We Are Homeowners!

It is official...

The journey and process of buying our first home came to a successful end today!

We are homeowners and are totally blessed by the opportunity to own such a beautiful house!

Below is a picture of the house that I took back in April. I will post more pictures later this week...

While, overall, the house is in good, liveable condition, it still needs a great deal of TLC. With the close arrival of baby girl, we're taking our time moving into the new house. Tomorrow we'll be having the house cleaned, carpets cleaned and then Ray will start painting and repairs. Next week floors will be refinished and we'll go from there.

We are very excited and I can't wait until we get fully moved in and settled!

Thanks to all those who have been praying for us through the season of looking for and purchasing a home. It's been quite the journey and Ray and I are very, very grateful for all those who were involved!

She's A Mini Watermelon...Week 39!

Today I am 39 Weeks! Baby Girl could be here any day!

39 Weeks

39 Weeks

Fun Baby Facts:

Baby girl continues to build a layer of fat to help control her body temperature after birth, but it's likely she already measures about 20 inches and weighs a bit over 7 pounds, a mini watermelon. (My doctors think she's actually a little bit on the smaller side...more like 6 pounds instead of 7...we will find out soon!) The outer layers of her skin are sloughing off as new skin forms underneath. All of her organs are developed and in place.

How Am I Doing/What's New This Week?

Besides swelling in my hands and feet, I'd have to say that I'm feeling pretty good. I'm tired and the simple daily tasks are getting harder and harder, but I'm still capable of doing mostly everything I need to do.

This past Thursday I started working from home. This has been really great! I mean, who can complain about working from home, in bed, with my PJ's on!? I'm really blessed that I've got great support at work, that they are allowing me to work from home right now!

Ray's mom is also here right now. She's been a huge blessing...cleaning, doing laundry, packing boxes, even cooking! While, to be honest, I get REALLY frustrated about people doing things for me and telling me to sit and take it easy, it's been great to have the option to relax!

We are closing on our new house this week. YEAH!!!! We were scheduled to close on Monday, but it's been pushed back to either Tuesday or Wednesday. I can't believe we're going to be homeowners this week!!!! It's been a long process, so we are super excited that it's about to be over! I'll post pictures later this week, once we have the keys to the house. As ready as we are for baby girl to come, we're hoping she holds off until after we close this week.

Last night our good friends, Dana & Jessica, welcomed into the world, their newest addition - Gavin James.

Gavin James, Born 6:58pm
7 lbs 3 oz, 19 inches long

That's all for now...I'll give a quick update in a few days, after close on the house and after my doctors appoint Tuesday morning...

Blessings,
Ray, Summer & Baby Girl

She's A Leek...Week 38!

Today I am 38 weeks and baby girl is close to the size of a leek (in length).

38 Weeks

38 Weeks

Fun Baby Facts:

Baby girl has really plumped up. She weighs about 6.8 pounds and she's over 19 1/2 inches long (like a leek). She has a firm grasp and her organs have matured and are ready for life outside the womb.

How Am I Doing?

I can't believe that I've been doing these weekly updates for 21 weeks now. And even more, I can't believe that baby girl will be here sometime in the next few weeks.

I'm still continuing to have really bad heartburn in the evenings and sometimes in the mornings. My weekly doctor's appointments have been going well. At last weeks appointment I was only 50% effaced with no dilation yet. My next appointment is tomorrow morning - we shall see if there's been any progress. The swelling in my hands and feet have continued to be really bad too. Many days, by early afternoon, I have to take my rings off and you can't see the bones in my ankles.

This past Saturday Ray surprised me and took me to Wolf Trap to see Cats. Wolf Trap is an amazing venue - all outside. The stage itself is covered...sort of like a pavilion. This was our first time going to Wolf Trap. It was a hot day, but we had a great time!

View from our seats before the show started...

Last week I also did the second part of out maternity photo shoot. Our photographer, Heather of Captiva Photography, did an amazing job (as usual)! This weekend she finished processing our photo's. She posted many of our pictures on her blog. Click here to view them.

Here's just a few of some of the ones we love...(It's going to be so hard to pick which ones to have developed because they all turned out amazing!)...

Ray and I really wanted to represent the city we live in through our pictures...I'd say the above picture definitely portrays where we live!

At the Lincoln Memorial with the Washington Monument in the background..

Me at the Lincoln Memorial...

This one is on the lawn at the Capitol...

Also on the lawn of the Capitol with the Washington Monument in the background...

