This past Monday I went in for my weekly check-up. After finding out that I had progressed significantly (4cm, 90% effaced) my midwife said we'd be "having a baby very soon!!" This, of course, excited us both. I was just hoping for Micah to make his appearance by his due date - September 3rd, but prepared to go pass that as well. She made the guess that he would be born within 48 hours - "Wednesday, August 22nd at 10am sounds good." Of course, that guess has come and gone... but we are still excited to be expecting our first baby boy! We thought it might be fun to include you guys in a little "guessing game" with us as we wait! The person that guesses closest... well, I will think of a special way to reward you. :)

Here are the instructions:

1. Choose a date! Click on a date in the calendar below. Will he be an August or September baby? You decide! 2. Fill out the form. First/Last name, email & don't worry about phone number (unless you want us to call/text you with the good news!) 3. Details. See how accurate you can get in the details section, by including as much or as little as you want of the following info:

• Time - Hours and Minutes AM/PM (example: 5:30am)
• Weight - Pounds and ounces (example: 6 lbs, 7 oz)
• Hair color - no hair, blonde, brown, black or red
• Eye color - blue, green, brown, hazel

4. Press send. Once you submit your form, that date is reserved for you! If you want to make a guess for a date that has already been chosen, please leave a comment on this post and let me know your choice. :)

 A few details about mom & dad:

1. The due date is September 3rd. 2. This is our first child. 3. Josh was 6 lbs, 1 oz, brown hair, hazel eyes 4. Cassidy was 8 lbs, 9 oz, brown hair, hazel eyes

Let the guessing game begin! And may the odds be ever in your favor... :)

[booking nummonths=2 startmonth='2012-08']

Pregnancy Highlights:

How far along: 37 weeks (FULL TERM!!)... only 21 more days to go. :) Thanking Jesus for a healthy and smooth pregnancy so far! Size of baby: 19.25 in and 6.3 lbs (although, my midwife said she is "guesstimating" Micah to be about 6 lbs 14 oz right now) Maternity Clothes: Of course. :) And lately I have been wearing Josh's t-shirts at night because they are just much more comfortable! Gender: Little man! Movement: Whoever said that the baby stops moving as much in the third semester was crazy... this boy has kicked it into high gear with the movement! He is squirming all around and turning my belly into all different shapes. It's amazing to watch! He is pretty active in the mornings and later in the day, around dinner time. Sleep: This is my routine - fall asleep around 11:00pm, wake up at 1:00am, back to sleep, wake up at 4:00am, back to sleep, wake up at 6:30am, back to sleep, wake up (for good) at 8:30am. And yes, I pee every single time. I'm not complaining though - at least I get to sleep in a little bit AND it is preparation for when baby comes! :) What I miss: I miss being able to bend over without feeling like I'm going to break my back!! Haha, honestly... I'm starting to miss my old body a little, just because it is SO much harder to move around now. Not to mention the swollen hands and feet. But I know I'll miss being pregnant, so I'm enjoying it while I can. :) Cravings: Still craving LEMONS like crazy! All I drink is lemon water. I don't even want a soda. This is pretty crazy coming from someone who had a hard time finishing a bottle of water, but could chug a can of Cherry Coke pre-pregnancy. I hope this craving sticks around for awhile. :) Symptoms: This is funny now... what symptoms do I NOT have should be the question! :) Obviously the huge belly, wiggling baby, and urge to pee every 15 minutes should cover it. Still have a little heartburn/reflux, but I think I'm learning to manage it a little better. Been having some Braxton Hicks on and off, as well as a little cramping feeling. Oh, and I've had a sharp pain down my left leg occasionally that must be the baby on my sciatic nerve. Ouch. Best moment this week: Going to the doctor, hearing the baby's heartbeat and learning that I am almost 3 cm dilated and 75% effaced!!! SOON!!

Took a few pictures of Micah's nursery! I have been excited to get it done. Still need to purchase a crib mattress and crib sheets, but we are waiting on that since he won't be sleeping in his crib for a couple months. We are going to keep him in our room in the bassinet that comes with the pack n play, since his room is all the way across the house. It will be more comfortable for him to feel close and for me when I'm getting up to feed in the middle of the night. So... just imagine light blue sheets and blankets that will be in the crib soon!

Also, please excuse the less-than-quality photos. I had to use the self-timer to take shots of me in them! :)

This navy blue chest was mine when I was growing up. It's so neat to be able to pass it down to Micah! I used it for everything from toys to college notebooks and photo albums. :)

His first gift was a succulent plant from his aunt Courtney! I actually drew inspiration from the colors found on the cup, for his room.

Thanks for stopping by! Hopefully soon I can post pictures of my little man in his very own room. :)

"The fruit of the Spirit's not a coconut! The fruit of the Spirit's not a coconut! If you want to be a coconut, you might as well hear it, you can't be a fruit of the Spirit! 'Cause the fruits are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control!"

This was the childhood song that helped me memorize the fruits of the Spirit found in Galatians 5:22-23. It went through all different types of fruits - apples, bananas, cherries, watermelon and yes, coconuts - with motions to represent each one. It was a fun song to sing as excited children on our way to church on Wednesday nights!

But the fruits of the Spirit have proved harder to practice than memorize.

I am a fruit lover. Always have been, and this pregnancy hasn't changed that one bit! But when it comes to the fruits of the Spirit, I think I have fooled myself into thinking that being a "coconut" is good enough. I look good, I taste nice and I cause nobody any harm. But after meditating on Scripture lately that would encourage these actions and attitudes in me, I've realized that truly possessing and living life in the Spirit is not all peaches and pineapple. And I am taking this responsibility even more serious knowing I will be a MOM in just a few short weeks!

My heart's greatest desire right now is to raise our son up to know and love the Lord. In order to do this, Josh and I have been evaluating our own lives and asking the Lord to show us areas that we need to improve in before he comes. We have begun establishing boundaries in areas that we know will be unhealthy and calling ourselves to a higher standard of living. Knowing we will never be perfect, but desiring to be holy because HE is holy.

Here is a great passage of Scripture that says it best.

Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God.   With the Lord’s authority I say this: Live no longer as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused. Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him. They have no sense of shame. They live for lustful pleasure and eagerly practice every kind of impurity.   But that isn’t what you learned about Christ. Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.   So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body. And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil.   If you are a thief, quit stealing. Instead, use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need. Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.   And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.   Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. - Ephesians 4:1, 17-32

I have taken these verses and made them personal to my life. This obviously isn't a passage of Scripture to be taken lightly, as Paul states in the beginning of this chapter... "I BEG YOU to lead a life worthy of your calling." That is a powerful statement!!

When we truly begin to take God at His word and practice what is called of us... hello! it is difficult. Even more difficult, is when it causes division between those we love. Sometimes raising the bar for yourself, means losing a few friends along the way. Sometimes leading a life worthy of your calling, means separating yourself from the old life you once lived. And still, sometimes you are lucky enough to influence others around you to lead a life worthy of their calling as well.

But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don’t worry or be afraid of their threats. Remember, it is better to suffer for doing good, if that is what God wants, than to suffer for doing wrong! - 1 Peter 3:14, 17

God has us on the journey of our life right now... we are in the home stretch of becoming parents! But this calling of living a godly life starts now. Yesterday, really. It should not be put off, even if it's difficult, even if you have to make adjustments that hurt. God will reward your faithfulness.

And remember, if you want to be a coconut... you can't be a fruit of the Spirit.