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Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: 27 weeks, 1 day Size of baby: size of a cauliflower, weighing about 2lbs now! Total Weight Gain/Loss: + 19lbs. Had a big weight jump around 23-25 weeks, which is when I really felt like my belly finally "popped!" This also coincided with Thanksgiving (no coincidence there I'm sure!) let's just hope I can make it through Christmas okay... ;) Maternity Clothes: Definitely living in maternity pants and leggings. I have to say, I love being pregnant in the winter! (Even though, with a high of 70, Florida is far from what you would consider a normal "winter!") There is so much more diversity with sweaters and loose fitting tops with leggings. Things that I found excruciatingly hot when I was pregnant with Micah last summer, I am loving today! Gender: Based on the multiple ultrasounds we've had... it is pretty certain there is a sweet little girl in there! Movement: She is moving all the time now! She is even moving as I type this right now. :) It is amazing to watch her move on the outside of my belly too! And based on all of the kicks, rolls and punches I feel, she is just getting stronger and stronger! Sleep: I'm having a tad bit of acid reflux if I lay completely flat, so elevating my head a little has helped ease it. Nothing so far like I experienced with Micah though, so for that I am grateful! I also am having very strange pregnancy dreams. Two nights ago I gave birth to a 20lb baby and last night I went into labor and my husband was nowhere to be found and not answering his phone when I tried to call him! Nightmares, I tell ya. Cravings: I definitely have a sweet tooth this pregnancy! I mean, I'm always one to enjoy some candy or pie every now and then, but this is like an insatiable desire for sweets that I can never satisfy. I do limit myself though, and have tried to replace it with sweet things like fruit and smoothies. It's funny, because with Micah it was sour things. I had a HUGE lemon craving. Maybe a gender thing? Symptoms: This question gets weirder as I get farther along... what ISN'T a symptom of pregnancy right now? I'm having some pelvic pressure already, but that's about the only thing I can think of that might be interesting to note. Best Moment this week: Hearing Hannah's strong heartbeat at the doctor's office. 147bpm and active! :)

//previous updates on baby Hannah: 21 weeks 18 weeks14 weeks

// read what was going on when I was pregnant with Micah around this week.

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i got a little inspired with my christmas tree lighting... sorry for the hazy pics! 

This pregnancy has been flying by! It could be that it's my second and most people forewarned me that this would happen. But I think the time of the year also has a little something to do with it. All of the holidays in the fall/winter to look forward to make counting down til March a lot easier! There was Micah's birthday in September, Halloween in October, Thanksgiving in November and now we are approaching Christmas NEXT WEEK!

I can't tell you how excited I am for this little girl to join our family. It has been a true gift to have Micah in our lives. We count it a blessing all the time that we are able to have children! I never want to take my role of "mama" for granted, so I am cherishing every moment that I can. Both with Micah and my pregnancy with Hannah.

This may sound weird coming from someone who's having back-to-back, 18 month apart babies - but I still look at pregnancy as a miracle. And I still wonder if this is the last time I will ever be pregnant. Because, you really never know. We would love to have more children, but it's not something that is ever guaranteed. So when I look down and see those faint, but obvious stretch marks or my bulging baby belly that makes me feel more plump than "petite and pregnant," I really have to alter my perspective a little and embrace the goodness of pregnancy. Because it is a beautiful, transforming thing. Transforming in obvious ways by the physical changes that happen on the outside, but even greater are the ways that I have been transformed inwardly. I could spend an entire blog post talking about them, and you may just see me do that here soon!

Thanks for all the love and continued prayers for our family! We appreciate all of you so much. :)

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I get asked frequently, "How do you find time to blog?!"  Mostly from other moms who have children around the same age. I know they don't mean it condescendingly, so I don't take it that way at all. I realize we live in a society that puts high demands on women to have their homes in order, to volunteer at church/school, to be involved in community groups and on top of that - work a full-time job. If you are one of those women who are blessed to be able to stay home, than the expectations are even higher for you, because of course "you have the time." So, I'm not offended that women ask where I find time. I get it. Time is short and valuable and how (or better yet, why?) do I spend precious moments writing to a space on the internet where I happen to own my own url?

Today, I thought I would address this. And maybe offer some tips to encourage other busy woman out there.

Let me preface this by saying -  this could be applied to any hobby you enjoy. Writing has always been something I've loved to do. I once tried to write a book in a text document when I was a little girl, but once my parents upgraded our computer to Word - we lost it all (it was truly devestating).

It all comes down to one simple rule in life: whatever you enjoy doing, you make time for.

1. I don't blog every day.

The easiest way to stop doing something you enjoy doing, is to overdo it. Overdoing it may look differently for each person. But for me, blogging everyday (like I did in this challenge) was definitely too much. Did I have my all-time, highest viewed month when I blogged everyday? Why, yes I did. But in order for me to keep my love for blogging and more importantly, my home and family in order, I have to allow some days to breathe. This brings me to my next point…

2. I blog when I'm inspired.

The best advice I can give to someone who is trying to maintain a blog, but not necessarily grow one, is to blog only when inspired. Like I mentioned, if high stats and viewership are your goal, than this may not be the best advice for you. But if you are like me, and you just want an outlet to write and share the things that are weighing on your heart and mind - than blog when you feel compelled. I call it the "leading of the Holy Spirit," and if I'm not at a place where I can sit down at my computer and start writing, I jot down a few thoughts in the "notes" section of my phone. I'm not trying to over-spiritualize my blog here, but there have been several times when what I've written has come from an overflow of what He had been teaching me in that moment.