Me in the most amazing field that Heather found just for the second part of my photo shoot!

That's all for this week. Stay tuned for more updates as we get closer and closer to baby girl to join us!

Blessings,
Ray, Summer & Baby Girl

Melon & Chard? Week 36 & 37 Update!

So, this weeks post is a two in one post...A little about last week and a little about this week...

Last week baby girl was 36 weeks and weighed around that of a Crenshaw Melon. This week she's 37 weeks and (from head to toe) is around the size of a stalk of Swiss Chard.

37 Weeks

37 Weeks

Fun Baby Facts - Week 36:

Baby girl is still packing on the pounds — at the rate of about an ounce a day. She now weighs almost 6 pounds (like a crenshaw melon) and is more than 18 1/2 inches long. She's shedding most of the downy covering of hair that covered her body as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that covered and protected her skin during her nine-month amniotic bath. Baby girl swallows both of these substances, along with other secretions, resulting in a blackish mixture, called meconium, will form the contents of her first bowel movement.

Fun Baby Facts - Week 37:

As of this week, I am now considered "full term". While I still have three weeks to go, if baby girl were to come early, she'd be just fine. Baby girl weighs approximately 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.

How Am I Doing?

I am continuing to slow down a little more and more every day. The intensity of my heartburn has gradually gotten worse. Some days it's just plain intolerable. Last night I was up until 2am with heartburn. I am now going to my doctor every week, until baby girl is born. My next appointment is tomorrow morning. I am still working, but hopefully not for too much longer. Baby girl is still extremely active. Every night Ray and I lay in bed with our hands on my belly so we can feel her move around...it's really, really amazing. Her movements are often so drastic that you can actually see my belly move with her movements.

This past weekend Ray and I were so blessed by a few of our friends...we were given a lot of baby clothes!

Me amongst all the clothes for baby girl...

We are continuing to prepare for baby girls arrival...things on the "To Do" list for this week - pack our hospital bags and put the car seat in the car.

We can't believe that baby girls due date is three weeks from today...AHHHH!!!!

Until next week...

Blessings,
Ray, Summer & Baby Girl

Just for Fun!

This is just for fun...

I went to the grocery store tonight to pick up a few things for dinner; as well as, a watermelon (I've been craving watermelon like CRAZY!)...When I got home Ray realized that the watermelon was the same size as my belly!

While baby girl is NOT the size of a watermelon yet, it sure looks like my belly is!

36 Weeks, 3 Days

She's A Honeydew...Week 35 Update!

I'm a little late on last weeks update....

Last week I was 35 Weeks and baby girl weighs approximately the size of a Honeydew...

35 Weeks, 5 Days
I'm at Great Falls, VA with Ray and my dad

Fun Baby Facts:

Baby girl doesn't have much room to maneuver now that she'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 my womb, she isn't likely to be doing somersaults anymore, but the number of times she kicks should remain about the same. Her kidneys are fully developed now, and her liver can process some waste products. Most of her basic physical development is now complete — she'll spend the next few weeks putting on weight.

What's New This Week/How Am I Doing?


This past week I struggled with a lot of swelling in my feet, ankles and lower legs. I had to make two extra trips to the doctors office to have my blood pressure taken and to do an extra urine sample. Because the swelling was so bad and it was significantly worse in my right leg and foot, I was actual experiencing pain and some numbness in my lower legs. My doctor was concerned with whether I was developing preeclampsia. Luckily I am not showing any other signs of it, other than the swelling. Part of this probably has to do with my inability to sit down and relax, so I've been instructed to "take a chill pill and take it easy".

This past weekend my dad flew in for a super quick trip to see Ray and I (and, as he said, "summer's huge belly"). It was great to see him...wish his trip had been longer. While he was here we went out to Great Falls for a few hours to enjoy the beautiful weather and eat some yummy sandwiches. It was really, really HOT on Saturday, so I walked from the parking lot to the three views of the falls and headed back to the car to sit in the shade and eat some food. Ray and dad continued on and went for a little hike before coming back to the car to eat.

Me and Dad at Great Falls

Ray and I at Great Falls

After we went to Great Falls, we stopped at the store and dad bought some amazing Porterhouse steaks that Ray could cook on the grill...They were so scrumptious!!!

