Now that I'm 18 weeks pregnant, I'm finally getting around to documenting the first trimester of this pregnancy... I took ZERO bump pics during the first trimester, but here is our family of four when I was 13 weeks. Overall, it was a fairly easy trimester compared to what some women experience at the start of pregnancy. However, it was definitely not as smooth as with Zianne. I felt nauseated for weeks 6-9 and really struggled to find food that sounded appetizing. One night I finally made this honey garlic chicken recipe that I had pinned ages ago, but by the time I had it on the table I could barely bring myself to look at it, much less eat it. As Micah and Kayla were raving about the recipe, I got up suddenly, spit my current bite into the trash can, and went to lie down on my bed in the dark. I have never thrown up during pregnancy, but I got very close to breaking the streak that night. I also struggled a bit more with fatigue this pregnancy. I didn't really feel tired throughout the day like many women do, but I would fade so quickly in the evening. Zianne goes to bed around 8pm, and many nights I would put her down and then have to coax myself to stay up past 9pm. I am a night owl by nature, so this was a strange feeling for me. I also hilariously ran two 5Ks during my first trimester. I ran the first one with all the girls in my community group when I was four weeks. I had no idea I was pregnant and was annoyed that I ran about a minute slower than I usually do. I immediately signed up for another race the following month to "beat" my slow time. Joke was on me. I found out I was pregnant a few days later, and then had to mentally and physically prepare myself for another race at 9 weeks since I had already paid for it and roped a few friends into running with me. I did NOT beat my time, but I was only two seconds slower which I was actually kind of impressed by. The other strange thing that happened during the first trimester was that my hip started hurting me the DAY AFTER I found out I was pregnant. I had significant hip problems at the end of my pregnancy with Zianne, and at five and a half weeks pregnant I started experiencing the same type of pain this time. I went to the chiropractor and I've been feeling better, but it's official that the relaxin hormone and my hips do not get along. I'm hoping regular chiropractic appointments throughout this pregnancy prevent me from running into major hip pain later on. So that is how my first trimester went down. It wasn't as easy as last time, but overall I seem to be blessed with really smooth pregnancies. {Although my second trimester has been throwing me for a loop... but more on that later!} ... Read more
Baby #2
It's true! In case you missed my post on Instagram back in early December, the Russums are joyfully expecting a second baby due in mid June. I had high aims of posting a cutesy announcement on the blog... perhaps with some phrasing such as "two are better than one" or "adding another arrow to our quiver" or something like that, but as all seasoned moms will tell you {and as I'm quickly experiencing firsthand}, second-time pregnancy doesn't allow much time or energy for cute or creative announcements. On the day I posted our news on Instagram, Zianne and I were both sick. I threw a baby doll in her arms {the same one I used to tell Micah the news weeks earlier}, hoped Z would smile, and used a photo filter to hide the snot dripping out of her nose. I had already surpassed the 13 week mark, and I needed to announce the news before my slowly protruding bump spread the word for me. I didn't even get to personally tell all the friends I hoped to beforehand and if you are one of them... I'm sorry. That is second-time motherhood, y'all. Although pregnancy is not as novel and all-consuming this time around, it is still incredibly special and I don't take it for granted one bit. I am truly in awe that God would give us another baby, and I still take a few minutes now and then to marvel at the mystery that a human being is growing inside me! I know there won't be as many bump pictures this time around and OB appointments feel more like a chore than an exhilarating outing, but I still hope to cherish this pregnancy and prepare my heart for this baby's arrival. That being said, I have a few commitments I'd like to make to this second child of mine... 1. Bump pics. They definitely won't be weekly, but I hope to take one every few weeks or so as this pregnancy progresses. 2. Prayer. I started writing down prayers in a journal for Zianne when I was pregnant with her. I've started a second journal for this baby, and although the volume of written prayers might be less, the book exists and I plan to add to it diligently. 3. A letter a month. During Zianne's first year of life, I wrote her a monthly Dear Zianne letter. I truly hope to accomplish the same thing with this second baby. It was such a beautiful way to capture the hazy baby days. That's it. Those are my commitments to sweet Baby #2 as far as documenting first year or two of life. I can't wait to meet this little one. ... Read more
What’s Your Plan?
A new year is upon us and I urge you, encourage you, exhort you to make a plan for how you will spend time with the Lord in 2015. There will be a million distractions and temptations to keep you from reading the Word each day, but with a plan in place it will be easier to overcome the myriad excuses that will pop up to keep you away from your Bible. And why do we read? There are so many reasons, but JOY is an important one. Even on those days when you feel there is no time to sit down with Scripture for a few minutes, even on those days where your reading plan feels like the most burdensome checklist, there is joy to be found in meeting with the Father and satisfaction to be found in learning more about His Son. Even though your reading will feel monotonous some days, on other days it will feel like refreshing water to your soul, hope for your weary heart, guidance for your wondering mind, and encouragement for your dreams and passions. And one by one, the days of turning God's pages, whether in weary obedience or glad anticipation, will add up to joyful transformation in your heart and your life when the year is through. This is my prayer for you... that you will be obedient and that you will be changed. I pray that 2015 is the year God's Word becomes more precious to you than ever before. So pick a plan. Stay the course. There is grace for the days you miss and wild joy for days you spend in His Word. Ligonier Bible Plans - An awesome comprehensive list with so many options. The Bible App {YouVersion} - This is how you can read on your phone at work, in the car, or in the waiting room on the craziest of days. ESV Study Bible - This is my favorite Bible version and they have 12 different plans available in various formats. Challies Round-up - Another great list of reading plans. Shirkers and Slackers Bible Plan - This is the plan I'm doing this year. "Slackers" might be misleading because if you follow this plan you will read the entire Bible in a year, but the format is a little more flexible than others, and I like that you read a different genre of the Bible each day of the week. Chronological Bible - If you've never read through the Bible before, this is probably my top suggestion for you. This is a paperback Bible and it tells you exactly what to read each day of the year. You don't need any additional app or checklist. The plan moves chronologically through the Bible, so the books are in a slightly different order than a regular Bible. For example, Job was a very ancient forefather, so his book comes right after Genesis. When you read about David's trials and battles in I and II Samuel you will also read the Psalms he wrote during the same time period. When you read through the Gospels, you will read each account of the same miracle or parable side by side. It's a really fascinating way to read Scripture, and it's a super organized way to get through a year-long plan. *Learn more about Bible reading here.* ... Read more
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