{24 Weeks}

{Month 6}

How Far Along: 24 weeks!

Favorite Maternity Clothes: GAP maternity jeans I bought this week – what was I THINKING trying to stretch the use of the bellaband?! They are a-mazing.

Best moment this month: Putting together the nursery! Kenny and his mom painted it a light earthy peach-ish/brown over Christmas vacation ...and I enjoyed purchasing some artwork on etsy.com, helping kenny put together our white Jenny Lind crib, and sitting in the rocking chair day-dreaming. :) We also spent week 24/25 of the pregnancy with Kenny's family in Oregon...hence, the beach photo above. No, Cincinnati did not acquire a lovely beach-scape ;-)

Movement: Micah moves a lot! And the kicks and punches are getting stronger (ooff!). I love feeling him, it’s so reassuring.

Food Cravings/Aversions: Zero aversions. Major appetite! At my 24 week appointment, I put on some weight, so I’ve gained 12 lbs so far…I don’t know what that means, but they said it was “good weight gain”…I plan to just keep eating ;-) I’m doing my best to pick healthy choices for this sweet boy!

What I miss: Spicy tuna sushi rolls!

Sleep: Sleeping great, so thankful. It’s just a matter of time before my precious sleep is interrupted by a MORE precious baby boy!

What I am looking forward to: Starting our Bradley Method birth classes on Feb 6th, and finishing up our registry. Every detail of preparation is such a sweet reminder of the precious gift of this child!

Belly Changes: Behold, the bump!

Symptoms: Back aches, especially in the morning and nighttime…realizing my body gets sore doing things I always used do and that’s a little frustrating because it’s hard to admit you’re needy! Some Braxton hicks, but not many (usually when I overdo it – oops).

Prayer for this month: Lord, you know the cry of my heart: that Micah would come to know you personally at an early age. I pray, Father, that his heart would be bent toward you, even now- and that he would have a deep love for Your Word and desire to follow after you all the days of his life. Give Kenny and I the power, through your spirit, to shepherd his little heart.

Third Annual {Brunch of Joy}

Well, I'm catching up on some blogging now that the holidays are over. It was such a wonderful season for us, and so special being pregnant over Christmas! Since we moved into our home in 2009, we've hosted a Christmas Eve Brunch each year that we like to call the Brunch of JOY! As we continue to prepare our hearts to celebrate Christ's birth, we love to gather around the table with family and start the day off laughing, sharing...and of course eating! Here are some snapshots from our brunch...

The Master Chef preparing his mascarpone stuffed french toast with Strawberry compote!

Not the best picture of us...but you get it: we were there ;-)

Jeanette stayed with us Christmas week - we had so much fun!

The girls always get their gift on Christmas Eve morning after brunch!

It was a JOY filled morning, indeed :-)

It's a BOY! {Gender Reveal Family Party}

Wednesday, December 21st, Kenny and I found out firstborn child will be a BOY! Our 20-week ultrasound was two days earlier, but we had the tech keep it a secret by putting "boy" or "girl" in a sealed envelope and not telling us at the appointment. We took the envelope (immediately) to our favorite local bakery (Bluebird Bakery, where our wedding cake was made) and had the owner bake us a very special cake for the party. Until Wednesday night, only the ultrasound tech and Jenny at Bluebird bakery knew whether baby Sinclair was a boy or girl! :) We invited over a small group of family (and a little extended family) to join us in revealing BOY or GIRL! It was so fun and memorable. Mom and Abigail put so much work into making the event special for us...

Abigail made this sweet box with little cards for each family member to write a little word of encouragement or just babble with excitement! (My mother-in-love wrote WOW!!!! on hers...I think she was excited...)

She also had a space for everyone to guess BOY or GIRL before we cut the cake...they would tally their guess on a chalkboard, and then wear either a bow or tie pinned to their shirt :-) Abigail made all these - thank you, sister!

Sweet banner :)

Tally board... there were a lot of wrong guesses....me included!

The cake of mystery ::insert dramatic music here::

Reaction photo {shock meets joy meets hysteria}

It's a boy...TOUCHDOWN ;-)

Grandma Nettie was right...it's a little boy!

