Who will she be……..

I read a number of blogs each day that range from people I know really well to those that have the most inspirational stories and journeys. Earlier this week one of the blogger I follow posted about the upcoming arrival of their son. She got me thinking and soon I was asking myself many of the same questions.
I start thinking……
Who will she look like? Will she have a lot of hair? Will her eyes show her heritage? Will she love the girly things or be a tom boy? Will she love to sleep as much as her mama or will she only sleep the amount she needs? Will she be artistic or will she be all about books? Will she want to be a doctor or teacher, a scientists or a lawyer, a missionary or a politician, a firefighter or a veterinarian, an architect or a landscape designer? It will be some time before we find out some of those things but I do know that she is a child of God and will be raised knowing His love. He knows her more than we do. He knows every piece of her and everything that she will feel and experience. We have the honor to be her parents and I thank God each and every day for the opportunity. I just can't wait to see what God has planned for Alivia and our family!!

Prayers for the Osterday Family

Today we lost a very special person in our lives. Elaine Osterday went home to God this morning. She lost her battle with cancer and is finally at peace. Elaine was my neighbor across the street from my home in Sidney since before I was born. She was my piano teacher, my friend, an additional mother figure, a gardener, a seamstress, a crafter, amongst many other things but most of all she was a part of our family. I have so many wonderful memories growing up on Laredo Lane and most of them are some how or another connected to Elaine and Dick. They have always been such amazing people to our family, especially to my mom. The funeral is probably going to take place on Wednesday. Sadly, I will not be able to attend because I am no longer allowed to travel outside of an hour of Omaha but I will be there in spirit and heart. Please keep her family and ours in your prayers this weekend as we say goodbye to a very amazing woman.

Blessed be the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort others. --2 Corinthians 1

Please Pray..........

Please take a moment to pray for the Freemans. I don't personally know them but I have been following their blog for some time now. They have an amazing story of faith and strength. Their sweet baby girl Kayleigh went home to God last night at the short age of 10 months. May our prayers help them find peace and healing as they say goodbye for now.

Mother's Day!! (better late than never!!)

Mother’s Day, was an amazing day!! How wonderful it feels to be blessed with the chance to be a Mom!! Over the last few weeks there have been little things that have really made the fact that we are going to be parent so much more real. Mother's Day was just another one of those awesome reminders.

Tom surprised me with flowers (both in a vase and for the yard) and a great card. For every occasion that Tom buys me cards he finds a great dog card. They are always so perfect in that they are so sweet but they also fit his personality making it even more special. I love the fact that he found a card for today that did not disappoint!! We met his family for Mother's Day brunch. I got a very sweet card and gift from my God-Daughter Ayla. She always spoils me for being her God-Mother.

Tom had to put a few hours of work in this weekend so I took that time to do a couple of things on my "Before Livi To-Do" list. I made a trip to Micheals and bought ribbon and flowers to make embellishments headbands. I stopped at Lowe's for flowers for the outdoor pots and bought a ceiling fan for her room as well. I also ventured to Nebraska Furniture Mart to get a video camera so that we can capture the many memories that she will make with us!! So as it comes to an end all I can say is.....my first Mother's Day was fabulous!!

Gratitude........

I do an online gratitude list with a group of women on a daily basis. It is an awesome way to always remember the big and little things that God blesses us with each day. It is often too easy to think about the things that are going wrong or things to complain about but amazingly life seems so much better when you think about things to be grateful for or for which we are blessed. I was thinking today about the many things that I could complain about and then I was reminded to go back to gratitude. I always thought that I would love being pregnant. Now don't get me wrong, I don't hate being pregnant but it is definitely different than what I expected. I imagine some of this has to do with the things that they don't tell you about pregnancy, as well as the fact that it was difficult to get here and the fact that we have had a few bumps since. I have found myself getting caught up in things to complain about over the last couple weeks ......the contractions, the weight gain (aka nothing fitting normal), swollen ankles, shortness of breath, aching ribs, aching body, etc. It is always about that time that I get a love tap from inside reminding me of our little miracle from God - Alivia Miyoko. I then am renewed with this overwhelming feeling of gratitude. In less than 90 day we will get to meet our beautiful daughter that we have been so graciously blessed. With this we are beyond blessed.
So in thinking about all of this I want to share my gratitude list with all of you.

Today, I thank God for..........
* a new day
* a thriving, healthy baby girl on the way
* baby kicks - no matter how much my ribs hurt
* the ability to be pregnant and carry Alivia
* the road that brought us to today
* the many challenges we have overcome
* a hard working, loving, dedicated, amazing husband
* a strong, healthy marriage
* the support of family and friends
* continuing to bless our lives each and every day
* my Faith and the strength it continues to build
* Your amazing Will and amazing Grace

"Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks:for this is the will of God."
1. Thessalonians 5.16-18

27 weeks and counting.........

We had our normal doctor's appointment today. This lovely appointment included the glucose test. I was a little nervous about the liquid that I had to drink prior to the appointment. I was told it would task like flat orange soda. I like orange soda so in that case I would be good but you never know with things like that if it will truly taste as they say or a really bad version of what they compare it to. Well it wasn't bad at all. I was really good about the other sugars I took in today in hopes that I would only have to do the 1-hour test and not the 3-hour test. I love when Livi is active. I actually catch myself laughing when she moves a lot because it looks as though there are many aliens moving around in my belly. So what do you get when you give a pregnant woman a cup of pure sugar..........many many aliens in the belly. Livi went haywire. She was all over the place and I couldn't help but laugh at how weird my belly looked. According to the doctor, she has moved up slightly since the last appointment, which I could have told him since my right rib has been taking a pretty good beating for the past week. He describes the kicks as taps of the toes but my ribs beg to differ. I am amazed at how much punch someone so small can pack. Her movements have gotten bigger as well. There have been occasions where she has completely stopped me in my tracks. They also hooked me up to the monitor again to see if the contractions had changed. We are doing much better there as well. Basically, I am experiencing irritable contractions, which he thinks are more likely Braxton Hicks. More than likely I will experience them for the rest of my pregnancy but they shouldn't cause any trouble. He also gave me the green light to play golf. Most of you know how much I love to play and the thought of not playing was really annoying. The only restriction is that I use a cart rather than walk. So overall the appointment was a great one!! Now we just have to wait to see if I passed the test. Keep your fingers crossed.

Some notes from Week 27...........
Cravings.........Juice Stop or at least my homemade version of it, Raspberry Yogurt, Crushed Ice
Aversions............can't think of too many things
How I feel...........like a little round pregnant lady with sore ribs but filled with so much love for this amazing little girl, my daughter!!
Interesting fact.............we are within 90 days of meeting our little Miss Alivia Miyoko
Next Appointment.........May 19, 2009 at 30 weeks