Thursday, January 25, 2007

4 more days until Ava is here!

39.5 weeks!
Being induced Jan. 29, 2007
We had our dr's appointment today and found that i was 2 cm dialated and 60 percent effaced. Dr. Mini said she could feel the baby's head, and she stripped my membranes. This was very pleasant -- ha!

we are very excited for this monday, jan. 29 to approach. we have been waiting for 9 months and can't believe the time is here. The Dr. asked if i wanted a "deadline" last week and i said, sure! We are going to go to the hospital this monday at 8 a.m. and are being induced then. I am going with the epidural and know that everything will go ok.

This has been just an amazing time, and i feel so blessed right now in my life. Sometimes the hardest things in life are def. the most worth it - being prego for 9 months hasn't been easy, but the reward is going to be so great. I just believe that God is so great and he is so gentle with us. Even when we are the most weak, he is there and moves mountains to move our hearts closer to him. He is just so good. I look back on last year and at this time i was having surgery to even have Ava. We were going to a fertility specialist to have surgery to have Ava and the Dr was talking about all of our choices. I guess we prepared ourselves for whatever God had for us and can't believe how good God was. This was the perfect time to have Ava "But when it pleased God. . ." Galatians 1:15

I can't wait for monday.

Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all.

Becoming Sweetly Broken















Vineyard - Live at the Rockies -- has this amazing version of "Sweetly Broken," which is one of my favorite songs. It details the faithfulness and pure mercy that we receive when Jesus draws us to our knees at the cross -- becoming sweetly broken and surrendering our lives to Christ.

I really think that the song speaks so much in this day and age because sweetly broken is really a metaphor for giving up all power and control to Christ, giving him our lives for reconciliation to the cross. What does this mean?

Reconciliation
Rather than seeking pure justice, reconciliation seeks to bring together two parties that are not one. It doesn't punish the offending party, rather it seeks to mend the bridge between the two -- to bring completeness and a renewed or new relationship. It's actually a big buzz word now as the new wave of wars in this century is not between countries, but rather between countrymen.

According to the news, civil wars are replacing world wars. And in Rwanda, Darfur and other countries, researchers are saying that reconciliation is the key to a peaceful coexistence . Justice isn't the main issue, rather a bridge to both warring cultures is -- even when mercy doesn't seem to need to be handed out. The other key to reconciliation is that the offending party wants to change their behavior so much so that they actively work toward that goal.

Mercy for me?
I wonder so many times how Christ can extend his mercy to me over and over again. I can be somewhat of a perfectionist and when i mess up -- the last thing i want to do is say i messed up again. But when i go to the cross, i don't receive justice or punishment for my sins because Christ has already done that. He just asks that i come and receive his sweet mercy.

It's the Holy Spirit that works in our lives to sweetly break our selfish desires, our fear, our need to be right and everything else that isn't of him. As the mentor of C.S. Lewis, George MacDonald stated, "Such is the mercy of God that he will hold his children in the consuming fire of his distance until they pay the utmost farthing, until they drop the purse of selfishness with all the dross that is in it, and rush home to the Father and to the Son and the brethren—rush inside the life-giving Fire whose outer circle burns. "

Wednesday, January 24, 2007

my labor ipod playlist











Labor ipod playlist:
Hi all! So, Brandon has been getting my ipod playlist ready for me during labor. I told him i want some of his songs on the playlist because angry music helps me workout harder -- he.he. But, so far he has put pretty good songs on my playlist.

I love All American Rejects new song, "It ends Tonight." If you haven't heard it, go to their web site for a snippet http://www.allamericanrejects.com/home.aspx.

Here are some more samples that are on the playlist:

  • Into the Rush - Aly & Aj
  • It Ends Tonight- All American Rejects (get it?) ha
  • Get on the Floor - BananaRama - favorite fun song!
  • In the morning - razorlight -brandon found these guys on the UK hit list
  • and Before i fall to pieces - razorlight
  • She moves in her own ways - Kooks
  • Here it Goes Again - Ok Go! (Treadmill video)

And some sappy post labor songs -

  • How to Save a life and Over my Head-- The Fray - hey, you have to have a Grey's Anatomy Song in the hospital
  • Snow patrol - any song! :)

Fun songs:

  • (Here) in your arms - HelloGoodbye - my favorite new group - i found these guys before brandon even did!
  • Oh, it is love - HelloGoodbye

Angry music:

  • One step Closer - Hybrid theory - linkin park

Misc:

  • Winds of Change - Kutless

Monday, January 22, 2007

39 weeks...the end is in sight

Hi all. Still here and now i am on maternity leave. I am feeling pretty tired now and have lots less energy than i used to. I tell brandon that i can do one to two things a day and then i am done. I am really excited to meet our little one. we have everything ready for her -- tomorrow i have an appointment to get the car seat installation checked at the health department here in marysville.

