Easter Video

We are creating a video for Easter Sunday where we will use some of the stories in the book Urban launched. I am so excited to see how the video turns out, it's going to be great. If you want a book email me at jluehmann@urbanchurchsd.com and I'll make sure you get one.

Hair au naturel

So lately I've had no energy to do my hair, it just takes so long!!! So last week I decided to let it be and it actually looked ok, but the picture was taken in the morning, by 4pm my hair was a mess. I love my hair I just wish it was less time consuming. 

Any product recommendations are welcome.

Baby Luehmann - Week 19

Week 19

Weight +5.5 Pounds

Waist +4 Inches

Cravings: Colombian food. 

Dislikes: Nothing

So this week I kept on growing and growing, I have a feeling that will continue to be the case until Mrs Antonella join us out here. 

We had a doctors appointment last week. Her heart was pounding with intensity, she kicked and kicked and kicked, and the midwife checking me was laughing at all the movement in there. 

We found out I have anterior placenta, which means my placenta is on the front of my belly. That is not a problem to my health of the baby's it just means that is where the placenta is and finding the heartbeat can be harder sometimes. It also makes it harder for Caleb to feel the baby since we have a cushion between my belly and the baby, and I would probably feel the baby's kicks in a more intense way if the placenta was in the back. I feel her plenty though so that's ok. The placenta can move as we keep on growing Antonella and I, so we will see.

We also learned that we have a marginal umbilical cord, which means my umbilical cord is not attached to the center of the placenta, thankfully it isn't all the way to the edge, it is more off center and toward the edge. The midwife assured me it was nothing to worry about but after reading a bit on it online I kind of worried. It looks like the condition might affect Antonella's ability to get nutrients, but in most cases it only means she will be smaller than she should be, but still healthy. I am sure it is fine and baby girl is getting all the nutrients she needs. In the meantime I'll keep track of her kicking and moving around to ensure she is fine. 

Aside from the doctor's appointment everything else has been going great. I've had some lower abdominal pain, but again midwife said that's normal and caused by my growing uterus and ligaments that support it. It's called round ligament pain and it doesn't feel good. On most women this pain is brief, with me it isn't, sometimes it lasts for a little there and just when I start to worry and I am about to tell Caleb to drive me to the doctor it stops. Weird ligaments. 

Feeling Antonella is always so much fun, Caleb has felt here here and there and we have started reading the Bible to her, I read it in Spanish and Caleb reads it in English, we tell her fun stories and promises of God for her, it's become my favorite part of the day. 

Also we have arrived at the middle of our pregnancy woo hoo!! We celebrated by getting Zuppa Toscana at Olive Garden and after we went back to Pool Momma's home (we were in Palm Springs) and swam under the stars and enjoyed being in the pool and talking about our baby. The talk turned a bit eerie when we started discussing our will and who Antonella would live if something were to happen to us, but hey it's better to have those talks and put it all in writing than to leave our baby girl without knowing what to do. 

Here we go second half, we are ready! 

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Semana 19

Peso +5.5 Libras

Cintura +4 Pulgadas

Antojos: Comida Colombiana 

No me gusta: Nada

Esta semana sigo creciendo y creciendo. Tengo la sospecha de que eso va a ser una constante hasta que Antonella llegue. 

Tuvimos una cita al medico la semana pasada. El corazon de mi bebe estaba latiendo con intensidad y ella no hacia mas que dar pataditas y moverse, la partera que me estaba revisando se estaba riendo de todo el moviemento.

Nos enteramos de que tengo placenta anterior, lo que significa que es la placenta esta al frente de mi estomago en vez de en la parte de atras contra mi espina. Tener la placenta en el frente no es un problema para la salud mia o del bebe, solo significa que encontrar el corazon puede ser un poco mas complicado. Tambien hace que sea mas dificil para Caleb sentir al bebe porque la placenta es como una almohada entre Antonella y mi estomago. Yo sentiria las pataditas con mas intensidad si la placenta estuviera en la parte de atras. Antonella se mueve mucho y yo la siento seguido entonces no hay problema, ademas la placenta se puede mover mientras Antonella crece asi que vamos a ver.

