All Arms and Legs

Our last and final ultrasound confirmed that Cutie Spotts is definately a "Spotts."

Looking at the 3-D colored picture moving on the screen, our Baby's face was identified...behind a web of arms and legs that is. Allowing us a peek at his/her face for just a moment, Baby gave us a big yawn (I guess life must be getting more mundane in that confined space) revealing two closed eyes, a button nose, and little, but full lips. Then up came his/her tiny fists again, clenched to his/her eyes in a "I'm sleepy and you're disturbing me" way. Then, of all things, we clearly see the bottom of a foot (a beautiful foot). Baby is bent in two...with both feet right up there with the clenched fist. This is definately a Spotts baby.

That was the entire ultrasound, all arms and legs with a face peering out now and them. I should start practicing now how to talk tall to a lowering teenager. Then again, if you ask my husband he may say that I already have that down pretty good.

Stop, Drop, and Rolly-Polly

Isn’t this what we’re supposed to do when our limbs are on fire? Although my limbs are not on fire, I’ve been doing this age-old mantra more and more lately. Mostly at night.

Mid-way through my sound sleep, I awaken suddenly to movements within my womb. I stop. It continues and in doing so, my bladder is pressed upon by a small little person within. I realize I must take action. I drop whatever I’m doing... my sleep that is. Then I roll. Rolly-polly. Not in stealth movement and it's not pretty. It's rolly-polly. Slow to one side, then up on one elbow, then ease my way up (stiff limbs at 4 a.m.), shuffle on my backside and lean forward. Oh yes, I am up and stumbling to the bathroom.

The movement in my womb is back to sleep. I on the other hand, have just accomplished a great feat, one that will only become more difficult, if not more frequent, in month nine. Soon I should be waddling. For now I embrace my limbs (that are not on fire) and their ability to stop, drop and rolly. For now, I’ll rolly-polly my way out of bed and leave the waddling for later.

We Laughed

Mer visited and we laughed.

Of course it's expected from college friends. Memories from Taylor U. usually does that... makes us laugh. But while that chapter of life fades into the distance (1999), this friendship, as many do, only ripens with age.

Mer's visit lasted five days with nursing school calling her back home just in time for exams and papers. But while she was here we did very little to be responsible. Played board games in the evening, shopped (five pairs of shoes Mer?!), watched movies, ate Indian dishes (she and Ben ate me under the table!), drank coffee and caught up.

Thanks for good times, friend.

May you see the colors

Child of Ours,

May you see the colors of the world.
May you recognize the diversity of people (many we call friends) from the world around.
One with brown hair and almond eyes, one with fair skin and green eyes,
one with dark hair, dark skin, and dark eyes.
I want you to see this, dear one, for God is a creative God and His creative dance is the creation of cultures.

How amazing, how glorious this world of color!
An immensity of humanity stretching from shore to shore.
What a generous God we serve!
He who desires his children to see His own beauty in the very beauty of others.

Dear Child
A heart is wrapped in skin, in bones and blood,
Bones and blood wrap themselves around flesh and organs,
So from within this creative and unique blend, there is similarity as well.
Not all is different.
Remember this!!

But because of and in these creative differences,
I pray that you may be drawn to others with a fervor to know more, to love more
in an unlimited, radiant and poweful demonstration of your love for all peoples.

Love, and love all the more because you delight, from the depths of your heart
the various cultures, colors, and casts.
Because what you love is the Creative work of God.

May you see the colors. Vivid, bright, lovely. Delightful

Body Work

A dear friend sent me a fantastic read about an author's journey in pregnancy. I'm reading her private diary but not getting in trouble for invading her privacy. I resonate with these reflections.

"My body adapts and the baby grows according to a wisdom designed into it--decidedly not in response to whatever clever brainstorms and willful effort I can muster. I do this work unconsciously while I sleep or while I'm thinking about other thing things, just as much as when I focus my thoughts on my belly.