Last week I started sleeping on the floor. I am beyond the point of being able to get comfortable and bless my poor husband who has patiently put up with my constant tossing and turning and my ups and downs to the bathroom. One night I was so frustrated that I moved to the floor. I was actually able to get comfortable - I piled up my pillows around me and fell asleep. The spot between the wall and the bed, on the floor, has been my spot for over a week now. Every night I do try to fall asleep in bed, but I just can't get comfortable, so it's back to the floor I go. It makes getting up to go to the bathroom a bit more difficult, but it's worth the comfort!

The other fun thing that went on this past week was that Ray and I did a maternity photo shoot with our amazing friend/photographer Heather. We did our photo shoot in downtown DC at the Lincoln Memorial and the Capitol. I am so excited to see how they turned out!!!!! Heather will also be photographing our daughters birth AND she's going to do newborn pictures of baby girl when she's a few days old. WOW! That's a lot...we love you Heather! I can't wait to see all these pictures! I promise we will share them as we get them.

And finally, we found out last week that we finally have the bank approval on the house we are buying...we've been waiting for just shy of two months for the sellers' bank to approve our offer. We FINALLY have it! Now, we are waiting for some paperwork to sign; as well as, our home inspection and appraisal. AND hopefully we will close by the end of this month. Nothing like trying to close on a house and have a baby all in the next 30 days!

Well, I think that about sums up the last week for us. There's been a lot going on and we're just about ready for baby girl to come...we've got about 28 days to go!

Until next week...be blessed!

Love,
Ray, Summer & Baby Girl

She's A Cantaloupe...Week 34 Update!

Week 34 Update...Baby Girl weighs close to an average cantaloupe!

35 Weeks

35 Weeks

Fun Baby Facts:

Baby girl 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. Her adrenal glands are continuing to grow and produce corticoid hormones. Her skull bones are still quite pliable and not completely fused together at the top of her head yet.

How Am I Doing?

This past weekend Ray and I got away to Williamsburg, VA for a few days. We had a really great time. We got to visit Jamestown and Yorktown and tour Colonial Williamsburg. Here's a few pictures from our weekend...

Governor's Palace in Colonial Williamsburg

Me in a an front of the womens quarters in Yorktown.

Ray inside the captains quarters in Yorktown.

We got to see a small re-enactment...

...and a firing demonstration.

Between the heat and all the walking we did this weekend, it was a quick reminder that I am 35 weeks pregnant and I can no longer be as active as I am used to being. The swelling in my ankles and feet got so bad. I can still feel every move that baby girl makes. When I stand up it feels like she's headbutting me in the bladder. When I sit, I can feel her push against my back or against my ribs. And when I lay down, she twists and turns all over.

We are still waiting to set a closing date for the house we are buying and as baby girls arrival gets closer and closer, we decided to go ahead and set up a room at our current house for her. We were trying to wait to do this, hoping that we'd be in the new house before she comes. There's still a possibility that we will move before her arrival, but in the case that we don't...we're all set where we are. We aren't buying her bedroom furniture until we move, so we set up the awesome pack and play that my Aunt's bought for baby girl. The pack and play came with a bassinet and changing table accessory that go on the top.

Me in front of the pack and play (hubby tried to chop my head off!)

Organizing the gifts we got for baby girl...

My dad is coming to visit this weekend...I'm looking forward to seeing him. And next Sunday is our maternity photo shoot! It's going to be a full weekend, but I plan to still take it easy...

We keep getting closer and closer to baby girls arrival...I can't believe she'll be here so soon! Hope you all are getting as excited as we are!

Until next week...

Blessings,
Ray, Summer & Baby Girl

She's A Pineapple...Week 33 Update!

Today I am 34 Weeks, 1 Day. This is our week 33 update and baby girl weighs approximately the size of a pineapple...

34 Weeks

34 Weeks

Fun Baby Facts:

Last week baby girl weighed a little over 4 pounds (heft a pineapple) and has passed the 17-inch mark. She's rapidly losing that wrinkled, alien look and his skeleton is hardening. The bones in her skull aren't fused together, which allows them to move and slightly overlap, thus making it easier for her to fit through the birth canal. These bones don't entirely fuse until early adulthood, so they can grow as her brain and other tissue expands during infancy and childhood.

How Am I Doing?

