The Bump

Well folks, the countdown is into single digits for Miss Eden's arrival. December 5th is the official due date, and our boy was early, so who knows what the week will bring!

Inquiring minds that don't see me regularly were interested in how the bump was coming along, so I figured I should go ahead and get these photos posted before they are no longer relevant :)

I always feel funny posing alone, so I recruited a couple of models to join me in my "bump" pictures.

Model #1 is ready for his close up!

Then we started getting squirmy and affectionate. Which makes for an interesting combination...

sweet secrets!

and a big 'ole smooch!

and we're done...

The next pictures are from a lovely date night Kam and I were able to have recently thanks to this gal...

Elizabeth is a Lakeview friend who was on our Paris team this summer. She's so great with Haddon and he's a big fan of hers!

Model #2: Not as squirmy, but definitely still affectionate :)

And the grand finale...

 

You're welcome.

I hope you enjoyed your time bumpin' it with the Pughs. I don't think it will be around much longer...

By the way...

I'm 21 weeks pregnant!

We revealed the news to the family by including this in a stack of pictures of Haddon for them to look through. The reactions were priceless!

I'm sure most of you know this already, but this news just hasn't received the attention it should on our family blog. I kept Haddon from sharing it in his monthly updates, wanting to play it up a bit more, and as usual, I'm a little late [no pun intended].

Wow. I'm still impressed with the subtle humor I just did there. Very unintentional.

Moving right along... On April 20th, we found out that Baby Pugh #2 was in the works. When I went to the doctor, I was surprised to find out that I was already 7-8 weeks along, giving us a tentative due date of December 5th.

Baby Pugh at 7 weeks!

Yes, Haddon will barely be 16 months old. Yes, this was planned :)

Well then we rushed off to Paris and returned to a rather important ultrasound appointment. I was barely 17 weeks [which I think is the earliest they can tell?] and it was time for the big gender reveal. I honestly would have been excited for either because if it were a boy, then there would be a fun confidence in that— but if it were a girl, it would be a sweet change to the Pugh household.

We welcome this sweet little change!!! Haddon Pugh is going to have a little sister.

Eden Anastasis will be her name. We'd had the first name in mind for a while now, but the middle name came up only a couple of weeks before we found out. Kam took Greek last semester and Anastasis [we'll pronounce it Ah-nah-stah-sis] means resurrection. He mentioned it to me and I loved it! She may not be able to say it [or spell it!] for the first few years of her life, but hopefully one day she'll appreciate the meaning behind it all.

Eden at 17 weeks!

Well there's my very long-winded way of telling you we're pregnant. Thank you for all your encouragement and excitement. Your prayers and support are always appreciated!

What will it be?

I have a very clever sister who sought out my design help for this fun series of announcements. It is definitely the year of the boy for my side of the family! Little Cohen is coming in April and as you can see above, Oliver will soon follow in June. Three boy cousins within a year of each other. Oh my. Let the mischief begin! [and our Haddon will probably be the ring leader...]

The joy of graphic design...Yet again, the Lord has reminded me how thankful I am for my degree. I have been able to use it in multiple ways to benefit my friends and family, and also make the KamPughs a little money! It's good to get that affirmation every now and then :)

A Year Ago — Beholding the Lamb

I'm NOT pregnant.

But a year ago today, I found out that I was. I'm not sure how late I was, but Kam and I decided that if the way of women [Gen. 18:11; 31:35—you're welcome for that!] was still not with me by the end of the day, we'd take a pregnancy test. It was a Tuesday night, and my friend Lindsay and I were headed to Montgomery to see Andrew Peterson's Behold the Lamb of God concert [Haddon told you in his last post that I'd be writing about this]. Our husbands were not with us because they had a deacon's meeting, so Kam had to miss the traditional Christmas event.

We love Andrew Peterson's music. When I say he's my favorite singer/songwriter, that's saying a lot. Not because I'm some amazing music critic, but because "favorite" questions make me nervous. Just ask my husband! The definitive tone of them is overwhelming to me... Anyway, he's ridiculously talented and his music is often a means of worship for me. So, Andy P's music has a special place in the KamPugh hearts and home.

After December 13, 2011, it became even more near and dear to us [and by us, I mean me and Haddon].

The whole time I sat there in the dark listening to this wonderful music, I was wondering if there was a little life growing inside of me. Though I often tear up listening to Andy P [sorry, that's his nickname in the Pugh home, or maybe I just say it, I don't know...] this night I was a bit more emotional. As we drove back from Montgomery, my heart was full, overwhelmed with a love for Jesus because of what I'd just heard and also wondering if the next turn of events would change our lives forever.

Kameron was with me when I took the test. We were going to look at the results together, but honestly, I'm pretty sure I saw it change right away... but I set the timer and walked away. 3 minutes later, we looked at a simple little stick that ushered in a new season of life. We would never be the same again.

Last Sunday night, we took our little boy to his second Behold the Lamb concert. Though I questioned our sanity for driving him to Birmingham to do this, it was a sweet thing for the KamPughs. A Christmas tradition that I hope we'll be able to keep for years to come. A beautiful story [that's true!!!] of redemption that I pray will take root in Haddon Pugh's little heart and change his life forever. 

Another wonderful thing about this concert is that it begins with a reading from the Jesus Storybook Bible. [Another thing you should know about if you don't!] I'll close with that...

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No, the Bible isn't a book of rules, or a book of heroes. The Bible is most of all a Story. It's an adventure story about a young Hero who comes from a far country to win back his lost treasure. It's a love story about a brave Prince who leaves his palace, his throne — everything — to rescue the one he loves. It's like the most wonderful of fairy tales that has come true in real life!

You see, the best thing about this Story is — it's true.

There are lots of stories in the Bible, but all the stories are telling one Big Story. The Story of how God loves his children and comes to rescue them.

It takes the whole Bible to tell this Story. And at the center of the Story, there is a baby. Every Story in the Bible whispers his name. He is like the missing piece of a puzzle — the piece that makes all the other pieces fit together, and suddenly you can see a beautiful picture.

And this is no ordinary baby. This is the Child upon whom everything would depend. This is the Child who would one day — but wait. Our Story starts where all good stories start. Right at the very beginning...

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This Christmas, [and every day] may we truly behold the Lamb of God, who takes away our sins.

28 weeks

Today we are praising the Lord for keeping our sweet Haddon for 28 weeks. Please pray that he would stay in there full term and continue to be a healthy boy! We have been feeling lots of little movements lately and it never ceases to bring a smile to my face. We are so thankful for this precious gift...