Let me enjoy it, this effortless work! Nothing is so uncomplicatedly wholesome and holy as this."

Not as if You Care

Okay seriously. Numbers and I have never had a good relationship. Just ask my husband. He sees my aversion (this may not be strong enough of a descriptive) first-hand to numbers. What I’m saying is, it’s no surprise that I’ve miscalculated…again. I haven’t gained 16 lbs as noted in my last entry. I’ve gained 13 lbs. But not that anyone cares. For me, it simply means I have more room until Feb. to “space out” my weight gain. And more importantly, it means Thanksgiving Day (one week from today!) couldn’t be at a better time of year! Hey, I’m just doing my duty; working on the baby.

Programming our Child

I had another doctor's appointment a few days ago. The goal was to check my glucose level and blood pressure. My BP levels are "boring" as Dr. Evita teased, and no red-flags about a too-high, or too-low glucose reading. I've gained 16 lbs (entering my third trimester), and the tetanus shot (in the back-side...hallo!) caught me off guard but I survived.

Dr. Evita was telling my husband and I that next week would be a good time to start "playing" with Cutie Spotts, as his/her hearing is becoming more and more attuned to our voices. She talked about the importance of the bonding as well as the learning for both us and the baby. She suggested tapping on my belly, watching and waiting for kicks, and singing/talking to our little one.

Ben had a better suggestion. He leaned into my tummy, and in a robotic voice repeated, "You will be a good teenager...you won't give us trouble... discipline won't be an issue." I looked around at the doctor and two nurses as I rolled my eyes and shook my head. Dr. Evita was have coughing fits of laughter, and the two shy nurses were in the corner covering their mouths with stiffled giggles. I told Ben that we're not "programming" our child, but bonding through songs, coochie-coos, and sweet nothings. He stopped. Silence. Hummm....

I couldn't ask for a better life-mate, a sweeter husband, a more caring man than my husband, Ben. And oh yeah, he makes me laugh too.

Virtual Baby Shower?!

Since the announcement of our pregnancy, many friends have asked how to welcome home Cutie Spotts, or if its possible to have a virtual baby shower. Your response has been overwhelming and we are touched! Here are three opportunities to give, which you might be interested in.

1. We registered for a few items at Target.com.

2. This is our Wish List. The items pictured below are available at a local store (most items are made by a great UK company). This is easier & less complicated than having them carried into India, and the prices are only a little higher than what you'd pay in the US. Cash donations will help us buy them. Any amount will be gratefully accepted! Make checks to “Ben Spotts” and either:

a) if you want your gift to be anonymous, include a separate note that says "Please deposit to the checking account of Benjamin Spotts of 3690 Arrowhead Way, Hood River, OR 97031". Then send to:
OSU Federal Credit Union
PO Box 306
Corvallis, OR 97339-0306

b) if you don't mind us knowing (we'd love to thank you personally!), just put a few words on the memo line of your check to say which item you’re contributing towards. Then mail to Ben's parents who will email us to let us know your check arrived, and then they'll deposit it for us:
Bob & Kim Spotts
3690 Arrowhead Way
Hood River, OR 97031

Diaper Bag, $45 -- FULFILLED. Not this one, but another version was gifted. THANKS!!


Bottles (4 pack), $18 --FULFILLLED--THANKS!

Booster Seat, $45 --FULFILLED--THANKS


Safety Gate, $47.50 -- FULFILLED--THANKS!


Baby monitor, $76 -- FULFILLED! THANKS.

Baby Gym, $67 -- FULFILLED! THANKS.

Mobile, $36 -- FULFILLED! THANKS

Fitted sheets, $23 -- FULFILLED! THANKS.

Newborn starters, $48

Thermometer, $15.25 -- FULFILLED! THANKS

Sippy Cup, $7.75

Electric Breast Pump, $171.50 -- FULFILLED! THANKS

Car seat $150 -- FULFILLED! THANKS.

