not much goin on'

Ahhh not much going on these days. I am 31 weeks tomorrow and was supposed to have an appointment today to check Brynnee's growth, but got cancelled. Somebody else had to go and have a baby so the doc wasn't available :( So--tomorrow it is! I will have the full ultrasound to see how she's doing. Last time they estimated she weighed 2.6 pounds, so hopefully she has grown!! I know I have. I've done a wonderful job putting on 10 pounds in the last month. I feel awesome about it. Christian thinks I can gain another 20 before she comes out--so I might just hold him to it. >:( At this point I've just decided to not worry about it. The motivation I feel to lose all this weight ALREADY makes me know that I WILL lose it. Weight Schmeight.

Anyway--just wanted to give an update. Noah is blossoming before our eyes. He is the most precious, beautiful little child. And he has such a kind little heart. The other night we had movie night with our little family, where he stays up way past his bedtime and sits in between daddy and I on the couch and munches popcorn. Like seriously, his eyes don't leave the TV and the popcorn is constantly being shoveled into his mouth. It's hilarious to watch. Anyway, so I had popped him his own little bowl of popcorn and several minutes after he had been eating it, he simply said, "Thank you for my popcorn mama". I am so amazed at the thoughtfulness of the child. Like really? I didn't even remind him to thank me.

On a totally different note, my favorite quote of the day, and possibly weeks, came from Christian today. He walked into the house (I was upstairs, he was down) and all he said was, "That garbage can smells like assholes." then walked back out. Didn't even wait for a response. The funniest part to me was that he thought it smelled like several assholes...plural. Not just one, but several. I've been chuckling to myself all day. :)

Brynne update

So....a little worried about our Brynne. I went in for an ultrasound today to measure her and make sure she's growing ok. Usually in pregnancy, you have 1, maybe 2 ultrasounds. I've had 5. And the doctor wants to do another one in 4 weeks.

When I had the quad screen done, they found high levels of AFP in my blood, which usually points to spinabifida. Her chances of having spinabifida were 1 in 45. So we had special testing done in Portland and a super long ultrasound, where the doctor ruled out spinabifida (thank the Lord!) but found a cyst in her brain, which he assured us is fairly normal and could "be gone tomorrow". But he said that sometimes with high AFP readings, women can go into labor early or the baby could be undernourished. So they've been checking her growth and making sure everything is ok.
Today she weighs approximately 2.6 pounds. She was breach, and still is (I can actually tell!), so that has me a little concerned, but hey--she has two months to right herself, right?

The one thing that worried me was the doctor saying, as she was doing the ultrasound, "Did you have an amniocentesis?" Now...why would she ask that? To worry us? Well, it worked. And then when she was all done, she said she wanted to do another ultrasound in 4 weeks. Finally I was like, "Hey, so why all the ultrasounds?" and she explained about the checking the growth thing. Then I asked what might happen if she's NOT growing properly. The doctor said they would induce, because that would mean that the uterus is no longer the best place for her to be; she'd do better outside the womb. So then, of course, I asked when the earliest they would induce would be. And she said, "Well, I'm expecting you'll make it to at least 32 weeks." Which is in like....5 weeks. So...that has had me thinking all day that, wow, we could maybe have a baby in a little over a month...two months premature.
If you have a moment, please say a prayer for our Brynne ("Brynnie-bear" as Noah has taken to calling her). Please pray that she grows!!
They also said her head is a little mis-shapen...please, no coneheads. I am praying for that to right itself, too.
We love you Brynnie bear :) Stay in there for a while longer...

5 years...

Happy 5 years to my love :) What a long road we have been on, it seems, in only 5 years' time. I am so proud of us for stepping it up when we needed to and for persevering. Our first year of marriage was definitely not the year we had in mind, was it? Living out of a hospital room for the first 4 months was not what I had pictured...But we made it, sweetheart! I am so proud of you--you are such a strong and courageous person, and a wonderful daddy. Our son looks up to you in a way that is indescribable, and I love watching it. I love that you make change when you know it is necessary, and you are willing to sacrifice so that our little family may have more.

I love you!!!!

So young looking! We did a lot of growing up in our first year...

One year after we eloped, we had a big wedding with family and friends. Christian had just learned to walk again and it was so very special to dance with him!

Almost 6 months!

(it's a virgin marg, people)

I can't believe how time is flying by! I'm almost 6 months pregnant. Amazing. It's getting hard to rock Noah at night. He doesn't need it; he goes to sleep on his own, but for me, it's our time together and I like snuggling with him. But my stomach is literally starting to get in the way of holding him. He has no place to be! :( How sad. I'm not ready to give that part of my day up!

