29 Weeks!!

Your baby now weighs about 2 1/2 pounds (like a butternut squash) and is a tad over 15 inches long from head to heel. Her muscles and lungs are continuing to mature, and her head is growing bigger to make room for her developing brain. To meet her increasing nutritional demands, you'll need plenty of protein, vitamins C, folic acid, and iron. And because her bones are soaking up lots of calcium, be sure to drink your milk (or find another good source of calcium, such as cheese, yogurt, or enriched orange juice). This trimester, about 250 milligrams of calcium are deposited in your baby's hardening skeleton each day.

Wow. I'm down to only 11 weeks to go (give or take). It is going to be here so quickly and I'm suddenly feeling incredibly panicky that I have nothing accomplished! There is so much to be done!

The past 5 days have been incredibly hard on my family as Thursday afternoon, July 8th, my step-father Harold passed away suddenly and very unexpectedly. It has honestly thrown my world into a tailspin. I've gone through so many emotions and cried so many tears. I honestly thought that I was just about out of tears but they seem to keep finding their way into my day. Despite getting plenty of sleep the last few nights, I still just feel mentally and emotionally exhausted. I just feel like there are so many thoughts swimming around in my head that I can't quiet them all and I cannot calm my heart. I have been very blessed, however, to have such a wonderful loving family - some of whom are still here in town with us that are honestly such a godsend to my mother. I don't know what we honestly would have done with out them. I feel like we're at such a point of uncertainty in our lives right now and all we can do is just trust that God will give us peace, comfort and strength through these difficult times.

One of my favorite Bible verses that my brother shared with me when I was going through my divorce back in 2003 and it has stuck with me ever since: But we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. - Romans 5:3

I know that Harold is in heaven and it makes me happy because I know my grandparents and his parents are there with him and I can just imagine all the fun Harold is having with his dad and my grandfather doing some sort of project. I just miss him so very much and I know my life will never be the same without him. I am just absolutely heartbroken that Nugget will never have the opportunity to know him and to learn all that I have learned from him. I know he was so happy that she was coming. I am just so grateful that God did allow me to have him in my life for over twenty years.