I have experienced a drastic change this past week from having heartburn in the evenings (which I haven't had my entire pregnancy) to having lower back pain and swollen ankles/feet. The heartburn hasn't been too bad, but I really have to go easy on anything highly acidic. My lower back is aching more and more - thank goodness for my husband's great massages and my heating pad. These have helped a lot in the evenings! And I started having swelling in my ankles and feet last week. One evening my feet were so bad, they actually hurt. I haven't had much swelling in my hands...a little - enough so that I can no longer wear my wedding and engagement rings, but they haven't been too bad. I'm hitting that stage of constant discomfort. Sitting on the couch (or anything soft) is uncomfortable - all I can feel is baby girl pushing at EVERY thing inside me. So I've taken to the floor or wooden rocking chair or lying on my side on the couch. And forget being comfortable and trying to sleep at night!

This past Saturday some amazing friends of mine threw me a beautiful baby shower! It was such a blessing to be surrounded by so many friends to celebrate the upcoming birth of our daughter. We received a lot of stuff from the most adorable baby clothes and handmade blankets to books and diapers. At one point, I lifted up a tiny little skirt that had bloomers underneath and I almost lost it - I still can't believe baby girl will be here in approximately six weeks and that we will have a little girl who fits into the tiny little clothes we were given. WOW! I'll post pictures later...

Ray is done traveling until after baby girl comes. He had a wonderful time in Brussels, Belgium and Tallinn, Estonia...the pictures he took are amazing! I'll try to post some later this week. I'm glad to have him home for a while!

Thursday morning we will be leaving for Williamsburg, VA for four days. We're taking a mini-vacation and we are both looking forward to the much needed time away from home and work and being able to spend a few days with each other.

Well, the countdown is really on...baby girls arrival keeps getting closer and closer!

Until next week...blessings to all!

Love,
Ray, Summer & Baby Girl

She's A Large Jicama...Week 32 and An Anniversary!

Last week I hit the 32 week mark...the countdown is on to our daughters birth! I can't believe she'll be here in about 8 weeks!

Ray left last Wednesday to travel overseas again for work and won't be back until next Sunday. He took the camera with him, so I have no belly pictures for this week...sorry! I guess we should consider buying a second camera...

So, instead of belly pics this week, I've got some pictures of Ray and I from the last eight years, as this past Friday was our wedding anniversary - it's been four wonderful years!

This is us in 2002, we'd been dating for about 1 year at this point...Oh, to be young again!

This was on our wedding day, May 14, 2006.

This was on our Honeymoon in 2006...I think we were at Joyce Kilmer National Park.

Our one year anniversary at Sea World.

July 2007 - the night we left Daytona Beach to move to Washington, DC.

May 2008

May 2009 - Our 3 year anniversary

It's crazy to think about all the changes and things that have happened in the four years we've been married. We don't regret anything and we thank God for the opportunities we have been given. I am so blessed that I married my best friend! I can't wait for all that God has in store over the years to come...

Ok, on to the baby stuff...

Fun Baby Facts:

By now baby girl weighs around 3.75 pounds (about the size of a large jicama, which is a mexican potatoe) and is about 16.7 inches long. Basically that translates to - she's taking up a lot of space in my uterus! Baby girl should 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.

How Am I Doing?

I gave in and got a pedicure this weekend...the art of bending over and reaching my toes has gotten really difficult! I can tell that baby girl is growing. I feel EVERY movement she makes. When she gets into a position that causes me pain, I often push on her, to try to get her to move...which only causes her to kick or jab even harder. She certainly has a strong personality - we call her our little fighter.

We are really getting to the countdown of our daughter's arrival...CRAZY!!! We have some buys weeks ahead as we get closer and closer to her birth...We have our last Childbirth Prep class tomorrow night, next weekend is my baby shower, the following weekend Ray and I are getting away from four days to relax and celebrate our anniversary and the following weekend I have a photo shoot for maternity pictures.

That's all for this week...I'll have belly pics next week...promise!

Blessings,
Ray, Summer & Baby Girl

She's the Weight of Four Navel Oranges...Week 31!

Today I am 31 weeks & 6 days...Baby girl is about the weight of four navel oranges...

31 weeks, 6 days

31 weeks, 6 days

Fun Baby Facts:

This week, baby girl measures over 16 inches long. She weighs about 3.3 pounds (like 4 navel oranges) and is heading into a growth spurt. She can turn her head from side to side, and her arms, legs, and body are beginning to plump out as needed fat accumulates underneath her skin.

Her irises react to light and all five are her senses are functioning.

How Am I Doing?

I am still feeling really good. My body has started aching - mainly my hops and lower back, but it hasn't been anything unbearable. Ray is amazing and has been giving me back rubs just about every night. We've been walking almost everyday too, which has really helped! Getting a good night sleep is just a memory to me now...I've forgotten what it's like and how it feels to have a good night sleep. I've taken to napping daily just to help have enough energy to function.

