A Time For Every Season....

Your beautiful little miracle-gro baby will be putting on a full ounce and a half this week (and weighing up to 16.5 ounces), but that’s just the beginning! Within the next five weeks, they’ll really be packin’ it on! For now, we’re pleased to report the addition of rapid eye movement (REM) a key component to any healthy baby’s sleep schedule. While in the dermatology department: their thin soft skin is very red, rather translucent, and a bit wrinkled. Not to worry, it’s not a premature aging disease. It's just their clever little body setting them up with extra space that will smooth out once your little one starts packing on the baby-fat. That won’t be for a few more weeks, though. So for the time being, your munchkin is still a little lean mean growing machine! The beginnings of what is commonly called “brown fat” is just starting to fill in to help your baby retain some body heat, which is crucial as they’re not yet capable of regulating their own body temperature. And how'...

We had a quiet and relaxing week. John was home for part of the week finishing up the dining room and bathroom floors. They look awesome! Drew was glad to help his Daddy by handing out kisses, dropping the drill on his bare feet, loosing wrench sockets, and running around the house yelling "Daddy's Home." John found an Armatron at a garage sale this weekend for 1.00 - you should have seen how excited John was. Now John and Drew fight over who will be playing with it. John has even taken to hiding it around the house in hopes that Drew will forget it exists... so far all attempts have failed! We visited our good friends the Tyson's on Friday - they finally, after three attempted inductions, delivered a healthy baby boy named Ethan. Ethan is adorable and Drew loved to give him kisses. We did have to explain to Drew that Ethan was not our baby, our baby is still safely cooking in mommy's tummy. Drew really wanted to take Ethan home with him! On Sunday Drew, Nana, Sh...

Click this link to hear Sunday's sermon where our pastor Bob Robers interview's the PACC delegates from Vietnam. It was even more powerful sitting in the audience. How awesome that these men were able to hear the gospel presented 4 times during the 4 services they attended. They even were singing our worship songs and we learned one in Vietnamese ! It was an amazing experience to see communists visiting us, thanking us, and asking for our continued support. This delegates were so humble and kind, not exactly what I as an American would think of as communist. Listen to the sermon above to hear more about what Pastor Roberts said to the PACC delegates and his congregation. Melissa Church evangelizing with service, not sermons Keller congregation working to do its part in Vietnam 12:00 AM CDT on Thursday, July 26, 2007 By SAM HODGES / The Dallas Morning News samhodges@dallasnews.com An evangelical church in North Texas would seem an odd destination for a government delegation...

As I post this our little one is thump, thump, thumping on my bladder! You're half way there! The rapid growth stage is about over. While things have slowed down, this next stage is vital to survival. The baby's heart grows stronger. Find a quiet place, lay flat on your back. Locate your own heartbeat by finding your pulse. Next lay your hand on your belly. You may be able to distinguish the two heartbeats! His legs are reaching their relative size. With the increase muscle develop occurring as well, you will start feeling much more than tiny flutter kicks soon! Immunities are being transferred from you to your baby now. These immune cells will protect her from viruses you've already had for up to six months after birth! The nerve cells for taste, smell, hearing, seeing, and touch are now developing in specialized areas of the brain. Production slows down as existing nerve cells grow larger and make more complex connections. Your baby may startle in reaction to loud sounds....

Our family had a great week, Mommy closed the books and managed to find some time to bake Daddy a pie .... with Drew's help! As you can see Drew is turning into a little baker, he loves to measure, roll out pie crust and spill sugar and flour all over the floor. John spent the week going to Dr. appointments, working his handyman business, and laying our new floors. He is also adding wainscoting and trim work in the bathrooms! It looks beautiful. I will take some pictures and post them soon. Drew spent his week playing at Nana's in the mornings, playing with friends, visiting the pool and jumping around the house with his trains. Every morning Drew spends time playing trains and setting up new tracks. We have also been intentionally reading to Drew more so his attention span has expanded! We actually read a lengthy book last night by Max Lucado and he lasted through the whole thing. Currently his favorite books are: Peter Ra bit, Green Eggs and Ham and Chuga Chuga Choo Choo ...