Mom's beautiful spread of yummies:

We are so in love with this little boy of ours! I REALLY thought baby was a girl (not necessarily because I had a preference, I just thought it was!) but once I found out he was a boy, I thought, "Of COURSE it is!!" It was just so perfect and right. :)

::BLUE booties::

Thus begins a slew of photos involving Kenny, myself, the banner, and our sweet family :-)

Sports pose...to symbolize a boy, of course.

Kenny took this photos just before we left for the party (20 weeks along).

Micah, we are SO GLAD you are our SON - exactly what God planned for our family! My heart is full as I think about God's goodness in bringing you into our lives in HIS perfect timing. Oh, how I love you, my sweet son, and look forward to the day I will hold you in my arms. For now, your daddy and I continue to pray for YOU, Micah Daniel, by name, as we lift up your precious life to our heavenly Father...who loves you even more than we do. But I'll tell you more about that when you're here...

{20 Weeks}

{ Month 5 }

How Far Along: 20 weeks - halfway!

Favorite Maternity Clothes: This is such a fabulously awkward clothing stage. :) So, my pants all fit with the BellaBand…and I have some cotton maternity shirts…but I can’t find dressier (think: attractive) maternity clothes that I really love. I’m going to hit up some non-maternity clearance racks for larger sizes and baggier styles (i.e. Gap, Fossil, Anthro) in hopes to find some nicer shirts/tunics to wear with leggings.

Best moment this month: There were TWO!

{1} Our 20-week ultrasound! My heart was full to overflowing seeing the answer to our prayers for a child on the ultrasound screen – what a miracle, and what a God we serve! We watched baby reach for his/her toes, yawn, and kick. The ultrasound tech had one hand on the wand, and the other was handing me tissues ;-)

{2} Our baby gender reveal family party! We’re having a sweet baby BOY!!



Movement: Kicks, swooshes, rolls and flips…this baby loves to move! Kenny felt the baby kick for the first time last week (19 weeks) and that was a sweet moment to share together…I wish I could have photographed the smile on his face. Mom (Nana-to-be) was so hoping to get to feel a kick, and FINALLY got a good hard one right in the palm a few nights ago…those of you who know her can imagine her expression, I’m sure. ;-)

Food Cravings/Aversions: Hello, appetite. My only serious craving has been Kashi’s Berry Blossom cereal…like, 3 bowls a day. Still averse to Indian. Boo.

What I miss: A Jersey Mike’s Club Sub this month ;-)

Sleep: Still sleeping well, used to getting up at night…except when I’m coooooold. I can’t wait to get up to a BABY!

What I am looking forward to: Meeting/holding/kissing/squeezing our sweet little BOY!

Belly Changes: I love watching my tummy grow, imagining the precious one in side! Enjoying the journey of pregnancy…not freaking out about the lbs and enjoying every minute :)

Symptoms: Easily overwhelmed (bawled all the way through the movie “Eight Below”), hormonal, over-the-top maternal instincts, HUNGRY!

Prayer for this month: Lord, is it really possible that You, the King of Creation, came to earth in the very form you are fashioning inside me…a tiny baby? How we worship at the manger of the King of Kings this advent season, so thankful that you became GOD with US…Emmanuel! What a mystery...I am more in awe than ever.


Here we are soon after finding out we're having a SON!


Then today, Kenny's mom and I hit up some baby consignment stores for boy clothes and Buybuy Baby to put final touches on our registry. I was rather proud to finally be able to park in the special "Expectant Mother" spot ;-)

Um...we went crazy. All this for under $100!!
I heart bargains. And tiny things. And my son :)

Kenny and I are overwhelmed with JOY!
Micah Daniel Sinclair

"Sons are a heritage from the LORD, children a reward from him." {Psalm 127:3}

{16 Weeks}

Month 4 {November}

How Far Along: 16 weeks!

Favorite Maternity Clothes: No more buttoning of the jeans for this mama – I haven’t moved to maternity pants yet and am getting by currently with the BellaBand. Hoping to buy a second one soon! I’ve worn 2-3 maternity shirts just because I love the length of them so they’ll cover the BellaBand completely.

