Jeremy

Our mutual friend and Jeremy's pastor, Andy Teston, articulated my feelings and thoughts so well about our loss. These are his words:

I have been in ministry in various capacities since 1991. Through the years, I have seen God use various situations and relationships to shape and form me. One of those relationships that has most profoundly shaped me has been my friendship with Jeremy Dwayne Moore.

Jeremy was gunned down this past Friday while delivering pizza in Oklahoma City. This was his second job, for he also worked for a printing company in Oklahoma City. Jeremy was the proud new father of his baby girl, Lillie. Lillie was born just last week, October 28th. Sure he’d gotten the cart before the horse, but it was his intention to asked Jamie to marry him the night he was killed. They had picked out and purchased the ring the day before, but Jamie wanted to be asked. Jeremy had planned to do it right.

Through the years that I have known Jeremy, I have known him to be one of the most honest persons around. When many others doubted life, society, or even God, and they put on mask to cover up that doubt, Jeremy was always willing to honestly deal with that doubt in public. Many people that claim Christianity would label him as “lost,” but I beg to differ. Jeremy was one of the most “found” persons I have known. Through the years, Jeremy and I have had the privilege to struggle out loud together. We have laughed, cried, mourned and celebrated together. The togetherness of the relationship was what Jeremy was all about, and he stirred that same desire in all of us.

Last night as I gathered with family and friend in Oklahoma City, someone finally asked the question that I knew would eventually be asked. “Is Jeremy in heaven? Was he a Christian?” If loving Jesus and loving others is the definition of what a Christian is, then the answer is “Yes, Jeremy was a mighty fine Christian!” Jeremy didn’t live his life for himself, but always for the other. Along his journey of faith, he had for a time stepped away from what many church folks would say is “Christian.” I know, however, that every step of that journey, Christ knew and was involved in. The wideness of God’s mercy is greater than our human understanding can know or possess. Jeremy was the epitome of graciousness. I can only hope that all of us who claim to be grace filled could be as gracious as Jeremy.

At this time, we don’t know yet details of the funeral, not any other arrangements. We hope to have some of those answers by the end of the day. We don’t know who took Jeremy from us as either. We are all dealing with a whole range of emotions. Jeremy’s capacity to love people was only matched by the likes of Mother Teresa, or other heroes of faith we read and hear about. It is my belief that Jeremy would love the person that perpetrated this crime; I know that God does. Let us all take care to pray for Jeremy’s family during this tragic loss. Let us also pray for the one who has done this. In Christ teaching us to pray, he instructed us saying “Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us…” (Matthew 6:12).

I will miss my friend. I am grieving hard. But I also know that through it all, we are not alone on this journey we call our faith in God. May God richly bless us all in the relationships that we have, hold, and share. I love and will miss you Jeremy Moore. Shalom.

Jeremy's Obit:

Jeremy Dwayne Moore was born on October 15, 1979 to Dwayne and Joyce (Bussard) Moore in Okarche, Oklahoma. He passed away Friday, November 7, 2008 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma at the age of 29. Jeremy graduated from Calumet High School as Valedictorian of his class in 1998 and attended Southern Nazarene University in Bethany for three years, and was currently attending University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond, Oklahoma. Jeremy served in the United States Army Reserve and was honorably discharged in 2004. He worked for G&S Printing in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He enjoyed building "green" furniture, loved music, collecting old albums, loved to go thrift store shopping for vintage items, loved hanging out at the coffee shop, pulling practical jokes, and loved to explore his artistic abilities including painting. Jeremy is survived by the love of his life Jamie and his daughter, Lillie LaRae of Oklahoma City, OK his parents Dwayne and Joyce Moore of Calumet, OK one brother Josh Moore and wife Satirah and their children Jacob and Josalyn of El Reno, OK grandfather, Raymond Bussard of Guthrie, OK and a host of Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, other relatives and friends (from the Red Cup), and special friends Gene and Shirlene Tarbox, Nathan and Mandi Greenfield, and Gavin, Madison, and Katie. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Jim and Amalee Moore and Annette Bussard. Memorial donation may be made to the Jeremy Moore Memorial Fund at any Midfirst Bank in Oklahoma City, OK. Viewing will be at the Mercer-Adams Funeral Home, 3925 N. Ashbury, Bethany, OK, Tuesday and Wednesday from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM. Services: First United Methodist Church, 10:00AM, Thursday, Nov. 14, 2008, Calumet, OK. Officiating: Rev. Andy Teston, Rev. Kevin Rogers, Rev. Lance Schmitz, Rev. James Trippett. Burial: Canadian Valley Cemetery, Calumet, OK under the direction of Turner Funeral Home, Geary, OK. Condolences may be sent to turnerfuneralhomes@gmail.com

Maranatha!

Our Friend!

Our friend and my college roommate was murdered in a senseless act of violence on Friday, November 7th in an apartment complex three blocks east of our church. Jeremy was a man of peace and grace. He was thoughtful and caring. Dr. Howard Culbertson reminded me of the time, when Jeremy was involved with our church during the planting days, that he tried to get a cross dresser involved in our congregation. He would look for him each Sunday to try and bring him to church. That's the kind of guy Jeremy was. He wanted everyone to experience genuine community and a life changing relationship with the homeless Rabbi.

Jeremy had a genuine love for all people - especially the marginalized, poor, and forgotten ones of our society - it was evident in his life. I would really like to write a meaningful tribute, but I can barely think... there is a deep pain in this kind of loss. Pray for his brand new baby girl... pray for the family that he leaves behind... pray for our broken community... for our broken world. Lord have mercy on us - Maranatha!

This was the news report from channel 5:

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Police said a man who was shot and killed in the parking lot of an Oklahoma City apartment complex was working as a pizza delivery driver.

