I have a toddler!!!

Every moment of Sarah's precious life has been such a blessing. She is 2 years & 3 months old now (been a couple years since I wrote on here apparently!) - She is SUCH a little snuggle-bug and we absolutely adore our times on the couch smooshed together to watch a movie whether it be Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Diego, Wonder Pets, or even Tinkerbell... as long as she's in my arms I can deal with any array of cheezy cartoons.

Her picky eating habits are getting better as I've developed more of a schedule with when I offer meals, snacks, & drinks along with encouraging her to at least take a bite of something new... or at least lick it if she's that suspicious (lol)! She especially loves chocolate milk and her newest food fave is fettuccine alfredo tuna helper that we just had last night - she inhaled it!!!

Her physical developments have always been a bit behind other babies (I blame her height for her not walking until she was 18 months - it's hard to maneuver long legs!), but ahead verbally! She can count to I think 14 now with only 1 or 2 numbers skipped and will repeat each letter of the alphabet after us. You can pretty much assume anything you say in front of her is fair game for her to learn how to say... needless to say, we really watch our conversations in front of her (not that we swear a lot, but some things just don't sound right coming out of a toddler). Example: Sarah? ....Sarah?...... (Sarah says:) WHAT?! with a big cheezy grin :)

Steve and I are in a place of waiting on God's timing yet again... we're pretty sure we're going to have 1 more child naturally and think I'll be pregnant sometime soonish... but I can honestly say there's no hurry because we just love being the 3 of us right now - I want to enjoy these baby/toddler years with my princess and give her all the attention I can for as long as I can!

There has just been SO much over the past 2 years that I am incredibly thankful for. I'm continually in awe of how God makes us so unique with our own physical traits and personalities... watching Sarah bloom into the little lady God created her to be is so exciting! I'm glad for all the photos and videos I have of her and hope to compile them into something a bit more organized soon - it'd be terrible to lose them! 

An example of how precious Sarah is: Today I was sitting on the floor with my arms around my knees... not for any particular reason, but Sarah noticed and asked 'you. cooold. mommy?' and proceeded to put a blanket over my knees.... IS THAT NOT THE CUTEST THING EVER?!?!?!? This girl is going to do incredible things with her life, just by being who she is - I love you Sarah!!!

Musings of a New Mother...

(written 01/10/11)
My princess, Sarah, is already over 3 and a half months old... I love every new discovery she makes & every milestone she reaches. My heart swells with love whenever I look at her cherub-like face.. and all I can think about is how very blessed I feel with the gift of her life. I am thankful for every breath she takes, every smile I see, every hug I feel.. I'm truly unable to take her life for granted because I have dear friends who have lost and whose children are very sick - I can only understand their situation by knowing the love that I feel for my sweet baby and the horrible feeling I get whenever 'what ifs' creep into my mind. I know God tells us not to worry, but it has become so difficult with a baby in the house! I don't feel that there's anything special about me that God has allowed us a healthy child, and others not... I can't answer those questions, but I know that God is good & His ways are higher than ours.

Whenever she looks into my eyes, I see the purity of her soul and the love of a child... something I can't truly describe in words, but is felt deeply in my heart. Our relationship is so special and sacred.. a mother and a daughter. I only hope I can teach her well and let her know how cherished and loved she is.

I often find myself holding her in the rocking chair in her nursery... looking at the walls thinking about the prayers and words I would like to cover them with. Her life is a testimony of God's faithfulness and I feel it would be very appropriate to have her surrounded in our prayers... written as well as verbal :) Words that run through my mind the most are the lyrics of the song I sang over her at her baptism in November:

"My sweet baby, on loan from above. No better treasure could I more love. I stand here beside your bed as I pray. I lay my hand on your head as I say...

May you grow up to serve Him all of your days. May He lead you and guide you in all of your ways. May His hand bless your future with friendships that last. May you cherish your youth & not grow up too fast.

I stare in wonder at your tiny frame. Just to think that God knows you by name. He knows every hair on your beautiful head. Knows all your thoughts before they are said..."

Also are the words her little Precious Moments bunny says when you push its tummy:

"Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep. May angels watch me through the night and keep me in their blessed sight." Amen

Be blessed & highly favored little one...



So much has changed.... :)

Introducing our little miracle

Sarah Joan Snyders

Born September 20, 2010
Weight 7lbs. 9oz.
Length 18.5 inches long

Enjoyed my beautifully miraculous pregnancy for 37 weeks & 4 days...



36 weeks!!! :D

Wow I am just so excited about how well baby has been doing! We had a little scare on Sept. 2nd when I had to be admitted to the hospital due to low fluid around the baby :( only 3.5 cm or something. I was on an IV all night and couln't eat or drink anything after midnight just in case we needed to do a cesarean... Steve was able to get off work early and be with me though so that made things much better :) I even got visitors! (Amanda, Jordon, & Ava - Grandma J. & Jeff - then mom & dad) it helped pass the time although I think some people were disappointed I got to go home the next day :)... oh well!

I've been on bedrest since then. I have to go to the Dr. & have ultrasounds twice a week & do non-stress testing twice a week. I guess its good we're nearing the end cuz that's a lot of driving! Only 1 week until we're considered FULL TERM!!! That's the most exciting part since we were told baby would probably be early, low birth-weight, etc... we know God answers prayers tho, He is so faithful : ) Preparing ourselves for baby - the baby room is definitely NOT done yet, but Steve finished the cradle & we made it to our baby shower so that's a couple steps in the right direction! We bought a car seat & have our hospital bag packed now since we were so caught off guard last week... guess we're ready for the real thing now!

34 weeks & nervous...

Had a rough afternoon a couple days ago. Was doing some reading on cesarean births and just reading through the details of it made me feel so anxious & concerned I actually started to cry. When Steve got home from work I was sitting on the couch staring at this book with tears streaming... of course he helped me through it, but I just really REALLY did not anticipate the likelihood of a cesarean. I've dreamed of having a baby & being a mother my whole life... surgery wasn't really part of that dream :( I know the health of baby is the most important thing... but the delivery IS still important to me. My greatest fear is probably that they won't allow me to hold our baby immediately after the birth because of some lame hospital protocal... I told Steve we had better bring our own kleenex along so my nose doesn't fall off... Still praying for baby to flip and the doctors to say I can deliver naturally! I have a Dr. appointment and an ultrasound tomorrow morning so we'll see how baby is presenting (please God...)

Words U Don't Want To Hear

I guess my ultrasound tech has been trying to get ahold of me since my last appointment. We were there August 10 & I asked her if we needed to schedule another appnt.... (since they made it sound like they wanted to keep an eye on things) & she said no. She even asked why my Dr. wanted me to have this appnt. in the first place... we were thoroughly confused because that appointment had been scheduled at our last one where they measured my cervix.

I explained this to one of her nurses today after being told that I actuall DO need to come in for another ultrasound... What??? Her reasoning was 'oh she just forgot that you had that uterine anomoly'.... she FORGOT?!?!? Wow.... Lord help me... :P Oh well, at least my 32 weeks pic is cute!

30 weeks prego pic! :D