8 weeks June 30, 2009

Baby is now 5/8 of an inch long, about the size of a kidney bean. Webbed fingers and toes are poking out from baby’s hands and feet, eyelids practically cover the eyes, breathing tubes extend from the throat to the branches of developing lungs, and the “tail” is just about gone. Baby’s arms have lengthened, too, and the hands are now flexed at the wrist and meet over baby’s heart. The knee joints have formed, and feet may be long enough to meet in front of baby’s body. In the brain, nerve cells are branching out to connect with one another, forming primitive neural pathways.

learning the gospel June 29, 2009

We have recently been talking to Josiah about preaching the gospel.  One of the things we do is “practice.”  Josiah, without help, say “God is holy.  Man is bad.  Jesus is good.”  Ok, it sounds more like “God holy.  Man bad.  Jee good.”  It is still encouraging!

weighty update June 28, 2009

I am now 13.6 lbs!!!!

intruder June 25, 2009

My brother, Nate, came over to help Jim with a project and as we were eating Nate and I were reminiscing on the “old times.”  One memory we were remembering that I thought I would share with you all.

As most of you know, I am from a family of 6 kids (plus my foster siblings).  One night my sister, Melissa, and I were babysitting so our parents could go on a date.  Not an uncommon routine.  I believe that I was about 15 and Melissa about 16.  Anyway, almost everyone was on the main floor watching a movie (only Nate was upstairs watching a “non-girlie” movie, romances of any level didn’t suit him), when we heard the door bell ring.  Melissa went to go get it, but instead of answering it she ducked and started whispering to me.  I just rolled my eyes at her thinking “what is so scary that you hide?”  I got up to get the door, but just like Melissa I hid as soon as I saw him.   Through the small window by the door was someone standing there is a halloween mask (I believe it was spring or summer, not even close to halloween).  Melissa and I bolted for the kitchen where she grabbed a broom and I, rolling my eyes at her again, grabbed my mom’s largest knife.  My thoughts were “yeah, swing the broom to where he would rather run away!  that is sure to scare him off!”  After the door bell rang again it took only a few seconds before Nate came running in the kitchen, eyes wide!  He took one look at what we were doing and grabbed a second broom handle (he was about 12).  Just then the door opened and we heard “we’re home” call from our dad… the relief lasted a portion of a second before the suspicion spread across our faces.   It didn’t take long for my dad to confess his “joke.”  He was the only one laughing.

7 weeks June 23, 2009

Hands and feet are emerging from developing arms and legs — although they look more like paddles at this point than the tiny, pudgy extremities . Technically, baby is still considered an embryo and has something of a small tail, which is an extension of it’s  tailbone. The tail will disappear within a few weeks, but that’s the only thing getting smaller.  Baby has doubled in size since last week and now measures half an inch long, about the size of a blueberry.

If you could see inside, you’d spot eyelid folds partially covering it’s peepers, which already have some color, as well as the tip of the nose and tiny veins beneath parchment-thin skin. Both hemispheres of  baby’s brain are growing, and the liver is churning out red blood cells until the bone marrow forms and takes over this role.  Baby also has an appendix and a pancreas, which will eventually produce the hormone insulin to aid in digestion. A loop in baby’s growing intestines is bulging into the umbilical cord, which now has distinct blood vessels to carry oxygen and nutrients to and from it’s tiny body.

I love to eat… June 19, 2009

… my lower lip!

silly idea June 17, 2009

It has been really hot here lately (at least to me it has) and one day I decided Josiah and Eva would like to run/sit in the sprinkler/pool.  While Eva tolerated it for about 10-15 minutes, Josiah played for about 45 minutes!  For a kid with an attention span like him, this was a long time.  Anyway, he was running and then splashing into the water while Eva and I clapped and cheered (and were secretly pleased that he wasn’t splashing us with the freezing water), but Josiah had this silly idea that he had to ask permission before every run/jump.  I tried several time to say “you don’t need to ask.”  I also asked “are you going again” to give him the impression that he was making the decision.  I also told him “splash as many times as you like”  (I know his attention span, so I wasn’t thinking we would have been out there for 3 hours).  All this to no avail.  He still thinks he has to ask!

6 weeks June 16, 2009

The nose, mouth, and ears that you’ll spend so much time kissing in eight months are beginning to take shape. If you could see, you’d find an oversize head and dark spots where the baby’s eyes and nostrils are starting to form. Baby’s emerging ears are marked by small depressions on the sides of the head, and the arms and legs by protruding buds. The heart is beating about 100 to 160 times a minute — almost twice as fast as mommy’s — and blood is beginning to course through baby’s body. The intestines are developing, and the bud of tissue that will give rise to the lungs has appeared. The pituitary gland is forming, as are the rest of the brain, muscles, and bones. Right now, baby is a quarter of an inch long, about the size of a lentil bean.

partners in “crime” June 16, 2009

Josiah and Jim

Eva and Traci

FAQ on baby June 12, 2009

Yes, we are thrilled!  The timing is perfect!!!   Josiah walks around saying “two babies!”  (except for when he called grandma to tell her, he was told to say “three babies”)

Yes, I am still going to Africa.  Women are pregnant in Malawi all the time and yes, I am planning on being VERY careful in what I do there.  I will be traveling with two MDs… they will keep an eye on me.

We are hoping to find out the gender!  Whether at 20 or 40 weeks I am not sure.    We have clothes for both… especially girl!  With Eva being so little for a long time that if it is a girl then pretty much all the clothes are the perfect size.

Yes, we are open to sharing the names.  If it is a boy then Calvin Edwards (just like we had if Eva was a boy).  If it is a girl then the name is Annalise Faith (not calling her Anna!  To confusing with a cousin named Anne!)  Josiah said “lise” when we told him the names… he did not comment on Calvin.  Calvin Edwards is after two theologians.  John Calvin and Jonathan Edwards.  Annalise means grace belonging to God and Faith… well, that is self explanatory.