Second Trimester Favorites

As the third trimester comes speeding in, thank goodness, I've rallied up some of the things that have helped get me through.

1. Clearasil Refreshing Superfruit Scrub: I'll start by saying for the first trimester and first half of the second trimester, my skin was...well, hellacious (for lack of a better word) Now I know, this has salicylic acid in it (which is a no-no during pregnancy) but it's fine to use as long as it doesn't sit on your face too long. Now normally I cannot use any kind of face wash/scrub unless it's natural or ultra gentle because my face doesn't like it. But, as everyone says, pregnancy turns the normal into the abnormal and vice versa. Basically, this has tremendously helped my skin!

2. Nivea Lip Butter in Vanilla & Macadamia Lip Butter: Along with my skin, i've had crazy dry lips. I use this every day multiple times a day and I'm good to go!

3. Loreal Thickening Shampoo/Conditioner: As some of you know, my hair has decided to start falling out a little earlier than "normal". I picked this up and can already tell a huge difference. Whether it's all psychological or not, I don't care...I feel better! 

4. Bella Vida Maternity Jeans: Picked these babies up from Ross for like $10.00. If you ever see me in jeans, these are them. They get the job done!

5. Heating Pad: This isn't the exact heating pad I use. I stole my parents old heating pad and use it at night when my ribs begin to make popping noises. That's not an exaggeration. They pop.

6. Spring Valley Prenatal Gummies: I could eat these as candy. Enough said.

7. What to Expect When You're Expecting: "The pregnancy bible". I like reading this because I don't have to sit and read the whole thing. You just read as you go throughout your pregnancy because it's broken up into weeks. Light reading = that's me.

8. Pumpkin Spice: I don't think this has anything to do with pregnancy and everything to do with the season but anything Pumpkin is for me (creamer, cake, candle-scented, etc.). I'm not a Krispy Kreme girl either, I prefer the cake donuts from Dunkin but holy moly... the Pumpkin Spice donuts from KK will rock your life. Go get one, or a dozen.

27 Weeks

How far along? 27 weeks

Total weight gain/loss: 18-19 lbs.

Maternity clothes: Most of my regular clothes still are working for me! A few maternity things here and there!

Stretch marks? None yet!

Sleep? I have to sleep propped up but other than that sleeping pretty well!

Miss Anything? Just feeling "normal"

Movement: I'm getting used to the jabs and kicks but that rolling around business is not my favorite.

Food cravings? Bread (which I have to steer clear of) and sweets (which I also have to stay clear of) What is this life!?

Anything making you sick or queasy? Trying to get ready while I'm burning up!!

Gender: baby girl :)

Symptoms: Ready for my list? Haha just kidding. Achy ribs and back, gas (which I'm sure you wanted to know, right?) Short of breath and crampy legs.

Labor signs? Not legit labor but I have had those braxton hicks things. I used to like the name Braxton. Not anymore. Haha. They are pretty uncomfortable but still don't compare to kidney stones. Bring it on, braxton hicks. Haha!

Belly button in or out? Still hangin' in there. Pun intended.

Wedding rings on or off? On

Happy or moody most of the time? Happy

Worst moment this week: Ready for this one? Failed my one-hour sugar test. Which was no shocker to me. The doctor basically said it'd be a miracle if I passed. Another thing to thank PCOS for. My sugar levels have nothing to do with my diet and everything to do with PCOS and genetics. 

Best moment this week: We scored a huge white dresser in perfect condition for $40 at Goodwill for the nursery. Cha-ching!

Looking forward to: My 3-hour sugar test in the morning. #saidnooneever. Thanksgiving for us starts Tuesday night and a little sugar issue won't be stopping me from pumpkin pie. Better believe that.

Baby Info: She's inhaling and exhaling with her developing lungs and she's showing brain activity. 

Wage War 4

We wrapped up our Wage War series last night and it was nothing short of amazing! Here's a recap if you missed out!

"For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins NO MORE." Hebrews 8:12

• Man meant for the cross to be a form of humiliation. God used the cross as a form of life transformation.
• There wasn't any length God wasn't willing to go to to prove His love.
• The cross is the ultimate definition of love.
• When we're found guilty, there's a punishment. Someone had to pay our debt in order to bail us out. Jesus paid it all.
• Some of us carry around our sins and baggage everywhere we go. God has already/will take it all off our backs and nail it to the cross.
• Nothing you could ever do could make God love you any less.
• God didn't come into the world to punish you. He came to save you.

