You may (or may not) have noticed that I changed the title of my blog. My focus is still on family and how we raise our kids to serve the Lord with all of their heart, soul, and mind. But I've changed it for one good reason.
We're about to become a family of 6!
Yep, you've read correctly. And before anyone asks, yes, I know what causes pregnancy. We didn't just find out. :) I have all of these wonderfully snarky comments that I'd love to say to the next person who asks me if I "know what causes that," but I just don't think I'd be bold enough to share them. Especially not within earshot of my kids.
But all of that aside, we are going to be blessed with another baby in March 2012!
Everyone in our house is pretty excited about the new baby, except for Ruth because she is just too young to understand. She's only 18 months old. This will definitely be a new experience for us, as all of our other children have been about 3 years apart. Ruth and the new baby will be almost 2 years apart exactly! In fact, at my OB appointment today, I asked the doctor how early they schedule c-sections (because this will be my third c-section, but my first planned one), and he said that they schedule them no earlier than 39 weeks. He gave me a new--and supposedly final--due date today. March 21, 2012. My due date has been all over the map during that week in March, but this one is supposed to be it. And according to him, the baby would be born no earlier than March 14. Whew! That means that both Ruth and the baby will have their own birthdays, but separated by just a very few days!
Since today's appointment was an ultrasound appointment, he asked me if I'd like to know the gender if he could tell. I told him yes. That just isn't my kind of surprise. Sorry! I had hoped that he would be able to tell the gender, but I certainly didn't count on it. Both Hayden and Ruth were extremely shy at this early ultrasound and I had to wait until the one later in pregnancy.
You know, I've seen ultrasounds of all of my children, and have even seen several of this child already, but the view never ceases to amaze me. To see that tiny heart beating, the sweet little movements, and even the hiccups--all of those things point to God. David said it so beautifully in Psalm 139:13-18:
13 For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
17 How precious to me are your thoughts,[a] God!
How vast is the sum of them!
18 Were I to count them,
they would outnumber the grains of sand—
when I awake, I am still with you.
When watching the ultrasound today, I couldn't help but to think on this passage. God has formed this child so perfectly, so lovingly, so beautifully. He knows all of the inner workings of this baby. He has plans for this baby! Honestly, my heart rejoices to know that my Heavenly Father loves this child even more than I already do.
And now, to answer your question, yes, the doctor was able to tell me the gender of the baby today. And Hayden was quite the excited little guy to learn today that he is finally getting a baby brother!