Tambien descubrimos que tengo cordon umbilical marginal, eso significa que mi cordon umbilical no esta adjunto al centro de la placenta, afortunadamente no esta en el borde pero a un lado. La partera nos dijo que no era nada para preocuparnos pero llegue a la casa a leer al respecto y me preocupe un poco. Esta condicion puede afectar la abilidad de Antonella de recibir los nutrientes que necesita, en muchos casos solo significa que el bebe es mas pequeño de lo que deberia ser, pero completamente saludable. Estoy segura de que la bebe esta bien y esta recibiendo todos los nutrientes que necesita. Mientras tanto voy a seguir poniendo atencion a los movimientos que hace para asegurarme de que todo esta bien.

Ademas de la visita al doctor todo va super. He tenido un poco de dolor abdominal, pero la doctora dijo que no tenia que preocuparme, es normal y causado por el crecimiento de mi utero y los ligamentos que lo sostienen. En la mayoria de las mujeres es un dolor de segundos, conmigo se queda un rato, y apenas me empiezo a preocupar y quiero decirle a Caleb que me lleve al doctor pasa. Los ligamentos son raros, pero es normal.

Sentir a Antonella es siempre increible, Caleb la siente aveces y empezamos a leerle la Biblia, yo la leo en Español y el la lee en Ingles, le contamos historia y le hablamos de las promesas de Dios para ella, es mi parte favorita del dia.

Y esta semana marca la mitad de nuestro embarazo!!! Celebramos en Olive Garden con mi sopa favorita y despues nos devolvimos a la casa de la mama de Caleb (estabamos en Palm Springs) y nos metimos a la piscina, la noche estaba espectacular entonces hablamos y nos reimos de cosas que pasa, y despues la conversacion se puso seria cuando empezamos a discutir nuestro testamento y quien se quedaria con Antonella si algo nos pasa. Es mejor hablarlo y ponerlo en escrito que dejar a la pobre bebe sin planes.

Aca vamos segunda mitad!

Baby gender reveal

As promised earlier this week the pictures of the Baby Gender reveal party are here.

Last Thursday when we went in for our ultrasound we ask the technician to not tell us the sex of the baby and instead to put it on a sealed envelope. She did just that and had fun telling us to close our eyes every time she was going to check anything around the little one's pelvic area.

When we left we made arrangements to meet with our friend Mel and give her the envelope. Her job was pretty exciting, open the envelope, fill pink or blue balloons with helium and put the balloons with the right color inside a cute box.

Sunday afternoon we got together at our pastor's home with just a small group of people to open the box and stream the video live so our families and friends could find out the gender of the baby at the same time as us. Our friends Josh & Jess from @Aroma_of_life made the most outstanding cupcakes and we were ready to find out what we are having.

It was so exciting to wait and to have everyone watching with us. Caleb and I were nervous for some silly reason and when the time came to open the box we got asked what we thought we were having, we said "A BOY! We think we are having a boy"

Well you all know the rest of the story, the box was filled with pink balloons and Antonella is what we are now getting ready for. We were so very surprised, and we had dreams about having a girl but we really thought the dreams were just craziness.

We are thrilled to raise a little woman, she will be a beautiful woman who fears the Lord.

Our first family photo

We had not taken a picture with baby pictures, and we figured we had to. I was so tired I look bad, but regardless here it is our first family picture!

Baby Luehmann - Week 18

 

Week 18

Weight +4.5 Pounds

Waist +3.5 Inches

Cravings: All things Colombian 

Dislikes: Nothing

I am growing! A lot, I feel like my body changes daily, I go to bed with one belly and wake up with a different one, this little one is rapidly becoming a visible bump.

As most of you know this week we found out the sex of our baby, SHE IS A GIRL (I'll post pictures of the reveal tomorrow). Caleb and I were so shocked to learn we were having a She, we really thought we were going to have a boy. In reality we were just being stubborn because we both had dreams we were having a girl and we had a couple friends dream she was a girl, God was telling us but we were choosing to believe for blue balloons.

