Decorating

This year, thanks to a generous donation, we got to put up Christmas lights on our house for the first time. My parents wanted new lights after at least ten years of the same multicolored strands so they gave them to us. Another wonderful donation to our family was a free noble tree from Joel's coworker. I know to my parents and Nick it is not a big deal, but to us it is just so nice to have these visual reminders of the season we are celebrating without the cost.

To accommodate the request for a belly picture I decided to pose for a picture in front of the before mentioned Christmas tree. Both Alonna and my doctor tell me a significant baby belly growth spurt is just around the corner so I will try to show the progress.

It's a boy!

We had our ultrasound yesterday and now that family has been told I can openly say Joel and I are having a son! Being able to see our little boy was one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen, if not the most beautiful. It's amazing what they can see using sound waves. We watched as the baby moved and the tech showed us his heart and pointed out all the chambers. We looked at his little fingers and toes and watched his arms and legs work. I was strongly reminded of Psalm 139 talking about how we are knit together and are fearfully and wonderfully made. I know people are pregnant and having children every day, but it seems like such a miracle, even if it is common.
Also within the last week I have been able to confidently say I can feel the baby moving. I'm not sure about every kick yet, but there are times when he seems to roll over, and that is nothing I've ever felt before, so I know it's him.
During the Christmas season it is natural to think with thankfulness about all that God has done for us and this year the blessings are too numerous to count.