Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Post worth waiting for .....

So a few months ago, I posted about our Christmas Adventures!! Things have been kinda crazy lately, with me trying to rearrange my work schedule to prepare for summer.
One story from Christmas that we will now share is what I like to call
"The Christmas Peanut"
After we opened gifts with family, and everyone was sitting around trying to gather their boxes and wrapping paper, Michael asked everyone to stop what they were doing because we still had a gift to hand out. Michael said he would explain once everyone received theirs. Well, He was handing out a peanut to everyone. My sister thought it was a contest to see who got the biggest one :)
Once Michael had handed a peanut to everyone, he proceeded to say, "Ok, now hold your peanut in your hand for safe keeping, some of you may have noticed that Ashley is NOT holding one in her hand, that is because she carrying 'OUR' peanut in a very special safe place!" It didn't take long for everyone, especially our moms to figure out what was going on! :) Lots of tears were shared, and hugs!! We had a hard time keeping in from family for almost a WHOLE month!!!



So everyone has been keeping their "peanut" in a safe place, but also in a place where they can see it on a regular basis as a reminder to be praying that this little life would continue to grow stronger and stronger!

We decided to keep it with just family for awhile, and a few close friends who were joining us is praying.
Peanut is scheduled to make an appearance sometime around August 1!! This happens to be my cousin Kaitlyn's birthday and she is pretty excited to have the chance to share her birthday!!

As we approached our 18-20 week ultrasound, the emotional waves of anxiety began to come our way again. We were told this may happen as we approach the time in pregnancy that we lost McNugget. Which for us was the ultrasound. God was SO good to surround us with many loved ones praying! We were receiving notes, emails phone calls and texts throughout the week which helped take the anxiety away. One good friend sent us some scripture,

PSALM 46

1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;

10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

These verses reminded me that no matter how the appointment went, as one of God's children, I know He had His arms around me, and that everything He would bring our way would ULTIMATELY bring Glory to His name!

So, March 2, was our ultrasound, we went in, and had decided a month earlier that we would request the tech we had the first time. We needed to have positive associations with her and her ultrasound room. She was a very compassionate lady, and was aware of our anxiousness. She gooped me up, turned on the monitor and this was the FIRST image we saw, and making it the first picture she took!!




Talk about a Gift from God!!! Peanut was laying in the perfect spot for a profile shot!!! We had fun watching Peanut get annoyed as the tech tried to get baby to move so she could do measurements. We had a blast during this ultrasound!! I had told her that Peanut was probably sleeping, as this is when I usually am in the car singing along to the radio, so this was probably nap time! We DID find out Peanut's gender, and we will share...eventually!! We would like to enjoy this with our family for now, and then announce at showers! We are just so excited that Peanut was growing nice and strong, and 2 days ahead of schedule :) According to measurements anyway!

I was out shopping for myself the other day, and the lady I was with, she knows, along with everyone else, that we have called this baby 'peanut' since we first found out. She was browsing through baby clothes, and found this onesie!! Spelling may be wrong!!




We love it because it can work for both a boy or a girl!! I really just loved how it says 'LIL' Peanut' How perfect!!!!

For those who have been praying for us, we are truly GRATEFUL!!! For both your prayers, and for our God who has just showered His love on us through Peanut and all of you!!!

We know that God has a plan for Peanut, and we are excited to watch that plan unravel.

1 Samuel 1:27

I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him.