The last week I've had an odd craving for lemons...mainly lemons in my water, but I there's been a few days that I've just want to suck the juice straight from the lemons. Ray tells me I'm weird every time. My other carving has been for Ice Cream Sandwiches.

We had a pretty low-key week this past week...not too much going on. We did have our child birth prep class on Tuesday night and we got to tour the labor and delivery wing at the hospital I'll be delivering at. It was really nice to be able to know where to go when we get to the hospital, see the rooms and just know the overall process for our time there. We also got to see the postpartum wing and the nursery. There were four newborn baby girls in the nursery while we were there...it made me cry knowing that our little one will be here soon. We also decided on baby girls' name this week too! Ray and I were having dinner a few nights ago, talking about some of the names that we have on our list and just randomly we came up with something else that wasn't on our list. And just in case you are wondering...NO, we aren't going to tell anyone what her name is until she's born!

Friday night Ray and I drove down to VA Beach to attend Regent University's C/O 2010 Graduation on Saturday morning. Our good friend Andy Lloyd and Kristina Jowers both graduated on Saturday. Congrats Kristina & Andy!

Here we are with Julie, Jeremy & Kristina

Ray and Andy

Kristina & I

Andy with his parents

Ray & I with Andy, Julie, Kim

Until next week...blessings to all!

Love,
Summer, Ray & Baby Girl

She's A Head of Cabbage...Week 30!

I am a few days behind on posting last weeks update....

Last week I was 30 weeks and baby girl was the size of a head of cabbage....

30 Weeks, 6 Days

30 Weeks, 6 Days

Fun Baby Facts:

Baby girl is about 15.7 inches long now, and she weighs almost 3 pounds (like a head of cabbage). A pint and a half of amniotic fluid surrounds her, but that volume will decrease as she gets bigger and takes up more room in my uterus. Her eyesight continues to develop, though it's not very keen; even after she's born, she'll keep her eyes closed for a good part of the day. When she does open them, she'll respond to changes in light but will have 20/400 vision — which means she can only make out objects a few inches from her face. (Normal adult vision is 20/20.) Her skin is continuing to smooth out and her brain is getting more wrinkled as she continues to develop brain tissue. She's also strong enough now to grasp a finger.

How Am I Doing?

Last week was a really busy week for me. Ray was still out of the country for work, but I was surrounded by friends all week...I either had someone over or was invited to go over to someone's house every night last week. It was such a blessing to be able to spend time with some of the most wonderful women I know all week!

Last Monday I had an ultrasound. Because Ray was out of town, my great friend Andrea went to my appointment with me. I missed Ray tremendously and really wished he was there, but it was such a joy to share such a special moment with Andrea. (Thanks Andrea for going with me!) At our last ultrasound (around 18 weeks), our doctor discovered that baby girl had two cysts on her brain. These cysts are known as choroid plexus cysts. Choroid plexus cysts occur within the choroid plexus of the brain, which is in the middle of the fetal brain. The choroid plexus produces a fluid called cerebrospinal fluid. The fluid produced by the cells of the choroid plexus fills the ventricles and then flows around the brain and the spinal cord to provide a cushion of fluid around these structures. Basically, baby girl had one of these on each side of her brain - they looked like a pocket or bubble of water. My doctor was not concerned, as this was the only "abnormal" sign they'd seen up to this point. We were told that these cysts will normally disappear by birth, but if they didn't, they would not impact her development or health. I am very happy to announce that at our ultrasound last week, there were no signs at all of these cysts - they had in fact already disappeared! Praise God! While we weren't worried because we were totally trusting God, it was a huge relief to hear the doctors say that the cysts were 100% gone! Andrea and I got to see baby girls heart beating, her little hands and feet, her cute little nose! It was so precious and amazing to get to see my daughter! I still can't believe she's going to be here before we know it! AH!

Ray was scheduled to come home from Japan on Sunday. Friday evening, I was laying on the couch watching TV (falling asleep), when there was a knock on my front door. I got up and waddled to the door to find my wonderful husband on the other side! I couldn't help but cry because I was so overwhelmed (in a good way) that he came home two days early and surprised me! We spent the rest of the weekend at home, hanging out with each other. It was really great! Ray leaves again next Wednesday for Brussels, Belgium for four days, then he goes straight to Estonia in Northern Europe for a week. (I am secretly VERY jealous of this trip...these are totally places that I'd love to go with him to!) This will be his last trip until after the baby comes.