Investigators said Jeremy Moore was killed at the Lantanna Apartments in the 7400 block of Northwest 10th Street. Neighbors called officers after hearing gunshots at about 7 p.m. A Papa John's Pizza delivery vehicle was found just about 100 yards from Moore's body.

Police said someone made a fake call to have a pizza delivered and then killed Moore after he arrived. They said the motive appeared to be robbery and won't say how much money Moore had with him. A Papa John's employee told KOCO that workers aren't allowed to carry more than $20.

Moore was the father of a newborn baby girl. A longtime friend said Moore was working part-time at Papa John's to try to make extra money to buy a house and to raise his baby.
"Jeremy was a saint," said Rev. Lance Schmitz, of the Oklahoma City First Church of the Nazarene. "He's just always been a person that loved people, wanted to take care of people and cared about people and the environment."

Can't believe...

...that it's been more than 3 months since I've posted to this thing! (so sorry! priorities shift!)

...that we've been in OKC nearly 2 months...and are homeowners! (all grown up now!)

...that the cats haven't totally made me crazy with begging to go outside all the time now that we let them into the lovely fenced backyard!

...that the cats have not figured out how to climb over the fence...yet (PTL!), have not brought us any "presents" from their backyard adventures, and that I've only had to rescue one of them from the tree once (and have the scratches to prove it!)

...that I would much rather give birth again any day than go through the crazy ordeal we went through in moving down here...seriously not fun, but the Lord got us through and we lived to tell the tale!! (and one day I'll laugh about it, I'm sure...)

...that I am so happy to be back in the land of Braum's Ice Cream and Dairy Stores...and that I am now hopelessly addicted to their Peanut Butter Cup ice cream!!!

...that I have a 3 month old baby...seems like just yesterday that I was huge and pregnant!

...that time is already flying by so quickly, or that I would so desperately want it to stand still to capture every moment

...that what started as a tiny bunch of cells nearly a year ago grew to become the not-so-tiny (13 pounds and growing!) person I see today...what a MIRACLE it truly is!!

...that the actual birth process was everything I thought it would be and at the same time nothing like I thought it would be....the hardest thing I've ever done and yet the most natural...it was awesome, beautiful, and so empowering!

...that having a natural birth would make me such an advocate for it...and amazed that more women don't attempt it!

...that the next time around (Lord willing...and hopefully it won't be too soon!) I would really like to have a homebirth with a midwife, possibly even a waterbirth (see this documentary on The Business of Being Born...amazing! EVERY woman who is even considering having a baby should watch it!)

...that I'm no longer just Sara, I'm Ephraim's mommy (and "the pastor's wife")!

...that you can love another person so completely

...that I could find so much joy in watching my baby sleep

...that my heart could almost melt when Ephraim flashes a smile!!

...that it would be such a thrill to do something that makes Ephraim laugh...or that we would get so creative at it!! (let's just say, he likes blowing raspberries, goofy faces/noises, and songs from Fiddler on the Roof, Mary Poppins, and Sound of Music....oh yes, and Old MacDonald had a Farm!!)

...that you can survive for so long on so little sleep *yawn* (it is getting better...he's been sleeping almost the whole night through since 8 weeks! now if I could just stop being such a nightowl...)

...that being a stay at home mom does not automatically mean that the house is perfectly clean and dinner is on the table every night (hehe, guess my delusions of turning into Martha Stewart will safely stay in the realm of fantasy!!)

...that I have virtually NOTHING written in his baby book, when I swore that I would be so good at keeping up wit it!

...that caring for another human being could be so all-consuming and such an awesome responsibility...I figure if we both survive to see another day, I did a good job! :o)

...that there is so much STUFF that comes along with a baby!

...that there are still so many boxes in here...hey, who's in charge of unpacking, anyway?! And more importantly, who decided that Oklahomans don't need basements?!? Where are you supposed to keep your STUFF???

...that I've been outside of the house so little since we've been here (cabin fever, anyone?)

...that it hasn't gotten below 90 degrees since we've been in OKC (I don't think, anyway...that whole not leaving the house thing...maybe that's not such a bad thing!)

...that I was healthy as a horse during the entire pregnancy (seriously, NEVER been healthier!), but that within the first 2 months postpartum I've had 3 infections requiring antibiotics (guess I'm making up for having an "easy" pregnancy!)

...that I could fit into my pre-pregnancy clothes 2 weeks post-partum and am less than 5 pounds away from my pre-pregnancy wait!! (yay! breastfeeding really is the best diet!)

...that taking a shower would become my daily victory (sometimes an infrequent one...)

...that spit-up is not the only baby by-product that can be explosive (I'll spare you the details...)

...that I could stand to wait more than a day (or 2...) to change our sheets when there is baby poop, pee, and/or spit-up on them (I know it's gross...don't judge me!!)

...that using cloth diapers is so much fun...yes, I used "fun" and "diapers" in the same sentence. :o)

...that I would have reason to be so interested in any other person's bodily functions (or proud of them!)

...that I know people with 4 kids who seem to get so much done when I can't seem to figure it out with just 1!!! (you know who you are, and I am truly in awe)

...that breastfeeding could be so rewarding when it's going well, and so frustrating when it's not! (but that is pretty rare...it really is wonderful!) I can see why women give up on it during the hard times, but I am committed to making it work because I know it is one of the best gifts I can give Ephraim!

...that I survived my first overnight trip away from Ephraim (3 nights!!), and that he thrived in spite of it! (thanks, Mom...you were a lifesaver!)

...that while every day may not go exactly like I planned, and that even though I may get frustrated and lonely some days being at home, there is nothing I would rather do than to take care of the precious life I helped to create. I love being a mommy!! :o)

...that I am promising to post more often from here on out...thanks for being patient during all of our transitions, but most of all thank you for PRAYING for us during it all...we felt your prayers!

