What's In A Name?

I have always been fascinated by the meaning of names. After teaching for four years, you come across a thousand kinds and types of names, and when I go and research their meanings, the name of a child and their personality never ceases to amaze me at how well they tend to match up.

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My name means "Fair Lady" by one interpretation, which is the beauty of language, you can just choose the name meaning you like the best from all the possibilities in language=) Anyway, I don't think of myself as fair in appearance, but I believe the name fits as fair in behavior, like just or not showing favoritism. I like to think the meaning fits me. Joey's name, Joseph, means "Productive", and I don't think anyone who knows him would argue with that!

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So when it came time to choose a name for my children, I not only considered the cadence of first, middle, and last name together, but the meaning of their first name in particular was important to me. With as much as I love to be outdoors and gardening, it makes me smile a little to know that both of the literal interpretations of my children's names have an original tie to nature, but it's their spiritual connotation that also needed to mean something valuable.

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Savannah means "Treeless Plain"-duh, but her spiritual connotation means "Cherished". I LOVE THIS! "Cherish" is one of my favorite words in the English language. I even made sure my wedding vows specifically used this word. To me, it means more than just to love; it means to adore and treasure, so not only do I want my baby girl to know she is adored and treasured by her parents, but by her Lord Jesus Christ, and cherished is how He wants her to view herself through her entire life.

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Now....drum roll please...for our little boy, Joey and I have decided upon the name Weston Loyd Durham. Weston literally means "Of the Western Meadow", fitting considering we live in West Cobb County--Haha! Anyways, but his spiritual connotation means "Steadfast". This is a quality in my father and my husband as well as other men in my family that I admire most. They hold a standard, make a decision, and stand true, holding tight to what God tells them to do. There's no wishy-washing, backsliding, or mind-changing. They are steadfast and true to God's Word in their lives. In this ever-changing, more terrifying world we live in, I sometimes cringe at the thought of what my children will have to experience and face in their lifetimes, especially the males in our society. They have so many expectations placed on them that it's no wonder many shrink from their responsibility. My prayer is that my boy will be steadfast in his faith and holy inheritance. That he will find and possess the quiet strength that only comes from being a rooted man of God.

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So their it is...Jennifer "Lee" Durham, Joseph Loyd Durham, Savannah Lee Durham, gladly welcome Weston Loyd Durham into our household. We couldn't be more filled with joy!

What does YOUR name mean?

The Verdict Is In! It's A.....

Boy! Can't you tell from the picture? =) Great shot! And no qualms about it. Joey is elated and a very proud, contented Daddy (although we really were fine either way), but it's nice to see him be able to really connect for the first time with this pregnancy. It's just hard for the dads to really get involved until they know something. Moms luck out because we actually feel

something=)

....

Everything about the sonogram went great...he is perfect! All ten fingers and all ten toes, a healthy beautiful heart and brain--even if his head is measuring a little larger than normal--thank you to my wonderful husband. Thank you also to my healthy family genetics because I am 20 weeks along where an average baby weighs about 12oz. This little fellow is already a pound and measuring about a week ahead of schedule. Dr. Pitcher estimates an 8.5 to 9.5 lb baby if I make it to term. When I reminded her about Savannah's three-week early arrival at 7lb. 13oz., she said it's not uncommon for a woman with high activity in good health to go early when the the baby is measuring large, so please all be praying for the right timing for this little one and my body. Early or not, I just want a healthy baby=)

So, the Durham family is thrilled to add a little more testosterone to the household to even things up=) We have a name we like, which many of you already know, but that's another blog I'm saving for another day--plus that name isn't set in stone yet either--, so to keep you chatting with me, I thought for this blog I'd get a poll of what names YOU like for our new baby Durham. Remember the middle name must be Loyd--I know, not too catchy, but a family name nonetheless--so make it sound good=) Enjoy the rest of the pics, and thank you all for your wonderful prayers and support!

This one of the hand is my absolute favorite! It never ceases to amaze me 1) how incredible our God is in His design even on such a small scale, and 2) how far He has allowed human technology to come to be able to capture these images. I mean, you can see all the tiny bones in his hands! Love it!

My New York trip update is in the works, and more thoughts to come concerning my kiddos, so stay posted!

Baby #2 Update

So every day goes by in my world, busy with all the usual tasks, friends, and Savannah moments, and then it will hit me....every day it just hits me at some point....oh, yeah! I'm pregnant! Seriously!

I am trying to be conscience of this little one just as much as the I was with Savannah, but it is VERY hard. Often times, I already feel like a horrible mother for not recongnizing more consciously the presence of this little one. The thought of being a mother of two to me right now is very overwhelming. As a matter fact, I believe that's just how I live my life these days, constantly overwhelmed-spiritually, physically, emotionally, and mentally. God is working on me. We're working through these thoughts and emotions together, but I'm just being honest.

However, nothing, and I mean NOTHING, can stir a mother's heart for her unborn child like a sonogram can! (A law should be passed that every person seeking abortion must have a sonogram done before the procedure. I believe it falls under the category of being completely medically informed about your medical condition and the risks involved. Anyways...I digress....off my soapbox...)

It is the most amazing experience to see how much your little one grows inside your body. God blessed me during my sonogram on Friday last week to allow me to see not only a steady heartbeat, but an active baby! Yes, another one already=) It was in there just squirming around, wriggling it's little partially developed body back and forth. In the picture you can definitely make out the head, then all the little round white balls are arm and leg buds just beginning to form. So cool! I always cry watching the screen, what else would anyone expect?

