Maternity Photos

I just love, love, love the photos my friend Beth took! Here they are in slideshow format!

34 Week Update

I had my 34 week appointment today, which was uneventful. My iron is lower, so I have a stash of prescription iron pills and a list of iron rich foods to eat. I'm measuring right on track, Gabe's heart rate is perfect, and all is normal. Since we are traveling for Turkey Day, we had a discussion about what to do if something happens (ie--labor). Nothing probably will, but they gave me a copy of our records to take to the nearest ER just in case.

In some ways, I wish I hadn't gotten a copy. All the reminders of the heartache of the first half of this process are recorded in words and pictures. Looking at the dates, the notes, the most confusing picture of my life, "Twins" crossed out and "vanished" written--I can't explain it, but it still stings and brings tears to my eyes . . .

At the end of the day, however, I am thankful. I am thankful that we have a crazy almost-three-year-old. who is currently fighting his nap. I am thankful for the strong elbows and feet moving within. I am thankful for "boring" doctors appointments. I am thankful to be considered a huge success story in the realm of fertility treatment. I am thankful to have a husband who has held on (for dear life at times) to me and to the joy of new life. And I am even thankful for the hard days that have made the good days sing so much sweeter.

The Four of Us

Love these candid shots by my friend Beth. Not many of our family shots turned out because our Noah is a squirmer, but these are great shots of us being just us!

Name Choice . . .

When we were looking at names in our last pregnancy, we chose "Noah" because we liked it and the meaning fit perfectly: peace. God gave us such peace throughout the fertility process and all the decisions, pregnancy, labor and delivery, etc. I really couldn't sum it up with a better word: peace . . .


This time, we have had a lot of unexpected things come up, beginning with the polyp-removal surgery I had after our kick-off ultrasound. To say that this whole process has been tougher than we ever imagined would be an understatement. The physical difficulties, however, haven't been nearly as tough as the emotional and spiritual struggle. I found myself praying for strength quite often--sometimes for strength to simply get out of bed. The theme of the journey this time around has been STRENGTH.

**When we first found out we had a twin pregnancy, I picked a verse for each baby. Baby A's verse was Psalm 18:32: "It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect."

**Isaiah 40:28-31 was a lifeline to me throughout some dark days--physically and emotionally.

Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

So, friends, we have picked a name for our next baby boy. His name will be . . .

Gabriel "Gabe" Matthew Straits

Gabriel="God is my strength" or "Strong man of God"

Matthew="Gift of God"

God has truly been my strength from day one of this process, and I pray that Gabe will continue to walk in His perfect strength throughout his life, recognizing that his life is inded a gift to this world!

Moments to Memorize

I just left Noah's room after our usual bedtime routine got a little "derailed" and am still smiling! Noah is getting more and more fascinated with my growing belly--so much so that he is now pulling my shirt up more often to "be nice" to the baby, to "kiss baby!" or to just say "Hi, baby!" Tonight, we started to pray for the baby, and he immediately pulled my shirt up and started rubbing my belly. Our sweet baby boy decided it was a good time to wake up and promptly started to kick at Noah's hand. Noah thought it was absolutely HILARIOUS! He was giggling and giggling and then would pause, waiting with anticipation, when Baby would sit still for a few seconds. As soon as he started moving/kicking again, Noah would laugh and laugh! He then started saying, "Again, baby!" and wanted to "kiss baby!" over and over. What a special moment between brothers my heart wants to memorize . . .