We always thought having a boy first would be easier, he would help protect his sisters and teach them alongside his father what a gentleman looks like. That's why we wanted a little guy but I guess it is fun and hard work whether you are dealing with dresses or trucks.

After finding out we went to buy a couple of outfits with a gift card we had. We bought clothes for 18months or 24 months, we have so many people that have offered to give us baby clothes, and then there is our mothers! It was weird to go shopping for our daughter, gosh writing it is weird. We are so excited and nervous and excited, oh and pretty nervous. 

Before we knew the sex of the baby we had a boy name and a girl name picked out, I mentioned that back on week 6 (worst picture ever week eek). Our baby girl will be called Antonella Luehmann, no middle name for her and no second last name (nobody has second last names here in the States). It means praiseworthy so I am working on a graphic that we will print and frame for her room reading "Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is praiseworthy." We want her to know what makes her a praiseworthy woman. I really hope she likes her name when she is old enough to understand it, K and I love it.

We have a doctor's appointment tomorrow, so we'll see how that goes!

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 Semana 18

Peso +4.5 Libras

Cintura +3.5 Pulgadas

Antojos: Cualquier cosa Colombiana 

No me gusta: Nada

 

Estoy creciendo! Siento que mi cuerpo cambia cada dia, me acuesto a dormir con una barriga y amanezco con otra, este bebe se esta conviertiendo en un bebe visible a traves de la barriga muy rapido.

La mayoria de ustedes sabe, pero esta semana nos enteramos del sexo del bebe, ES UNA NIÑA!! (subo fotos de la fiesta mas tarde). Caleb y yo no podiamos creer que era una niña, los dos pensamos que ibamos a tener un niño. La verdad estabamos siendo tercos porque los dos soñamos que era niña y un par de nuestros amigos soñaron los mismo, Dios nos estaba diciendo pero nosotros decidimos convecernos de que ibamos a tener bombas azules.

Caleb y yo pensamos que tener un niño primero es mas facil, el nos ayudaria a protegerlas y a enseñarles con el papa como se porta un caballero. Es por eso que queriamos un niño, pero la verdad es que criar va a ser divertido y mucho trabajo no importa si tienes un niño o una niña.

Despues de enterarnos fuimos a comprar un par de cosas con una tarjeta que teniamos. Compramos ropa talla 18meses y 24 meses, tenemos muchos amigos que nos han ofrecido ropa de bebe y ademas conocemos a nuestras mamas! Fue extraño ir a comprar ropa para nuestra hija, de hecho escribir eso es extraño. Estamos emocionados y nerviosos y emocionados y nerviosos ja. 

Antes de enterarnos del sexo del bebe tenisamos un nombre para niño y un nombre para niña listos. Yo lo mencione en el blog de la semana 6

Before we knew the sex of the baby we had a boy name and a girl name picked out, I think I mentioned that back on week 6 (la semana de la peor foto hasta ahora blegh). Nuestra bebe se va a llamar Antonella Luehmann, sin segundo nombre o segundo apellido (aca nadie tiene segundo apellido). El nombre significa digna de alabanza entonces estoy creando una grafica que vamos a imprimer y a enmarcar para su cuarto que dice "El encanto es engañoso, y la belleza no perdura, pero la mujer que teme al SEñOR será digna de alabanza." Queremos que siempre sepa lo que la hace una mujer digna de alabanza. Yo espero que le guste su nombre cuando lo pueda entender, a Caleb y a mi nos encanta.

Mañana tenemos cita en el doctor, vamos a ver como nos va!

Farmer's Market

We love living so close to a farmer's market, it makes Saturday mornings fun and full of healthy samples. Every time we go to the Little Italy Mercato we get amazing fruits and veggies and flowers for the week, not to mention the nice walk and amazing hummus that ends up in our fridge. If we move I will surely miss it.

Cuban & Puerto Rican Food

We found a Cuban/Puerto Rican restaurant in San Diego called Andres Restaurant and it was outstanding! I love Cuban food, it is part of my top 5 best kinds of food; and I miss Colombian food very very much and this was somewhat close. I think I ate a bit too much, but it was worth it, my heart was so happy. Caleb loved it too and wanted to go back for dinner, I couldn't have done it so we'll visit soon again.