We heard from Homes for Our Troops a few days ago; we had a conference call and got some really great news. Looks like they're planning (tentatively) for a build brigade the weekend of April 23. That's where they put the whole outside of the house up over the weekend. Then it will be weather-proof and they can finish the inside. We are looking at a completion date of June 29th. Baby Brynne should be here by then!! (by the way--can't decide how to spell her name--which looks better--Brynne Johanna Bagge or Brinn Johanna Bagge Not sure. Thoughts?)

That's pretty much it. Still really enjoying my job and we have some little trips here and there planned in the next few months, which is always fun. A trip to the beach in March and then a marriage retreat in April. I always like having things to look forward to :)

This pic is in Puerta Vallarta, Mexico. I just got back last Saturday from an all girls trip to Mexico for 8 days. It was fun, but boy I could have done without all the drama that always comes with girls who are together longer than 8 hours. Like, really--do you really care if I go clubbing with you or not? Why can't I just stay back here and read or sleep, or do other things that pregnant people love to do?! I even sent out a disclaimer email beforehand, stating that I am not a drinker (duh, but especially now that I'm pregnant) and that I wouldn't be going to clubs, staying out late, etc. I paid good money for this vacation, and I was going to do what I wanted to do, dangit! I just didn't want people to think I "didn't like them" or whatever. But seriously, are there really pregos that go to clubs til 4 am?? Well, if there are, I'm not one of them.

Anyway, for the most part, it was a fun time and I enjoyed getting to know the different girls and spending time in the sun and pool. I even rented a wave runner (don't worry--it was safe, I didn't go too fast). And went whale watching, where I spent 3 of the 4 hours feeding the whales by leaning my pregnant body over the side of the teeny tiny raft and puking. And yes, half the blood vessels in my eyes DID pop. It was awesome. But thankfully, it IS true that once you get off the boat, you're completely fine. Just. Super. Tired.

Anyhow--so the next vacay I go on will be with my family. I missed them ;)

Below is a pic of a little private island my friend Amber and I took a boat to--gorgeous!

baby girl on the way!

Oh my, it's been a long time. The latest news is that I'm PREGNANT! I am due June 22 and we are really excited, although this was completely unexpected and unplanned. AND--we also found out we are having a GIRL! The first girl grandbaby on my side of the family, so that makes us proud :) We decided to name her Brynne Johanna Bagge (after Christian--his first name is Johan--pronounced like Yo-hahn) Anyway, so that is exciting!
We did have a few scares--mainly we were concerned that she might have spinabifida. But after close ultrasound and other tests, everything looks good for the most part. There is a chance that I could have her early, because of the tests that they did. So I'm not to overlook any Braxton Hicks and am supposed to take it easy. I have been having a lot of cramping and that makes me nervous, so it's water water water and rest rest rest when that happens. Not used to it.

Because of all the testing we were able to find out the sex early (I am only 19 weeks now and we found out 2 weeks ago!) So we are praising the Lord for many things. Noah knew all along it would be a baby sister and he is already calling her "Brynnee". It's so sweet :) Live is good!

Below is a family pic at Christmas :)

Pumpkin Patch

We went to the pumpkin patch today and I loved every minute. It was crisp outside and beautiful. We ate some delicious honey crisp apples and spent quality time together. :) Loved it!

He picked his very own pumpkin. All by himself!

Daddy showing Noah some corn that was on the ground...

Noah is sooo into tractors lately. He loved this one. (Mama did too, a little :) )

Noah and his best little friend, also named Noah.

Then this happened tonight. It was hilarious:

Blessed :)

Well, C left early this morning for a week long hunting trip. I'm excited for him. Time by ourselves is of the essence. Months ago, it would have been much harder for me to say goodbye. I would have been really depressed and lonely. But I can see how much God is allowing us to be satisfied and content...more and more each day.

We have started regularly attending a church that we've decided to call our "home". We had been "shopping around" for quite some time...almost a year, so the feeling is wonderful...we are settling in. I've found that when you move, it just takes a while to get settled and connected. But what a good feeling it is when it finally comes!

A few weeks ago we signed up to host a home group. We enjoy every. last. drop of it. We clean, I bake, we set up. People arrive and our home is full. We meet new people. We talk to people that linger a little longer and learn what their story is. Last night we talked with an older doctor who was alone (his wife is away with grandkids). We learned he had been run over on I-5 when he was 25 years old and has suffered ever since. He had an amazing story and we felt blessed to have heard it. And...an invitation for dinner soon. It just feels so wonderful to have fellowship and friends who are believers. We are just on the same page, and it's great. ...feeling content and at peace. I really feel God working, and it's exciting!