...that you read all the way through to the end of this post (I know it was long!!)!! :oP

Demotivation

Family life and ministry life has kept us extremely busy these days. Sometimes you just need a little demotivation. I thought I would share some of my favorite demotivators with you. Enjoy!

Have a productive week!

Back in the Big OKC

Sara and I began a journey over five years ago that has come full circle. While we were students at Southern Nazarene University, we began working with an urban church plant called New Life Community. I served as their youth pastor for about three years and then when the planting pastor left, I filled in as interim for a time. We left for Kansas City about five years ago that I might attend Seminary - we had a sense then that God would call us back to this unique ministry.

New Life Community partners with an amazing compassionate ministry called Reaching Our City (ROC), which offers numerous services to this community. We feel blessed to be a part of this powerful compassionate movement.

Standing back and observing all that has happened to bring us back to this place, I can only say that it is nothing short of providential. We moved late last Thursday - driving all night with a caravan of vehicles, a six week old baby, and three cats that we might be here to close on our house early Friday morning - then unpacking, preaching Sunday and getting things in order all week... well, I'll just say we've gone through some refining heat over the last few weeks. I don't have time to go into all the details, but I'll post more as we get settled in. You can also check out some info on the church at http://www.okcnewlife.com/

These are just a few of the kids that we are reaching in the community. You can check out more about ROC at their website http://www.reachingourcity.org/ Until next time ~ Blessings in Christ!

Before & After

Now, we really do have a before and after to show. We went back to Lea Murphy to get Ephraim's new born pics. He cooperated about as much as one might expect from a four day old. I think we'll have some great shots to remember this blessed time in our lives.

Lea is gracious enough to put up a sample of our shoot on her blog. We'll go back next week to see all of the pictures and try to decide what we want to purchase without breaking the bank...that's going to be tough.

Ephraim Todd Schneberger's Birth Day!

At 5:27am on Sunday morning the miracle began. Sara had her first real contraction. Obviously, we were excited and anxious as we anticipated all that this new day might bring.

Sara's friend Jaye, who just happens to be a labor and delivery nurse, had just arrived from New Mexico on Saturday. Sara wanted to share this experience with her best friend and receive all the support possible. Shortly after her first contraction, Sara went in to Jaye's room to get the diagnosis - labor had begun!

It was time to take a shower and begin making all the calls. The first call was to Dawn, Sara's doula. Since Sara wanted to have a natural birth, she began working with Dawn and she was a God send. We really couldn't have done it without all the support that we received.

Sara wanted to labor at home as long as possible. The contractions were coming pretty regularly through the morning, so I had to call our worship pastor Tim and let him know that I would not be preaching on this particular Sunday...time to go to plan B.

Sara was contracting about every 6 to 7 minutes and they were lasting anywhere from 30 to 60 seconds. Around 11am we decided to go for walk. During and after the walk the contractions began to come more regularly and were lasting longer. Soon they were coming every 3 minutes and lasting 75 to 90 seconds. It was time to go to the hospital.

We arrived at St. Luke's Northland on Barry Rd. around 1:00pm. They checked Sara shortly after arrival and she was dilated to 7 cm and 100% effaced and the baby was at 0 station. We had made lots of progress and we knew our little boy would be coming into the world soon.

Sara continued laboring so well without any pain medication. Around 3pm they checked Sara and she had only moved to 8 cm and not progressed any further, but that was primarily because the bag of waters had not broken yet, which was providing a cushion that was prohibiting the baby's head from coming down much further. When at 4pm Sara had made no more progress and was still at 8cm, the doctor talked to us about breaking Sara's water in order to help labor ...we took a few minutes to think about it and then decided to go ahead.

The doctor came in and broke Sara's water at 4:06pm. Then, everything began to progress very quickly. Around 4:30 pm Sara began to feel the urge to push. She started pushing at 4:48pm and Ephraim was delivered at 5:18pm. Only 30 minutes of pushing for her first baby! Sara did such a great job with the whole pregnancy, labor and delivery - no pain medication whatsoever.

The first hour after delivery was full of frenetic activity. Cutting the cord, getting pictures, weighing and checking vitals, getting pictures, making all the calls, getting baby to feed. What a miracle. He is here!

Ephraim weighed 6 lbs 15 oz and was 19 3/4 inches long. Mom and baby are both healthy and doing well. And I got video of the whole thing...but I don't think mom will probably let me post it on the world wide web. But, if you are lucky enough to come by our home, you might get to see some of the video.

Ephraim got his first bath around 12:30am. We've been up and down all night checking and feeding and changing, but it is definitely worth it!!

You can check out our pictures at the link over on the right. We will constantly be updating the blog and our pictures of our miracle!

The Miracle: 39 Weeks

Not much time left now! Today has been a bit rougher than yesterday...I am definitely feeling heavy and achey and very much pregnant! I woke up with my lower back and hips really hurting, as well as a dull ache in my abdomen. Could be signs that I overdid it with my walk around the neighborhood yesterday, or it could be signs of early labor. It's kind of a toss-up at this point! I took some tylenol and Richard and I went for a shorter (and less hilly) walk today after lunch, which I think helped to loosen me up a little bit (well, Richard walked...I waddled!). We'll see what the rest of the day holds!

"E" has remained very active, in spite of having less room to move around...can't believe I'll soon get to feel his squirms and wiggles from the outside instead of the inside! Thanks to the website http://www.spinningbabies.com/, I was able to determine that he is in an optimal position for a relatively smooth labor and delivery. Since I am wanting to try for a natural birth (that's right...no drugs! call me crazy...it's just something I've always wanted to try...letting my body do what God designed it to do without unnecessary interventions), having him in a favorable position now can really make a difference in the speed and ease of labor. I know it won't be easy regardless, but it helps to know that it doesn't have to be even more difficult! So we'll see how it goes...you know I'll keep you posted!

