probably why I've been so exhausted lately. I am weighing in at 140lbs. Right on track. That's 20lbs more than my body is used to carrying around, so it's getting harder and harder to do everyday things as efficiently as I used to. Baby's heartbeat is strong and he/she moves around often. Our Bradley class is going well. I really feel like the more I learn, the more my fear of the whole birth thing is going away. I really like how this whole pregnancy is bringing my husband and I even closer than we already are. It's such a fun time! I'm feeling sooooo heavy these days. There is really no doubt that I look pregnant. I have to post a belly shot soon! We went to my Aunt's for the 4th of July and went swimming in their pool after the rain had stopped. B pulled me around as I held on to a floating device. It felt soooo good to have all that weight lifted off of me. I hope to spend more time in the water this summer!

First Bradley Class

We had our first Bradley natural childbirth class on Monday evening. Our class is made up of 5 couples. One of the couples' due date is just days before ours, so that's kind of fun. I like our instructor. She's a wife and mother of 3 children under 7. She's informative and brings a sense of humor as well.

We started off the evening talking about what the class is all about. Here are the 12 ideals: (1) natural childbirth (2) active participation of the husband as coach (3) excellent nutrition, the foundation of a healthy pregnancy (4) avoidance of drugs during pregnancy, birth, and breastfeeding unless absolutely necessary (5) training: 'Early-bird' classes, followed by weekly classes starting in the 6th month, continuing until birth (6) relaxation and NATURAL breathing (7)"tuning-in" to your body (8) immediate and continuous contact with your new baby (9) breastfeeding beginning at birth (10)consumerism and positive communication (11) parents taking responsibility for the safety of the birth place, procedures, attendants, and emergency back-up (12) parents prepared for unexpected situations such as emergency childbirth, and cesarean section.
After going through what to expect from the class we learned several exercises to start doing daily to help with labor. I like how B and I can do some of them together. We also spent a little time doing some relaxation techniques (the baby was jumping all around inside of me during that time!). At the end of the class we watched an actual childbirth video. It was of a women who was a midwife herself and had a waterbirth at home. It was very interesting, to say the least. The good thing (for me) is that you couldn't exactly see everything because of the water. I am considering having a waterbirth myself, so it was good to see. We will watch other birth videos in the classes to come as well (I hope I can handle this).

Our homework for this week is to do our daily exercises along with reading the first couple chapters of "Husband Coached Chilbirth."

I'm looking forward to the classes to come and getting to know the couples more. Most of the couples seem to be around our age having their first baby as well.

Pregnancy Update

Picture of Black-Eyed Susans from our yard last year that my talented sister took

23 weeks pregnant this week(almost 24!). I'm enjoying this 2nd trimester a lot. I'm exercising and a lot more active than the first trimester. I just feel so good most of the time. I do get a random morning where I feel nauseated and I still can't do as much as my pre-pregnancy body could in day, but I feel pretty good overall. Although, I can't resist an afternoon nap if I can get one.

I really like feeling the baby move around inside me. This little one is SO active. Every time I sit down or lay down he/she starts swimming around. Last night my hubby and I had some good laughs as we were getting ready for bed. I think the baby was doing stretches, because we were watching my belly as one side pushed up like the baby was trying to get out or something. Not quick jolts like a usually feel when the baby kicks. Really weird...and my husband related to that Aliens movie. Good times...

I'm liking how clear and glowy my skin looks. My hair even seems to be working for me better these days. I don't seem to get that heartburn or indigestion everyone talks about (but maybe as the baby grows??).

I do like looking pregnant and not just bloated anymore, but one thing I really can't get over is the number on the scale these days. I am managing to keep my weight in the normal range for a pregnant woman my size, but still...seeing a number I've never seen before scares the crapola out of me. This week I weighed in at 138 lbs. Ah! Of course, it's all baby and stuff for the most part, but I just can't get over it. The number just gets higher every week and it will for the next 4 months? Will I ever be able to get back from this after the birth? I've had to consciously change the way I walk and move. I sometimes forget that I have this big belly and get confused I can't squeeze through places I could before. Or I find myself bumping into things more.

A few nights I have been woken up in the middle of the night from our little one's kicks and I start to freak out. I start thinking that this baby is going to have to come out of me at some point. How the heck is that gonna happen? Can I really do this? Am I really ready to be a mother? What if I can't hack it? All these crazy thoughts start floating through my head...
Monday we have our first Bradley class and I'm really hoping it will start taking some of my pregnancy and birth fears away.

Thank you for all the prayers of our friends and family. All three of us have managed to stay healthy thus far! We thank the Lord every day for this little blessing growing inside me. And I'm so thankful He is allowing me to be a part of this amazing experience.

21 Weeks!

We are 21 weeks along in the pregnancy already. Halfway there! I really just can't believe it. Today was a really exciting day. Ultrasound! Byron took a half-day off of work today so we could go together. I have to say it's the most amazing thing to see your baby moving around inside of you. The spine was the first thing I noticed (pretty cool). We got to see the heart beating and the little arms and hands...and the legs and feet that were doing what they like to do (jab me in the side-haha). The appointment took really long, though-1 hour. The baby just didn't want to cooperate and was facing down for most of the time. Didn't get that great of pictures in the end, but it was still cool to see the little one who has been doing gymnastics inside of me for the past few weeks. Part of me wanted to know the gender SOOO bad, but we held strong. All in all the report and measurements all came out normal. The only thing they noted was that the baby has pretty long legs and arms and a big head, but they are all proportionate to the body....haha. Hmmmm....Maybe we'll be having a little Byron running around here after all??

