While We're Waiting

The wait is over! On October 11th at 4:09pm, we gave birth to a beautiful baby girl! Avalyn weighed 8 pounds and was 19 inches long. Though the majority thought we were having a boy, God had entirely different plans. I couldn't picture it any other way. Over the course of the next few months, I'll be taking a small break from writing to cherish these sweet moments that fly all to quickly. However, you will still see content in the form of guest posts and occasional posts by me. Until then, a picture of our sweet second. Cuteness overload.

While We're Waiting

It's baby week! Maybe. Hopefully. Our little one may arrive by the 6th, but we shall wait and see what he or she decides to do. Until then, some reads for you!

I Quit My Job to Become 'Just' a Mom by Jill Molloy

The Weary Work of Waiting by Glenna Marshall

How to Drink Your Gatorade by Leigh Sain

While We're Waiting

Monday is just about over, but it's never too late for a While We're Waiting post, especially since the links are in the form of videos this week. You're welcome, visual and auditory folk. We have 16 days left until this baby may make his or her arrival! How is that even possible?! We are still clueless as to whether we are having a boy or girl, but everyone is saying boy after taking a look at the baby bump, and I'm now half-expecting a boy. Even the few who thought it might be a girl have changed their minds. We'll all know in just a few short weeks. Until then, videos for you. Enjoy!

1. Here is an old, but good video, and a great reminder to every woman out there. 

2. 5 Tips for keeping your marriage strong.

3. Another video by the same couple, because they are known for their funny videos, and this one is appropriate for the state I'm in. 

4. Another great reminder by one of my favorite bands. 

5. Forget the fact that I got way too excited when I heard the lyrics to this song and it included my daughter's name, but the testimony that accompanies this video is awesome. 

While We're Waiting

23 days! We are in the homestretch that drags on and feels like months have gone by in one single hour. Still, we wait and try to do so with patience. Oh how much I've learned about patience since having our firstborn. I'm so far from receiving any awards on patience, but I'm learning, and with God's help, my prayer is that I'll get a better handle on the keys to patience. For now, we wait. No new reports. No exciting news. Simply waiting. And while we wait, we may as well read for the good of our souls. Here are three links to help get you through the week!

The Christian Word That Makes People Cringe by Christie Thomas

On Comparison-The Joy Thief by Elli Johnson

When you're running on Empty by Katy McCown

While We're Waiting

30 more days! One month to go and we will finally meet our second little one and find out boy or girl. We had our last ultrasound last week and we let our daughter come with us. She watched the monitor and kept saying "baby" over and over. I'm not sure if she knows exactly what's going on, but it's cute to hear her say "baby." Our second is charting a bit larger than usual. Why am I not surprised? Please don't be a 10 pound baby, little Hughes! All is well and we are getting more and more excited with each passing day. Until then, here's some links for your week.

When You Finally Get Over Trying To Be Perfect by Sarah Mae

30 Ways To Boost Your Happiness Today by Jennifer Dukes Lee

A Letter To Those Who Teach by Courtney Stanford

Living In The Sweetest Days by Heather Hollander

While We're Waiting

Each time I write one of these posts, I'm astounded that another week has passed. 37 days, friends! Last week went fairly well, though one day I was stuck on the couch because I could barely walk across the room and I've also been fighting a cold. This week will be the last week before I begin instructing again, so I'm focusing on getting things accomplished around the home. This week is also our final ultrasound, and I'm excited to see some little fingers and toes and making sure the tech doesn't tell us boy or girl. We've made it this far, no need to find out now. And with that, some links for your week. These reads are thought provoking and take a little time to digest. You've been warned.

God's Will Isn't That Complicated by Jarrid Wilson

Is God the Center of Your Marriage by Josh Squires

Freedom To Breathe Starts With The Knowledge That You Are Forgiven by Sally Clarkson

While We're Waiting

Asthmatic symptoms have taken over my nights and part of my days due to a cold that began a few days ago. I'm not sure if pregnancy sensitivity is the culprit, but I have never in my life dealt with wheezing. Both my brother and sister had asthma as children, but not me, so this is strange and every bit of unnecessary. Hopefully medication will kick in soon and this awful elephant-foot-on-my-chest feeling will remedy itself. Aside from that, all is well. Nothing is abnormal with the littlest Hughes. He or she is just as active as ever and attacks my belly as soon as I'm ready to rest. Sleepless nights have already begun in preparation for life with a newborn. 44 more days! Until next week, here are some links for you.