I hope (and think) this will be my last post about baby "E's" progress in utero...from here on out I sure hope I get to post about how he is growing and changing out here in the real world! :o)

How your baby's growing: Your baby's waiting to greet the world! He continues to build a layer of fat to help control his body temperature after birth, but it's likely he already measures about 20 inches and weighs a bit over 7 pounds, a mini watermelon. (Boys tend to be slightly heavier than girls.) The outer layers of his skin are sloughing off as new skin forms underneath.

The Miracle: 38 Weeks

Can't believe we are talking about the baby being here in a matter of days, rather than weeks! I am finally feeling ready. Since the doctor's appointment last Wed we have managed to accomplish quite a few things on the "to do before baby" list, so I am not stressing out at this point! Today we had another doctor's appointment, and while me and baby are both doing great, she said we are pretty much at the same place we were last week, so no further progress. I had figured that would probably be the case...we REALLY toned down the walking and stretching after last week's appointment, because I knew I wasn't ready for this kiddo to get here any earlier at that point! Now that we have more of our ducks in a row, I'm ready to get back to our former routine. And what a beautiful time of year to get out and enjoy walking around the neighborhood...I LOVE the spring! All the green and all the trees budding and flowers in bloom and birds singing...this is why I wanted a spring baby!

Thank you to all who have been keeping me and the baby in your prayers. I have said it before, and I will say it again...this has been a very blessed pregnancy! I really am feeling wonderful...no major physical complaints at all, still sleeping through the night (with maybe one visit to the bathroom at most), no major swelling, etc. The doctor this morning was actually surprised when she asked how I'm feeling and I told her that I feel great...she jokingly let me know that it was ok to say that I was ready for this all to be over and how horrible I was feeling, etc, etc. I just smiled and told her that, REALLY, I feel great! Now we're just playing the waiting game. My prayer is that with an easy pregnancy we can also expect to enjoy an easy and happy baby...we'll see how that pans out! Guess we'll find out soon enough, at any rate. :o)

Even though I'll be 39 weeks tomorrow, here is how "E" has developed over this past week:

How your baby's growing: Your baby has really plumped up. He weighs about 6.8 pounds and he's over 19 1/2 inches long (like a leek). He has a firm grasp, which you'll soon be able to test when you hold his hand for the first time! His organs have matured and are ready for life outside the womb. Wondering what color your baby's eyes will be? You may not be able to tell right away. If he's born with brown eyes, they'll likely stay brown. If he's born with steel gray or dark blue eyes, they may stay gray or blue or turn green, hazel, or brown by the time he's 9 months old. That's because a child's irises (the colored part of the eye) may gain more pigment in the months after he's born, but they usually won't get "lighter" or more blue. (Green, hazel, and brown eyes have more pigment than gray or blue eyes.)

Before & After

We went to a photographer named Lea Murphy yesterday to get some before and after shots taken. This one is obviously from the "before" category. Once baby "E" is here, we will get some infant shots with him.

Working with Lea has been a great experience so far. We would recommend anyone in the Kansas City area, especially if you are having a little one soon to contact her. Check out her website at the link above to see her great work. She posted this pic on her baby blog, we'll see the others when we go in for the next photo shoot...we'll have a little one with us then...it is hard to imagine that it could be any day now. Soon and very soon we are going to see a baby!

The Belly Pics...

Ok, so we went ahead and took some "belly pics" tonight, since the belly may not be around that much longer! Wish I had been taking these all along on a weekly basis (like I originally intended) so that I could see the progression...I'm such a procrastinator! Since the baby has dropped my belly is sitting pretty low...definitely looks like a basketball underneath my clothes! You can see all the belly pics on our Flickr photostream (click on the photostream to go to our Flickr website and see them all in a larger size), but I'll go ahead and post some of my favorites. :o) Just be forewarned...I'm kinda pasty, so my belly reflects some of the flash!! (hehe)

This one really makes my belly look like a balloon stretched so tight it's about to pop. I'm not uncomfortable, though...it just looks that way. :o)

E.T.'s First Video

I'm getting accustom to our new video camera that I might be familiar enough with it to get some good video of our baby's first days. As you'll observe in this video becoming a parent does make one quite a bit dorkier. Oh the joys of parenthood.

The Miracle: 37 Weeks

Ok, so things are definitely picking up steam here!! Saw the doctor again today, and she was very surprised with how much progress I had made over the past week (I wasn't as surprised...I've been walking our very hilly neighborhood, our basement stairs, and doing gentle squats and lunges to help prepare my body and use gravity to get "E" in a good low position). Today I was dilated to almost 3cm, 80% effaced, and the baby has dropped to a -2 station. The doctor said that "E" will probably arrive before his due date, and that we could expect to go into labor anytime in the next week or so. YIKES!! Maybe my exercise strategy was a little TOO effective! I feel like a ticking time bomb...so much to do, so little time! (of course, watch us be jinxed now, and "E" will get stubborn and decide to stay inside his current comfy home until the 15th!!)

