Her name in Chinese

Curtains Are Done

Week 26

There is a lot going on with our girl this week. The picture below is not our baby, but what she looks like about now....Read with great wonder below....

Your baby’s developed oil and sweat glands are now functioning. Her fingernails, toenails, eyebrows and eyelashes are now fully present and will continue to grow until birth. The fetus can respond to sound and can hear you and those around you. Although we assume that the uterus is a quiet place, the baby has been surrounded by noise for a long time. Things like your heartbeat, digestion, other body functions and external noises are heard by the baby. In fact, you may feel the baby jump at a sudden noise. Your baby is now about 14 inches and weighs a little under two pounds.

The uterus also allows some light to be seen so your baby is aware of light and dark. Your baby’s skin is wrinkled and translucent and may have a reddish color due to the presence of dermal blood vessels. Veins are visible through your baby's skin, although it is quickly changing from transparent to opaque. The following months will see increase in body fat. The lungs continue to mature with the development of “air sacs” and begin to secrete surfactant (a substance that will help your baby’s lungs expand at birth. At this stage of development the various organs have formed.

As the blood vessels in the lungs began last week, the air sacs in the lungs begin this week. The lungs begin to secrete surfactant which covers the inner lining of the air sacs which then allows the lungs to expand normally during breathing.

Besides the active lung growth, the brain kicks in with brain wave activity for the visual and auditory systems.

Although your baby's eyes have been sealed shut for the last few months, they will soon open and begin to blink. Depending on ethnicity, some babies will be born with blue or gray-blue eyes (which may change color in the first year of life) and some will be born with brown or dark eyes. Eyelashes are growing in, as is more hair on the head.

This is a picture of the two of us from the summer in Galveston. It is a good picture of our relationship through pregnancy. The two of us have not been fighting or begrudging one another. It has been a great thing to know we have a daughter coming and that the two of us have such a good partnership through it all. I am getting lots of practice serving and know I will have to step it up even more when I have two Charissa's to love on.

We are also getting more and more projects done. Each Monday Night Football game I spend in the garage repairing or building something while watching the game. Charissa has been a sewing maniac doing curtains, bumper pads, crib skirt, and who knows what else for the nursery. She is great. She can make the nursery and the baby all by herself; all with a full time job and teaching college.

That's my girl!!

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A Miracle

We have a cross collection, like many people, but ours, I think, is unique. Every cross has its own story behind it which makes them all great. This one in particular has its own story as well.

We bought a cross that looks similar but said Faith. Was a nice gift to one another and a reminder of the bond that holds us. Through our tough times we bought another cross called Hope. This cross we looked at everyday and hoped for a child. We wanted our faith to push our hope that God would grant us our desire. It stayed on the wall for a long time.

Charissa bought Miracle one day before we even knew we were pregnant. She had faith and hope in what God would do for us and kept it as a secret from me. Just her own sign unto God. When we found out with joyful tears we were pregnant she showed me the cross. It now hangs with all the others with its inspiration and story. As you enter our kitchen you will see all three and can be a witness with us of all the Lord has done.

Week 25

Now that you are 25 weeks pregnant, your baby should be weighing about 1 pound 5 ounces (660 grams). Baby's little hands are busily feeling her surroundings, touching her own skin and the umbilical cord. These little hands are now quite dexterous; baby's fingers can even curl into a fist! At this stage in your pregnancy, you will also start to notice that baby has busy and resting times; and you may be more aware of the fetal activity when you are lying down or sitting still.

Your baby's hearing is so developed, that she may now be able to hear you! This week, the structures of the spine (including 33 rings, 150 joints and 1000 ligaments) start to form. The blood vessels of the lungs are also developing and baby's nostrils begin to open.

The Nursery

We are beginning to get things ready for our baby.
Below are some pics and descriptions.

Corner of nursery with curtains Charissa is still making.....



Antique highchair I am refinishing


We finally have a need for a "chair and a half". This is Charissa's favorite reading area.