Baby Center 34 week update

34 weeks down and just a few more to go! Here is the update I received from my weekly Baby Center email. I'll try to start posting the general portion of the update each week so you can see how things progress until the end!

How your baby's growing:
Your baby now weighs about 4 3/4 pounds (like your average cantaloupe) and is almost 18 inches long. Her fat layers — which will help regulate her body temperature once she's born — are filling her out, making her rounder. Her skin is also smoother than ever. Her central nervous system is maturing and her lungs are continuing to mature as well. If you've been nervous about preterm labor, you'll be happy to know that babies born between 34 and 37 weeks who have no other health problems generally do fine. They may need a short stay in the neonatal nursery and may have a few short-term health issues, but in the long run, they usually do as well as full-term babies.

Today's Blessings

I've been reflecting this morning on the many great things God has done in my life this past year. This time last year I was getting home from a summer of mission work. 10 days in Brazil, 2.5 weeks in Malawi and a trip to Iceland with my mawmaw. Bryon was busy with lots of trainings and army stuff but he drove the 3.5 hrs to Shelby every weekend to spend time with me and my family. I remember thinking, I have the most wonderful, loving, and Godly man that I've ever met (and that says a lot considering how much I have always admired and respected my dad), I was/am so privileged to be involved in the Lord's work around the world and build relationships that will hopefully continue into heaven one day, I was fortunate enough to be able to work on my masters degree and had the best job in the world working in the school system with so many children who needed love and attention, which I was more than willing to give. But just when you think it can't get any better, the Lord rocks your boat and says, "My child, you think I've blessed you now? Just wait..."

What an overwhelming sense of gratitude I am feeling today. So many people I talk to say, I am so sorry you have had to have Bryon deployed the first 8 months of your marriage it must be so hard. It is hard, your right, but when I step back from my little pity parties that I sometimes find myself slipping into and look at the big picture, it has been a series of incredible and overwhelmingly generous blessings from my Father, one after the other after the other. So today, as I realize that I have only 28 days until my husband gets home, I give thanks for God's gracious love and that His plans are so much greater than mine.

1 month from today!

I woke up this morning and realized that in just one month from today Bryon will be leaving Mali to come home! He wont be arriving in Fayetteville until the 24th but will be leaving on the 22nd! I'm so excited realizing that the end is actually in sight.

Also, Molly and I had a doctors appointment yesterday and are both doing very well. No problems to report, she is growing perfectly with her gestational age. She was yawning and wiggling around and being a little cutie pie as usual.

I'm leaving to go to the beach with my girlfriends from college for the next few days and wanted to give everyone the update before I left. Be praying for Bryon the next two weeks. He and his team will be making a two week trip into the Sahara Desert. I cant say anything else about it except that it is a big deal and could be dangerous at times. He says not to worry but I want you all to know so that he can be surrounded with prayers from back at home.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

Love,
Haley and Molly

I PASSED!

I just wanted to thank everyone for their prayers these past two weeks while I have been studying for my Family Nurse Practitioner Board Certification Exam. I took the test yesterday and passed!!! Now I am officially able to get a job and practice as a FNP. Thanks to my mom for driving me to Asheville for the exam and to my parents for the celebratory dinner last night. You guys are so good to me and I'm very thankful for you both.

32 week prenatal visit and ultrasound

I just got home from my 32 week appointment and all is well. Great news, Molly is no longer breech! She is head down and ready to go. My doctor said she is growing perfectly, her size is perfect with her weeks gestation and we are both doing wonderfully. Her head is to the left side of the picture, this is a profile view. There is one of her little fingers waving at us. She rotated between sucking her fingers and waving them at us during the appointment :) Thanks for everyone's prayers and support!

Trip to Segou

These pictures were taken from Bryon's trip earlier this week to Segou. The four American guys are stationed together in Mali. They are guys Bryon works with on a daily basis and they all live together in a military house near the embassy. The other man is an Imam, which is a leader in the Muslim faith. This particular Imam is an adviser to the United States President and he resides in the US. He came to Mali on a good-will visit to improve relations with Muslims in Western Africa and Bryon's team was in charge of traveling with him, introducing him to the country, and joining in the relationship building process with the local Muslim groups.

Meeting with a local Imam in his home in Segou.

Bryon on the boat which took them to their destination.

Little child sitting in a bucket while the mom washes clothes

The village where the team met with the local Imam.

Naked child playing

Sunset on the Niger River

Flowers and date

Ok, I've been told by several people that I need to write the whole story here so I will briefly summarize. My sweet husband called me two days ago and said he would like to schedule a date for Tuesday (yesterday) at 3pm my time/ 7pm his time. As you can imagine, it isn't easy to go on 'dates' with your husband all the way across the world. So at 3pm yesterday he said to pull out "Last of the Mohicans" which is my favorite movie of all time and get on Skype. We then synced the movie to the exact second almost on both his tv and mine and watched it together! It felt like he was right here with me! Not far into the movie, 30 mins or so, I hear my doorbell ring. I go to the door and what do I find but a beautiful bouquet of roses that he has delivered at the perfect time of our date! Needless to say, to be such a tough soldier man, I have the sweetest and most thoughtful husband in the world. Thank you sweetheart!!
Please be safe on your trip this week and know Molly and I love you dearly.

Molly's Nursery!

My wonderful parents came up to Fayetteville to help Bryon and I start and almost finish Molly's nursery this weekend! They worked for two days solid doing everything I could imagine and I am so thankful to them. Thanks also to Tony, Holly, Anthony, and Halle for their help lugging all of this heavy furniture upstairs for us (and Josiah for looking cute) :)

It's hard to believe that in just under 10 weeks our sweet little Molly will be here! Thank you to everyone for all that you have done for Bryon and I during this deployment, especially to my parents. I honestly don't know what I would have done these past 7 months without you guys. I feel very blessed. Enjoy the pictures!

It's Official!

Daddy is coming home!!!

Pictures of the first new clothes Molly received after we found out she was going to be a little girl


We are excited to tell everyone that we finally have a come home date for Bryon! The army tells us that he will be arriving home to Ft. Bragg by Wednesday, September 24th! Thats a little over 2 weeks before Molly is scheduled to come, so we are praying she is a good girl and stays in the oven until he is able to arrive.

This is a great blessing for which we are so thankful. The countdown begins: 50 days and counting!

Chris and Diane

These pictures are of my sister-in-law and brother-in law, Chris and Diane, speaking at a business conference. Way to go guys!