3. I blog during naptime/bedtime.

Now, for you moms who are wondering how you will ever find time to sit down at a computer and write when you have a child (or ten) that you are chasing around most of the day, this is the secret -  blog when they sleep. And if you're like me, and nap time is also lunch (and dinner) time and laundry time and dishes time and clean-up-everything-in-your-house-that's-been-destroyed-by-sleeping-child time... than good luck! No, seriously, this is where the priorities have to come in. Truth is, I don't always have mine in order when I blog. There have been times when I've decided to give into "blogging inspiration" over the very strong need to vacuum my bedroom and put away my clothes. Why? Because I know that inspiration only hits me every so often, and let's face it… I'll never be inspired to put away my clothes, so that will have to be done regardless.

4. I schedule posts.

You want to know something funny? I am adding this point after this post has already been published! I almost just skipped over the number one thing that helps me "appear" like a regular blogger. SCHEDULE POSTS! I wrote this post yesterday during "nap time" when I felt inspired to sit down and write. I had already written a post for that day, so I went ahead and scheduled this one for "tomorrow" (i.e. why you're reading it today). You can do this as often and as far out as you like. I'm usually spontaneous in my writing, so I like to have my posts scheduled no more than two days ahead. But my husband is so good at this, that sometimes he schedules posts WEEKS ahead! It's super convenient to do in Wordpress and Blogger. So if you are looking for places to sign up to blog, those would be my two recommendations (I am sure there are others!)

In conclusion: Moms, you need time to yourself to do something you enjoy. Whether that's writing, reading a book, running, shopping or going to eat with friends. And sometimes you will leave your house in an unearthly stateto do them. I'm not saying to neglect your home, but I know when I take time to do something I love to do - it gives me the energy to come back and do the things that need to be done.

And I have to admit, it helps having a bloggy-hubby who not only understands and appreciates my love for writing, but encourages it.

He also encourages me to put my clothes away… and yes, my love, I am about to get right on that. Right after I publish this post. ;)

If I had to choose an emotion that sums up the Christmas season for me, I would choose joy. I'm an extrovert, so even the mad rush of people in the mall doesn't ruin my joy (seriously, we went shopping on Saturday... the mall was crazy... and besides getting separated from my husband and son for 15 minutes, I LOVED it!) I'm one of those weird people that enjoys being in the midst of chaos, seeing faces light up as they find the perfect gift for their loved one. I buy peppermint lattes to sip while I ride along in my car, enjoying every Christmas song that comes on the radio (except, "Christmas shoes." I admit, that one kills the joy a little bit). I sing along at the top of my lungs. And my heart is full.

Still... the most exciting place for me to be every Christmas season is coming up this weekend! Christmas candle light services at The Springs. Celebrating my Savior's birth along with thousands of others for FOUR NIGHTS straight?! Pure JOY.

The salvation we receive through Jesus Christ is the most exciting thing we could ever celebrate. But there is something about starting at the beginning of the story, with his birth, that makes it more human. Jesus had a birthday. The exact date? Probably forever a mystery. But December 25th, Christmas day, has been calculated to be the most probable time that Jesus was born.

And when he was born, there was a huge celebration! Angels were even sent to gather human beings to come together and worship at the feet of Jesus, the baby!

We shared this verse on our Christmas cards we sent out this year.

But the angel reassured them. "Don't be afraid!" he said. "I bring you good news that will bring great JOY to all people. The Savior--yes, the Messiah, the Lord--has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!" - Luke 2:10-11

Good news! Great JOY to all people!

If you are struggling to find joy this Christmas season, I urge you to start at the beginning. Go back to the point when you first heard about Jesus. Remember the feeling. That same great joy that came upon you at the moment of your salvation, was the same joy that came upon the shepherds when they heard about the Messiah's birth!

And oh, what a celebration it was! I bet there were drums and other instruments played for Jesus. Whatever gifts they could bring, both tangible and intangible, they gave with JOY.

I have to be honest, I was at a loss when thinking of a song to share for you all today for Artful Advent. I mean, I have all the joy in the world right now - but, every song I thought of seemed incapable of expressing that! So instead, I decided I would share a song that has brought me joy this past week as I listened to it. This song is one of the most joyful, upbeat Christmas songs out there and I think this group probably did the best version of it I have ever heard!

So I leave you... with "Little Drummer Boy" by Pentatonix.

Come they told me Pa rum pum pum pum A new born King to see Pa rum pum pum pum

Our finest gifts we bring Pa rum pum pum pum To lay before the King Pa rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum

So to honor Him Pa rum pum pum pum When we come

Little baby Pa rum pum pum pum I am a poor boy too Pa rum pum pum pum I have no gift to bring Pa rum pum pum pum That's fit to give our King Pa rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum

Shall I play for you Pa rum pum pum pum On my drum

Mary nodded Pa rum pum pum pum The ox and lamb kept time Pa rum pum pum pum I played my drum for Him Pa rum pum pum pum I played my best for Him Pa rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum

Then He smiled at me Pa rum pum pum pum Me and my drum