I worked today on getting my bag packed for the hospital so that I can be ready to go at a moment's notice. Last night Richard put some plastic down under our mattress pad, just in case my water breaks while I'm in bed (it's unlikely, but a friend who it's happened to twice highly suggested being prepared just in case...it would stink to have to replace the mattress when you're already paying through the nose for all the baby stuff!). The carseat bases are installed in both our vehicles. We have a few more items to get at Babies R Us, but I'm hoping "E" will hold off until after this weekend...I have a coupon I want to use to get the pack n play and it's not good until the 25th!! :o) Tonight we go for our infant CPR class. I still need to call a photographer to get a nice belly portrait...before the belly is gone! The list goes on...but I'll stop boring you with the details! Just pray that "E" holds off until his mommy is through her to-do list...I'm thinking the middle of next week should suffice, but Cinco de Mayo would be even better!! :o)

Technically I will be 38 weeks tomorrow, but I'll go ahead and post about "E's" development during week 37 anyway...just so we don't skip anything important! Let's see what type of random food they compare him to this week... ;o)

How your baby's growing: Congratulations — your baby is full term! This means that if your baby arrives now, his lungs should be fully mature and ready to adjust to life outside the womb, even though your due date is still three weeks away.Your baby weighs 6 1/3 pounds and measures a bit over 19 inches, head to heel (like a stalk of Swiss chard). Many babies have a full head of hair at birth, with locks from 1/2 inch to 1 1/2 inches long. But don't be surprised if your baby's hair isn't the same color as yours. Dark-haired couples are sometimes thrown for a loop when their children come out as blonds or redheads, and fair-haired couples have been surprised by Elvis look-alikes. And then, of course, some babies sport only peach fuzz.

The Miracle: 36 Weeks

One more week down, one week closer to baby "E's" arrival! We went to see the doctor today and she said that I am progressing beautifully. I am measuring right where I should be with good weight gain and good blood pressure. The doctor said that the baby's head is "engaged", which means that he is in the proper "head down" position and he has dropped lower into my pelvis. So for those of you who have commented that my belly looks a little lower lately, looks like you were right! :o) He has been sitting pretty low this whole time, so I didn't really notice the change. Guess you other moms and grandmas out there are just much more observant!

For the nitty gritty details from the visit, the doctor also said that my cervix is dilated to 1cm and is 70% effaced, and the baby is at a -3 station. For those of you who have no idea what that means (and why should you? I had no idea what any of that meant until I got far enough along in my pregnancy!), maybe I can help put it in perspective. Basically, when my cervix is dilated (opened) to 10cm and is 100% effaced (softened), it means that the baby can start moving through the birth canal. The +/- number before the station means where the top of the baby's head is in relation to approximately the middle of my pelvis, so a negative number means he is higher than that point in the pelvis, a zero means he is right there, and a positive number means he is on his way out. I could get more technical, but I think you get the gist! If you want more info, look it up! :o)

I have been feeling pretty good lately. Some days I am a little achier than others, but really nothing too bad. I haven't started to notice any pre-labor contractions yet, but that is somewhat normal for a first pregnancy. I have been waking up early in the morning lately and having a hard time falling back asleep...I'm not uncomfortable, I simply feel wide awake! It hasn't left me feeling too tired yet, though. Maybe this is just my body's way of preparing me for all those late night/early morning feedings yet to come! Overall, though, I feel really great! This truly has been a very blessed pregnancy!

Enough about me...here is what is going on with "E's" development this week:

How your baby's growing: Your baby is still packing on the pounds — at the rate of about an ounce a day. He now weighs almost 6 pounds (like a crenshaw melon) and is more than 18 1/2 inches long. He's shedding most of the downy covering of hair that covered his body as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that covered and protected his skin during his nine-month amniotic bath. Your baby swallows both of these substances, along with other secretions, resulting in a blackish mixture, called meconium, which will form the contents of his first bowel movement. At the end of this week, your baby will be considered full-term. (Full-term is 37 to 42 weeks; babies born before 37 weeks are pre-term and those born after 42 are post-term.) Most likely he's in a head-down position. But if he isn't, your practitioner may suggest scheduling an "external cephalic version," which is a fancy way of saying she'll try to coax your baby into a head-down position by manipulating him from the outside of your belly.

The Miracle: 35 Weeks

Wow...time is flying fast! We are almost through the 35th week, which puts us at about 4-5 more weeks to go! The baby is getting bigger all the time (as am I!), and he is still very active. I enjoy his movements, though...there have only been a couple times where they have been truly uncomfortable (quit poking me in the ribs, kid!). I always take his squirms and wriggles as positive signs, though...better to have an active baby than to not feel much movement and worry that something is wrong!

We are still working to furnish the nursery and get all the last little things in place, but it finally feels like things are coming together. I am starting to feel the need to get my bag packed so that we can be ready to go at a moment's notice...I've been so busy taking care of things for baby, I haven't really taken time to get my own stuff together! At my last appointment, the doctor said that the baby was head down in the proper position and that it looked like he would probably stay that way, so that is a big praise. Now to just make it through the next few weeks...

Here is a little bit about how "E" is developing this week:

How your baby's growing:Your baby doesn't have much room to maneuver now that he's over 18 inches long and tips the scales at 5 1/4 pounds (pick up a honeydew melon). Because it's so snug in your womb, he isn't likely to be doing somersaults anymore, but the number of times he kicks should remain about the same. His kidneys are fully developed now, and his liver can process some waste products. Most of his basic physical development is now complete — he'll spend the next few weeks putting on weight.

Breastfeeding Class

I would never have imagined in my wildest dreams that I would be attending a Breastfeeding Class in my lifetime. I'm still not sure why, but Sara insisted that I go with her to the class last night. I was sure that I would be the only guy there, but to my surprise there were lots of guys in attendance. We are either really supportive husbands or we're all whipped and easily dragged around by our pregnant wives. I guess there is a third option, guys who couldn't turn down the opportunity to see breasts on a big screen. But I have to say that it was not appealing in the least. I hope that I'm in the supportive husband camp - all I know is that my dad wouldn't have been caught dead going to a breastfeeding class. How times have changed.

If this all seems rather crude, forgive me. When you are getting ready to have your first child things change and some level of modesty is simply thrown out the window. I just wanted to share with everyone that I earned some brownie points last night, and they were hard earned points, too. I guess that it is the least I can do since Sara has to really do all the work.

