5 Surprising Things My Baby Does in the Womb

First of all, I wanted to thank everyone who has prayed on behalf of baby girl and I. We had a bit of a scare about a week ago that resulted in a 4 am hospital visit (just before I hit 35 weeks). While baby girl is just fine, my body is struggling with gall bladder and kidney issues that could lead to being induced early for my own safety. I am in such awe and so grateful to say that I can feel strength from your prayers and have been able to manage the pain in order to keep baby girl in there as long as possible. We will still most likely have an early induction, but hey, that's just a chance for me to meet my sweet baby girl sooner! And she is so strong and doing so great, so I'm not worried in the least about her possibly having to join us a little early.

Have I mentioned that I'm getting SO excited to meet her???
We all are - her daddy and I, my parents, my in-laws, baby girl's uncles and aunts, even my classmates at BYU and the students in the junior high I will be student teaching at.
I know, though, that there will be parts of being pregnant that I will miss - those special moments when you realize that you are growing a life inside you, and that life is a beautiful human who can already do so much and is already so strong!

Because she might not be there for too much longer, I wanted to make a post about the top 5 exciting/unexpected things that baby girl has been doing in the womb:

Recognizing Sounds

In particular, Kyle's voice. Baby girl always moves and kicks right by where Kyle is when he talks to her through my belly, and I love it. It's amazing to think that she can hear at all, let alone enough to be able to recognize certain sounds and voices!

Acrobatics

Okay, this might be a tad exaggerated, but she sure does move a LOT, and often I can't even fathom what she's doing to match up to the pokes and pushes and prods I feel. Now that she's head down (THANK YOU BABY), I can often feel her little heel pressing as she stretches out - there are times when I think she stretches her legs out just like the baby in this MRI:

 It's crazy to get a glimpse at just how much babies move in there!

Get the Hiccups
I've only felt it once, but it's so cute to feel little baby get the hiccups! It's cute to think that they can get them, even as a growing little baby in the womb, and it's crazy that you as the mama can feel them!

Taste Foods

By about 20 weeks, babies can taste what mama's eating! So whatever you're craving just might be what baby has on her list of favorites. Apparently my baby girl has quite the sweet tooth, because I am constantly plowing through bags of Starbursts, Airheads, and Skittles.

Play Peek-a-boo
Baby girl opens and closes her eyes in the womb, and towards the end, she even begins to recognize differences in light enough to know when it's night and when it's day. Too bad she doesn't know to sleep during the one and open those gorgeous eyes during the other!

While I am beyond ready to hold baby girl in my arms (and no, not by cradling my belly), I will definitely miss thinking about and feeling some of these things that she's been doing the last few months! New milestones are ahead and we are so excited to be there for every one of them!

Stay Beautiful,

xoxo Madi


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25 Easy Ways to Minister

We just had General Conference almost two weeks ago, and there was plenty of emphasis on ministering, the new, holier way to serve one another that was announced in April. I know many people are still struggling to grasp what exactly it means to minister, or are struggling to come up with concrete ideas of what they can do for the people they are assigned. I'm hoping to help with that! Here are 25 concrete things you can do to minister to God's children:

1.  Text them a quote from General Conference, or a scripture that could uplift them.
2. Pray for Heavenly Father to make you aware of their needs.
3. Ask if they have any names you can take to the temple for them, or better yet, set a date to go together to complete those vicarious ordinances.
4. Offer to pick their children up from school or drop them off at band practice during a particularly busy week.
5. If they are graduating, getting married, announcing a baby, or sending invites or thank yous or Christmas cards, help them address and stamp the envelopes.
   
   
6. Watch their baby for a couple of hours so mom and dad can have a well-deserved shower and nap.
7. Text them "Thinking of you!" or "I hope you have a great day!"
8. Help them with household repairs (flood damage, squeaky door, broken faucet).
9. Ask them which day of the upcoming week will be the most hectic for them. Tell them you are bringing them dinner on that night.
10. Ask if there is anything you can include in your prayers for them.
11. Tell them you are doing a DI/Goodwill run and offer to take anything they were planning to donate.
12. Go on a walk with them or be their gym partner.
    
    
13. Teach a skill to them or their kids (soccer dribbling, sewing, using Google Drive, etc.)
14. Help them put up holiday decorations (inside or outside) or Christmas lights.
15. Share your favorite dinner recipes or school lunch ideas with them.
    
    Find some simple dinner recipes here and here!
16. Send them a funny meme or inspirational video.
17. Paint their nails or take them to get their nails done - especially if they might not be able to do it themselves (i.e. they have Parkinson's or are pregnant and can't reach their toenails)
18. Arrange a day to do a clothing/accessories/shoe swap with them - both your own clothes, purses, hats etc. and those your children have outgrown or no longer want.
19. Ask them how they received their testimony of the Book of Mormon, or how they know that God is real.
20. Get their mail or water their plants while they are out of town.
    
    
21. Lend them a book or movie you think they'd like.
22. Help with yard work (raking leaves, shoveling snow, spreading dirt, planting flowers).
23. Tutor their kids who are in school, or tutor college students you are assigned to.
24. Teach someone how to use FamilySearch on the computer, how to set up Parental Controls on their family's devices, or how to make a playlist in iTunes.
25. Have a combined Family Home Evening activity with their family.

For more ideas on how to minister, check out lds.org/ministering and listen to these amazing talks!

Stay Beautiful,

xoxo Madi