Today is Baby Loss/Miscarriage Awareness Day

Today is Baby Loss/Miscarriage Awareness Day. Please go to www.october15.com to see how you can participate!

I think all of you know that in April 2008 we had an early miscarriage. Since then I have met so many that have gone through and are going through this. My heart breaks but God restores and from losses teaches us so much!
This is a post I wrote at 35 weeks of pregnancy with Nataleigh...
Many people refer to the baby as a "bun in the oven." I was thinking yesterday how much I love to bake and was thinking about people referring to a baby in the womb as a "bun in the oven" and thought about how I constantly check whatever I have baking-just to make sure it's not going to burn, see if it's done...I get so impatient. I'm going to be honest, there have been many times I haven't been patient and trusting in this pregnancy and have wanted to check on my "bun in the oven" but really couldn't. There's only so much you see/hear at the doctor's and apparently that hasn't been enough for peace of mind. So once again I was reminded by our loving, graceful, compassionate Father that He's got it all under control, and I don't (and never will).
At the beginning of this pregnancy it was even more tough to give all control over to God because 5 months before we got pregnant with Nataleigh we had a miscarriage. There are probably a few readers out there that don't know this and that's because we didn't feel it necessary to tell the whole world at the time. But now that it's been just over a year ago since it's happened much growing and healing have taken place! I can't begin to tell you how much Chris and I have grown closer together through this loss and even better yet- how our journeys with God have taken huge strides. And for this we are blessed and thankful!
So, at the beginning of this pregnancy with Nataleigh it was VERY HARD to let go and let God fully take this precious life into His hands and do with it what He had planned all along. I will never forget the overwhelming peace that came to me the night before we went to our very first doctor's visit. We would get to see her via ultrasound and hear her heartbeat just at 6 weeks and a few days! We got to so early because of having a previous miscarriage. The doctor wanted to see me every 2 weeks during the first trimester to closely monitor her.
The peace that I had was from God speaking directly to me about our baby's life. He asked me if I believed she was His child and I said yes. He asked if I believed she was His child even before we knew she was in my womb and I said yes. He asked if I believed she was His child even before we let her go out on her own and leave our nest. I said, yes, she's always your child first, we just get the priviledge of raising her on earth with Your help. So, knowing the truths of our daughter, that she is a child of God first gives me the biggest peace, knowing that she is ours to love and raise on earth and God will take care of everything if we let Him. I don't know how He is forming her everyday in my body, I can read all the books about what she might look like right now and read about her developments but I don't know fully how He is forming her right now...that's His miracle, that's part of His mysterious self. I shouldn't have to question His greatness! He is great!
So, we give her to You, God and we pray that she sees You and desires, chooses to walk with you on earth when she's old enough to grasp and choose this for herself. Thank you for our miracle! We look forward to meeting her and loving on her! We give her to you now and always. Help us be everything to her that you desire us to be.

This pregnancy has been nothing but healthy! Her growth is right on and she's even head down right now (all ready for her arrival). Praising God for so much!
If you or someone else has had a miscarriage and needs some encouragement please tell me. I'm ready to be that encouragement, I know how much encouragement I got from others who had miscarriages at the time of our loss and I still hold on to those words. I couldn't have made it without all of that support and encouragement.

So, yesterday was a rough day with Nataleigh because we think she's beginning to teethe so after reading what I posted at 35 weeks reminded me of how grateful and thankful we are to be mommy and daddy to Nataleigh even through those rough days!....
Praying for those who's hearts are in mourning...please pray specifically today for my friend Tonya as she just found out she lost her baby at 10 weeks.

4 months!

Today Nataleigh is 4 months old! She also had her 4 month appt. and she weighs 13 lbs and is 24 inches long! Our growin girl! :) She's so much fun! She's almost rolling over from her back to her tummy, making lots of noises (jabbering to herself or to who knows who in her crib), laughing, grabbing our faces, holding toys and putting them in her mouth and recognizing us and her grandparents.
We are enjoying fall! It's so beautiful here in Ohio! Love the cool, crisp air! :) There is that "white stuff" in the forecast this week! :) ahhhhhh Enjoy a video on facebook of Nataleigh and her daddy. :)
Here are some pics of our bundle of joy!