It is easy for us guys to get sidelined during this whole pregnancy thing. Moms get to bond even while the baby is still in the womb, they are "mom" from the very beginning. Dads are a little left out and limited in our bonding until the baby is actually here, which is coming up very quickly for us. May the Lord help me continue to be the kind of supporting husband that goes to breastfeeding classes and a loving father, just like Him.

The Miracle: 34 Weeks

Only 4 - 6 weeks to go! I can't believe that it is getting so close! Stuff is starting to multiply. Sara has been diligently searching on craigslist.com and other places for slightly used items. We were able to get a glider for $20 and a nice swing for about half of what we would pay to buy it new. She also went to a ginormous 55 family garage sale this weekend and pick up quite a few clothes and other small items.

God has blessed us so much! We should be able to get everything we initially need through friends, gift cards, hand-me-downs, garage sales, etc. We are preparing every day because we know the little guy will be here before we know it.

Everyone has been telling me to get all the sleep that I can now before he arrives. That has been somewhat difficult - I think I've been sleeping less now than I have for a long time. I have a number of things on my mind with the baby coming and some upcoming major transitions. Also, don't tell Sara that I said anything, but she started snoring about three weeks ago. Whenever she happens to roll onto her back then the trees in the forest start to fall out of fear from all the sawing that's going on. After a while I'll finally roll her back onto her side, but that doesn't help with the sleep issue either.

We still have a little bit over a month to go. Pray that this last month goes well, that we are able to be as prepared as possible for all the coming changes, that the delivery goes smoothly and for the health of both mom and baby.

Here's a little more about his current development:

Your baby now weighs about 4 3/4 pounds (like your average cantaloupe) and is almost 18 inches long. Her fat layers — which will help regulate her body temperature once she's born — are filling her out, making her rounder. Her skin is also smoother than ever. Her central nervous system is maturing and her lungs are continuing to mature as well. If you've been nervous about preterm labor, you'll be happy to know that babies born between 34 and 37 weeks who have no other health problems generally do fine. They may need a short stay in the neonatal nursery and may have a few short-term health issues, but in the long run, they usually do as well as full-term babies. See what your baby looks like this week.

The Miracle: 33 Weeks

Thirty-three weeks down, seven weeks to go! Technically, once I hit 37 weeks that means the baby could come any time after that, so that takes us down to possibly only four weeks to go! YIKES!!! Baby "E" better wait a while longer than that to come if he knows what's good for him...I need more time to get ready!! My belly button hasn't turned into an "outie" yet...I hear that until it has "popped" that means the baby isn't "done" yet, so I guess I still have a little more time! ;o) And Richard can just hush about me getting big...his waistline hasn't been shrinking any lately either!

The baby shower was so much fun (thanks to all who came!), and we got a lot of really nice things for "E"! I don't know where our cord went to download the pictures from our camera, but once we find it I will have to upload those onto Flickr...the cake alone was amazing...3-d and shaped like a baby block, complete with letters and numbers on the sides! My friends Melissa and Sarah threw such a great shower, and I feel truly blessed to have such great friends looking after me. :o) We are still looking for a few "big ticket" items (dresser/changing table, glider, pack-n-play, swing...), but the nursery finally feels like it is coming together, so that is a relief.

Richard mentioned my obsession with diapers...and yes, it has become an obsession! I'm not talking about your average disposable diaper, either, lest you wonder what all the fuss is about. I have wanted for some time to use cloth diapers when we started our family, and so I have been busy building a "stash" for our coming little one. Now before you go getting all grossed out about cleaning up poo from cloth diapers and worrying about sticking the baby with diaper pins and making them wear plastic pants, let me just say that cloth diapers have come a LONG WAY from what they were when my mom and Richard's mom used them on us (which I'm proud to say they did!), and that some cloth diapers are as easy to use as disposables! There are tons of websites out there extolling the virtues of cloth over 'sposies (just type "cloth diapers" into any search engine and prepare to be amazed!), and there are whole communities of people besides myself who think it is anything but crazy, but here are the main reasons I am excited about it:

• Cloth diapering (CD'ing) saves quite a bit of money over just using and tossing disposables (especially when you can save and reuse them on a 2nd child);
• CD'ing is an environmentally friendlier option than dumping a ton of diapers in our landfills;
• CD'ing is healthier for the baby on a variety of levels, and using natural fibers (rather than paper/plastic) allows their skin to breathe, resulting in almost no diaper rash;
• and last but not least, babies in cloth dipes just look so cute with their fluffy little butts!!! :o)

So just watch and see if I don't convert some of you naysayers out there...you just might find yourself a wee bit jealous when baby "E" has the cutest, fluffiest butt in the nursery! ;o)

So, now that I'm stepping down off of my soapbox, let me share a little of what's going on with "E's" development this week:

How your baby's growing: This week your baby weighs a little over 4 pounds (heft a pineapple) and has passed the 17-inch mark. He's rapidly losing that wrinkled, alien look and his skeleton is hardening. The bones in his skull aren't fused together, which allows them to move and slightly overlap, thus making it easier for him to fit through the birth canal. (The pressure on the head during birth is so intense that many babies are born with a conehead-like appearance.) These bones don't entirely fuse until early adulthood, so they can grow as his brain and other tissue expands during infancy and childhood.

The Miracle: Week 32

Sara is getting BIG! Don't tell her that I said anything ;-) I guess that is normal when you're 32 Weeks along. She's also become obsessed with diapers - an obsession that I hope holds up after the little guy is here. Maybe she'll enjoy changing them and I can get out of most of that.