3. I compiled the list below after talking to friends in India who gave their suggestions based on their own experiences with their children being born and/or brought up here. Contact me about the best way to get them carried by people coming to visit (grandparents, for instance), or I can give you our postal address. We’d love any of these. If you’d like to send them contact me for the best way to get them here.

--Clothing (Good quality can be more costly here than outside prices.)
-- Onesies
-- Diaper rash cream (A&D brand) FULFILLED! THANKS.
-- “First Years” products
-- Any learning-based toys
-- Blankets FULFILLED! THANKS.
-- Baby wipes
-- Zip lock bags (all sizes)

2 lbs Today

Today I read in my pregnancy book that:

Today our little one weighs almost two pounds.
"Time is passing quickly."
Today is week 26. Meaning the end of my sixth month. Meaning, my third trimester begins next week.
Meaning "it won't be long until your baby is born."

Gulp. Anybody have a paper bag I can breath into?

Nov 1st and a belly

Today is Nov. 1st and I am at 25 weeks and going strong with a full belly. Mom can attest to the fact that her daughter is with child... she even felt the little guy/gal kick around. I think someone's happy to know grandma has come for a visit :)

My next doctor's appointment is one week away where I will be given the usual glucose test (yummy), along with some minor pokes and prodes.

Shades of green and yellow are appearing in the guest room, soon-to-be baby room. I've never seen such teeny tiny socks! Thank you Trisha. We have many to thank. Thank you all!

The 6th Month

I will continue to refer to our little one as Baby, with a neutral tone in my words because the mystery remains a mystery. At our 22nd-week ultrasound, I fooled myself into thinking we may hear a hint at the sex of our baby. No such thing. The staff at our hospital remain ethically bound and morally sound--my respect increases with each visit.

The doctor was unable to check the heart as he/she was holding an arm across his/her chest in a self-hugging way. The doctor rubbed my tummy and gave it small little pushes, lovingly scolding our baby. Finally she turned to us saying, "Everyone deserves a little pat on the back" and giving our Little One one gentle pat, he/she moved his/her arm and the check-up was completed.

The picture is the start of my 6th month, or to be precise, 23rd week. My mom visits in 8 days and will most likely be bribed into some back massaging. I'm able to do most things, though Ben's a little worried about the day I lean over and don't come back, but instead tumble forward in slow motion, off-balanced by my tummy. I believe there was some laughter involved in this new worry of his. Hummm...

Belly Button Business

I'm half-way there... this is my 20th week which means my belly button, among other things, is starting to have a mind of its own. I just noticed this today with my friend Andi and we giggled about it like two teenagers. My hips and joints and back muscles are adjusting to the little life inside, and I not only look pregnant, I am also beginning to feel pregnant, more and more every day. Baby S. certainly reminds me almost daily that the smallest packages are the biggest miracles of all.

You Belong

Dear One,

You belong to Jesus. This is first and foremost.

This is the theme I learned from an early age. My own parent's, your grandma/pa Crawford, not only instilled this truth in my life, but they showed me by example that they really did believe that I belonged to Jesus. I don't know what it is that they learned so early in parenthood about holding my brother, Nathan and I with these open hands. Maybe a realization of the fragility and tenderness of life? Your grandpa Crawford lost both his parent's in a car accident when he was only 13 years old. And your grandma Crawford's parent's loved the Lord with an incredible love that rubbed off everyone they met. These may have been their own life-training influences that was rubbed off on Nate and I. We knew well that we belonged.

In months time you will be given face-t0-face to Ben and I. In return, we will teach you that while you're our first-born, you firstly belong to Jesus.

We got Keralized

Kerala has spoiled us and we return home refreshed. It was an amazing time.

We spent one night on a houseboat with a lovely crew of sailors! The mosquitoes weren't so bad, and the food from our own personal cook was some good-home cooking. A giant prawn caught hours before by a local fisherman and grilled that evening was my favorite savory dish.

