Faith...

I am in Primary with the 4/5 year olds.

Today was the best day ever!

Other than having 25 minutes of dead time,

My heart melted.

Let me explain.

There is this little boy in the class.

He is very smart.

He asks very good questions.

He does listen and pay attention even if he doesn't act like it.

Well today my co-teacher, Angela, was teaching the lesson on Faith.

She opened class by asking a question...

...to try and get the children involved.

(this age is a difficult one with getting them involved).

"What is Faith?"

And the little boy pipes up immediately

"A SEED!"

I looked at him and then at Angela...

...my jaw just dropped.

They DO listen!

They DO learn.

I was SO PROUD OF HIM!!!

It was so cute.

Then Angela took a girl outside the classroom to show her something in a box.

The little girl was then to come inside the classroom and tell the rest of the kids what was inside.

They needed to have faith that what was in the box was really what she said.

Inside the box were packets of seeds.

Angela showed the seeds after the kids all said they believed the little girl.

And the little boy asked some more questions..

...some we couldn't answer.

"What plant is Faith?'

"What color is it?"

"What color is Faith?!"

Angela and I just looked at eachother...

...."Um, that is a hard question..."

We smiled and then we just went on with the lesson.

They are just 4, let's just keep it simple.

=]

The rest of the lesson I just couldn't help but smile.

It was so precious.

He was such a cutie!

These kids DO understand.

Here is the song he learned this from.

“Faith,” Children’s Songbook of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 96–97

1. Faith is knowing the sun will rise, lighting each new day.
Faith is knowing the Lord will hear my prayers each time I pray.
Faith is like a little seed:
If planted, it will grow.
Faith is a swelling within my heart.
When I do right, I know.

2. Faith is knowing I lived with God before my mortal birth.
Faith is knowing I can return when my life ends on earth.
Faith is trust in God above;
In Christ, who showed the way.
Faith is strengthened; I feel it grow
Whenever I obey.

 
Words: Beatrice Goff Jackson, b. 1943. © 1978 IRI
Music: Michael Finlinson Moody, b. 1941. © 1978 IRI

German Chocolate Thumbprints

WOW!

Can you say DELICIOUS?!?!

I Heart German Chocolate Cake.

I ask for that cake at my birthday.

I get that ice cream at Cold Stone.

My mom makes these delicious German Chocolate Brownie/Muffins.

And now I have a cookie to add to the mix.

I am in HEAVEN!

German Chocolate Thumbprints

Check out this link to the recipe!

Except next time I am going to add Pecans to the cookie mix

and do 1/2 tsp of frosting on the top.

I did make these a bit small, but only because I feel better eating small cookies.

Plus they are cuter when small.

I will let you know how it goes when I make it again this week,

Cuz heck, there is a ton of frosting to use up!

Oh Bummer!!!

Chocolate, Cheese, and Cherished Memories!

Last Saturday (February 5th) Nik and I had our Valentines Date.
Yes, a little early...but it was cheaper that way.
We had a coupon* and some gift certificates to this lovely little place we call...

...THE MELTING POT!

Oh how we love that place.

When we got there there was a little 2-seater booth available for us
Curtains
Candles
And lots of Romance.
It was perfect.

It was nice have that curtain so we weren't distracted by all the people outside.
Just me.
Just Nik.
Just love.
Just Us!

Well...we went about the cheese entree and then the salad...
...and then as we were waiting for the main course,
the most beautiful thing happened....

...Nik felt our little Baby Girl kick!

I hadn't really been able to feel her kicking while I was sitting up, but just that day she started to get stronger.
She was loving the food and decided to make her presence known.
So after a few strong kicks I had Nik reach over and put his hand on my belly...
...and he felt her!
It was now even more real to him.
The expression on his face was priceless.
I had tears in my eyes.
It was beautiful.

THAT was OUR Girl saying Hello!

We had our main course and then the chocolate...
...but the best part of the evening was Nik connecting with his Baby Girl.
Gosh!
I can't get over how sweet he is and how much of a great Father he will be.
I love him so much!

Now wait...it gets better!

Just last night he and I were laying down watching our movie.

She was moving around a TON!

