Baby Ideas

I thought I would post some of my baby ideas in case you like them and want to implement them :)

Back in the first trimester, I decided that I wanted to keep a prayer journal for Aolani. It's a little book with 40 pages, one for each week of the pregnancy. Each week I jot down a thought, a verse and a prayer for her. It's not a baby book. When she is old enough to appreciate it, we can give it to her as a special gift (like for a rite of passage). This way she can read about what we were praying for regarding her while she was in the womb.

During my nap the other day, I re-wrote a lullaby to sing to her. It's meant to be sung to the rhythm of "Hush Little Baby":

Hush Aolani, don't say a word,

Mama's gonna teach you about God's Word.

You'll learn to apply it everyday,

And it will help you in every way.

Read your Bible and you will see,

Just how powerful it can be.

So, you're probably somewhat amused. You'd be really amused if I listened to Ricky, who wanted to post an audio clip of me singing it. What good would your imagination be then?

Independence Day

Maybe not nationally but locally (as far as this household goes).

Yesterday was first day home alone. Yes, ALONE.

That might come as a shock to many of you, but I have been ordering all the equipment necessary to help me care for myself at home. Although I am still waiting on one piece to help me transfer to the recliner so I can lie down (it shipped yesterday), I have the dire essentials.

I do feel like a big girl :)

Work status: I meet with my OB/GYN this Friday and will talk with her before coming to any conclusions.

4 1/2 months!

So, this picture isn't the best. I meant to take one weeks ago, or at least when we're clean and spiffy.

Yesterday, we went to the park with some friends for a picnic and "Wike" ride (hence the heat and sweat). The Wike is a covered cart that allows Ricky to pull me behind his bike, so we can enjoy these times together. It was a gift to us from a bunch of church friends who got together and collected enough money for this wonder in order to bless us. Boy, did it! That was back in May. Yesterday's ride was only 4-5 miles, but it was a beautiful trail around a lake.

The Prosperity Gospel

Few things turn our stomachs as much as the so-called "Prosperity Gospel."

We could talk about it for a while, but John Piper does a good job expressing our feelings about it in this short 3-minute video...

What's In a Name?

Presenting (in my belly)... AOLANI ELIZABETH DIMARTINO

Aolani: It's Hawaiian, meaning "heavenly cloud." Pronunciation is easier than you think! Just say the letter A, then say the letter O, LA like the music note, and NI sounds like knee. Many of you know that Aidan means "fire." When God leads the Israelites through the desert, He makes His presence known among His people by guiding and protecting them with a cloud by day and a fire by night. He directs and protects (from the sun's heat and the cold chill of night). Exodus 13:21 tells us, "By day the LORD went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night."

Elizabeth: It's a family name passed down from my mother's side and means "sanctified" or "set apart as holy."

DiMartino: "Di" is Italian for "of, from" and "Martino" is allegedly a mountain in Italy from whence the ancestors originate. "Martino" is derived from "Mars," the Roman god of war.

We know. She has a very long name, but it is a good, respectable name.

Honor the LORD. Honor Aidan's side. Honor Ricky's side. Perfect.

Drumroll please...

...it's a GIRL! Yes, the ultrasound lady was confident that the baby had "a girl butt." As my dad would say, "No tallywacker." We are thrilled, and particularly excited since her cousin is also a girl and less than a year older! I will announce her name in another posting, as it deserves its own post.

Here are some of the ultrasound pictures:

Notice the little "girl butt" above.

Just a little note: I have not yet had time to create our baby's "green" registry, although I plan on creating a few that will be exclusively online. I will send out (post) those links as soon as I can get to it. We are going to try and raise our baby healthily and in a good environment (free from the toxins and chemicals in which baby clothes and toys are doused). Not that we expect gifts, but for those who wish to give a gift, we ask for you to wait for the registries. Thank you for understanding! I will be given a couple of baby showers in the winter months ahead :)