I'm not trying to be a copy-cat here, but this blog post just got me thinking...
http://resolved2worship.xanga.com/737366007/was-it-really-like-we-imagined/

  I've found myself thinking of Mary pretty often these days, probably because I sympathize with her plight.  Pregnant with her firstborn around Christmas time, not knowing what labor would be like, or when it would happen.  So many unknowns...I'm sure she found herself consumed with thoughts of her baby and wondering just how it would feel when He entered the world and turned hers upside-down.  Unlike me, she knew what she was having.  I don't even know HOW to think of this child yet! A son, or a daughter.  Blue, or pink.  Snips and snails or sugar and spice. 

   As hard as I may think I have it, waiting patiently for this child to make his/her appearance, something I cannot overlook is the fact that poor Mary probably had a legion of people doubting her innocence.  I mean after all, she was pregnant before marriage.  Can you imagine losing your reputation, your "good name" in the community?  Family, friends and loved ones believing the worst of you?  And then there's Joseph...I just really admire and applaud his enthusiasm and participation in supporting Mary in a pregnancy with a child that wasn't his.  At least I assume he did.  But what if he didn't?  After all, he was only human, and I'm sure it would be difficult to be just as excited as you would for your own child. 

   I don't know what the future holds for this child growing inside me, but I know the One Who does.  Mary would have had so many good reasons to be sick with worry.  She could have worried about what her Son would have to go through, and what He might have to suffer.  She could have worried about how much time she would get with Him, and when He might be taken from her.  I hope on that holy night, she was able to not worry for at least a little while.  I hope she was able to touch the soft, downy, velvet of His skin and breathe in His scent and just hold her little baby close and sing lullabies to Him.  I wonder if He curled His hand around her finger and she was able to know, even if only for that moment, that everything would be o.k.....
 

  

   Have not done a good job of blogging lately, and I don't have an excuse.  Not very pleased with myself.  But we're getting closer and closer to 2011 and we all know what that means...New Year's resolutions!  Which of course for me always includes writing more.  We'll have to wait and see whether I'm disciplined enough to do it or not with a little baby in my life.

   So, what do I need to catch up on?  Oh, Cindy had her twin boys, back on November 9. :(  I feel so bad it took me so long to mention it on the blog!  They were early, and the tiniest, most precious things you've ever seen.  Adam Joel and Ashton Samuel, weighing 5.6 lbs and 4.7 lbs, respectively. Pictures of the darlings...

  It was scary to hold both, I felt completely handicapped when a blanket fell over one of their little faces...I couldn't do anything!  Holding them felt like holding two blankets...they were just the lightest things!



Adam on the left, Ashton on the right.  Adam is both the firstborn and a little chunkier. Both so adorable!  Here they are already a couple weeks old.




Looks like he's winding up for a sneeze, but I think it was just a yawn.  What a little sweetie.  Must say, I can't wait to meet my little one!




Here I am at around 37 weeks, I think.  I need to get more updated pics taken, I'm only 6 days away from D-day! Well, the due date anyway, who knows if baby will arrive then or not.  Patience is a virtue, patience is a virtue....

   We will be busy with projects today and we have a Christmas dinner tonight.  Have a good weekend everyone!

   Something I have discovered about myself throughout this whole pregnancy/mommy-to-be experience---I am extremely picky when it comes to names. 
   I don't like names that are:

• Made-up sounding       (Abalina, DeQuincy, McKeisha)
• Too gender non-specific
• Too old-fashioned
• Just weird spellings of regular names   (Emily/Emileigh, Michael/Mykal)
• Tongue-twisty 

    Having these preferences makes it very difficult to choose names.  Not to mention the fact that I used to think I would only chose names for my child that hardly anyone had.  Turns out this is pretty difficult to do, considering everyone on earth has a name!  Who would've thought? And if you DO find a name that is unusual and not widely-used, it usually falls into the category of names like Apple, Damari, Iyana, Snow, and Yurem and other names that I would not ever choose. 

   I almost put "Too trendy" on the list of dislikes, but then I realized that it really is difficult to determine what that entails.  I never wanted to choose uber-popular names for my child, but then again it just so happens that some names I really like also happen to be popular.  So what do you do? Choose a name you don't like as well JUST for the sake of "going against the flow"? 

    Well enough about names.  In about 2 weeks (give or take:)  we will have had to narrow it down and make a decision on something, so I won't have to surf name sites all day and worry about it anymore.  *Delight*  And warning to all of you non-parents out there..... If you're like me, and think that you have it all figured out and know exactly what you will or will not look for when it comes to names, know this: When it comes right down to it and you actually have a wriggling, squirming baby in your belly that is ENTIRELY dependent upon you for the name that it will carry throughout his/her entire life...it becomes a little more challenging. 

    Also, please don't be offended if I mentioned a name you chose for your child, or just happen to love.  Everyone is different.  Diversity is what makes this world colorful, and I would never wish that we would all have the same opinions/tastes.  I am just stating mine, which I can, because it's my blog.  :)

And thank-you Mom & Dad, for naming me Shelley, and not Fifi or Trixibelle. 

That being said, I'm over and out. 

I am thankful for so many things right now.  Specifically:

• Health. Physically, spiritually, emotionally.  I hope to never take health in those areas for granted.
• This life growing inside of me. Such a miracle.
• Life, love and laughter with my husband.  
• A nursery for baby.
• The fact that my due date is only 2 1/2 weeks away! Glory.
• Family, near and far.  And my goodness I have some good-looking family members!

    The guys played a little two-on-two and I tried to take some pictures.  The lighting was horrible and I couldn't figure out the right setting to use to save my life, but I managed to snag a cute one of my hubby, so it was all worth it. :)

Ooo, all sweaty and sexy.:)

Well, that's all for now folks, I gotta run! Hope you had a wonderful thanksgiving.