8 weeks to go!!

Well, I just realized I haven't updated my blog in a long time...I'm sorry again! Somehow life happens and it is hard to find time to sit down and blog what is going on in my life...even though I do want to!
Since my last post, I am now 32 weeks pregnant and still due August 30th. It has been an amazing pregnancy so far! I had no morning sickness, have lots of heartburn, and have cravings of pepperoni, salami and lots of red meat! This has been so different from my pregnancy with Anna Grace. I had morning sickness and nausea until about the 17th week, had NO heartburn and wanted lots of ice cream and milkshakes! I love that both pregnancies have been so different because it is already making me realize the differences between boys and girls.
What do they say? Girls are made of sugar and spice and everything nice?!? So isn't it funny that I would crave ice cream and milkshakes with my daughter. And boys are made of frogs and snails and puppy dog tails, so I would crave red meat with my son?!? Too funny if you think about it! Well, as most of you know, I LOVE all things girly, pink, princess, bows, etc. and have had so much fun decorating AG's room and dressing her! So, I have had to change the way I think over the past few months to BOY. I have found that the boy section isn't nearly as fun to shop in as the girls, but I have found some cute things that make me so excited to meet this little boy! We have transitioned to a cowboy themed nursery with chocolate brown walls. It has been fun to think in a whole new way! God has blessed me with another child that is a totally different child from my first child and I can't wait! What fun this is going to be!
So, with all of these changes, I have also seen a change in my daughter. She is 6 years old and SO excited she is going to be a BIG sister in 8 weeks. At the same time, she has started testing the waters in new ways. She has been processing a lot, and it has amazed me that she is figuring all of this out in her own way. If someone asks her if she has any brothers or sisters, she already responds, "Yes, I have a baby brother in my mommy's belly." She has felt him move in my belly many times and LOVES to feel him move. I love to feel him move to. I think that has to be one of the most special parts of being pregnant...feeling that breath of heaven move in my belly. It always reminds me of this scripture and brings me to tears...

Psalm 139:13-14
For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother's womb.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.

God is continuing to knit this precious baby together in my womb. Such a miracle. I think back to the day in the doctor's office when we found out we were pregnant. The doctor wasn't sure we were pregnant, but thought we were because my uterine lining was thick. The tissue was thick, but yet no parts had been formed yet. However, God knew we were pregnant and He had already begun to knit this child together in my womb. Now when I feel a foot kick me, a leg move, an arm move, a hiccup, hearing the heartbeat....it just amazes me. God created this child and continues to knit this child together in my womb. Simply amazing....how awesome and amazing is our God!

So, back to AG....she has enjoyed planning little T's nursery. She loves the cowboy theme and has enjoyed picking out presents for him. She gets tickled with excitement when she thinks about seeing him at the hospital for the first time. She can't wait to wear her BIG SISTER t-shirt to the hospital and school! But, with all of this, has come the processing of the 6 year old brain. Since she is a bit older, she has started to realize already that things won't be the same anymore, that this baby is already getting "attention" in the form of presents and she is getting none, that she is going to have to share her parents with this baby, that this baby is a BOY and she is a GIRL, along with many other realizations. She has communicated all of this to Thomas and me in different ways. There is a sign on her door that reads "No Boys Allowed". It appeared about a month ago. She has told us she would like to give all of her toys to T, so she can get new toys. She has told us that we love the baby more than her and she knows she won't get attention anymore once he comes. Of course we have sat down with her many times and reminded her that we love her very much and that will never change, that she can give her toys to T, but she won't be getting any new toys because she has plenty and a lot of T's "new" things are her old things...crib, carseat, exersaucer, high chair, etc. They were all hers and she is sharing them with T. We have also told her that T will be able to come into her room and there is no reason to have a sign on her door because T won't be able to read for about 5 more years! :) But, the best came last night....poor Shug was having a hard day. She woke up not being able to use her back legs, and was in pain all day and didn't eat. When Thomas came home from work, he brought Shug some water and tried to get her to drink it. Anna Grace looked at Thomas and said, "She doesn't want the water, Thomas." Thomas immediately sent her to time out and then we had a lesson with her on respect and names she calls adults. After she left the room and couldn't hear us, Thomas and I laughed about it. I'm glad we have each other and can discipline together. It helps when we are both in sync. AG is really testing the water. It is like she thinks she is an equal with Thomas and me (since it has been the three of us for so long). We are really having to stay on top of our discipline and teach her right from wrong. It has been nice to have this time with her to teach her and hopefully get her back on track before the baby gets here, but it has also been SO DRAINING!!! I'm SO HOT, tired and don't feel like dealing with my daughter's constant testing and attitude, but I know if I'm not consistant, she won't learn and this attitude will be harder to break later. Even though I don't want to deal with it now, I have to. We are making progress and it makes me SO happy when I see a breakthrough. Raising children is so hard. I love every minute of it, but it is exhausting and draining too. I was so frustrated and at the end of my rope about two weeks ago, so Thomas and I started a family devotion time every night (and it has been wonderful) along with a chore chart for AG, and I bought the new book by Dr. James Dobson "Bringing up Girls", which has been amazing and helped Thomas and me out so much!! I highly recommend it to anyone who has a daughter! He also has "Bringing up Boys" which I plan to read next!

So....as I end this post, we are very excited about meeting this precious new addition to our family in 8 weeks, AG is testing us, and we are learning a lot as parents, Shug is better today...chasing her tail, following me around the house and hasn't stopped eating! So, we are slowly getting back to "normal". I wish I had some pictures to show of my pregnant belly, but I don't. Our camera is broken and we hope to get another one before the baby gets here. Keep us in your prayers! Parenting is hard and we need all the help we can get!!