We are having....

a B O Y!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

First flutterings and answered prayer

I honestly don't want this blog to turn into all about "baby". But you know, if it does, that's fine....because after all THIS is what my journey has been about. My journey has been about having faith, trusting God, and holding onto my hope that I would have a child of my own.

But just to prove that God listens to our prayers. He cares about the smallest things and the biggest things we pray up to Him. About a week ago, on a Sunday night, I was in bed watching television with Wes. It's something we do to settle down and get our bodies rested and ready for sleep. I was laying on my back and felt this funny bubble sensation in my lower stomach. It did it for a few seconds. I knew then that it was my baby. And NO it was not gas bubbles. I KNOW it was my baby. Well, this last Sunday, the 17th, marked the anniversary of the passing of my previous baby. I woke up that morning and didn't think anything of it and then it hit me. I was getting ready for church and realized what that day represented. I prayed and asked God to help me to not have negative thoughts. I prayed that He knew the plans LONG before I was even born. He has the best plans for me, and never wants to hurt me....even tho my heart had been broken before, I trust and know that He did the best thing for me and that baby. I prayed that God would allow me to feel my baby in my womb that day. So I went on with my day....went to church, took care of lunch, started on laundry....and all of a sudden I'm laying on my back on the couch and I feel it! BIG time. It felt like the baby was turning flips in my stomach. It was the most awesome thing. It went on for a good while. I had to thank God for listening to my prayers and helping me to know, once again, He cares.

P.S. This happened while the Dallas Cowboys were playing and they were losing big time....so I'm thinking the baby is either a Cowboy's fan already and was getting angry with them for losing OR he/she is NOT a Cowboy's fan and was excited they were doing so terrible. HA!

P.S.S. We are scheduled for our big reveal sonogram THIS Thursday, January 21st at 1:00. We will find out if God has chosen a boy or girl for us. Whichever it is, I know that God has chosen this one specifically for me and Wes.....I feel so blessed!

Compassion like Christ

Are you tired of seeing Haiti plastered all over the news? Well, if your answer is yes....then I pray for you. I pray for your soul. Where is your compassion?

It's only January 14th and COMPASSION has already been a strong word I keep thinking about this year. Compassion, my friend, is exactly what we need more of in this world. And the people of Haiti is just ONE way that I think God is trying to wake us up. Jesus IS the true example of compassion. Just as my pastor spoke this last Sunday, Jesus had compassion just by walking in a crowd and stopping to place a hand on someone and healing! It brings me to tears. He has had SO much compassion for you and I. If only EACH ONE of us would strive to have the compassion of Christ. I'm guilty myself. There is a stirring in the air this year. A stirring for compassion, a stirring for miracles for our eyes to see, a stirring of simply....Jesus. Psalms 145:8 "The Lord is gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and great in mercy. The Lord is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works."

I have to admit the last few days I have not sat and watched the horror of Haiti.....I only have listened while getting ready for work. I have only read numerous blogs of the outpouring of Christians wanting to do SOMETHING. I have only read articles online. We are so far away in miles, yet, we CAN make a difference. As Christians, we should want to reach out and have compassion for the lost, the hurting, the broken & bruised. As Christians, we should want to lift up in prayer those that may have NEVER had the opportunity to have the story of Christ shared with them.

I want to be more like Christ. I want to have HIS kind of compassion. Not just today, not just for Haiti, but I want to strive to become more compassionate each day for the rest of my life.

Compassion defined: sympathetic consciousness of others' distress together with a desire to alleviate it

I'll use the scripture Kelly from Kelly's Korner chose to use....it is perfect

"If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth." 1 John 3:17-18

Therefore, I can not just sit here any longer and act like my money won't help. I may not have much but I can give. I can pray. I can show compassion. There is so much information out there to help you decide on where to donate, if you choose. Below is a list of websites I have found to be helpful.

Compassion International

American Red Cross

Numerous ways to donate (via msnbc.com)
(also lists information on scams)

At Last....Kitchen Complete

It seems like things I have been waiting for are finally being put in place. This time I'm talking about my kitchen. If you remember, I posted about my kitchen here. Well, I can FINALLY say....it is finished! Hallelujah! Two years ago I got rid of the blue commercial-grade tile, the flowers and vines that were painted on my cabinets, the white tile with a blue center for my countertop, and the mismatched dishwasher. The ONE thing I didn't get done was the backsplash. Kathryn's (my co-worker) fiance works in construction. I saw the bathroom he had done for their house and knew he was the one I wanted to hire for my kitchen. Ryan did an awesome job! I am so proud of my kitchen. Now I guess I should start cooking in it more.....that would make Wes happy anyways. I hope you enjoy the transformation.

