Tuesday, December 3, 2013

17 1/2 weeks!

I told you I'd be bad at updating! ;)

I'm happily at 17 1/2 weeks now! Time is flying, but at the same time, I'm looking forward to being "obviously" pregnant! I think my belly is just now starting to stick out a little :) I haven't been wearing maternity clothes yet (only because I can't find any pants that fit!!) but the other day I wore a dress with tights that go up over my belly (therefore no waistline) and a couple people commented that I have a "bump" now! (I'm not convinced yet... still think it's just what was there before, only shifted around) Guess that means I need to start taking belly pics soon. :) I'm looking forward to going shopping for maternity clothes in the States, and will likely start when I have a favorite outfit I can wear for the belly measuring pics (I want to wear the same shirt every week so that it's easier to see the difference)

I haven't been feeling that "magical glow"/super woman feeling during the second trimester that all the websites and books talk about... still getting sick now and then (usually due to a headache or letting myself get too hungry) and I'm still pretty tired. But, as my Mom kindly reminded me, when she was pregnant with me, she felt sick every day the whole 9 months, so I have a lot to be thankful for! :) (sorry about that, Mom!)

I really am enjoying being pregnant. That sounds kind of funny, but I think because I had dreamed about it for a long time before it actually happened, I'm just soaking it all in! I haven't felt any movement yet... I suspect I might have, but am not convinced it was movement and at the same time, I'm not convinced it wasn't! I love getting the weekly e-mails from various websites, telling me what's developing and going on inside my belly that week. It's truly a miracle, and so fascinating! God's creation is SO amazing... and to think that's how we all got here too!

I had a 16 week check up last week and the doctor seemed really pleased with the way things are going. Baby is measuring right on target for 16 weeks :) We got to see it again (they do an ultrasound at every appointment here... which I will really miss while we're in the States!) and baby was very active! So weird to see it happen, but not feel a thing! The technician even managed to get us a shot of the bottom of a little foot which was super cool! (unfortunately we didn't get a printed picture of that) We're planning to not find out if we're having a boy or girl (I do love surprises!) but of course if we do find out "accidently" during an ultrasound, we won't be disappointed. It's kind of funny, but while Bobby is warming up to the idea of not finding out, I am warming up to the idea of finding out! :P
16 weeks! (not very clear, but if you can somehow tell if it's a boy or girl, don't tell me!)

I am realizing more and more every day that this journey of parenting is going to be a lot harder than I expect. I'm getting a little anxious about the idea of being responsible for a tiny life, completely dependent on Bobby and I... I know I've had plenty of experience with kids and babies, but I'm still feeling like I don't know anything! We've been having to/will have to make lots of big decisions about things like buying a crib (which we bought last week!!), stroller/car seat, how we'll set up the nursery (to name a few... and those are just the physical decisions, never mind all the emotional preparations!) and it can get pretty overwhelming! Some days I wonder what we've gotten ourselves into, but was encouraged recently by a quote from a blog that talked about how God knows exactly what He's given us to handle as parents, and thankfully offers plenty of grace!! (much better said on the blog, btw!)

In other news... we bought tickets to return to the States today!! We leave Japan on Dec 18th, fly to Korea and spend the night there, then leave for DC on the 19th! Can't wait!! We have to be back for my fingerprinting appointment (for US citizenship) sometime in the  next month or so (still waiting to hear when) but figured we should take advantage of this rare opportunity to have Christmas with family!! We'll have "actual Christmas" with Bobby's family, and then sometime in January have a belated Christmas with my family. I feel so blessed to be able to do this, but at the same time, these next two weeks are going to be a little stressful as we prepare to leave!! We still don't even know if the baby will be born there or here, so it's been really hard to make plans and prepare! But, thankfully it's all in God's hands ;)

That's about all I can think of for now... please keep our Christmas outreaches in your prayers! Thursday (Wednesday night in North America) is our biggest event... the Ladies' Luncheon and we really appreciate your prayer support!! We've got plenty to keep us busy in the next few weeks, but of course count it a privilege to be able to share the TRUE meaning of Christmas to a nation that only knows the Santa-side of Christmas!

Sorry that was so long winded... will try to get better at shorter, more frequent updates when we're in the States! :)

3 comments:

Sarah said...

These are such exciting and scary times for you and Bobby! I remember thinking those same thoughts about the overwhelming responsibility that a baby comes with. The real truth is you will fall into it perfectly but right now you may know lots about kids and babies but you know very little about your own little one! He or she is a mystery, a beautiful, exciting, mystery. When they come into the world it will come to you naturally! For now you just get to wonder, dream, pray and plan. We all make mistakes as parents, but aboe all your baby will be so incredbly loved, and really that is the most important thing!

Hillary said...

Thanks so much for your encouraging words, Sarah :) So good to know I'm not alone!!

Auntie Deb said...

Hi Hillary: Your friend Sarah is right, love is the most important thing in raising a child. You and Bobby are gentle loving people and your children will be greatly blessed to have such wonderful parents. Love always, Auntie Deb