Faithfulness

I'm trying to focus today solely on God's goodness and faithfulness; praying that He pours out His gracious gifts on those who are faithful to Him...

"I am leading you, step by step, through your life. Hold My hand in trusting dependence, letting Me guide you though this day. Your future looks uncertain and feels flimsy - even precarious. That is how it should be. Secret things belong to the Lord, and future things are secret things. When you try to figure out the future, you are grasping at things that are Mine. This, like all forms of worry, is an act of rebellion: doubting My promises to care for you.

Whenever you find yourself worrying about the future, repent and return to Me. I will show you the next step forward, and the one after that, and the one after that. Relax and enjoy the journey in My presence, trusting Me to open up the way before you as you go."

Deuteronomy 29:29 "The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law."

"Forever, Author of Salvation..."

Old times & New ventures

 

The little guy, fourteen weeks ago.

Oh man. I'm grieving old times and missing being able to run miles and sweat glorious buckets. I've never missed working out so much in my life. Yeah...I can still walk, but it's taxing on my joints and tiring in a different way. Tiring for my feet, not my muscles; my swollen ankles, not my heart. I've never been itching so badly to get back into a good exercise routine. I know it won't happen anywhere near immediately...but it will happen. And I'm longing...so longing...for the day.

I'm not sure why, maybe subconsciously to get my mind off of the wearying end of pregnancy, but I'm starting a new venture! What an awesome time to add something to my plate...when I'm five weeks away from having a baby! :)

I became a Norwex consultant a couple of weeks ago, and I'm super excited about it! Shameless plug right here...if you're interested in a chemical free way to lit'rally revolutionize the way you clean, seriously, check out Norwex! It's all chemical free and makes cleaning SO much faster and easier. Norwex products are some of the best investments I've ever made and make my life so much cleaner and easier. And, bonus, when I'm done cleaning, my hands don't smell like bleach and my skin isn't dried out and itchy because of the chemicals. And...with welcoming a little one into our home soon, I'm even more on the band wagon with having as few harsh chemicals as possible! Go Norwex! Again...shameless plug...let me know if you're interested in any specific products!

www.heidischumaker.norwex.biz

Here we go...

Two weeks ago after a little walkabout

I'd like to formally introduce you to my newest niece, Baby Erickson, due mid-May. Amanda is six weeks behind me!   She is fearfully and wonderfully made :)

Baby Room!...42 days to go?!

 To start...we've had a horrible winter. All of West Michigan seconds my plea for spring. This...is our deck...

Ha! Dan :)

I’ve definitely had my fair share of things to worry about lately. Each and every one of them are in the Lord’s hands, and my morning of Jesus Calling and Streams in the Desert was a gentle reminder for me…

“Trust and thankfulness will get you safely through this day. Trust protects you from worrying and obsessing…Keeping your eyes on Me…is a free choice that you must make thousands of times daily. The more you choose to trust Me, the easier it becomes.”

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7

Such a humbling reminder. Cast all your anxiety on Him. Because He. Cares. For. You. In all my silliness, in all my sinfulness, in all my doubt, in all my fretting over inconsequential things…He cares for me.

Needless to say, as I’m entering my 35^th week of pregnancy, patience has been a trial for me. Daily tears over my swollen ankles and double chin have been the norm…

“Patience takes away your weeping. Why feel sad and despondent? He knows your need better than you do, and His purpose in waiting is to bring more glory out of it all. Patience takes away all wobbling. God’s foundations are steady; and when His patience is within, we are steady while we wait. Patience gives worship. A praiseful patience sometimes ‘longsuffering with joyfulness’ is the best part of it all. ‘Let patience have her perfect work,’ while you wait, and you will find great enrichment.”

…Being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience. Colossians 1:11

Last night the last piece of the puzzle came together. Our rocking chair came in, so we quickly buzzed over to Amish Oak Furniture to pick it up and plop it in its new home. The baby’s room, although it took some time and effort, came together just as I hoped…

Now all we need is a baby :)

Bringing the (surprisingly heavy) already-put-together-dresser upstairs. This was...quite a task.

Crib!

Crib assembly/Aerobics time

Looks about right

These Jellycat stuffed animals. I. Love. Them.

There she blows!

Hutch/bookshelf assembled

Wall art and clock. I'm obsessed.

We're getting' there

Hanging pictures. I always need Dan's help with this...I can't math.

Finished product, walking in from the hallway

Rounding the corner into the baby room

Looking into the hallway

I <3 baskets="" br="" the="">

These nightlights. Could you die? I love them.

Jellycat friends make another appearance

Mom & Dad...see you again sometime, in-shape Heidi. My son is worth it, my son is worth it, my son is worth it.

The Boy :)

Changing table...with a still un-covered changing pad. Soon to be remedied.

Hello there. My grandma always told me, "Be wise, like an owl." :)

Our Amish rocking chair. I'm in love. We didn't go with a glider, because I love the look and feel and rock of the traditional rocking chair. Love. It.

