Visa update

I know a lot of people have prayed with us and been concerned about Ariel's visa and the whole process. I wanted to finally update where we stand with it and what is happening.

Last Thursday, Ariel had his appointment at the embassy. He spent the whole day there and in the end, walked away without a visa. I don't really have the right words for how I felt when he told me. Disappointed? That doesn't quite do it. He wasn't technically denied his visa, only told that he needs to come back with the baby's birth certificate and, well, me, for the next appointment. He has an open appointment, which means whenever he has these two things with him (me and birth cert) we can go to the embassy for his visa.

Obvious problems with this plan:

a. He won't be here for the birth

b. I can't travel right away with a newborn

c. The baby won't have all his papers for travel on the first day.

So what is our plan? Onward we go. We have Senator Merkley's office working with us to see if they can pull any strings or talk to anyone at the embassy because it is honestly just ridiculous that they are asking for these things. Of course he wanted the visa to be here for the BIRTH...not weeks after. Hopefully something happens through them, but we are prepared for plan z (as plans a-y haven't come together yet). This means that after the baby is born, we will rush papers back and forth to the DR to get everything together for his birth certificate and passport. As soon as the pediatrician says we are clear to go, we will go. Just thinking it through, that would probably be sometime in December. Hopefully the visa would be issued at that appointment, for Ariel, baby and I to travel back to Oregon together. But...we've seen how our plans often work out. So really, we're just waiting to see what we're supposed to do!

So pray with us for all of this to come together, for clear direction, for something amazing to happen with the sentor's office...and most of all, for peace and understanding as we accept what we know is God's will. We know He walks with us and brings us together, even through the many miles that separate us. We try to make the most of it all and will aim to make the first baby days as special as possible, despite the distance.

So close

I've made it now to 38 weeks of carrying this little man and get to meet him any day now! I am seeing less and less of my feet, moving a bit slower, and needing more time to stand up...but overall doing well. I feel like he's begun his slow descent as I watch my belly change shape! I've tried getting ready mentally for delivery, like they suggest, but how does one really prepare for something so...huge??!! So I pray a lot. I pray for strength, patience, and the ability to do this!

To remember the pregnancy...

I LOVE being pregnant. I love all the kicks, the dreaming...I don't even mind people giving my belly a rub. It's been a fun and comfortable pregnancy, despite the first few months of nausea and tiredness.

My mom will be our official photographer for all the baby shots and has new special lenses and everything! We got to try them out the other day taking lots of maternity shots, which works out well because it's a fun time to remember. I'm not really into the "posed" shots, but put up with it for awhile because, well, I just have to sometimes!! It's weird when one part of your body gets so much attention. It's also weird when people comment on how big that part of your body is getting. I've let them know they have a limited amount of weeks left for those comments. After he's born, it won't be so fun to take belly pictures and talk about how "big" it is. In fact, I hope we're not!!

Baby Shower

My Aunts Lindy and Cyndi threw us a baby shower last weekend and it was such a fun time to see friends and family that I haven't been able to see yet. They definitely helped me in getting ready for this baby with clothes and strollers and towels...and everything else I need. It's awesome to see everyone come together and know how much they have blessed us simply by being there!

Still changing

It seems the baby's room changes every single day! I always think that we have it perfect, then something else comes along to make it even more perfect. I spend a lot of time in his room, thinking about all that is ahead, praying for him, planning so many things. I managed to finish knitting his blanket and was thankful that happened before he was 20 like I had previously thought!

Catching up

So I somehow find myself busier here than when I was working full time, going to church activities, and carrying on a social life in the DR. Amazing. We've been preparing for this little baby and I am so excited to meet him. I've got just under 2 weeks until the official due date and am doing all that I can to have him before/after my nephew's bday (also his due date!). I managed to work out how to make his baby diapers-inserts for the gdiapers I'll be using. I've caught up with lots of family and some friends, the picture is with my cousin Michelle who is also pregnant. It's great being home, very great really. It's perfect timing to really feel like I'm ready to welcome in this baby as we talk and prepare for him every day.

Watermelon baby

So back when I was 12 weeks pregnant, I jokingly took a picture of my "belly" with a watermelon under my shirt. I was so excited to "show" and never imagined I would really be that big! Well, this week it happened. I am now 35.5 weeks pregnant (8 months) and you could say as big as a watermelon! I am so thankful for this baby boy, his development, growth, and all his baby wiggles. This is big enough though I think, we don't need to graduate to a pumpkin!!