'Tis the Season!

I haven't blogged much during this Christmas season, so I thought I better post a summary of Christmas 2009, so far. After all, this is my favorite time of year!

Playing Christmas Songs on the Keyboard

The season started off with a merry bang, as the day after Thanksgiving, my parents traveled up from Vestal, NY! Since I am now very close to my due date, Jesse & I decided that it would be best for us not to travel anywhere for Christmas (a very sad decision, as we will miss both of our families very much)! Thankfully, my parents were able to make the trip up and we had an early "Christmas" with them at our new home in Gloucester. The weekend they visited went by too quickly, but we had a lot of fun opening presents, eating good food, and best of all (for Mom and I) shopping! When they left, the reality that I wouldn't see them again until we had a newborn baby began to set in!

Mom and Dad by our Christmas Tree

Anna's First Cabbage Patch Dolls, from Grandma & Grandpa

Mom and Dad opening their books from Anna,

"Why Grandpa Rides a Harley" and "Here Comes Grandma!"

The Gloucester "Christmas Tree," Made out of Lobster Cages

I then began the process of Christmas card writing and sending out packages to our wonderful family out in Colorado and Texas! We are blessed with 7 nieces/nephews (and still counting), which I love to shop for and spoil... we really wish we lived closer to Jesse's family and could see everyone more often. We're planning a trip out to Colorado for hopefully next Christmas! Jesse's mom will be flying out to visit Anna (and us) in early February and we are excited to see her!

Baby Anna has been growing away. Last Tuesday night, December 15th, Anna noticeably "dropped" (at least to Jesse and I), making her debut much more imminent. As of this week, I've happily reached the "full term" mark at 37 weeks pregnant! I'm anxiously awaiting her arrival and can't wait for her to decide to leave her womb! Our lives are certainly going to change in the next few weeks, but we're so excited to start this new stage with our baby girl! I'm now down to weekly doctor appointments, and so far, the pregnancy has been very smooth and uneventful (a blessing)! Anna continues to be very active in my belly, and whenever I put my hand on my stomach, I'll feel a little push back. Pregnancy is such an amazing adventure!

December 13th, Myself at 36 Weeks Pregnant

Yesterday, December 20th, we had our first major snow storm here in the North Shore! I believe the final snow accumulation was 13 inches! Jesse & I were excited for the snow to arrive, as we are ready for a white Christmas! We spent the day snowed in, and I baked Jesse some Christmas shortbread cookies using a cookie gun that my friend had given us! They're now almost all gone.

Shortbread Cookies made with a Cookie Gun

Speaking of cookies, we had an exciting discovery last week while wandering in the allergy-free section of the grocery store (at least very exciting for us)! We found a brand called "Cherrybrook Kitchen" that specializes in cookie/cake mixes that are egg-, nut-, and dairy- free! Perfect for Jesse. They had a chocolate chip cookie mix, which we tried out, and Jesse experienced his first chocolate chip cookie! I was very proud of this moment, as chocolate chip cookies are my favorite, and I captured his first cookie on film. They were pretty tasty for a mix, and super easy to make!

Jesse trying his first chocolate chip cookie (note the smile)!

The Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix by Cherrybrook Kitchen

Jesse will be completely finished with his fall semester as of tomorrow when he finishes his last Akkadian test. Last week was my final week of babysitting, which ended up being perfect timing, as carrying around a one year old was becoming more and more difficult. Things are fortunately beginning to wind down and wrap up for us before baby arrives.

We will be spending Christmas day with our wonderful small group! Jesse is planning on smoking another turkey (which he did a great job with over Thanksgiving, too) and I will be baking my first apple pie. We're also planning a White Elephant gift exchange with our small group, which should be a lot of fun!

Thanksgiving Dinner with our Small Group

I also wanted to share a beautiful Christmas song by Bebo Norman, Come and Worship, with video clips from the movie, A Nativity Story. Jesse and I have found the Boston culture to be post-Christian (similar to many places in Europe), and it has been sad to see Christmas truly celebrated without the mention of Christ. I have become much more turned off by Santa Claus and Frosty the Snowman after this Christmas season. The song and video (found at the link below) is a great reminder of why we celebrate Christmas.

A Nativity Story, Song and Video

I may not post again until next year, or Anna's arrival, whichever comes first! :) 2009 has been an eventful and happy year for us.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Much to be Thankful For

Thanksgiving has come and gone, but the spirit of thanksgiving has been lingering as I've reflected on the past year. Last December, I had just found out through an ER visit, CAT scan, MRI, and a series of doctor appointments that I had two very large ovarian cysts (grapefruit size) on my left ovary. At the time, these cysts could have easily twisted and caused a lot of pain and damage to my reproductive organs. I had urgent abdominal surgery on December 16, 2008. The surgery left a vertical seven-inch scar on my stomach. Internally, the cysts were removed, as well as my left ovary and fallopian tube which were already beyond repair. I was blessed with a remarkable, world renown surgeon who skillfully left as much of the reproductive organs intact as he could.

Recovering after my surgery last December (with Morphine drip in hand).

A few months later, I was told that the cysts had been partially cancerous, but the cancer was contained. It remains unclear as to why the cysts grew in the first place, as given my age and the size of the cysts, I'm an "abnormal" case. I will continue to have annual CAT scans and bi-annual check-ups to proactively catch any new cysts or cancer that may return. After going through such an experience, Jesse and I decided to start trying to conceive. It didn't take us long to have a little miracle on the way... four months after the surgery, I became pregnant! We have been so incredibly grateful to God for giving us this baby, when at one point, we weren't sure pregnancy would be an option for us, or at least not an easy achievement.

Baby Anna at her 20 week ultrasound.

Over the past eight months, I often have worried about baby Anna. I think I have expected (or feared) some complications to arise after having such unexplained health problems a year ago. However, the pregnancy has been very smooth and problem-free! For the most part, I have felt great and Anna continues to check out well. I have come to a point where I remind myself that God is in control, no matter what happens to myself or my baby. He knows and has a perfect plan, despite what I want or understand. I'm thankful that I did not become pregnant before these cysts were discovered, as such a situation could have caused a complicated pregnancy! I'm also thankful that the cysts grew to such a large size that I started having abdominal pain, prompting me to go to the ER. I'm not sure how long they had been inside me, and if they had burst or twisted, the cancer would not have been contained and I would have had horrible pain. In all things, God does work for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28).

Thanksgiving Day 2009 and 33 weeks pregnant.

Now, I'm five weeks from my due date and I can't believe how soon it will be until we can hold our baby! I pray to be daily reminded that in the end, this is not our baby, but God's baby... a beautiful gift to us, as we strive to raise her in the fear and knowledge of her true Father. I pray also that God uses both the dark and joyful times in my life, the times of sickness and uncertainty as well as the times of elation and surprise, to bring Him glory and to bring me closer to Him. I know now that I'm not guaranteed perfect health or 75 plus years of life, but I also know that this life is not my true hope or desire. God has brought me to a point of becoming much more heaven-minded, truly grasping that this life is but a breath, but there is a far greater life to come for those who believe.

The Mallory Family with new addition, Micah Evan!

One more Thanksgiving blessing this year was Micah Evan Mallory, born to our dear friends Ashleigh and Zack on Thanksgiving day! We are so happy for them as they celebrate a healthy baby boy after a safe delivery! God is good.