I wanted Nik to feel but she was being so jumpy.

She would bump over on my left side

and then down

and then to my ribs

and then to the right.

Just a bump here and there.

So I didn't have him waiting to feel a little bump.

Figured he wouldn't feel much, if anything at all.

But he wanted to try.

So he placed his hand on my belly button...

...and the coolest thing happened!

She started kicking so hard...RIGHT THERE!

She was giving her strongest movements right where his hand was.

His eyes would get so big with every little move.

And she was doing it one right after the other.

She was saying Hello to her Daddy.

After about 2 minutes of that, he took his hand away.

She then started kicking randomly like earlier.

He waited about 10 minutes and then wanted to see if she would do it again.

And.

She did!

It was so cute!

Her strongest kicks were all in a row, right where he waited.

It was so awesome and beautiful and amazing!

I can't wait to play with her in my arms.

And to see her daddy squeeze her so tight with all his love!

(sidenote: she is about 10inches from head to toe.

so big in there!)

This is becoming more and more real to me everyday.

Sometimes I forget I am pregnant,

I just feel like I am getting huge,

Until I feel her moving.

I have yet to feel and understand her hiccups...

...and for that day, I can't wait!

She is so sweet already!

She is OUR little Baby Girl.

I love her so much!

21weeks 0days

Running out of shirts to wear.

Don't wanna get Maternity shirts yet,

Cuz, well, I am not THAT big just yet.

Probably in a month or so.

Trying to make what I have work!

 

This is the only picture I have for this whole post

:(

We pulled out our camera...

...and it was dead!

Shouldn't have been,

But oh well.

We have the memories in our hearts.

Dear Baby Berry,

Your Mommy and Daddy love you so much!

We are so excited to bring you to this earth.

To be a family.

To be friends.

To be together for Eternity!

We have enjoyed every little kick and little bump.

Yes, sometimes I hurt from all the changes, 

But I just remind myself that you are healthy

And that this will all be worth it...

...to be your Mom.

Can't wait to see you.

If all goes well we will see you in 18 weeks and 5 days!

Yes, June 22nd.

Let's make that happen!

Unless you have a different plan,

and that is okay.

Whenever you are ready!

We love you!

Love,

Mommy and Daddy Berry

 

 

 

*Courtesy of Entertainment Coupon Book,

HALF WAY!

...Well it's all down hill from here!!!

YAY!

This is what TheBump.com says about Little Miss Berry this week...

Your Baby: Week 20

Baby's digestive system is busy creating meconium ??? (a tarry black substance made of swallowed amniotic fluid, digestive secretion and dead cells), Yum! How bout I just feed you cookies instead! Good idea? I'd say so! which will fill the first diaper after birth. Nobody told me about THIS! Thought it was just labor and delivery for that day. Joy! (but really I AM excited!!!!) And, speaking of the diaper situation... baby's genitals are now fully formed!

Isn't this all exciting!

It still amazes me that there is a little baby growing inside me...

...a real little baby.

A baby that kicks, moves, dances, has hiccups, and sucks on her thumbs.

How crazy, cool, amazing, and beautiful is that?!?!

It just keeps amazing me!

After yesterday and her little Dance Session, I can't help but live for those moments.

She was moving around yesterday morning for over an hour.

Big dance moves too.

It was so cool to lay there and know she is living and having fun.

I didn't want to move or even breathe, 

in fear I would miss something.

She is amazing!

Well as I was laying in bed listening to the radio...

...I heard this!

"Legislative panel approves abortion ultrasound mandate"

You can click on the link for the article from KTAR.

It made me happy.

I'm not going to get all political here, just sharing my brief opinion that I like this.

It just breaks my heart to think about ending my little baby's life.

I love her too much already.

I have loved her from the day I read the 'stick' telling me I am pregnant.

I have loved this whole experience and can only imagine it getting BETTER from here!

For the rest of my life!

So...being half way makes my baby about the size of a canteloupe!

(6.5 inches, 10.6 ounces)

How fun is that!?!

Just another melon before the Big Watermelon I will give birth to!

Ahhh...I could go on forever...but I will stop for now. =]

NO MORE TEEN WEEKS!!! EEPS!