31 Weeks and Counting

Friday, July 23 marked week 31 in the pregnancy and now that it is seems just around the corner, I have been getting very anxious to know whether Baby Carr is a boy or girl. I'm hoping the gnawing curiousity will help speed the labor and delivery!

In case you are also getting impatient, here are the current gender predictions to keep you thinking...

Baby heart rate - GIRL

Needle on thread test - GIRL
Chinese Lunar Calendar - BOY

Carrying Position (low) - BOY
Carrying Shape (basketball) - BOY

Kacey's gut feeling - GIRL

Bethany's gut feeling - GIRL (with some indecision)
Baby Communication - GIRL (I asked the baby to kick once for a boy and twice for a girl...it gave two swift kicks!)

Popular Opinion - BOY

Split right down the middle! I guess we will just have to wait until October 9th.... Although, last time I went to the doctor, she said I was measuring big... a whole week and 1/2 big! So this could be a September baby afterall. Or the little one just has really long extremities :)

It has been so fun to see and feel the baby move. He/she now responds when I talk to it and it seemed to really enjoy listening to Grandma McCoy sing. I think it's little muscles are getting stronger because some of the kicks are starting to hurt! I'm still feeling good, but am definitely feeling more pregnant. Although the swelling has improved, I get out of breath very easily and when I get hungry, I get REALLY hungry. Kacey, of course, is already being a wonderful dad...he's always making sure I'm comfortable and not over-doing it. He is so appreciative of everything I do at home and he has even stepped up the chivalry! He has also begun making plans for completing road races with the baby jogger :). I am one lucky girl! We start childbirth classes the first week of August and will attend a total of 5 classes. I will also post updated pictures of the baby room when I get them! Kevin and Marla visited this past week and helped out a TON. Kacey and Kevin worked relentlessly and made huge progress on the room. It looks so wonderful already. Marla helped me load up on some baby stuff (including lots of adorable clothes) and helped with the continued efforts to put our house together.

Here are some pictures from when I flew home earlier this month...

First are some fun family pictures Ryan and Dev let me take. I have such a beautiful family :)

Here are some photos from Erin Witt's shower/wedding...the first picture is of Nikki (also pregnant and due Sept .10!) and I with our bellies. She looks so great you can hardly even tell she's pregnant!

This was one of the most beautiful weddings I've ever been to. Everything from the bride to the reception to the absolutely delicious strawberry-rhubarb jam favors was picturesque. But what really made this wedding one that will stick in my mind forever was the focus of the entire ceremony...it was all about Christ. They clearly see marriage as a real-life portrayal of Christ and His bride, the church. If only all marriages started (and continued) with this line of thinking - that relationship with the spouse is not about self-satisfaction and happiness but about demonstrating unconditional forgiveness and love (as Christ does towards His children). Our church in Knoxville is also grappeling with this idea in marriage and it has been a challenging message that has continued to present itself to me in various forms over the past few months...weddings, movies, sermons... Maybe God is trying to tell me something! Well, here is to waking up each day with the intentional decision to live and love like Christ to the best of my ability (only through the grace and mercy that Jesus daily extends to me)...especially towards the wonderful husband God has given me :)