When O' When will this baby be born???

     I know it has been forever since I've posted.  Life has been busy, which is such a blessing.  Danny and I worked really hard to pretty up the house from the winter as well as some more home improvements, including tiling the countertops ( done by your's truly! ).  We were going back and forth on whether or not to try to sell the house for the third summer in a row.  At first we felt we've had enough stress and craziness in our lives that we didn't want to bother with showings and the frustration of our hopes being raised only to not hear of any interest in the house, leading to discouragement.  However, while I've been nesting and spending alot of time in our home, we've decided that we are planning on growing our family and that this sweet little home is just not going to be able to hold all that we are praying the Lord blesses us with.  So, with the mindset of: "We aren't going to catch any fish if our hook isn't in the water", and "If we don't sell this summer either, we'll have all this work done for a clean home to bring Hope into", we decided to take a chance.  Four days after we signed with our realtor, God blessed us with our first showing.  While we were excited, of course the voice in the back of our minds said "it's not going to happen" .  Then to our surprise, after one showing, we received our first ever offer about 24 hours later!  God is good!  While feeling optimistically cautious about letting our hopes get up to high, we are praying nonstop that the whole process of this sale moves smoothly forward.  Right now we are waiting to hear when the inspection will be.  The deadline is July 6th.  The buyer has already been approved for her loan and has no contingencies keeping her from being able to buy the house, so we feel good about how the everything will go.

     Yesterday was my 30 week checkup.  We had an ultrasound just prior to the appointment.  Dr. Weary has been a great doctor so far.  He managed to schedule us another ultrasound courtesy of our insurance :)  He said there wasn't anything he was concerned about, he was purely doing it for my heart.  I love feeling God's love for me through people in my life.  Hope looked great!  She's definitely running out of room and is definitely plumping up well.  All my books have said that for 30 weeks a baby should way about 3lbs.  Little Miss Hope weighs in at 3lbs 13oz, some news that we were hoping for!  I'm constantly praying for a big, healthy baby.  She seems to be a busy little bee.  Most of the family has had an opportunity to feel alot of her movement.  Hannah was always a bit shy.  I love their different personalities.  I'm excited to see what kind of joy Hope is going to bring us.  

     Probably the biggest thought weighing on me is "when is Hope going to be born?"    Hannah was born at 36 weeks 1 day.  So, my mind is constantly wondering, could Hope be born at 36 weeks?  Since my pregnancies are so close, will she be born a bit earlier?  The doctors say she could just as well be born later, could I make it to 40 weeks?  I just am at a loss.  Those who know me, know I prefer stability.  I want to know when and where and how.  I know that every pregnancy leaves any mom wondering.  I'm just praying she stays in long enough to help her mature and develop enough to handle such a hard world.  With that said, God is in control.  Babies are born at 28 weeks and grow to thrive.  Hope is in His hands, and that does bring comfort. 

     Another concern is that our closing date on the house is set for July 29th.  The day I turn 36 weeks.  What are the chances?  Again, it's in God's hands, and the realtor said she has no problem bringing the papers to the hospital :)  I'm excited to see how God is going to pull it all together.  He never fails to amaze me!


Some cute Hope picures.  It's amazing to see a different little person in there, and yet still see traces of her sister too.  She just melts my heart!