When You  Forget Who You Are by Susie Larson

Revive Me Lord by Tara Dickson

How To Survive The Seasons by Alia Joy

While We're Waiting

Eight more weeks, folks. I must've looked pregnant enough to warrant the "how many weeks left" question from over twenty people at church. God has been good during this pregnancy. Aside from a few nose bleeds, some light middle-of-the-night leg cramps, and an achy body, everything has gone smoothly. Though I know these next eight weeks may be the slower weeks of pregnancy, I have no complaints. When people asked how many weeks I had left, I actually had to think about it. Maybe it's having a toddler to keep up with or getting ready for my writing courses or giving you words for your week, but I haven't felt all that pregnant. Baby kicks and a slight loss of sleep at night remind me that a baby boy or girl will enter our worlds shortly. With that update, here are some links for your Monday.

One is a prayer for those who are sending their kids back to school, one is for the atypical woman, and one is an hour long video that I highly recommend watching. You'll probably want a pen and notepad while you watch. Enjoy!

This Prayer For Your Back To School Week by Leigh Sain

When You're Not A Typical Woman by Abigail Dodds

Have You Abandoned Your Boat by Priscilla Shirer

While We're Waiting

A week away on a beach vacation, and now I'm back to bring you new links for the week. Let these words resonate with you. Rag-picker or Olympian, your life is important when your identity is hidden in Christ. Enjoy!

A Tabernacle of Trash by Amy Carroll

Meet The Rio Olympians Who Put God Before Gold by Morgan Lee

What Makes Rejection So Awful by Lysa TerKeurst

While We're Waiting

Little Hughes has been on the move the last few days. On Saturday, I took the lovely glucose test and am hoping for good results. Adding one more twist to the list of my life is unneeded and may lead to a meltdown. I'm doing well, like an unusual calm within a storm, but I know the lightning could strike at anytime, the thunder roar, the rain soak, and the wind test my balance. Deep breaths, coffee, and whispered prayers have helped, but of course, reading and hearing stories and encouragement from those who've been there get me through these crazy hormones-out-of-whack, life-spinning-in-its-own-direction, and 3rd-trimester-trouble moments. That said, here are the reads that resonated with me this week.

The first is a tear jerker if you're a mom, the second and third give perspective on rough days, the fourth allowed me to breath a sigh of relief, and the fifth is a lighter read with a thought provoking ending. Enjoy!

If God Makes You A Mommy by Christi Gee

Life Is Madness. Play Music. Eat Donuts. Dance. Laugh. by Joy

When Today Just Doesn't Go Your Way by Emily Lofgren

Having A Second Child Made Me A Better Mom by Amanda Hughes

A Crash Course In Honeymoon Survival by Sara Manning Peskin

While We're Waiting

5 Ways To Prepare Your Heart For Back To School by Angela Richter 

Sunday Tea Time: You'll Adore This Family Tradition by Jenn Rych  

Handprints and Hydrangeas: Giving and Getting by Kristin 

Decisions, Decisions by Karen Ehman 

Pico De Gallo And Prayers by Kris Camealy 

While We're Waiting

Our ever-growing toddler is getting difficult to carry. According to friends, I don't look that pregnant, but I sure feel it, and it's hard for me to wrap my mind around the fact that this little one will be here in a couple more months. We have yet to set ourselves on any names-boy or girl, but over the weekend my mom gave me a huge bag of boy's clothing she found at a yard sale with a wide range of outfits for 0-12 months. Who thinks she's banking on a boy?

While we're waiting, here are some links for you.

For any of you zucchini-lovers, you'll want to click on the first link for a delicious recipe. Our garden has been producing zucchini like crazy, all from one plant, so I've been making zucchini everything, and this is by far my favorite recipe because it's extremely easy to make as well as delicious. I added two cloves of grated garlic while cooking the rice to give it more flavor.

Enjoy!

Cheesy Zucchini Rice by The Recipe Critic

No One Is Beyond The Reach Of Truth by Lysa Terkeurst

Freedom From Shame Jeannie Cunnion

For The Mom {young or old} Who Feels Lonely by Christy Fitzwater

What I Want To Tell Moms (what I wish I would have known sooner) by Sarah Mae

While We're Waiting

Here are some links to get you through the week. Enjoy!

