Life as LawWife

I had my 18-week checkup yesterday with the midwife. Ah, I love to go see her. It's just refreshing. And the fact that she thinks I'm funny doesn't hurt.

I've gained 11lbs since the start of the pregnancy, so I'm right on target there. My blood pressure is perfect. My uterus is the right size. And Baby's heart rate was 145, also perfect.

We have to start thinking about childbirth education now. Do we want to take a class with a group? Would we prefer a one-on-one session? Or would we rather read a book? Our midwife recommended I read Birthing from Within, especially since I have a habit of overanalyzing and overthinking and birth just won't work well with that sort of strategy. She said that there are some pretty out-there ideas, but overall she thinks it would help me. I shall have to purchase it, no? :)

We have about a week until the "big" ultrasound to see how Baby is developing, and we also hope to see the sex. Woo-hoo!

I'll close with my 18-week belly shot. Prepare to be stunned.

A couple of nights ago after one of my potty runs, I got back in bed at about 2:30 and settled in on my left side. Suddenly, I felt a rush of movement. Before then, I think I had felt Baby move (a faint brush, nothing more) once or twice. This time it was like a dance party. I've never felt anything like that before! It was just so very cool. It continued for several minutes, though I eventually fell back asleep and it hadn't ended. This mama needed her sleep, even if there was a rave going on inside.

Last April, I was walking Rambaldi and praying that the Lord would allow me to be pregnant (more specifically pregnant with a child who would be born healthy and whole) by the same time the next year. This prayer came back to me recently and I was just completely overwhelmed with God's faithfulness. Did He have to answer the prayer with a yes? Of course not. I'd prayed similar things before. But not only did He give us an answer to prayer, He also was gracious enough to remind me that I'd asked. Little things like that help me feel secure in His love. I most likely would have forgotten all about the prayer (as I've forgotten many of my "unanswered" prayers), especially given that pregnancy does quite the number on memory! But He was good enough to send a little reminder that He had indeed given us a yes this time. I don't think I told anyone else about this prayer, so it was another indication, like a private wink and a nudge, that He hears me, not just the "prayer warriors" who surround me. What a great God!

I've been trying to pray faithfully for Baby. Aside from praying for a healthy, whole child, I've prayed for the wisdom to know how to handle both his strengths and his weaknesses. How to build upon the gifts God has endowed him with and how to work with him on the areas where he won't be so naturally strong. I expect to have an intelligent (based on D, me, and our parents and siblings), talented (musically, artistically, grammatically!) child, and I know we'll need wisdom to successfully shepherd our child into adulthood. I'm praying that my body will work properly in labor and delivery, that Baby will be in the proper position, and that breastfeeding will work smoothly. I'm praying for no complications so that we can stay here at home and have the birth we're hoping for.

D says he's praying for Baby to have an easy temperament, one that doesn't overreact to the smallest troubles in life. That sounds good to me, too!

Will we receive a yes on all we're praying for now? Only time will tell. But we're certainly looking forward to the journey!