Ready to Pop or Just Fat?

On Monday, Justin and I went to Wendy's for lunch. We were entering the building at the same time as one of the Wendy's employees who was coming back in from her smoke break. As she stood back to let us pass, she looked at me and said, "Whoa! You look like you're about to pop! When are you due?" I told her that I was only 7 1/2 months along, and I wasn't due till mid-May. She was like "Oh man, you're huge." Well, gee, thanks. So then we went in and she got right behind the register and took our order. I had been considering getting a frosty and some french fries, but after her comment I got my healthy salad and chili! I mean, I do feel pretty big, but I'm going to get a lot bigger before I get any smaller!

On the other hand, though, less than two weeks ago, we ate dinner at a Mexican restaurant. After we ate, I was resting my hand on my belly the way I usually do these days. The waitress came by and said, "I see you're holding your stomach, are you ok?" I guess maybe she was worried the food made me sick. I told her I was pregnant and just resting my hand on my belly. She looked me over and said "Really? How far along are you? Congratulations!" So I guess she didn't think I looked big enough to be pregnant. Just fat, I guess...

But I don't think that in 2 weeks I've gotten all that much bigger, so I guess largeness is in the eye of the beholder. I can definitely tell that Eli is growing fast these days, though. His kicks and movements have gotten a lot stronger, in fact, finally strong enough to be painful or uncomfortable. This combined with the fact that he's moving ALL THE TIME now makes me one uncomfortable mama half the time! I've started saying that he must've decided he wants to burrow his way out through my belly instead of waiting to be born the usual way. Take it easy in there, little man! Still more than 5 weeks before you're considered full term! From what I've read, the bigger he gets, the more squished he'll be and the harder it will be for him to move around a lot. Keep your fingers crossed with me that he doesn't keep up his current rate of movement until he's born! Sheesh!

Happy Easter!

We had a really nice Easter with family, and we actually took a couple pictures! (Thanks to Justin's mom who brought her camera!) So I thought I'd post them for your viewing pleasure. We went to church at Fellowship Church in Knoxville, where my sister-in-law (Nicole) and her family go. It was a nice service and very enjoyable. I needed something calm and quiet after yesterday...

Yesterday, Nicole, David (her husband), and I went to a special Easter presentation at a different church in Knoxville, and I have to say I did NOT enjoy it. It was really graphic and actually quite scary, but the biggest problem I had with it was that it was WAY TOO LOUD!!! I actually spent most of the service with my arms around my belly trying to protect Eli from the noise! When I got home, I got online and researched to see if a baby's hearing could be damaged by exposure like that in utero, and I found that it would only be a problem if it was all the time. (The uterus and amniotic fluid muffle most outside noise. Actually, the noise of my heart beating and other bodily functions are louder to him than pretty much anything going on outside of me.) So I'll rest assured that Eli won't suffer any permanent damage from yesterday... It'll take ME longer to get over than him. But he was REALLY active for the whole evening yesterday, so I think the noise did make some impact on him!

Anyways, after church this morning we headed to Sonny's Bar-B-Q, which is a favorite in the Tapp family. I had never had Sonny's until I married Justin, and I have to tell ya, I didn't know what I was missing. That's some really, REALLY good barbecue. So after lunch we took a few pictures to commemorate the day.

Justin & me. We hadn't realized it, but this is one of the only pictures we have of us together since I've been pregnant!

Nicole, David, and their son Joshua. I like this picture because David is wearing the outfit he wore as a groomsman in our wedding - he decided to wear it because it matched the outfit they got Joshua to wear. Aren't they cute?!

Joshua giggling with his Nana. I think this picture is adorable!

Since I Haven't Posted in a While...

...I thought I'd post the results of the quiz I took: What Holiday Are You? These usually are pretty random results, but this one hit the nail on the head.

You Are Thanksgiving

You are a bit of a homebody who enjoys being in the company of people you love. It doesn't take a lot to make you happy. You're enjoying life as it is. You have many blessings in your life, and you are grateful for each one. You believe that life is about what you *do* have. You feel like you have enough of the good stuff. What makes you celebrate: Family, friends, and the changing of the seasons. At holiday get togethers, you do best as: The host of the party On a holiday, you're the one most likely to: Spend so much energy preparing that it's a full time job

What Holiday Are You?

The Greatest Man I Know

My husband is a great man. He is loving, caring, and kind. He is smart and a deep thinker. He is the hardest worker I've ever seen, and he has such a servant's heart! He has a Master's degree in something that he is passionate about, and he longs to be able to use his training and abilities to make a difference in God's Kingdom. God, however, is choosing to lead us through a time of waiting and uncertainty before He shows us how He plans to use Justin's amazing gifts. So my husband is humble enough that he is willing to take a job that he is WAAAAAY overqualified for so that he can provide for me and our coming son.

My precious husband has taken a job as a delivery driver at Pizza Hut, but he spends more time washing dishes and making pizzas than delivering them. However, I know my husband. When they ask him to mop the floor, he says "Sure." When they ask him to wash the dishes, he says "No problem." In fact, he probably just sees the dirty dishes and washes them without being asked, because that's the kind of guy he is. I guarantee he is the best worker Pizza Hut has, and they probably don't even recognize what a jewel he is.

It brings tears to my eyes to see my talented, amazing husband in a job like this that wears on his body and puts no use to his abilities. But he is so wonderful that he doesn't complain, and he just works as much as he can and brings home a paycheck. I am so proud of him.

The value of a man isn't judged by how much money he makes or how much power he has. A man's value is determined by his character, and that makes my husband the greatest man I know.