Well, we are starting to get down to the last stretch before baby girl comes! We can't believe it!

She's A Butternut Squash...Week 29!

Today I am 29 weeks, 6 days...our little girl is approximately the weight of a butternut squash...

29 Weeks, 6 Days

29 Weeks, 6 Days

Fun Baby Facts:

Baby girl now weighs about 2 1/2 pounds (like a butternut squash) and is a tad over 15 inches long from head to heel. Her muscles and lungs are continuing to mature, and her head is growing bigger to make room for her developing brain. This trimester, about 250 milligrams of calcium are deposited in her hardening skeleton each day.

She can open her eyes and will turn her head towards a source of any light. Her sensory organs are well developed. Her fingernails and toenails are growing and she is beginning to regulate her own temperature. The bone marrow is completely in charge of production of the red blood cells now. (www.babycenter.com)

How Am I Doing?

I experienced my daughter's foot lodged under my rib cage for the first time this week. I was in the middle of doing a security briefing with a new employee at work on Monday, when she stretched and put her foot under my ribs. This totally caught me off guard and made me jump straight up out of my chair. I had to excuse myself from the briefing to walk around the office for a minute to try to get her out because I was in pain. I apologized to the poor guy I just left sitting in my office...he just shook his head and laughed at me.

Her movements are getting more and more forceful. A few days ago I was laying on the couch with my laptop on my lap. She began kicking and if I hadn't been holding my onto the computer, she would've kicked it right off my belly.

I am beginning to notice that there are things that are becoming more and more difficult for me to do. For example, my measuring cups are in a cabinet that is above our microwave...it's getting harder for me to get them down because my tummy gets in the way. Today I stopped by Moe's to get some lunch on my way home from church, I had to ask someone to get a lid for my cup from the back of the counter because I couldn't reach them...lol! It was slightly embarrassing, but sort of humorous at the same time!

One of the questions we keep getting asked is whether we've picked a name yet. So, for all you who keep asking...no, we have not settled on a name yet. We have decided on her middle name, but her first name has yet to be decided. Once we do know her name, it will be kept a secret until she is born. Sorry to everyone who really wants to know...we have to keep some part of this a surprise! Plus, to be honest, I'd like to spare myself from people's opinions on the name we pick. Sorry! What ever name we do decide on, it will definitely be one that we've prayed over and ut lots of thought into. Ray and I both believe that naming your child is a way of prophesying over them. We won't pick a name that doesn't have a positive meaning for something that we are believing God for with our daughter.

Some other questions we continually get are things like: 1. Are you going to breastfeed; 2. Are you having a natural birth or are you being drugged; 3. Is your nursery set up and ready for her; 4. How much weight have you gained. What's really funny to me is that some of these questions are ones I've gotten from random people in the grocery store. WEIRDO's! But to answer some of them for you all...

1. Am I breastfeeding...Yes!

2. Natural vs. Medicated (I used "drugged" above, because I actually had a women in Trader Joe's come up and ask me last week if I was going to be drugged for my daughter's birth...I didn't answer her, in fact, I just turned around and walked away.) Anyways...We are planning for a natural birth...in a hospital. I say "we" because it's a decision that Ray and I have made together. This decision affects both of us, not just me. He's the one who gets to be with me as I am having contractions and working through labor pains. I am very grateful for such a supportive husband!

3. Is the baby's room/nursery put together? Nope, it's not. Why? Well, because we haven't allowed ourselves to buy anything yet. Trust me...I want to, but we're waiting. Some friends are throwing us a baby shower next month, so we're holding out for that AND we don't know where we will be living yet. Why would I want to set up a nursery in the house we're in now, just to have to pack it and move it before baby girl arrives?! So, no, we are not set up yet.

Tomorrow morning I have another ultrasound. Ray is still overseas, so a great friend of mine is joining me tomorrow morning. I miss my husband greatly when he's traveling. However, I am so blessed by the community of people we have surrounding us...Not a day has gone by since Ray's been gone, that someone hasn't called just to check on me. It often seems that I am busier when Ray is gone, then when he's here, because our friends are so quick to make sure I am taken care of. I can't even begin to say how much this is a blessing. We are truly blessed and I can't wait for our daughter to see what living in community with God-centered relationships is like. I can't wait for her to meet all the people who already love her!

Praying for each of you,
Ray, Summer & Baby Girl