"For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.

For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer.

I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the Lord, and you forgave the iniquity of my sin."

Psalm 32:3-5

"...having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away nailing it to the cross."

Colossians 2:14

Last night was proof that the simple word of the gospel still saves. God is still in the business of saving His children through the work He accomplished on the cross. 

*Last night we saw 187 students, 10 new guests, 3 salvations, and 3 rededications!*

Jessica & Justin

As many of you know, my sister got married on November 9th! It was a great day! Low stress, low maintenance, lots of laughs, a few tears, and a new family! I thought I would share some of my favorite pictures from that day! Her photographer was great! You can check her out here! And here's the link to see all of the pictures from that day! http://photographyanddesignbyjenny.pass.us/jessicajustinwedding/

Maternity Pics

We had some maternity pictures taken last week thanks to one of our students! He's raising money to go on a mission trip to Jamaica during Spring break and seeing as how we got to experience the life change that the Won by One trip brings, we wanted to help him out! You can help him out too, here!

Here's some of my favorites from the day

26 Weeks

How far along? 26 weeks! 3 more months!

Total weight gain/loss: 17 lbs

Maternity clothes: Have still only bought one pair of jeans for myself. Wearing a few hand-me-downs!

Stretch marks? None

Sleep? Still sleeping pretty good! I haven't had to wake up during the night to pee...once...the whole time I've been pregnant...crazy, I know!

Miss Anything? Not having to watch my sugar!

Movement: Hence, the picture!

Food cravings? Stuff I can't have

Anything making you sick or queasy? Nope

Gender: Girl

Symptoms: Ribs, headaches are back, can't make it through one worship song without feeling DEAD!

Labor signs? No!

Belly button in or out? Flat as a pancake!

Wedding rings on or off? On

Happy or moody most of the time? Happy this week :)

Worst moment this week: Being paranoid to take my glucose test tomorrow :-/

Best moment this week: We had a student raising money for his Jamaica missions trip take our maternity pics...I will share those soon! Thanks, Parks :)

Looking forward to: Eating every single thing at Thanksgiving. Judge me hard.

Baby info: She's now the size of an eggplant! She's soaking up antibodies, getting her immune system ready for life outside the womb. Eyes are forming, and she'll soon be practicing the blink...perfect for batting those freshly grown lashes! (hopefully inheriting from her daddy!)

Wage War wk 3

I have loved this series at Pursuit! It ranks pretty high up there on my favorites list! It's been all about practical reasons to live in Victory over sin and satan. Last night, Hux taught on the significance of the mind and how our thoughts dictate everything! Satan cannot have our hearts so he tries to control our minds! Here's a catch-up if you missed it.

We've also been taking questions from students during this series and been answering them before the message. Last night, we answered. "Why do bad things happen to good people?" Here was the answer:

http://www.truthproject.cc/videos/if-god-exists-why-do-bad-things-happen

"For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds." 2 Corinthians 10:3-4

• We can have victory if we think right!
• Your mind is not a trash can. Don't let people throw garbage in it. What goes in WILL come out!
• What you think determines how you feel which determines how you act! 
• We are so focused on the size of our problems that we lose sight of the size of our God!
• God wants our minds to be fixated on things that matter, and PEOPLE matter!

"For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." Hebrews 4:12

• Change occurs when we take control of our thoughts!

"Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." Philippians 4:8

• Pure thinking leads to pure living!
• When you a sew a thought, you reap an action. When you sew a habit, you'll reap a destiny.  

"You keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on you because he trusts in you." Isaiah 26:3

 Last night, Pursuit saw 175 students, 9 new guests, and 1 rededication!! Celebrate!

25 weeks

Excuse the weird lighting and rough appearance. It was a long weekend!! Haha!

How far along? 25 weeks

Total weight gain/loss: 17 lbs. {insert the "deer-in-headlights" look}

Maternity clothes: A few... I'll need a few more just basic tanks 'n such!

Stretch marks? No

Sleep? Sleeping good lately!

Miss Anything? Feeling normal and not caring what I eat

Movement: Yes. She doesn't like me to fall asleep easily.

Food cravings? Just the things I can't have. Haha!

Anything making you sick or queasy? No

Gender: girl :)

Symptoms: Still just achy! 

Labor signs? No

Belly button in or out? How about just "weird". 