North Texas church welcomes communist officials Below is an article just posted in the Fort Worth Telegram about our church! NorthWood Church in Keller has been at work in Vietnam for more than a decade, and officials from that nation's communist government will be visiting the church this weekend. Here's a press release from the church: Communist Government Officials to Visit North Texas Church Representatives from the Vietnam Committee for Foreign NGO Affairs (COMINGO) and the People’s Aid Coordinating Committee (PACCOM) will be attending the weekend services and hosting meetings with American business leaders and international NGO leaders, July 21-24, at NorthWood Church in Keller, TX. The delegation’s trip is designed to strengthen the government of Vietnam’s relationship with the 2,000 member NorthWood Church and Glocal Ventures, Inc., the NGO founded by NorthWood and to develop relationships with American business leaders and investors interested in participating in Vietn...

Your baby has the same awake and sleep patterns of a newborn. He has a favorite position for sleep and recognizable active and rest periods. Throughout baby's body, nerves are being coated with a fatty substance called myelin, which insulates the nerves so that impulses can flow smoothly. Scalp hair becomes apparent this week. It has sprouted and continues to grow. The milk teeth buds have already developed and over the next few days the buds for the permanent teeth will begin to form behind the milk teeth. If baby is female the uterus starts to develop. If you're having a girl, the vagina, uterus, and fallopian tubes are in place. If it's a boy, the genitals are distinct and recognizable. Your baby is swallowing amniotic fluid and his or her kidneys are making urine. Your little one's size is around 6.02 inches (15.3cm) and 8.47 ounces (240gm).

Here are a few pictures from this week. Click on the link to the right "Williams Photo Album" to see more! New video's have been posted too! This weekend was all play! On Saturday John was busy helping some friends so Drew and I had a fun morning out. First we went to the park and played for hours. Drew loved the swings and the slides. He immediately attached himself to this Dad who had brought his daughter to the park. No matter how much I tried to distract him and play with him, he always ended up over with that daddy. Drew is like that, if his daddy isn't with him he will find another man and "hang out" with him. We also played in the sand box and learned how to climb up a rock wall. Then, Mommy had to use the restroom so we ended up at McDonald's for a lunch time treat. Drew enjoyed his fries and hamburger. Then he played in the play area. He actually got lost in the maze and started crying out for me. There was no way my pregnant self would have mad...

101. Knowing there will be many accomplishments next to John’s name when he gets to heaven, but the most influential will be the way he loved me. 102. A Strawberry Rhubarb pie that looks beautiful – not like the few I’ve made in the past that tasted great but the pie looked a little deformed. 103. Visiting family members that take time for a visit 104. Grilled Salmon 105. A son with graceful speech 106. Continued low blood pressure 107. a surprise latte from my sweet husband 108. Fresh, ripening cherries at a great price 109. my little boys face smothered in chocolate cake 110.0 great friends who talk to me into the wee hours 111. God’s protection over our children, especially when we are not there to protect them 112. 2 dozen roses presented to me “just because” 113. new flooring 114. stains on the carpet soon to be replaced 115. sweet July rain that cools the heat by 20 degrees 116. the “woosh, wooshing” heartbeat of this new life inside 117. Drew’s intoxicating smile as he proclaims...

Well, my goal to think less of myself and more about honoring my sweet husband didn't go so well last week, I admit I was pretty selfish and it showed. I was so tired and had very little energy for feet rubs and encouraging words. No excuses, I was just plain lazy. My sweetheart spent a lot of time encouraging me and giving me neck rubs last week. The first 7 days of each month really are hard, long nights closing the books and long days too! John is always especially sweet during these times, I am sure he has it as a reminder written in his calendar! John is always careful to keep his schedule clear those days so I can work and not stress about life. He consistently covers the housework and dinners for that week too and puts Drew to bed. The first week of the month is Drew and Daddy time, they go to the park and work in the garage a lot! I am very blessed. Did I mention that he brought me home 2 dozen roses too? I am encouraged to say this past week has gone much better than the l...