Best moment this month: Feeling baby’s first strong flutter at the Cincinnati Symphony celebrating Kenny’s 30th birthday last weekend! Baby must have enjoyed Rimsky-Korsakov’s “Scheherazade” …and tympani!

Movement: Can’t wait to feel more – especially when Kenny can feel it, too. I know that will be such a special moment for us to experience together!

Food Cravings/Aversions: The strong aversions have passed, which is really nice. Indian & Mexican food (formerly my favorites) are both still not options…it’s crazy how hormones change your palate. Also realized I’ve been enjoying Skyline Chili more recently, and milkshakes. Especially Chik-Fil-a’s Peppermint Milkshakes.

What I miss: Smoked Salmon…why can’t I stop thinking about it?! {get a grip}

Sleep: I noticed in the past week I’ve begun getting up more often at night to use the restroom (and during the day) – We’re considering turning the bed so I don’t have to go through a labyrinth in the dark, without my contacts in, jumping over both sleeping dogs…to the restroom. ;-)

What I am looking forward to: Four weeks until we find out if Baby is a boy or girl…FOUR WEEKS!!! {breathe}

Belly Changes: I’ve definitely popped out a little just in the past week. If I’m wearing a baggy sweatshirt, it’s not super noticeable….but in a regular cotton shirt, there’s definitely a little bump! Kenny lovingly exclaimed to me yesterday, “You look poochy!!” Thanks, dear.

Symptoms: Definitely dealing with some hormonal pregnancy tears/outbursts this month! Sorry, Kenny :)

Prayer for this month: Father, may I continue to focus my eyes on You during this season. May the words I speak and the things I do reflect You to this precious baby - even while he/she is inside my womb…

{12 Weeks}

Month 3 {October}

How Far Along: 12 weeks! What an answer to prayer - Sayonara, first trimester!

Favorite Maternity Clothes: Found some great bargains on maternity clothes at Gap outlet and various local consignment stores! I haven’t worn any yet, but I’m getting ready to begin using the BellaBand with my regular jeans…you know “it’s that time” when your pants are unbuttoned more than they are buttoned. ;-)

Best moment this month: Seeing baby Sinclair wiggle and dance around on the ultrasound at 9 weeks…and then hearing it on the Doppler at 12 weeks - the sweetest sound my ears have ever heard…and I’ve heard a lot of beautiful music. :)

Movement: I felt a few flutters…or what I thought could be… beginning at 11 weeks. I guess time will tell if it was “for real” or not once they get stronger. I’m pretty sensitive, so I think I really did feel something, although I know it’s a bit early.

Food Cravings/Aversions: The week finally came when I could not…to my dismay…eat at the Indian Food Buffet after church on Sunday. * sigh * Weeks 10-12 have been the roughest so far - nothing seems to sound good...my two cravings have been Arby's curly fries (with cheese, of course) and chocolate milkshakes (super healthy). I lost the 3 lbs I put on at my 8 week...but the doctor said that was just fine...and to enjoy my curly fries - he'll tell me if I've gained too much ;-)

What I miss: Random foods that sound good just because I know I can’t have them. I think a lot about bagels and lox (smoked salmon) from Kenny & Zuke's in Portland, OR :)

Sleep: I heart sleep…still.

What I am looking forward to: Finding out if baby Sinclair is a boy or girl - which will be Christmas week! This is one excited mama :)

Belly Changes: Hello, BellaBand.

Symptoms: Getting energy back! Major food aversions, nausea (finally threw up for the first time at 12 weeks, ha), excess trips to the restroom…

Prayer for this month: Father, may our lives, and the life of this child bring you glory!


Here's baby's photo from our 9.5 week ultrasound :)

We took a video on my iphone of our 9.5 week ultrasound - you can see our wonderful Doctor explaining what's on the screen...and baby dancing away in the beginning! Considering I stand next to the drums playing the guitar/leading worship at church, like, 8 hours a week, I think baby is bound to love music :)



And at 12 weeks, Kenny and I heard sweet baby's heartbeat for the first time using a Doppler (running around 160 BPM). How nerdy do I look/sound/act? I was SO thrilled :)


We are treasuring every precious moment!
{Soli Deo Gloria}