The dr's office called today and said that our induction is scheduled for next monday, Jan 29 at 8 a.m. if we haven't delivered yet. I really can't believe it's getting so close. It's so crazy to think that ava will be here then. I really don't even believe there's a little one in there! how weird huh. But, i know that until i see her, i won't totally believe it -- or feel the painful contractions!! I have been having contractions off and on for about two weeks. Last saturday night, i had a contraction that hurt so bad i shot up in bed in the middle of the night. I was seriously so sick i thought i was going to throw up. mmm something to look forward to!

and tonight brandon and i went and stocked up on groceries for when baby is here. I also went to dream dinners in powell (www.dreamdinners.com) and stocked up. It was so fun -- i went with my aunt rita--and so nice to get 10 meals done in 1.5 hours. I didn't know if the food would be good, but it was!

Since i have some extra time on my hands this week, i am trying out some new recipes. i am going to make my friend Joleen's lemon mini muffins tomorrow morning- they are so good - lemon mini cupcakes dipped in glace'. I love them! And trying to make some mini banana breads for next week.

anyways, we are delivering at Riverside Hospital in Columbus. Hope to have more news soon!!

Tuesday, January 16, 2007

roundhouse kicks

Did you know that there is a Napoleon Dynamite devotional that helps teenagers study the Bible using lessons from the movie? I found it on amazon the other day.

TBS has been airing the movie and it reminded me and brandon of our litte roundhouse kicker this morning (ava). Brandon and i were driving to work and he was feeling my stomach when ava did her usual roundhouse kick.

Brandon said, "Whoo!" And i just stopped breathing for a second because it hurt. We call ava our little roundhouse kicker because she goes crazy with her little kicks. I can't believe a little 6 or 7 lber could pack such a punch!

In honor of our kicker, i put the text from the Napoleon Dynamite scene below! Enjoy!







Kip with his sensei

Rex: My name is Rex, and if you study with my eight-week program you will learn a system of self defense that I developed over two seasons of fighting in the Octagon. It’s called Rex Kwon Do! I need a volunteer.
[Kip raises hand]

Rex: Okay, you’ll do. Come up here. Bow to your sensei. Bow to your sensei! Okay. Now I’m gonna give you one chance. One chance, people. Give me your best shot. All right. That was pretty good. Okay. Now, watch this everybody. Grab my arm. The other arm. My other arm. Okay, now watch this. I’m just gonna break the wrist and walk away. Break the wrist, walk away.

[Rex hits Kip in the wrist]

Kip: Geez!

Rex: Okay. It’s just that simple. Now, I want you to kick me. Come on. Kick me. Okay, do it again. Do it again.

Kip: Ouch.

Rex: Okay. You’ll block it every time. Have a seat. Now, in addition to what you just saw if you study with my eight-week program, you’re gonna learn these things. First off... Rex Kwin Do, we use the buddy system. No more flyin’ solo. You need somebody watching your back at all times! Second off, you’re gonna learn to discipline your image. Do you think I got where I am today because I dress like Peter Pan here? Take a look at what I’m wearing, people. Do you think anybody wants a roundhouse kick to the face while I’m wearin’ these bad boys? Forget about it. Last off, my students will learn about self-respect. Do you think anybody thinks I’m a failure because I go home to Starla at night? Forget about it! Now, for only $300, you can sign up right now for my eight-week program.

Shower #4 still more pics...









Ladies at the shower ...














Here are the soon to be grandmas!
Grandma Shmidt and Momma Kuhns!

Princess morgan helping me unwrap my gifts!





















Wow! 36 weeks at the shower and i am feeling huge!
Brandon loves this picture and can't wait to meet ava.






yum

double that!

Shower #4 More pics...















Cousins
Emily (left to right), Mindy, me and Christina
can't wait to meet ava! Emily just had baby Wesley!
The girls gave me such a beautiful shower and the photos
were taken by christina - she's the photo queen!


Here are the shmidt aunts + 1!
Sharon (left to right), Aunt Sherrie, Mindy, Aunt Mary and Aunt Tammy









Brandon and I at the shower (below), the boys played ping pong
downstairs and came up for the sundaes.

Thursday, January 11, 2007

a personal psalms

Our pastor is doing a study on the book of psalms, which is one of my favorite books in the Bible. I can totally relate to David and his crying out to God. I just found this amazing verse in Psalms 72 from a study guide that showed how David's extravagant prayers for his "royal son" came to pass and how sometimes we need to get out on a limb and ask God to move! Calling on God's blessings mean being in the mind of the father and knowing that the things we request are only for him to do -- not us! If we can do it -- it's not a prayer!

I think that our self-sufficient culture has made us afraid to rely on anyone and to trust in things that are beyond our control. But, a real and honest relationship with God will produce a desire to move in the realm of the unimaginable and unthinkable and to challenge us to move towards new heights.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. aptly said, "Take the first step in faith. You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step."