The baby shower is this Sunday afternoon. We've been waiting to see what other people get us before we go out and purchase a bunch of baby stuff - so the nursery is still quite bare. But, I have a feeling things are going to start happening pretty rapidly. What a great time to begin thinking about new life - I can't think of a greater blessing in this world. Here is a little more info on how the little guys is developing:

How your baby's growing:

By now, your baby weighs 3.75 pounds (pick up a large jicama) and is about 16.7 inches long, taking up a lot of space in your uterus. You're gaining about a pound a week and roughly half of that goes right to your baby. In fact, she'll gain a third to half of her birth weight during the next 7 weeks as she fattens up for survival outside the womb. She now has toenails, fingernails, and real hair (or at least respectable peach fuzz). Her skin is becoming soft and smooth as she plumps up in preparation for birth.

I don't even know what a "jicama" is - the people who write this stuff are weird.

The Miracle: Weeks 27-30!

Ok, so it has been a LONG time since I updated this thing! February was a busy month, and I am a bit of a procrastinator (I know...what a shocker!), and the two things combined meant that many things went undone around here, not the least of which was this blog! So here's a run-down of what's been going on since the last time I posted...

Richard and I went to Eureka Springs to stay at our favorite B&B over Valentine's Day. It was SO GOOD to get away! The weather was beautiful while we were there, so it made it nice to get out and walk around and check out all the quaint little shops in their downtown area. I went and had a VERY NICE massage to help out with the pregnancy aches and pains...I have a feeling I may need a few more of those in the days and weeks to come!! We ate at some really great restaurants while we were there (and at one cafe I even got to indulge my hankering for cinnamon rolls...homemade, no less!), and those of you who know me also know that food is almost more important to me than where we stay!! :o) We also got to do a little shopping for "E" and the nursery, and I am probably most excited about the print we purchased from a local folk arist. It is pictured at the top of this entry, and I love that it combines our farm animal nursery theme with my love of nursery rhymes! It's so much cuter in person.

I've been feeling really well overall this month. I can tell that I'm getting a little achier and I get a bit more tired after a long day, but I'm none too worse for wear I suppose! I've only had a couple nights where I've laid awake in bed for a while without being able to sleep, and one night it was bad enough to make me get up and go into the living room to read for a while until I became sleepy again. Usually though I can sleep through the night with only getting up once in the wee hours of the morning to, well, wee. ;o) That may change in the days to come! I am definitely feeling a bit more cumbersome...not used to carrying this extra weight around, but I'm getting used to it. The weather was so nice here on Saturday that Richard talked me into getting out and taking a walk around our neighborhood. I SWEAR there were not that many hills the last time I walked that route! Or at least I didn't feel them as much. But it felt so good to be outdoors enjoying the sunshine that I really didn't care. Can't wait for more days like that!

Well, here is a rundown on what has change in "E's" development over the past several weeks...it's so fun to know how he is growing and changing!

Week 27

This week your baby weighs almost 2 pounds (like a head of cauliflower) and is about 14.4 inches long with his legs extended. He can now open and close his eyes, and he sleeps and wakes at regular intervals. He may suck his fingers, and although his lungs are still immature, they would be capable of functioning — with assistance — if he were to be born prematurely. Chalk up any rhythmic movement you may be feeling to a case of baby hiccups, which may be common from now on. Each episode usually lasts only a few moments, and isn't bothersome to him, so enjoy the tickle. (Side note: "E" has the hiccups while I'm typing this entry!! He has them several times a day at least...my mother in law says if he has lots of hiccups he'll have lots of hair...can't wait to find out if this old wives' tale is true!) With more brain tissue developing, your baby's brain is very active now. Wonder what he's thinking?

Week 28

By this week, your baby weighs two and a quarter pounds (like a Chinese cabbage) and measures 14.8 inches from the top of his head to his heels. He can blink her eyes, which now sport lashes. With his eyesight developing, he may be able to see the light that filters in through your womb. He's also developing billions of neurons in his brain and adding more body fat in preparation for life in the outside world.

Week 29

Your baby now weighs about 2 1/2 pounds (like a butternut squash) and is a tad over 15 inches long from head to heel. His muscles and lungs are continuing to mature, and his head is growing bigger to make room for his developing brain. To meet his increasing nutritional demands, you'll need plenty of protein, vitamins C, folic acid, and iron. And because his bones are soaking up lots of calcium, be sure to drink your milk (or find another good source of calcium, such as cheese, yogurt, or enriched orange juice). This trimester, about 250 milligrams of calcium are deposited in your baby's hardening skeleton each day.

Week 30

Your baby's about 15.7 inches long now, and he weighs almost 3 pounds (like a head of cabbage). A pint and a half of amniotic fluid surrounds him, but that volume will decrease as he gets bigger and takes up more room in your uterus. His eyesight continues to develop, though it's not very keen; even after he's born, he'll keep his eyes closed for a good part of the day. When he does open them, he'll respond to changes in light but will have 20/400 vision — which means he can only make out objects a few inches from his face. (Normal adult vision is 20/20.)

The picture below is what "E" might look like at about 30 weeks. Look how much bigger he is than the picture posted at 26 weeks!! My little boy is getting so big...

Ugly Baby

I know that it is difficult to tell people that they have an ugly baby...I hope our little boy doesn't look like this, but if he does...please don't try to spare our feelings - of course, we'll love him no matter what...but, whew...that is an ugly baby!

Baby Commercial

This was one of my favorite SuperBowl commercials...it has a baby in it, so I thought I'd share it here. Enjoy.

Baby-Moon

Well, we're headed out on our "Babymoon" this afternoon. If you've never heard of such a thing, you're not alone. I thought a baby-moon was what you got each time you changed the little guy's diaper. But, apparently it has become pretty popular for pregnant couples to go on a mini-vacation a few months prior to their due date. This seemed like a good idea, since the baby is due just before our anniversary which means we won't be going anywhere this year and since we haven't really gone anywhere for the past couple of years on our anniversary, I felt somewhat obligated to make this happen for my lovely wife. Even better that the trip happens to fall over St. Valentine's Day - of course, I can't take credit for that, since Sara made the initial plans.

