"Fearfully and Wonderfully Made"

I thought I would write a little celebratory post to commemorate the beginning of the 2nd trimester. I can't believe that I'm already a third of the way through this amazing journey! I am hopeful that any day now my morning sickness will go away for good....(seriously, please, PLEASE go away!)....and that I will get some energy back. I really can't complain that much--I have medicine that helps to manage the sickness and although it makes me even sleepier (can you imagine?), I can take a nap whenever I need to.

I have certainly started to "pop" and after my wardrobe options have significantly dwindled (I was down to one pair of pants that still fit), I found it necessary to go shopping. Yes, everyone, I have purchased my first pair of maternity jeans...and worn them. That felt quite strange, to say the least. I was amazed at how many options there are for maternity jeans: full panel, half panel, low-rise, no panel. It was a very confusing experience. But, after trying on about 20 pairs, I finally narrowed it down to a low-rise pair (I can't handle the panel yet....it's just too weird).

I also wanted to share with you what an incredible blessing this child has already been to us. This baby is truly an answer to prayer. I have been completely amazed by the artistry of God's creation. Every week, I read in books and online about the progress that our little one is making. Did you know that Baby Burnette already has fingerprints?  Or that he/she may already suck his/her thumb?

At 5 weeks, Baby's heart began to beat.

(Keep in mind that pregnancy is dated from your last menstrual period. So, you would be considered around 2 weeks pregnant at the time of conception and 4 weeks by the time you get a positive pregnancy test. 5 weeks would only be about 3 weeks from conception!)

At 6 weeks, Baby's eyes started to form, as did his/her liver, lungs, and stomach.

At 7 weeks, Baby was about the size of a blueberry and his/her sweet hands and feet were forming.

At 8 weeks, we had our first doctor's appointment. We got to see Baby and hear his/her heartbeat for the first time! It was such a relief to know that Baby was doing alright and everything was going well. Also this week, all of his/her organs, muscles, and nerves began to function and taste buds started to form.

At 9 weeks, Baby's tiny fingers and toes were visible.

At 10 weeks, Baby started swallowing and kicking, although I can't feel him/her yet. Fingernails and peach-fuzz hair started forming, too.

At 11 weeks, Baby had all of his/her parts--even down to his/her tooth buds. Baby's main task now is to grow larger and stronger.

At 12 weeks, Baby's reflexes began to develop and synapses in his/her brain are forming rapidly. Baby was about the size of a lime.

At 13 weeks, Baby has fingerprints.

During this week (week 14), Baby makes facial expressions and his/her eyebrows are starting to grow.

Can you believe how sophisticated and incredible our little miracle is? What an amazing God we have! I am often reminded of Psalm 139 and David's eloquent words:

Psalm 139

Search Me, O God, and Know My Heart

    To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

 ¹ O LORD, you have searched me and known me!
² You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
   you discern my thoughts from afar.
³ You search out my path and my lying down
   and are acquainted with all my ways.
⁴ Even before a word is on my tongue,
   behold, O LORD, you know it altogether.
⁵ You hem me in, behind and before,
   and lay your hand upon me.
⁶ Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
   it is high; I cannot attain it.

 ⁷ Where shall I go from your Spirit?
   Or where shall I flee from your presence?
⁸ If I ascend to heaven, you are there!
   If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!
⁹ If I take the wings of the morning
   and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
¹⁰ even there your hand shall lead me,
   and your right hand shall hold me.
¹¹ If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me,
   and the light about me be night,”
¹² even the darkness is not dark to you;
   the night is bright as the day,
   for darkness is as light with you.

 ¹³ For you formed my inward parts;
   you knitted me together in my mother's womb.
¹⁴ I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works;
   my soul knows it very well.
¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from you,
when I was being made in secret,
   intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
¹⁶ 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.

 ¹⁷ How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
   How vast is the sum of them!
¹⁸ If I would count them, they are more than the sand.
   I awake, and I am still with you.

 ¹⁹ Oh that you would slay the wicked, O God!
   O men of blood, depart from me!
²⁰ They speak against you with malicious intent;
   your enemies take your name in vain.
²¹ Do I not hate those who hate you, O LORD?
   And do I not loathe those who rise up against you?
²² I hate them with complete hatred;
   I count them my enemies.

 ²³ Search me, O God, and know my heart!
   Try me and know my thoughts!
²⁴ And see if there be any grievous way in me,
   and lead me in the way everlasting!

 

Praise God! It is humbling to think of how intricately God designed us--we are His 'masterpiece,' created in His own image. I am in awe as God knits away. I can only imagine the joy and inspiration that will accompany getting to see our beautiful baby with our own eyes.

Only a couple more weeks until we know the gender of Baby Burnette! Feel free to leave a comment and cast your vote as to your best guess : )

As always, thanks for reading and love to everyone,

Caitlin