I just finished up my first Hydroxyprogesterone injection of an 18 week series. It went very well! It only took about 5 hours to find a pharmacy that would specially mix it for me. After battling with the insurance company all day Monday, we just decided to pay for it out of pocket. This small private pharmacy was much cheaper than the online quotes we were receiving so that was a huge blessing! God was so good to turn a hopeless situation into a joyful one. We are anxiously awaiting August 1st - it is both Grandma Patti's birthday and the day we get to see out little girl/boy on the screen! Hopefully it will reveal the gender too! Drew is anxiously awaiting his new friend, just yesterday he wanted to know when the baby could come play with him. He also loves to give mommy's tummy kisses and hear the baby's heartbeat on the fetal monitor. Drew likes hearing his own heart on the monitor too. John is busy working his handyman business, he just finished up remodeling someones...

Ears move to their final position and they stand out from the head. And start brushing up on your lullabies — in the coming weeks, your baby will probably be able to hear ! The bones of the middle ear and the nerve endings from the brain are developing so that your baby will hear sounds such as your heartbeat and blood moving through the umbilical cord. He or she may even be startled by loud noises! Your baby's eyes are also developing — they're now facing forward rather than to the sides, and the retinas may be able to detect the beam of a flashlight if you hold it to your abdomen. Until now, your baby's bones had been developing but were still soft. This week, they begin to harden, or ossify. Some of the first bones to ossify are those in the clavicles and the legs. This week the baby has been much less active - not sure why. He/She may have moved which is making it harder to feel the kicks and squirms. I have had more energy and since the Texas rain stopped and have res...

Saturday morning I awoke and brought Drew into bed for books. A little while passed and Drew got down from the bed and went downstairs to get some milk.... so I thought. I reluctantly got out of bed and started to get ready for the day. Five or so minutes passed and I realized that I didn't hear Drew making noises downstairs - silence is always a bad sign! I quietly walked down the stairs to peek on him but he was no where to be found. Finally I heard him talking to Kitty in the pantry. I slowly flicked on the lights and to my horror, Drew was sitting on the floor, an open donut hole box laid beneath his feet. Drew looked up like a deer in headlights, smiled a chocolate smile stuffed with donuts, and waved his right donut clasping hand at me and said "hi mommy!" Then he looked up to see if he was going to get into trouble, only to find that I had vacated the pantry in hysterics! I couldn't get mad and something so cute and jovial!

"Your baby weighs about 5 ounces now, and he's around 5 inches long — about the size of a large onion. He can move his joints, and his skeleton — until now rubbery cartilage — is starting to harden to bone. His sense of hearing is also developing. The umbilical cord, his lifeline to the placenta, is growing stronger and thicker." Our Dr. Appointment went well yesterday. Our next appointment is August 1st, then we will have an ultra sound and hopefully be able to find out the gender. My shots will begin in two weeks, right about the time I started having issues last time. The baby looked great with a strong heartbeat. My doctor wasn't concerned with the uterus dropping, she said in second children it is common. So there it is. So far all is going as planned! So far I've gained 7 pounds and my Blood Pressure is still normal 113/70! I really am watching what I eat, last pregnancy I gained 70 pounds because of the toxemia and it took 6 months for the water to drain ou...

Today the baby has been very active - already kicking away at me. I have another Dr. Appointment tomorrow to go over the process for the progesterone injections and check the baby's growth. I think my uterus already dropped (not good) about 2 weeks ago. I wasn't feeling much pressure on the bladder and all of a sudden there has been pressure. I am going to see if the Dr can check that tomorrow. Drew had a fun week, he played with Riley across the street the first part of the week, then his friend Jonathan the last two days. Drew love to follow Jonathan around imitating him . They both played trains and bikes in the front yard. They are so cute together - when they are both behaving and sharing toys! We also went to Oklahoma for the weekend to visit my sister and her husband. We had a lot of fun visiting and seeing their new house. My aunt from Grants Pass has been visiting so it has been fun showing her around and catching up! Drew was just weighed last week and came in at 25.5...