We're going somewhere familiar and somewhat close - Eureka Springs, Arkansas. We are heading back to a Bed & Breakfast that we stayed at during our first three anniversaries, but we haven't been back for over three years. It should be a nice, relaxing get away. If the weather was a tad warmer, that would be even better, but we can't really complain.

Eureka is an eclectic community that offers a unique vacation experience. (I should be writing for their tourism department.) I hope we really enjoy this little mini getaway because it could be our last for quite some time - May 8th is quickly approaching.

Until we return - Blessings in Christ ~ RLS

The Miracle: 26 Weeks

I can't believe we are at the end of the second trimester...it has gone so quickly that it seems strange to think that 2/3rds of the pregnancy is behind us already! I definitely feel like we are "counting down" rather than "counting up" at this point.

The nesting instinct is kicking in pretty hard, and I am feeling the crunch to hurry up and register for baby things and get the showers scheduled so that we can finish decorating the nursery!! Thanks to all of my mom friends who were so gracious in helping me sort through their own lists of most useful (and useless!) baby items...as a new mom-to-be with no younger siblings, I feel so clueless about every little detail! I know what things I think are pretty, but that doesn't mean that they will be helpful in the long run, so thank you for helping me to steer clear of things I won't really need. Less is more!

I can tell "E" is getting bigger all the time. He seems to be developing a schedule of sleep and activity...now if when he arrives we can just get him on our schedule! :o) Just yesterday I realized that he has started to have hiccups...I didn't recognize them at first because they were happening very close together (unlike when adults have hiccups), but when I asked a mom friend about it she confirmed that's what I was feeling. "E" also seems to be somewhat of a show stealer...on Monday evening I was with some of my Mary Kay girlfriends, and he was moving around so much that everyone was watching my tummy and getting distracted from what we were trying to talk about! Could we have a "ladies' man" in the making?

Here is a little about how "E" has been developing over the past week:

Your baby now weighs about a pound and two-thirds and measures 14 inches (an English hothouse cucumber), from head to heel. The nerve pathways in his ears are developing, which means his response to sounds is growing more consistent. His lungs are developing now, too, as he continues to take small breaths of amniotic fluid — good practice for when he's born and takes that first breath of air. If you're having a boy, his testicles are beginning to descend into his scrotum — a trip that will take about two to three days.

Those Manning Boys!

What a game! I just thought that I would let everyone know that the New York Giants Super Bowl victory may have narrowed down our name choices. Before the game started, Sara and I informally agreed that if the Giants won, we would take Eli out of the running for name considerations.

I know...I know that sounds backwards. It is because we're afraid there is going to be a sudden spike in baby Eli's running around this year and we don't really want to be a part of a popular trend.

Nothing is set in stone yet, but it looks like we're leaning more and more toward Ephraim Todd. Thanks for voting...but it seems that the Manning boy may have sealed the deal - I'm sure he could care less, after all he just won the Super Bowl.

The Miracle: 25 Weeks

Ok, so again I am slow with the posting of where we are at for the week (though I'm not sure who made that my job anyway...), since technically I hit 25 weeks LAST Thursday! But at least Richard has funny stuff to post in the meantime to keep people happy (whoever is actually reading this!). :o) This is probably how it will be once the baby comes...Daddy gets to do the fun/goofy stuff with Baby "E" and Mommy takes the serious side and manages the day-to-day. So typical! ;o) Well we'll have to see about that.

So yeah, "E" is definitely a squirmy little worm! He has moved from kicking/punching/tapping to more of a rolling movement...it's hard to describe! I figure it is probably because he is growing to the point that there is less room for him to make such strong/swift movements as before, but he can still turn somersaults to some degree. And it's so weird now...at times he must be pushing up against the front of my abdomen, because I can feel this hard knot from the outside! He doesn't stay there for long, but it's kind of a neat feeling. Sometimes I'll just poke around my tummy a little bit to see where he is at the moment...I try not to push too hard, because I don't want to leave any dents in his soft little head if that happens to be what is facing outward at the time! He seems to like to lay horizontally right around my belly button...it's probably usually his back or butt that are pressed up against my tummy, but I can't be sure. I just take it as a good sign that he's moving around. it's nice to have that reassurance, even if it is kinda weird!

Here's a little bit more about "E's" development for this past week:

Head to heels, your baby now measures about 13 1/2 inches. His weight — a pound and a half — isn't much more than an average rutabaga (???again with food comparisons???), but he's beginning to exchange his long, lean look for some baby fat. As he does, his wrinkled skin will begin to smooth out and he'll start to look more and more like a newborn. His hair is probably recognizable now (in color and texture), although both may change after he's born (personally, I picture him as having blond to light brown hair - hopefully curly! - and green/hazel eyes. I'm not making any bets, but it will be interesting to see once he finally arrives!).

Happy Baby

Baby "E" has been moving around quite a bit lately - it is a unique experience. Our friends have decided to call him E.T. because those could be his initials. That might be appropriate as the whole birthing process seems somewhat alien.

Sara continues to feel well. Last week she had bad headaches two days in a row, but they went away and haven't returned. We're just glad that they are both healthy and continue to pray that everything goes smoothly until he arrives. (Is that how we say it? I mean he's technically already here - I guess we should say until he's out.)

First priority is that he and mom are healthy...and I know that different babies have different temperaments and personalities, but is it selfish to pray that he's also a calm and happy baby? He would get the calm from me and the happy from his mom. We'll just have to wait and see, but I think it'd be pretty fun if we had some days like they're having in this video - you can't help but laugh when you watch something like that - everything seems to come into perspective when you hear a baby laugh. I hope it brightens your day.

Baby Do's and Don'ts

A friend of ours sent us these pictures as the "Do's and Don'ts of Parenting." She must not have much faith in us as first time parents. What do you think?