I love you so much, my sweetheart!

7 Months!

I can't believe it's already time to be posting my 7-month picture! But it is, so here I am!He sure is growing in there!

All I Have

Just after we returned from Moldova, I found a devotional book in a used bookstore called Expecting Joy: Devotions for Mothers-to-Be. This has been a wonderful addition to my quiet times, and it almost always has something that really applies to my situation. This morning's devotional was so good that I just want to post the whole thing - it particularly speaks to me, but it could apply to anyone's situation.

All I Have
All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on. Luke 21:4

A group of 18- to 25-year-olds, full of the Lord and full of His strength, came to help our new church. They sowed random acts of kindness to show the love of God and to make our church's presence known in the community. There were service projects, free car washes, soda and orange juice giveaways, one-on-one witnessing, and a free family festival. I participated fully with these young people, known as the "E-Team" (Evangelism Team). I experienced all of the fun and all of the work.
A year later, when the E-Team came again, my situation was different. I was pregnant, with a mid-wife's orders to take it easy. I was supposed to be resting, so how could I wash cars, paint and clean for a local ministry, and stand on a street corner giving away soda? My husband, my pastor, and many of the E-Teamers insisted that I stay home. They used my home for meals and a meeting place so I saw them at the end of each day when they returned full of excitement. I rejoiced in what God was doing through them, but a part of me was sad because I was not able to do it with them.
The E-Teamers were youthful and strong, giving their all out of the abundance of their energies. I, on the other hand, was exhausted after only wiping the kitchen counter. I felt like I was lying around doing nothing; I wanted to do so much more.
The story of the widow's offering in Luke 21 offers encouragement for situations like mine. The widow did her part, which was valuable in the sight of the Lord. In the same way, I was doing my part, which was also valuable in His sight. My part happened to be equivalent to about two very small, copper coins (Luke 21:2). But at that time, it was all I could give.
Our season of life changes when we have children. We are about to give birth to little lives that need to be loved and discipled day after day. It starts with the dirty diapers and 2 a.m. feedings. Then it grows into questions like: "Where do butterflies come from?" And progresses to questions like: "What is heaven, and will I go there?" This is the time to focus our energy at home. God will give us opportunities to share our faith and serve others, but it's okay if it isn't the same method that it used to be. God is faithful to use us where we are.
These days will not last forever; they will fly by. Before we realize were the time went, our children will be the ones out there doing service projects - full of energy and full of the presence of the Lord, giving all they have to serve God.

For further study ~ Ecclesiastes 3:1-4

What a beautiful story and a beautiful way to capture the transition of this time. I have been discouraged because I feel like our uncertain circumstances and my physical limitations are keeping me from being able to do anything useful for anybody. But God knows my circumstances... Not only does He know them, but He Himself chose them for me. So He knows what I'm capable of and asks only that I do my best for Him with what I have. Right now, what I have may not seem like much, but I want to use it to honor Him. So I will keep a joyful heart, love and encourage my husband in every way that I can, and keep my body and spirit healthy in order to allow Eli to have the best start he can. It may only be worth 2 cents, but that's all I have to give, and God is pleased when I do.

One "Hip" Little Dude!

In the past couple of weeks, my son has discovered his new favorite play toy: my left hip bone!!! He jabs and grabs that thing for all he's worth! Ouch! From what I can tell, he's still head down and face out, which means that it's his powerful right hook that's getting me in the left hip. He's one strong little sucker! Whenever he does it, I literally jerk to get away as if someone were jabbing me from the outside. Unfortunately, since he's doing it from the inside, he just moves with me and there's no getting away. I can usually dig my hand into my hip from the outside and dislodge his little fist, which gives me at least a few minutes of comfort before he moves it right back. My silly little man. :)

In other news, I have been reading about how you should talk, read, and sing to your babies in the womb because it will help them learn to recognize your voice and get comfort from you once they're outside the womb. I've been talking to him long before he could even hear me. But now I've decided to start reading Scripture to him during my morning quiet times. I've always enjoyed reading Scripture aloud - it helps me keep my focus and to really hear the meaning of the verse in a way I might not get just reading it silently. But now I can see benefits for Elias too! Not only do I want him to get used to the sound of me reading to him, but I think it's never to early to start soaking him in the Word of God! I love the thought that I can already be influencing his spiritual walk even before he is born!

And finally, don't forget that this Sunday is Daylight Savings Time! Make sure to Spring your clocks one hour forward, or else you might be arriving at church just as the service is ending! I'm posting this on here in the hopes that it will help me remember too!

Our Life This Week

Today we had an appointment at the hospital for our tour of the birthing center where Elias will be born! So we got to see the birthing rooms and walked through the process of what it will be like when we're there just over 2 months from now! It's a beautiful facility, and I think it's going to be a great experience. They do a lot of the things I was hoping for, and so I'm very glad after this visit. We were also supposed to start our childbirth classes tonight, but our instructor has the flu. Sooooo, we'll be starting next week.

I haven't posted much recently because there isn't much to report! The only new thing I can think of in the life of me and Eli is that he's started getting the hiccups! It's usually at night when I'm laying in bed that I can feel them. Get those lungs strong in there, little man! :)

Besides that, the biggest news I have is that I actually cooked and ate salmon tonight... And I liked it! I've only eaten fish one other time since I've been pregnant, and it made me sick. But I started thinking maybe salmon might be ok, so I made barbecue salmon and it was great! Of course, anything in barbecue sauce is going to be good!