Our seasonal forest friends :)

Spring/Summer

Winter

Fall

Love the clock!

Crib, complete with sheepy from my parents. I know, I know. The pillows will be extracted before a baby sleeps in this thing!

I know that, one day, my son will appreciate the work I put into his homemade crib skirt...right??? :)

Hey, foxy

Cozy crib

 We're waiting on ya, little guy! Can't wait to see you!!

Two consecutive weeks?! YES!

This week has gone by in a blur!

Monday my replacement at work came in for a few hours to fill out paperwork and get her "official" start date of December 30 on the books. She seems super cool and easy to get along with - which is a HUGE answer to prayer. I'm really hopeful that she'll help my upcoming transition go as smoothly as possible.

Side note: Not sure if I've mentioned this, but I plan to take maternity leave, obviously. After that, I'll only be returning to work one day a week to handle some of the "big picture" things that are currently on my plate. My replacement will be training in the next three months to handle all the day-to-day crap responsibilities that typically come my way. I'm overwhelmed and panic-stricken about training her and how to handle this major transition...but I'll breathe the world's biggest sigh of relief when it's over. So, until the end of March, I'll be working side-by-side with Emily on top of handling my own responsibilities...on top of being tired all the time and trying desperately to "nest" at home...whilst realizing that in a mere five days, I'll be entering my third trimester. WHERE IS TIME GOING.

Tuesday I took the day off like any mature adult...because it was my birthday :) Yay! Hello 29...I have high hopes for you! My winner of a husband bought me the box set of the entire series of Sex and the City (which, ahem, includes both movies). I was openly embarrassed since I opened it in front of my in-laws, but I got over that pretty quick and was able to show my true elation and appreciation. His thought was "...for middle-of-the-night nursing sessions." Oh my, Dan for the win.

Wednesday was filled with taking down Christmas decorations. All at once. We woke up with Christmas and went to bed with spring decor out. Typically I slowly transition from "winter" to "spring" but I figure, come March, I'm going to be thinking of much more important things than switching out my winter grapevine wreath in the half bathroom. So...here I sit...with 6+ inches of snow outside, a high of 7 degrees tomorrow, with a "Green Grass" 3-wick candle burning.

Thursday was a normal day at work for me while Dan took the day off...again. The guy made the mistake of not working since Christmas Eve. (In his defense, his work has holidays the two days after Christmas and the two days before New Year's.) So, man, his transition this week is going to be rough. Good luck with that, man.

Friday we drove across the state in FRIGID temperatures to a wedding in Pine Knob. It. Was. Beautiful. And fun to catch up with Dan's college friends and their wives. Everyone was so gracious and kind, telling me I looked "cute and pregnant" while I sat in a chair watching people break it down dancing, complaining that my heels hurt and I was fighting sleep at 9:30pm.

Oh, the ironies as pregnancy. I've realized these two things: I cringe every time I have to pee...which is hourly, at least; yet I insist on taking water with me...everywhere. I'm drinking all the time because I'm thirsty, and turn right around and pee it right out. AND. I tried so long NOT to get pregnant. Then I fretted so long about not being ABLE to get pregnant. Now I AM pregnant (and, don't get me wrong, am loving it), but am already very ready to NOT be pregnant again...only to realize that the closer I get I think, "No! Not yet! I'm not ready! Let me be pregnant longer!" What the WHAT?! I was explaining all of these emotions to Dan and he was baffled and, I think, is one step closer to understanding the emotional roller coaster that is the vast array of female hormones.

On that note...

I don't think I've added these pictures of the little guy to the blog yet. This was our 20 week ultrasound. It's been almost 8 weeks since these were taken...I can't imagine how much bigger he is. He's now almost 2 pounds and just over 14 inches long! Unbelievable!

Cute little button nose :)

Add caption

Those tiny baby feet!

This was pre-Christmas, preparing Baby Bear for The Boy. Dan...it was hilarious. He took it very seriously and toted the bear around like this until we were able to print his birth certificate and check out.

Welcome to the family! :)

It's been snowing oodles here today, and I don't know if this even captures it. The horizontal railing that runs along the deck...right up to where the snow is is maybe what?...two feet high? It's mounded like crazy!

Love the snow until Christmas. Then I'm ready for it to be over.

Aaaaand, there she blows. Large and in charge. 27 weeks, 2 days. I bought this Over The Rhine t-shirt at a concert when I was 12 weeks along. Boy am I excited to be able to wear it comfortably in normal social settings again.

I go in for my glucose test this Thursday and I'm terrified because I've craved (and haven't diligently fought) sweets throughout the entire pregnancy. Here's hoping I didn't just give myself gestational diabetes...

Not only is my stomach growing, but so is my butt. HOORAY!!!!!!! I can't explain to you how antsy I am to begin to exercise intensely again. My next pregnancy...man will I do so much differently.

As I type this, I'm feeling a major case of baby hiccups going on. Practice that breathing, little guy!

This week? Horrible driving conditions, a full week with my replacement, my glucose test and our first Bradley Class! Should be an exciting/exhausting stretch!

