one month

It is hard to believe that Gideon is a month old today! I feel like it has gone fast and slow all at the same time. Here are his stats from his one month appointment..

Height: 21.5 inches
Weight: 10 lbs
Head circumference: 14.75

canaan

Life has been busy. What else would I expect with a one month old and a 14 month old. :) It didn't help that I was sick for a week but I am thankful for family and all the help they gave.  I would not have been able to make it without them.Canaan is becoming more of a ham each and every day. We are having a blast with him and his new things he is doing. Here is our ham...

He loves to stack things now! Anything and everything he can get his hands on...

Due Date

It was hard to believe that yesterday was my actual due date.  What a joy it was being able to spend this thanksgiving with a little boy in my arms, with family and not still pregnant. I'm pretty sure I still would have been big if I wouldn't have been induced and then Gideon would have been over 9lbs. I am so thankful that he is here safe and healthy. Thank you Lord for blessing us yet again with things that we do not deserve.

Our new blessing

Welcome Gideon Lee Branch to the world!! He arrived November 19, 2011 at 7:05 p.m. He weighed 8lbs 8oz and was 20 in long.  We are so thankful that God has blessed us yet again with a healthy little guy!

39 weeks

I went to the doctor at 39 weeks she said everything was going well but I was really ready to be done.  I had a lot of emotions going on and just wanted Gideon to be here and know that everything was going to be ok. I asked if I could be induced early so I waited for Halle to talk to the doctor to see if I would be allowed to go.  She came back and told me that they could induce the next day (Fri 18th) I told her I would love that but Josh told me no because he was really busy at work and couldn't miss so she was able to work it out that we could go on Sat (19th).  I was really excited!! It even worked out that the doctor that delivered Calvin was on call for that day!!  Here is the last belly picture we got to take!

36 weeks

I have been feeling as good as I can I think...I have been going to the chiropractor every week and it seems to be helping a little. I feel more anxious about Gideon's arrival then I remember being with Canaan. I'm just excited to meet this little guy!

I had an appointment today(I'm now 37 weeks) and the doctor wasn't really sure if he was head down(yes we went through this last year) so I ended up getting an ultrasound! Everything is GOOD!!! He is head down and ready to go, but I now hope that we won't want to stay in there forever.

2 years

As I woke up this morning the first thing that came to my mind was wow two years ago our lives changed forever(really before).  Our sweet Calvin was born into glory at 6:57 a.m and all I remember was this sweet boy in my arms. He had the most precious face.  I was a mommy for the first time yet I would be coming home empty handed only with memories of our boy. God was really with me. I would have never made it through this trial without Him. I had tears of joy and sadness that only He could have given me. Of course I had moments of anger but I knew in my heart that God had a better plan for our Calvin even if we did not understand it.

As I sit here writing now I am so thankful for the people that God has put in our life. I have already received texts letting me know that people are praying for us on this difficult day. I am so thankful that people have not forgotten our Calvin.  This is the second year in a row that we have had lots to do on his birthday and at first I was a little down about being busy. I was thinking this is the day I should just sit around and think about Calvin, but the more I thought it is probably better that I'm not doing that. Yes I can grieve the loss of our first born but keeping busy will keep me from completely breaking down and I will remember that Calvin is safe in the arms of God. He is SO much better off then we are. I thank God that I know that he is with Him and that He has given me the strength to know that he is better off with Him then with us. I know that is not me FOR SURE giving myself that strength.

I will never forget the love that was poured out to us in the 4 months before Calvin was born and after his birth. I have never felt the power of prayer as much as I did those almost 24 hours of Calvin's labor. Thank you Lord for the love that you have shown us and the trial that we had to go through. Thank you for the people you have placed in our lives. I am so thankful that we have you to rely on so we do not have to rely on ourselves. 

Job 1:21 ...the Lord gives and the Lord takes away, blessed be the name of the Lord!