Second Trimester

Well, now that we've spilled the beans,

I guess its time for some kind of update. 

To be completely honest,

there isn't much to update!

I feel like we've been living the past two months in somewhat of a cave.

We have canceled plans of all kinds, 

keeping our schedule as low key as possible.

To top it off we had the flu and a cold circulating our house for a while.

We were all out of commission for some reason or another

at some time or another. 

Needless to say,

we are all ready for the winter to be over 

and will be welcoming Spring with open arms this weekend!

In the midst of it all,

Claire and I went to Edmonton for 5 days.

Our friends from Portland live there.

We stayed with Jordan, Marissa and Lola.

We were also able to see our friends James, Melissa and Alex.

It felt so good to be reunited with them.

When Claire saw James and Jordan 

(her first time since we moved),

she almost came right out of her skin.

It made me teary to see it.

Marissa was quite pregnant at the time,

and I was sick,

so we spent a lot of time watching Disney movies,

watching the girls play and catching up.

Valentine's Day Jordan brought home roses for each of the girls,

flowers for Marissa and hand delivered flowers from Spencer to me.

That night Marissa and I had a Valentine's date to get our nails done and ice cream.

I was so thankful that on the flight there I didn't have any nausea! 

We are eager for warmer weather,

lighter jackets,

spring flowers,

and babies galore!

Along with our own baby cooking away,

we have four other babies due very soon!

Our friend Marissa is due this month,

our other friend from Portland isn't due until mid-April 

but is expecting her second daughter sometime in the very near future.

My sister-in-law is carrying Claire's first cousin and is due in a couple of weeks.

And finally, our friend Edolbina who is living in the Philippines is having her baby in about 5 weeks! 

SO MANY BABIES! 

Our own baby is growing at a very fast pace.

It is about 2 and a half inches long,

about the size of a large plum.

All its vital organs and body parts are in place,

and now in the second trimester it is the maintenance phase.
All those parts will grow and get bigger.

For those of you who are curious -

the estimated date of arrival is September 24.

And YES, we will find out what we are having at the 20 week ultrasound.

There is a lot of friction about people who decide to find out the gender early.
We often hear:
"Why don't you wait for the big surprise?"

 that its life's "only real surprise left".

My two thoughts are,

did you know what you were having at 20 weeks, and then forgot at 40 weeks?

Finding out Claire was a girl at 18 weeks last time was a total surprise!

I thought FOR SURE we were having a boy.

And also, in parenting, there are MANY more surprises.

I haven't been caught off guard or surprised DAILY until I became a parent.

There are many of life's surprises ahead! 

Not always pleasant, but some truly are.

I know people who have done it both ways and said its amazing both ways.

We are really excited to meet the newest Smid.

We have spent many hours praying for this life to be,

and are so thrilled that he or she is here!