I. Am tired.

Tired. Constantly. And whale-ish. My biggest pregnancy problem has been that my busy-body nature is still in full swing, but my energy level is at an all-time low. The combination of these two things has created...hard times for Heidi in the last six months. Hence...the blogging has come to a halt. (Also, no thanks to the new firewall on my work computer that blocks blogspot. Boo!)

In a desperate attempt to keep up with everything though, I'm actually going to start "budgeting" time to blog, every Sunday. This will involve itunes and quarantining myself in the lower level, without the t.v., as to avoid any and all distractions.

So...deep breath...here's the shortest possible version of what's happened in the last six months...

I've become, well, increasingly pregnant. I'm on the downhill side of it and, in the last week and a half, have begun to daydream about what it will be like to NOT be pregnant anymore. Ah...back in control of my body, back on Weight Watchers (the program for nursing moms, of course!), back to jogging, back to sit-ups and squats, back to not having to pee EVERY HALF AN HOUR.

I longed for pregnancy for so long. And please, understand, I'm savoring every bit of it. Every kick I feel (and see!), every appointment where I hear his little heartbeat, every weekly email reminder of how he's growing. I'm loving it. To bits. But you know what I'm also going to love? Having him here and not having back acne anymore. Hormones are a bitch.

Aaaaand, here we are. 25 1/2 weeks pregnant. Have officially begun to have a hard time bending at the waist. (Also, don't mind the toothbrush hanging out of my mouth.)

Aside from pregnancy, the biggest event in the last few months, by far, has been my dad's open heart surgery. He was supposed to go to the doctor for an angiogram, no big deal. I called my mom to see how it went later that afternoon, and lo and behold, he was scheduled for double bypass surgery the next morning. After calling Dan through tears, we bought a plane ticket and I was on my way to Idaho about 36 hours later.

Praise the Lord for a successful surgery and a great surgeon...and a Cardiac I.C.U. staff of angels. Seriously...those nurses were awesome.

I arrived in Idaho Sunday around noon, about 24 hours after the surgery. They had just taken out the breathing tube and he was still exhausted and even talking made him have to close his eyes and rest. It was a hard thing to see, but I'm so thankful that Amanda was there with my mom through the surgery. And...secretly, I'm glad I never saw him waking up with the tube in. I don't know if I could have handled it.

Kootenai Health...our daily hang-out location for the week with dad

The day I got there. This was tough. Poor guy...so tired.

Amanda and Bennet...in his little dog harness. LOVE. HIM.

After leaving the I.C.U...day before discharge. Lookin' good, old man!

Winter hit hard and early this year for us. And...it happened. My first ditching. Every year I wonder, "Will this be the year?" And folks, this year was it. And it was a doozy. No gentle sliding off the side of the road to a gentle halt.

This involved wild fish-tailing, followed by 2-3 spins into the other lane of traffic and landing, hood pointing up, in a ditch full of snow. Sadly, I was on my way to a doctor's appointment and had to re-schedule. What a pain. 

I cried and called Dan while my adrenaline was still pumping, so, naturally, I was weeping in fear and shock. Knowing it'd calm me, he gave me a list of things to do: 1) Call AAA, 2) Call mom & dad, 3) Call the doctor's office.

Three people stopped to see if I was okay, and one kind gentleman was nice enough to point out that my exhaust was buried in the snow, so to turn off the car so as not to, you know...die. Thankfully, Dan's parents live about two minutes from "the incident" and his dad came right away to shovel the snow away from my car door so I could crawl out and wait in his heated truck for the tow.

It could have been a MUCH worse situation, but still, it was quite jarring and something I'll always remember when approaching the intersection of Byron Center Avenue & 108th Street. Black ice is no joke, kids.

Thankfully I'm ended juuuuust out of the way enough to not cause a traffic jam. Wouldn't want to be THAT person.

There she blows. Nose up and helpless.

For Christmas, the baby got his build-a-bear. Dan and I have put a lot of thought into this new bear addition, and have spent the last few weeks preparing Heidi Bear and Schubear about the change. Luckily, it went well and all three of them love each other and have taken to each other swimmingly. Although, the bed is getting a bit crowded with us two, the snoogle (my amazing pregnancy pillow) and THREE bears to wrangle throughout the night. Here we are...Christmas morning. All five of us. (You can judge, we know it's judge-able...but the bears are part of our family.)

L to R: Heidi, Baby Bear, Heidi Bear, Schubear, Dan's glasses :)

So...my fall and winter have been consumed with an overload of tasks, peeing a LOT, sleeping fitfully, TRYING to exercise (but finding it difficult with a growing human inside of me), and my feet hurting. And this super short, super lame blog post is a feeble attempt to get back in the swing of things. Keep me accountable! Make sure I make another post next Sunday!

On that note...beautiful Michigan in the winter... :)

Things happening this week? My replacement starts at work and the three month training begins!, my birthday, and one of Dan's college friends' wedding! Come on...if that doesn't provide blog material, nothing will!

Until next week!