Feel Good Wednesday Break

I have given it some thought and have made the decision to take a break from my Feel Good Wednesday posts. For right now, I would like to take a month off from this. I may bring it back or I may decide to do something new. If you have any comments or suggestions, please feel free to email me or leave me a comment.

During the month of January, our church always has the option of fasting. Fasting can be anything that we feel we spend too much time on. Or maybe something we are "addicted" to. I use "addicted" lightly. We are denying ourselves something in order to glorify God. For instance, you could give up television, the internet, a certain food or drink....all to glorify God and focus on your relationship with Him. Our fasting usually lasts 3 - 4 weeks in January. I have fasted for the last couple of years. The first year I fasted on all caffeine. All I drank was water. This last January I had just found out I was pregnant when we began our fasting so I did the same thing but really tried to focus on my prayer time. This year, thank the Lord, I am pregnant and have chosen to go on a different path for my fasting. The internet. Oh man. I spend SO much time on here. On my blog, email, facebook, etc. Giving up any one of these or even ALL of them would be very very difficult. I think God would understand if I choose from them. So I'm choosing facebook. Yes, I'm completely giving up facebook for the duration of our fasting. I really want to dive more into the Bible and prayer during this time that I would normally be on facebook. I also want to spend more quality time with Wes and Logan. I want to start my year out right. God has done so much for me this last year and I can't imagine where I would be today if it hadn't been for Him. I want to open my heart to Him for any suggestions and paths He has for me in this new year to come. I want to grow. I want to sit still and listen. I am praying He shows me some new things this year.

If you have questions or comments about fasting, I would love to hear those as well. I hope you understand about the Feel Good Wednesday posts. I am just needing a fresh recharge. I am so grateful that many of you write me to ask if I've forgotten a Wednesday if I hadn't posted yet that morning. It helps me to know that God is helping me reach out to you....and that you enjoy it. Pray with me that God will recharge me and give me something new and fresh for ALL of us.

Love,

Baby Bohannon's first gifts

I just had to share Baby Bohannon's first gifts we received this Christmas. One of Wes' cousins got us our first ornament. It is a little baby rattle that says "Warm wishes for the parents to be" on the little tag. I was so happy to be able to take this home and hang it on our tree.

Then my mom surprised me with some presents to open for the baby. I opened a box that had 2 packages of diapers and some spoons. I'd say she went a little ahead with the spoons, but every little bit will help. lol And then I opened a box with this little bear. It's so cute and soft! I love it. It says "my first bear". So precious!

Your first glimpse at Baby Bohannon

Some friends have been nicely mentioning that they would like to see Baby Bohannon. So I finally remembered to bring the sonogram pictures to work so I could scan them in. I am excited to share these with you.

October 28th - 1st sonogram

6 weeks 3 days

November 5th - 2nd sonogram

7 weeks 4 days/6 weeks 4 days

Look how much he or she had grown in a week! During the 2nd sonogram the doctor was able to measure the baby and the baby measured a week difference than my last menstrual period. It is not anything to be alarmed about. I just have longer cycles than some and I just conceived later. Look at that baby! Ha! It looks like a little monkey hanging upside down. :)

Since I lost my first baby in January, the doctor told me when I got pregnant again that they would check my numbers right away and once high enough they'd get me in for a sonogram right away. So after finding out on October 15th I really only had to wait almost 2 weeks for my first glimpse of our baby. Then it was up to me whether I wanted to wait a week or 2 weeks after my first sonogram for another. Of course I chose to only wait one week. At our 2nd sonogram appointment Wes and I got to hear and see the baby's heartbeat. His or her little heart was beating 125 beats per minute.

On December 2nd I had a scare and went in for an emergency sonogram. My doctor was out of the office so I went to the X-ray department. I didn't think to ask the tech to print out pictures of my 3rd sonogram. I was SO scared and nervous. I just wasn't thinking. But oh my goodness, I wish you could have seen our baby. I think his or her heartbeat was beating 144 beats per minute that day. He or she was wiggling all over the place. I think he or she wanted to make sure to show me he or she was OK. I was so glad. I could see it's little profile and arms and legs. (I'm trying hard to not refer to the baby as "it" but sometimes I can't help it.) I wanted to kick myself the next day when I went to my regularly scheduled doctor appointment and they told me I wasn't having another sonogram done until January! But my baby wiggling that day is burned into my brain. It was wonderful!

I have prayed very hard during this pregnancy. I haven't had any more scares and I am in my 2nd trimester now. Praise God! I am doing great and feel great 99% of the time.

I have my next doctor's appointment on Thursday, December 31st. It's just a checkup...no sonogram. Booo! :) We will be finding out what we're having at the end of January. I can't wait!

I will try to keep you updated on me and the baby. I hope you enjoyed your first glimpse of our baby.