good parenting begins before birth-16 weeks

So at about 14 weeks, my weekly pregnancy e-mails were telling me that the baby can hear me talking. This has ensued many conversations in which I look like I crazy person talking to myself, when in reality, I'm talking to the baby. I've told the baby all about summer and how it's very hot out, but we get to go to the beach, but then in the winter, it's cold, and we get to play in the snow. I have lots of random conversations with the baby, for the most part.

But once I knew the baby could hear us talking, I became a lot more aware of my language. It's not that I curse a lot because, honestly, I don't. But oddly enough, now that I'm trying not to swear, I'm doing it more. It's terrible! But it's better that I'm wrestling with this issue now than when the baby comes. So pray for me and TJ that we would be able to guard our tongues better!

In church today, I was getting choked up thinking about how our baby could hear us singing worship songs. I realized, in very deep way, that those are the things I want our baby to hear. I want our baby to hear us worshiping God. I want our baby to hear me saying, "I love you" to his/her father. I want our baby to hear us giving encouragement to others and being joyful and optimistic about things.

So I guess being a good parent starts while the baby is still in the womb. It feels like a lot of pressure sometimes, but I'm glad to realize that now while we still have time to change our hearts and correct behaviors like cursing so that we can teach our children by being strong examples ourselves.

14 weeks

This picture is of my friend Debby and me. Debby is due in a little over a month! I traveled to the far reaches of the earth (or what felt like it, anyway) to get to her baby shower, but it was well worth it! It's so exciting to be pregnant the same time as some of my friends.

This past weekend was Debby's baby shower, but it was also our Sunday school class's camping retreat. TJ and I aren't really into camping (least of all, me), but we were planning to camp out anyway. I didn't want to be the people who didn't stay overnight. However, during one of my numerous midnight pee breaks a few days before the retreat, I really started thinking about the logistics of me staying over. We had to walk about 5 minutes away (if we used the shortcut through the woods) to get to the bathroom from the campsite. And it was questionable whether the weather would cooperate or not. Plus I've been having trouble sleeping due to my back hurting and trying to sleep on my left side, as recommended. All of these factors led us to the decision to come home to sleep during the retreat. I definitely think it was the best decision.

There are a few things I really wanted to do this summer that I have had to forgo as a pregnant woman:
a.  Hershey Park's new roller coaster
b.  George May's 360 degree swing
c.  Skydiving
d.  Riding my bike a lot
e.  Open bar at weddings

Those are just a few of the things that I've had to postpone, but it's well worth it for our beautiful baby!

Most recent craving: Potato soup
Baby's heart beat at last doctor's appointment: 158 bpm.