The Rhythm of Celebration in Our Own Life Giving Home by Sally Clarkson

In A Land Of Small Wonders by Christie Purifoy

When It's Hard To Keep Hoping by Ann Voskamp

When You Forget Your Grace Face by Brenda Bradford Ottinger

Grass Stains and a Grateful Heart by Joanna Gaines

While We're Waiting

It's Monday again! While we're going through the week and looking forward to Friday, here are some links for your reading pleasure. The first two are for those going through a difficult time, the next two are for parents or parents-to-be, and the last is for anyone who is married and has kids or plans to have kids. I hope these encourage and challenge you like they have me. 

When Hope Seems Foolish by Erin Ulerich

To My Friend Going Through A Hard Time by Traci Schmidley 

How Becoming A Parent Changes You by Paul Perkins

What To Do With Our Kids' Questions This Week by Leigh Sain

Connecting After Kids by Ann Swindell  

While We're Waiting

The questions come daily from loved ones and strangers, reminding me just how precious this little growing gift is and will be.

When are you due? 

Are you having a boy or girl?

What! Why are you waiting?

How are you able to wait? 

The baby is due in October. We don't know the gender. No, really. A few family members are skeptical, but we honestly are choosing to wait. Why and how? When asked, I give a basic answer. We think it'll be exciting to find out at birth. I don't know how we are waiting. A huge part of me wants to know, but another side of me whispers "wait." 

With my firstborn, I was anxious to have everything planned. We knew the gender as soon as possible, we picked out a name before birth, and the nursery was staged with every girly item washed and folded. The process of having a baby was new to me, and I was set on doing everything in my power to make the arrival of our sweet girl perfect.

Oh, the learning that motherhood would teach me about perfection, about waiting. Our daughter was born after 20 hours of labor. I envisioned someone handing her right to me, but instead they had to clean her up first. I'll save you the details. After what felt like hours of waiting in a dreamlike state, they brought her over to me. I didn't react the way I had imagined. You know, the movie reaction of tears and adoration and joy. Instead, I looked at her every feature, completely dumfounded that this tiny individual was my daughter-the one who kicked and hiccupped for many months inside of me.

Within several short hours, a doctor arrived and explained that she'd need to be placed under lights due to jaundice. It was important that we only take her out to feed her and change her diaper. Those days felt like my body had been ripped in two. All I wanted was to hold her close, and the emotional toll of not being able to do that those first five days frustrated me. The waiting for the jaundice to clear out of her system lasted an eternity for my exhausted, weakened, and disheartened self. I had no choice. Wait.

Every time a doctor came back saying "not yet," I held back the exasperated sobs until he exited the room. The only solace for my soul was that they didn't make me leave the room. Since we chose to nurse our baby, they used a term called "nesting," as the key for me to stay with my baby.

When they said nesting, I pictured myself as a hen I grew up raising that sat day and night on her nest, unwilling to budge, and willing to attack anything that threatened to remove her. I was that hen the first week of motherhood. Ask the rooster, my husband. I was irritable from the lack of sleep, combative when I felt threatened, and emotional and slightly crazy during every hospital hour that passed. But roosters, when a hen's eggs hatch, are protective. That was at least the case for the one I raised. He helped scratch up food for the chicks and kept the other hens from attacking the brood. He made sure that the mother hen was well taken care of over the rest of the flock. My husband-the emotionally stable one-took good care of us both, and I'm thankful.

So here we are again, expecting another child to raise and nurture, and I'm choosing to wait. Perhaps this process is to remind myself that I have the ability to choose waiting and imperfection instead of letting it overpower me. Perhaps it's to learn that waiting and imperfection are perfectly necessary within life and especially within motherhood. Perhaps I'm a little crazy for waiting, but I've come to terms with the idea that it's okay to not be okay, to not know the answer, to not have a plan, and to let mere circumstance dictate my emotions.

While we're waiting for our second to arrive, for the excitement of finding out the gender, and for the tears, adoration, and joy of new life, I've decided to share links to words that resonate with me each Monday.

Why Monday? No one really likes Mondays. The weekend has passed, and we must wait for the next weekend to arrive. Some weeks are long and painful, while others fly by. No matter the extent of your week, I hope to encourage you in the waiting.

Boy or Girl? Cast your predictions in the comments below and let's wait with anticipation together.

When You’re Weary and Waiting by Marissa Henley 

I’m No Longer Satisfied with Crumbs by Terri Fullerton 

When We’re Tempted to Take Our Kids’ Behavior Personally by Amanda Bacon

Why my kids no longer come first by Jenny Sulpizio

When You've Lost A Whole Month (Or Year) Of Your Life by Bethany