Profile view (Section through Head) of our little one. Mostly head and shoulder area.

Our life these days

This weeks marks our 20th week in the pregnancy! I'm just loving being pregnant right now. This second trimester has been soooo much better than the first. I'm still feeling quite pregnant, though.

Not-so fun things: ~I do have occasional pelvic bone pressure (which can be so bad I can hardly walk) if I have a really active day or I'm walking for a long period of time with no rest (i.e. running errands) this tends to happen. ~A couple of my sisters and I went to Old Navy for their $1 flip-flop sale over the weekend. We were waiting for 2 hours in a line that wrapped all around the store! I almost made it to check-out before I had to run outside and "empty my stomach." ~One thing that has been a struggle for me is the ever "expanding belly." I love looking pregnant, but I HATE figuring out what to wear. I'm very uncomfortable in maternity pants and most of my regular t-shirts and tanks don't fit me anymore. My aunt gave me bags of maternity clothes (which I've been so blessed with), but half of them are pants and long sleeves and it's getting warmer these days. I've been working on getting a few of my own maternity clothes here and there. While my sisters and I were at Old Navy I purchased two maternity dresses along with the flip-flops. One was on sale for only $9.99. I have a feeling I'm going to spend most of these summer months in skirts and dresses.


Fun things: Byron is getting his lunches made by me and his homemade meals again. I've even been able to start cooking more meat and my pasta sauce! ~The baby has been very active these past couple weeks. Some days I think he/she's doing gymnastics in there. I've also been able to see my belly move during kicking-weird. ~Oh, and the best part is that Byron has been able to feel the kicking-finally! ~Next week is our 21 week ultrasound. Can't wait! No, we aren't finding out the gender. I like the mystery. It's fun looking at boy and girl clothes and just wondering.

Byron has been working on the garage project. Tearing it down and rebuilding it, that is.
My father and his brother helped in the "destruction" of the old one. Now it's time to build a new one! I'm just praying it's completed by the time the baby comes :)

Please pray we rent out our apartment soon. It's been vacant for one month now. We have had a little interest. I actually showed it today to a really nice girl around my age. She seemed to like it...we'll see.

Mother's Day, College Graduation, & New Hobby

We had a packed weekend. We enjoyed a nice lunch at my parents' house Saturday afternoon to meet my sister's boyfriend's parents (did you catch all that?), we hosted a pre-Mother's Day dinner at our house with the in-laws Saturday evening (first party since I got pregnant), and Sunday my sister graduated from college (we're so proud of you, sis!) and went out for a Mom's Day dinner with my side of the family.

My grandparents-in-law gave me my very own sewing machine for my birthday a couple weeks ago. I've always wanted to learn how to sew and have already been working on some little projects. I just can't wait to start making little outfits for our baby!

Reusable gift bag for Mother's Day gift
(I just loved this fabric I found on sale)

Cloth Baby Wipes/Washcloths for baby!
(I just loved these little monkeys)

My sister and her boyfriend at graduation!
Too cute.


Me and my belly at 18 weeks.
I'm just loving being pregnant!

16 Weeks

Wow, I can't believe I am already 16 weeks along in my pregnancy. I get these weekly pregnancy updates via email on things like what will be happening to my body and baby. This week they informed me I'm entering my 5th month! I guess I just wasn't paying attention. My belly is definitely getting bigger, but people who don't know still may not think I'm pregnant. I'm starting to feeling these strange flutters and am convinced it is the baby.

Here are two belly shots (not the greatest).
12 weeks and 16 weeks.

Important Things

I really do hate politics. I'm not really a fan of talking about politics all the time, however I do believe there are very important issues that need to be discussed. The issue of abortion is one of these. Liberals and Conservatives have been debating and fighting this issue for years, but for me this isn't just some "political issue." This is life and death.

I'm not going to go into all the medical technicalities of what they consider to be person and all of that. There are some things that are just common sense that we can talk about plainly.

My husband and I are pregnant with our second child. We had a miscarriage back in October of '08. We lost the baby at 10 weeks (6 weeks in size) and it was a devastating loss for us. That baby was our baby at the point of conception until it left us. My body was going through many changes with the morning sickness, swollen breasts, increased trips to the bathroom, bloated tummy. I was pregnant. There was a baby growing inside of me! I believe I will meet that little one someday after this life. Even though we didn't choose to have our baby taken away, I just can't comprehend how someone could. And now, the good Lord has blessed us with another pregnancy and being almost 16 weeks into it really makes me think about these things. Being pregnant is one (if not the only one) of the most amazing experiences in my life and I believe most women would agree. I'm going to go out on a limb here and say I believe most abortions are done out of plain old selfishness. Yes, it is scary and maybe not always so convenient, but is that really reason enough to take a life? You know, what's really funny to me is that the same people who are "pro-choice" are the same people who are "anti-gun"......hhhhmmmm

I mean if you really think about it, people don't ask a women who is expecting how their fetus is doing, they ask her how her BABY is doing.

The video I posted above (thanks mom) is devastating to me. My heart just breaks for those little ones. They need a voice. We need to be their voice for them. When is this debate going to stop being about Life and Choice and start being about Life and Death?

"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made . . . your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be" (Ps 139: 13-16)