Who are you baby?

The last month has been absolutely amazing. As you know my beautiful Colombian is pregnant with our first child and it is such a fun time. I know people who have had babies, some of whom have had these horrendous pregnancies where certain smells of foods, or scents of people will make them nauseous or even cause vomiting. I'm not just talking about one time either, numerous times. But, I have been absolutely blessed that my wife has only vomited over the smell of my breath 1 time!! Honestly, we laughed about it in the end but these are things you can't prepare for. It was a crazy day when that happened.

From my point of view this pregnancy has been fantastic in comparison to many other peoples pregnancies. Now that is my point of view, JO is the one who had to deal with throwing up for a few months, and now has a baby that is growing and is kicking and punching her abdominal wall constantly! She is a phenomenal pregnant wife.

One of my greatest joys is going through this with JO. When we first heard the heartbeat of our baby was a moment we have forever. The first time we got to see ultrasound pictures, UNBELIEVABLE! And today we went in for our ultrasound that revealed the gender of our amazing baby! It doesn't only give us the gender of our baby, it reveals the name of our child because we already have our boys name and girls name. So, here you go......the gender of our baby and our babies name IS................we still don't know because we had the ultrasound lady write it down and stuff it into an envelope that we gave to our dear friends the Millers so they could find out what and who our baby is! Who does this? The suspense is crazy for 18 weeks to find out what you are having and BOOM!!! you wait four days to find out yourself so you can share it with the rest of your family at this incredible Baby Gender unveiling party that you are having. It actually still sounds crazy to me that we are waiting, but I am honestly thrilled that we will get to share it with both of our families (who can and will probably be watching online) and our close friends. I can only describe the anticipation as a child who sees all of their presents under the tree on Christmas eve but has to still wait a day to open the presents, oh another good example would be this. Pretend your wife is pregnant with your first baby and the sex of the baby is in an envelope that your close friends get to open, but you still have to wait four days to open? (just imagine it).

The parts of the ultrasound where we got to keep our eyes open (they were closed during the parts when ultrasound lady was finding out babies privates) was so very cool. We got to see the babies ankles, spine, and face when the crazy child wasn't hiding under their hands. I learned a new word, transverse, meaning that our little one finds it fascinating that they can lay sideways in moms belly so they can just chill back and relax for a minute. That answered JO's recent questioning of why her super tiny pregnant belly looked a little odd.

I can't explain how excited, and how blessed we are by God for this little miracle. We are looking forward to each and every day of pregnancy and parenthood. Keep checking out the blog for more pictures of JO's baby belly, and stories during this amazing period of life.

Baby Luehmann - Week 17

 

Week 17

Weight +4.5 Pounds

Waist +3 Inches

Cravings: Lulo juice 

Dislikes: Nothing, I was able to brush my teeth without gagging woo hoo

This past week was wonderful, and I feel like my belly is 4 times bigger than how it was last week, I only gained a pound but the baby is growing a lot.

You know how during week 16 I thought I felt the baby? well during week 17 I definitely did. I was sleeping and I woke up from feeling something on my belly, it was 3:30am so I thought i just had to pee. I went to the bathroom, went back to bed and then again, tapping on my belly. I knew it was the baby because it was incessant, I kept feeling it and feeling it. I woke Caleb up and asked him to put his hands on my belly, he did and after a lot of kicking he didn't feel he finally felt one and couldn't believe it. 

From 3:30am to 5:30am we laid in bed tapping back and forth and talking to the baby, it was so fun. It is wonderful to feel the baby. The last few days I've felt the baby here and there, especially when I am laying down, I don't know if it is because I am still and quiet or if it because the baby is not a big fan of the position I am in, regardless I love it. 

