Okay, lets back up.....

Alot has happend in the Crowder household over the last month so I feel it is only far to back up and give you a proper update!

Several months ago we begin the interview process with a church in Florida. The position was for a student paster and as we begin the process we felt a peace that the Lord was at work in this situation. During that time we prayed that the Lord would be very clear in what His plan for our family was.

In mid July, after several stages of interviews and lots and lots of prayer, Ethan was called as student pastor! We were simply blow away at how gracious and faithful the Lord was in providing such a great place for us to begin serving in full time ministry. Over the curse of the next 3 weeks we were officially voted on by the church and packed up and headed to Florida.

It was a bittersweet goodbye. We had made Louisville our home. Our best friends were there, school was there, our life was there. However, we had an overwhelming peace that our time in Louisville had come to a close and the Lord wanted us to take this next step in serving him. Ethan and I we reminded that the purpose of seminary was to train us for exactly what the Lord was calling us to. Basil Manly Jr wrote in his hymn Soldiers of Church, in Truth Arrayed "We meet to part and part to meet". I'm not sure it could be said any better than that.

Ethan will finish his remaining classes online and through the seminaries modular program. He has about 8 classes standing between him and his MDiv.

We have been in Florida for about two weeks now and have settled in nicely. Our new church family has welcomed us with open arms and has been more loving than we could have ever expected. Such a blessing. We are excited about the ministry that the Lord has for us here and we look forward to many years of service with this church body!

I have successfully found a new OB who is great. I had my 26 week checkup and all was well. Norah's heartbeat sounds great and she is measuring on track. She moves all the time and is constantly reminding me that she is inside my belly. As if the round bump sticking out isn't good enough :)

We are so thankful for how faithful the Lord has been to our family. His plan for our lives is far greater than we could have ever planned out ourselves. He continues to prove His love for us in ways we could never have imaged. His ways are higher than ours. For this we are grateful.

It's a girl!

Ethan and I are expecting a baby girl!! We are so excited and can't wait to hold our sweet baby girl! She is healthy and growing strong! I am feeling her kick multiple times a day.  I am 22 weeks today and feeling really good!

Here was our official "It's a girl" announcement!

19 Weeks-Baby C

Yesterday we hit the 19 week mark! Almost half way through to meeting our sweet baby! Baby C is growing strong and is currently about the size of a mango.  Baby C is sitting pretty low in my belly as you will be able to tell from the picture below. Thankfully I have had a very smooth and uneventful pregnancy thus far. I am thankful that things are going so well. 

We have our survey ultrasound in less than 2 weeks and both Ethan and I cannot wait to find out if baby C is a boy or a girl!

16 week updated

Today I had my 16 week check up! Baby C is doing great and the heart beat was in the 140's. My doctor said everything sounded good and she could even hear baby C kick! She said I should be able to feel the kicks soon :) 

Here is a video I took while we were listening to the heart beat!

Baby Bump-16 and a half weeks-I will be 17 weeks on Friday!

14 weeks/Baby C

Today marks 14 weeks with baby C in my belly! Here is a quick update on baby C and Mommy:

Baby C:

1) Baby C is the size of a Lemon and is about 3 1/2 inches long

2) He/She can squint, frown and and possibly suck his/her thumb

3) Baby C is more active this week and is moving around(even though I can't feel it yet)

Mommy:

1) Beginning to regain energy

2) Always hungry(eating lots of snacks)

3) Most comfortable in my yoga pants and t-shirt

Little baby bump. Starting to work my way out of the "is she fat or is she pregnant" stage. Finally. Most of my regular clothes are too tight so I am beginning to work my way into some maternity clothes. I have learned how to be creative with what I have!

Homemade No Grate Laundry Detergent

I started making my own laundry detergent back in February. It is such a great way to save money and I personally think it works just as well as anything you can buy on the shelf. Plus, it saves us a lot of money. Below is the link to the blog that the recipe is from. She has a great tutorial and explains it much better than I could. Its extremely simple and it only requires 3 ingredients. Let me know if you try it out!

http://lifes-greatest-blessings.blogspot.com/2012/11/tutorial-no-grate-homemade-laundry-soap.html?m=1

Side note: You will have to copy and paste the link into your tool bar

Baby Makes Three

Ethan and I could not be more thrilled to welcome our sweet baby home in late November!

I just wanted to take a few minutes to write a little about what the last several weeks have looked like for us.

We found out on March 31st that we were expecting. I honestly cannot describe the moment to you. It was really sweet and special for Ethan and I to find out together. 

Telling family and friends was so much fun and everyone's excitement and encouragement was such a blessing to us.

I was 6 weeks pregnant when we found out and I felt totally normal at that point. It was until about 7.5 weeks that I began having a hard time wanting to eat anything. The thought of food just made me queasy. It was a huge battle for about 2 weeks until my doctor gave me something to help with being queasy. I never threw up, which I am thankful for, but I just couldn't stand the thought of eating. The medication that my doctor gave me has really helped me. I can pretty much eat like normal again and have gained the weight to prove it :)

I had my first appointment at 9 weeks. They did an ultrasound and we got to hear our baby's heartbeat for the first time. The heart beat was strong and in the 170's. I didn't think I would get emotional but hearing the heartbeat for the first time brought tears to my eyes. I've heard plenty of heartbeats before but this was different. This was my baby's heartbeat. Ethan was along for this appointment so we were able to share this sweet moment together.

I have been back to the doctor for my 12 week appointment were I got to hear the heartbeat again. Once it again it was in the 170's. Seriously, this is the sweetest sound. I love my doctor. She is really laid back and has a great bedside manor. She also doesn't make me feel silly for asking questions.

I have most defiantly been dealing with fatigue. I feel like I could sleep for a week some days. My motivation level has been about a 2 on a scale of 1-10. Ethan has been so sweet and helpful. He always helps around the house but the last few weeks he has really picked it up a notch. This is really a blessing. He is going to be such a great dad!

As I enjoy my first week in the 2nd trimester I can't help but think about what a blessing this sweet a baby already is to us. The miracle that the Lord is growing inside of my belly is absolutely a human 

life. It breaks my heart that anyone would or could possibly think differently. 

Psalm 139:13-18

 For you formed my inward parts;

you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.

 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

Wonderful are your works;

my soul knows it very well.

My frame was not hidden from you,

when I was being made in secret,

intricately woven in the depths of the earth.

Your eyes saw my unformed substance;

in your book were written, every one of them,

the days that were formed for me,

when as yet there was none of them.

How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!

How vast is the sum of them!

If I would count them, they are more than the sand.

I awake, and I am still with you