Here is the bible study that i found on making our own personal pslams.

3. Calling for blessings.
Many of the Psalms are bold requests for blessings from God, sometimes they even seem extravagent they ask so much. Read David's prayer for Solomon in Ps 72, how extravagent does it seem? Was it fulfilled?
(Psalms 72 NIV) Of Solomon.
Endow the king with your justice, O God, the royal son with your righteousness. {2} He will judge your people in righteousness, your afflicted ones with justice. {3} The mountains will bring prosperity to the people, the hills the fruit of righteousness. {4} He will defend the afflicted among the people and save the children of the needy; he will crush the oppressor. {5} He will endure as long as the sun, as long as the moon, through all generations. {6} He will be like rain falling on a mown field, like showers watering the earth. {7} In his days the righteous will flourish; prosperity will abound till the moon is no more. {8} He will rule from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth. {9} The desert tribes will bow before him and his enemies will lick the dust. {10} The kings of Tarshish and of distant shores will bring tribute to him; the kings of Sheba and Seba will present him gifts. {11} All kings will bow down to him and all nations will serve him. {12} For he will deliver the needy who cry out, the afflicted who have no one to help. {13} He will take pity on the weak and the needy and save the needy from death. {14} He will rescue them from oppression and violence, for precious is their blood in his sight. {15} Long may he live! May gold from Sheba be given him. May people ever pray for him and bless him all day long. {16} Let grain abound throughout the land; on the tops of the hills may it sway. Let its fruit flourish like Lebanon; let it thrive like the grass of the field. {17} May his name endure forever; may it continue as long as the sun. All nations will be blessed through him, and they will call him blessed. {18} Praise be to the LORD God, the God of Israel, who alone does marvelous deeds. {19} Praise be to his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen and Amen. {20} This concludes the prayers of David son of Jesse.

a) What blessings are being asked for?

b) How confident does David seem that Solomon would be blessed?

c) How many of these blessings tie in with promises of God?

Monday, January 08, 2007

37 weeks! (Yes, i am still pregnant)








Week 37
I have loved being pregnant. I can say that now that i am almost done!

I am 37 weeks along and Brandon and I are really getting excited to see and hold ava. We can't wait to snuggle with her and smell her and just hold her. She moves and squirms in my belly so much that you can see my stomach doing ripples, like she is doing the back stroke!

After weeks spent watching the babycenter.com counter click down to my due date, i feel a little sad that this journey is nearing its end. I am so excited to meet ava, but wishing that somehow i could capture this moment in our life and put it away in a secret place and bring the warm feeling out on days that i miss her being so close. I read somewhere how an expectant dad was looking forward to his time with his daughter and couldn't wait to meet her, but still didn't want to loose the connection he had with his wife in their early years of marriage. He went on to say how two people can share their love and form a new being and how it's so neat to see this higher sort of math that plays into their life.

This journey has really brought Brandon and I closer and helped us to become a better team with better communication. Like the verse, iron sharpens iron, I believe God has helped one of us be strong when the other was down or struggling with doubt or fear or fatigue (mostly me!) I really appreciate Brandon and his help through this time in our life. I can't wait to see him hold Ava for the first time. I can't wait to 'click' that moment in time like Kirsten Dunst in "Elizabethtown."

Psalms 16:11 You will show me the path of life.
In your presence is fullness of joy.
In your right hand there are pleasures forevermore.

Shower #3!




















Here is our rocker (above) that we got from Brandon's parents for christmas. I will post more photos in a little bit!



Mindy (below) putting the final touches on the
'rocker of honor.'


On Dec. 31, we headed to circeville to spend time with Brandon's family- the Shmidts. We usually have our New Years celebration and this year the family threw a shower for Ava.

Christina, Sharon, Mindy, Emily and Shearon really made it special! All of the aunts were there (Aunt Tammy, Aunt Mary and Aunt Shearon) as well as my mom and dad. Dad was sent to the basement to play ping pong with the Shmidt guys. It was so nice to have them there!

We got so many cute outfits, a boppy, a pump, baby photo books and diapers! oh, we also got the sweetest little blankets. Our kitty simba loves to sleep by the blankets because they are so soft!

For dessert we had ice cream sundaes with lots of yummy toppings! Thanks again Shmidts for a lovely time!! Come visit us anytime!

Friday, January 05, 2007

Shower #2!




















Becca, me and Ann

Baby Shower #2!

Baby shower #2 was so much fun. I was literally laughing the whole time! Ann and Becca threw the shower and we had Jill, Katie, Adrienne and Amber from the PC posse there as well as Kate from Nationwide! It was so much fun and the chocolate fountain was amazing. Ava got her own little miniskirt and boots, cute books, tiny outfits and her name painted on a little canvas from Amber. So cute.

Ann and Becca really did such a great job and the al quaida game was quite fun. I will try to post some video from it later on!

Thanks so much for your support and love everyone!