 

And just in case that wasn't enough excitement for one week, on Thursday night Caleb and I were in bed talking before falling asleep and he was having his night chat with his son/daughter when suddenly I felt water on the left side of my chest. I told Caleb to check the ceiling and he said he didn't think it was the ceiling but checked anyways. Then water on my right side, and I knew, it was me! I was leaking! I told Caleb my chest was leaking and he started to laugh and said he kind of figured that's what it was. He thought it was funny, I felt weird. It was so strange to see water coming out of you from places it should not. I felt like a mutant that was changing body types or something. 

Caleb went online to check it was normal to start producing Colustrum so early, and once we read it was I felt better. It was still very mutant like and being pregnant became much more real than ever before, Caleb's laughter and the realization that indeed this was expected made me feel better. 

We are looking forward to calling the baby with the appropriate articles next week as Sunday we find out whether we are having a boy or a girl. We really can't wait!

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Semana 17

Peso +4.5 libras

Cintura +3 Pulgadas

Cravings: Jugo de lulo

Dislikes: Nada, me pude lavar los dientes sin tener ganas de vomitar!

  

La semana pasada fue increible, siento que mi barriga esta 4 veces mas grande que la semana anterior pero solamente subi una libra, el bebe parece estar creciendo mas rapido que mi peso. 

En la semana 16 pensamos que sentimos el bebe, pero en esta semana estamos seguros de que lo sentimos. Yo estaba dormida y me desperte porque senti algo en el estomago, eran las 3:30am entonces pense que tenia que ir al baño entonces fui y volvi a la cama. Pero me acoste y senti unas pataditas en la barriga, yo sabia que era el bebe porque seguia sintiendolo sin parar y nunca antes me habia pasado. Desperte a Caleb y le pedi que pusiera sus manos en mi barriga, despues de muchas pataditas el no sentia nada y depronto lo sintio, no podia creerlo. 

De las 3:30am a las 5:30am seguimos acostados hablando con el bebe y sintiendo las patadas de vez en cuando. Es increible sentir algo moviendose dentro de mi. En los ultimos dias hemos sentido el bebe de vez en cuando, especialmente cuando me acuesto en la noche, no se si es porque estoy mas quieta y hay menos ruido o si al bebe no le gusta la posicion en la que estoy, de cualquier forma me encanta sentirlo/a.

En caso de que sentir el bebe no es suficiente emocion por una semana, el Jueves en la noche Caleb y yo estabamos acostados hablando y Caleb estaba teniendo su conversacion diaria con su hijo/a cuando depronto yo senti agua al lado izquierdo de mi pecho. Yo pense que era el techo y le dije a Caleb que lo revisara y el lo reviso pero me dijo que tal vez no era el techo. Despues senti agua al lado izquierdo I obvio me di cuenta, era yo! agua estaba saliendo de mi por lugares q no deberia salir. Caleb se estaba riendo pero para mi fue demasiado raro y estaba precoupandome. Me sentia como una mutante cambiando de cuerpo o algo asi.

Caleb fue por su computador y reviso si era normal producir Calostro tan temprano en el embarazo, una vez el leyo que era normal me senti mejor. Fue igual muy raro y me sentia muy rara, estar embarazada fue mas real que nunca. La risa de Caleb y saber que realmente es esperado que yo produzca Calostro me hicieron sentir mejor.

En el blog de la siguiente semana vamos a hablar del bebe con los articulos correctos, el Domingo averiguamos si es un niño o una niña. Ya queremos saber!!!

Full body

So we realized I had not taken full body pictures in a long long long time, almost since I got back from vacation. Being pregnant I just feel bloated so subconsciouly I was not appearing in pictures full body. So Caleb took two pictures of me last week. Baby makes me feel bloated but he/she is not being horrible to my appearance, I can still look cute after about an hr of getting ready haha.

Anniversary Weekend

Urban Church is officially 3 years old, and we celebrated with everyone what God did last year and what we know He will do this coming year. I love my church, I really do, I love the people that come and absolutely love God, I love those that know nothing about Him but came to figure things out, I love those who are getting to know Him still, I love everyone. I've learned so much since I started the journey of planting a church, Urban has not only been my church but it's also my family, the place where some of my closest friends are and where my marriage has grown..

Happy Birthday Urban Church, we are blessed and honored to be here.