Baby update!!

Earlier this week I went in for my monthly OB check-up and wanted to share a few details.  Matt was able to hear the baby's heart beat for the first time. What an incredible experience.  I could see the joy rushing over his face when the beats became audible.  When the doctor proceeded to measure my uterus (my apologies for the graphic-ness), he proceeded to say, "Wow, your uterus is large."  He started pushing around my belly button and then went, "Ohhh, ok. I see what's going on.  I thought you were growing at a more rapid pace but now I see that you have a short-waistline and have a misplaced belly button."  Wait, what???  Ok, doc...love ya, but thanks for the complex.  Never really noticed this before...but I guess that my waist is  bit off...ha.

Anyways, the baby is growing and the heart is strong. The heart was clocked over 150 beats per minute. Doc is convinced that it is a girl...and now Matt is too.  I'm still holding strong to my belief and I believe I'm carrying a little boy.  Maybe it was the Chinese calendar that got me on this track but regardless, I think there is a little wee-lad in there and we will find out soon enough. In fact, we have received the official date.  We will find out the gender of our baby on Monday, April 16, 2012!!  I do not believe I have ever been consumed with this much happiness, joy, love and excitement at any one given time.  Well, maybe I have... :)  I am pretty sure I was just as happy, joyous, in love and filled with excitement when I walked down the aisle to one, Matthew Benjamin Robbe.  I love him so dearly.

Once we find out the gender, we will begin to make more solid plans (i.e. baby stuff).  I have been trying to contain myself and refraining from purchasing things.  I guess I never realized just HOW much baby stuff is out there. Holy cow!!  Which type of bottle is the best?  What about car seats? Strollers?  Beds?  Ahhh...the list goes on.  I guess I have a lot of research ahead of me, huh? I want to get the best for our little nugget's arrival.  With all the "stuff" we will be purchasing, I have been looking at room decor.  I have found some of the best wall murals on www.etsy.com!  I have always been a neutral-color girl.  Our house is in all warm, cozy colors and I want to somehow incorporate that same feel into the babies bedroom.  I have a feeling things are going to look pretty gender-neutral.  But then again...my mind changes daily.  I suppose that I will have a more concrete idea once the gender is disclosed.  But alas, I shall continue to refrain from purchasing until April 16 (at least)!!!  The anticipation continues to beam with fervor. 

One additional (exciting fact) that happened during my OB appointment.  While Matt and I were waiting together inside the room, I felt these butterfly-like sensations on my right, lower abdomen.  I felt it again...and then again!!  I stopped mid-sentence and said, "Matt, I am pretty sure that was nugget."  He immediately put his ear up to my belly, trying to hear/feel it. I giggled...knowing it was much too soon for him feel anything.  But wow, what a remarkable feeling and experience.  I always marveled at pregnant women and longed to know what quickening felt like.  Well now I know...and it's incredible!!  I am so thankful to God for the ability to carry this wee little one.  I cannot wait to meet you, Nugget.  I love you more than you will ever know.

Let's get Healthy!!

Green Pizza

Going to try out a new dish for dinner this week.  Trying to find healthy/creative meals that are simple.  Just wanted to share the recipe I found online!  I'll do a write-up on the results :)

6 servings

Active Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes

 

Ingredients

• 1 pound prepared pizza dough, preferably whole-wheat
• 2 cups chopped broccoli florets
• 1/4 cup water
• 5 ounces arugula ,any tough stems removed, chopped (about 6 cups)
• Pinch of salt
• Freshly ground pepper to taste
• 1/2 cup prepared pesto
• 1 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese

Preparation

1. Position oven rack in the lowest position; preheat to 450°F. Coat a large baking sheet with cooking spray.
2. Roll out dough on a lightly floured surface to about the size of the baking sheet. Transfer to the baking sheet. Bake until puffed and lightly crisped on the bottom, 8 to 10 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, cook broccoli and water in a large skillet over medium heat, covered, until the broccoli is crisp-tender, about 3 minutes. Stir in arugula and cook, stirring, until wilted, 1 to 2 minutes more. Season with salt and pepper.
4. Spread pesto evenly over the crust, top with the broccoli mixture and sprinkle with cheese. Bake until crispy and golden and the cheese is melted, 8 to 10 minutes.

Nutrition

Per serving: 323 calories; 13 g fat ( 4 g sat , 7 g mono ); 19 mg cholesterol; 33 g carbohydrates; 15 g protein; 3 g fiber; 511 mg sodium; 241 mg potassium..

The Respectful Wife

The Lord has been speaking to me lately in regards to my husband and more specifically, respecting him.  I have always considered myself a pretty respectful person and when it came to Matt, I thought I was doing a great job.  We have been listening to Mark Driscoll with Mars Hill Church in Seattle, Washington on the topic of love and respect.  As I started to listen to the message, I found myself becoming uncomfortable.  Why was this?  Am I disrespectful?  Do I respect my husband with my whole self?  I took the time to listen and really inspect my inner-self to determine if I was truly a respectful wife.  I wanted to share a few things that I learned from this powerful message in hopes that it will speak to you as well.  

Even though Matt and I are still in the "honeymoon" stage of marriage, I felt that these things could easily creep into any relationship, especially a Christ-centered one.  Satan is always on the prowl when it comes to a Christ-centered marriage because it exemplifies Christ and his relationship to the church. 

When I initially thought of the word respect, I thought it meant to flatter your husband and not talk back.  Upon listening to this message, I discovered how much deeper it truly is and how important respect is within a marriage.  While every husband wants to feel loved, respect speaks larger volumes to a man as the opinion of his wife is the most important opinion in his life.  Respect means to carefully weigh your words so that you can help your husband become more respectable.  Mark Driscoll's wife gives a fantastic definition of what it means to respect your husband - notice, regard, honor, prefer, defer to, encourage, love and admire.  There are two ways in which a woman can accomplish the goal of helping her husband become more respectable:

1).  Nag and disrespect him

2).  Pray for him and respect him

Nagging almost seems inbred in most women.  Instead of nagging, pushing and demanding of him, why not pray for him?  It seems simple, but anyone can fall into this trap.  This is where I need to really watch myself.  Am I continually praying for my husband?  When I think, "Why did you make that particular decision...I would've made a much better one," would it not be more profitable to stop and pray for the decisions that he makes?

Pastor Driscoll describes 3 ways to truly respect your husband - head, heart and hands.  

Head - How do you think about your husband?  Even though we may never verbalize certain thoughts, our thoughts will ultimately impact our heart.

Heart - How do you feel about your husband? "Out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks." (Luke 6:45)  Our feelings about our husband will ultimately come out in our speech. 

Hands - What do you do for your husband?  How do you serve?

This was a brief summary of what I gained from this powerful message. I would encourage you to check out his free podcasts on iTunes.  This particular message was entitled, "The Respectful Wife."  There are many other sermons on the topic of marriage and I hope they will minister to your heart as well.  Let's all make it our daily mission to respect our husbands by praying for them.