Wedding rings on or off? On. Hopefully they'll stay there!

Happy or moody most of the time? Happy

Worst moment this week: Just feeling out of breath all the time and feeling like I can't do the things I want for being tired!

Best moment this week: My sis is a Mrs!!

Looking forward to: Putting up Christmas decorations...yes, I'm one of "those"! They're going up 

soon!

Baby info: Brooklynn measures about 13.6 inches to 14.8 inches and weighs about 1.5 to 2.5 pound. She's enjoying her new sense of equilibrium (at the expense of mine. I can't stay on my feet...haha) She now knows which way is up and which is down. She's growing more fat and hair (which, if she's anything like her parents, she will be quite hairy)

Wage War

Last week we began a new series at Pursuit, Wage War. This series is all about how to declare war against satan and sin and live our lives in victory! Last week was also busy so I wasn't able to post so I'll combine weeks 1 & 2 today :)

We kicked off week 1 discussing WHO we need to wage war against -- being satan. He's real but he isn't all-powerful, all-knowing, or everyone at once. 

"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." 

Ephesians 6:12

• Christianity isn't a playground -- it's a battleground! 
• You're either on God's team or on satan's team. You can't play both teams. It's one or the other!
• We can be overtaken by temptation because we flirt too often with the enemy!
• God doesn't send anyone to hell. We send ourselves there!
• If God loves you, the enemy hates you.
• Satan HAS to have permission from God for everything he does!
• The enemy lost when Jesus rose from the grave!!
• If you're lost, satan will try everything to keep you that way!
• God has given us the ultimate authority over satan! ("I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you." Luke 10:19)
• Heaven isn't for people that are scared of hell -- it's for people who LOVE JESUS!

Last week we saw 182 students, 17 new guests, & 3 REDEDICATIONS!

Week 2 we were challenged to not only dress our outsides but our insides! It's more important to dress our hearts (spiritually) before leaving the house every day than worrying so much about our outward appearances!

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God,so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand."

Ephesians 6:10-13

• We set ourselves up for defeat when God & I don't meet!
• God's word is for direction AND protection.
• If we want to walk in victory, we have to spend time with the one who won the victory!
• God's more interested in WHO you're becoming than what you look like.
• Some of us dress our outsides but never dress our insides. Dress your heart!
• We have to combat the devil's LIES with God's TRUTHS (Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:7)
• God's word (the sword) wasn't meant to cut people down, but set people free!
• It's hard to stand before men without first kneeling before God.
• When you're inconsistent, He will seem distant.
• The enemy likes to make strong men weak. God likes to make weak men strong!
• It's not the amount of our strength, but the source of our strength that makes a difference! We can't battle satan in our own strength but only in God's strength!
• If the enemy doesn't take a day off...why would we?
• We can't go to war without our battle equipment or our armor!

Last night We saw 197 students, 18 new guests, & 1 SALVATION! Celebrate!

24 Weeks

How far along? 24 weeks...16 more!

Total weight gain/loss: I don't know... 10 + the Zaxby's meal I just had

Maternity clothes: Just a few

Stretch marks? Not yet

Sleep? So-so

Miss Anything? Not having to watch what I eat! :-/

Movement: The whole rolling thing makes me queasy! I might as well get on a roller coaster!

Food cravings? This week I've been a grilled cheese/pizza gal

Anything making you sick or queasy? No

Gender: Girl :)

Symptoms: Let's just say lying on the floor is so much more comfortable than sitting on the couch. What the heck. Sciatic nerve and rib drama.

Labor signs? No

Belly button in or out? Still hanging in there

Wedding rings on or off? On

Happy or moody most of the time? Happy

Worst moment this week: Just the aches and shooting pains everywhere!

Best moment this week: I finally got off my rear and registered for this little one. I figured she may need some things ;) Thanks Casey & Ginny... I'd have been totally l-o-s-t without ya'll! We also bought the crib and put it together...it only took three attempts but since it was Saturday and we were determined to put it together in front of the football games, we failed to realize it wouldn't fit through the bedroom door. So, on the fourth try, we got it in the bedroom! #rookieparents

Looking forward to: My sister's getting married SATURDAY!

Baby info: She's the size of a cantaloupe. Her see-through skin is gradually becoming more opaque and it's got a new pink glow, thanks to the small capillaries that have recently formed. Now is the time to where IF she were to be born now she COULD survive (but we're praying she'll stay in there for now!)