Your room

Your room is coming along, this weekend your dad got the curtains and blinds hung and I worked on your wardrobe. It got painted green, then Dr. Seuss characters were added and finally new hardware. Later today we are headed over to Aunt Nancy's to get your crib. (A hand-me-down from Karly, Grant and Kirsten.) I think I like working on things for your room just to cement the idea that you are really coming. Only 128 more days and you will be here. Your dad and I are both getting very excited, and seeing your cousin Austin for the first time this week just made us even more excited. I pray for you every day, that you will be strong, healthy and happy. Know that I love you.

All your children shall be taught by the Lord,
and great shall be the peace of your children.

—Isaiah 54:13

Pictures for your room

Today has been a long dull day with parent teacher conferences so I spent the day working on making these pictures for your room, all of them are characters that did not make it on your beautiful Dr. Seuss wardrobe so I thought they could go on the wall somewhere to decorate. Your room is coming along, your dad moved his stuff out and turned the smaller bedroom into his office, so now your room is ready to start collecting things for you. So far there is the wardrobe (I'll post a pic. when it is done) and a glider chair. The chair is really a gift from your great-grandma Jackie. I think this weekend we will visit Aunt Nancy and get your crib, (we will be borrowing hers). So in some ways we are beginning to get ready for you to come...But please don't rush, you are only 21 weeks, Stay safe and healthy, and know that you are always on my mind.

Hiding

Well I would have posted sooner, excited to know your gender and thus your name, but you hid from the doctor. I guess as much as I was ready to see you, you were just not willing to be known yet. So it was a disappointing day... but I am guessing this will not be the only time in life that you decide to go your own way, do you own thing, in-spite of what I might want. Just know wherever you go, whatever you do I will always love you. You will always be my baby and nothing in the world can change that. In the same way you will always be a child of God. No matter what happens, no matter what you think that you have done that is unforgivable he will always love you, always be there for you, always forgive you. Our family can be good proof of that. Your grandpa Stouten, my dad, was a wild child back in his youth, he was brought home to great-grandma Audrey by the cops more than once, he had a rocky time in school, and overall at times seemed to be determined to go his own way. But God had a plan and a path for him. After several very successful years in the car business God called him into ministry, away from the money and from a job he was good at. He and my mom walked bravely into a new life, with three little kids in tow. I am sure it is not what he planed but it was God's. In the end, God's plan is always better then ours, it was my plan to see you on Nov 12, but God decided we should wait. So Dec.8 we will see you again. Please don't hide.

Ultrasound today

It is hard to believe that you are 20 weeks already. That means only 20 more and you will be here. Hopefully we will get some good pictures of you today and find out if you are a boy or a girl.

Since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding.

— Colossians 1:9 (NIV)