Captain Ben steered the boat and was fast-friends with the crew.

Libs is now in her fifth month of pregnancy. Baby lets her know when he's/she's hungry with a good kick.

Vacation and Family Planning

Okay, so those topics don't really go together...or I suppose they could. But anyway, just wanted to share a couple of interesting links.

First, here are the two places that, with some help from family and great off-season prices, we'll be resting over the next six days. Two nights at the south end of Kerala in The Leela and then three nights at the Kumarakom Lake Resort (including a night on an air-conditioned houseboat with private chef included). This year we've used only four days of our alloted vacation time, so this will be a nice way to use a little more.

Second, I was browsing through our partner org's library the other day. The cover story for the August edition of Christianity Today caught my eye:

The Case for Kids: A defense of the large family by a 'six-time breeder.'
by Leslie Leyland Fields

Among other things, I appreciate her thoughts on the most basic question...not just "how many kids should we have", but "why have kids?" Check out this quote:

"So why do we have children at all? So much is against the whole enterprise. Children cost too much money. They cost too much of ourselves. Children undo us. They show us how much and how little we're made of. They come, it often seems, only to break our hearts. And we let them. We invite it all. We admit perfect strangers through our doors and decide before we even know who they are to love them wildly, without condition, for as long as we live.

How do we account for this behavior? In the end, it is possible that our desire for children is a longing not to benefit ourselves, but to sacrifice ourselves; not to replicate ourselves, but to escape ourselves. For me, this longing hit at 28, while I was tunneling into the heart of the Congo on the back of an expedition truck. Suddenly, I was unutterably weary with my own small life and my endless requirements for fulfillment. I wanted the freedom to give my life away. I wanted an intimate, lifelong, indissoluble relationship with others, the kind of life that simultaneously sucks you dry and sustains you."

Interesting, huh? I tend to agree with her in an amazed, shaking-because-it's-coming kind of way. We'd love to read your thoughts. Especially from those with kids, but from others as well!

Link-o-rama

One of the fun things about blogs is adding more and more links. So (drumroll), we added a few more links to provide info on our fair city, friends, etc. See the right hand column!

and I think... No way!!

I admit it. I am overly watchful of other pregnant women these days. I notice them more than I did four months ago. In fact, four months ago I rarely if ever "saw" a lady with a swollen belly. But boy, I do now! My friend Justine sent me the magazine, Fit Pregnancy and you'd think it tasted like black licorice the way I gobbled it up! I drooled over the cute maternity clothes, and took pointers on fitness, and even paused to read the advertisements for baby food, baby clothing, baby anything. When I see a woman within weeks of delivery, I think, "No way! Is this really happening to me?" I'll believe it when I see it. Wink, wink.

A pregnant pose

Per the request of family and friends, some pictures of the pregnant lady.

My new favorite maturnity wear; stretch jeans. My top is from Lucknow, India, a city famous for its needle work, called chikan, a hand-woven art in clothing.

This is the last week of my fourth month.

Is that a flutter I feel, or last nights dinner?

Jeans. Those blue things.

Jeans.

I feel kinda, sorta feel "at home". And even a little...cute, dare I admit it to you? All because of a pair of jeans. You know, those blue things.

I found a pair of maternity jeans today. The kind with elastic on the side so I can grow, grow, grow in comfort. Isn't every woman's best friend her favorite pair of jeans? And today I found a pair perfect in size, color and shape.

Ben put his hand on my tummy (I'm ending my 16th week) and said, "There's a baby inside. OUR baby..."

The jeans feel good. I feel good. It's amazing what a good pair of jeans can do for a woman.

Fun times, family times

Eventually we hope to post family news, photos, and little daily events. This will probably be most interesting to our uncles, aunts, moms, dads, brothers, and sisters-in-law...but the rest of y'all are welcome, too!