Today our baby is 9 weeks along. Hello 3rd month. Only, hopefully, one month of morning sickness to go! I'm trying my best to get a picture of my belly at the end of each month...here is Month #2:



I'm so excited for our family to grow!

Last night, i went to a mommy's bible study group. We've been a group for over a year now. This group of women mean so much to me! Each one is so different yet have encouraged me in more ways than they each know. We're kicking the bible study off with the book "Calm my anxious heart" by Linda Dillow. Fantastic book! The book is takes you on a true and lasting journey to contentment. I have realized that in this materialized and selfish world that being content is very rare. I am at fault for that. I am learning how to be content with how God made me and that He made me the way that i am for a purpose...and that that purpose is beautiful. Also, it talks about being content in your roles. Let's face it, as women, wives, and moms we wear many many many roles.
"what we are on the inside, what we continually think about, eventually shows in our words, actions, and even our countenances." That is so true. I have let certain thoughts completely take over me. It's fine to have dreams and thoughts, but we have to learn how to take control of those thoughts and not vice versus.
The book of Philipians is probably one of my favorite books of the Bible. Since i have been married and more so since i have been a mom, chapter 4 has been forever etched in my heart.
(Phil. 4:6-9 MSG)
6-7Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.

8-9Summing it all up, friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies."

I wish i could have that mindset everyday..every minute.

True contentment is a peace separated from our circumstances. "Most of us base our contentment on our circumstances, on our feelings, or on other people. However, true contentment is separate from our circumstances. Contentment is a state of the heart, not a state of affairs."

This i got just from the first chapter. I'm excited to keep reading and learning. I think personally one of the best ways to start on the journey to contentment is to just be THANKFUL. List the things that are blessing/gifts to you. From family to your house to electricity. There are so many things we can be thankful for!

Thankful Thursday is tomorrow, but i want to go ahead and do mine today...in case i don't have time...or well, the energy to. haha.

~I am thankful for rainy days at home - james and i played "movie theatre" for lunch.
~i am thankful for my manly husband
~thankful for an ever joyful little two year old
~i am thankful that i get to teach James things...and see the results of him learning - talking, recognizing letters and numbers, colors.
~So thankful that i am pregnant again with a little bundle
~for our home that has heat
~my parents...just thinking about them makes me so happy that i was theirs
~For God's grace...which i need everyday!
~and for my women's group

Have a Thankful Day!

Baby Burkart #2

Month #1


I have yet to take pictures of my belly from month two...it has definitely gotten bigger. My doctor warned me that after having a baby, during your next pregnancies you tend to show a lot quicker. Boy, she wasn't kidding! When i was pregnant with james i waited well into the 5th month before i wore maternity clothes...and even then i only had 3 pairs of maternity pants and a couple of maternity shirts...i could still fit into my normal clothes (some) during the entire pregnancy. This pregnancy i fear will not be the same. haha. I just want to be comfortable...and my pants are definitely starting to feel snug. Tomorrow i am planning a trip to mall to by a belly band - you can wear this band around your normal jeans/pants but leave the buttons undone - it holds it in place.
I am almost 9 weeks...the morning sickness is making it seem longer! I have been having it morning, noon and night. With james i remember i was kind of queesy throughout the day, but i was not near this bad. So i am praying that the 2nd trimester comes quick! But it is a bitter sweet feeling - it shows that i AM pregnant and that everything is getting into balance, but the bitter side...i hate feeling nauseous! So please pray for me! Luckily james keeps me busy to where i don't think about it too much. haha.
We had our first prenatal visit last week. I love my doctor! Everything seemed to be right on track. It was too early to hear a heart beat yet, but she surprised us and took us back to the ultrasound room and gave us one for FREE! We saw our little sweetie! And his/her heartbeat! It was so amazing and just what i needed to keep going! haha. We had james with us in there - that was neat.
We hung up the ultrasound pics on our bulletin board (so i can see it everyday) - james always goes up to the pictures and says "B" (baby). So sweet.
I can't believe how much i love this baby! I am excited to have 2 kids. I may be saying differently once the baby arrives...but i feel like our family isn't complete yet.
The other day i wanted to just rock James to sleep for his naptime. (we usually just read books and i put him down in his crib and he puts himself to sleep) As i rocked him, i looked around his room just thinking about him and this baby sharing this room. (we only have 2 bedrooms in our house - they will be sharing a room for a while) On one wall we have James' name spelled hung up...i could just picture baby #2's name hung up on the other wall. I about started crying. haha. While i was still rocking James, the hymn Great Is Thy Faithfulness popped into my head. It is such an amazing song! His faithfulness is GREAT! I am so blessed with my wonderful manly husband, my son james who always brings me joy, our baby burkart #2, our cozy home, and our wonderful family and friends who have helped us through thick and thin! Mostly i am so blessed with an ever so faithful God!

Here are the ultrasounds...it's hard to tell that it's a baby...but it definitely is!

Fall Crafts

Ryan made this awesome board to hang up my aprons and hold our mail.



I made this center piece of pine cones, candles, and pumpkins for our table.



Ryan surprised me with these fall colorful flowers! I love flowers!



This is our little thankful tree - we found some sticks in the yard and cut out circles to hang on them. On the paper we each wrote what we are thankful for. I asked james and he said "addy" (Daddy) "mama" and "b" (baby). so cute!



I made this little tree out of scrapbook paper and buttons. It also can be used as a dry erase board. I'm thinking about doing a different background for each season.




All week I've been without a car...which actually has turned into a really great thing - real quality time with James. We ventured into something new...FINGERPAINT!



He was really hesitant at first, but he really loved it!




I helped him make a pumpkin...which he continued to call an Orange...he loves oranges. haha.