So that's the latest. I have been deeply appreciative of all the prayers. The nausea and fatigue are getting better, but still present, and some days are just worse than others, but I truly believe your prayers have made an impact not only my health, but my general attitude about things these days. So please keep praying! I covet all of them!

Some Details You Might Like....

So, I've been keeping a secret. I could call the whole world, and tell the same story a million times, but believe me, I'm much more interesting as a writer than as a conversationalist. So here goes...

I keep a journal for my children (Savannah) that Joey gave me when we found out we were pregnant with her. Here's the entry for Tuesday, December 23, 2008:

"Well, Merry Christmas my children! Yesterday morning I took a pregnancy test that came up positive! Now, granted, given the miscarriage in July, I freaked out, cried with every nurse that spoke to me since I went straight to the doctor's office, and I have prayed like never before ever since.

The nurse called back today to confirm that I am about four weeks pregnant, and that (as I suspected) my progesterone level is lower than they'd like. Well, I will start the meds today, and pray that God allows me to keep this little one. I'm hesitant to really think much about it right now, not wanting to become too attached in case this pregnancy doesn't work either. But a mother's heart can't help but love and hope the best for her children, even at conception. So in the weeks to follow, I will write more, but for now it is enough that the birth of this little one has been recorded with the rest.

Thank you Father for this Christmas present! I could not ask for anything more. I love You."

So concluded that entry. Christmas carried on as usual. I popped two progesterone pills a day along with my pre-natal vitamins, religiously, and I tried not to stress or worry or let any stray thoughts (like, Why am I still spotting?) get in the way of a wonderful Christmas. Joey was awesome. He prayed for me, held me when I cried when no one was looking, and smiled with me every time someone asked about baby number two or something like that came up in conversation. Our little secret. You might all hate us for it, but we loved every moment.

The spotting stopped by Friday of that week, Praise the Lord! We left Macon early to get my bloodwork done again, only to find they had misinformed me and the office was closed when we got there. I waited-a little on edge-until Monday, had my blood drawn again, then this is my journal entry for Thursday, January 1st, 2009:

"Well, it's official! My second set of bloodwork taken this past Monday came back VERY positive and looking good--progesterone and all levels where they need to be. I am so deeply grateful--still scared, but believing God--and deeply grateful. I can sense the wind of change beginning to blow ever so softly through our home, but I know this year will carry its storms as well. Lots of new, but all the more to draw us closer to our heavenly Father and each other. My daily prayer that I lift up unceasingly is that God will bless our family and hold us together. I am a bit overwhelmed even as I write...."

This entry goes on for another three pages, but that's all you need to know. So the days continued, and I prayed and I wondered. All those pregnancy "changes" I experienced with Savannah--not having any of those yet. No sickness, no pains in the chest area (if you know what I mean), nothing except a slightly widening, not pooching mind you, WIDENING, midsection, extreme fatigue (I've taken a three hour nap every day for almost two weeks now), and acne like you wouldn't believe! I know every pregnancy is different, but I was really praying for a good strong heartbeat at my sonogram on January 14th......

So I started experiencing extreme moments of "morning" sickness at different times of the day and not every day by the second week in January. The days where I felt nauseous all the time were miserable...and cravings! So early! Joey and I literally hopped in the car Friday night, January 10th, at 10:30 at night to go get me a Wendy's grilled chicken sandwhich! Stomach calmed immediately...so weird.

However, the coming and going of my symptoms has still left me worrying if my hormone levels are really sufficient enough to support the pregnancy. No one will ever understand how deeply that miscarriage wounded. So me and God had a pow-pow that same Friday afternoon, and I prayed and pleaded and begged for this child. Then I opened my Bible and read Psalm 20. Then I cried like a baby, read this passage over and over, thanking God that He hears AND answers His children. Our God is a good God who listens and responds. I'm not just another speck on this earth in His eye; I am His child sitting on His knee asking Him for all my heart's desires. Still, I wait, I bit anxiously for next week's sonogram. (What faith, right?...sigh...one day I'll get it.)

Special Moments: Yacking (HARD) in the toilet while Savannah stands right next to me watching. Looking up, smiling real big at her, "Mommy's OK. It's ok; mommy's ok." Yack. Smile. Reassure. Yack. Smile. Reassure.

So Wednesday morning the 14th, came and went, and the sonogram went as well as could be expected. The stenographer was a bit surprised at how small the baby was, but when I told her of my irregular cycles, she wasn't so worried. The downside for me was that I wasn't as far along as I had hoped--only six weeks and one day instead of the expected eight. Sigh. That blessed pregnancy test caught me pretty much right after conception! Good for me, and God's design because the progesterone stopped the bleeding, but OH, that just means I'm pregnant so much longer! The very best reason why you all are not reading this until I'm a little past 8 weeks pregnant.

We told all the parents that Wednesday, but made the decision to hold off telling the rest of the family and friends until the end of the month. Here's your first look at the peanut inside me that's making me so sick!



Did I mention how sick this little one is making me? My sickness now lasts pretty much around the clock, but puking is expected at least once after 3:00pm. I am grateful for the sickness...as ridiculous as that sounds...because that means all is well in babyland, but I must say that this sucks! Life not so much fun right now, but full of joy and gratitude...well gratitude at least-the joy waxes and wanes=) And that about catches you all up to date on my life for the past month.

By now, everyone that would be offended by finding out I'm pregnant via blog has already been phoned, so hopefully, everyone else won't be offended, and will enjoy all the details. Thanks for celebrating with us and praying with us! More sonogram pictures to come after the 6th! Oh, and my expected due date is September 9th for all those wondering=) Love to you all! Praise God!